April 8th Orioles @ Yankees

[Coco's Disciples]

Orioles take 2 of 3. Coulda swept.

Yanks and Sox now tied.

[riverside sluggers]

oh thank god, no comeback

[yeszir]

Originally Posted by Coco's Disciples

Yanks and Sox now tied.

...for third place. How exciting.

[Coco's Disciples]

I was gonna leave that part out...

[yankees228]

That would be the fifth straight game where they simply have not played well. They're quite fortunate to be 2-3. Every single starter has been bad, obviously that could change but it's hard to remember another year where every single starter was bad the first time through the rotation (maybe 98). On top of that, most of the hitters do not look too good either. Giambi and Abreu both had good first games, but they have not been swinging the bats well at all. Even Jeter, who's average isn't too bad, really hasn't been swinging the bat well either, although this could be due to injuries.

As for good things through the first week, the bullpen has been outstanding. Everyone out of the bullpen, for the most part, has looked very good. A-Rod is obviously off to a fast start and Cano seems to be swinging the bat well. Now they have to go up to Minnesota where they have not won a series since 2003 (lost 2 out of 3 each time). Without Wang, the Yankees do have what you would consider their three best starters going. They also catch a break because they miss Santana. It should be a very interesting series and it should also be interesting to see how Pettitte and Mussina rebound from subpar efforst.

[riverside sluggers]

Whats key for this series is for the starters to give this pen a rest. 1-5 each didnt last for more than 5 innings

[yankees228]

Originally Posted by riverside sluggers

Whats key for this series is for the starters to give this pen a rest. 1-5 each didnt last for more than 5 innings

Absolutely, unfortunately that's been difficult for the Yankee starters up to this point. It's hard to expect Pavano, who clearly is still building up to full strength, to go really deep in the game tomorrow. As for Pettitte and Mussina, they certainly should. But if they don't, no one can use the excuse about the temperature anymore.

[Coco's Disciples]

Temperature should never be an excuse. The Orioles were playing in the same weather the Yankees were.

[yankees228]

Originally Posted by Coco's Disciples

Temperature should never be an excuse. The Orioles were playing in the same weather the Yankees were.

I couldn't agree more. All i'm saying is that I've heard people use that excuse numerous times over the past week.

[jacksonianmarch]

I think that the yankees will pay a bit better in Minny than they had been as far as rotation. Our rotation has either oft injured guys, fringe guys or old guys and the weather cannot help.

[jacksonianmarch]

My take...

Thought the offense did as well as they could vs Bedard, who had it today. ARod is hitting well, the lineup was working him, but the bottom of the order without Posada/Damon/Matsui was abysmal.

The bullpen has been nearly untouchable. The only run scoring after a 2 base error on Cano.

Rasner was pitching serviceably until his blister acted up. Thing is, the entire coaching staff was looking at his hand the inning before the Bako HR. If they thought it was even an issue, they shouldnt have kept him in.

3 in the dome against a team with a huge hole at the bottom should awaken the starters. I expect at least Pettitte and Mussina to pitch well this series. If they dont, I will start to worry a bit.

[schillingouttheks]

Do you guys face Santana at all this series?

[yankees228]

Originally Posted by schillingouttheks

Do you guys face Santana at all this series?

Fortunately, no. He pitched today.

[schillingouttheks]

Damn it

[yankees228]

Originally Posted by jacksonianmarch

My take...

Thought the offense did as well as they could vs Bedard, who had it today. ARod is hitting well, the lineup was working him, but the bottom of the order without Posada/Damon/Matsui was abysmal.

The bullpen has been nearly untouchable. The only run scoring after a 2 base error on Cano.

Rasner was pitching serviceably until his blister acted up. Thing is, the entire coaching staff was looking at his hand the inning before the Bako HR. If they thought it was even an issue, they shouldnt have kept him in.

3 in the dome against a team with a huge hole at the bottom should awaken the starters. I expect at least Pettitte and Mussina to pitch well this series. If they dont, I will start to worry a bit.

It's possible that if they even thought it was an issue, they decided to let him try to pitch through it. They were desperate for length from one of their starters, and I think the last thing they wanted to do was go to the bullpen in the third or fourth inning.