Upon Yankee Baseball

I had taken a brief hiatus from writing about the team, as a terrible road trip had me less than positive. Our longest trip of the year behind us, we can now look forward to an extended homestand. Tuesday featured a 5-hit complete game shut-out of the Pirates by Mike Mussina, who evoked memories of days gone by with a 5-hit gem. The offense propelled him to a 9-0 victory, and the Yankees looked happy to be home. Yesterday, I nearly gave up on the team twice, as Tanyon Sturtze gave up two potentially backbreaking home-runs. However, the team showed some scrap in scoring in the 7th, 8th, and 9th to send it to extra frames. A benficial call at first when Sheff appeared to be thrown out kept the inning alive, and A-Rod and Posada hits tied the game. Rodriguez was thrown out at home on a good outfield relay, but the choice to go from third was 50/50. Rivera came in and dominated the line-up , and his fastball is moving again. In the tenth the Yankees got a walk from Tino, followed by a mammoth 2-run shot to the upper-tank from Jason Giambi. Jason always gives just enough when you are ready to write him off completely, keeping us who still think that the MVP hitter is somewhere inside him on a rollercoaster. I he could somehow recapture that 40 HR 120 RBI guy who is a nightmare to pitch to the Yankees have a sickly dangerous lineup.

Tony Womak has found himself in the media crosshairs recently, as his lack of production at the top, combined with the loss of his spot at second to Cano makes many consider him expendable. I tend to agree that there are plenty of outfielders the Yanks could choose to pursue, and if he isn't going to be a catalyst we can do without him. That intangible Yankee player has yet to show his face, though Cano shows signs of being that guy.

I still believe in this team, and will continue to do so. Unit (on regular rest finally), Moose, Pavano, Wang, Brown are still for my money a very good 1-5. All are showing stirrings, which are admittedly late in coming, but I still wouldn't want to see that rotation in a short series. Randy will match your one, Unit can throw with anyone's two, and Pavano can get it together and be a scary 3. Alex is at MVP level, Sheff is ahead of last year's pace, Matsui is out of his slump and still has good numbers. Jeter is Jeter, the afforementioned Cano is emerging, Posada is getting hot. I still believe in this team, and I won't be convinced otherwise until they play their last game, in early October or late