Ugly

It isn't that often that I actually have the opportunity to watch the Yankees on anything other than MLB game cast. So when I do get that chance to watch them on tv I'm always hoping that I get to see a good game. I got to watch them yesterday, but it sure wasn't a good game.

I just don't understand why the Yankees have had so much trouble with the Orioles this season. Granted Bedard is an amazing pitcher and is going to be one of the best in the Majors for years to come, but the Bombers didn't bring their A game at all yesterday, or the day before. In fact yesterday was just so sloppy it was hard to watch. Hughes couldn't seem to find his control, but even for what was clearly an off day for him he preformed well. That is with the exception of his booted ball on a routine play at first...oh the agony. Jeter had one of the worst games he's had in a long time. He was slipping all over the place and making errors on routine plays. My heart stopped when he stepped on a broken bat and appeared to twist his ankle. He was fine, but I get scared if Jeter so much as gets a planters wart. The only real highlight for the Yankees came when Shelley Duncan smashed a three run shot with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, his 6th of the year. This kid is going to be great. But then, more agony. Mariano of all people blew the game for us. His cutter was hanging like a shirt on a hanger and he just didn't seem to have his normal intensity. I've said this before but I really think that Torre needs to play him more often, including situations where the Yankees are not in the lead. It's getting to be late in the season, and if Rivera is looking that rusty now its going to spell disaster come late September / October.

Somehow Tampa Bay managed to squeeze one out of Boston saving us from dropping down a game, but wow, the Yankees need to regroup and not slide down the slippery slope of mediocrity again.

*Karstens has been optioned off. That's good news, that kid just isn't ready for prime time.