We’ll all feel a whole lot better when the Yanks win a game. Tonight could be the night. Chien-Ming Wang is facing J.P. Howell, and Brian Bruney and Edwar Ramirez are unavailable.
There’s a long, on-going discussion in last night’s game thread about the Devil Rays and the fact that they are not a very good team. Some folks feel we’re too harsh on the Devil Rays. Supposedly, we aren’t willing to give this young and very flawed team enough credit when they beat the Yankees, and we’re too harsh on them when they blow 8-1 leads against the Red Sox.
The truth is, as always, somewhere in between. The Devil Rays, perennially bad, perennially rewarded with early-round draft choices, have shown an uncanny inability to put together anything resembling a decent bullpen. The Yankees, perennially great and very rich, have shown an uncanny inability to rise to the occasion and win.
Maybe the Devil Rays do deserve some more credit. For some reason, whatever that is, they play harder and better against the Yanks. Maybe it’s a question of motivating the youngster to play hard all the time. Maybe the Yanks think they can sleepwalk through these games. Who knows?
Whatever the case may be, the Yankees are 15-16 against the fourth and fifth place teams in the AL East this year. Look no further than that record when you try to figure out why the Yanks aren’t winning the division. Going 20-11, hardly a tall order against two teams destined for more than 90 losses this season is fairly inexcusable.
For the Yanks, the same truth remains from last night: Win, and they’re in. That’s much more satisfying than the likely Detroit loss tonight at the hands of Johan Santana. Let’s get in on a good note.
Damon LF – Ending the year strong. That could be huge for October.
Jeter SS – 19 for his last 47 but with just 1 BB in ten games.
Abreu RF – Stuck on 98 RBI since Sept. 17
Rodriguez 3B
Posada C – The New York Observer thinks Posada deserves more respect this year.
Cano 2B
Duncan DH – Finally, Hit-less-deki got the night off.
Mientkiewicz 1B
Cabrera CF
Wang P – Going for second straight 19-win season
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for your fix of Minor League news, Mike threw up a post about to get buried by this one featuring some quick Minor League hits. Check it out.
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