Why am I writing the game wrap? Because I’m not the one who blew the game last night.
Tonight presented another clear case of why a pitcher’s win-loss record tells us very little. Mike Mussina pitched admirably — six innings, two runs, five hits, two walks, and eight strikeouts — yet was tagged with the loss. His record, now 10-6, seems good, but that doesn’t quite tell the story of Moose’s season. He’s provided more than anyone had expected, so much so that we say something to this effect nearly every time he takes the mound. Last year, we were imagining where we would have been without A-Rod. This year, we’re asking the same question of Moose.
The pull-your-hair-out Yankees offense played predictably tonight. One might think that the Yankees offense, even without Matsui, should school a pitcher with a 4.60 ERA and a 3:2 K/BB ratio. Anyone who watches the games, though, knows that this is like the story your great uncle Chaz tells you over and over again; it gets worse every single time. What’s worse is that this time they also failed to score against a bullpen ranked next to last in the AL in ERA, and dead last in walks. So it only makes sense that they issue none of either to the Yankees.
We did get to see Brett Gardner’s blazing speed at work, including his first major league stolen base. Here’s to many more. He should be in the starting lineup tomorrow; Cashman has said that he wants Gardner getting regular playing time, so it appears either Damon will DH, or Melky will take a day off. It depends on whether Girardi wants to give Wilson Betemit some at bats. If it is Damon at DH, here’s to hoping that a lineup going Melky-Gardner-Damon can light up the basepaths.
This one should be easy to put behind us. While it’s frustrating to sit through such a grueling offensive experience, we have Joba tomorrow. I don’t think I’ll ever not get geeked up before his starts. Kevin Millwood, who isn’t having quite the year he imagined or the Rangers expected, is on the other side. Hey! We’ve seen him before! Maybe we can muster more than four freakin’ hits.
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