Not even worth a double entendre headline

I always wonder what a team thinks after losing a game like this. Sure, they talk to the media about how much it hurts, but they’re likely holding back from their true feelings. Can you imagine being a professional athlete and being utterly decimated by your opponent? What happened tonight was pathetic, and every single player in the Yanks clubhouse feels it. The only question we can ask now is of what they’re going to do about it.

There’s no reason to break down this game. It all came undone in the first two innings and only got worse throughout. The only way to properly recap this game is through bullet points.

• Not only has Chien-Ming Wang been a problem over his first two starts, but he could be a major, major problem down the road if this isn’t just some dead-arm period. Guys weren’t tattooing him like this in Spring Training, so we can still hold out hope that there’s an underlying issue and that Wang will overcome it. To those who think that his lack of strikeouts are catching up to him: Do you think he succeeded over the past few seasons by throwing belt-high sinkers with no movement?
• Once Wang left after 1+ innings, we all knew the bullpen was in for a horrible night. We got just about the worst case scenario. Albaladejo threw 60 pitches and Edwar tossed 51, meaning they’re both unavailable for at least tomorrow, possibly Wednesday. Phil Coke used 38 pitches to get through one inning — though it was prolonged by the miscommunication between Cano and Pena. — so after the past two days he can’t go tomorrow. Things could get rough over the next few days, without a day off in sight.
• Chances of the Yanks making a roster move to call up a reliever: basically 100 percent. The bad news is that the prime candidate for promotion, David Robertson, pitched three innings yesterday, so he won’t be of much help. Coke will almost certainly be demoted, with Anthony Claggett or Stephen Jackson taking his place. We could see both if they demote Jon Albaladejo, too (not because of performance, but rather because of the pressing need for bullpen arms).
• From the “there has to be a bright side” dept.: Of 10 Yankees baserunners, five scored. Nady’s DP meant the team left only four men on base.
• Is Nick Swisher everyone’s favorite Yankee yet? Not only did he put the Bombers on the board with a fourth-inning homer, but he nearly hit another later on. Oh, and the whole pitching thing was pretty cool — despite the fact that I’m pretty sure nothing good has ever come from a position player pitching. He was their most effective arm, for whatever that’s worth.
• Since homering in the 9th in Baltimore last Wednesday, Jeter is one for his last 20 with just one walk. The hot start didn’t last too long. Not helping matters is Johnny Damon, who is 2 for his last 16 with two walks. That’s not how you want to lead off your lineup. Swisher and Jorge need men on base.
• The Rays only failed to score in two innings. Nick Swisher pitched one of them. That is all.

We get to do it all over again today when A.J. Burnett tries to give the bullpen a break. He’ll face off against Matt Garza. Bold prediction: it will be a better game than last night.