Those homers were with 2 outs, in case anybody cares (well, Yahoo does, since they count 2-out RBIs).

We know he's capable of this sort of performance, that's not the point. I want to see him get a key single or walk in a big spot before I feel comfortable. We need to know that we've got what it takes to win one-run games against hot pitching.

I've had it with this bludgeon-or-be-bludgeoned baseball. It proves nothing.

Meanwhile, Colter Bean gives a shaky performance in closing out the 9th, but it'll do.

But part of my point wasn't about Rodriguez, per se, but about this slugfest baseball we've been seeing. I just want to see evidence that this team can win tightly played games in the late innings, like the old Yankees did.

Slugfests just don't impress me, generally. They make for dull, sloppy and unrepresentative baseball. I just meant to say that I'd feel better about both Rodriguez and the Yankees if his contribution had been less spectacular but more timely.

But again, your points are well-taken.

Wow. He leads MLB in HRs, is tied for the RBI lead, and there's still "Yankee fans" that need to make posts like that? He hit one when they were tied, another when they were one run ahead and all of them with two outs. What kind of dope doesn't think that's not "when it counts?" Talk about blind hatred.

I loved the AB in the 6th when he drove the pitch up the middle. 3/4s of the players in MLB would have being going for the 4th tater. A few gold glove plays at third topped a great night for a classy player.

I don't hate Rodgriguez, actually. It's more like indifference. He just doesn't jazz me up so much.

And admittedly, it takes me a long time to warm up to superstars on my team.

Clemmens, for example. I didn't really embrace him until that game against Boston in 03. The big brawl. Pedro, Zim. I remember really feeling like Clemmens had proven himself that day, which was his fifth season with the Yankees.

So I concede, I have high standards and my affections are not easily won, especially with superstars, who are supposed to perform. With them, they've got to really capture my imagination and creating a one-man slugfest just doesn't do it for me. Much better an epic, 15 pitch ab that results in a walk in the late innings.

Like when O'Neill grinded out that walk against Benitez in the 2000 WS. That's what I look for, that's baseball. Maybe it's just a matter of taste.

Jeter drew another walk. I wonder if Willie was the reason for Jeter's consistent aggression at the plate last year. Look at what Reyes has done OBP wise. Nothing more than his average.

Andy Phillips got a hit, a ground rule double, which should prove to Torre that if Phillips is on the bench he can come off and hit for power. Hopefully he gets atleast another start this week, with Washburn going tomorrow.

On Bean, he seems to have pitched a great 8th and almost worked out of the trouble in the 9th. But he ran into Chone, who is a good player. And it was a blowout, so he was probably told just to throw strikes and get out of there as quickly as possible. It's likely he may have been experimenting to try and see how MLB players will take to some of his pitches in certain locations. Here's to hoping he gets another chance before Saturday.

And of course, Pavano showed good control again. He's made me a believer.

It's good to see Mr. Bean and Andy getting more playing time. Tino has solid numbers against Washburn, but maybe Andy can play 2B tonight.

Any chance the Braves (Mazzone) want to take a chance on Karsay, and we can keep Colter in the show?

Hopefully the NY media chills a bit. Guy's a helluva player and accordingly, will probably play like one this year.

If you were not impressed by his perormance last night, you never will be. 3 dingers off a "brand-name" pitcher, as Jim Kaat put it. That was a lot of fun too watch.

Let's not forget this is the second HUGE game for him this month. (April 18, 5/6 2HR 6RBI)

How many big hits does this guy have to have before people lay off a bit?
And why must it be against Boston, as I have heard so many people say? They are only one team we play (granted quite often, but still)

Pavano looked good. I am liking him more and more with each start. Here's hoping Mussina will get it together.

Ken Singleton nailed it on the broadcast last night, Jeter didn't walk much last year because he was trying to hit his way out of that awful month-and-a-half slump. The splits support this he drew 8 walks in April and that was his most in any month until August. He then drew 10 in August and 13 in Sept. This year, he's tearing up the league, so he's taking his pitches and has 17 walks with four games to go in April.

As for Reyes, some guys just don't take pitches (see: Soriano, Alfonso).

Meanwhile, word is that Bean has already been sent down in favor of Wang. I suppose this is to let Chien-Ming get comfortable in the Yankee clubhouse so he's slighly less on edge on Saturday (if that's at all possible) and because with Colter having pitched two innings yesterday Torre's even less likely to go to him in the remaning three games he would have stayed up anyway (simply to spread the work around and rest his arm). I'm really guessing here, though.

By the way, did you all notice how much Bean's pitches move?! Amazing. As I emailed Alex this morning, Bean is an odd bird. 6'6" 255 (!) with a flabby belly, thick legs and a huge rump, but thin in the arms and face. He doesn't really use his weight to pitch, but slings it side arm like a scrawny LOOGY might (like Brian Shouse who the Yanks just saw with Texas, actually). But the movement he has!!! And the fact that he can keep his walks down with that movement (2.50 BB/9 in Columbus last year) is just remarkable. No wonder he's had so much success. Here's hoping Torre noticed that.

By the way, anyone else notice that Neil Allen's been the bullpen coach for less than a month and both Bean and Chien-Ming Wang have earned call-ups? It's a bit coincidental (I doubt Allen was vigourously shaking the hands of Sturtze and Wright in an attempt to clear roster space for his men), but it's exactly what I had hoped to see when he was promoted from being the Clipper's pitching coach.