By the way, Leiter-Santana is probably the biggest mismatch against the Yankees' chances since the old days of Andy Hawkins/Tim Leary vs. Dave Stewart.

Leiter has thrown 100 pitches on 4 innings, the Yanks have been really lucky that only one run has scored.

The A-Rod flyout was very close to being a 3-run homerun. Santana was not sharp in the top of the 4th. I think they'll crack him on this inning.

PS, it's a nice 72 here in Toledo.

BTW, are more teams releasing players/picking up players on waivers this year or am I only noticing it because the Yankees are involved.

Fire his ass.

F-Rod should have been left in anyway. Maybe he'll earn Torre's trust some time this century.

Sojo and the horrible home plate umpire were the goats.

Starters:

1. Randy Johnson
2. Mike Mussina
3. Al Leiter
4. Aaron Small
5. Hideo Nomo

Injured: Pavano, Wright, Brown, Wang

Relief:

1. Proctor
2. Groom
3. Graman
4. Rodriguez
5. Sturtze
6. Gordon
7. Rivera

Injured: none

Lineup:

1. Jeter
2. Cano
3. Sheffield
4. Rodriguez (Phillips)
5. Matsui
6. Giambi (Tino)
7. Posada (Flaherty)
8. Williams (Womack)
9. Crosby

Injured: Sierra, Sanchez

It appears as though we are solid if not spectacular in most areas, but the notable weaknesses in pitching have got to worry you. Beyond injuries, we have a lot of question marks that need to be answered before too long.

1. Can Pavano return soon as a legit #3?

2. Will a combination of Groom, Rodriquez, and Proctor hold down the fort for a playoff bound Yankees, or contribute to our eventual fold?

3. Will Bernie and Posada get back to something of their old selves in the stretch or continue to creak towards the rocking chair?

I hope the Yankees make a trade. I'm not looking for a big splash, and I don't particularly think their is anything out there worth giving up our young players, but we have some dead weight that we need to clear out and a decent hitting CF and a solid strike-throwing middle reliever would help.

We have Womack, Crosby, and maybe young Duncan to shop. I'd love to see Andy Phillips get more at bats instead of Tino, Bernie, or Crosby. We may be able to send Aaron Small to the middle reliever role if Pavano can come back and do anything. All big questions....

1) I think Sojo likes to put Jeter in "dislocate my shoulder" situations every game this year. You can sense Jeter would be out by a mile rounding third because you saw Hunter cocking that arm of his and releasing a gun of a throw. I dont know if anyone noticed in the 1st game of the series, but Hunter could have made it two nights in a row of throwing a runner out at home if Cuddyer didnt cut of the throw. I know Jeter probably went on his own, but no way did I see Sojo put the breaks sign on. I'm tired of Jeter always in these plays. Thats the last thing we need this late in the season.

2) There was almost an exact replica of of "hunter's" play when Bernie had a shot of getting someone out at home. When you see Bernie Live, try and throw a ball from the outfield into the diamond, it just magnifies his inability to do so. I know everyone says they dont mind him playing a few nights in CF, but he is no longer capable of the job, seriously. He looks so slow out there. DH him or let him come off the bench as a PH. He is done. Sorry Bernie lovers, but I wouldnt be surprised if he doesnt resign next year.

3) It seemed every single inning Leiter loaded the bases. How in the hell did he get out with only one run, you might say?. Well, I dont know what people are talking about as Yankee defense being second rate, but when you have a pitcher give up over 10 hits and 100 pitches thrown by the 4th inning and he gives up only one run, you got to tip your hat off to the defense. Yankeee defense in the first 4 innings was incredible. I was proud for one night. I dare say the defense is underrated these days. We really have turned a corner since the 1st half regarding defense. Best plays of the night. Jeter's throw out at home and ARod's slow roller for the final out in the 2nd. Hunter running to third tried to interfere with the play and got in front of AROD, but AROD had the onfield presence to slow up and keep his eye on the ball. Great play and saved a disasterous inning.

4) Every fan seemed to waiting for the yankee bats to explode. Waiting so much, that they cheered on a fan who went escaped onto the field and slid into second base. Obviously, drunk he gave himself up without a fight. The stadium erupted when police handcuffed and booed, not the fan, but the Five-O for ruining the best entertainment of the night.

5) I like Yankee Stadium. period.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/dt/cruzjo02.shtml

I looked up those numbers myself this morning (including last night's debacle):
10 IP, 10 H, 5BB, 6K, 1.50 WHIP, 1.2:1 K/BB, 1 HR, 5 ER, 4.50 ERA

Before last night, the line looked like this:
9 IP, 7 H, 2BB, 4K, 1.00 WHIP, 2:1 K/BB, 1 HR, 2 ER, 2.00 ERA

Not bad. I haven't seen Sturtze pitch since the 4th - does he really look that off, or was it just last night?

BTW, now that Graman gave up a HR to Justin Morneau - you know, the Twins' lefty-hitting 1B who was "hitting" .208/.305/.368 since June 1, with 5 HR (only 1 since July 2) - have we seen the last of him or what? Of all the mistakes to have made . . . was he trying to get himself exiled?!? I won't judge him on just 1.1 IP, but we all know who likely will . . .

It also seems he missed a month of the season with lower back problems. I don't think he's worth the risk.