5 G 29.2 IP 28 H 9 ER 4 HR 5 BB 4-1 2.73 ERA 1.11 ERA

Amazing how the sticks are finally hitting the ball around the park.

Really, it's a thing of beauty. Line drives up the middle (Hideki, Abreu), opposite field down the lines (Hideki), strong ground balls up the middle (Melky), opposite field line drives in the gaps (Derek). Nice to see Giambi stick to his guns on hitting into the dragnet. Wouldn't want to just follow the crowd, right?

Anyone care to weigh in on why they're doing this today and not the other days?

When they hit like this, they make it look so easy.

I'm not saying I expect this level of success everyday, but it does appear as if they're approaching things differently, which is heartening.

Thoughts?

I submit that he's just playing the part for the media.

With all the batting, though, they only got 6 runs. I actually do expect that much production from the team -- not every day, but on average.

But, that said, I'm not real confident in the offense overall.

It's strange that they all broke out in one game and especially the fashion in which they broke out: they didn't pound the ball, but rather sprayed it.

Matsui's hit down the third-base line, for instance, wasn't a great swing, by any means, but it was good enough. As O'Neill noted at the time, he did just enough right, which is that, though he was off-balance, lunging at the ball, he kept his hands back enough to still get something on the swing.

That's what I like to see, so much more than weak tappers to second.

We'll see what happens tomorrow.

And man, to use Alex's word, it was brick today. My brother and I almost froze to death in Row W and had to move down to the tier box seats to some unoccupied seats in the sun to get warm. But it was a great day at the ballpark.

Has anyone had success recently with those mlb.com video clips -- esp. with the sound?

we need to all start sacrificing chickens to Jobu and hold up marble bags when he hits...

Matsui's hit was off a viciously good pitch. Yes it was lucky, yes it was a very skilled batter getting decent wood on a brutal ball. I mean the other night Damon and Jeter had hits that travelled a total of 30 feet ... THOSE were lucky hits.

Moose deserves a LOT of props here and elsewhere ... whatever follows, even if the league sorts out his soft stuff, he has kept us hanging in through April while the kidlets self-destructed. And there is no formal reason he can't keep going with the off-speed control ... anyone else think he's suddenly pitching like an old southpaw? Key, Rogers (not the NY Rogers!), Moyer?

Two random comments ... watching Anaheim a bit last few days. Damn, those dudes play the game well ... Torii H fits in just beautifully. Stole 2nd BETWEEN PITCHES on a play because no one was covering the base.

Interesting P match up today ... Tampa Bay vs BoSox. TB has Kazmir back. Hope for him.

If you couldn't tell, I'm not a believer. I submit that pretty much regardless of the speed differential and ability to spot the ball, at speeds "this low" (i.e. call it 68-88 with the preponderance at 72-85) it's only a matter of time before the league adjusts and starts completely plastering him.

Prediction: 2-3 starts from now he'll revert to what we saw most of the last two seasons, if not worse.

AND, in any case, a pitcher generally limited to 5-6 innings is not a good long term solution.

I pray that I have to eat my words. But I don't think I'll have to.

I think Moose's problem was that he was not 'embracing' his old age. He did not want to let go of his past talents, even thought they have let go of him. In his last 3 starts, he has not relied on his FB (mediumball) except as a 'surprise' pitch, and he has kept it on the edge, or off the plate.

He is now relying more on location and offspeed stuff. He is relying more on his head, rather them his arm. No, he will never again be a dominant pitcher. But can he be league average or a little better? I think so. Moose was 'supposed' to be our worst pitcher. If our worst pitcher is league average, then our rotation must be pretty good. Unfortunately Phil and IPK haven't cooperated as of yet, but Moose has exceeded our expectations.

This team is constructed that if everyone plays up to their (reasonably expected) ability, we will make the PS. Unfortunately, there are only a handful of Yankees who have done this so far... but Moose is one of them.

Player-- ERA
Beckett 4.19
Mussina 4.23
JLester 4.31

16 All of what you say holds true only if Moose turns out to be league average (or close to it). Unfortunately, I don't see it happening.

Would love to be wrong (like I said!) but I don't have a good feeling about it.

Intuitively I like what you say OYF about him using his head rather than his arm. If anyone in MLB can extend their productive longevity by using their brain, it'd be Moose (as I'm sure he'll remind us at some point...) Like I said though, I'll have to see it to believe it!

1) dropping his hands
2) way to forward on his front foot
3) stepping and swinging.

If I were Long I would have Robbie up there with no stride and a short compact swing slapping the ball and seeing it deeper into the zone. I might also turn his body slightly so he is poised to hit everything up the middle opposite field.