Though I'll watch the game anyway. But maybe I shouldn't be so hard on him. Morgan's first chat at ESPN was earlier this week, and his responses were generally OK, sometimes even a little insightful. Maybe he'll be OK tonight, too.

OK, that's my last one of those childish posts for the day (at least until the game starts and we are subjected to Gammons' spittle-flecked excitement).

A bad loss indeed. Let's face it - everyone knew Moose was NOT going to Manny out.

And I hate Papelbum too

Maybe having him yo-yo'd and throwing 27 pitches will prevent him from pitching tonight. After all, we've got a fresh Ross, Traber, Joba and Mo. They've got a fresh Timlin.

I find it fascinating if not quite alarming to see this movement to further define bullpen roles and place more importance on it. We've watched the artificial category of the save destroy the way a bullpen is used and force people into this notion that the 9th inning, no matter what, is by far the most important inning there is and that only certain people can pitch it, no matter what. And you're going to tell me that the 8th inning is somehow so important that only specific people can pitch it?? We are truly heading for the day when bullpens are rigidly set from the 6th inning on, so as long as there are certain conditions, managers will automatically default to their "6th innings" guy...

Its like the Media, well, the mass media, is deliberately trying to push for this for some bizarre, self important reason

Given that Girardi asked Moose how he felt, it's akin to Grady letting Pedro continue pitching when he was obviously gassed.

I'm not too upset about it, just curious... guess this new manager does things differently.

If he could not, then you either pull Moose or intentionally walk Man-Ram (even though this loads the vases). If you think he can face Man-Ram, let him pitch..this was the route they took and we know the results. But then why pull Moose immediately after the double? Was he out of gas then? If so, why let him throw one pitch to Man-Ram?

I think Girardi got caught napping and he didn't have a pitcher ready in the BP in case Moose got into trouble. Especially with the heart of the lineup due up soon, someone (Joba?) should have ben warming.

Oh well, hindsight is always 20-20.

You stay classy yankee fans!

10 I have two thoughts. Mass media likes to take a storyline and run with it. Jon Miller: "The New York Yankees have not lived up to their promise in a while, Joe. What's the story?" "Regular season success, Jon, but postseason failure. To win in October, you need a great bullpen. The Yanks have known this Mo Rivera was John Wetteland's setup man extraordinaire in 1996. But the Yanks have struggled to win it all since 2000 because they just don't have the same kind of set up guys they used to have in front of Mo Rivera." Keeping Joba in that role fits the now 6-year-old storyline perfectly.

The second is that there's been a ridiculous focus on closers and setup guys in the postseason for years now. Gibson beats Eck. "The Nasty Boys". Carter homers off Wild Thing. Mo-Wetteland (Wetteland was the first closer to be Serious MVP, wasn't he?). Mesa blows Game 7. Mo dominates 98-00. Mo fails, 01. K-Rod and Percival in 02. Foulke in 04. Jenks and Lidge in 05. Wainright in 06. Papelbon in 07. Joba the reliever fits this storyline much better than Joba the starter.

Also, with Jorge's AB in the ninth, that was another example where, had he gotten on, having Gardner on the bench could have been huge but not having him meant there was no one to run for Jorge. In Scranton, Gardner is now SLGing .800 (1 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR) with 2 SB.

What's really sad is that they were in a one-run game and the only way the bench was going to help was if Matsui pinch hit for Gonzo (and Betemit to come in and play SS). There is still no real use for Ensberg.

Ugh, you don't want to beat the opposition because they're injured, you want to beat them because you played better BASEBALL than they did. Sigh.

Isn't that obvious?

While I think we've all been very frustrated over, as the guys at RLYW call it, the "Worst Offense Ever", at least the Yanks are tied for second place right now behind the Orioles. We all know the O's won't be in first all season.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers have their own offensive woes, but are stuck looking up at the Diamondbacks. And Arizona might run away with the NL West, especially if the Dodgers frequently sit the one big home run hitter they have.

I wonder if Matt Kemp right now feels like a right-handed, more athletic version of Big Papi from his Twins days?

It wasn't a tough loss, it was a learning experience for all involved. I think you have to show a player that you are willing to let them make their own decision (early on in the season to see what they got) and I think that's why, early in the season, managers give players more say and the players in turn feel they are part of something together.

Girardi asked a question, Mussina answered and Girardi turned around and basically said, "OK, now show me". Mussina had a great pitch sequence against Papi, why not have faith in him against Manny?

Yeah, yeah, I know all about the homerun but you have to see how players deal with adversity. I loved the decision.

8 I'm with you. I'm wishing awfully bad things to happen to Pap-Smear. It is bad karma, but so what? Just help a few more old ladies with their bags, help a kid to learn how to read and write, and hold the door open for your mistress when you go out to eat. That shit takes care of itself in the end, the karma balances all out.

Let's go Yanks!!!

If we walk Manny, Moose has to throw Ks to Youk. Youk won't chase and is happy to walk with the bases loaded.

In pitching to Manny, a walk 'doesn't matter', so Moose can throw junk and hope Manny chases or hits the ball weakly. The problem was Manny was looking outside (after hitting an inside pitch 500') and Moose threw a hittable pitchright where Manny was looking.

I don't think the problem was JG's decision as much as Moose's execution.

Detroit loses again, now at 2-10. It's early, but since they are WC competitors, I can't say I'm unhappy with the crappy start. Mutts loose, KC wins again, TB wins to get to .500.

The White Sox look good so far. Are they real? Can they compete against Detroit and Cleveland?

I dislike the media narrative that Joba has to close. But I trust in Cash to do the right thing.

And, kinda neat, at this respective in their careers - through the age 33 season - Jeter has more career hits than Pete Rose (2,356 to 2337). Granted, Captain started a year earlier than Charlie Hustle, but still.

This Joba has to close nonsense is just that; they're like a dog with a bone, an annoying little yappy dog that won't shut the 'f' up that is. I suppose if J. Morgan wants to cause heart attacks over at FJM he'll proclaim that "Joba's value would be maximized as a successful front line starter" . . . Well we can always hope!

Having said that, this whole style of nickname - hell, it's not even really a nickname, I don't know what to call it - has to stop. Either that, or make it mandatory: J-Po. D-Ort. P-Hugh (which would actually be pretty good, at least for Red Sox fans). H-Mats. R-Can. And so on...

Freakin' ESPN. Couldn't have a day game when there were tropical temperatures in the mid 40's.

Have we ever played 2 weeks into the season with such constant cold and wet conditions? So much for the Boys of Summer....

Melky out, Matsui in LF. I applaud Girardi for his lineup and trying to keep everyone fresh, but Matsui in LF scares me no end. Maybe it less worse in Fenway, but nonetheless...

But all things being equal, with additional playoffs and playoff teams, yes, I would have no problem with a 150+ game schedule. But that is another discussion.