How embarrassing! It appears the old Yankee ghosts and the aura and mystique of the old stadium did not carry over to the new digs. After all the annoying pomp and ceremonies were completed, the Yanks and Cleveland Indians actually played a game today. Unfortunately, only the Indians truly showed up, smacking around the Yanks 10-2. In typical Yankee fashion, they made Cliff Lee regain his Cy Young form, even though he struggled in spring training with an E.R.A. in double digits and a 9.90 E.R.A. in his first 2 starts. They were 1-10 with runners in scoring position and seem to be continuing the same aggravating trend that characterized their whole season last year.
Crooked Cap Sabathia kept the Yanks in the game, despite his wildness (5 walks). He pitched 1-run ball for 5 2/3 innings, before departing with an alarming 122 pitches and the score still tied 1-1. The wheels fell off in the top of the 7th. To quote Yankee announcer, Michael Kay, "the bullpen was dreadful." Jose Veras, who was partially responsible for blowing the Royals game last week, came in and walked the first batter on 4 pitches. 2 doubles later, he was out of the game and the Yanks were down 3-1. Damaso Marte did his best impersonation of an arsonist by throwing more gasoline onto the fire, as he got bombed for 6 runs. He gave up a grand slam to the highly overrated media darling, Grady Sizemore, and a solo shot to Victor Martinez. 9 total runs in one inning! My men's slow pitch softball team hasn't scored 9 runs in a game yet. It was an absolute miserable performance that totally derailed the script of the stadium's new opening. It was the Yanks first home opening loss since 1997.
The Yankees hitting wasn't any better. They constantly had Lee on the ropes, putting 10 men on base the first 5 innings. None of those runners scored - it was Posada's HR that finally put the Bombers on the board. Currently, there are quite a few guys living on the interstate (hitting less than .200): Teixeira, Matsui, and Cody Ransom are killing this team offensively. Ransom is barely hanging on to the interstate, lowering, as if it's possible, his batting average from .120 to .100! He couldn't even knock in a run in the last inning with the bases loaded and 1 out, fittingly ending the game with a double play.
As for positives, though far and few between today, Cano kept up his hot hitting with 3 knocks. Swisher had a double, and recent Yankee call up, Dave Robertson, pitched 2 shutout innings in mop up duty. It appears the Yanks will lose outfielder Xavier Nady for the year, which is huge.
Nady is a steady ballplayer with some pop from the right side. He also gave them depth and it pushed Melky Cabrera deep on the bench. Unfortunately, Melky now will have a larger role. With Matsui slumping, Girardi was able to bench him with Damon, Nady and Swisher in the fold. It appears that Matsui will be able to keep his at bats now. Speaking of which, I must give Girardi huge props for benching Matsui for a couple of games this week. Under the padre Joe Torre regime, Torre would have continued to run Matsui out there everyday because of his blind faith in veteran players.
Arod - please hurry back. This lineup is WEAK!
Other notes: Red Sox put Matsuzaka on the 15-day DL with "shoulder fatigue". I read Terry Francona had to convince the Dart Thrower to go on the DL. I'm thinking Francona can't stand watching him throw 25-30 pitch innings. I think the league has finally caught up to his wood allergy act. It's a shame. I was looking forward to the Yanks slapping him around later this month.
Yanks Record: 5-5
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