Game 32 - Roy Halladay, Yankee Killer

Johnny Damon tried to stretch a single into a double in the first inning and was thrown out (replays showed he may have been safe).  After that, Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay retired the next 17 batters till Damon doubled in the 7th inning.  Arod would single him in after Mark Teixeira did his best impersonation of the Statue of Liberty, standing still looking at a called 3rd strike down the pipe for the second time in the game.  However, by that time, the Yanks were trailing 3-1 and there wasn't a chance they were going to rally against Halladay, now 16-5 lifetime against the Yanks.  He's now won 6 in a row against them.  

Halladay, already 7-1 this season and looking like he's wrapped up another Cy Young Award, pitched a complete game 5-hitter against the Yanks.  He clearly outdueled his former teammate and buddy, AJ Burnett.  Burnett held his own till the 8th inning, when he allowed 2 more runs and guaranteeing the Yanks would not overcome a 5-1 deficit.  He fell to 2-1 on the season.

The Yanks just continue to receive bad news, as Derek Jeter was scratched for a strained oblique muscle before the game (isn't that a steroid injury?) and Hideki Matsui left the game with a pulled hamstring.  But this is what you get when you field an ancient team, particularly when you put an old fossil like Jeter at an athletic position like SS.  And Matsui, is what, 53 years old?  This team is breaking down before our very eyes.  Once again, I'll point the finger at GM Brian Cashman for failing to resolve this issue during the offseason.  

Old players, along with the bullpen, were 2 major issues facing the Yanks after last season, but Cashman failed to resolve either problem.  Didn't he learn his lesson last year with the old timers?  Damon and Posada both went on the DL for the first time in their careers.  Arod missed significant time, as well as Matsui.  Instead, Cashman went into this season with Cody Ransom, Ramiro Pena and Angel Berroa.  Which one of these bench players puts the fear of God in their opponents when they're pinch-hitting or in the lineup?  The Yankees essentially had 3 minor leaguers in the lineup against the ace, Halladay - Brett Gardner, Kevin Cash and Ramiro Pena.  Inexcusable for a team with a $200M payroll.  They were a combined 1-9 tonight.

Other notes:  The Yankees loss was softened by another defeat for the socialist Rays.  They are struggling this year against the Orioles.  As long as the Rays are exposed this year for the frauds they are, I'll be happy.  Speaking of frauds, Joe Torre, is now 1-4 without Manny after losing to Philly tonight.  I thought a great manager (not really) like this guy would be able to rally the troops, but he's no better than the talent given to him.  

Yankees Record:  15-17, and 6.5 games behind the Jays