Game 21 - Kiddie Corp to the Rescue

A lot of Yankee fans have been clamoring for Joba to return to the bullpen, but tonight he demonstrated why he's projected as a potential ace.  Joba pitched 7 solid innings, striking out 6 while allowing 3 hits, 3 walks and 1 run in the Yanks 8-6 win.  Tonight's performance followed on the heels of Phil Hughes great performance last night and with NY newspapers suggesting Joba could be heading for the bullpen if Hughes pitches well while Wang is on the DL.  Hopefully, Joba will use this start to keep the fans, who wish to waste young Joba's career as a set up man, at bay.  I always felt the Yankees ruined the great starting career of Dave Righetti when they turned him into a reliever.  Righetti had won the Rookie of the Year Award and pitched a no-hitter, but the Yankees turned him into their closer, despite needing an ace pitcher for years after Ron Guidry's retirement.     

Nick Swisher was the hitting star tonight, clubbing HRs from both sides of the plate and knocking in 4 runs.  He made a helluva catch in RF, too, in the 8th.  Props to Hideki Matsui, who I killed earlier this month, as he knocked in 3 runs with a bases clearing double.  His average is all the way up to .295 as he's been on a tear lately.  I've also noticed he's not doing the Japanese bailout at the plate, hence, the better numbers and hitting streak.

Yankee Bomber Doghouse:  Jonathan Albaladejo and Mariano Rivera did their best to give the Tigers hope in the 9th for a miracle comeback.  Trailing 8-1, the Tigers knocked both relievers around for 5 runs, making the game seem closer then it was.  I imagine Joba standing in the locker room putting on his street clothes, wondering if he was going to get his first win tonight.  Robinson Cano, hitting a robust .371, left 7 men on base.  I did some digging into his numbers, and Cano is living up to an old title I gave him a couple of years ago - "The Greatest Hitter With No Men on Base to Ever Live".  Despite his great average, he is hitting a paltry .188 with runners in scoring position.  I can't understand how batters just don't focus and bear down with runners on.  And can anyone remember the last time Teixeira actually had a hit?  Sure, he walks a lot, but he's currently driving on the interstate at .197, just below the infamous Mendoza line.  I hope the return of Arod helps protect him in the lineup and I also hope that the wrist that bothered him earlier in the season is not playing a factor.

Yankees Record:  11-10