Found in New York (Postgame Notes 2 July 2008)

FOUND IN NEW YORK

The missing offense advertised last night has been found today, at the corner of 161st Ave and River Avenue. It was found in a condition healthy enough for 18 runs on 16 hits and 7 walks.

The offense was returned by pitchers L. Mendoza, W. Madrigal and J. Wright and hitters J. Giambi, B. Abreu, A. Rodriguez, R Canò, and B. Gardner.

The reward for the tip will be given to one Hank Steinbrenner, whose pre-game comments were instrumental in the offense's return.

Pitchers Mendoza, Madrigal and Wright have the thanks of the Yankees' pitching staff, and Sir Sidney Ponson would like to offer his own personal "thank you" as well.

******

NOTICE

WARNING: On 3 July, a group of baseball players known as the Boston Red Sox will be arriving at Yankee Stadium. Said group of baseballers are known to be unwelcome in the city of New York, and fans of the New York Yankees are asked to exercise all due caution in watching said baseball games.

Known consequences of watching Yankees-Red Sox include: heart arrythmia, hyperventilation, compulsive nail biting, exclamation of vulgar remarks, alcoholic beverage spillage and minor property destruction.

Casual baseball fans are advised not to watch said games unless under proper fanatical supervision.


(actually, you might want to reverse that)

Yanks heed Hank (Postgame Notes 13 May 2008)

Someone ought to offer Hank Steinbrenner a motivational speaking contract.

Every week now, it seems, on the day before a Mike Mussina start, Hank berates the team for a lack of ______ (pitching/offense/effort/spirit/clean and pressed uniforms), and every evening, Mussina surprises the fans with a near gem of a pitching performance, getting just enough run support to pull it off.

Only now that Mike Mussina has won five straight starts, Yankees fans might consider no longer being surprised when he pitches well, but instead start thinking about how lucky they are that it is this year Mussina has chosen to have a comeback player-like performance.

Tonight was easily one of Mussina's best performances of the season, and one has to think that if the Yankees had scored more than two runs, Mussina would have been left in a little longer instead of pulled in the bottom of the seventh after the lead off runner reached base. With a performance like tonight, Mussina seems to have fast become the Yankees' stopper, giving the Yankees far more out of the #2 spot than they likely hoped to have gotten.

Also, superb infield defense didn't hurt, either.

On the offensive side of things, tonight was hardly a coming out party for the bats, but they were able to do just enough to eke out the win, scoring as many runs tonight as they have in the past two games combined (which isn't saying much).

OPTIMIST TAKE: Robinson Canò was 4-4, perhaps a sign that he's breaking out of his April slump. Joba was Joba, and Mariano Rivera was vintage after the poor outing last night.