Deja Lose

We lost again to Baltimore 6-3 on a grand slam in the bottom of the 7th off of Okajima. We jumped up early again with an early 3-0 lead but once again couldn't hold the lead. Lester pitched well, but as soon as our bullpen came in, we allowed them to load the bases then Jima gave up the home run.

Manny performed another Manny moment for us by making a catch in left field by the wall. He then jumped up, gave a fan a high five, then turned around and threw the ball back to the infield for a double play. After the play, the players were in the dugout watching the play on a monitor on one of the cameras set up in the dugout. They were all laughing at the antics of Manny. Even when we lose, it seems we have a good time.

We have Milwaukee in interleague play this weekend after an off day (which we sorely need), and the return of Gagne to Fenway. I think we have a good chance of taking all three over the weekend. We start it out Friday night with the 6-0 DiceK on the mound. Hope we get DiceK and not DiceWalk on Friday!

Other news in the division is that the Yankees beat Tampa Bay so we remain a half game in back of Tampa for the division. I never thought I would ever type that last sentence - stating that the Yankees won so we remain a 1/2 game back, I have typed before because we were behind the Yanks. Instead, we remain a 1/2 back because Tampa lost.

Concerning the Yankees, don't you just love it when there is turmoil in the Empire. Their pitching is awful. Remember earlier in the season when they wouldn't trade Phil Hughes for Santana? And Ian Kennedy haven't lived up to their expectations either, and Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina have been merely okay. I bet now, if given the chance, they would pick up Santana for Kennedy and Hughes in a New York Minute!

Their offense is horrible too. Sure they have Arod (Slappy) out with an injury and Posada is out for another month or two but Jason Giambi hasn't been producing. He has a batting average of .188. Apparently, his $23.4 million isn't paying off. If I was Cashman, and wanted to keep my job and continue working for Steinbrenner, (which I never would want to anyway), they should trade Giambi for some pitching, sign Barry Bonds as a DH (typical Yankee move there), move Johnny Damon to first base, and shift Hideki Matsui to left field. Only then would they be able to battle Tampa for the wild card.

Steinbrenner (Hank) is sounding a lot like his dad lately. This is what he said about the Yankees recently. "The bottom line is that the team is not playing the way it is capable of playing. These players are being paid a lot of money and they had better decide for themselves to earn that money." He went on to say, "This is going to get turned around. If it's not turned around this year, then it will be turned around next year, by force if we have too."

Just makes me smile reading that. Good luck turning it around Yankees! You guys have the Mets coming up this weekend and Santana is scheduled to start Friday. I hope Steinbrenner is watching! Hope Santana shows them what they missed out on!