Pen Comes Up Short, Joba MIA

Ian Kennedy had his best start of the season today. Yes, 3 earned runs in 5 innings of work was his best effort to date. Still, Kennedy had only one bad inning, which was made worse by some bad luck. He allowed all three of his runs in the 2nd and looked strong for his other four innings of work. I'm taking this outing as a good sign. He still needs to cut down drastically on the walks, but this start was leaps and bounds above the garbage we've seen from him recently.

The Yanks tied the game at 3-3 on a clutch, bases-loaded, pinch-hit triple by Jorge Posada in the top of the sixth, 4 innings after Joe Buck declared the Yankees dead in the water. Have I mentioned how much I hate national games before?

Anyway, the pen held strong until the bottom of the ninth. I was fully expecting Joba Chamberlain to get the call to hold the game at 3-3 in the ninth and possibly the 10th if needed, but instead we were treated to Ross Ohlendorf who loaded the bases, then gave up the game winner to Victor Martinez. Why wasn't Joba in there, you ask? Well, according to Peter Abraham, he's hurt.

Read that post. There are some alarming things in there. Mainly, Joe Girardi begging off answering questions because he has to check with the bosses. What? You're the manager man. If you're nothing more than a smiling face for the cameras and Cashman et al make all the decisions I don't want to hear about it from you. If you don't want to answer a question, just don't. Don't say you have to ask permission. The buck is supposed to stop with you.

Another disappointing loss in a series of disappointing losses so far in the early season. Tomorrow, Chien-Ming Wang will take the hill and try to erase his memories of the ALDS last season against C.C. Sabathia, who should have some nightmares of his own from the same series.

The only truly good thing to come out of today's game was Shelley Duncan's return to the team.

Player of The Game: Hip Hip.
Team Record: 12-13
Damon: 1 magnificently shattered piece of lumber today.