Yanks Mail In a Blow Out Win, Hughes Impresses

This was the most boring offensive explosion I’ve seen in a long time. The Yanks jumped on top of the Royals, then cruised to their fifth straight win. Honestly, I’m not thrilled. There’s a fine line between having a good time out there, and taking teams too lightly. Hopefully, I’m misreading things a little bit, but the Yanks left a ton of runners on tonight, and they let the Royals back in the game, sort of. Tomorrow reeks of a let-down game to me (see game 1 vs. the Devil Rays on Friday).

Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy with the win. Boston beat Cleveland, so the Yanks are only 4.5 out of the Wild Card (still 7.5 behind Boston, who has also won 5 straight). The problem is, they haven’t accomplished anything yet, and I don’t want to see them lose their sense of urgency or their edge. They’ve been playing with a chip on their collective shoulder since the week before the break, if they lose that and go on a losing streak, this season will be over before you know it.

Enough doomsday scenarios. Phil Hughes was extraordinary tonight in AAA (6 IP, 73 pitches, 0 runs, 2 hits, 7 Ks, 0 BBs). He’s probably still going to make one more start down there. His ETA in the Bronx: possibly Friday, Aug. 3 vs. KC or Saturday, Aug. 4 vs. KC. So basically another AAA start.

Letter to the Skipper:

Player of the Game: Johnny Damon, 2 for 5, 2 runs, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB. Damon has been on fire lately, and I liked a sequence from him in the sixth inning. Zach Greinke brushed Damon back with a 97 MPH fast ball. Damon lined the next pitch up the middle, missing Grienke's head by about an inch, then stole second on the next pitch. That's how you respond to chin music.