BEATDOWN IN BEANTOWN

The Yankees were spanked up real good in Boston over the weekend. They got swept by a hot Red Sox team that has now won 10 in a row after starting the season 2-6. The Sox beat the Yanks in just about every possible way.

On Friday the Sox got to Mariano Rivera in the ninth to tie the game and then won it later on a home run from Youk off Damaso "Farnsworth" Marte.

On Saturday, AJ "Jekyll & Hyde" Burnett gave up a 6 run lead. And even though the Yanks battled back several times to regain the lead, the bullpen just would not allow the Yanks to win this game.

I mean, seriously, when the Yanks took an 11-10 lead in the 8th inning with Damaso Marte warming up in the bullpen for the Yanks, I wrote a comment in Peter Abraham's LoHud blog that the Yanks would need to put up at least 6 in the inning to avoid the bullpen giving it back. What happened? Yanks lose by 5. That's how much confidence I have when Marte takes the mound.

Marte didn't give up all the runs but he is like the character Eddie Mush from the movie "A Bronx Tale". Mush was the type of guy who, "if he didn't have bad luck, he wouldn't have no luck at all." In one scene in the movie all the mobsters are at the race track betting on a particular horse. When they see that Mush has bet on the same horse they all tear up their tickets because they know, even though their horse was currently in the lead, they can't win if Mush bet on him too. That's how I feel about Marte. Even if he pitches well (which happens just about as often as Rush Limbaugh compliments Obama), just the fact that he participated in the game, the Yanks are cursed to lose.

On Sunday, the Yanks got their first well pitched game of the series by Andy Pettitte but poor defense, lack of timely hitting, a Big Papi sighting, and a friggin' straight steal of home did them in.

To add injury to insult, the Yanks put Chien Ming Wang, Cody Ransom & Brian Bruney on the disabled list. Now Wang & Ransom going on the DL is actually a blessing in disguise, considering the way they've played. But Bruney was one of the few bright spots in the bullpen. And he was THE ONLY reliable link to Mariano. So that hurts.

The Yanks should have won 2 of 3 but instead will leave Boston with their tails between their legs. Despite all that the Yanks have been thru, they currently sit at .500. But it seems that the Yanks should be something like 6-12 right now due to all the blowouts and heartbreaking losses they've endured.

Hopefully, the starting pitching can get on track, which will by itself help to improve a worn-out bullpen. CC goes today. It might be a good time for him to start pitching like a 160 million dollar pitcher. And Phil Hughes will start on Tuesday against Detroit, replacing Wang in the rotation. If he can just go 5 innings and give up 5 runs or less it will be a HUGE improvement over what Wang was giving us.

Plus, I predict ARod will be back by the end of next week. I hope, I hope, I hope.

Fare thee well Boston,...until we meet again!

What's Wrong With Wang?

Chien Ming Wang was totally useless last night. I understand he couldn't get the ball down and his mechanics were off...Again!!! But, Dude, you have to give me more than 1 inning. You have to find a way to battle thru and get some outs.

One of his problems is he seems to throw every pitch the same speed. His sinker, 4 seam fastball & slider all come in between 87-93 miles per hour. So, if he doesn't have his control the hitters can just sit on something up and crush it. It would really help him if he had a slow curveball or change up to keep hitters off balance a little. But the guy has had two 19 win seasons and was 8-2 last year before injury. So, it's easy to criticize him now. Fact is, he's proven he can win, and win big, with the stuff he's got. Maybe he's injured or just doesn't feel confident yet, throwing off the foot he broke last year.

Not much positivity from last nights game. Wang gave up 8 runs, the bullpen 7. The highlight was when everyone's new favorite Yankee, Nick Swisher, pitched a scoreless 8th, even picking up a strikeout. It was definitely a night when a long reliever would have come in real handy. If Wang gets another start, and I expect him to unless he's injured, no doubt Brett Tomko or Alfredo Asceves will be in the bullpen just in case.

I don't think it's time to consider bringing up Phil Hughes. I'd really like him to stay in AAA and perfect some of his secondary pitches before coming to the big club. The next time he comes to the Majors I want him to stay for good.

AJ Burnett goes tonight. Hopefully our starters can get back on a roll and give the bullpen a much needed rest.