The Futility Infielder

Well, that worked. Bronx Banter's Alex Belth and I attended Tuedsay night's Yankees-Red Sox game and watched the Bombers return to form, winning 11-3. The two of us were also in the house the last time the Yanks won at home, on May 14 vs. Anaheim. Since then it's been 8 straight losses in the House o' Ruth, a streak which justifiably has mad King George frothing and sharpening his guillotine, as you'd expect. Alex and I are going to have to go to more games if we're going to keep the Yanks on track, I guess.

I've got a longer writeup of the game in store [it's now up here], but for now, check out what Alex has to say of the ballgame, and read his interview with Allen Barra. Allen's off base when he busts out the rusty old Juan Samuel comparisons for Alfonso Soriano, and a bit hyperbolic in other spots, but he's on the same page as the rest of us griping about the Yanks.

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Speaking of hyperbolic griping about the Yanks, Larry Mahnken gets off a good one at Derek Jeter's expense (see May 26 entry):

After Jeter was injured on Opening Day, the Yankees went 25-11 until his return. Since his return, they have been 3-11. I think you can guess where I'm going here.

We must kill Derek Jeter.

Hey, I like the guy, but it's obvious that his presence on this team has ruined their rythym, and that the mere thought of his imminent return sent waves of panic through the team, as they went 3-5 in the games before his return. Bernie Williams and Nick Johnson were so eager to get away from his awful presence that they injured themselves in the days following his activation. Even the ball dreads him, as shown by it's proclivity for avoiding his glove. There can be no other explanation for his inablity to get to balls hit in his area, as he is clearly an excellent defensive shortstop, as evidenced by that play two years ago where he was out of position.

Elsewhere Larry refers to the Yankee relievers as "a bullpen that makes Baby Jesus cry." If I were drinking beer at this early hour, it would be coming out of my nose right now...