Bronx, N.Y., April 17, 2008 — It has been no secret for the last few years that Yankee starter Mike Mussina needs to spot his diminished fastball, hitting the plate’s black with some throws, deliberately missing it with others. Given the fine assortment of off-speed changes and benders in his arsenal, it is a strategy that can work for the righthander. On Thursday night in the Bronx, we found out what happens when he can’t hit his spots with his other pitches. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., April 16, 2008 — It didn’t take long for the 55,000 Red Sox and Yankees fans who crowded into Yankee Stadium Wednesday night to learn that they were in for a different kind of game. Clay Buchholz’s Sox had fallen to Chien-Ming Wang and the Yankees 3-1 in Fenway Park just five days earlier, in a well-pitched, tight contest, and the same starters toed the rubber this night. It oversimplifies things to say this was an”other” game entirely; it was almost “other”worldly. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., April 7, 2008 — The Yanks of 2008 seem to be building a reputation for doing things the hard way. They struggled to an opening series win over Toronto by eking out two 3-2 victories. And now they have salvaged a four-gamer with Tampa Bay by winning the third and fourth games in frigid Yankee Stadium. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., April 6, 2008 — The Yanks evened their record at 3-3 Sunday in a double-well-pitched beaut in frigid Yankee Stadium. Although the offense did not break out, they did have their second consecutive nine-hit game, a hopeful sign. You got the feeling that the offense that broke through and scored a run first would win, as Chien-Ming Wang and James Shields each brought their “A” game. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., April 4, 2008 — The Yanks suffered an embarrassing 13-4 defeat to the visiting Tampa Bay Rays (no “Devil,” thank you) Friday night in a game many supposed would be rained out. It’s not hard to imagine that in a loss by nine runs, there is more negative than positive to be taken away from this game. Ian Kennedy was pounded early; Latroy Hawkins late. But in between those two hard cookie coatings, the Yankee pen provided some seriously delectable “cream.” Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., April 3, 2008 — The debate goes on as the Blue Jays and the Yanks played another game Thursday where the offenses struggled. Is it that the hitters aren’t ready? Or are most of the guys who have pitched that good? Take your pick, but I wouldn’t dismiss the third school of thought on this either: It’s just too cold. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., April 2, 2008 — The Yankee offense hit its first peak at 7:23 Wednesday night, when A.J. Burnett fired three straight 94-mph fastballs out of the zone to Johnny Damon. Despite coaxing one soft grounder or fly after another, Mike Mussina was already down 1-0 on an unearned first-inning run, and fans were pumped that their leadoff hitter was all but on in the bottom half. Unfortunately, after a meek Damon bounce out to short on a 3-2 pitch, the second peak came two hours later once Burnett finally did allow his first walk, to Bobby Abreu leading off the home seventh. Continue reading →