I think it is perfectly reasonable to be frustrated and disappointed when a rookie who came into the game with an ERA in the neighborhood of 6.50 one-hits the Yankees. This wasn’t Liriano out there.

I don’t think it bodes one way or the other for the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck while it’s happening.

Okay, Don. And as a gentleman, I won’t say what you sound like to me.

Sounds like angst to me.

Yu, Mussina has not been “average” in June and July. Before yesterday, he hadn’t lost since June 15th! And his July was awesome. He never went less than six innings and only once gave up more than three runs (the four he was tagged for in Toronto, when A-Rod threw the ball away). He also K’d 27 batters in 32 IP. He had a so-so start yesterday — let’s not get crazy.

And speaking of getting crazy, you guys are overreacting to what you think was my overreaction. I wasn’t filled with “angst,” and I wasn’t panicking. But if you’re not disappointed when your team gets one-hit — by a rookie who was struggling — then when DO you get disappointed? Yeah, the team can’t go undefeated, but this wasn’t a normal loss — THEY GOT ONE-HIT by a guy with an inflated ERA. The truth is, they should have been NO-HIT, because that little roller by Abreu could easily have been an out. That’s discouraging when over the last few days the offense had been firing. It’s frustrating when a lineup like this can be shut down by some rookie pitcher — and when this lineup doesn’t take advantage of five walks from said pitcher. (And the Yankees have to win all their games against teams like the O’s because their schedule doesn’t get any easier — they still have to play a lot of good teams and their schedule is much harder than the Sox’s.)

So if it doesn’t bother you, thinking about the playoffs, when someone cruises through the lineup and one-hits us, then, hey, don’t be discouraged.

The good-vibes thing: the Yankees made moves at the deadline, those moves were working, Boston had a bunch of players hurt, Yankees moved into first place — everyone was talking about the Yankees steamrolling to the division title — and then they get one-hit. That wipes out all the good vibes they built up. Doesn’t ruin the season. Doesn’t mean they can’t win today. But it does stop the roll they were on.

The Red Sox recalled some 30 year old catcher named Corky Miller. Now they have the makings of one of those old vaudeville acts that used to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show (Corky and Coco, ladies and gentlemen, trained chimps from Borneo!!).

Yeah, I’m a worrier by nature when it comes to the Yanks, but I’m a little stunned by some of the reactions to yesterdays game. Yes, it was a crappy loss, but that stuff happens. Now if they lose today then I’ll probably be right there with everyone, overreacting:)

“Wipe out the good vibes”???

Did you expect the team to go undefeated over the remaining 50+ games.

The only real downside this game showned is that we continue to be mystified by rookie pitchers… at this rate, Boston should just call up every one in Pawtucket and start against us ….

That and Moose have really been only above average after a very strong April and May…. which worries me a bit in the playoffs. though it’s not like the other playoff contenders are really that much better off in this regard…

Angst? After going 9-1 the previous 10 games? When a team loses 62 they had a great regular season? They’ll lose a few more along the way……

Turns out the Tampa bullpen didn’t have to hold that one-run lead. Craig Hansen got whacked for three runs (he now sports a nifty 5.47 ERA). So the Yanks are still one game in first place and they can put the game today behind them.