I agree with Seamus. The Red Sox played the two worst teams they could play, and the Yankees played a below average team and the team with the third best record in the AL (second best possible for them to play since they have second best AL record). In this situation the Yankees should NEVER have gained a game, no matter how close it was. They got unlucky, and they had some poor play (Giambi killed us at the plate yesterday, despite his HR).

Cano putting on a defensive ‘show’? This the guy who nearly misplayed Thome’s grounder for the final out Wednesday and blew a DP? Cano’s defensive skills are supect until proven. His hitting is nice but the team has plenty of bats and as was stated, you win with pitching and defense. This team has average pitching but questionable defense. You aren’t winning a WS by bludgeoning teams.

“Always mystify, mislead and surprise the enemy; and when you strike and overcome him, never let up in the pursuit.”

Stonewall Jackson

ah, Yankees fans! Always seeing the positive, never the negative! Seriously, that was a tough fought series and we definitely blew an opportunity to create serious separation. But what I remember was that before this series, folks were seriously worried that we’d lose ground since we’d be playing chicago and Boston would be playing KC. Three games later and we actually gained a game on Boston. Blown opportunity? Perhaps. But anyone who thinks we’re just going to blow everyone out is unrealistic about how baseball works.

I hear what you’re saying, 98, but the fact remains that the Yankees lost two very winnable games — and that’s not good. Especially the way they lost them. In one game Mo gave up a tying home run and in the other A-Rod made a huge error and the offense didn’t get the job done. If anything, this last game is more frustrating than the one Mo blew. It was a cheap home run in a homer paradise. But A-Rod turning an easy play into two runs and the offense repeatedly not coming through — that stings.

I also don’t like the fact that we could have buried the Sox and we did not. Just think about this: if we had won those two winnable games — say Mo doesn’t give up that home run and A-Rod doesn’t throw that ball away — we would be five games up on the Red Sox. FIVE GAMES. Even through all the bull we went through, we were never that far behind.

As it is, we now have to play a tough team with two tough rookie pitchers, and the Sox get to swat around a lethargic Baltimore team in their own home. How would you feel if, after the Angel series, we were only one game up? I would be pretty disappointed.

I think many are over-reacting. Look, it sucks to strand that many runners, and Arod is most to blame, but if Rivera nails down that save, the Yanks are 4-2, not 3-3. And if the Yanks get a little luck last night, they go 4-2 also. They could’ve easily swept Chicago.

Or look at it this way: losing 2 of 3 to the defending champs is almost expected, but Boston losing 3 to KC is never expected.

Don, that Cano comment looks like you’re quoting something, but I’ll assume it’s your thought.

And it’s a CRAZY thought. Cano was putting on a show at second base this whole series — and he’s been out a month! He bobbled the ball. I hardly think that calls for the reinstatement of Cairo, who couldn’t hit his way out of a wet paper bag. Cano is also pounding the ball, if you hadn’t noticed. And while you might win with defense and pitching, a little hitting helps — and Cano’s bat helps this team more than Cairo’s overrated fielding skills ever could.

Dreadful game.

I hope Cano isn’t going to make us miss Cairo at 2nd base, but he’s apt to do so. I hope I’m wrong about that. Cairo was superb in the field and you win with pitching and defense.

+++++++++++++

Aren’t two of the Angels starters this series rookies? You know what that means for the Yankees.

Oh – sorry for the double post – but 3-3 on a road trip is not awful, even against one bad team and one pretty good team. If the Yankees had won both series 2-1 I don’t think anyone would be complaining – and that’s only one game difference.

Both of these losses against the White Sox hurt because the games were ugly and winnable. I’m inclined to agree that the team is not in playoff form right now – but I’m not inclined to conclude anything about their playoff chances from that. There’s a reason they call these the dog days of August.

I also don’t like stranded runners (and find them very frustrating to watch) but, like double plays, aren’t they more likely to happen the more guys get on? I wonder if a better measure than just counting stranded runners would be counting stranded runners in innings where the team didn’t score, stranded runners in scoring position, and (especially) stranded runners at third (or in scoring position) that got there with fewer than two outs.