But, I’m taking the credit for the win today.

Around 12:30 pm, we decided to take the kids to Friendly’s for lunch and ice cream. While we were there, I got one of those over-sized glasses of soda. After lunch, we elected to go down to the marina to do a little strolling and boat watching. As we were getting ready to leave the boats, the soda starting sending signals to my bladder. But, I thought “Ah, we’ll be home in a few minutes, I can wait.” And, we came home.

When we arrived home, I flicked on the TV and the game was in the bottom of the 8th – just as the “big” rally was starting. So, I sat and watched – and put the need for personal relief on the back burner for a minute. Once the Yankees tied the score in the 8th, I thought “OK, now I can’t move a muscle, or else I risk the whammy” and I sat there, frozen in my position.

And, I continued to sit there, through the 8th, and the 9th, and the 10th, and until the end in the 11th – ignoring my bladder telling me to do otherwise. Let me tell you, standalone, those innings were a heart attack alley. Add a full bladder on that, and, well, it’s taking one for the team. But, as a fan, what else could I be expected to do?

And, yes, the minute Matsui scored in the 11th, it was a great relief and one gauntlet defeated.

As far as picking up Alan Embree, I don’t get it? Boston is hurting for RP like the Yankees are for SP. If he had any value, pitching-wise, the Sox would have never let him go. The only guess I have is that Torre and Cashman want to see if Embree can teach them the Red Sox secret handshake, or something like that.

Seriously, considering the current state of Yankees starting pitching, it’s a sin for this team to piss away a start like the one they got tonight from Mussina.

Lastly, just for the record, if the Red Sox trade Manny and two of their better prospects in exchange for Aubrey Huff and Mike Cameron, I will have a bounce in my step for days – maybe months.

Al Leiter does his best Karl Wallenda and somehow keeps it to a 1-0 game through five. F-Rod, go figure, gets it to seven, and then the bullpen starts throwing grapefruits and it’s a 6-0 game heading into the bottom of the 8th.

That’s the shame – within a few frames late in the game, this one went from possible squeaker to way-uphill in a hurry.

Bernie’s “foul homer” in the 8th was just about the summary of his season this year in one AB, huh? The minute that went foul, and it was 0-2, I said to my wife “Watch, now he’ll whiff” – and he did.

You know, since the All-Star break, excluding that one 11-10 wild game in Texas on July 18th, the Yankees are averaging 4.58 runs scored per game. With their pitching situation, 4.58 runs a game is just not going to cut it.

Besides the fact that Boston won tonight, this game hurts because there’s an excellent chance that the Yankees are going to lose 2 of their next 3 games – because of who will be starting them.

What a great entry into the dog days of August.

Yes, I believe the Unit has landed. A no-no would have been a beautiful thing tonight – but, the win is the most important takeaway this evening – along with some evidence that whatever old-age thing may be bothering Johnson, that it can’t be that bad.

You know when the clock strikes 9 pm EST, and they’re playing God Bless America at the Stadium, you’ve got a pitcher’s duel cooking. It was great to watch.

Also, from this game, let the record stand: If Robinson Cano hits in his next 43 games in a row, I want a recount on that ball that was supposedly an inch off the right field foul line tonight.

A thought: If the Yankees do sign Ruben Rivera, will they have to place a security guard over Unit’s gum-holder-glove every time he pitches? Remember the fuss a few seasons back on Luis Gonzalez ABC gum? That would be nothing compared to actual Big Unit Game Chew on the market.

Lastly, Brian Cashman, if you’re reading this, and were thinking of picking up Danys Baez – please, do not. Anyone who can’t hold a 2-run lead over Boston in the 9th – or preserve a tie in the 10th – is not someone who would be a good fit for the Yankees pen.

It would have been nice to see Tampa hold that 8-6 lead tonight. Oh, well, tomorrow is another day.

Truth be told, the minute the news on Wang broke, if you told me that the Yankees would split their games against Boston and L.A. on this trip, and win the series in Texas, I would have signed on for that – so, in the end, a 6-5 road-trip is not all that bad. It just stings a little because it could have been a 8-3 trip, just as easy as it was a 6-5 trip.

One week left until the trading deadline. And, the loss by Boston today means the Yankees are 1.5 back of first with 65 games to go. The travel day on Monday could be the perfect day to break the news of a trade.

To the game, this was another one of those where I could not stay awake. I fell asleep in the 5th, then woke up in the 7th, and went to bed, even though the score was 8-6 at the time. I was hoping to wake up to a surprise comeback victory and watching the highlights on ESPN this AM. But, no luck on that.

During parts of the game on YES, that I saw, Bobby Murcer and Michael Kay were going on and on about how much time/work/treatment that Brown needs – just to get to the point to be able to toe the rubber for a start. Is it worth it at this point? If Brown is still this bad by mid-August, it’s time to DL him for good, or tell him that he can retire. Yeah, he has guts for going out there like this – but, he’s not helping the team.

Do you remember the “Brand New Day” that started a week ago?

Well, since that day, the only Yankees to hit are A-Rod, Cano, Jeter, Giambi, and Tino. On the flip side, Posada, Bernie, and Sheffield have tanked. Matsui has been OK.

On the pitching-side, TanGorMo and F-Rod have been fine. And, Unit and Moose have pitched well. Everyone else has been stinkweed.

I hope Mussina can keep it up today and that maybe some of the slumping bats can wake up before they come home.

If anything, this should tell you that Sheffield is a huge key for the Yankees. He’s 1 for 16 in his last four games, and the Yankees have lost three of those contests. I’m not blaming Sheff for the losses. I’m just saying that when he hits, it’s a whole different team.

This was another game where I could not stay awake. I passed out in the 3rd inning and the woke up around the 7th and threw in the towel and went to bed.

From what I saw in the last two games, I would say that the Angels are pumped. K-Rod in the 9th, after the final out, on Thursday, and the Molina brothers, in this game, after scoring in 2nd, acted like this just won the World Series (at least to me).

Heck, the Angels always play the Yankees like it’s the World Series – and their record shows it. I just wish they played this way against Boston in the ALDS last year instead of rolling over like a submissive poodle.

Now, many might see this as an excuse, but, I blame this road-trip for most of what we’re seeing in Cali. It’s an insane trip and shame on MLB for doing this. Eleven games in 11 days, three stops, each in a different time zone? Between the stress of playing in Boston, and then the heat in Texas, and now the time change on the West Coast, no wonder the team has looked a little flat the last couple of games.

They’re going to need that off day on Monday.

I’m 9 and 1/2 months older than Randy Johnson. So, when I tell you this, it’s from experience. This is always the way it’s going to be for him. Stuff is going to pop-up – esp. with the back. I know, trust me, I know. That’s the most frustrating part about being this age, with respect to doing anything physical, like sports, when you least expect it, something happens that will prevent you from performing at 100%, or even 90%, and it’s almost always nagging. For me, it’s the back, or my neck muscles, or the Achilles Tendon, or tendonitis in the elbow/forearm, or a chest pull. It’s just no fun getting older, when it comes to sports. And, all the titanium jewelry in the world is not going to make a difference.

Now, to the game, I fell asleep just as Proctor came into the game and woke up in the 8th inning. So, I was spared most of the bad news, in terms of getting it first hand. But, I think, at least I hope, that we will soon see the last of Scott Proctor. It’s just not working for him at this level.

And, despite Groom’s night, I’m not giving up on him. I think the issue there is how he’s being used. If you just use him as a LOOGY, he should have value. If you think he can be a bridge pitcher, you’re wrong (Joe).

And, I know that Giambi hit two bombs last night. (By the way, four homers and five runs? These Han Solos are killing the Yankees.) And, I know that Jason has his BA up to .288 after being left for dead. But, I’m sorry, if you’re going to be The Man, then when you’re up in the 9th, down by a run, with a runner on 3rd and there’s only one out, you have to make contact in that situation. It’s the difference between being an Aaron Boone and a David Ortiz.

Lastly, if only Posada’s ball in the 9th had been 8 feet to the left or the right……..it was that close. Sooooo close. Darn, darn, darn, darn, darn.