I’m not 100% sure where that places on the “turn of ugly events” scale? It’s not as bad as taking a shower in prison, and, for a brief moment, forgetting where you are and bending over to pick up a bar of soap off the floor. And, perhaps it’s not as bad as being forced to take your one-eyebrowed cousin with bad B.O. to your high school prom. But, it’s still a major harshing of your mellow…again, if you’re a Yankees fan.

However, thanks to Jeter, Damon, Teixeira and a gaggle of Tribe relievers, the Yankees were able to knot the score, for the moment, in the eighth inning, and take the “W” away from the American Idle.

Too bad the Yankees could not close the deal on this one.

I know that many are quick to blame Gardner, Robertson, Coke and/or perhaps, to an extent, Hughes for this one. But, to me, those guys are all green and should not be counted on to do the heavy lifting in a game like this one.

I have to go back to that eighth inning – right after Teixeira got that clutch double to tie the game. After that hit, the Yankees had a runner on second (Tex) representing the tie-breaking run – with their four and five hitters due up, A-Rod and Cano, and just one out. But, the two colossuses of clutch could not get the job done against the immortal Matt Herges…and that left the game tied until the ninth when it all came crashing down.

Once Alex and Robbie let the air out of the balloon in that spot…I just knew that this one was going to be dicey…and could go either way…especially with “Cashman’s Bullpen of Doom” at the ready. It was just a matter of time…

Yet, when I watch him pitch, I still don’t see him as a “Yankee” – yet. Maybe it’s because he’s an absolute mess in the way he wears his uniform? Maybe it’s because he’s only made 10 starts for the team so far? Maybe it’s because he’s the poster child for Yankees “throw money at a problem” solution method – and it’s hard to love a high-priced mercenary? Maybe it’s a combination of all three? I dunno…

I’m just hoping this feeling goes away soon…because I really, really, want to like the guy…and I’m not feeling it yet.

Now, on the other hand, Jose Veras…

…can someone please tell me why this guy is still on the big league team? He was terrible in his last 21 games for the Yankees last season and he’s still terrible this year. Hey, Cashman, three words for you on this one: “Veras Must Go!”

But, not so!

Alfredo Aceves did a really nice job bridging the gap between Andy Pettitte’s exit via back stiffness and Sandman time. (Speaking of Pettitte, let’s hope this goes away quick – because he will pitch hurt and that’s not always the best thing for him or the team.)

The Yankees now own first place in the A.L. East (for the first time since the last day of the 2006 regular season). And, I won’t jinx them by mentioning their magic number.

Speaking of numbers, how about those Boston Red Sox? They’ve gone 9-10 in their last 19 games, 14-13 in their last 27 games, and 15-15 in their last 30 games. If not for that 10-game winning streak that they had from April 15th through April 26th, they would be in really tough shape right now.

Then again, you could say the same thing about the Yankees and their 9-game winning streak from May 13th to May 21st.

Maybe the A.L. East this season will come down to the team who puts together the most winning streaks?

Nice to see A.J. Burnett start to work things out. Even nicer to see Hideki Matsui blast two big flies. I never get tired of watching Godzilla crush a baseball. Actually, even though this one was a laughter of sorts, there were many pleasant things to see in it…sans Jose Veras, of course.

But, most importantly, it’s a good game to win. Next, the Yankees have to play in Cleveland for four, then they have seven at home against Texas and Tampa, and then they have to head to Fenway for three and then come home for another three against the Mets. That’s not an easy 17 game run. Better to be coming off “two out of three wins” before that one – than to be coming off “four out of six losses” (which would have been the case if not for this win).

Joba Chamberlain, in his own words, was terrible in this one. Alfredo Aceves was not much better.

Let the Austin Jackson debates begin if Melky Cabrera has to go on the disabled list now…

Oh, and, by the way, are you still loving Nick Swisher? Back in March, I said that Swisher is “more like a Brad Wilkerson or Jon Nunnally type of player. Someone who probably should be a fourth outfielder rather than a starting outfielder.” That’s starting to look more and more true. Of course, the problem is, the Yankees have no one else to play, now, in his place. Great roster management, Mr. Cashman.

 Date	  Opp	Pit	G Sc
05/25/09  @TEX	101	81
05/01/07  @TEX	80	76
04/28/09  @DET	99	72
09/24/08  @TOR	100	70
09/27/07  @TBD	102	68
08/10/07  @CLE	95	65
04/03/08   TOR	87	59
09/11/07  @TOR	106	58
09/05/07   SEA	97	58
04/24/08  @CHW	23	55
09/17/08   CHW	89	52
05/20/09   BAL	89	51
09/17/07   BAL	96	50
08/26/07  @DET	97	49
08/15/07   BAL	94	47
08/20/07  @LAA	92	44
09/22/07   TOR	99	43
05/15/09   MIN	93	41
04/26/07   TOR	91	37
04/08/08  @KCR	87	33
05/04/09   BOS	94	32
08/31/07   TBD	94	31
04/18/08  @BAL	97	29
08/04/07   KCR	92	29
04/29/08   DET	82	20
04/13/08  @BOS	65	18
05/09/09  @BAL	53	 5

Interesting: The best six games of Hughes’ big league career have all come on the road. And, eight of his ten best games have been as a visiting player. Maybe Phil doesn’t like the Bronx? My theory: Lefty-batters have a BA/OBA/SLG line of .326/.406/.562 in (102 PA) against Hughes at Yankee Stadium – in his career to date. To put it simply, lefties bat like Babe Ruth against Phil in New York…

Back to today’s success…it seems like aggressively swinging teams are no match for Hughes – if you believe that teams like the Rangers, Tigers, Blue Jays, Rays, and Indians of recent note are aggressively swinging teams…

Me? Dunno. I would have to look into that some more before I signed off on that one. What do you think?

[Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the picture.]

We had fun. It was “Bat Day” – so the kids got free bats. They had an on-the-field pre-game autograph session with the players – so the kids got some autographs from the players and had their pictures taken with some too. And, at the end of the game, the kids got to go on the field and run the bases. Now…that’s a day at the ballpark. (I got to see former Yankee Dan Miceli come into the game and throw a bit for the Ducks. And, since our seats were right behind the Pats’ on-deck circle, I got to see Somerset’s Matt Hagen – who played second today, up close. He’s built like Travis Hafner and can rake. Hey, it’s the little things that make me happy…)

Got home and found out that the Yankees wasted a fine effort from CC Sabathia today. Saw that Brian Cashman’s boy genius find Brett Tomko took the loss.

So, this is what we know about the 2009 Yankees so far this season:

Ability to beat the Boston Red Sox: None.
Ability to beat the Baltimore Orioles: Plenty.
Ability to narrowly beat the Minnesota Twins: Sure.
Ability to beat the Philadelphia Phillies without the assistance of a Brad Lidge meltdown: Very little.

If you ask me, the Yankees are starting to look like a team who is more than capable of beating up on the weak teams, and keep up with the good teams, but not able to beat the very good teams.

Now, I know that some say: That’s good. Your wins against the weak teams offset the losses against the very good ones…and then you make your season if you can beat the good ones. Sure, maybe that’s a way to win more than you lose, overall…however, when you get to October, and then only play very good teams, you get bounced in the ALDS – as the Yankees have been doing since 2005. Same ol’, same ol’…no?

Actually, I’m still willing to give it three more weeks. Let’s see where the Yankees are on June 15th – and how they do between now and then…should be interesting watching how they do in their next 20 games.

Things were looking prittay..prittay…bleak…for a while in this one.

Pettitte was decent sans a couple of mistakes that went a long way. However, the Yankees offense looked like Bernie Lomax against J.A. Happ.

By the way, how cool would it have been if A.J. Zapp had a chance to bat against J.A. Happ? (And, is it just me who gets A.J. Zapp confused with Ron Wright sometimes? Must be the “Braves 1B pick” thing? I wonder if Zapp would have been as happy as Wright to have just one game in the bigs – albeit a funky one?)

In any event, that bottom of the ninth inning was IMPRESSIVE. All of it. Damon’s tough At Bat – working out the walk. A-Rod’s homer. Cano’s single and steal. And, of course, Melky’s winner. Very, very, impressive…

Yes, color me impressed. Well, sorta/kinda…

…because, for all we know, this game could have been more a matter of the fact that Brad Lidge is terrible now. Check the stats. Prior to the ninth inning today, the last 42 batters to face Lidge this season have fashioned a BA/OBA/SLG line of .351/.405/.676 – over nine games. That’s one Phugly Phillie. Just something to keep in mind…

Tomorrow should be fun. Big CC and Hamels locking up. If the Yankees can win that one…and take two of three from the defending champs…that would say a lot more to me, about this Yankees team than the wins against the Twins and O’s. Of course, we have to wait and see…

Let’s see: J-Roll takes A.J. Burnett deep on the first pitch of the game. Next, with his second pitch of the game, Burnett hits Chase Utley. So…

In the bottom of the first inning, Brett Myers gets a quick strike one on Derek Jeter (leading off for the Yankees). Next, with his second pitch of the game, Myers throws one behind Jeter’s back – sending the message that he, and his team, will not be pushed around…and that’s how this game went.

For seven innings, Myers stuffed it down the Yankees throats – before tiring in the eighth. And, on the flip-side, the Phils’ Carlos Ruiz and Jayson Werth played “Who can hit it farther?” off Burnett. (Werth won, by the way.)

Worm Killer Wang closed it out for the Yankees…slopping his way through three innings…allowing two runs…but also saving a Yankees hurting pen (by not bringing cause to use someone else).

The Yankees have to face Cole Hamels on Sunday. Next, the unreliable Phil Hughes pitches on Monday for New York – followed by sore-kneed Joba Chamberlain the day after that. And, four days from this game. A.J. Burnett goes again. What does this all mean? Simple: As much as the nine game winning streak was nice…the Yankees just may have started a streak tonight where they’re going to lose five of six games (in their series against the Phillies and Rangers). Also, it could be six losses in a row if Andy Pettitte fails against the Phils tomorrow.

Then again, maybe the Yankees will win their next five games in a row? Who knows, right? That’s what baseball is all about…

I missed the start of this game. I had to work late and didn’t get home until 7:45 pm ET. And, I turned it on just before Robbie Cano homered in the second.

You can imagine my shock when the top of the third started and I saw Alfredo Aceves on the mound and not Joba Chamberlain. My initial thought was: “Wow. I wonder if Joba nailed the Mocking Bird with a pitch and got ejected?” And, then, the fellas in the YES booth soon gave an update on what really happened to Chamberlain…and I was up to speed.

Since you can never believe what the Yankees say, and they’re saying that they are “hopeful” that Joba makes his next start, I think we have to wait and see on this one…in terms of how bad it is…

O.K., as I said yesterday, the O’s stink. Now, comes the real test – the Phillies. It will be very interesting to see how the Yankees do in their next three games. It will tell us if this team is for real, or, if the last seven games were just a gift from playing the Twins in New York and playing the Orioles, period.