Yanks rout Phillies.
What a nice change of pace......I was home to watch the game tonight. Usually I work weeknights, so catching a game live is a nice treat. And a Yankee victory is an added bonus. I can't believe the season is almost upon us.....about a week to go until 2008 and our last season at (this) Yankee Stadium. It seems like ST has just flown by, hasn't it? At least it feels that way to me.
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Phil Hughes started the game tonight, earning his 3rd win of this pre-season and throwing 5 strong innings. They weren't stellar, he did give up 3 runs (including a HR), but he struck out six and only walked two.....so that's something to go on. I'm curious to see how he adjusts to a full season in the rotation, rather than just coming in during the last 1/3 or so. Relieving him tonight were Traber, some guy named Rivera, LaTroy Hawkins and Brian Bruney to close the game. That Rivera guy pitched one inning and struck out 3. I wonder if he's any good. Great work from the pitching staff tonight, although when your offense spots you 13 runs, you kind of expect the pitching to hold it.
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It was a close game for a while, at least until the Yankees put the afterburners on and torched the Phillies pitching staff to the tune of 13 runs and 19 hits. All our big guys were in the lineup tonight and they all did very well; Melky went 2-4 with 2 RsBI, DJ went 3-4, Alex went 2-3 and scored twice (he's hitting .471 so far...not too shabby for a no-good chokey loser chokeface), Jason went 2-2 with 2 RsBI, Robbie went 3-4 with 5 RsBI (FIVE!) and Shelley went 3-4 with an RBI. So the people you expect to hit well and bring in the runs....did just that. Our best hitters so far this ST have been Alex, Bobby Abreu, Godzilla, Robbie, Jason and Shelley Duncan.....people we need to replicate that during the season. That's not saying they all need to hit over .400 (which they currently are), but them hitting well consistently is key. I keep saying every year that we won't have a problem with that, and inevitably....we do. Please let this year be different. I want this to be the year the Yankees go back to being the team everyone loves to hate......because we won it all, not because we lost. Again.
Beth, I have to tell you, the Yankees shouldn't waste another minute on this guy Mariano. What nerve! Issuing a walk, in Spring Training? Sure, he struck out the side. But he threw four extra pitches because of that walk. There has to be room in Trenton for him. We can't have roster spots soaked up with slouches like that. Maybe a few years down the road, but he's clearly not ready.
Seriously, this team will be fine, especially the offense. They need health, good pitching, and patient at-bats. If they get those three, they're the team to beat. That offense will produce. I know it in my heart of hearts. The ST numbers are high and (probably) too much to ever ask, but the sheer depth, talent, and smarts of the Yankees' lineup is a sight to behold when it's clicking--and it often is. To me, the keys are the other things--health and good pitching.
I have to add that I'm impressed with Hawkins. It's ST, I know, but the guy has been very good. I'd love to see him as a quality 7th inning guy. What a great change of pace THAT would be.
Opening Day one week away.
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