The Bronx is buzzing that Jorge Posada's bum shoulder will need season-ending surgery. But really, it was just a matter of time before this fate befell him, no? Even at the plate he was not himself, and more glaring were his throws to second base; defensively he had become a bit of a liability too. And so hopefully for the Yankees, he'll be back next season. I'm not convinced that Jose Molina is the Yankees catcher of the future, but for now he's good enough.
Meanwhile, this is still one of the hottest in baseball and tonight it's Mike Mussina's turn to keep it up against his former team, the Baltimore Orioles. While last night didn't necessarily go as planned, winning two out of three games against the Red Sox after the All-Star break is not a bad result. It's Darren here to take you through the first game against the Orioles, stay tuned.
Top 1st -- Mussina walked the speedy Brian Roberts to lead off the inning and Nick Markakis slapped a base hit to left, but Roberts was thrown out at the plate by Derek Jeter. Why he had the green light at third with one out? No idea. Mussina struck out Aubrey Huff to end the inning. Mussina caught a break by getting out of the first untouched.
Bottom 1st -- Johnny Damon struck out, and Brian Roberts made a spectacular defensive play on a tough ground ball to put out Jeter for the second out before retiring Bobby Abreu.
Top 2nd -- Kevin Millar hit a three-run home run on a first-pitch breaking ball from Mussina. Millar, he just keeps hanging around doesn't he? Now the Yankees find themselves needing to come back yet again. Ramon Hernandez then hits a solo shot to make the score 4-0. Four runs on four hits. Orioles 4, Yankees 0
Bottom 2nd -- Both A-Rod and Giambi gave it a ride to right-center and left field, respectively, and Cano grounded out to end the inning. Six up and six down. Guthrie rolling.
Top 3rd -- More troubles for Moose, though no runs scored. Aubrey Huff easily lifted a double off the wall before striking out Mora and Scott to end the inning. Mussina just doesn't look like he has much out there.
Bottom 3rd -- Guthrie retires the Yankees in order again. Exactly nine batters up and nine batters down.
Top 4th -- Damon finally gets a base hit offbut Jeter hit into a double play to stifle any hope of getting something going with the lead runnier on. A-Rod is retired to end the inning. Guthrie still going strong.
Bottom 4th -- Still no offense for the Yankees, doesn't seem as though Mussina will survive for much longer.
Top 5th -- Brian Roberts hits a double down the right field line and is driven in on a RBI triple by Adam Jones to give Baltimore a 5-0 lead. Jones scored to make it 6-0. With every game important as it is in the AL East its surprising to see such a lackluster performance from the Yankees when they had been playing so well.
Bottom 5th -- Giambi strikes out, Jones made a nice play on a fly ball to center by Cano. Guthrie hit Nady with a pitch in the back (expect a payback from the next pitcher to protect the new teammate). Melky lined out to right to end the inning. Still 6-0, Orioles.
Top 6th -- Adam Jones hit his first career grand slam against David Robertson to give the Orioles an 11-0 lead. Robertson had no more than Mussina did today, and was replaced by Edwar Ramirez who came in to end the inning. Orioles 11, Yankees 0.
Bottom 6th -- Jeter reaches on a single, Abreu walked. Guthrie brushed A-Rod with a fastball to load the bases; of course Giambi struck out to end the inning.ama
Top 7th -- Damaso Marte comes in during the seventh and gives up one hit, strikes out a pair. He is going to be lights out as a set up man.
Bottom 7th -- Finally, the Yankees get to Guthrie. Xavier Nady hit a solo a home run for his first base hit as a member of the team. Yankees get pumped up when Johnny Damon hit a three-run home run down the right field line. A-Rod struck out to end the rally. Orioles 11, Yankees 4
Top 8th -- Aubrey Huff, doing his best Josh Hamilton impression, cracked a bomb to right field and Orioles get two more runs on the board. Orioles 13, Yankees 4
Bottom 8th -- The Yankees threatened in the eighth with two runners on, but then again, even threatening to score this late in the game seems as if they would only be delaying the inevitable.
Top 9th -- Kevin Millar reached on a double to lead off and Veras loaded the bases to face Adam Jones who already hit a grand slam. Veras got out of the inning setting up a last chance for the Yankees offense.
Bottom 9th -- Betemit grounds out, Sexson reached on a single to left, but it was for nothing as Justin Christian popped up to end the game.
Comments (4)
Oh crap.....the real Moose picked a heckuva time to show up.
This game is putrid.
Here's the thing. This is a prime example of why I don't think he should be re-signed, no matter what his record says at the end of the year. When he's winning he's fooling guys but if he's not fooling you then the ball is going to travel a long long way.
Chip: Exactly on your comments about Moose. He can't win when he's not perfect. This is why Yanks should explore every avenue for a starter to replace Rasner and or Ponson. The rotation has three weak links which is not good for the team to survive the playoff race. Unlike our competitors the Rays and Red Sox can throw quality out there just about every night.
Here's a profound statement. "Its difficult to comeback from 11-0."
I should be on ESPN.
The Yankees lost one catcher but gained another this week. No, this one won't help the team today or tomorrow, but his addition to the system easily will help give the Yankees plenty of options going forward with the position.
Kyle Higashioka has been one of the premier prep catchers in Southern California for three years, a superior defensive receiver to fellow Huntington Beach resident Hank Conger, a 2006 first-rounder. Higashioka does not have Conger's explosive bat. His righthanded uppercut impressed scouts at the 2007 Area Code Games and he has interesting power potential, though it's just pull power right now. His strong frame still has ample projection for his bat. Defensively, Higashioka receives the ball smoothly and is quiet behind the dish. With an accurate arm, he's consistently posting pop times in the 1.95-2.0-second range.
Higashioka had signed a letter of intent to go to Cal and no one expected him to skip college no matter where he was drafted. The Yankees took a shot on him in the 7th round and, just as they did with Austin Jackson, convinced him that college could wait.
Right now he's behind Jesus Montero and Austin Romaine, but the likelihood is that Montero will outgrow his position and wind up at first base.
Another prospect to watch:
Wilkins de la Rosa - he's 23 and at Low A which wouldn't normally be a good thing, but there's a good reason he's there. Until the second half of last year de la Rosa was an outfielder who couldn't hit his way out of a paper bag. Now he's a pitcher letting other hitters know what he was feeling. The left hander has thrown 81 innings with 55 hits, 35 walks and 102 strikeouts.