The game that was doomed from the start...

Although I haven't yet read all the blog feeds this morning, I can almost predict what they are going to say... "The Moose has got to go". Now I don't agree with this statement and I do think the Mike Mussina brings value to the team but not matched up against Josh Beckett. I just don't think it is a fair deal. Moose should be at the end of the rotation and would be right now if it weren't for the scheduling difficulties related to Pettitte's delayed presence at the start of this season. I think Girardi needs to figure out a way to get his starters back in right order.



Ok. So let's jump to last night's game... Mussina is in the number two spot and on the mound. There is not much we can really do about that. But did he have to pitch two home runs to Manny Ramirez? I defended both Mussina and Girardi last weekend when everyone was questioning the controversial pitch to Manny (with first base open) that ultimately broke open a win for Boston last Saturday. I think there was nothing wrong with last Saturday's decision to pitch to Manny. It was a decision that was made, a risk, that turned out to be a bad one. Fine. But as George Bush said so eloquently once, "You fool me-- you can't get fooled again" Bottom line: Girardi should have known better. Mussina should have pitched around Manny and moved on to the next batter. It is that simple. Those two home runs last night not only put numbers on the scoreboard but they deflated a lot of energy from the Yankee hitters. Inexcusable.

I had other commentary to make about this game but none of it matters. I was going to write about Fartsworth's pitch inside to Manny but quite honestly, I am tired of talking about Manny. I can't understand why Matsui would be brought in off the bench to pinch hit when we have other more capable people to come the plate in that kind of a situation. Instead, I am going to take a deep breath, be positive, and look forward to this weekend's match up against Baltimore.

Final Score: Boston 7 - Yankees 5