Game 2: Random Reflections

Every Yankees blog out there provides “random” reflections regarding the game and the various elements within the game, such as the pitching, the offense, the defense, the umpiring, and so on and so forth. I figure I might as well conform to weblog norms and do the same, so as to remain relevant and deflect a sense of deviancy. Here’s my attempt (bare with me since it really is a random compilation).

• A.J. Burnett was excellent last night. Plus, his 1 ER of the evening should not have been as Alex Rodriguez committed an error at third base, which was inexplicably ruled an RBI single for Matt Stairs (he plated Raul Ibanez).
• I think it’s safe to say that Jose Molina will catch A.J. Burnett in his next start at Citizen’s Bank Park. Posada will ride the pine until Burnett is out of the game.
• Joe Girardi’s decision to use Jerry Hairston Jr. worked in that J-Hair got himself a hit and got on base (5-year old splits are useful, apparently). He was then pinch-run for by Brett Gardner, who later scored after a hit-and-run (thanks, Melky) and a pinch-hit RBI single from Jorge Posada.
• Regardless of the Hairston-Swisher move’s effectiveness, Nick Swisher should be back in the lineup to face Cole Hamels in Game 3.
• Pedro Martinez is something, huh? While Burnett pitched extremely well, Pedro almost matched him with 6 solid innings. He allowed 2 ER (HR to Tex, HR to Matsui) and struck out 8.
• What was the deal with Derek Jeter’s bunt attempt in the 7th? How do you try and bunt when you have 2 strikes on you, no outs, and runners at first and second? That may have been the biggest tactical blunder Jeter has ever made, offensively, as he ultimately struck out trying to bunt.
• After Jeter’s failed bunt, the umpires—specifically Brian Gorman—messed up again, costing the Yankees, not one, but two outs. It was a moment where hilarity and frustration united for a warm embrace.
• Mariano notched his 14th 6-out postseason save last night. It was a little bumpy in the 8th inning but, in all honesty, Mo is a machine. Still, the 6-out save, while great for conversation, isn’t a good thing. It’s basically an indictment of what was supposed to the Yankees’ biggest strength—the bullpen. Girardi made the right call, however, and if he continues going to Mariano for more two-inning saves, I don’t think anyone would really complain.
• Teixeira needed that HR off of Pedro. Ditto for Matsui. Now, the Yankees just need to get A-Rod going again (I’ll talk about him in-depth, later).
• The play-by-play provided by Tim McCarver and Joe Buck was awful last night. Nothing new, really, but I thought they were particularly bad in Game 2.
• Some are criticizing Charlie Manuel for leaving Pedro Martinez in for the 7th inning, however, he was facing Jerry Hairston Jr. Those same people were complaining about J-Hair being in the lineup a few hours earlier. If you’re arguing that Pedro should not have been in to face Jerry Hairston, aren’t you tacitly asserting that J-Hair is a threat? Now, I disagree with the Hairston move, but I’m not criticizing Charlie Manuel. He thought Pedro could get Hairston out and you can’t really blame him for thinking that way (though he probably should have pulled Pedro after he gave up a hit to Hairston, rather than letting him face Melky Cabrera).
• Chan Ho Park suddenly looks like Billy Ray Cyrus. That’s wrong on a number of levels.
• Kudos to Joe Girardi for the way he managed the game. He left A.J. Burnett in for 7 innings, which was the right move. On Twitter, a few folks were clamoring for Burnett to be pulled after 6 so as to avoid another implosion akin to his Game 5 ALCS start. However, that comparison makes little sense. Burnett struggled in Game 5 against the Angels, giving up 4 ER early, and he didn’t have the strikeout pitch working. That wasn’t the case in last night’s game, as everything was working for him. Girardi also gets credit for the hit-and-run in the 7th that led the team’s 3rd run. Good call, skip.
• Ryan Howard looked like a fool in Game 2, striking out 4 times. Andy Pettitte, keep it going, please.

Well, that was longer than I had hoped. Back with more a bit later.

Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images