This Is How The 2009 Yankees Win Games

You get the sense the Yankees are going to win a lot of these types of games this season judging by how things have gone so far (or, if they're going to win, this is how they need to do it): A couple of bloops, a couple of homers, 4 runs or less from the starters, a few solid innings from their bullpen and then the old Mariano.

When Joba gave up 3 runs in the first inning, Jay sent me a message "Joba...another 3-run HR in the first. It's bullpen time." But like last time, Joba settled down and threw a nice game. And the numbers were worse than he actually pitched as his defense gave him no help whatsoever.

Here's an example of that bad defense: In the bottom of the 4th, Joba had a runner on first with one out. There was a slow grounder up the middle, but closer to short. This is Jeter's ball. He's playing at double play depth and cheating up the middle. But not only does he not get close to the ball, he doesn't even dive or get a glove on it. It may not have been a double play, but it at least would have been an easy out at second. Melky comes in to pick up the ball. He has no shot at third, but he decides to throw anyways. This allows Pie to get to second on he play. Joba got the next two batters out without giving up a run, but to the person who didn't see the sequence develop, they would think he got himself into big trouble again.

And as for that "Joba-to-the-'pen" nonsense, on a day after Hughes was unable again to be an effective starter, Joba showed that he could be one for the Yankees. Furthermore, do you really want a guy coming out the bullpen who has these stats in his first inning: 6 innings, 13 hits, 9 earned runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, 3 HR. 13.50 ERA, .481 average against? That looks about what the Yankees are getting from the likes of Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez and Damasco Marte now. Especially when these are he numbers you are getting after the first inning: 29.2 innings, 23 hits, 6 earned runs, 14 walks, 31 strikeouts, 1 HR. 1.82 ERA, .235 average against (H/T Peter Abraham).

Of course, the Yankee offense needs to find ways to do other things than hit homeruns. Especially from guys who don't usually give that to you. Damon had 3 Ks, a GIDP...and a game-winning 3 run HR. The other day Teixeira had a big three-run double in the game, but had chances with runners on third and less than two outs earlier in the game and later in the game and did nothing. The last time would have won the game for the Yankees. They will be in big trouble this season if they continue to stink in situational hitting and wait for the big blast. The Red Sox aren't 19-12 because they smack the ball out of the park all the time, but they know how to have productive at bats and have productive situational hitting. And that's not about sacrifice bunting (they have zero sac bunts), since sacrifice bunting is just giving away outs, but it's about getting hits with RISP.

Lastly, Phil Coke and Mariano Rivera were two big spots for the Yankees today. Coke has seemed to gain the confidence of Joe Girardi for his setup man. After pitching two big innings today, Phil Coke has added to his big stats for the past month: Since April 13th, Coke has given up one run (on a good pitch that was hit out by Carlos Pena), 4 hits, 1 walk, 5 Ks in 10 innings, lowering his ERA from 9.82 to 3.29. And Mo was Mo once again. He made it interesting by issuing a walk, but got around it for his 6th save of the season and a series win for the Yankees.