Following the Yankees 18 run outburst it looked like they were back and ment business. Apparantly that was just a mirage as this team continues to struggle. The only thing consistant about this team is their inconsistency. One day they look amazing like world beaters (either with a pounding like wednesday or by doing enough to beat Santanna Sat) and then they have games like lastnight or monday, tuesday where they do nothing right and their general interest in the game has to be questioned.
Its hard to question a teams effort because I really hope they are giving it their all. They should be for all the money they are being paid. And good pitching makes teams look lethargic, I know this, but last night was dreadful. They let Jon Lester throw 80 pitches in the last 8 innings and 101 for a complete game shutout. That is a joke. This is supposed to be one of the best lineups in the game not a AA lineup. Continually swinging at the first pitch and doing nothing with it last night. Melky gets a single so Damon and Jeter swing at next two pitches (pop up and GIDP,) it was almost as if the team had somewhere else to be. Maybe a party with Madonna? Maybe Jon Lester was just great lastnight but I think the Yankees lineup was at fault and didnt do anything to tire him. Instead of facing a tired Sox bullpen, now it is rested and ready for the last 3 games of the series.
Hopefully Girardi's message worked and we will see changes today. The teams effort had better be 200% for the rest of the series and till the allstar break. They cannot keep up this kind of play. Maybe last night was rock bottom, or maybe it was the begining of the taking on water and realizing that they cant get rid of it all. Is the ship sinking? It might be soon, they are already 7 games in the loss column behind the Rays and digging a bigger hole everyday. The matchups dont look great for the rest of the series as Beckett faces Rasner today, I'll chalk that up to the Sox, Moose vs Masterson, I would say even due to Mussina's struggles vs Boston and the Sox young pitchers actually win games, and finally Wakefield vs Chamberlain, slight edge Yankees but Chamberlain might be too amped up for a Sunday night game vs Boston with the season on the line.
Lets see if the team got Girardi's message and plays a great game today, a grinding game working counts vs a guy who has given them trouble. If not the season could be over by the time all the allstars show up next week.
