One turn through the New York Yankees (2-3) rotation and their starter's ERA is over 9.00.  For the first time ever none of them made it close to getting past the 5th inning.  When was the last time that actually happened?  Maybe three years ago or the last time Paul Bako actually hit a homerun back in 2004 as a member of the Chicago Cubs.

It was deja vu for the third day in a row as the Yankees on the strength of a two-run homer by Alex Rodriguez gave them a 3-0 first inning lead over the Baltimore Orioles, only to see that lead quickly relinquished by starter Darrell Rasner giving up a 4th inning three-run homer to the O's backup catcher Bako. 

Meanwhile the Yankee bullpen aided oddly enough by Andy Pettitte, pitched another brilliant 4/2/3 scoreless innings to keep their offense within striking distance.  However they couldn't capitalize as Josh Phelps flew out to center with the bases loaded in the 8th.

Perhaps a change of scenery to the controlled climate of the Metrodome and a regular routine through the rotation will fix some of the kinks ailing this starting rotation. 

News & Notes: Hideki Matsui, iron man no more, will head to the 15-day DL.  The Yankees will call up outfielder Kevin Thompson to replace him.  The Yankees bench just keeps looking better and better, where's Bernie? 

A-Rod's first inning homer gave him 468 in his career, only 32 shy of 500.  After the first week of the season, A-Rod leads the majors with 4 homers and 11 RBI.

Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, Alex Rodriguez silenced the boo-birds and more importantly the Baltimore Orioles.  With two majestic, towering homeruns, including a walkoff grandslam into the black seats, A-Rod looks loose and at the same time focused.  Much like someone primed for his 3rd MVP award and Roger Maris' single season record of 61 homeruns.  

Were it not for A-Rod's heroics, yesterday's game would've mirrored Friday night's pitching performance where the Yankees quickly took the lead only to give it right back.  Though Kei Igawa actually made it through five innings of work, he also did the impossible by making New York fans nostalgic for Hideki Irabu.  The bullpen was once again perfect, allowing the Yankees to make a comeback keyed by homers from Jason Giambi and A-Rod, blanking the O's through four innings of work.

In the clutch in the bottom of the 9th with two outs, A-Rod brought the Yankees (2-2) back and brought their record back to .500.  The homeruns (466 and 467) respectively put A-Rod ahead of Dave Winfield, good enough for 28th on the all-time list, putting him just 33 shy from 500. 

The 10-7 victory puts the Yankees back in a three-way tie for first with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Toronto Blue Jays. 

News & Notes: Hideki Matsui left Saturday's game with a strained left hamstring.  Just great, because there was no need to carry a 5th outfielder like say perhaps Bernie Williams?

Much to George Steinbrenner's chagrin, his New York Yankees (1-1) will once again fail to go 162-0 on the season, losing 7-6 to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.  Instead things were anything but perfect for the Yankees, from the weather to their porous defense which for the second game in a row made three errors, two of them made by gold glover Derek Jeter who now has three on the season.

Meanwhile Andy Pettitte, who last pitched in New York four years ago against a championship team from Miami, Florida, lasted that many innings against the perennial cellar dweller from Tampa, Florida.  While the cold, lack of work during Spring Training and lingering back and elbow issues certainly didn't help Pettitte, it's puzzling how he and catcher Jorge Posada seemed out of rythm all night long.  Pettitte and Posada, teammates since 1993 with the Yankees old Double-A affiliate the Albany-Colonie Yankees, were clicking about as well as the combo of Posada and the man Pettitte was slated to replace in Randy Johnson.

In another observation I pose this question to G.M. Brian Cashman, do you still like the "defensive platoon" at firstbase?  Both Doug Mientkiewicz and Josh Phelps have an error a piece through two games.  While I like Mientkiewicz as a hard nosed fundamentally sound player, I don't see where Phelps really fits overall.  Case in point, the way the Yankees are constructed at the moment.  They need a deep bullpen given the absence of ace Chein-Ming Wang and the fact that their starters can't get out of the 5th inning. 

And secondly with Johnny Damon out, they need another outfielder to help in case of injury and to have another potent bat to come off the bench.  Now Cashman has said that Miguel Cairo will be that extra outfielder but how did that work out Thursday night?  After Jason Giambi walks in the 7th inning, Joe Torre substitutes Cairo to run for the bopper.  Not a bad move, but with Melky Cabrera in centerfield, should an injury occur in the outfield, Torre has no one to turn to or risks losing his DH spot in the process.  Fast forward to the 9th and who hits off the bench for the light hitting Cairo but the light hitting Phelps?  Phelps promptly strikes out and you didn't want Bernie Williams back because? 

Look Cash, here's the deal I love what you've done to re-structure this organization but, swallow your pride call Bernie, tell him to report to Tampa for extended spring training to work out and get some minor league game action and bring Bernie back!

Mike Mussina goes against his former team the winless (0-3) Baltimore Orioles.  Mussina a creature of habit will be working on an extra day's rest.  Does that factor into the amount of innings Moose throws?  Well that all depends on how many trademark glares Mussina has to make at his fielders tonight.