Not All Losses Are Created Equal

and this one really sucked. When you get a quality start form the back of your rotation, against a bad team whose starter has an era over 6, you just have to win. The tying run was in scoring position in 3 consecutive innings (6-8) and in the last of those there was nobody out, and still they couldn't score. Every time I forget how flawed this team is, and how correspondingly fragile their success, they pull one of these and remind me.

When you are in the middle of a pennant race against a team you are going to be playing 5 times at their house in the next week, you have got to make sure you win everything beforehand, and that means putting your best team on the field. Giambi should be starting, whether at first or Dh, in every game for the remainder of the season. There is simply no reason to do otherwise. If you think Damon needs a rest or you want to get Bernie's right-handed bat in the line-up, then sit Craig Wilson. He was a role player in Pittsburgh, perhaps the worst team in baseball, his starting position can't be sacrosanct in NY. Losing by one run, you have to wonder, what might have happened in those missing Giambi at-bats. The guy leads the team in homers, RBIs, and on base %, how can you not play him in an important game? As a DH, he doesn't need the rest. I know it was a lefthander and all, but Giambi suffers no particular disadvantage against lefties. When you have already decided to play Fasano, a necessary move, I agree, despite his 167 BA, you can't dilute the line-up any further. I mean I know Baltimore is bad and all, but you've yet to sweep them this year. At least give it your best shot. Now tomorrow is more or less must-win. you don't want to go into Boston up only 2 in the loss column. A sweep would have allowed the Yanks to go in up 4 in the loss column and really would have put the pressure on them. (You, you, you: looking back on this paragraph, I realize I have not mentioned Joe-Bumbles once. Either I am consigning him to the nonentity status he richly deserves or I am imitating George failing to remember his name.)

Note: Jeter has an ungodly high BA and OBP against lefties this season, but this is the second straight o-for he's had against the unimpressive Mr. Lowethn and, not coincidentally, the second straight time the Yankees have lost to him (I think he only has 3 wins overall). With their line-up, Jeter just has to hit lefties if they are to beat them.