LESS IS MORE

Have you noticed that the Yankees picked it up offensively as soon as Giambi went down. It's not that Giambi was unproductive (although he was); the truth is, they are getting just about the same, maybe a little less, out of Melky than they were getting out of him (21, 000, 000 doesn't go as far as it used to). It's because the rest of the team expected Giambi to produce. Now that the Yankees see their lineup depleted, each individual takes responsibility for putting the runs on the board. They adopt the grinder mindset they needed all along. We saw the exact same thing happen last year. Matsui and sheffield went down and then the little injuries--Damon, jeter, Posada--piled up in late june and July annd the Yankees just kept winning, inspiring a Dr.Seuss ditty on my part. Look at the kind of at bats you're getting from Cano (he's actually laying off pitches), from Abreu (he's actually stepping into pitches), from AROD (he actually looks concerned to make contact first and the seats second), from Cairo and Melky (who have actually been assets at the bottom of the lineup recently). But BGW hits it on the head when he says tonight is key, a 3-1 series win over the Sox following a series win over the chowderheads would give the Yanks some real momentum going into a series with the weak Pirates and the return of Roger. It was 14.5 games five minutes ago; now it's 10.5. This swing gives me no hope that the Yankees, given what they are, can catch Boston, but it gives me pleasure to know that the swing is enough to to create some anxiety, much denied anxiety, in Boston. Oh I know how they say 2004 changed everything, but the fact that they say it, the fact that they say it more often and more vociferously since the massacre of 2006, proves that it may have changed something (they are more obnoxious than ever) but it hasn't changed everything (their obnoxiousness still arises from their insecurity and, as Z notes, thei ressentiment).

A BOLD PROPOSAL

BGW anticipated my commentary on the importance of being Melky in centerfield. After a strong throw Tuesday night, he gunned down the speedy Owens last night in what could well ahve proven a game saving play for the Yankees. Melkty is getting to balls that Damon couldn't hail and Bernie couldn't even track without a radar device. He has transformed the outfield in the process and reminded all of us who didn't need reminding how important outfield defense is and how underserved it is on the Yankees. Here is my proposal: if Damon can play first base effectively, or even adequately, and I don't know that he can, but if he can, I think the Yankees should make Matsui their DH and give Kevin Thompson a try in left field. He can definitely play the position annd it would give the Yankees a reasonably tight outfield for the first time since soome jackass decided it would be a good idea to move Chuck Knoblach to left.

Speaking of defense, AROD made a bone head play Tuesday night, leaving third base uncovered on a grounder to short and allowing Dye 2 bases on an infield out. But I must admit the play only served to remind how comparatively solid AROD has been in the field this year. Even as his batting average plummeted from 356 to 290 over the month of May, he didn't let it affacet him in the field and you have to give him credit for that.

Wang looked great last night and he showed what difference velocity makes--he can throw strikes without fear, unlike Mussina who has to get the batters and the umpires to concede him a Maddux-Glavine like margin for error--and what a difference movement makes: his 92 mph fastball is more effective than any triple figure heater thrown by the big, straight F.....