One game sure doesn't make a season, but if the Yanks could bottle up Friday night's game against Boston and replay it over and over again - they'd sure sign up for it.
The main story of the night was Joba Chamberlain's utter domination of the Red Sox. Even Josh Beckett acknowledged to reporters that he was "2nd best" last night. Surely, that realization was not an easy one for the cocky and talented Beckett.
Chamberlain stuck out 7 men - as well as Kevin Youkilis twice - for a total of 9 in 7 innings, while only allowing 3 hits. Joba also showed excellent control all night, including an up and in fastball in the vicinity of Youkilis' noggin that the embattled 1st baseman fouled off.
There is no doubt now that Joba is in Youk's head-brilliantly so. Joba has chosen Youkilis to torment, and so far the Red Sox are doing little more than whine about it. Until Youk decides to charge the mound, this will continue to happen. Perhaps the Red Sox are now getting payback for the free reign they had with Yankee batters during the somnolent, do-nothing Torre years.
Whatever the reason, you only needed to see Youkilis' incredibly feeble hack following the brush back pitch to see that he was affected. The high-pitched, screeching noise Youk emitted didn't help matters for the Fenway faithful either, although it may have excited a few dolphins at the New England Aquarium.
The latest Youkilis incident aside, Joba's brilliance is all the more important since he gathers steam later in the game. Yank's manager Joe Girardi says, "He seems to get stronger as the game goes on. The first two innings, he didn't really find his groove, but after that, he seemed to really get going."
"This is how you get better," Chamberlain added. "This is the way you want it to be, and this is the way it's going to be for the rest of the year."
It's downright scary when you think back on those people who did not see the value of moving Joba to the rotation. For a thousand reasons already gone over countless times, Joba as a starter was the proper move. And the "Ya, but who pitches the 8th inning" has ceased to be an issue due to the Yanks' fantastic bullpen.
The Yanks win Friday put their winning streak at 7. They have closed 8 games off the lead in the American League East and seem poised for another playoff spot.
Among the many reasons for the Yanks' run is Girardi's superb bullpen management.
The Yanks rank 2nd in the league in bullpen innings, but no single Yankee reliever is in the top 15 for relief innings. This is further testament for how well Joe Girardi has handled the bullpen compared to his predecessor.
With the help of a resurgent Kyle Farnsworth, as well as solid work from Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez and David Robertson, the Yankees are 37-21 since Joba began his transition.
The venerable Don Amore of The Hartford Courant said it best:
" Though Girardi is in many ways like his predecessor, Joe Torre, the contrast in managing the bullpen is dramatic. Torre tended to ride the hot hand. Tanyon Sturtze and Scott Proctor were recent and infamous examples. He also tended to use one formula when the Yankees were winning the game, another when they were losing. Yankees middle relievers were always among the league leaders in appearances, approaching 80 games per season, and by the end of the season were not as effective as they had been earlier.
Now, as the season grinds toward August, Yankees relievers appear to be getting stronger, with a 1.71 ERA since June 27. The numbers are better if one concentrates on clutch situations; the Yankees are 44-1 when leading after six innings, and that one loss was incurred by Chamberlain in May. They are 19-11 in one-run games, 4-2 in extra-inning games and 46-20 when they score at least three runs - all signs that bode well for September and October baseball."
Further good news came for Yankee fans Friday night when they learned that the Yanks acquired corner outfielder Xavier Nady and lefty specialist Damaso Marte from the Pirates.
Nady is having a career year with a 142 OPS+, and the Yanks hope to ride him into the playoffs. Marte comes with a reputation as one of the game's best LOOGIES. His 9.59 K/9 is strong, and he's whiffed 22 of 55 lefties faced this year.
The Yanks lose Jose Tabata, but he been supplanted by Austin Jackson as the premier outfielder in the Yankee system. The organization also tired of Tabata's immaturity, not to mention his lack of power. The Yanks also gave up prospect Daniel McCutchen. He has value for sure, but the depth of the Yankee pitching reserves make it worth the risk. Losing Jeff Karstens and Ross Ohlendorf shouldn't be a problem.
This is a superb move by Brian Cashman. I was wrong to have questioned his ways last week in a moment of gloominess.
With the addition of Marte, the Yanks DFA'd LaTroy Hawkins. So long to a real classy guy. If you google him and see everything he has done for charity, it will make your head spin.
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The Yanks took two out of 3 in the Fenway series, losing Sunday night with the house money and Sidney Ponson on the mound. With any luck, that will have been Sir Sid's last start as a Yankee. His 1.87 WHIP in 26 2/3 innings tells you what you need to know. So does the 6.08 ERA. If the Yanks don't make a move for a starting pitcher this week, it may be Ian Patrick Kennedy on Friday against the Angels.
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