Oh No Mo!

On a beautiful day in the Bronx, the story was all about one man, Mariano Rivera. Given the ball to close out a 3-2 win for the Yanks he proceeded to load the bases with nobody out. After a Trot Nixon K came the big one, a dribbler to Alex Rodriguez at third which looked like an match-ending 5-4-3 DP but the former AL MVP bobbled the ball and everybody was safe.

It was clearly a routine play, he could have come home for the force and then on to Tino at first to get Manny. He probably had time to step on third himself and still throw out Manny but it wasn't to be. Ortiz would plate Bellhorn with an RBI ground-out before Renteria killed the game with a two-run single.

Mo looked pretty awful and just couldn't locate his pitches. When Joe had to pull him he got booed by some sections of the crowd, which I don't like. Yes he was poor today but this guy is one of the greatest, if not the greatest closer of all time so why boo the guy when he is clearly low on confidence? Despite being poor he nearly got out of it had A-Rod not made the error, so I think some people owe Mo an apology.

As for the rest of the game, the Yanks couldn't get much off Wakefield except two solo dingers by A-Rod and Tino. Mussina was getting squeezed by the home plate umpire Mike DiMuro, who had an awful game. Despite this, he hung in there, giving up two runs over six innings, which when all is said and done must be seen as a good outing. Tanyon Sturtze yet again didn't give up a run in his two innings of work and clearly has the confidence of the manager.

Johnny Damon was out at second after stealing on a called ball four but fell off the bag and was tagged and called out. Although this was the right call, you had to feel for him as 2B umpire Joe West gave him no indication that it was ball four. Bernie is showing me up by looking horrible at the plate and Giambi needs to drop a bunt down the 3B line a few times to stop the shift being put on him.

Not much more to say, not the best evening all in all.