A Sweep, But of Course it's Never Quite That Simple

Yankees 9, Royals 3

A sweep of the Royals. It was a close game late, 4-2, when the Yankees blew it open with home runs from Giambi and Damon.

But amidst the joy of a sweep and getting back over .500, there is the usual attendant nonsense with Randy Johnson. Johnson started today, and after 5 good innings, led 4-1.

He didn't come out for the sixth. Immediately, of course, the speculation is that he hurt himself in some way. Ut-oh. But nothing to do for four more innings but wonder and watch as Proctor, Meyers, Sturtze and Villone piece together the final four inniings. (Sturtze taken deep again.)

Driving home, I hear on the radio that Torre said Johnson had "stiffness," but Johnson says he didn't. What? I can only imagine the conversation between the fifth and sixth innings.

Randy: I think I should come out. I'm a little stiff.
Joe: (laughing) Randy, at our age, being "stiff" is usually considered a good thing.
Jeter: (in the background, to Posada) Mr. Torre made a funny!
Randy: (slightly annoyed) No, really, Skip, I mean it. I've thrown 87 pitches. I think I should come out.
Joe: (to Guidry): What do you think of our bullpen going 4 innnings, Gator?
(Guidry chokes on a sunflower seed)
Kelly Stinnett: His stuff is still really moving, Skip.
Johnson: (glaring at Stinnett) You can be replaced.
Posada: Yeah!
Torre: (shifting uncomfortably) Well . . . . ummm, ok, Randy. Can I tell the media that you came out because you're stiff?
Johnson: NO.
Torre: OK, thanks, I'll go with that.
Torre: (to Guidry, still being Heimliched by the trainer) Get Proctor up.
Guidry: Eeeeeeeeeeeeuuuuugggggggggffffffffffffhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh pttttuuuuiiiiii!!!!!!

Or something like that.


White Sox 13, Tigers 9

Yikes! Garland throwing BP again. Today's line: 5 IP, 13 hits, 7 runs, all earned. 1 walk, 2 Ks, 2 HRs, 104 pitches (68 strikes, most of which were apparently hit hard.)

Garland gets the WIN this time to even his record at 1-1 and lowered his ERA to 13.49.

Thankfully the Tigers pitching was even worse and the Tigers, despite 21 hits, couldn't score enough runs.

Ozzieball 2006?