Yankees followed up their big win in the first game with one lackluster and one miserable effort in Oakland. Somehow it was predictable. The main plus from the last two games was that Mussina pitched fiarly well. I was remarking to someone the other night that Moose is perhaps the oldest 37 I've even seen.
And the nibbling! Pleeeeeeeeeease make it stop. The Moose script is one I can so live without. Strike one. Strike two. Ball one, not that close. Ball two, a bit closer. Stare in at the ump a moment. Ball three, borderline. Long stare in at the ump. Batter swings at the next one, figuring he caught a break last pitch. Foul. Next pitch is normally hit hard somewhere.
It's maddening to watch him pitch. He's like a slightly better version of Kenny Rogers. Sad in a way that this guy will go down as a "number one and a half" starter. Could he be the best pitcher ever never to win 20 games in a season?
The Yankees did a lot wrong after that first blowout win. Costly errors, some Ks in big spots when they could've broken things open, and perhaps most troubling is the fact that of RJ, Mussina, and Wang, Wang was the least effective.
Much more entertaining scene in Flushing last night. The stage was set . . . Mets lead 4-3, top 9. Enter Wagner, to the strains of "Enter Sandman," which there was a little talk-radio flap about the past couple of days. ("Sandman" has been Mariano's entrance music for some years now. Apparently, it's been Wagner's music forever. Some (including WFAN's Chris Russo, the ultimate Yankee-hater) are of the opinion that Wagner shoudn't use this song, in New York, since, well, it's used across town by arguably the greatest relief pitcher ever.)
So, Wagner comes in and, as if Ruth and Gehrig and DiMaggio were calling the shots, gives up the game-tying home run. Not only that, it's no cheapie. It's crushed. Not only that, it's hit by a guy with maybe 50 career ML at-bats. Not only that, it's his first career home run. You couldn't write it as a work of fiction, it would'nt be believable.
So, tie game. The Mets threaten bottom 9 but don't score. Top 10, they bring in Jorge Julio, escaped from the perenially sinking ship in Baltimore. Yankee fans are familiar with Jorge Julio, but not his face. Mostly you see his back as he's watching home runs hurtling out of the park.
True to form, Julio gets taken deep. A bunch of other bad things happen and the Nationals put up a 5-spot. Mets get one run in the bottom of the 10th for appearances sake and lose 9-5. Rumors that Jorge Julio is being considered for the Mickey Rourke arsonist role in the remake of Body Heat can't be confirmed at this point.
And, as if a story like this needs a capper, Wagner, in his post-game interview, throws a dig at Mariano! He said something along the lines of he might consider not using the song anymore "since Mariano never blew a save." I don't know if there's video of this answer but presumably there was a suitable eye-roll on Wagner's part. Way to go, Billy. Pure class.
Three games in and it's a fun season already. Yankees are off today, and start three in Anaheim tomorrow. I'm looking for a much better performance than we had in Oakland. And I'll be so happy when they get off the West Coast; these 10PM starts are murder.
P. S. Has there ever been a dumber team name in the history of professional sports than "The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim?"
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