This Unit Should Be Condemned

Yankees Lose Ugly, 14-3

Walks, home runs, errors, wild pitches, booing, fans heading for the exits, and television remotes changing the channel. That's what took place last between 7:05 and 10:23 EST at Yankee Stadium. On paper last night's pitching match up between Randy Johnson and Josh Beckett (4-1) looked like a good one. True, both had struggled in recent starts, but it was unlikely for that trend to continue. Beckett upheld his end of the bargain with a solid 7 innings. Randy Johnson (5-3) turned in one of his worst performances as a Yankee, and his 4th bad start in last 5 outings as the Red Sox pummeled the Yankees 14-3.

Things didn't look too bad to start, Johnson did walk 2 in the first inning, but also got a double play, and Jason Giambi belted a 2-run shot off of Beckett in the bottom of the first. After getting three ground ball outs in the third, the wheels started to came off for Johnson and the Yankees in the 3rd. Dustan Mohr's lead off single was followed by a walk to Alex Gonzalez, the third free pass issued by Johnson. Two outs later, the Sox had runners on 2nd and 3rd, and "The Killer" was up (no not Jerry Lee Lewis). With the Yankees playing a modified shift, Johnson got David Ortiz to hit a sharp grounder right to Alex Rodriguez. Right to and right through actually. The ball skipped behind A-Rod, whose hurried throw to first was not in time to catch the hustling Big Papi. Mohr scored on the play to cut the lead in half. With Manny Ramirez in the batter's box, Johnson reared back and fired a hard fastball. Only problem was that it was about 8 feet too high. The ball ticked off of the top of Jorge Posada outstretched glove and went to the backstop for a wild pitch. Gonzalez scored and the game was tied at two. That didn't last long though as Ramirez singled in Ortiz with the go-ahead run. Jason Varitek then drew the fourth walk of the game before Mike Lowell struck out to end the inning.

Things only got uglier in the fourth when Johnson's control and the swirling winds both worsened. With one out, Johnson issued his 5th walk of the game to Mohr. Gonzalez followed with a single and both runners advanced on another wild pitch. With two outs, Johnson fell behind in the count to Mark Loretta, 3-0. Red Sox manager Terry Francona then gambled with Ortiz on deck by giving Loretta the green light to swing. Francona's intuition paid off as Johnson threw a batting practice fastball right down the middle. Loretta turned on it and hit it down the left field line, past a diving A-Rod, for a two-run single. When Ortiz followed with a double, Joe Torre had finally seen enough. Johnson exited to a chorus of well deserved boos.

Aaron Small came on in relief and the next play epitomized the evening. Ramirez popped Small's pitch up into shall center field. Robinson Cano, near second base, quickly started chasing the ball, which was now blowing towards right. New right fielder Melky Cabrera, who had a nightmarish outfield experience last season, woke up to the same nightmare this time. Cabrera overran the ball, reaching back at the last moment, only to have the ball pop out of his glove for an error. Two runs scored on the play and the Yankees were officially done for the evening. Unfortunately for the Yankees and their fans, the Red Sox were far from done.

Small gave a 3-run shot to Alex Gonzalez and solo blast to Ramirez. After Ron Villone managed to toss two shut out innings, Tanyon Sturtze came on to do his usual "throw grease on the fire" act. Three more runs saw Sturtze's ERA balloon to 7.84.

Notes

After an outstanding Spring Training Randy Johnson was 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA after 3 games. He did not issue a walk in the 20 innings he pitched in those starts. That third start was his 5 inning outing against Kansas City when his early departure led to many questions. Johnson had first denied anything was wrong, before admitting his arm felt a little tired. Since then, however, his numbers have been horrible. Whether it is physical and/or mental issues that are effecting his performance, this is NOT what the Yankees bargained for when they acquired Johnson prior to the 2005 season.

Excluding his one good start since then against Baltimore, Johnson has worked 18 2-3 innings (less than 5 innings per start), allowing 25 runs, 20 earned runs, and has walked 13. Remarkably he has won two of the four games thanks to the Yankees offense. One thing is for certain, if the Yankees don't straighten out Johnson quickly the season will be lost just as quickly.

Bernie Williams showed a rare angry streak last night when he struck out for the second time against Beckett. He argued briefly with home plate umpire Charlie Reliford after being called out on strikes in the fifth. Then after striking out in the 7th, Bernie's frustration boiled over as he headed towards the dugout, flinging his helmet back behind him. The helmet skipped across the home plate area and glanced off of the leg of Reliford who immediate tossed Williams from the ball game. A suspension is likely.

Alex Rodriguez's woes continue when the Yankees play in the spotlight. A-Rod took the collar in 3 at-bats and committed two errors in the field. His average now stands at .259.

Melky Cabrera went 2-3 with an RBI in his first game back with the Yankees, but it's his fielding that everyone will remember from last night. Cabrera was rushed to the majors last season and was clearly overmatched at the plate and in the field. He had a good winter league seasons, a good Spring Trained, and was hitting very well as a center fielder for the Columbus Clippers of the International League when he was recalled. Though he had only played 1 game in right field prior to his recall, even with the wind, Cabrera has to make the plays if he expects to make it in the major leagues. So far he hasn't proven that he's more than a very good minor leaguer.

Tanyon Sturtze continued to campaign to be designated for assignment with a one innings, three run performance. It's time for him to go. Octavio Dotel can't get back to the majors soon enough.

Last year may also have been the best we are going to see out of Aaron Small. He's allowed runs in all three of his appearances to the tune of a 14.40 ERA. The league is hitting .346 against him.

Hey Joe, time to let Ron Villone have some more chances! He couldn't be any uglier than The Big Ugly himself.