Unlucky Seven

I’ve always loved the number 7. Okay, maybe love is too strong of a word. But its been my lucky number since I was a kid. It may very well have been because of Mickey Mantle, who retired when I was…7…but I don’t know the derivation of it.

I do know that the Yankees losing streak is at 7 and the end is nowhere in site. The only end in site might be Joe Torre’s tenure as manager of the Yankees. I happened to be discussing this fact with my brother last night. I felt that if the Sox swept the Yankees again this weekend, that could be it for Torre as the team would have lost 9 straight, 6 of them to the invaders from the north.

Apparently we weren't the only ones discussing it. This morning’s NY Times indicated that Torre will be fired if the Yankees are swept this weekend. Reportedly it’s because of the way Torre has been handling, or mishandling, the bullpen. Of course the bullpen’s woes are a manifestation of the horrible starting pitching the Yankees have gotten from just about anyone they've run out there.

Last night it was Andy Pettitte's turn to spit the bit. Give a 3-2 lead against Dice-K, Pettitte squandered the lead immediately and the Yankees want on to get trashed, 11-4. The Yankees have made Dice-K look ordinary at best in both of his starts against them. And they’ve lost both those games.

With Jeff Karstens on the mound today, thinks aren't looking much brighter. He’ll be opposed by Tim Wakefield, who has given the Yankees many fits in the past. They’ve hit him better lately, but the bats have suddenly gone cold.

The best shot for a win will be tomorrow afternoon when Chien-Ming Wang goes against Julian Taverez. Even if they do win, will it be too late for Torre? Only King George knows the answer to that.

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Jason Giambi will start at 1^st Base today, with Johnny Damon getting some rest by DH'ing. Melky Cabrera will start in center field.

I was ripped by some before the season when I said Doug Mientkiewicz wouldn't hit for sh*t. I hate to have been right, but it’s time to cut this guy loose. Mientkiewicz is hitting .140 and has look overmatched several times. Last night he popped up in the infield with the bases loaded. He failed in several similar situations in Oakland on the west coast trip. If the Yankees merely want a good glove, call Andy Phillips back up from Scranton.