The Sommer Frieze

Before I get to the Yanks, some NBA news.

If you haven’t been watching the Bulls-Celtics series, you don’t know what you have been missing.

I am not just saying that because I am a Celtics fan.

Five games. Three decided in OT (one of the three decided in double OT). A fourth game decided on a three-pointer with less than three seconds left.

What more do you want? Right now the Celts up three games to two. They were down by 11 tonight with not much time left and rebounded. A great series, no matter who you are rooting for.

As for the Yanks tonight, what a performance by Phil Hughes. As the “Truth”, Josh Imboden, pointed out and I (or one of you) would have to decipher—what is the ERA of Yankees pitchers with Molina catching as compared to that of Posada? Granted you lose plenty of bat between the two, but ERA-wise, what is the difference?

For tonight we saw the Phil Hughes we have been waiting for. Wow. Six innings, 0 R, 2 hits, 2 walks, a hit batsman and 6 ks. The Yanks FINALLY exploded for 10 in the top of the 7th, highlighted by a Jose Molina grand slam. But Hughes, for the innings he pitched, did not have that cushion. Once that cushion was given to him, Melancon came in. Quite simply, Hughes was the stopper tonight. He pitched like an ace.

Another nice job by Melancon, whose arrival, although rushed, could be permanent. Edwar disappointed. A scoreless inning, but given a 10 run lead, you can’t give up a hit and a walk.

Swisher’s HR in the 9th completed the scoring. The Yanks exploded for 10 in the 7th to break open a 0-0 tie.

11-0 Yanks.  As the “Truth” stated, probably the best start by a Yankees pitcher all year. Who would have thought that it wouldn’t be by a “regular” starter, but by the #6 starter in an emergency (replacing Wang) situation?