The Sommer Frieze

As for the Yanks offense
tonight, Darrell Rasner is
singing, “Where Were You
When I Needed You?”

Recap: Darrell Rasner went 8 innings, giving up just 2 runs and lowering his ERA to 2.58. Unfortunately, the hard-luck Rasner drops to 3-3 as the Yanks’ offense could muster just one run. Back to a game below .500.

The first top-40 hit for the Grass Roots came in 1966. It hit #28 in July. If Rasner knows the tune (see caption), he’s probably singing it to the offense right now.YANKEES 30-30, 6.5 GB, 4th. OPS+ 108, ERA+ 92. 1 game better than Pythagorean. 3rd in BA, but 10th in walks, 11th in SB.

(BA-HR-RBI-SB-OPS+ (100 = league average)
Damon LF .315-6-27-9-142 (Tough Love is really working. Was at .250, now up to .315!)
Jeter SS .281-3-27-4-99
Abreu RF .284-7-39-5-120 (leads team in RBI)
Rodriguez 3B .293-8-25-6-146
Matsui DH .333-6-29-0-143 (2nd in league in BA, 4 points back)
Giambi 1B .258-12-31-1-155 (leads team in OPS+, 4th in league, leads team in HR, walks)
Cano 2B .222-4-19-1-62 (Numbers still stink).
Molina C .222-0-6-0-53 (3 walks in 117 ab)
Cabrera CF .266-6-26-3-95 (More steals, Melky?)
Rasner RHP (3-2, 2.67) ERA+ 154

Kyle Davies goes for KC. He gave up A-Rod’s 500th last year.

Sadie’s suspension (Hawkins) was upheld. 3 games starting tonight.

Notes from Pete Abraham: Damon has hit in 14 straight at 29 of 60 with 10 RBI and one strikeout. … Jeter is 9 of his last 21. … Giambi has hit in eight straight at 11 of 29 with seven RBI. … Betemit has hit safely in 9 of the 12 games he has started this season. (My note: who’d have thought?… Molina has 12 doubles. His career best was 17 in 2006.

RHP Chris Britton has been placed on the disabled list with a rib cage strain. Dan Giese has been summoned back from Scranton.

I have to say, I loved seeing Manny and Youkulis have a disagreement. Couldn’t happen to a nicer team or players (LOL). Also, is anyone surprised that Johnny Gomes got involved in a fight that had nothing to do with him? Gee, what does THAT remind you of?

As for Britton, that’s a lot of rib cage.

1st. HBP but that’s it. Rasner has a scoreless inning.
Damon pops up, Jeter and Abreu single. 1st and 3rd, 1 out. Alex up vs. his “500″ buddy, GIDP. Damn.

2nd. Scoreless inning for Rasner. A-Rod starts a nice DP.
Matsui flies out. The Big G walks. Cano hits into a force. Sigh. Groundout. No score after two.

3rd. Double. Gathright can’t get a bunt down. Fast as lightning, and pops up a bunt. Rasner gets out of it.
Yanks go down 1-2-3.

4th. 2nd and 3rd, Rasner gets a comebacker. Runner at 3rd hung out to dry. 1st and 3rd. 2 out. K. Rasner gets out of it. I hope the people who criticized him in the offseason and in S.T. are eating crow. He’s been great.
Abreu grounds out. Single A-Rod. Matsui whiffs. Giambi flyout. No score after 4.

5th. Raz gives up a double and single…one run. Hope the Yanks can get the Raz some runs. Yanks call a pitchout and nail DeJesus. CS means a lot, and Grudzielanek hits a double. K gets the Raz out of it with only 1 run allowed. Hey, 1 run in five? C’mon offense.
Damn. Double by Cano, sac by Molina gets Robbie to third. He’s stranded. Popup by Melky, Go by JD.

6th. Double. Single. DP but the run scores. 2-0 KC. Flyout. Raz goes 6, gives up 2 runs. The ERA actually goes up. But what more do you want? He’s pitched well. No support.
Two out double by Alex. Otherwise, nothing. Jeter impatient AGAIN. Getting shutout by Kyle Davies. Unacceptable.

7th. Raz goes 1-2-3. This would be a tough one for him to lose.
Giambi whiffs. Cano doubles. 2nd of the game. Keep it up, Robbie. Betemit hitting for Molina. Line out. Melkman up. RBI single.

8th. The Raz is still in. Edwar warming. Great play by Jeter. 1-2-3. Rasner has been great. Runs, then Mo. Now.
Jeter flies out. Abreu singles. Tying run at 1st. HR now, Alex. Nope. Whiff. Rats. Matsui gets a single. Can the Big G have an encore? Nope. 3-2 pitch and on a questionable call, the big G is called out.  

9th. Edwar in. Gives up a hit, no runs.
Cano whiffs. Posada PH. Whiff. Down to Melky. Singles. They have a shot with JD. JD at the “Last Chance  Saloon.”  Grounds out to end the game.