As the Yankees began a 20-game stretch that will help us all better understand how good they actually are, rookies Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain shut down the A.L. Central-leading Indians for 8 innings in guiding the Yanks to an impressive 6-1 win.
Despite hitting into a seemingly endless number of rally-killing double-plays against Fausto Carmona, the offense did its part, led by Alex Rodriguez's 501st home run. Robinson Cano and...
Fuck it, who am I kidding?
Last night was all about Phil and Joba, Joba and Phil. Two 21-year-olds who hold the Yankees' present and future in their inexperienced hands. Watching Hughes pitch, you already feel like you're in the hands of a master, a guy who knows how to harness his stuff and get outs even when his control isn't all there. And Joba? My God. He looks physically like a young Roger Clemens, but throws even harder.
Seeing these two in the same game was like watching a young Jack Bauer and Tony Almeida partnering for the first time. The only problem is, I'm not sure which one is Jack anymore.
Don't love the pitching matchup today, and I'm worried that the humidity in Cleveland may be about 5-7% too high for the finicky cat, Mike Mussina. Also, I've heard the hotel the Yankees are staying in doesn't scramble Moose's eggs just the way he like them. Could be trouble.
The Yankees do catch a break, though, as Travis Hafner will likely miss the entire series with a knee injury. Good thing, too, because it's important for the Yankees to take two out of three this weekend, since Seattle is facing the dreary White Sox and Detroit plays Tampa Bay.
By the way, if Joe Torre hadn't been suspended for last night's game, what are the chances that Joba would have stayed on the bench, while more sturdy, experienced veterans like Jim Brower and Farnsie coughed the game up? Even seeing the clueless one sitting in the stands made me nervous: What if he was sending secret text messages to Mattingly?
