-It was another good night for the Yankees as they cameback from three runs down to defeat the abysmal Orioles 6-3. Mike Mussina pitched six solid innings but gave up three runs (two earned) and looked like he would suffer the hard luck loss. Former Yankee nemesis Kevin Millar took him deep in the fifth to start the scoring. An inning later, the O’s tacked on two more including the latest A-Rod throwing error which made it 3-0. No matter what he does, it’s magnified. A half inning later, he came through with an RBI single in a bases loaded no out situation to cut it to two. But it looked like it wouldn’t be the Yanks’ night when Baltimore starter Erik Bedard got out of further trouble by fanning Robinson Cano, got Jorge Posada to line out and Craig Wilson to ground out. An inning later with Bedard out of the game due to 106 pitches (those darn pitch counts), the Bronx Bombers struck for three against Cubs reject LaTroy Hawkins. If you’ve been rejected from that sinking ship, your career isn’t exactly heading in the right direction. Johnny Damon delivered a tying two-run home run. After Bobby Abreu doubled and advanced to third on an error, the O’s opted to intentionally walk cleanup hitter Jason Giambi to get to the way too mentioned A-Rod. Somehow, Mr. But always seems to come up in these situations. Btw…that is his new nickname thanks to an interesting Post column by Larry Brooks which we’ll get to a little further down. So, you’d think he’d make Baltmore pay the price. After all, he’s feeling 100 percent! Instead, the reigning AL MVP swung at the first pitch and popped up harmlessly to first leading to you guessed it. More boos. With two out, it was at that point that Orioles skipper Bugs Bunny (in reality Sam Perlazzo but what’s the difference any puppet could manage that joke of a team) brought in lefty Tim Byrdak to face Cano. It’s worth noting that this guy had over a 14.00 ERA before he gave up the go-ahead double to the second-year second baseman who atoned for failing in a similar situation in the sixth. A Damon RBI triple and a Derek Jeter sac fly put the game out of reach, allowing for Mariano Rivera to pickup his 31st save.

-Picking up the win was the under the radar Scott Proctor, who retired five of six batters faced in his major league-leading 59th appearance. The third-year reliever has been invaluable to the Yankees this season. Counting tonight, he’s now pitched 75 innings and struckout 69 while notching a record of 5-3 with a 3.72 ERA. He’s basically become the seventh inning man and sometimes the eighth when Kyle Farnsworth needs a night off. If the Yanks are to reach the postseason and have success, they’ll need Proctor to continue to be durable enough to handle some tough situations.

-While the Yankees took care of business, they got some more help from Detroit, who pushed home a run in the ninth to edge Boston 3-2- taking their second straight at Fenway to put the Red Sox three out of first in the AL East. Detroit also got some unexpected help from the Royals, who halted the White Sox’ five-game win streak with a 4-2 win. The difference was a two-run dinger from rising star Mark Teahen in the sixth off losing Chicago starter Javier Vazquez. It helped put Detroit back up to 6.5 in front in the AL Central. Despite that, they lost second baseman Placido Polanco to a separated shoulder when he made a diving catch in the seventh to save a run. Manager Jim Leyland wasn’t certain when he’d return. Oddly enough, catcher Ivan Rodriguez played the final couple of innings at second. Hopefully, Polanco will be able to return this year.

-Getting back to the topic of A-Rod. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the error he made was his seventh this season with Mussina on the mound, tying Colorado third baseman Garrett Atkins for the most in the majors behind one starter. His seven have come behind Jeff Francis. For more on Mr. But, there was an interesting piece written by the Post’s Brooks out of all people. An excerpt:

There was Something About Mary and there is Something About A-Rod as a public figure that rarely seems genuine. As an individual, as a civilian, he might be the most pleasant, well-intentioned fellow around. He might be the best husband and best father extant. We don’t know him away from the field. We don’t know him away from the clubhouse.

We know him as an athlete who was advertised as the best player in baseball upon his arrival in The Bronx, but who has been substantially less than that in Pinstripes, regardless of the numbers he’s accumulated.

For it is impossible to conceive of Derek Jeter pulling the same kind of stunt. Impossible to imagine Jorge Posada alluding to subpar health as camouflage for a subpar semester. Impossible to imagine Gary Sheffield invoking the “but” defense.

The more Rodriguez tried to explain himself last night, the less he made sense. He didn’t want to say what the problem had been, only that it was behind him. He didn’t want to say whether he was hurt badly enough to have come out of the lineup if the Yankees hadn’t already been playing without Sheffield, Hideki Matsui and Robinson Cano, though he sure created the impression that he perceived himself as the most valiant soldier out there.

All valid points by a freaking hockey beat writer. Brooks can be a little arrogant at times (especially with his off the wall plea for the Rangers to bring back an ancient Brian Leetch) but he’s been around long enough to get a good read on situations. When the Yankees traded Alfonso Soriano (who in every way this year is superior to the guy he was dealt for playing a new position) three years ago for Rodriguez, they were supposed to be getting the best player in the game. It was considered a no-brainer. For the most part, that talent has still be on display in the three years (last year by far his best). But they’ve also witnessed a supersensitive player who puts an immense amount of pressure on himself and doesn’t always deliver in key moments. Something even Yankee homer Michael Kay pointed on during the UPN telecast when the third baseman didn’t get home a runner at third with less than two out. According to what he said, only the Twins’ Michael Cuddyer has come through less in such situations. I’d imagine they got this from Elias Sports Bureau. Who knows? In any event, Brooks’ take on the 2005 AL MVP is interesting and can be read in its entirety down below:

http://www.nypost.com/sports/yankees/with_alex__there_is_always_a_but_yankees_larry_brooks.htm 

-Speaking of good reads, Post baseball writer Joel Sherman also had a great piece on Boston slugger Manny Ramirez. The former George Washington High School product has gone on to become one of the game’s best overall hitters with both the Indians and Red Sox spanning a 13-year career. During the article, Sherman goes on to compare Ramirez’ production at the same age of 34 to all-time home run King Hank Aaron. Interestingly enough, a former teammate of Aaron and current Yankee skipper Joe Torre supported the argument:

In the midst of his age-34 season, Ramirez has 467 homers, 1,507 RBIs and a .314 batting average. At the conclusion of his age-34 season in 1968, Aaron had 510 homers, 1,627 RBIs and a .314 batting average.

“That’s a hell of a comparison. Because, like Henry, Ramirez is a great hitter, not just a home run hitter. Henry Aaron was the best hitter I have ever seen, but I put Manny right in the conversation about the upper echelons with no hesitation.“

Good insight from the future Hall of Fame manager who’s seen it all in his five decades in the game. The rest of the article can be viewed here:

http://www.nypost.com/sports/born_to_hit_sports_joel_sherman.htm 

-Meanwhile, the Mets were pounded for the second straight night in Philadelphia 11-4. This time, El Duque took it on the chin by compiling his worst outing in the majors- allowing 11 runs and 10 hits in just four innings of work. Lately, he had been pitching very well for the Amazin’s. In fact, before tonight’s destruction at the hands of the suddenly rejuvenated Abreu-less Phils, Orlando Hernandez had gone at least six his last four outings and hadn’t lost since June 30 to the Yankees. He also had pitched at least seven in five of his previous seven times on the hill. So, maybe this was just an aberration for the 36 year-old Cuban veteran. Sometimes, you just don’t have it. When both Shane Victorino and David Dellucci connected for homers in a four-run first to put the Phillies ahead, it was pretty apparent that it would be a short night for the former Yankee. It would only get worst from there as Philadelphia scored seven more in the next three frames to get all 11 runs against him. In particular, new left fielder Victorino drove in three with a HR and triple. Doesn’t it speak volumes that Pat Burrell has taken a seat on the bench while the Phillies are two under .500 and within 2.5 of the wild card-leading Reds? Just wondering.

-While it wasn’t a good night for the Mets in the least who dropped their second straight and have now been outscored 24-4 in the first two games of the four-game set, there was at least one bright spot. Rising star shortstop and leadoff man Jose Reyes picked a tough night to go into the record books by becoming the seventh Met to hit three home runs in a game. As part of it, he ledoff the game for the fifth time this season with a dinger to give the Mets their only lead. The 23 year-old shortstop who recently inked a four-year extension worth over $23 million now has a career high 14 HR and 59 RBI’s. He’s also hitting .299 with 49 stolen bases and 98 runs scored. The guy’s a splendid talent and realizes what it’s about even on such a prodigous night:

“We lost, so I can’t get too excited. If we would’ve won, it would’ve been more exciting.“

Added manager Willie Randolph on his exciting star:

“He’s one of the most exciting players in the game. He’s just scratching the surface. He’ll be around for a long, long time.”

And the Mets are very lucky to have him. What a joy he is to watch!

-In just another day for a Jets fan (well I’m not but if you are apologies), just acquired running back Lee Suggs failed his physical to void the trade Gang Green made with the Browns which sent corner Derrick Strait to Cleveland. As WFAN’s Joltin’ Joe Benigno would say, “This could only happen to the Jets.” And of course he’d rant about it for a half hour in typical Benigno fashion. Of course, when you’re also a Knicks fan, there’s a lot to yell about. At least he’s got the Mets and Rangers. Did we just say that? So instead of possibly solidifying their problem if Curtis Martin indeed is done, the Jets remain in limbo with Cedric Houston and Derrick Blaylock. Oh boy. You do realize that if they had Ron Dayne, that would signal an upgrade.

-In hockey news, the Islanders signed defenseman Sean “Over the” Hill. Is this really supposed to be a good thing?

-It appears former Pens’ 2004 second overall pick Evgeni Malkin has left his Russian Super League team and could wind up in the NHL debuting for Pittsburgh. If he does, he will make an immediate impact helping form a dynamic top two center duo with Sidney Crosby. Malkin’s game is eerily similar to Sergei Fedorov. He’s a great skater with size and can play in any situation. Oh. And he can finish and setup goals. Question is is he really going to get out of his contract with Metallurg Magnitogorsk? At this juncture, his whereabouts are still unknown after bolting their training camp in Helsinki, Finland this past Saturday. Updating the story, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, the Russian team will go to court for compensation if Malkin leaves for the NHL. Metallurg general director Gennady Velichkin was furious with Malkin’s American agents:

“They all like to talk about democracy, the American way and then they shamelessly steal our best players. This is pure sports terrorism. Don’t forget, Malkin is a young kid, he is still very naive and it was easy for them to get into his head all that stuff about the American dream and how great the NHL is. The Pittsburgh owners are trying hard to sell the club, and the price would be totally different if they had Malkin. But you can’t just take our best players and expect to get away with it…In soccer, a fee for a player of Malkin’s caliber would be into tens of millions of dollars. He is a franchise player and we won’t be satisfied with anything less.“

Of course, he has a valid point. Especially with the uncertainty surrounding Malkin’s contract status. It was reported that he did re-up with the team for another year before this strange disappearance. But to utter the word terrorism goes too far. Ultimately, the kid’s going to do what he’s going to do. Problem is whether or not it’s legal. We can certainly understand what kind of value as well as appeal Malkin would have back home. I am betting this situation won’t be settled for a while. Expect Malkin’s destination to be in limbo.