Hitting Back :: A New York Sports Blog

-While the Mets have been busy taking care of business sweeping the hapless Nationals to move into sole possession of first place in the NL East with the rival Phillies getting swept four straight to Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers, the Yankees were finishing up a disastrous 10-game road trip which saw them go 3-7 against Texas, Los Angeles California and Minnesota the other day concluding it in style by committing several blunders in the field to lose again and drop six behind the Red Sox and nine behind the Rays. Making matters worse, both AL East teams won again yesterday while the Bronx Bombers were idle coming back beaten up to get ready to host the Royals. A team the White Sox slugged a MLB-tying four consecutive home runs against in a 9-2 beatdown to pull a game up on the Twins. Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez and Juan Uribe laid out the lumber in their third straight victory.

By show of hands, who thinks the Jekyll & Hyde Yankee offense could turn that trick? Perhaps if they trick their fans by showing highlight reels of the last 13 Yankee playoff teams, they could pull it off. Anyone who’s followed Joe Girardi’s club knows that they have little heart when games get tight and they need that big hit. I don’t care if Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada are out. It’s no excuse when you still have a pretty potent lineup filled with three-time MVP Alex Rodriguez, resurgent first base slugger Jason Giambi, catalyst Johnny Damon, team captain Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu plus deadline pickups Xavier Nady and Pudge Rodriguez. There’s also Robby Cano, whose laziness sunk to new levels Wednesday. So, before anyone points the finger at the underperforming Melky Cabrera who usually hits ninth, you might want to take a look at the guys in front of him and see how they’ve performed in money situations with runners in scoring position. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to tell ya which big names have not delivered in those key spots.

Many have also pointed to what the pitching staff has become where after Mike Mussina and Andy Pettite, it’s pretty thin with them trotting out Sidney Ponson, Darrell Rasner and the latest DL victim Dan Giese. But really, how many times has it been the pitching with this team? Moose has delivered all year. Pettite while up and down usually goes six-plus giving his team a chance. Ponson has pitched quite well and at least two or three times deserved a better fate. Out of the five with the rehabbing Joba, Rasner’s been the most inconsistent while the veteran Giese has performed admirably. If not for Girardi’s brain cramp pulling him after 83 pitches a week ago when things spiraled out of control, he probably gets a ‘W’ against the Yankees’ kryptonite, the Angels.

Can you really point the finger at a pen that for the most part overperformed with Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez doing solid jobs making Kyle Farnsworth expendable before each fell back to earth? And even if you want to say Mariano Rivera’s come up small in tie games, he’s only blown one save which is less than he usually has at this time of year. Sadly, the pickup of Damaso Marte has hurt the pen rather than aided it. He’s been brutal. No other way to slice it.

Also one other thought on the pen. Only the Yanks could ruin a prospect with a good arm such as David Robertson, who by now should have been sent back down to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Just more proof that the bozos who are running the asylum have no clue.

Adding to the misery is that recently exiled failure LaTroy Hawkins has redeemed himself in a big way posting a perfect ERA with the suddenly streaking Astros, who won their eighth in a row sweeping four from the Giants as they desperately try to make a big run at the Brewers. Either he couldn’t pitch in New York or perhaps was better suited for the Senior Circuit where he was a key contributor to the Rockies’ big October run last Fall.

The onus here is on the Yankee hitters who for the most part have failed miserably in clutch situations with RISP or a runner on third and less than two out. This team doesn’t do the fundamental things well. While you saw a well managed team like Ron Gardenhire’s manufacturing two runs on sac flies, the Girardi Yankees continue to get an F in that respect. Remember how well all complained about Joe Torre’s recent ballclubs becoming more reliant on the big hit? Wasn’t that supposed to change under Girardi?1?!?!?!?! So much for that.

Instead, his team looks finished with even NY Post beat writer George King writing an obituary yesterday dated 2008 Yankees: 3/31-8/13. A fascinating read with excellent examples of why this team just doesn’t have it like past teams to make that one good run and make it 14 straight years of postseason ball.

Sometimes, all runs come to an end. Let’s just say the fat lady is warming up in the pen with the quicksand in the hour glass sinking pretty rapidly.

-Ain’t it ironic that while Girardi’s club is falling apart at the seams, there’s Torre who was kicked out the door having his new team out West filled with former 2003 Red Sox in position to win the NL West? Funny how things turnout.

-After watching Michael Phelps again pull away from the rest of the field with a breathtaking breast stroke before putting it on cruise control in the freestyle of a 200 individual medley for his sixth gold in Beijing for yet another world record, it becomes apparent that this cool 23 year-old American who looks poised to break Mark Spitz’ 1972 OR of seven in Munich just might be the most dominant athlete we’ve ever seen. He makes it look so easy. Almost like a video game turning it on when he needs to. The guy is a brilliant racer and is so humble despite what he’s on the fringe of accomplishing. Just maybe he really is a machine. Might be time to check the DNA!

-The floor routines of dynamic American women gymnastics duo Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson were splendid late last night. It was nice to see them go 1-2 for gold and silver in the individual all around competition as each were technically more sound than China’s bronze medalist Yang Yilin. Still, it was very difficult to comprehend how they got a few more points deducted in previous routines during the challenging four-piece exercise than their Chinese competitor. Why must judging always come into question at the Olympics? At least it didn’t factor into who prevailed thankfully. Try telling that to Roy Jones or a figure skater who was wronged. There’s just too many instances where this becomes an issue when it never should be. The story should always focus on how tremendously gifted these special athletes really are.

-Speaking of China, the Olympic host might have used too young a participant in He Kexin who helped them beat out the USA in the team gymnastics female competition for gold. For more on this story, yahoo’s Dan Wetzel had more on China’s recent history of bending the IOC rules when they must be at least 16 to take part.

Looking at the way some of these girls look leads me to believe that it’s still an issue which needs to be resolved. But will it at the next Olympics? One can never tell.

As for myself, I just like to enjoy the competition and spirit of each Games. The way NBC covers it is great for the most part except when they overdo our country’s coverage as if it’s the only one competing. Sometimes, the analysts go overboard but hey. It’s fun to watch such wonderful athletes compete on a world stage for their respective countries.

Maybe that’s why I prefer amateurs to NBA stars with the Olympic basketball.

-It’s not so much that Roger Federer lost to James Blake for the first time in nine meetings. And sure. It was a close straight sets but maybe it’s time for the former world No.1 to take a break. He just looks and sounds very stressed out which happens sometimes in tennis when such a special player dominates for as long a stretch as the 12-time grand slam winner has. You can see it in his body language now that he looks uncomfortable. Sure. He’s still a class guy through and through crediting his opponents when he loses but it just looks like he doesn’t want to be out on that court. Perhaps he erred in taking part in these Olympics. He wanted to win gold and add it to his impressive resume but maybe the rest and time off would have done wonders. Now, he’ll return home to Switzerland without the desired result and try to get any kind of momentum possible into defending four straight U.S. Opens and at least salvaging his season. Question now is does anyone believe he can?

-I really did think Serena would win gold but it wasn’t to be as Russian Elena Dementieva ousted her in three sets while big sis Venus lost to China’s Li Na meaning suddenly it’s the 28 year-old Yonkers native Blake who has the only chance to win gold in tennis. He’ll take on Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez for a berth in the final while Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic do battle in what shapes up to be a great semi clash. It says here that Djokovic gets it done and delivers gold for Serbia. Of course, I’ve already been proven wrong. But that surface should be to his liking.

Regarding Blake, there’s nobody more likable and easy to root for. It would be wonderful if he finally won on a big stage. Perhaps a gold could give him that extra confidence boost to finally win a slam here in NYC. He loves the spotlight as much as Agassi did. I really like what Federer said in defeat saying he “hopes he goes all the way.” Very cool stuff from as classy a champion as there’s ever been.

-This David Murphy sure looks like a keeper on the Mets. Not bad for a 13th round pick in 2006. Just imagine this though Met fans. If Moises Alou and Ryan Church don’t go down, he never gets a chance. How does that make you feel?

-I still want to know what’s keeping Jerry Manuel from trotting out the rookie Eddie Kunz to close a game cause it certainly can’t be that vaunted pen led by Aaron Heilman and Duaner Sanchez.

-Speaking of the Mets, I had a weird dream the other night that I concluded that Jose Reyes deserves MVP but when I woke up, I thought ‘Over Berkman, Pujols and Utley???’

-Watching the Nats is like watching the Bad News Bears. How can a team be that bad? They should have stayed in Montreal. When you look at some of the pitchers they send out, it begs the question how this could actually be a major league franchise.

-Mike Francesa and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo had a great run as Mike and the Mad Dog but like all great things, it comes to an end after 19 years. They were the pioneers of sports radio who drew you in and made it worth listening to. It’s sad that they won’t be together anymore but that’s how it works sometimes. I’ll definitely miss listening to Russo’s classic rants. Whether it was on the shortcomings of his beloved San Fran Giants, tennis or Pacman Jones, the guy was a bundle of energy and made you laugh. He worked well as Francesa’s sidekick. I wish him the best of luck in the future and hope to hear him again.

-Anyone else think those cameramen make sure to intentionally get as many closeups as they can of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh? Just saying.

-Field hockey don’t look half bad but the ultimate intensity of power walking is where it’s at. I know my buddy Rob “Kraze” Davis can’t wait for that big Olympic event to start up.

-Weezer tix are on sale today for the Garden and somehow, I’ll be up to grab them!