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Johnny Damon has been a high quality player for a while. The 34 year-old veteran leadoff hitter had himself a career record breaking day of sorts in the Yankees thrilling 12-11 come from behind victory over his former club the Royals Saturday afternoon in the Bronx.

In a game which saw veteran southpaw Andy Pettite give up a career worst 10 runs including a two out seventh inning grand slam off the bat of Jose Guillen, the Bronx Bombers still found a way to comeback despite some poor managing from first-year skipper Joe Girardi bailing him and the starter out. Why Pettite was still in against the Royals version of an outfield slugger was due to the lack of confidence in the Joba-less bullpen. He had already served up a two-run jack to Guillen back in the first. Pettite’s 111th pitch was crushed to deep left giving Kansas City a 10-6 lead.

But the Yankee bats didn’t cool off on a near record-breaking day of 90-plus degree June heat coming back with a pair in the home seventh off the big bat of Alex Rodriguez (ninth home run) and Damon, who made it five-for-five with a money two-run opposite field single scoring Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera to knot the game at 10 apiece.

Just when it seemed the Yanks had the game in their favor, the reliable Mariano Rivera gave up a first pitch solo homer to Royals left fielder David DeJesus putting them behind a run once again. However, he got the next three batters setting the stage for the fateful bottom of the ninth.

A couple of days earlier, Jason Giambi provided some fireworks with a walkoff right field upper deck blast to beat B.J. Ryan and the Blue Jays. This time, they were facing Kansas City closer Joakim Soria, who entered a perfect 13-for-13 with a 1.03 ERA. With one out, it didn’t matter as veteran starting catcher Jorge Posada took the 24 year-old yard into the short porch tying the game at 11.

The Yanks weren’t done mounting a two out rally to win in exciting fashion. After Wilson Betemit drew a walk, center fielder Melky Cabrera beat out an infield hit to put a runner in scoring position. When Soria fell behind 3-1 on Damon, you knew or at least I did anyway that he was going to win the game. The next pitch, he went down and got slicing it inside the right field line for the winning walkoff extra base hit propelling the Pinstripes to a topsy turvy 12-11 home win.

Six-for-six giving Damon a career day and also becoming the first Bomber to record six hits in a nine inning game. Not a bad day’s work at the office.

The winning hit picked up Rivera, who notched his second victory bringing the Yanks back to .500 (31-31). They still trail first place Boston by six and a half with the Rays a half game behing the Red Sox.

This was a good win for them but the lingering questions remain as to why Girardi stuck with an ineffective Pettite to pitch to a batter he’d already given a long ball up to late in the game. Was he that uncertain about Kyle Farnsworth? At that stage, you have to trust your late inning setup guy to record that key out.

All a product of Joba Chamberlain no longer being available out of the pen. Instead, the 22 year-0ld will try to improve on an ineffective first outing against Toronto later today when he opposes Royal ace Zach Greinke. The 24 year-old Greinke was once a high draft pick just like Joba who was force fed to the majors at a young age by Kansas City only to struggle back to the minors before the Royals patiently allowed the righthander to straighten out. Now, he’s pitching to capability with five wins and a 3.56 ERA.

The Yanks need every win they can get in a much tougher AL East. The question is how long will Chamberlain go? This experiment gets more tantalizing by the day.

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By show of hands, who actually believed into the ridiculous hype of this rush job regarding pushing Joba Chamberlain from eighth inning fixture to starter? Exactly.

I’ve gone on record as saying moving Joba to the rotation is a mistake which could prove costly for the Yankees this year. The way the organization has mishandled this move is a joke. What exactly was the rush? Giving the 22 year-old Lincoln, Nebraska native basically a two week window to go from setup to starter makes about as much sense as the Bulls hiring Doug Collins two decades later out of the TNT broadcast booth.

The Yanks should’ve been more patient and stretched Chamberlain out a few more relief outings to build up his arm.

End result against Toronto ace Roy Halladay last night:

2.1 IP, 2 R, ER, 1 H, 4 BB, 3 K, 62 pitches (32 strikes)

Not a very pretty line. In fact, Joba needed 38 pitches to escape his first inning permitting a run.

It’s going to take time for the former 2006 first round supplemental pick to adjust back to being a starter. Last year, he won eight games across the minors before being shifted to the pen to setup for Mariano Rivera. The difference was the organization made certain to give him enough stints before recalling the fireballer to overwhelming success.

Anyone who’s looked at this season’s Pinstripe edition can see that pitching is an issue. However, by subtracting Joba from the pen, it further weakened the seventh and eighth innings which now fall on the shoulders of Kyle Farnsworth along with bust LaTroy Hawkins. There’s also inexperienced guys such as Ross Ohlendorf, Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez. Hardly reassuring options for a mediocre club which dropped its third straight and saw their pig pen implode a second game in a row turning a one-run game into a Toronto 9-3 laugher at The Stadium.

So what’s the plan exactly? Does the organization eventually elevate relief prospect Mark Melanchon from Double-A Trenton where he’s having good success? Don’t expect it anytime soon.

It’s hard to fathom who’s calling the shots here. Hank Steinbrenner voiced his displeasure about Chamberlain’s role wanting him to start. But is it best for the team right now? Chien-Ming Wang is a reliable seven inning starter. Vets Andy Pettite and Mike Mussina can go six. Darrell Rasner has proven to be effective thus far able to pitch deep into games while keeping the ballclub afloat. How many innings on average can Chamberlain be expected to go? Tough to gauge. His command must improve if this gamble is to pay off.

Here’s another question for Yankee brass. Why mess with Joba when Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy should be returning for the second half? What exactly is the plan when either comeback? They’ve been starters their entire pro careers which means that’s a numbers problem.

Unless the Yanks are planning to move Rasner to middle relief, it’s an issue. Why move Rasner if he continues to fare well? That’s what the Bronx zoo is like these days where you’re on an emotional rollercoaster trying to figure out what they’ll do next.

Frankly, this team isn’t that good and deserving of their 28-30 last place record seven behind Tampa and six and a half behind Boston. The Jays are showing signs even without Vernon Wells four out and they’ve got much better pitching than the Bronx Bombers.

So, is it going to get any better? Probably not for a while. Especially with a relief corps providing comedy for opponents.

This is what Joe Girardi signed up for and what Joe Torre got away from. Which Joe do you think is smiling these days?

No. This isn’t about Team Dumb and Dumber Clown Management 101 who predictably didn’t win the NBA lottery earlier tonight. 

At last check, the last place Yankees were getting trounced 10-0 by the Orioles at The Stadium. This on the heels of being humiliated by the Mets in which they were swept over an abbreviated weekend set by an aggregate total of 18-6 dropping them to four under .500 and six behind the first place Red Sox. It became six and a half last night when Jon Lester no-hit the Royals.

It only gets worse these days around the Pinstripes. Where the chaos of Hank Steinbrewhiner isn’t helping much. He can make all the vows he wants but just maybe this team isn’t good enough to see October. Yankee brass (Randy Levine) believed it would be good to make a change away from Joe Torre’s laid back style to the edgy persona of Joe Girardi, who looks in over his head. He doesn’t know how to handle the New York press and apparently isn’t putting out the right lineup these days.

Once again, Jason Giambi was hitting before Robinson Cano, who inexplicably continues to bat at the bottom third of the order. So what if Alex Rodriguez is back and apparently went yard to break up Daniel Cabrera’s shutout cause it’s really the only positive any Yankee fan could take with this disassembled bunch. Oh. The rating AL MVP’s big righty bat is a welcome sight to an offense which can’t score. If only that would resolve all the team problems.

It still isn’t known when switch-hitting All-Star backstop Jorge Posada will return. The Yanks need every bat these days cause this pitching staff isn’t scaring anyone. For once, Mike Mussina didn’t have it tonight lasting only 10 batters while retiring a couple and allowing seven runs of only one which was earned thanks to teammate Derek Jeter’s throwing error that opened the floodgates. Making matters worse, the Yankee captain left the game after getting plunked on the left hand.

Out of the O’s 10 runs, only two were earned with Johnny Damon misplaying a Luke Scott fly ball in the second leading to three more runs. When it all goes wrong, sloppy team D is common and even umpire’s errant calls such as the other night which negated a Carlos Delgado three-run home run don’t even matter. At least the Met first baseman wound up with an RBI hit in the 11-2 blowout of Chien-Ming Wang Sunday. That’s how brutal Girardi’s Yanks have been. What happened to playing a crisper brand of ball? What happened to executing and winning close games? And what happened to just having solid pitching which could shutdown an offense?

Oh wait. That never got addressed. It didn’t help that Phil Hughes was pitching hurt getting off to a miserable start before finally being DLed. Even that was a three-ring circus with Girardi not even able to properly communicate what was wrong. This guy is just way too sensitive and is proving the Florida reporters right. If he thought that was tough, he really shouldn’t have taken this job.

Ian Kennedy has struggled and remains winless with the Yanks hoping one of these days, the former first round pick out of USC will put it all together like he did when he came up. If he could just locate, it’s bound to turn around. Andy Pettite’s been a bust in his second season meaning that only Wang and Mussina were performing up to expectations. Toss in surprise recall Darrell Rasner who will get another big start tomorrow trying to put a halt to a four-game skid.

There’s also the bullpen which soon could be renamed the pigpen. Kyle Farnsworth had shown improvement until his implosion a few days ago in which he served up two homers to Met duo Jose Reyes and David Wright putting Saturday’s game out of reach. The problem is that even with Girardi using the hard thrower more, he’s already allowed six gopher balls. Or one more than Aaron Heilman. So how reliable is he?

Russ Ohlendorf is still a work in progress and LaTroy Hawkins is proving to be the latest Brian Cashman mi$take. Unless Edwar Ramirez becomes a solution, the Yanks only have the same 1-2 punch of Joba Chamblerlain and Mo Rivera to finish games which is why Steinwhiner’s idea of moving the Nebraska setup man to the rotation would be a colossal mistake making even more a mess of their pen.

I still want to know how Morgan Ensberg was signed while a younger and more versatile Andy Phillips was let go. How Ensberg is even still on a major league roster begs questioning. This is what the Yankees have become. Where misfits somehow wind up with jobs. What? Like Eric Duncan couldn’t be given a shot to sink or swim? The organization needs to get their heads out of their collective asses.

How is it getting any better? Unless the team snaps out of it, they’re in for a tough go because the AL East is no longer a joke. Not with the Rays much improved and the O’s showing signs of life. Even the Jays are coming around.

So, is it over? Hardly. After tonight, the Yanks will have completed 45 games meaning that there’s still 117 to go. They have been in this unenviable position before and comeback to make the postseason. Still, falling into the same early habits isn’t a good trend. One of these days, it’s going to comeback to haunt them.

Is this finally that year? Only time will tell. For now, this team is a mess headed on the road to nowhere.

For once, you really can “Blame It On The Rain.” Much like that once misplaced Milli Vanilli hit some 20 years ago, that accurately reflects both New York baseball teams on the 16th day of May with the Subway Series on tap.

So much for good May weather. But hey. Do either the Yankees or Mets deserve the sun to shine down on them at this early juncture of the season? We already know the answer. Maybe it’s a bit of poetic justice that the weather is so crappy reminding us more of late March and April rather than traditional May days.

Both teams stink. Sure. It’s still very early. There’s plenty of time for the Yanks and Mets to turn it around. Sometimes, that’s forgotten in such a demanding town which is all about the present when it comes to its two baseball teams. The grind of a 162-game schedule has peaks and valleys. Unfortunately, both clubs with high expectations have hit a lull entering this weekend’s three-game set at Yankee Stadium a combined 40-41. Remarkably, it’s the first time since the Subway Series inception that the two metro area teams entered under .500. But as esteemed New York Post columnist Mike Vaccaro pointed out in a well written column, it was bound to happen sometime.

Symbolism is a funny thing. Almost to a U2 hit, “Mysterious Ways.” That it’s pouring literally and dark as can be for this time of year epitomizes the slow starts by our two ballclubs who so many fans in this area live and die with.

Just listening to all the panic on WFAN airwaves is enough to drive you insane. Of course, the “Fire Willie” demands have only intensified after his team’s dreadful 3-4 homestand against last place fodder. Granted. The manager isn’t doing the job. Ultimately, it comes down to his players who are plenty talented but have been lacking consistency, intensity and common sense. Why is it always the same two players who show frustration over their team’s lackadaisical play?

On the flip side of town, the Yanks just lost three of four to the improved Rays down in Tampa drawing the ire of Hank Steinbrenner. They have their own issues which include a paltry offense that’s putting more pressure on the pitching staff. The good news is Mike Mussina has suddenly rediscovered himself and Darrell Rasner, who will oppose Johan Santana whenever Game One gets underway has pitched well. The alarming is the continued ups and downs of Andy Pettite, Ian Kennedy’s struggles and LaTroy Hawkins’ implosions. Combine that with a popgun offense and it’s hard to win games.

Maybe A-Rod’s quad will finally be healthy enough to return soon and help inject much needed righty power in a dead lineup. Who knows what the time table is for Jorge Posada? For now, Joe Girardi continues to pencil in the Shelly Duncans and Morgan Ensbergs while batting Melky Cabrera sixth.

Is this the weekend Jose Reyes sparks the Mets to a big series win before headed to Atlanta possibly saving the manager’s job? Or does the Yankee captain step to the forefront leading his slumping team to two of three and perhaps back on track?

Hard to say. What I do know is that rain never felt more appropriate. And we don’t mean the cold November Guns N’ Roses kind. Bet those two teams wish it were.

We got a long way to go.

When one looks at the AL East standings from the first month, a couple of things will stand out. The Orioles are playing good ball over .500 and the Rays are in first place having won eight of 10.

That also means the Yankees are once again off to a slow start under new skipper Joe Girardi. Something which has become a weird tradition for a team which prides itself on perfection and the pursuit of winning a 27th world championship.

It would be easy to point to the DL stints of MVP Alex Rodriguez and perennial All-Star Jorge Posada for why the Bronx Bombers find themselves two games under .500 (14-16) and three behind both Tampa Bay and Boston. That still doesn’t explain being swept at The Stadium by the Tigers for the first time in 42 years.

Jim Leyland’s resurgent club completed a three-game sweep last night by scoring eight of the last nine runs to turn back a 3-0 Yankee deficit courtesy of a Bobby Abreu three-run first inning blast. No worries for the Tiger bats who pounded out eight extra base hits to the Yanks’ one in rallying back for their eight win in 10 to suddenly pull within a game of .500 (14-15). They started 2-10.

AL MVP runner-up Magglio Ordonez led a balanced 11-hit attack against struggling rookie starter Ian Kennedy. Given a three-run lead, he gave it back when Detroit pushed across four in the third including a tying two-run Ordonez double and a go-ahead Miguel Cabrera RBI triple.

The 23 year-old former first round pick out of USC was looking for his first victory this season but didn’t get much help from Abreu in the field, who according to a few peturbed Bomber fans on WFAN strayed away from the right field wall on two triples in the game. That included a two-run Ramon Santiago three-bagger which was valuable insurance off ineffective losing Yankee reliever Jonathan Albaledejo.

Who??? Exactly.

If you’re a Yankee fan, you know by now that it’s way too early to push the panic button. A-Rod will be back. As for Posada, our guess is as good as anyone’s. Rest is the best thing for the valuable veteran leader.

Even without them, there’s still enough bats to be producing more than what Girardi’s getting. When Melky Cabrera is tied for the club lead in dingers (5), that’s not a good sign. I’m a Melky backer and he’s improved but where the heck is sidekick Robinson Cano?

As usual, Cano’s off to an atrocious start. It’s been the second baseman’s trademark. However, that shouldn’t be an excuse for a talented player capable of winning both a batting title and Gold Glove. Isn’t it about time the 25 year-old who hit .306 with 19 dingers and 97 RBI’s (.343-13-57 Post All-Star in 2007) was held to a higher standard? He now makes more bucks and must start being a more consistent performer because he’s the Yanks’ youngest star in an All-Star lineup with untapped potential.

Getting Cano untracked would certainly be a big step in the right direction. Here’s a suggestion for Girardi. Try hitting him higher in the order. Could someone please explain why he batted eighth last night behind Cabrera and has been Morgan Ensberg with Chad Moeller as batting protection? It makes about as much sense as trying recently recalled Shelly Duncan cleanup.

Jason Giambi also is more washed up than Cher. Unless he’s bopping the ball out, there’s no place for him in the lineup. He shouldn’t hit ahead of Cano.

The only Yanks who are doing their job at the plate are the aforementioned Cabrera and Abreu along with Hideki Matsui. That means they need more from team captain Derek Jeter. And by that, I don’t mean just singles. He has no stolen bases in 24 games. He’s been back long enough to at least attempt steals and set the tone.

Leadoff hitter Johnny Damon has come around after a slow start. The Pinstripes need the gritty 34 year-old former Red Sock to continue getting on base.

While the depleted lineup is one story, the other is the continued problems with the Yankee rotation. Outside of ace Chien-Ming Wang, it’s been pretty mediocre. The 28 year-old Wang won five of his first six starts entering Friday’s home game against Seattle. He’s done his part even striking out 27 in 39 innings.

Andy Pettite’s been up and down. Some outings, the crafty southpaw veteran has done the job winning half while getting into the seventh. The others have seen the 35 year-old 200-plus game winner show his age giving up five long balls. The good news is that when he’s won, that hasn’t been an issue. The bad is that he’s allowed four homers the last two times out. Not coincidentally both Yankee defeats. Is this what you want from your second starter?

Mike Mussina’s performed admirably as the No.3 winning three and losing three in similar fashion to Pettite permitting seven long balls. He’s basically a five inning pitcher. The problem is that taxes a pen which isn’t very good. Especially when Girardi continues to roll out Ross Ohlendorf (Woh-len-dorf) and latest free agent bust LaTroy Hawkins. Instead, he’s reminding Yankee fans of Andy Hawkins. At least they’re not related.

We’ve already documented Kennedy who after last night is still winless in five starts with Girardi non-committal on whether he’ll stay in the rotation. Like the alternatives are any better? Who’s longing to see Japanese failure Kei Igawa?

The Yanks already have to replace an injured Phil Hughes, who it was discovered had a broken rib along with a right oblique strain. That might help explain a miserable start in which he’s 0-4 with a team worst 9.00 ERA. Somehow, he started his sixth game of the season this past Tuesday getting tattooed by Detroit for six earned runs, eight hits along with the first two homers against in just three and two thirds before coming out.

You got to wonder about the 21 year-old former first round pick’s ability to stay healthy. This is the second straight year he’s gone down and will miss significant time. He shouldn’t be expected back before he turns 22. Maybe that’s a good omen.

The Yanks must be right about Kennedy and Hughes because they passed on Johan Santana putting a lot more emphasis on the younger shoulders of the two hurlers while Joba Chamberlain remains a perfect bridge to Mariano Rivera.

Hank Steinbrenner can bark all he wants but keeping Joba in the pen is best for now. Kyle Farnsworth has pitched better lately but let’s be serious. He can’t be trusted in the eighth inning.

What else is alarming? What the heck are Ensberg and reliever Billy Traber doing on the active roster? Better questions for Girardi and Brian Cashman to answer.

For now, the Yanks will have to make do with what they have. No one ever said it would be easy.