Pathetic

Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, and Alex Rodriguez came to Joe Torre's defense yesterday, because as a result of their team's play, his job status is in jeopardy.

Now I'm not going to kill Torre and blame him alone for the team's struggles. Sure, the injuries have played a role. But this team just doesn't seem to have its head on straight. Their approach at the plate seems absolutely miserable. On Friday night against Matsuzaka, in the first game of the series, the Yankees were way too aggressive, swinging early and often. One would think they would try to work Matsuzaka and get into the Boston bullpen in the first game of the series, leaving them reeling for the second two games. Only in the 4th inning were they patient, and scored their only four runs of the game.

Pettitte needs to give a better start too. You can't be walking these guys, especially Lugo and Youkilis. His pitch count skyrocketed and the Red Sox got the tying and go ahead runs without a hit. Wang too needs to give a better effort.

Also, there's no excuse for not putting runs on the board against Julian Tavarez. That's a joke. A three-run shot by Mientkiewicz is all? Come on.

Bobby Abreu also has some explaining to do. You're a major league ballplayer. Get the **** bunt down. Multiple times in the series Abreu came up with two on and nobody out, and failed to get the runners over. He and A-Rod were miserable the entire series.

Back to Torre, who is not without fault either. His decision making has been bizarre. I don't know when he's going to learn to stop pinch-running in the 7th inning, only to see that spot in the lineup come up again in the 9th. It happened last Friday in Boston, and Kevin Thompson made the final out. It happened once in Tampa Bay, and again on Saturday. Two of those instances were with two outs. It's a waste. Just leave Giambi in the game. It's going to take a great play to throw him out. The percentages are with you. Leave him in. If it's the 9th inning, fine. Not the 7th.

Also, why is Sean Henn facing Manny? Please someone explain that one to me. He comes in to face Ortiz - ok. But take him out after that. My God. I know Myers hasn't had much success against Ortiz but what do we have him for? If you're not going to trust him to get out the other team's top left-handed bats then get rid of him.

I probably would have left Bruney in for the 8th inning on Saturday. He had a quick 7th, not many pitches at all. Cardiac Kyle is a high-wire act. Bruney should be the 8th inning guy soon enough. He is money out of the bullpen - has easily been the most reliable guy this season and at the end of last.

The schedule sends us to Texas next, a team we should pound on. But so is Tampa Bay and Baltimore, and that hasn't worked out so well. This team better pick it up and pick it up in a hurry or there is going to be some changes. I don't want to see Joe go, but he hasn't done anything this season that suggests he should stay.