The American Spectator

I’m not a Yankee hater, but I think Mark C.’s entry must have made their day. To pin it all on A-Rod is rather harsh. What about Mr. Matsui, who left went 0-5 and left more runners on base than anyone ever in a game 5 (I’m guessing)? Is it A-Rod fault he’s playing out of position? Is it his fault that he hit more home runs this year than any right-handed hitter, including Joe Di Maggio, in pinstripe history? Or that he’s considered a better fielder at shortstop that Mr. Yankee, Derek Jeter, who didn’t have a good fielding season at all. Way I see it, teams win as a team and lose as a team. Given how joyless playing for George Steinbrenner always proves to be, I’m amazed the Yankees did as well as they did. Jason Giambi bombed as a fielder, but as a former suspected steroids user hit remarkably well freed of the stuff. Jorge Posada probably caught more innings these last few years than Elston Howard did his entire career. Randy Johnson was tough in middle relief last night. Mike Mussina got knicked — and even that blast by Adam Kennedy could have been caught if not for the fact that two Yankee outfielders hustled too hard to get to it and nearly collided in a fatal head-on manner in their all-out effort. Them’s the breaks, as only baseball can have it. If there is a villain it’s the three-out-of five format. Even Steinbrenner’s wild spending can’t be blamed for that.