LACKing an Explanation

I'm not complaining about today's game. It's only one game, against another good team, and the Yankees are 5-3 to start the season. If they win one of their next two games, they'll be playing at .600 pace, which is fantastic at any point of the season. Today's complaint is just because I haven't heard a real answer from the man pictured above, General Manager Brian Cashman. Why is it that the Yankees passed on free agent John Lackey only to trade for a National League pitcher, Javier Vazquez? After two games in pinstripes, it is clear to see that Vazquez is simply not cut out for pitching in the American League East.

On the other hand, John Lackey had another solid outing for Boston this afternoon, defeating the Twins. He is now 1-0 with an ERA below 2 against Minnesota and New York. Vazquez has been the Yankees' worst pitcher by far, with the team losing both of his starts, and his failure to keep the ball down. Money should not have been an issue for Cashman and the Yankees this past off-season. They lost the contracts of Damon and Matsui, so Lackey seemed to be a solid fit. Did they need more evidence than the gem he pitched in ALCS Game 5 last season?

He's a slow starter, but Mark Teixeira's first five games are getting completely out of control. I know A-Rod hasn't gone deep yet either, but he's still knocking in runs. Tex's RBIs are coming on infield ground balls. He seems to be a bit snappy with reporters, telling everyone to check the back of his baseball card. We like looking at your stats Mark, but it's time to get going.

Joel Pineiro pitched a fantastic game at Yankee Stadium today. Sometimes, that happens. It was good to see the fight left in the Yankees, putting up some good at bats in the eighth inning down by four runs. It got interesting with Teixeira and A-Rod stepping up with a chance to tie the game, but the comeback was smothered pretty quickly. Tomorrow is an enormously important game. Important because of Phil Hughes' first start of the season, and important because of the standings. The Yanks have to deal with a miserable schedule and the Tampa Bay Rays, who continue to feast on the pathetic Baltimore Orioles.