Not a Good Joba

The Yankees have lost two games in a row, but they remain at 11-5 despite having what is likely the toughest schedule in Major League Baseball. You've got the Yankees splitting the first four games of a West coast trip, and in Boston, you have Don Orsillo SCREAMING at the top of his lungs about a big 4-3 victory over the 2-15 Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. Big win for the BoSox after blowing a 3-0 lead in the eighth inning. On the other hand, A.J. Burnett, Mark Teixeira, and Joba Chamberlain all ensured that the Yankees suffered another meltdown at Angels Stadium.

I thought things were going well when the Yankees took an early third inning lead, but Mark Teixeira's dirty third inning collision at home plate fired up the Angels and even made the announcers question Teixeira's intentions. Teixeira also continues to look lost at home plate. He's not aggressive, he pops up to the left side of the infield, and he constantly leaves runners in scoring position. In another key situation, Brett Gardner popped up a sacrifice bunt attempt on a pitch over his head. These are things that simply do not happen when the Yankees play anywhere else. But against the Angels, you can bet your money that something bad will happen.

Joba Chamberlain looked like he had no business pitching in the eighth inning. Of course, Hideki Matsui came through with a leadoff single, and you had a feeling at that point that the game was not going to end up in the Yanks' favor. Ken Singleton and John Flaherty described Joba's pitch to Kendry Morales over and over again: "it was a slider that just spun." We get it guys...the pitch stayed up, and Morales hit it. He has great numbers against Joba. I was confused at the fact that Damaso Marte was never brought in to face anyone, including Matsui leading off the inning.

Today becomes a must win game. You don't want to extend a losing streak, and the Yankees still want a shot to win another series. There are always disasters in Angels Stadium. We'll see if the team can actually hit Joel Pineiro, which they failed to do at Yankee Stadium recently. Unfortunately, Pettitte is due for a bad start. There's no way the near 40 year old can turn in another stellar outing on the road, this time against the Angels. Or is there?