Girardi's explanation was dumbfounding.

One sports journalist watches a baseball game and questions a managerial decision:

"The Yankees had a runner on first base with no outs in the bottom of the ninth and were down 3-2 tonight.

Derek Jeter was on the bench. But Melky Cabrera stayed in the game and grounded into a double play. This would be the same Melky Cabrera who was 0 for his last 18 when he stepped to the plate. Further, he didn’t try to bunt.

Am I missing something? The Yankees bunt with leads but not when they trail by a run in the ninth inning at home?"

I briefly listened to Girardi claim that the Yankee lefties (Damon, Abreu) had trouble with the Texas pitcher. Girardi actually said that he was worried about the intentional walk to Jeter (who would have pinch-hit for Gardner).

Okay:

1) If Gardner is so bad, don't bat him second.

2) If you can't trust Abreu with two on in the ninth inning, for cryin' out loud, don't bat him third. For the second season in a row, I can not figure out why Abreu bats third on this team.

3) Melky is very bad.

4) The Rangers never had to intentionally walk Jeter because Jeter never batted.

The thing is, I think the Yankees would have lost anyway. Melky bunts, Damon grounds out, Jeter grounds out. But the managerial decision was totally awful and now the Yankees are 7.5 games behind Tampa.


If you want to read about Madonna the singer, you can read gossip columnist Mike Lupica.

I'd like to meet Lupica randomly in a bar sometime. I'd give him $100 on the spot if he could tell me what team Ian Kinsler plays for. I know you've got the lowdown on the final 12 contestants on "American Idol," but have you ever heard of the arguable first-half MVP of the American League?

A baseball columnist who thinks Jimmie Foxx is spelled "Jimmy Foxx."

A baseball columnist who doesn't know the difference between Jimmie Foxx and Jamie Foxx.