The bullpen should never give up a run.

The Yankee bullpen allowed two runs over four innings and it's described as a "collapse." I'd say the Yankee offense "collapsed" over the final six innings.

Joba gives up one run and his outing is described as "disastrous." I'd say Mark Teixeira's offense has been a lot more "disastrous."

When teams lose close games, the manager is often blamed, and the blame is almost always assigned to the last bullpen move. Because the bullpen should have an ERA of 0.00 and your team should always win:

"There are things a manager can do and things he can't do. A manager can't really win any games for his team. But he damned well better not lose any."

Or what?

A 45-year-old with a porn star mustache will write a nasty article in the newspaper?


"Monday, Joe Girardi lost one for the Yankees, 5-4, in 11 innings to the Los Angeles Angels, who now have a reason to believe they can come back and win this thing."

Blame for yesterday's loss, in order:

1) Swisher.

2) Pettitte.

3) Aceves.

4) Joba.

5) Melky.

6) Teixeira.

7) Cashman.

8) Girardi.


"Because despite having swept the first two games in the series and having a golden opportunity to go up 3-0 Monday and put a stranglehold on the Angels and the series, Girardi is the one who managed scared Monday, who managed, in fact, as if it was his team that absolutely could not afford to lose."

Yes, the Yankees had a golden opportunity to take a 3-0 lead, that is definitely true. Swisher really needs to hit a sac fly. The sac fly that will put his team in the World Series.

Or I've got an even better idea, which may sound completely crazy. Ready, everybody? How about a postseason RBI by Robinson Cano?

Girardi's team underperformed and some of his managerial moves backfired. But he wasn't scared.


"If the Yankees lose Tuesday, a definite possibility with Sabathia going on three days' rest and Chad Gaudin the only fresh arm in the bullpen, then we are back to even in this series but with all the momentum flowing back to the Angels."

Hey, Mr. Stupid, all the bullpen arms are fresh. Yesterday, they pitched ten pitches or less.

Oh, and if the Yankees win Tuesday ... a definite possibility with CC Sabathia vs. Scott Kazmir ... a definite possibility with Jeter, Damon, Teixeira, Matsui, Posada, and ARod ... then Girardi is one win from the World Series.


" .... to pulling Johnny Damon for Jerry Hairston Jr. on defense in the 10th, which resulted in a triple-whammy - the loss of the DH, the loss of Damon, who had homered earlier, and the need to pinch hit for Mariano Rivera in the 11th when Mo was still fresh enough to have pitched the 11th."

Mo was still fresh enough to have pitched the 11th?

If that's true, then Mo should be fresh enough to pitch tomorrow.

Which is impossible, since Gaudin is the only fresh bullpen arm.


"Winning the game was the job of the players. Girardi's job was simply not to lose it for them. Monday, he did."

I like how everybody is suddenly a big David Robertson fan. As if removing David Robertson from a tie playoff game is akin to benching Scottie Pippen.


If anything, Girardi's trigger finger was too slow: He removed Pettitte two batters too late and he removed Hughes one batter too late.

The biggest Yankee mistake was Pettitte's 2-2 pitch to Guerrero. This mistake occurred in the sixth inning and maybe that's why everybody has forgotten about it.

On the other side, Scioscia used six pitchers, including one starting pitcher out of the bullpen, and he had another starting pitcher warming up in the bullpen. I suppose Scioscia was managing scared.


My biggest gripe with Girardi's in-game moves is the Gardner pinch-running decision, which may have cost the Yankees the game. No need to get caught stealing. No need to take Matsui out of the game. Sit back and wait for a HR.

I don't know why the playoffs start and teams forget who they are. I don't know why everybody in baseball suddenly over-emphasizes small ball.


Other than that, the biggest mistakes were made before the game even started ... before the series even started.

Three catchers and two pinch runners? The Yankees might have won yesterday if Eric Hinske or Shelley Duncan were on the roster. Maybe Albaladejo or Bruney could have helped out more than Freddy Guzman.