A few more blessings and we'll be in last place.

From the Yes Network message boards, monitored hourly by George Steinbrenner himself:

The Hideki Matsui injury is devastating to the Yankees. Matsui gave the offense some balance and another lefty power bat. However, with both he and Gary Sheffield sidelined, the Yankees will be forced to play more small ball to try to manufacture more runs. Maybe this will be a blessing in disguise. Also, we will get a chance to see if Melky Cabrera is the real deal on a daily basis.

snadler

Which is it, snadler? Is it devastating or is it a blessing in disguise?

Let's pretend it's a blessing in disguise. Because without Gary Sheffield and without Hideki Matsui, the Yankees will be forced to play small ball.

I just hope the Yankees don't get really blessed with injuries to Giambi, Jeter, Posada, and Rodriguez.

In a very short period of time, snadler and everybody else will realize that the Yankee offense is less effective without Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui, even if the offense gets a few excellent sacrifice bunts by Bubba Crosby.

Remember last night when Timlin struck out Giambi and Rodriguez with the tying run in scoring position in the 7th inning? Jim Kaat was displeased. These free swingers are ruining baseball.

Kaat sure was excited when Miguel Cairo batted against Papelbon in the 8th. A pesky little hitter like that can put the bat on the ball and bloop a game-tying single. Except Cairo struck out, too.

See, while everbody is hatin' on the all-or-nothing hitters in the Yankee lineup, the alternative is nothing-or-nothing.