Yankees (Rasner) VS A's (Blanton), Game 10

Game 10: New York Yankees VS Oakland A's

The Starter: Rasner pitched really well tonight. It looked like we'd be in for a rough ride after he gave up 4 hits in the first inning and allowed 3 runs (all unearned thanks to a Jeter error, though), but from that point on he only gave up one more hit, and walked nobody. He had a great strike to ball ratio too. The one glaring problem was that he only went 5 and 1/3rd IP (not his fault, Torre pulled him way too early as the rest of the game would show). I'd say he earned himself another start after that.

The Bullpen: Yet again, the bullpen pitches ridiculously well and bails the Yankees out yet again. And this time there was no screwing around...every single pitcher in the bullpen made an appearance. They pitched 7 and 2/3rd innings of scoreless ball. Yeah, there were some hits and walks scattered around, but they got the job done, period. This bullpen has seriously bailed the Yankees out this year. Words can't quite describe how ridiculously good the bullpen has been for the most part. Farnsworth has had some problems (although he pitched a scoreless inning tonight) and Proctor struggled a little to start, but that's it. Everyone knew Mariano would be lights out and I thought Vizcaino would be good, but Henn and Bruney in particular have been absolutely lights out. And special credit to Bruney tonight.

The Offense: Well, it could have been better. They had their chances to win this game earlier than the 13th inning and didn't get it done, but Blanton also pitched well, and Street always pitches well against the Yanks. A-Rod had another important home run, Posada had a big pinch hit double, and of course, Giambi finally gets another home run to take the lead in the 13th. He hasn't been hitting well this year, but his two home runs have both been huge. Nice job for Cano, too. 3 for 4 and 2 walks, with 2 runs scored. A very good game for him.

The Defense: Okay. Overall, good lord, this was bad. Four errors on the day! Jeter's error in the first was particularly bad as it cost the Yankees all 3 runs. But in spite of the sloppy game again, there were a few nice plays. Jeter made a couple, and Melky did as well, including gunning down Crosby to end the first inning when he tried to score. Doesn't sound that big since it was the first, but guess what? That run scores and the Yanks lose. Think about that, all you "early runs don't count" folks who always used that to bash A-Rod. So while the defense was insanely sloppy today and four errors is clearly bad, at least this time there were a couple nice game saving plays.

Player of the Game: I'm going to give it to Brian Bruney. Giambi had the huge home run in the 13th that the Yankees really badly needed. Bruney was clearly shot and couldn't have pitched a 14th in all likelihood, which means that unless Pavano is healthier than we've been led to believe, Andy Pettitte was coming into that game and we would have to go scrounge up another pitcher from the minors to start tomorrow. So big, big home run for Giambi.

But I feel like I need to give credit to Brian Bruney. Last night in a loss that was barely his fault (the triple was, but he really should have been out of that in the end), he threw 36 pitches and supposedly wasn't even going to be available today. But with everyone else used, Bruney had to come in in the 12th, and pitched a perfect inning. Then he came back out for the 13th after Giambi hit the home run and, while very clearly running on fumes alone, walked the first batter on four straight pitches, gave up two long outs, and then struck out the final batter to end the game. Bruney went way above and beyond what he should have been asked to do considering the circumstances, but because the alternative was bringing in tomorrow's starter, Bruney went back out there and got the job done. He shouldn't have even had to pitch one inning after yesterday; instead he pitches two. I give Giambi a world of credit for his huge home run and normally I would have given it to him, but it was partly because he wasn't hitting beforehand that the Yanks were even in the 13th. The bullpen stepped up big time tonight, and nobody moreso than Brian Bruney. Yet again, the bullpen is the reason why we won this game.

Overall Thoughts: Pettitte better pitch a complete game tomorrow, because this is killing me here. Someone needs to check the pulse of the bullpen, because they're practically dead after the last two nights. Mariano can go for an inning tomorrow, and I'm sure a couple more such as Henn can throw a bit, but there is no way Bruney pitches tomorrow, and Farnsworth, Vizcaino, and Proctor all pitched the last two days. Henn can definitely go a couple innings if necessary, but it'd be nice if he didn't have to. Great win for the Yanks tonight, and it's a real blessing that Monday is an off day. This bullpen needs about a week off, and deserves it too.