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Mo, Lack of Offense Ruin Ponson's Gem

Jordan Schwartz

Senior Writer Written on August 01, 2008

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A-Rod went 0-3 with a walk, struck out twice and left three runners on.

Jason Giambi, DH: (F) The Human Rally Killer took three victims on this night, going 0-4 with a K and leaving an expected five men on base. Why is he still batting fifth? Giambi is hitting .203 in the five hole, but .339 in the six and seven spots. Doesn't take a genius to figure this one out. He can't handle the pressure.

What's worse, is that Giambi is making it more difficult for A-Rod to get big hits. Why pitch to one of the greatest hitters of all time when you have a guy behind him, who's 9 for 45 with runners in scoring position and two outs? When Abreu stole second with two outs in the sixth, the Angels wisely intentionally walked Rodriguez to get to Giambi, who struck out. In the ninth, Francisco Rodriguez wasn't afraid to throw a 3-2 change up to A-Rod because if he walked him, he'd just have to pitch to Giambi.

Robinson Cano, 2B: (F) Cano went 0-4.

Wilson Betemit, 1B: (A) Not a bad game for a change. Betemit went 1-3 and made a great leaping grab at first.

Ivan Rodriguez, C: (F) Pudge went 0-3 with a K and a double play.

Melky Cabrera, CF: (D-) Cabrera made a nice play in the field, too, but he was 0-3 with a strikeout at the plate.

Sidney Ponson, SP: (A) Rule of thumb: never lose a game when your fifth starter throws a two-hit shutout through seven innings.

Damaso Marte, RP: (A) I wasn't thrilled to see Marte come out in the eighth, but he was impressive, retiring the Angels in order with two strikeouts.

Mariano Rivera, RP: (F)

Yankees Overall Grade: (C-) Ponson and Marte were great. The offense and Rivera were horrible. New York has eight more games left with the Angels so they better start figuring out how to beat them, because Los Angeles may very well determine whether or not the Yanks make the playoffs.

Jordan Schwartz is Bleacher Report's New York Yankees Community Leader. His book "Memoirs of the Unaccomplished Man" is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and authorhouse.com. Jordan can be reached at jordanschwartz2003@yahoo.com

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written on August 01, 2008 Game Recap

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