Yankees-Twins: New York Sleepwalks Through First Game with Minnesota

With an eight o'clock start and an early night ahead of me, I didn't think I'd get a chance to write about the Yankee game Monday evening. Luckily, however, New York needed just two hours and 14 minutes to turn in one of their worst performances of the year, so I get another chance to bash them after all. 

I can't say with certainty whether it was definitely the worst effort of the season because there have been so many games like this one.

If the writers had to pick an AL Cy Young award winner this season based on just their efforts against the Yanks, they wouldn't know whom to choose. Jeremy Guthrie? Daniel Cabrera? Scott Feldman? All have been dominant against New York this year.

Glen Perkins was the latest mediocre pitcher turned into an all-time great by "The Team Formerly Known As The Bombers." The Minnesota Twins' starter shutout the Pinstripes over eight innings, allowing just four hits.

The highlight of the night came in the top of the second inning, when the Yankees put runners at the corners with nobody out. With a runner at third and none out, all Ivan Rodriguez needed to do to put New York ahead was ground into a double play.

He couldn't even do that, as he popped out to shallow center, stranding Robinson Cano at third. Melky Cabrera followed with the DP I was asking for, but it proved to be less effective with already one out.

Stranding a runner at third with no one out. Just another day at the office for the Yankees.

Here are the grades from New York's 4-0 loss to the Twins.

Joe Girardi, Manager: (F) When your team has lost three straight to drop four games back of a playoff spot, it's probably not a good time to bench the league's leading hitter. Especially when that player is in the midst of a five-game multi-hit streak.

But that's exactly what Girardi did Monday, sitting Johnny Damon and inserting Justin Christian in the leadoff spot. Christian went 0-4.

Let me repeat that so you can precisely understand the dumbest managerial decision of the year. Damon was 10-24 in the last five games. And he sat him. 10 FOR 24!!!!!!

Justin Christian, LF: (F) Apparently Christian caught some of that Wallaphobia from Bobby Abreu. (Credit must go to Brad Wachtel for the term.)

Derek Jeter, SS: (F) The Captain made a good play at short early in the game, but that's not going to keep him from failing when I'm this mad.

Bobby Abreu, RF: (A) At least Abreu made an effort. He went 2-4.

Alex Rodriguez, 3B: (A-) A-Rod picked up a hit and a walk, but he also grounded into the Yankees' 1,673rd double play of the year.

Xavier Nady, DH: (F) Thanks for proving my "Nady should bat fifth" argument, Xavier.  Really needed that after being ousted from my Fantasy Baseball league's playoffs Sunday by a score of 319-318.33.

Robinson Cano, 2B: (A-) 1-2 with a walk and a K.

Richie Sexson, 1B: (B-) The lefty killer was 0-2 with a walk.

Ivan Rodriguez, C: (F) As if the runner on third pop up wasn't enough, Pudge also added a passed ball.

Melky Cabrera, CF: (F) Cabrera (.243) and Christian (.250) both started in the outfield over Damon (.322).

Sidney Ponson, SP: (C) I could say you shouldn't lose a game in which Ponson turns in a solid effort like this one, but I already said that ten days ago.

Edwar Ramirez, RP: (B) Struck out the only batter he faced in the eighth.

Yankees Overall Grade: (D-) With a rotation that includes Dan Giese, Sidney Ponson, and Darrell Rasner, you'd think pitching would be the weakness on a team that also includes Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and Ivan Rodriguez, but it's the hitting that just continues to be terrible, and the manager isn't doing his squad any favors by benching its best players.

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 [e-mail].