I love it, Mussina gets 20th against the Red Sox/Lose 2nd

Yankees win the first game 6-2

First, how about them Mets, huh? I’d rather not make the playoffs by 6 games than not make it by one game. That has to be heartbreaking if you’re a Met fan especially the way Johan Santana pitched yesterday. To the Yankees..

If you’re going to get 20 wins for the first time in your career, what better way than to get it against the Red Sox? The Yankees played like they are the playoff team this series and the Red Sox played like the team that is losing in the first round of the playoffs. I thought it was smart of Joe Girardi to take Joba Chamberlain out in the 8th inning because Joba just didn’t have it. You could tell that the Red Sox fans didn’t want Mussina to get 20 wins. Shame on them. Shame on Red Sox Nation. It’s not like the Red Sox threw in the towel. They had their big bats starting. They would like to have some momentum for the playoffs. It was a great job of Mariano to come in the 8th inning to strike out mvp candidate Dustin Pedroia.

I like Xavier Nady. I’m glad he’ll be part of the equation next year. He reminds me of a Paul O’Neil type. He’s quiet and just goes out there and does his job. I didn’t like the fact that Giambi is playing a lot in these last two games just so he could get 100 rbi’s. Him getting 100 rbi’s doesn’t matter to me because he most likely won’t be back next season.

I didn’t like Papelbon’s little games on the mound in the 9th inning. He kept asking for a rosin bag just to show his coach up like “why am I in this game?” He’s a good pitcher but that was uncalled for. Then he walked out into the runaway crying after giving up 3 earned runs. It’s going to be good to see the Angels rock him.

Yankees win 6-2. Mussina got the win. Mariano got the save and Nady drove in 3 runs. Awesome. I enjoyed watching Mussina hug all of the Yankee players after the game was over. I thought it was really cool.

• Box Score - Yankees Official
• Mussina wins his 20th(YankeeVideo) - Yankees Official
• Rivera Saves it(YankeeVideo) - Yankees Official
• Nady’s three-run homer(YankeeVideo) - Yankees Official
• Mike Mussina reflects on the first 20-win season(YankeeVideo) - YesNetwork
• Joe Girardi on Mussina’s season(YankeesVideo) - YesNetwork

Yankees lose second game 4-3 in 10 innings

This game had mostly younger players playing and it wasn’t as important as the first game because there was nothing at stake. Ponson pitched pretty well giving up only 1 run but Darrell Rasner did give up 2 earned runs in 2 innings. Once Jose Veras gave up a triple to start the 10th, I knew the game was over as with the Yankees’ season. The Yankees left a lot of men on base in this game and no one had a great hitting game. It was good to see Juan Miranda get a hit and a rbi.

I’ll look to post things on Yankee off season moves and what they should do. I know there is winter ball as well. I’ll be following the Dodgers and Torre in the playoffs.

• Box Score - Yankees Official