Some quick notes from the 9-5 win. We had a lot of comments for a day game in the open thread so keep em coming folks...
Pavano: (C-) Team defense cost him a lot of extra pitches which didn't help, but he lost it in the fifth. At least he actually pitched in a game after 21 months off so he can't get a D. It was a Jaret Wright type of performance without all the walks...His velocity wasn't all that bad.
ARod: (A) He dropped a high pop that should have been Posada's ball in the first and then struck out with two runners on in the 1st and it looked like the nightmare would continue. Then he stepped up and singled in the seventh; stole second and scored the go ahead run. Alex came up in the eighth and blasted a 2 run HR to deep right center to give the Yanks a 9-5 lead.
Giambi: (A) He went 2-5 with 3 RBIs and drove in the first two runs of the season without crying about playing first base.
Jeter: (B) His error cost the Yanks a run, but he drove in two with a knock to tie the score at 5-5 in the sixth and even almost said hello to ARod.
Posada: (A) He went 2-5 with a HR in the fourth and looks like he hasn't lost a step from last year. Who the heck needs a back up...
Bullpen: (A) This seems to finally be a strength of the team. 5 guys went 4 2/3 innings giving up three hits, no walks and held Tampa scoreless for the last 4 innings without using Proctor. Mariano struck out the side in the ninth with 97mph stuff...
Team Speed: They had two sacrifice bunts and stole three bases...
Team Defense: (F) Three errors...Eck...
Boxscore