Boston Red Sox
Julio Lugo, SS
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
David Ortiz, DH
Manny Ramirez, LF
J.D. Drew, RF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Jason Varitek, C
Coco Crisp, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Julian Tavarez, RHP (2-4, 5.59)
New York Yankees
Johnny Damon, CF
Derek Jeter, SS
Hideki Matsui, LF
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Jorge Posada, C
Bobby Abreu, RF
Jason Giambi, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Doug Mientkiewicz, 1B
Mike Mussina, RHP (2-2, 5.64)
Do the Yanks have their swagger back?
Who knows. But the next five games (two against the BoSox and three against LAA this weekend) should give us the answer to that question before Clemens returns sometime next week.
It was great to see Damon moving around so well last night and looked as good as we've seen from him all season. Cano also had two big hits and made a couple of nice defensive plays out on the field after a rather forgettable weekend at Shea.
The following is a question that only Torre can answer but why does he have such a short leash with Brian Bruney? Torre doesn't seem to trust that he can get out of his own messes as evidenced last night after the throwing error and other instances of the past as well.
I don't think there is any question that Bruney has established himself as the most reliable arm in that pen in the bridge to Mo, so I don't get why he doesn't have a more prominent role in a tight game. That just doesn't make sense to me, but I'm not the manager.
As for tonight's game, Mike Mussina takes the mound with an extra day of rest -- so let's hope his "routine" hasn't been thrown completely out of whack. This is a game the Yanks really need to win with Tavarez on the mound tonight and Schilling going tomorrow.
The featured graphic for tonight's game is the new batting-practice cap logo for the Boston Red Sox just introduced this season.