[Wizard of Os]

Okay, okay, i'm always telling myself, it's just one game of 162, but Yankees fans have got to be pleased with the Pinstripes' 15-2 demolition of Oakland.

The Big Unit pitched seven excellent innings with a sole black mark in the Big Hurt's solo shot. Was this Johnson's best performance since he was perfect back in May 2004?

And a 15-run 17-hit game makes everyone look good at the plate. A-Rod grannies, new boy Johnny Damon goes three for seven with one RBI, Hideki Matsui goes a sick four-for-four with four ribbies, and the only error came at the (leaden) hands of Jason Giambi.

Joe Torre says it's his best lineup ever. The espn hype suggests the team is more determined than ever. (This seems utterly plausible: Enough of these guys have been on the Yankee teams unable to take the big one for six seasons now.) Steinbrenner predicts a title.

So what about it, Yankee fans? Can we expect this sort of mad game all year long?

Cheers.

[Lefty Noob]

Well, it's certainly unrealistic to expect the team to keep up this sort of pace. But it is an awful nice statement game. They're going to be a tough group of hitters to get out on a consistant basis. Their pitching needs to hold together, though. Tough to make a definitive call after just one game.

[MVB]

Yeah, I don't know if they'll score 15 runs every game... but they should do very nicely this year...

The Red Sox only scored seven runs against Texas' shaky pitching staff... but the Yanks scored 15 runs off the Athletics staff, which many on this board have claimed was the best in baseball. Note, the Yanks scored seven runs off Zito and eight off the A's bullpen!

Oh, and here's the box score ...

CF- Damon, 3-7 ( 1B, 2B, 2B, 2R, RBI)
SS- Jeter, 2-6 (1B, 1B, 2R, 2RBI, BB)
RF- Sheffield, 1-4 ( 2B, 2R, BB)
3B- Rodriguez, 3-5 ( 1B, 1B, 2R, 5RBI, BB, grand slam [1] )
1B- Giambi, 1-3 (1B, HBP, 2R, RBI, BB)
LF- Matsui, 4-4 ( 1B, 1B, 1B, 4R, 2BB, 4RBI, 3run HR)
C- Posada, 0-3 ( 2HBP, BB, R)
DH- Williams, 1-5 ( 1B, R, 2RBI, BB)
2B- Cano, 2-5 ( 1B, 2B, R)

Boy, I had fun last night! Too bad the games are on so late.....

[legend]

I am a Yankee fan, but the truth is they all hit when it is a blowout, but come clutch time they need to do the little things to win the close games, something they have not done since Giambi and company came on board. Last night, they worked the count like the old days, but let's not get caught up in one result. Until I see them win a few games by moving a runner over with no outs and knocking him in, I will remain skeptical. The 1930 Phillies hit over .300 as a team and came in last!
I do love it when they beat the A's, a team that I hate. They always run their mouths, with nothing in the bank to back it up.

[CityofBrotherlyShove]

The Red Sox only scored seven runs against Texas' shaky pitching staff... but the Yanks scored 15 runs off the Athletics staff, which many on this board have claimed was the best in baseball. Note, the Yanks scored seven runs off Zito and eight off the A's bullpen!

Hah! This thread wasn't even about the Red Sox and you had to mention them. Typical Yankees fans - you guys have such a complex.

All that matters is a win or a loss - whether you score 5 or 19 runs doesn't matter. Don't forget - the Yanks beat the Sox 19-8 once upon a time in the playoffs, but didn't win the series.

It's no secret the Yankees will score lots of runs this year. But will Pavano and Brown look good? Those questions still exist.

[MVB]

Yeah, Brown will look terrible this year..... Fortunately, he's not playing for the yankees any more.

And the BoSox have beaten the Yankees 17 to 1 twice of the last couple of years. I was just pointing out the difference in the day's results, that's all.

[CityofBrotherlyShove]

Ooh, crap. I didn't mean to type the glorious wallpuncher's name. I meant to type Johnson. He might be able to put together a solid entire season, but I'll have to see it to believe it. Though, maybe he's gotten better at dealing with the pressures of NY...anything is possible.

Does Mussina have anything left? He didn't look so hot last year.

[MVB]

I am very wary about Mussina... I think he'll win a couple of games, and lose a couple. He'll probably have a 13- 12 record, or something like that.