6.4.08 Baseball Brief

• The Yankees beat the Blue Jays 5-1 this evening behind a strong outing by Mike Mussina. A really strong outing, actually--he scattered six hits and one run across six innings with six strikeouts. Who taught Moose how to pitch again? Ohlendorf, Farnsworth, and Mo threw scoreless innings in relief, making Mussina the winningest pitcher on the Yankee staff (9).
  
  
• Congrats Derek Jeter! His single in the 3rd gave him 2,146 career hits, pushing him past Mickey Mantle for sole position of third place on the Yankees all-time hit list. The man's building his HoF resume and he's not even close to being done.
  
  
• Jorge Posada was activated from the DL today and will be back behind the plate tomorrow. Although he believes he's in good enough condition to play out the rest of the season, he hasn't ruled out shoulder surgery over the winter months.
  
  
• On Joba Chamberlain's start yesterday: he was overthrowing and was getting squeezed. A lot. However, he will improve with time, and I still think this move was the right decision for the FO to make.
  
  
• The Twins rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the 5th to beat the Orioles 7-5. Joe Mauer had a big night, going 2-3 with his second HR of the season and a two-run sac fly. There were also spectacular defensive plays by Cuddyer, Casilla, Morneau, and Punto to rob O's hitters of hits and RBIs. Boof Bonser picked up a win (!) in relief of a weak Glen Perkins.
  
  
• Nick Blackburn, to test his nerves after the Abreu incident, literally had his third base coach hit balls at him. He says, despite a few jitters, he was okay and should be prepared to face the Chisox on Friday. Best of luck, Nick.
  
  
• And we'll close on a bit of bad luck. Brett Myers of the Phillies had a no-no into the seventh with two outs, but then Joey Votto delivered the RBI double that would end up winning the game for the Reds. Ouch.