Damon Is Magic

The Good

Another walk-off victory for the Yankees, this time courtesy of Johnny Damon. Damon hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the tenth to clinch a series victory over the Twins. Burnett threw seven innings, giving up only two runs. A-Rod hit a solo shot in the seventh to bring the Yanks within one. Mariano, a day after pitching two scoreless innings for the Yankees, shut down the ninth inning with a fifteen pitch performance. AJ Burnett shaving cream pied his third player in a row as Damon tried to give an interview after the game.

The Bad

Girardi let Burnett throw 123 pitches, which seems like an awful lot this time of year for a guy with Burnett's injury history. Perhaps the unreliable bullpen has forced Girardi's hand, but some of our starters seem to be throwing an excessive amount of pitches. This is the second start in a row in which Burnett has been asked to throw way too many pitches. At the same time, Girardi does seem to have his team playing a full nine, ten, and even eleven innings of baseball. WTF?

The Ugly

Burnett should have gotten a win today, but didn't, because the Yankees hate scoring runs in the early innings. Burnett has pitched well for us, his record should be better than 2-1. Our starters, particularly the young guys, need to start receiving earlier run support.

Respect Jeter's Gangster Is for the Children

RJG is donating $1 for every home run hit by a Yankee to Johnny Damon's Home Run Club, benefiting the Children's Health Fund. A-Rod and Damon both went yard today, helping the Yankees defeat the Minnesota Twins, who are in the running for the Yankees' greatest rival.

Jorge Posada 5hr = $5.00
Hideki Matsui 4hr = $4.00
Derek Jeter 5hr = $5.00
Mark Teixeira 8hr = $8.00
Nick Swisher 8hr = $8.00
Robinson Cano 6hr = $6.00
Johnny Damon 10hr = $10.00
Melky Cabrera 4hr = $4.00
Jose Molina 1hr = $1.00
Alex Rodriguez 3hr = $3.00
Brett Gardner 2hr = $2.00
Total = $55.00

If you are interested in Johnny Damon's Homerun Club or the Children's Health Fund you can find links to both at the top right hand corner of our page.