Today, the Jays and Yankees make up the July 22 game, when truly frightening weather washed out the Jays' opportunity for a two-game mini-sweep at Yankee Stadium. The Jays come into town having won five straight at the intersection of the B, D and 4 trains. Can they pull out the season series against mighty New York in today's matinee?
Just a short report today, as this game is a whistle-stop en route to the real test of whether Toronto is enjoying a September resurgence: A three-game against their bugaboo opponents in Tampa Bay. A busy day at work means no hooky for me, but I might sneak a peek at the ol' Internet from time to time...
On to the Advance Scout!
* The Yankees had a 7.5 game lead on August 20, but were it not for David Wells' surprising gem yesterday, they would have frittered all but a half-game away in two and a half weeks ... The Yankees salvaged the season series against Boston, 10-9. The season series with the Jays hangs in the balance today ...
* After Friday's 9-3 pasting by the Red Sox, Steinbrenner made waves (even by his standards) when he said of his coaching staff, "I think they better be a little uneasy" ...
* Bernie Williams snapped a 17-game homerless drought with his crucial two-run bomb that broke yesterday's scoreless tie ... It was just his second Yankee Stadium home run all season; he has nine on the road ... As Coach might say, it's too bad there are no clutch
hitters, because otherwise Bernie would be one ...
* Derek Jeter made his return from a strained ribcage yesterday, a day ahead of schedule ... He went one for three with a single, walk and stolen base ... He looked shaky on his throws to first, however ... Jeter credited good ol' nagging to his insertion into the lineup. Jeter: "I would have kept talking to him, over and over" ... Jeter was asked by the New York Post if yesterday was his "Willis Reed moment." Jeter's response: "I'm not that old" ...
* Jorge Posada is just 7 for his last 38 (.184) and 1 for his last 11 (.091) ... He might get today off, as he did in last Monday's matinee ... Only 4 walks in his last 15 games, an unusual drought for the excellent switch-hitter ...
* After a rough spell in early August, Mariano Rivera has earned saves in his last eight appearances ... Rivera insisted yesterday that the team didn't play under pressure after the back-to-back Boston bashings: "Everybody was loose and ready to play. Pressure is normal, but once you get on the field, you do your business" ...
* Nick Johnson's only 1 for his last 10, but that one hit was a big RBI single that provided the Yankees with insurance in yesterday's 3-1 decision ...
* Imagine the pressure Jason Giambi is under in the Bronx now that his slump has reached 1 for 40 (.025) ... He's only scored three runs over this 13-game slump ... He won't get a mental health day today, because his only recent hit was a home run off of Kelvim last week ...
* Aaron Boone, the man for whom the Yankees dealt Brandon Claussen, is 1 for his last 12 (.083) and is a mere 200/260/292 as a Yankee ... They could've gotten that production from Robin Ventura ...
* If Mel Stottlemyre retires or is fired after the season, as is widely rumoured, former righty swingman and current Columbus pitching Neil Allen will be the likely replacement ... Steinbrenner was careful to give Billy Connors, and not Stottlemyre, credit for Jose Contreras' recent success ...
Probable Batting Orders
vs. RH
4 Soriano
3 N Johnson
6 Jeter
DH Giambi
2 Posada/Flaherty
8 Williams
7 Matsui
5 Boone
9 Garcia
Pitching Probables
Monday: RH Mussina vs. Escobar
Bullpen Usage
Long: Weaver R, DePaula R
Short: White L, Osuna R, Heredia L
Setup: Nelson R, Hammond L
Closer: Rivera R
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20030908112956999