Yankees Execute The Plan

They should all be like this.

Andy Pettitte pitched seven solid innings, the offense backed him up with a balanced, grinding attack and the bullpen locked down a 5-3 victory over the A's Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. (Note: I'm officially dropping "the new." This is the Yankees' home now, and unless there is a need to refer to the old park, there is no need to keep referring to this building as "the new Yankees Stadium.")

When Joe Girardi envisions how a game will play out, this is the formula. And once Chien-Ming Wang gets straightened out, there is no reason to believe the starters can't consistently deliver this type of performance or that the the middle relief can't handle that kind of work load.

Pettitte (2-0, 2.53 ERA) allowed two runs on nine hits without a walk or strikeout. He threw 67 of 105 pitches for strikes. He has been solid in all three starts so far, going at least seven in each and allowing the Yankees to win all three.

Pettitte's importance to the staff has only been enhanced, not only by his performance, but by Wang's terrible start. Where' would this staff be without him? Probably not 8-6 and in second in the AL East.

Meanwhile, the offense got going early and got contributions throughout the lineup. Every starter, including Cody Ransom, had a hit, except for Nick Swisher, who drew a leadoff walk and scored the Yankees' first run in the four-run second. Brett Gardner had a two-run single in the inning, and Johnny Damon, who also homered in the sixth, and Mark Teixeira added RBI singles as the Yankees went 4-for-6 with runners in scoring position in the frame and 4-for-11 for the game.

The Yankees knocked out A's starter Dana Eveland after four innings and 99 pitches.

And of course, Brian Bruney got the lead to Mariano Rivera, who saved a victory for Pettitte for the 57th time, tying the record held by the A's Dennis Eckersley and Bob Welch. Imagine if Pettitte never went to Houston.

The Good
It was a very good day for the Yankees. Not only did they get a "routine" win, they got good news about Xavier Nady and Alex Rodriguez.

The new reports on Nady is that he might not need surgery on his elbow. Nady will try to rehab the elbow and if all goes well, he could be back with the Yankees, albeit in a limited role, in 4-6 weeks. The possibility of surgery still does exist, but if Nady can return, he'd give the team a right-handed DH and pinch hitter, which would help them matchup better against left-handed starters. In addition it would allow the Yankees to spot Hideki Matsui more and give that balky left knee regular break.

Nady's return also means Swisher and Melky Cabrera would continue to play important roles. The Yankees will need Swisher's offensive production in right and they'll need Cabrera's glove off the bench because neither Nady nor Matsui will be able to play the field.

A-Rod is nearing the point in his rehab when he can start playing in rehab games. The Yankees remain firm on the May 15 return date, but it's still possible he might return at least a week earlier.

Matsui's knee seems to solid again. Matsui when 2-for-3 Tuesday and is 4 for his last 7 raising his batting average from .148 to .235. If healthy, we all know what kind of hitter Matsui is. He's going to need to be open with the team about when that knee is bothering him and Girardi is going to have to spot him enough rest to get him through the season.

The Bad
Just one thing: Bruney gave up a run. No one is going to be perfect, but he limited the damage and got the lead to Mo. This should be just a blip.

What We Learned
Wang's bad start really distorts how effective the starting staff has been. In 11 starts, Pettitte, CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Joba Chamberlian have combined to go 5-1 with a 3.38 ERA. They've allowed 26 earned runs in 69-1/3 innings (an average of nearly 6-1/3 innings), while striking out 46.

Runners On Third With Less Than Two Outs
Tuesday
4 Opportunities
3-for-4, 3 R, 3 RBI
Season
22 Opportunities
5-for-18, 3B, BB, 3 SF, 13 R, 10 RBI, 1 K, 2 GIDP

Up Next
Wednesday vs. A's, 1:05 p.m., YES
Brett Anderson (0-2, 4.85) vs. Sabathia (1-1, 3.57)