Blame Canada

AJ Burnett, Mr. .500, came two outs from handing the Yankees their second defeat via complete game shutout in a three-game set.

Except for what turned out to be a historic offensive outburst in Game 2, A-Rod and Jeter hit milestone HRs, the Yankees offense was pathetic, awful, anemic, impotetent, putrid, flaccid, listless, woeful, nonexistent ... I could, and should go on. In any case, can the Yankees play worse baseball? Yes. Can they play with less brains. Probably not.

I'm glad I don't scream at the TV ... as much ... as I once did, because I'd be mute by now. The other team hangs a crooked number on the Yankees, so their batters swing at early and often in the count. The Yankees are swinging at awful 2-0 and 3-1 pitches, rolling over them and popping up because everyone wants to hit a 7-run homer. And the sad part is the Yankees' pitching has been pretty good. What a waste.

Their rotation, now, isn't awful, and when/if Wanger comes back, they've really got a nice group, although it looks as if Rasner is the odd man out in that set-up. Still, he wouldn't be awful out of the bullpen, and that's not something I thin the Yankees are overly concerned with. For now.

I heard the Yankees are looking at Ritchie Sexson. Sexon's hitting a robust .218 with 11 HRs and 30 RBIs in 74 games. I'm sure the Yankees could look elsewhere, perhaps a batboy or clubhouse attendant, for production from the right side.

It's too bad about Bobby Murcer. He was great in the booth, better than the chuckleheads we're left with. He had great stories, relevant comments and best of all, he knew when to keep quiet.