A Winning Combination

The Yankees were able to salvage the final game of the three game series in Baltimore using a combination that we might not see again for the rest of the year:

Pettitte + Joba + Mo

It might be the last time that we see that killer combination because Joba is being stretched into his eventual role as starter...

But for one more night in Baltimore it worked brilliantly...

Pettitte pitched a strong 6 2/3 innings where he only allowed 2 runs...Joba relieved him in the 7th, pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Mo closed it out in the 9th...

Unlike the previous 2 nights, the bullpen did the job and the Yankees won 4-2...

I know Joba is being groomed for a role as a starter, but I'll take the contrarian view here and say that he's more valuable in the Pen...Think about it, Joba will start once every 5 days, and even if he gives you a solid 6 or 7 innings, what good will that do if the pen doesn't hold the lead...

Honestly, outside of Ramirez and Mo, can we really trust anyone in that pen to be consistent...

And what of the other 4 starters? Who will protect their leads when they have them? As much as it will be great to see what Joba will do as a starter, you have to admit, there will be a lot of nail biting in those late innings...

We'll have to hold on tight and hope for the best, I guess...

Additional Notes:

Hideki Matsui continues to swing a hot bat going 2 for 4 Wednesday night, ditto Johnny Damon who had 3 hits...and how about Jason Giambi? The turnaround looks like it's official-Giambi hit another home run and went 2 for 3 with 2 rbi-his average is up to .244 now and climbing...

Thursday, the Yanks are off...Friday night Moose goes against Minnesota...

GO YANKS!!!!