1. Joe Torre is seriously going to have to contemplate benching Melky Cabrera and losing that defense because the young switch-hitter’s offense is so bad, right now. With three righties in a row due for Cleveland, Torre might consider putting Johnny Damon in center, Hideki Matsui in left and using Jason Giambi to DH. He could always install Cabrera late in games the Yankees lead to play defense, with Damon shifting over to left where he is superior to Matsui.
2. Matsui had bat at-bats, as well. He was the lone lefty who did not do just a superb job against C.C. Sabathia, who normally spits out lefties. The Yankee lefties had power and patience against Sabathia, driving up his pitch count, but not getting him out of the game.
Just consider that of the first nine plate appearances by a Yankee lefty batter, they had two homers and four walks. Sabathia walked just four lefties the entire regular season. And he had not permitted a homer to a lefty hitter at Jacobs Field since Sept. 16, 2004 by Eric Munson. He had only once in his entire career at the Jake given up two homers in a game to lefty hitters, Seattle’s Raul Ibanez and Ichiro Suzuki on July 26, 2004.
3. Phil Hughes gave up a homer last night. But that was the only hit he gave up to seven hitters he faced in relief. He threw the ball well, and Joe Torre has a real tough decision approaching if this series goes at least four games – and for his job security Torre better hope it does – should he start Chien-Ming Wang on short rest at home where Wang excels, Mike Mussina or Hughes?