Mark Feinsand, Daily News:
Just when you thought the Yankees' rotation was going to be their biggest problem, the bullpen decided to enter the conversation.
With Rafael Soriano unavailable to pitch thanks to his recent heavy workload, the Yankees watched three pitchers combine to blow a two-run lead in the ninth inning, suffering a stunning 4-3 loss to the White Sox.
David Robertson wanted to be on the mound to start the ninth inning.
Instead, he came in with runners on first and third and no outs and promptly gave up a go-ahead, three-run homer to Dayan Viciedo as the Yankees saw a five-game winning streak snapped with a 4-3 loss to the White Sox in The Bronx.
"If it's up to me, if it's my choice, I'd prefer it," Robertson said after blowing the save. "But I've been in situations before just like that and gotten out of them."
Not this time.
Sometimes it's not about the starting pitching, and all the injuries to the rotation. It's about the bullpen aching, or tired, or out of joint, or the manager getting too cute with mixing and matching relievers in the ninth.
Joe Girardi has to be awfully careful these days not to fritter away decent starts, because they will not necessarily be coming down the pipeline every night ...
A.J. Burnett is dealing. What a great deal this was for the Pirates.June 30
Burnett has become the pitcher the Yankees thought they were getting when they signed him to that five-year, $82.5 million deal.
The day after the Yankees lost two huge pieces of their rotation — CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte — Burnett upped his record to 9-2 yesterday with Pittsburgh's 5-4 win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The victory was Burnett's eighth straight, something no Pirates pitcher had done since Dock Ellis won eight straight in 1974. ...
Burnett turned the page on the Yankees — who are paying $20 million of the $33 million Burnett is owed this season and next ... He loves his new pitching life with Pittsburgh.
The Yankees did their best to welcome Adam Warren to their powerhouse team Friday night, providing him with four quick runs in the bottom of the first inning.
But the rookie righty gave all of that back and more in his major-league debut. Warren didn't last through the third inning, and the Yankees went on to drop an ugly 14-7 slugfest to the White Sox at the Stadium that embarrassingly included outfielder Dewayne Wise pitching in the ninth.
Young Adam Warren was trotted out to make his major-league debut last night at Yankee Stadium and the White Sox put on a pre-4th of July fireworks show, lighting up the Yankees, even though Warren was staked to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Chicago beat up manager Joe Girardi’s club 14-7 before 44,265 overheated fans.
The pathetic pitching night ended for the Yankees with outfielder Dewayne Wise on the mound. ...
Yes, the summer heat is just beginning. ...
Nice! I actually enjoyed the standings this morning, all things considered. Next weekend will be big!
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