File this one under: glass half full- The Yanks lose 2 outta 3 to the hated bosox and I force myself to think: they're saving their wins for the stretch drive. Beat them the first game behind Colon and the combined forces of the Yanks mighty bullpen. But Saturday behind CC was the game we were supposed to take especially against Lackey. And then last night, when it seemed like the Yanks were going to return the favor -- beating Beckett behind Freddy Garcia (clearly a pitching match-up that favored the home team) -- the Yankees took a 1-run lead into the 9th only to have Mo (the sox seem to have his number more than any other team in the league; a microcosm actually of this season's contests) blow it and then Hughes lose it in the 10th.

Still we're only a game back with 50 more to play so it's not the end of the world per se, or the season for that matter, but the Yanks need to step up and figure out how to beat their top rivals in 2011.\

In other related Yankee news, Jorge Posada has been benched. It's not like you couldn't see it coming- he hit for a while after the last incident- but he's been reduced to a bases-clogging singles hitter over the last 6 weeks or so. The timing - much like earlier - was odd though. Girardi, who does have an icy relationship with Jorge, informed the long-time catcher turned designated "hitter" of his benching before a nationally televised game against their biggest rivals. At the very least, it took some of the back page heat off the failures on the field and into the clubhouse.

Word is that clubhouse may soon have #1 prospect, Jesus Montero, up from AAA before the rosters expand on September 1. We do need another bat on the bench, been carrying 13 pitchers, so there is space for the maneuver. So we will see...

****

Had never really been blown away by a human beatbox (yeah, the guy who did those TV commercials years ago was entertaining, but more a joke to me than art) until this past Friday night. Caught 2 sets from local "super group" Saltee fronted by Karnage (it could be "Carnage" but for some reason, I suspect the intentional misspelling) and I have to change my mind there. Pretty amazing what this guy could do with his mouth and some tape loop.

The new pictures were sent to my graphic designer friend in NYC last week for the Rose book cover. Because I am apparently supposed to have more delays than a Delta airlines flight, the disc that was supposed to arrive by Friday, still has yet to show up. Strange, but true...

I'll keep you posted.

Cheers,
Brian