Hmm... maybe it's been my fault. If you checked my Yankee spring training schedule of late, you'd most likely find it marked "WW;" that's "wasn't watching," for those of you who don't know the old poetry that was Phil Rizzuto. But I did just watch the Yanks v Nats game all the way til no one with a number under 77 was left in the contest. Yanks win 8-5.

Michael Pineda started for the Yankees and looked pretty good, striking out a few including Bryce Harper, but he did give up a couple runs to the anemic (g)Nats. The radar gun was not working or not working correctly depending on whose reports you listen to. Washington had announced that pre-game so it had nothing to do with concerns over Pineda's velocity. He mostly likely topped out at 92mph (93 if you're being too kind) but was definitely not burning it up in the 95-97 range. Again- this is spring training and early so guys really are not cutting loose.

The most interesting moment in the MASN broadcast was the work of FP Santangelo. Coming back from commercial after the Nats had scored off of Pineda with a double down the right-field line. Much had been made by big mouth Bobby Valentine about Jeter being out of position to be able to perform the classic "flip play." The Captain had actually said that they practice that, demonstrating earlier this spring.

Well, there was the ball down in the right-field corner and there's the throw up the first base line and there's Yankee shortstop for today's game, Ramiro Pena, on the line to catch the overthrow. FP made damn sure to stick it to Bobby V; wonder who outside of beantown will like this guy come the all-star break.

Pena left the game early after getting banged up getting caught stealing second. CM Wang, who was throwing great against his former club until he had to go anywhere near a base. This time the culprit was the first-base bag. Wang had fielded a slow roller and was racing Russell Martin to the bag. What I think the pitcher was trying to do was adjust his course to the bag to beat the speedy catcher. What he did was trip over one of his own feet and then the other before tumbling over the bag (he did get the out) and leaving the game with dirt on his shoulder (you don't want to see that on your starting pitcher especially an injury-prone one) with a hamstring pull. It could have been a whole lot worse considering his history.

Debate over whether Gardner should lead off instead of Jeter should quiet for at least tomorrow's papers. Gardy k'd three times in the lead off role today.

Okay, that's all you get.

B.