The Yankees had Andy Pettitte on the mound, a lineup that was one player away (Posada) from being completely healthy, a ‘have to win’ sense of urgency, and a home crowd cheering them on.

Final score Boston 7, New York 3.

Is Hank still whining about injuries?

Random notes:

• Unless he makes a remarkable turn-a-round Manny Delcarmen needs to go the way of Craig Hansen. He single handedly tried to get the Yankees back in the game. He simply can’t be counted on. Pathetic performance by Delcarmen.
• Reading the comment section of various Yankee blogs I noticed a lot of complaining about the umpiring. Even on blogs that didn’t place the blame on the umps couldn’t help but mention it. Those same blogs, of course, made no mention of Rivera’s gift on Sunday. Peculiar, that.

Payton would eventually look at a third strike without lifting the bat off his shoulders. He had no choice. The pitch was unhittable. Not because it was a perfect pitch, but because it was 8 inches inside. Even with the break of the cutter after the pitch passed Payton it wasn’t close to being a strike.

Good pitchers get close calls; that’s common knowledge. But this wasn’t close. This wasn’t borderline. It was a ball. Jay Payton had no chance.

The theory when it comes to blown calls is that they balance out over the course of a game; in the end, it’s fair. Against a team like the Red Sox, with similar star power and payroll, I might agree. But against the Orioles, already fighting with inferior talent and less than a third of the money, it sure didn’t feel fair.

After coming back from the break Oriole color man Jim Palmer had obviously viewed a replay and called home plate umpire Ed Rapuano’s call “embarrassing”. And it was. I didn’t watch the 9th inning. The game had already been decided.