Jonathan Papelbon, Meet Ziva David

July 15, 2008

The Yankees closed out the 4-game weekend-wraparound series by losing to The Scum, 2-1 this afternoon. Phil Hughes recovered well after allowing 2 runs in the 1st, but the Yankees couldn't touch Jon Lester, who took a no-hitter into the 5th and a shutout into the 7th. Mark Teixeira homered, and then Terry Francona brought Jonathan Papelbon in to slam the door. Derek Jeter walked in the 9th, but Papelbum struck out the other 3 hitters he faced in the 9th: Curtis Granderson, Nick Swisher and Teix.

Like any Yankee Fan -- or anyone with taste, for that matter -- I can't stand Papelbon. In fact, I think it's time to introduce him to two of my favorite characters, Special Agents Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Ziva David from NCIS.

Anyway, with this game, the Yankees now lead the Tampa Bay Rays by 2 games in the AL East, and the Red Sox by 4 -- but in the AILC, the All-Important Loss Column, while they are 2 games ahead of the Rays, they are 7 ahead of the Sox. This is because the Sox have played 113 games, while the Yankees and Rays have each played 111. The Rays play their 112th tonight, starting a series with the slumping Detroit Tigers.

The Yankees' Magic Number to clinch the Division is 50; The Scum's Tragic Number to be eliminated from Playoff eligibility is 47, and 45 to be eliminated from the Division race.

The Mets? They're actually in a better position to win the NL East (elimination number 43) than the NL Wild Card (44).

There are 8 weeks left in the regular season. The Yankees now travel to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to take on the AL West-leading Texas Rangers. A.J. Burnett, moved back in the rotation due to being shit-scared of the Red Sox, I mean due to back spasms, faces C.J. Wilson tomorrow night. That's a lot of initials in one game.