The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim may have had an identity crisis in the last few years, but in the Joe Torre era, the Yankees haven’t forgotten their name. Standing as the only team with a winning record against New York (58-52 overall and 31-24 in the Bronx) since Torre took over in 1996, the Angels swept the struggling Yankees in their first meeting of the season. Spoiling a great effort by Mike Mussina where he allowed only 1 run through six innings, the New York bullpen allowed three walks in the seventh following a walk from Mussina before his departure to plate the tying runs and the go-ahead which the Angels would never relinquish. John Lackey continued the Angels tear through the month of May in a dominating performance that spanned eight innings in which he surrended 2 earned runs on five hits to earn his Major League leading 8th win of the season while lowering his ERA to an AL second best 2.36. For the third straight game, Angels pitching handcuffed the New York lineup drawing a sweep that leaves the see-sawing Yankees sitting at the bottom of the AL East now 12.5 games behind the rival Red Sox.

Whether you fault the recent slide in offensive production or the dreaded pitching from start (excluding Andy Pettitte) to finish, the early season excuses have all but passed with June knocking at the door. With their current position, it is hard to imagine the return of Roger Clemens will have a significant impact upon the expectations of New Yorkers. Quite honestly it is just getting down right hard to continue writing the state of the Yankees when every game drives the depression deeper and deeper. No, I am not trying to get all Curt Schilling here in this blog, but god damnit I am sick and tired of feeling like a Sox fan with Wily Mo Pena at the plate and his nothing more than all swings in this all-or-nothing season.

(5 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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