Business picked up to kick off July. I first caught up with a Smithtown High School East alum in my latest NYC Spotlight.
Then there was a look back at July 4, 1983, when Dave Righetti tossed the first Yankees no-hitter since Don Larsen's perfect game in 1956. Then the Rangers made a flurry of moves that were necessary to slap life into a team that has its season short-circuited in the second round of the playoffs two years in a row. One was saying so long to Sean Avery, a mutual parting of the ways that helps - and hurts - both sides.
In between, the Yankees are having issues. People are shocked that this offense is resembling the blackout of 1977. Not David Justice. I ghost-write his column for YESNetwork.com once a week and he cites something that many fans don't want to admit: The core of a team is a year older. And when you're older, those nagging injuries have much more bark to their bite.
I have Red Sox-Yankees on as I write this. The Yankees have one hit in 5 1/3 innings off Tim Wakefield. Need I say more? And Joe Girardi just got thrown out of the game by home plate umpire Laz Diaz for arguing balls and strikes. At least Girardi shows fire and is trying something - anything - to wake the sleeping giants.
Viola! Brett Gardner ripped a one-out single after the ejection.
Check in with this space and YES starting next weekend. Beginning with an online diary from Friday's Fan Fest and Sunday's Futures Game, I'll be immersed in All-Star weekend.
Derek Jeter singles home Gardner. 3-2 Red Sox, end of six, and it would have been more if not for Julio Logo robbing Bobby Abreu of a base hit. Girardi is a cunning genius.
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