YankeesRedSox.com

Only a fool would try and draw conclusions after three games.  So, with that out of the way, what can we surmize from the series with the Jays?

Well, two things leap out at me, one small one (that I think) is big.

The small thing is the use of the bullpen.  No, it didn't take much to figure out that Joba and Mo would pitch the 8th and 9th, but I found Girardi's use of the pen tonight very, very interesting.  Hughes looked great, but 87 pitches at this time of year is probably a good time to quit, so I have no qualms with his removal.  Traber to start off against Overbay makes plenty of sense and that is where things got interesting.

First, it appears Traber is truly going to be a lefty specialist, otherwise, why not let him pitch to Aaron Hill, not exactly a huge hitter.  Ok, so let's assume that Traber is going to fill the lefty role and just that role, I thought the next move was even more interesting, bringing in Bruney.  Now, I have nothing against Bruney and you can make the case that since Farnsworth and Hawkins pitched last night they were unavailable, but I thought the fact that he came into a 2-2 game was very telling.  To me it really showed that Joe is letting everyone turn over a new leaf.  We shall see....

The bigger thing in my mind has been seeing Jason Giambi out at first in two very close wins.  Giambi certainly showed that his defense isn't any better Wednesday, but Girardi trusted him with the game on the line in the ninth tonight the same way he did Tuesday.  Joe Torre never would have done that and it makes me thing that the Yankees are really going to put Giambi in the field 100+ times this year.  I have serious doubts that that will be a successful plan, but I think that is the way things are going.  

Two other notes, both from the strange but true department.

According to YES, Phil Hughes is the second-youngest player in the AL right now.  I have no idea if that is right or not, but it is worth remembering that he is still only 21.

A hawk attacked a young girl at Fenway Park today.  I think it is horrible, but the weird part is her name.  They really take this rivalry seriously in Boston, don't they?