Monday, August 10, 2009

Phil Coke Talks Trash Following Yanks' Sweep of Sox

Joe Girardi showed off his managerial prowess again Sunday, using Phil Coke in the eighth inning to set-up closer Mariano Rivera instead of regular eighth inning man, Phil Hughes.

To his defense, Hughes had pitched the previous two games, totaling nine pitches and two batters faced. I can see where he needed the rest.

Coke, who earned the win in New York's 5-2 win over Boston, entered the game with a 1-0 lead. He left trailing 2-1 - his fifth blown lead of the year, supporting his stellar 4.98 earned run average.

"So much for 8-0, huh?" Phil Coke said after the game, in an Associated Press report.

A win is a win, a sweep is a sweep, but should the weak link in an otherwise stable bullpen really be providing the bulletin board material for the Red Sox?