Bronx Cheers:
Joba: I am generally optimistic about most things, but Joba is making it really hard. In his last 8 starts, Joba is 0-4 with an 8.42 ERA. Opponents are hitting .331 against him. On Sunday, he went three innings, gave up seven runs on six hits, walked three and struck out two.

RISP: 1-11. ‘Nuff said.

A-Rod: Alex went 0-4 and left six runners on base. Not what you want out of your clean-up hitter.

Curtain Calls:
Mitre: I know, I can’t believe I just wrote that either. The day Sergio Mitre is sent back to the bullpen, he ends up giving the Yankees five fantastic innings. He only gave up one hit and one walk, while striking out five. His ERA is down to 6.88.

Teixeira: Mark Teixeira went 3-4, comprising 60% of the Yankees’ hits. He scored the Yankees one run. He went 7-12 for the series.

Ramblings on Joba:

What is there to say about Joba? He was hot right after the All-Star Break, and I had started to feel like my optimism about the young hurler was legitimate. Since then he’s been a train wreck. Some of this could be blamed on the evolving Joba Rules, but that sounds like the easy way out. At this point, Joba should be able to string together a couple decent outings. A lot of people are starting to call for him to be sent back to the bullpen and I can understand the argument. I’ve always been partial to Joba as a starter. He has the physical potential to be a great starter, however, I wonder if his problem is one of mindset.

According to Peter Abraham, Joba does not seem to think there is a problem. I am a big believer that the mental aspect of athletics can make or break the athlete (or as Yogi put it “Baseball is 90% mental, the other half is physical”). I was a pretty decent field hockey goalie in college, and at the 5’3 (which could be generous…) and 105 lbs I am not built like a goalie, but you better believe I didn’t think anyone could score on me – and they usually didn’t. Joba’s struggles earlier in the season seemed to be fixed once he started working a little more quickly and thinking a little less. Perhaps what Joba really needs right now is a mentality adjustment more than innings limits.

In the On Deck Circle:
The Yankees could have clinched a playoff spot with a win Sunday, instead they will have to wait another day. Andy Pettitte (13-6, 4.14) will take the mound as the Yankees head to Anaheim to take on the Angels. They will try to erase the memory of the Angels’ three-game sweep of the Bombers in Anaheim that ended the first half of the season. Pettitte will pitch on extra rest, as he sat out a start due to an achy shoulder. In July he lost to the Angels, giving up six runs in 4.1 innings, however, Pettitte has looked much better during the second part of the season. Joe Saunders (13-7, 4.75) will take the mound for the Halos. He has a 2.10 ERA in his last five starts, but is 1-1 with a 7.97 ERA in four outings against the Yankees. First pitch is at 10:05pm.