YANKEES SPLIT & OTHER NEWS

***THEY DO HAVE AN OFFENSE***
After being shut our in the first game of a split doubleheader, the Yanks finally came back to win the 2nd, ending a three-game skid. Vasquez finally showed some of the skills he demonstrated for a few years in the Minor, er, National League. The Tiger closer, Jose Valverde, took some heat from the Yankee broadcasters for his fist-pumping in the ninth. They finally accepted that it was okay, since Chamberlain does it all the time (and did it in the 2nd game).
The Yanks took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd game when the powerhouse 3rd & 4th hitters, Teixeira & A-Rod, each drove in a run. A-Rod dropped a dying quail along the right field line and Tex hit a seeing-eye, 14 hopper between the 1st & 2nd baseman. That was impressive.
Speaking of powerhouses, A-Rod has not looked like a homerun king all year, a fact noted by ESPN analyst Katie Sharp. Never fear, sports fans, Katie has the answers. Her suggestions:
1) Regain his confidence against right-handers
2) Drive the ball with more authority to the left side
3) Don't try to swing for the fences all the time
I'll bet A-Rod never thought of these things. Is ESPN paying her for these insights?

***TWO GOOD REMARKS***
Tiger manager, Jim Leyland, on the overuse of his relievers: "Our pitching staff will be at the Detroit Medical Center by June if this keeps up." Who does Leyland think he is, Joe Torre?

Ken Singleton after Tiger 3rd baseman Inge dropped a foul pop-up: "I saw Brooks Robinson drop an easy pop-up once. In my next at bat, I asked the catcher, Bill Freehan, 'When's the last time you saw Brooks drop a pop-up?' 'About five minutes ago,' he replied."

***AND ONE BY OZZIE GUILLEN***
"I'm not a quitter. When I want to quit, I'll do a lot of stupid things and make sure they fire me and then I'll still get paid." Well, it hasn't worked so far, Ozzie.

***FROM IAN HAMILTON OF THE LEADER-POST***
After Nutri-system dropped Lawrence Taylor as a spokesperson, Ian commented: "It's the fastest loss of 230 pounds the program has ever produced.

The Ken Griffey-sleep thing just won't go away. Now some of the Mariners won't talk to Tacoma News Tribune beat writer, Larry LaRue, or talk to any other reporters while LaRue is in the clubhouse. If LaRue claimed to have seen Griffey himself and reported it or chastised Griffey severely because of it, I could understand the players reaction. However, LaRue just reported what he was told by TWO players and won't name them (as he shouldn't). The Mariners are being very childish. Reports are that the two players who blew the whistle have not yet revealed themselves to the other players. Griffey's right: he can't win this and the hole just keeps getting deeper. Somebody better tell these guys to grow up.

CP-