Three days and two games into the season, the Yankees' vaunted rotation has allowed 15 runs and 17 hits, producing two losses and one rumor of injury for its biggest prize.
The only strikeout the starters have put on the board is an unofficial one from Joba Chamberlain, who has yet to pitch, but spent time explaining the video that hit the Internet from his arrest for DUI last October in which he pointed out to the arresting officer he was a member of the Yankees before commenting on New Yorkers' rudeness while fumbling his own etiquette test by jokingly, but roughly, describing icon Yogi Berra's small stature. Not quite the start the 0-2 Yankees were seeking.
Berra reportedly forgave Chamberlain for his gruff humor, and the 23-year-old pitcher promised to learn his lesson on the far more dangerous issue of drinking while driving, so it can be hoped he'll leave that incident in the past despite the public reminder.
Back in the land of baseball, the fate of a couple of highly touted pitchers performing poorly could soon be forgotten, too.
But for now, with Chien-Ming Wang lowering an already substandard bar set by ace CC Sabathia, there's plenty of room for jokes at the expense of the team that spent tons of money on its rotation and palatial stadium but has started 0-2.
"I wanted to win so bad," said Wang, who instead gave up seven runs on nine hits in a 7-5 loss to Baltimore.
The good news is, Sabathia told reporters speculation about his use of a heating pad pointing to an injury was off base, as he sometimes uses it in cold weather.
At least that's a start. Though not quite the one the Yankees had hoped to have, of course.
ORIOLES 7, YANKEES 5: Chien-Ming Wang gave the Yankees' heralded starting rotation its second straight miserable outing, and the club started the season 0-2. Wang fared even worse than predecessor CC Sabathia, giving up seven runs in just 3 2/3 innings. Orioles starter Koji Uehara, making his big-league debut after coming over from Japan, limited the Yankees to one run in five innings. The score was deceiving, as the Yankees tacked on three runs in the ninth on a two-run homer by Derek Jeter and an RBI double from Mark Teixeira.
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