Yanks can't figure out their wild mood swings

By MARC TOPKIN
Published June 23, 2005

NEW YORK - The 21 hours from the start of Tuesday's game until the end of Wednesday's was a perfect snapshot of the consistent inconsistency that has plagued the Yankees over the first 71 games.

They couldn't have looked much worse in falling behind 10-2 Tuesday, couldn't have looked much better while roaring back for a 20-11 win and couldn't have been more stunned to fall just short in Wednesday's 5-3 defeat.

"This was a tough loss, no question," manager Joe Torre said. "After (Tuesday) night, after having a couple leads today, and we couldn't hold it. We've just got to continue to try to get something going."

It has been like that all year, from the 11-19 start that was their worst in nearly 40 years, to the 16-2 May run that seemed to turn things around, to the dismal 3-9 road trip that sparked rumors about Torre's job status, to the six straight wins over the Pirates and the Cubs, to the first three games against the Rays - a flat loss Monday, a dramatic win Tuesday that Bernie Williams called the "turning point of the season" and Wednesday's loss.

"It's frustrating," Torre said. "No question."

There has been no single cause of their schizophrenia, thus no apparent cure, except to play better - and harder - than they have.

The pitching that was a trademark of their championship years has again been lacking, the rebuilt rotation depleted by injuries and the bullpen marred by inefficiency. They have yet to win a game in which they score three or fewer.

Alex Rodriguez has been explosive, ranking among the AL's top five with a .322 average, 20 homers and 63 RBIs, but the rest of the lineup has been inconsistent.

"Every year you have highs and lows, but when you're playing well you still have to find ways to win games here and there, and that's been our problem this year," shortstop Derek Jeter said. "It's like we haven't done more than one thing consistent all year," rightfielder Gary Sheffield said. "You think you've got one thing right and then something else happens."

The numbers tell one part of the story, but less quantitative measures reveal another.

Despite a record $205-million payroll and all-stars at every position, the Yankees - eventually - have realized they still need to work at winning.

Some bellowing from owner George Steinbrenner and a blast from Torre after a particularly ugly 8-1 loss at St. Louis on June 10 seemed to produce more intensity. But Rodriguez made back-page headlines by branding their Monday effort as "lazy," and they were muttering after Wednesday's game about missed opportunities.

"When you've got players like we do with a lot of talent, sometimes when the guys are blessed like that, things come easy for them," Torre said. "And sometimes it keeps you from understanding when you get to a certain point that you have to go beyond that. Nobody's lazy here. It's just a matter that sometimes you really have to challenge yourself."

Essentially, the pinstriped millionaires have to play with blue-collar tenacity.

"I think everybody in here realizes we can't just throw ourselves out there and are going to win," said catcher John Flaherty, the ex-Ray. "We're very talented, but it all hasn't come together like we're on that level yet. So it's more like we have to go out there and grind and get after it."

Still, Torre finds himself talking about getting the players to compete all nine innings and to do the small things that used to be automatic. Should they forget, the standings provide a daily reminder, with the Yankees hovering just above .500 and no closer than five games to first place all month.

Rodriguez suggested the Yankees need to develop urgency and "play with our hair on fire."

"I think that mentality that you play out the regular season to get to the postseason doesn't apply to this team," Flaherty said. "You've got to find a way to bring that intensity on an everyday basis."

[Last modified June 23, 2005, 00:45:20]