On July 17, the Yankees finished their series in Boston by taking 3 of 4 and were 1/2 game out. We all know they Yanks took the division lead the next day with a win over Texas and a Boston loss to TB. Since that day, the Yankees have gone 11-11, while Boston has gone 16-5 and that is how you turn a .5 game lead into a 5 game deficit.

During that time, I can think of at least 5 games were Torre mismanged wins into losses.

1 – The second game of the Texas series where he brought Wayne Franklin into a game that the Yankees were leading 1-0 because Gordon and Sturtze were “unavailable.” Franklin gave up the 2 run HR to Blalock to lose the game.

2 – The first game of the LA series. Joe pulls Johnson after 6 innings. Johnson through only 89 pitches but dragged his toe and was “favoring” his back. Giambi and Matsui hit HR in 7th for a 5-2 lead. Joe brings in Proctor for one batter Davanon (who walks), Groom who allows singles Izurtsis and Figgins to load the bases, before striking out Erstad. Then Joe brings in Bucket Boy aka Mr. Napalm who gives up a grand slam to Vlad who had not hit a HR in 45 AB. The inning costs the Yanks the game and wakes up what were dormant LA bats. Yanks lose 2 of next 3 to LA.

3- The game against Cleveland where Mussina clearly started to lose it in the 5th. Joe should have hooked him, but closed the barn door way to late.

4-5 – The two games vs. the White Sox. In game 2 there is no way that Jeter should have bunted in the 8th, his bat is too good to waste. Let Womack steal. You cant leave game up to Cano. Which is basically what you are doing. Should not have left Embree in to face Konerko. I did agree with the decision to pinch hit Bernie for Womack in the 9th. It didnt work but was the right call. In game 3, Bernie made the last out of a tie game in the 9th. Bubba should have been in Center. Bernie’s defensive deficiencies caused the triple and lost the game.

That’s five games. The players could have changed the outcome in some others but here is a microcosm of what is wrong with the team. A team with the potential to go 10 over during a 22 game stretch but only able to put up a .500 record. If they win those 5 instead of losing them, the Yanks go 16-6 and the record would be tied on top of the AL east.