Ditto for John’s and Mike T’s posts.  You never ask anyone to do something there incapable of doing.  Of course, a major league player should be able to bunt; however, it was obvious that Swisher cannot bunt.  He jabbed at a pitch at his eye level.  A potential great victory was turned to a great comeback that fell short.

Pena would have been great in that role last night but he was sent down.  Are the Yankees carrying too many pitchers and not enough position players?  Matsui (totally) and Henski (mostly) are just DH players.  So only Hariston is available and he was sent in to pinch run at second base.  Molina was an option but it would have been obvious that he was sent in to bunt.

 Given the circumstances it was a bad call by Girard.

 A bigger concern is Joba.  I know the Yankees have mishandled his situation but he is a three year player.   I cannot watch him pitch given his propensity to walk people, get into trouble and have no ability to get out of tough situations.

 Six games up on the Sox is not enough cushion to rest players and set up the rotation for the playoffs.  That is why last night was a wasted opportunity to preserve a seven game cushion.