Rays run past Yankees

Blogging Yankees baseball from Las Vegas is easier said then done. Distractions here are like bugs on Joba in Cleveland. In a show of sheer will, I put down the poker chips and dragged my tired carcass to the Caesars Palace colossal sports book in time to watch the Yanks/Rays on the jumbo screen. The Yankees' anemic offense plods on as a note scrolls: "A-Rod will miss another week." It's hard to believe the 2008 season is only six weeks old. Is there a quota on problems? Here's a few notes:

• Evan Longoria is a natural. Small market Tampa can simply put him in the lineup and watch him grow, there are advantages to being an under the radar team with no expectations.
• The young, aggressive Rays show no respect for their elders and jump out to a 5-0 lead. The Yanks try to come back: 5TH inning, Melky on 1st, 1 out, Molina attempts a bunt (Huh?)
• Chris Britton relieves Pettitte, he has put up respectable stats but spends more time on the Scranton shuttle then in pinstripes, is the slovenly, why bother to get in shape appearance hurting his career?
• Igawa (are they serious?) warms up as Britton struggles. (Flashback to figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, after getting whacked in the knee wailing) why? is he still on the roster. Perhaps someone from the "In Cash we trust" crew can explain this. Logic is clearly not part of the infamous plan.
• The perennial doormat Rays run with abandon, signalling the dawn of a new era. Tampa buries the Yanks 7-1 in a game that wasn't as close as the score.