As all you dedicated YC-readers are well aware, my daddy-o (AKA the "YCD") is a life-long and uber-dedicated fan of the Bronx Bombers. Like his dear daughter (me), the YCD is very emotionally invested in the team and has a tendency to get fired up when things aren't going well.

Like this weekend, when the Yankees stammered their way through a pathetic 3-game series of fuckupery in Anaheim. Very similar to what we saw earlier in the year when they were fucking up against the Red Sox, the Yankees appeared to be a totally different team all weekend: bad pitching, lazy defense, stupid baserunning, and a total lack of clutchtasticness (and not just A-Rod, so zip it). After such a great run throughout June and the part of July, why couldn't the Yanks get it together in Anaheim? Do they psych themselves out against their major rivals? Were they intimidated (I hope not, because the Angels are not as good as the Yankees made them look)? The whole weekend was truly maddening and honestly embarrassing for the team (and those of us who defend them).

I was discussing the series with the YCD and trying to surmise what could be the cause of the tragic display the Yanks bestowed upon us, and he had no problem identifying what he sees as the source of the team's problems:

"I hate three people right now: Andy Pettitte, Joba Chamberlain, and Joe Girardi. I'm over Pettitte, Joba's a pussy, and I hate Joe Girardi."

I've already mentioned my concern about Joba and his troubling insistence that he was pitching his "best" lately, and no one can deny that Pettitte has been extremely disappointing this year, but I'm not sure I'm ready to be out on Girardi. Is it really his fault? What could/should he be doing differently? Convince me one way or the other in the comments section, kiddos. Are you on team YCD or still wearing your Girardi jersey?