Congratulations Godzilla

Hideki Matsui married "a 25 year-old civilian" yesterday, winning a bet with Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu. Here's a strange picture of Matsui's new wife. What, you couldn't find the back of a milk carton to draw on?

Looks like Godzilla can finally toss that legendary porn collection of his.

Monday Links

Hughes Remains Hitless. Five innings, no hits, no runs, no doubt.

Mussina content with command. Michael Mussina's last start has Yankee officials happy... until he gives up a two-run homer in late March.

Girardi Speaks Up. The Tampa Rays haven't seen the last of Joe Girardi's bad side.

Matsui Gets Some At Bats. Hideki is back in the fold, hitting 4-6-3 double plays like it's May.

Godzilla may or may not have a bum knee.

Hideki Matsui might not be at full strength when the Yankee position players begin spring workouts Feb. 21 because of lingering soreness in his right knee, the outfielder told Japanese reporters in New York Monday. Matsui, who is slated to fly to Tampa today to talk to team doctors and trainers, was examined by a doctor in New York. Matsui said he hopes to be healthy enough that he does not have to begin spring training under a different program than his teammates.

Meanwhile, however, the NY Post quotes Brian Cashman as explaining the knee exams are "routine" and that Matsui will merely take it easy early on in training camp

1 Game Back

Boston's closer celebrates his latest chokejob.















The Yankees are one game behind Boston in the loss column.

Let me say that again. The Yankees are one back.

After being 14.5 games back at one point of the season, the Bombers have stormed all the way back, thanks to a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles and simultaneous sweep of the Red Sox. Special consideration goes out to Johnathon Papelblown, who promptly served up a 2-out grandslammer in the bottom of the eighth inning. The score went from a manageable 1-run deficit to a 6-1 shellacking.

Meanwhile, in the Bronx, Andy Pettitte pitched into the eighth inning, going 7.2 innings of 1-run ball, with Joba Chamberlain securing the final out of the inning by way of a slider strikeout. Mariano Rivera worked out of another bases-loaded jam by striking out Scott Moore to end the game and move the Yankees a step closer toward a divisional shocker.

Adding to the satisfaction of the Red Sox collapse was the 200th career victory for Pettitte, a first in organizational history, as no other Yankee farmland ever went on to notch 200 career wins.

Hideki Matsui hit his 25th homerun of the season. The solo shot was his 99th RBI and seems to have Godzilla poised toward a postseason hot-streak.