What happens in Chicago, stays in Chicago...

...or let's hope so for the Yankees sake. With today's 14-4 loss in the Windy City, New York has now lost the first three games of this four game set with the White Sox, and they have looked bad doing so. In the three games, the Yanks have gotten outscored 27-11. This after coming out of the All-Star Break having won 11 of 13 games.

On Thursday night, the Yankees were at least in the game, only losing the contest 3-2 in extras. Andy Pettitte and Gavin Floyd were locked up in a pitchers duel, as both allowed just one run each. The bombers got away with a costly Robinson Cano throwing error in the 7th, when Nick Swisher hit a game-tying two out homerun in the top of the ninth. I was at a bar watching this game, and the place went nuts when Swisher's ball reached the seats. Unfortunantely, Phil Hughes, who had come on relief in the seventh, ran out of gas in the tenth, and allowed back-to-back base hits before being taken out of the game. Lefty Phil Coke came on in relief and recorded one out, before Dewayne Wise hit a base hit up the middle that brought in the winning run.

The next two games get little mention, because they were flat out embarassing. Yesterday, the Yankees were up 3-0 early, and then things got out of hand. Down 6-5 after the fifth inning, the bombers failed to plate the tying run in the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings. Alfredo Aceves, who has been sharp all season long coming out of the bullpen, was shelled for four runs in the bottom of the seventh. In today's 14-4 embarassment, nothing went well for New York. A.J Burnett, who had been 5-0 with a 2.23 ERA in his last six starts, was ghastly today. He allowed six runs in the second inning, and didn't even make it out of the fifth inning today. If A.J Burnett was ghastly, then Phil Coke was terryfing. The lefty allowed six runs in a third of an inning. Every White Sox starter recorded a hit.

As bad as these three losses have been, Yankee fans need not get crazy. Putting things in perspective, this is still one of the best teams in baseball, and they came into this series the hottest team in the league. Yes Burnett was awful, but he has arguably been the Yankees best starter since June, and hopefully today was just a blip on the radar. The bullpen has also been awful this series, but has been one of the strong points for this team for well over a month. The White Sox are also a very good ballclub, so I can't get too worked up over losing to them. I really think these three games are a bump in the road in what has been an otherwise impressive run for the Yankees. Win tomorrow, and move on. If they get beat up by the Red Sox again later this week, then it's time to start kicking and screaming.

Because Boston won their third straight game with their 4-0 win over the Baltimore tonight, they have inched to within a half game behind the Yankees (62-41) for first place in the AL East. The Yankees will try to salvage this series tomorrow with C.C Sabathia (10-7 3.83 ERA) on the mound. The big lefty comes off a rough outing on Tuesday, in which he allowed five earned runs to Tampa Bay in a loss. Mr. Perfect Mark Buehrle (11-4 3.45 ERA) will take the ball for the White Sox. Gametime is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.

(AP Photos/Charles Rex Arbogast)