We didn't have Crosby in April and then (starter Rich) Harden went down. We had our No. 3 hitter out of the lineup, some young guys in the rotation and we played the Yankees and Red Sox 12 straight games. That will give you a slow start.

The season-ticket one with Crosby was a good one.

We brought Jason here to be our leadoff hitter, so we're gonna stick with Plan A. I spoke with the Pirates hitting coach [Gerald Perry] this morning, and he said this is the time of year -- at least in the two years he was with [Kendall] -- that he turned it on.

I asked him if he was fatigued or anything, ... He said, 'No,' so I said, 'Then let's let 'er rip.'

That was a rocket, a no-doubter. We have to take it easy on him -- as far as his shoulder. I'll have to get with [A's trainer Larry Davis] about a throwing program. We have to get him ready to go.

There was no panic in the dugout (when the Yankees took a 4-0 lead in the third). I said last year that the makeup of this team was tremendous. We have basically the same players with a couple of additions. They bounce back pretty well. Just because we got beat up in one game doesn't mean they're going to fold up.