Granted, no one looks at the Yankees roster and thinks defense. Only three everyday players have Gold Gloves, with two – Bernie Williams and Kenny Lofton – past their defensive prime and the other, Alex Rodriguez, playing a foreign position.

Still, it had to be at least a bit unnerving for Yankees fans to see their team doing its best Red Sox impression in yesterday’s 10-8 loss to the Tigers. The Yanks committed one costly error and looked foolish on a handful of other plays.

In the second, Rodriguez made a brilliant diving catch on a Carlos Guillen shot down the line, but his throw sailed over Jason Giambi’s head. Then, on a slow topper off the bat of Craig Monroe, Rodriguez attempted a barehanded catch and throw. Neither happened. Both Guillen and Monroe later scored.

“Our defense didn’t help us,” said A-Rod, who later made up for the gaffes with a stabbing backhand catch and Deter Jeter-esque jump throw to second to nail Eric Munson in the sixth. “I’ve been trying my best to learn to play third. The ball just got away from me a little.”

Hideki Matsui – who won three Gold Gloves in Japan – overran a Mike DiFelice shot to deep left in the sixth. The ball hit the heel of Matsui’s glove leading to another Tiger run. The hit was called a triple.

Then there’s the two blooper-reel lowlights. On one, Giambi and John Flaherty allowed a high foul ball to drop between them in the fifth. Giambi charged in to make the catch, but thought Flaherty was also coming. He eased up and the ball fell harmlessly to the turf.

Still, Joe Torre defended his team’s defense.

“Errors are part of the game,” Torre said. “Other than the wind blown ball [between Giambi and Flaherty], I don’t see any cause for concern.”