Division showdown begins tonight
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Aug 31, 2012 
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Here’s what Russell Martin said about this weekend’s three-game series against Baltimore:
“It’s important regardless. Even if we’d swept the Blue Jays, we have to bring it against the Orioles this weekend, for sure.”
Ever think you read a quote like that on the last day of August? Ever think such words would be said with such sincerity?
When the Orioles got off to a hot start this season, it was a nice novelty act, but the novelty is over. It’s not entirely clear how they’re doing this — the Orioles have allowed more runs than they’ve scored — but their bullpen is incredible, Adam Jones is having a very good year and the Orioles keep winning games.
After a win yesterday, the Orioles have cut the division lead to three games. That means Baltimore sweep this weekend makes it even. A Yankees sweep likely helps Tampa Bay pull into second place leading into next week’s series between the Rays and Yankees at Tropicana Field. The Yankees next 10 games are against the two teams chasing them for the division title.
“I’ve been saying it for a while, I think every game is a big game,” Nick Swisher said. “We’re not exactly making it easier on ourselves. Tough series here the past three days. Big series coming up this weekend. I’m expecting us to really step it up and get this thing turned around.”
Associated Press photo
Next 10 days-
Orioles: @ NY[3], @Toronto[3] , home vs NYY[4]
Rays: @ Toronto[3], home vs NYY[3], day off, home vs. Texas[3]
Yankees: home vs O’s[3], @Tampa[3], @ O’s[4]
Last 10 days-
Orioles home vs Toronto[4], Boston[3]. @ Tampa[3]
Rays home vs Toronto[1-last game of 3 game series],@ Boston[2], @ Chicago [4], home vs Baltimore[3]
Yankees @ Tampa[3], @Toronto[4], home vs Boston[3]
Correction-
Yankees at Minnesota[3] not Tampa
Some division races could come down to last 3 days of the season-
A’s host Texas
Royals host Tigers
Indians host White Sox
White Sox play 3 with the Tigers this weekend and 3 more in September.
Talking to myself today!
Do the Yankees add Alfonso Soriano today? Shaun Marcum?
Probably we will just see Nunez, Cervelli and Wade, for starters, added tomorrow
Yankee Trader -
Wish I had a crystal ball or psychic abilities.
I wish I didn’t care who won; this could be one of the more exciting races to the finish in baseball in a while.
A-Rod to DH tonight in Tampa, with a possible return next week vs the Rays.
Any update on Tex?
Oops – not in a while – last year was pretty exciting, too. How quickly “we” forget. LOL
I wish I didn’t care who won; this could be one of the more exciting races to the finish in baseball in a while.
—————————-
Villa-
And one of the most exhausting, for the teams that finish with the higher seeds and have to travel for the 1st 2 games away.
Possible scenarios if the Yankees finish with the top seed, with the Rangers second. They could be travelling to:
Baltimore
Tampa
Detroit
Chicago
Oakland
At least the Yanks only lost 1/2 game of their lead yesterday.
Yankee Trader – So true!
But, hey, at least it shouldn’t be just the Yankees who are on fumes by the end of the season. So, in theory, every team involved in the push for the playoffs should be starting off at an equal level of exhaustion!!! (One can only hope.)
Here’s the thing(s) that disturbs me about baseball.
Uneven scheduling.
You can win the marathon and lose the sprint.
The best team(s) don’t always win it all.
If you’re going to have a convoluted playoff system anyway, why play 162 games? Just do what hockey does and make 3/4 of the season the playoffs.
Have to go. Have a great and safe holiday weekend. Until later.
Yankees-
Get Healthy
Beat the shift
Add some reinforcements
Start scoring with RISP
Please start giving our Ace-Kuroda-some run support!
Bye!
Looking at the match ups I gotta feel tonight is the most important game to win. This is the best pitching comparison for the weekend.
Would be nice to get Tex back. If not this weekend then Tampa becomes a bit iffy due to the rug, wouldn’t you think?
86w183
I agree – Tex on the turf would not be good. But I’d rather he took longer to come back and be closer to 100% – no setbacks can be withstood.
Just read a quote from Showalter about this weekend: “Trust me, this group will have fun with it.”
And therein lies some of the difference. The Orioles (and the Rays) do not play under the same pressure and scrutiny as the Yankees. Especially the Orioles. Whose fans don’t even show up for games in their team’s first pennant race in over a decade!!!
Maybe the Yankees need to have more fun with it, too? Maybe we should as well.
If Kuroda pitches the way he’s been tonight should be an easy win.
Normally I’d be marking this one up as a win as well. Then I think; Jeter is Jeter, Swish will have “Red Bulled” to the max, Cano rollovers, then the ne’er do wells. What could go wrong?
Then it’s pucker up, city. Yoicks
Yankee Trader August 31st, 2012 at 8:56 am
Shame Spencer August 31st, 2012 at 8:52 am
blake – Clint Eastwood spoke to a chair. Team Greedy wants ALL the imaginary friends!!
——————————————————
Shame-
Now I get it? Eastwood was speaking to an imaginary Obama and apparently Obama tweeted”This chair is occupied.”
———————————————-
I think there was some ‘we celebrate success, we don’t apologize for it’ rhetoric being thrown around. Very Team Greedy-esque!!! I wish Mitt Romney ran our baseball team :/ Or Clint Eastwood lol, just for the comic relief.
kenny’s gonna be busting out with pride about his birds on YES tonight. he ususally does a decent job of hiding it but we’ll see how he does tonight.
over/under on eddie murray mentions is 2 1/2
Yanks gotta break, not having to face Britton. That guy has figured it out. AL version of Kershaw.
I don’t like that little bird. He’s been mocking me all season. Did they make that change this year or was it a couple of years ago and I just didn’t notice because the O’s haven’t been relevant? I think I’d remember that bird.. he looks shifty.. but I could have missed it.
Since YES has been brought up, they should NEVER team Kay and Leiter. WAY to much chit-chat\BS going on between those 2 while game action is in progress. If they wanna discuss going to see Springsteen, they can do it on their own time. Extremely unprofessional, and irritating to fans that are interested in the pennant race. I would mute those magpies, but I enjoy the sounds of the game.
“I think there was some ‘we celebrate success, we don’t apologize for it’ rhetoric being thrown around. Very Team Greedy-esque!!! I wish Mitt Romney ran our baseball team :/ Or Clint Eastwood lol, just for the comic relief.”
Bud wants socialism in baseball…..we want capitalism!
Shame -
I think they brought him back this season.
Reminds me of the year the Rays took the “Devil” out of their name and changed their logo to Rays of Sunshine.
That Oriole looks more like a “mockingbird” to me.
The Yankees have their best guy going tonight in their home park.
No excuses.
Should be an easy victory.
“I wish Mitt Romney ran our baseball team”
first thing he’d do is outsource the players with cricket players from india.
Randy-
One thing he would do is get rid of all the deadwood.
blake August 31st, 2012 at 10:09 am
“I think there was some ‘we celebrate success, we don’t apologize for it’ rhetoric being thrown around. Very Team Greedy-esque!!! I wish Mitt Romney ran our baseball team :/ Or Clint Eastwood lol, just for the comic relief.”
Bud wants socialism in baseball…..we want capitalism!
———————-
Socialism in government – CAPITALISM IN BASEBALL!!!!!
Villa – It certainly is mocking….
The Tillman vs. Phelps matchup should be a good one.
I’m thinkin’ Phelps outpitches Tillman.
Anyone else with me ?
i’m on a complete 2 week news blackout. no radio or tv news, no front of the paper. let the b.s. storms pass by and pick it up after.
i feel better already…
I officially no longer feel bad for the O’s.
Absolutely no reason the Yankees can’t take at least 2 of 3 from the O’s.
Unless, of course, their Pitchers don’t do their job.
trisha -
Took you long enough!!!! LOL
MTU -
There are no easy wins.
But, that makes victory all the sweeter when it happens.
VN-
I don’t believe that.
All our guys have to do is play up to their level.
They are a way better team than the O’s IMO.
El Caballo chatter continues to escalate.
He doesn’t want to come here.
Did Donnybrook really just compare a guy with a 5 ERA to Clayton Kershaw?
I’ll say it again.
The Yankees are going to live or die by their Pitching.
Particularly their SP.
When I hear it from him, I will buy in. I know about his Long list of No Trade teams, but a guy does change his mind. I do not see Why he would wanna end the season playing for hapless Miami.
“I’ll say it again.
The Yankees are going to live or die by their Pitching.”
Couldn’t agree more MTU.
He had a chance to come over already and turned it down.
Lots of talk on EEI about the Sux going after Hamilton. What makes them think he’d want to play in that hell hole?
“Socialism in government – CAPITALISM IN BASEBALL!!!!!”
capitalism everywhere!
You Jokers also dog-piled me, when after his 1st start this season, I told you Halladay was Nothing but “fair-to-midlin’”. Use your eyes, and back off the numbers. This issa young kid, who has put it together. That lefty in Yankee Stadium, would slice-and-dice us, just like he did the W\Sox yesterday.
Trisha-
The SP has to step up.
Kuroda aside.
CC needs to dominate.
Hughes needs to continue to do well.
One of Nova or Garcia needs to pick it up.
And Phelps needs to continue to exceed expectations.
AP coming back to form would be the cherry on top of the cake.
They get on a roll and we’re all set.
Keep floundering and giving sub par starts and and we’re screwed.
Starters do well it strengthens the pen.
Halladay got hurt….
When we won the 10 straight it was the pitching which led the way.
They need to do it again.
Britton had one excellent start. Just a little premature to compare him to one of the best pitchers in baseball.
My comments were after his 1st start, LONG before the injury. His performance after that 1st start lived up to my appraisal. Of course, you dog-pilers just moved on to other things like burying TEX, Nunez, and calling for Jones to be a 1st ballot HOF’er, and then several days later calling for Jones to be 86′d.
Britton has had Several Very good starts of late. As Casey would say, “You can look it up”.
“My comments were after his 1st start, LONG before the injury”
Halladay had a 1.95 ERA in April…..you said that in spring training when you saw his velocity was down a bit.
the pressure on sock’s management to sign hamilton, grienke and swisher is going to be great. people keep saying they are not going to go down that path again, but 4 years w/o a playoff win and the highest ticket prices in baseball will prevent them from selling people on a young, developing team.
just ask the mets.
“When we won the 10 straight it was the pitching which led the way.”
that and interleague play
I think the Sox will try to trade for Justin Upton and will try to sign Swisher.
Blake-
The Pitching during that stretch was fantastic.
It wouldn’t have mattered who they were playin’.
All of them were in a groove.
Blake-
We can have Upton if we want him badly enough.
I think the rotation they have is very solid and is plenty good enough to win if they hit…..I also think it’s a bit much to ask them to dominate like say a SF Giants staff did on the way to a title. ….they just aren’t that type of rotation…..
IMO they are a staff thats built to win a lot of 6-4 and 5-3 games…..not so much 2-1 games in October.
the Yankees, Dbacks and Texas brought Buck in to develop a young team, then booted him out in favor of someone who could ‘take them to the next level’.
how much do you think buck wants to prove them all wrong and show that he can take them to that next level.
its gotta be killing him.
MTU,
yea it was…..no question.
Pat M. seems to think Grandy is going bye bye in the OS.
Asssuming he’s right I wonder who they could get for him ?
Glad you remembered Blake. Funny, you Never mentioned your error till now. And when did he go on the DL, and what were his Total numbers? As for Britton, that guy is gonna go on to be an AL Kershaw. “Book it Dano”, (paraphase)
MTU – I postulated something similar yesterday by posing the following unknowns:
Is CC really healthy (down twice in a short period of time – did he come back too soon?)
What kind of Andy will we get back?
What kind of Nova will we get back?
Critical questions. Positive answers bode very well. Negative answers not so much.
As our pitching goes, so goes the team.
If any FA would ignore Boston I would think it would be Swisher. He would HATE dealing with Bobby V — of course he may not be there either.
Need to support Kuroda today.
Halladay has been pretty good this month. 7 or more innings in all five starts with a 2/75 ERA.
“Asssuming he’s right I wonder who they could get for him ?”
I think that’s a really tough question to answer…..a lot depends on how he finishes the season and just which teams are in play for him and how badly they want to win in 2013.
If he finishes strong and some team that needs a CF is all in for 2013…then I could see them getting more for him than a lot of folks think
Blake-
If the staff is pitching to peak form they should be able to win lot’s of low scoring games.
Sabbathia and Kuroda are dominators when right.
AP is Mr. big game.
Hughes is in an excellent place right now.
Phelps shows great promise.
It’s Garcia and Nova who need to step it up. Big time.
Especially Nova whi has been a huge disappoinment of late.
He needs to get back to being SuperNova instead of Ivan the Terrible.
He can do it.
im not convinced bobby v is definitely coming back. i know they cleared out the malcontents but a fresh start all the way around might appeal to them. also signing fa’s might be helped with v out.
Trisha — here are my answers FWIW
CC is healthy. He had plenty of velocity but poor defense and poor location
Andy won’t make it back
Nova will be very good IF he comes back. No way to know if there’s something significant with that shoulder. If not, the rest will be great for him.
Post is running a story that A-Rod may return to the Yanks Monday. Right now, if Ibanez would start hitting again, the offense would be A-OK. The loss of TEX, and Jones’s trevails, have shifted the attention away from Ibanez’s suddenly silent bat.
86-
Nova needs to start commanding that FB again.
If he does he’ll succeed again in a big way. If not he’ll continue to flounder.
That’s the keys to the Kingdom w him.
The Bobby V question is interesting, but the, “will Scioscia get the axe?” prevails. All those marque players\$$$ added, and the Angels are clawing for a Wild Card.
“Glad you remembered Blake. Funny, you Never mentioned your error till now. And when did he go on the DL, and what were his Total numbers”
so lets see…..you said Halladay looked mediocre in Spring Training…..then he had a 1.95 ERA in April….then he got hurt and you’re claiming that you knew it all along? All you’re eyes saw was that his velocity was down this spring…..and it was ……but he pitched really well after that until his shoulder starting barking.
I also debunked your Lou Gehrig comment yesterday BTW
Aardsma is also supposed to be pitching tonight in Tampa. Any chance that he makes it back this season? I guess it’s a longshot at best
86w183 – it won’t surprise me if Andy doesn’t make it back, or if he doesn’t make it back at the level he was pitching when he went down. If he does, it will be a very pleasant surprise.
I think if Ibanez would have been able to do what he was signed to do (DH vs RHP only) then his numbers would look better…..he’s had to play way too much in the field and he has 49 PA’s vs LHP which he should have close to zero.
I don’t think we’ll see Aardsma in key situations. He could be a big asset in 2013 and if he shows velocity this month gives them options in personnel moves/trade offers.
Keep in mind Aardsma had ERAs of 2.52 and 3.44 in Seattle in 2009-10. He’s not dominant, but he is potentially a quality arm for the pen for someone.
I am trying to remember the last easy win they had. They don’t score enough for those. Anyone feeling confidence has not seen the recent lineups, particularly tomorrow against Chin.
Today is the last time we can even pretend the Yankees might add someone. Wait, McGehee will be here tomorrow. The excitement builds. Add Cervelli and Nunez(maybe)and watch them never play, except perhaps a pinch run now and then. Cervelli will be used if the catchers are pinch run for.
I do not see how these additions change the team in the least. I would prefer Adams, Joseph or someone who has actually hit .250 or above in the minors.
I know if you don’t have your starters going that winning is tough.. but we have such a glut right now, I’m almost more concerned with the pen. I guess ideally you’d have CC, Kuroda, Hughes, and Pettite in the rotation while Garcia, Nova and/or Phelps sure up the pen.
Just hate the idea of losing more 7+ inning performances from Kuroda and Hughes. I feel like they’ve had a couple this year… can’t have guys like Eppley or Rapada losing you games in October.
Today is the last time we can even pretend the Yankees might add someone. Wait, McGehee will be here tomorrow. The excitement builds.
——————–
S’far as Cervelli though… Him not playing shouldn’t exactly be something to be disappointed about. Same goes for Nunez, IMO. Nix and Chavy are our dudes.
Mac-
If the Pitching does It’s job they won’t need a lot of runs.
Other than Hughes and Kuroda the Pitching has not been doing it’s job of late.
Nova and Garcia have been a problem. Particularly Nova.
I think CC, Kuroda and Hughes have earned their post-season starts.
4th would be Pettite, Nova, Garcia in that order depending on health… with the other two, if available in the pen.
The bullpen will have Soriano, Robertson, Phelps and Logan for certain.
That’s 10….. spot # 11 I would give to Rapada over Eppley, Joba or Lowe. If Pettite and/or Nova are unavailable they would choose another guy or two.
One debate could be Garcia vs Phelps for 4th start depending on opponent.
I’m going to hold off even thinking about the post-season until after this 10 game stretch with the Orioles and Rays.
MTU,
The team needs to score runs. They can’t rely solely on their up and down pitching to win. CC’s velocity is down this year. When he misplaces a fastball it gets hit rather than fouled back. He has to have more command now to succeed.
The team needs to beat up the Orioles starters because their pen is better than the Yankees’. That is why they win so many one run games.
Today’s game is the most critical game of the year. We have our best pitcher this year going. Tomorrow they have their best against Garcia. A loss today would make the pressure very high. A win and the team can breath a little.
By the way a number of people on the board wanted the Yankees to try for Chin, but no deal. Too bad. He is a good left handed pitcher.
If the Pitching does It’s job they won’t need a lot of runs.
———————————————
MTU-
Tell that to Hiroki Kuroda, who gets, on average, 3.73 run support/game, while CC gets 5.90
Wave,
I too willwait on post-season decisions until the post-season is more certain. Anything can happen now. If the team continues to play .500 ball or less, then they really shouldn’t be in the playoffs anyway.
Austinmac-
.500 ball and the Yankees finish with 91 wins.
Not to make anyone feel worse about the next 10 games but the Rays, and the Orioles, are #1, #2 in using the shift.
Beat the shift these next 10 days and the Yankees will create some distance the last 22 games.
If their Pitchers don’t pitch tight for a while their screwed.
They’re not gonna mash their way into the playoffs the way their banged up.
You guys who are relying on the O to carry the day are mistaken IMO.
It’s the Pitching which really is gonna have go on a really solid run.
The Yankee Pitching has been the bedrock of this team not the O.
The O is good when healthy but not great.
Right now it is weaker than normal.
No one ever lost a shutout
That means the burden is on the SP.
Period.
86-
You’ve got my line of thinking.
One good pitcher can dominate another team’s O.
Should be “they’re” not “their”.
Sorry. That’s what happens when ya’ try to type to fast.
Last 10 days of the season-
Orioles home vs Toronto[4], Boston[3]. @ Tampa[3]
Rays home vs Toronto[1-last game of 3 game series],@ Boston[2], @ Chicago [4], home vs Baltimore[3]
Yankees @ Minnesota[3], @Toronto[4], home vs Boston[3]
Some division races could come down to last 3 days of the season-
A’s host Texas
Royals host Tigers
Indians host White Sox
White Sox play 3 with the Tigers this weekend and 3 more in September.
MTU,
No one thinks the offense will score much. However, if they lifeless, they will lose. This team and every team needs balance. I do agree, if they don’t pitch well, they are completely screwed.
I didn’t wake up with the confidence Blake awoke with this morning. They have no 4 or 5 hole hitter at the moment. Against lefties they have no 4-9 hitters except Chavez. They better hit a couple homers and, for a change, have someone on base.
No one ever lost a shutout
————————–
But they have lost a no-hitter.
Bullpen needs a break. Starters need to go 7 quality innings. Who else, BP pitching-wise, besides Cory Wade, is likely to be called up Saturday?
“I didn’t wake up with the confidence Blake awoke with this morning.”
I just awoke with optimism…….mainly because things could be worse and because I’m hopeful that the favorable schedule and getting guys back from injury will allow us to hold the Rays and O’s off. They control their own destiny…..just have to win games.
None of that washes away the flaws though…..hope they can super glue it together long enough.
I’m not on here 24\7 like you Blake, so I missed your Gehrig comment. Have you revised your “Jones 1st Ballot HOF” stance? You seldom take a solid position on anything, but when you do, boy, are you Way off base.
Mac-
Hopefully they step up a bit too somehow. Just don’t expect too much.
Starters can control a lot of the Yankees destiny.
Moreso than than a banged up O can.
If the SP does well like it needs to and goes deep day in day out the Pen will get a chance to rest and will be better as a result.
The Pen will also have to be re-configured a bit to create our best advantage.
A-Rod, Nunez, etc. will help. Just don’t expect miracles.
“You guys who are relying on the O to carry the day are mistaken IMO.
It’s the Pitching which really is gonna have go on a really solid run.
The Yankee Pitching has been the bedrock of this team not the O.
The O is good when healthy but not great.
Right now it is weaker than normal.”
******************
“No one ever lost a shutout”
*******************
“That means the burden is on the SP.
Period.”
************
All QFT
Without Andy the starting pitching just isn’t reliable enough to look ahead farther than the next game. I’m really glad Kuroda has the start tonight.
Wave-
It’s gonna have to carry the team for a while.
If they can’t I’m afraid they are screwed.
I have more confidence in them than you seem to.
I hope I’m right this time.
- CURRENT BEST 3 YANKEES SP’s -
(1) CC
(2) KURODA
(3) PHELPS
MTU-
I don’t have a lot of confidence right now – the Yanks are 18-21 since July 19th – but I’m hoping for the best and glad they have a 3 game cushion. The Yanks have Kuroda going tonight which is the best pitcher they could have and a win tonight will dial back the pressure considerably.
Austinmac-
What will change your mind?
A-Rod comes back after not swinging a bat for 7-8 weeks, and slides into the 3 hole-hitting a ton?
Tex starts to feel healthy again, wrist and calf, and puts up better numbers, than the total of 3 homers all this month?
Joba finally is spot on in his location and saves using and exposing the LOOGY’s and ROOGY’s?
Pettitte pitches to live batters the last few weeks and looks dominant?
The Yankees start sending runners 1st to 3rd on hits to RF and steal bases. after the addition Nunez?
The Yankees show they can win in Tampa and beat the shift?
What will make you less concerned??
BTW-I share your concerns!!
Concern is one thing.
Pessimism is another.
I believe it’s likely that the Yankees will take 2 of 3 from the O’s in
their home stadium.
Let ‘em prove me wrong.
MTU-
I’m not pessimistic, but I’m not optimistic either. I’m not sure where that leaves me. Hoping for the best, I guess.
WYH-
Me neither.
Guess you’re just in wait-and-see-mode.
Blake, MTU Austinmac, Trisha, WYH, and anyone else on board-
Enjoyed your input. Even though we sometimes disagree we’re all Yankee fans win or lose.
Got to go. Have a safe holiday weekend and see you later.
Oh Girardi- Please do us a favor and let Smiley Jones take a seat at the end of the bench!!
YT,
I will be much happier if all those things come true. Here’s hoping!
People have been looking forward to tomorrow’s call up date. Other than Nunez’ speed, I don’t see any help. Do you? Nunez is hitting .230, Cervelli isn’t hitting much more, Wade is still Wade with his 88 mph fastball, Dickerson may not be called up since he isn’t on the 40 man and heaven forbid they should risk losing Pena.
If they don’t risk(what risk really?) calling up some younger guys who actually have ability, it seems very ho-hum to me.
Whatever happens the Yankees have done a remarkable job considering the quantity and significance of their injuries.
They deserve a lot of credit for just being able to stay where they are.
Their depth has served them well.
If they falter, and I hope they won’t, it won’t be for a lack of trying.
I think they should put Dickerson on the 40 man-he’s hitting lefties, plays all 3 OF positions well, and steals bases.
Of course I’d like to see Mark Montgomery added and see if he can be the extra impetus to guide the Yankees BP forward the end of the season.
Gotta go.
“I’m not on here 24\7 like you Blake, so I missed your Gehrig comment. Have you revised your “Jones 1st Ballot HOF” stance? You seldom take a solid position on anything, but when you do, boy, are you Way off base.”
I never had a Jones 1st Ballot HOF stance….I said he might get in eventually and that he’s not a HOFer for me…..I said Thome was a 1st ballot guy and I believe he is.
Nunez has been hitting better after a poor start. He should be activated along with Cervelli and Dickerson. I agree, Pena isn’t worth protecting. Dickerson would be much more useful.
Jon Morosi ?@jonmorosi
#RedSox LHP Jon Lester did not clear trade waivers, source tells http://FOXSports.com. @MLBONFOX
I wouldn’t have expected him to…..
I agree the Yankee bench players are doing their job for the most part. Ibanez, Stewart and Nix have all met or exceeded expectations. Andruw not so much. But, they should be playing part time roles instead of playing so much.
The problem is they haven’t had anyone in the upper level minors who could step up like Cano or Melky did in the past. I don’t see how the Yankees have a high quality system when not one rookie has gotten a hit this year. How can a team not have one youngish player ready to help?
I agree that the offense needs to be present. But no matter how present the offense is, if the pitching doesn’t hold up, it’s over.
These stats have been the same over the course of the season. The particular teams may have switched around, but the placements tell the tale.
Top 10 teams in terms of offense, and their placement within their divisions:
1
4 – GB = 14
2 – GB = 8.5
1
3 – GB = 8.5
5 – GB = 17
1
4 – GB = 17
2 – GB = 5.5
5 – GB = 16
******************
Top 10 teams in terms of pitching, and their placement within their divisions:
3 – GB = 4.5
1
2 – GB = 4
1
2 – GB = 4.5
2 – GB = 5.5
1
3 -GB = 9
5 – GB = 14
2- GB = 8.5
The Yankee’s offensive woes is due to their Not being situational hitters. They wait for the HR, and with TEX and A-Rod outta the lineup, the cupboard is sparse in that regard. Without situational hitters, and with the aforementioned players missing, they are stuck. There is NO excuse for a punch-and-judy hitter like Ichiro, NOT advancing a runner from 2nd base with 0 Outs. He did it twice in the same game vs the Jays. Ichiro has been sucked into this “all or nothing” philosophy that Girardi continues to nurture.
Lowe should be relagated to “mop up”. Yanks gave up Nothing to get him, but that does Not matter if the guy is hurting you on-the-field.
Go Yankees!