Is it time to panic in the Bronx?
Considering the Yankees are currently sitting six games above .500, the question in the title of this post seems rather silly. Until you take a closer look, that is.
After sweeping a hapless Oakland team and taking two of three from the Angels in L.A., the Bombers were just swept by the Red Sox, who outscored their hated rivals 25-13 in the process. Joe Girardi’s club has now lost seven in a row to Boston and is just 1-8 in the season series.
Adding insult to injury, it appears as though reliever Joba Chamberlain could need Tommy John reconstructive surgery after he was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his throwing elbow. The injury is a major blow to the club, as Chamberlain heads to the DL with a 2.83 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. He had stabilized one of the biggest issues for the Bombers, who have struggled getting to Mariano Rivera in the ninth.
If Rafael Soriano (elbow) could ever get healthy and pull his head firmly out of his rear end, then the loss of Chamberlain could be slightly mitigated. But the $35 million offseason acquisition has been nothing shy of disastrous thus far in the Bronx, so relaying on Soriano at this point isn’t prudent.
Of course, the Yankees can pick their poison in terms of what their biggest weaknesses is right now: their bullpen or their starting rotation. For the most part, Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon have pitched beyond expectations. Teams with as much offensive firepower as the Yankees have will certainly take Garcia’s 3.86 ERA and Colon’s mark of 3.39.
But at some point, A.J. Burnett will have to step up. He’s 6-4 on the year but his ERA is north of 4.30 and worst of all, he remains inconsistent. One start the Yanks are getting seven innings out of him and the next he’s done in five. Assuming Colon and Garcia have at least one bad stretch coming up between them, the Bombers need a more consistent effort out of Burnett. (It would have also been nice if CC Sabathia could have stopped the bleeding with a win over Boston on Thursday night but alas, not even the big fella could save this club right now.)
The other more subtle issue that seems to be growing more problematic by the day is Girardi himself. His moves lately are baffling and just in terms of managing his pitching staff, it seems as if he either leaves his starters in too long or overuses his bullpen. It’s like there’s no middle ground with Girardi and you have to wonder when his players will start losing confidence in him – if they haven’t already, that is.
The good news for the Yankees is that the American League doesn’t look as strong as it has in recent years. The Red Sox are the class of the division and the league, but the Indians have figured out that they’re the Indians, the Tigers are inconsistent and the Rangers look a lot less scary than they did a year ago. It’s not inconceivable that an 88 or 89-win Yankees team could make the postseason as a Wild Card and hope to get hot at the right time. After all, they’re still third in runs scored, first in home runs and second in slugging percentage and OPS. In other words, their offense can certainly carry them all season.
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a major dark cloud that is presently hovering over this club and it’ll be interesting to see what the front office has in store if things continue to get worse.
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Not to worry. The store will be open soon and the yankee can go shopping ……. they are never done.
Very much the time to panic. I think the Good times for the Yankees are over for a very long time. Would not be surprised if they finish with worst record in the AL this year. See my Blog.
Saying that the Red Sox are “the class of the league”, with that lame 4.20 Team ERA is a laugh.
You don’t think the Red Sox are the class of the American League? Who is then?
Several good points written and several key issues from my view as a long time Yankee diehard Fan.
They are old and look it. Love Posada, but it’s over, Cervelli is a nice story but bring Moreno up now Cashman, what are you waiting for. Gardner can run fast but apparently not on a passed ball?
Joba should have been trade in spring training when they new they had starter problems, now what
Fire the entire lower level pitching scout & coaching teams. They do not know how to evaluate talent and fall in love with “could be”.
Giaradi goes today. Another guy that fell in love with the Team and I’m tired of his sorry ass answers on the post game. P.S. You just had 6 guys drilled …no response? Really?
Cashman needs to go. He is not offering anything, he is just willing to do enough to get his sorry ass by. You got outmoved by Texas (Lee) last year so took your ball and went home. Crybaby! and you still need a starter
Note to all Players……We the Yankee Fan expect you to play hard especially aginst Boston. We buy the tickets, the shirts, the hot dogs and expect it. I don’t care if it’s April 1st or October 1st
you play hard. You play with no sense of urgency, everything will work out………..it’s a long season. blah blah blah…next thing will be scores don’t matter…
Oh….whoop dee doo…you beat Cleveland…again yesterday? We don’t care…beat Boston!
Big Stienny is right about Cashman – this guy is a joke.Dude – you lost 11 out of the last 12 years with that line-up,that pitching,the best resources and facilities,and a bottomless pocketbook ? Really ? Thats the most amazing stat of the decade isn’t it ? Ask yourself if you would still have your job after that ?
I’m beginning to think the N Y Yankees are the Notre Dame of baseball.