How does this relate to the current state of the New York Yankees?
Well, I think it is about time for Yankees to look beyond their All-Star disabled list (DL).
The hope that Jeter, A-Rod, Granderson, Youkilis, and Teixeira will ever be healthy enough to play at the level expected in the Bronx is dwindling.
With July right around the corner, it would be irresponsible for GM Brian Cashman not to start weighing other options via the trade market, which officially ends on the 31st of next month.
Now if I were Cashman, calling the Braves to ask what it would take to bring 6-time All-Star, catcher Brain McCann to the Bronx would be a good place to start.
Why McCann?
Well, like I predicted during the off-season, the mistake of letting Russell Martin walk is finally evolving.
How do you feel about the current stats of the New York Yankees?
New York Yankees (Photo credit: Keith Allison)
After going 4-6 and falling to third place in the AL East, you’d be hard pressed to find a Yankees fan distraught to have the team back home after this West Coast road trip.
Getting swept by the Athletics and losing two of three to the Halos, the Yankees are now 8-11 vs. AL West teams.
Everything seems to finally come to head in the state of California, as the ugly side to this team’s offensive was on full display.
Looking back at the start to this season no one believed that this Yankees team would contend for the 2013 postseason, unless your name is Hal Steinbrenner.
There were many reasons, not the excuses as to why:
- Number of injures to key players.
- Age, as there were no spring chickens in the Bronx.
- Using other team’s castoffs to replace super stars.
I hate harping on the past, especially when the situation cannot be changed, but there is always an exception.
Russell Martin (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
For example if you had zero input in a decision, opposed it completely and find out you were right.
Like during this past off-season, when the Yankees decided not to keep catcher Russell Martin.
The Yankee brass let Martin sign a 2-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates and didn’t bat an eyelash.
What is even worse is learning later on that Martin wanted to stay in New York.
FOX Sports Ken Rosenthal reported that Martin, though, told the Yankees he was willing to accept a one-year contract in the $9 million to $10 million range, according to two major-league sources.
My guess is the Yankee brass will be kicking their own behinds about letting Martin walk, if they aren’t already.
Heading into this season we all knew the Yankees offense was going to be an issue.
Red Sox fan undercover.
The big question was how bad would it get before the injured stars would come to the rescue.
Not to give credit to this makeshift group of Yankees, as they exceeded expectations to remain atop the AL East a lot longer than anyone thought.
Please realize that by no means has it this time been pretty. But these castoff’s bats somehow found ways to score enough runs to complement the Yankees stellar pitching to win games.
Well, it seems that those days are over, as the Yankees hitters look anemic, while the starting pitching is struggling a bit. Not an ideal combo or formula for anything other than losing.
To be honest, watching this team the last two nights lose at the hands of the Oakland Athletics is about as fun as watching grass grow.
Yankee fans know Bartolo Colon as the chubby pitcher who donned the Yankee pinstripes back in 2011.
Colon was on the hill in Oakland last night, and threw six full innings allowing just three hits eventually leading his Athletics to a 6-4 beating of New York. For his part, Colon performance was as solid as can be.
The 40-year old righty has been defying the odds all season long. His ridiculous numbers, like walking only seven batters all year is certainly not going unnoticed.
Here are a few recent quotes written about Colon:
“It’s easy to view Colon as a guy at the end of his career, but hey, maybe not. He’s pitching beautifully for the A’s, maybe better than last year.”- 05/27/2013 – Mercury News.
“Some say that 40 is the new 30, but for Oakland starter Bartolo Colon the milestone age has him pitching more like a 20-year-old.” – 05/31/2013 FOX SPORTS
“Where does Bartolo Colon’s season so far rank in baseball history in terms of his ability to not walk batters?” – 06-12-2013 – SB Nation
“It was a nice story after Colon’s 50-game suspension and humble return to the A’s in the spring, but as summer approaches, Colon is an integral part of the starting rotation.” – 06/12/2013 – Bleacher Report- on what Colon should be an All-Star.
No doubt Colon is the A’s ace and having a great year, but aren’t we forgetting something?
