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New York Yankees Fix or Fail: Top Five Questions To Be Answered

Posted by on 13 September 2010, 3:38 pm

The New York Yankees have looked much better than this. Even if the Yankees’ record gets them to the playoffs, losing six of seven games is not going to cut it.

It used to be the Yankees’ AL East division to lose, but now the Yankees are struggling.

Questions need to be answered, and tonight against Tampa Bay, the Yankees will start to give those answers.

What answers would Yankee fans like to see? Here are five questions that come to mind:

Is This Just a Normal Team Slump or Not?

If it was June or even the beginning of August, a slump would not be such a concern for any team in a division race. But it is mid-September with 20 games remaining, and the Yankees have no cushion if they want to win the AL East.

Can the Bats Start Doing Their Jobs?

Striking out is not Yankee-like, as the team’s M.O. at the plate is to drive up pitching counts and draw walks. Derek Jeter is not helping the team right now, except for Sunday against Cliff Lee when he displayed signature Jeter-like form. This has to stick for both the Captain and the team.

How Hurt are Alex Rodriguez, Nick Swisher, and Brett Gardner?

Ask the Yankees certain questions, like about innings limits or injuries, and the answer usually leaves you pondering the truth. For example, Brett Gardner is getting an MRI on his wrist, but it is nothing to be concerned about, which was the answer to why Gardner left mid-game on Sunday.

A-Rod just returned from the 15-day DL, and obviously he is not feeling his best still. Why did A-Rod get taken off in the first place? Would A-Rod rather take extra rest than return too soon?

Add Swisher’s recurring injury and those are three of the Yankees who have been critical to the team’s success this season. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Fix or Fail: Top Five Questions To Be Answered’ »

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New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers: Pitching Prediction for A.J. Burnett

Posted by on 10 August 2010, 2:42 am

After splitting a series 2-2 with the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees head down south, deep in the heart of Texas, to face the Rangers.

The Rangers have been at the mercy of the Yankees for over a decade, and this season has been no different, as the Bombers swept the Rangers in their last meeting back in April.

The Yankees have enjoyed playing in Texas, posting a 15-4 record since 2005.

This time the Rangers look a little different, with the addition of ace Cliff Lee. Lee is quite familiar to the Yankees, as he has dominated the team as an Indian, Mariner, and Phillie—but as a Ranger, he is yet to be seen.

Let’s look at the first showdown in this two-game trip, Tuesday night’s match-up:

A.J. Burnett (NYY) vs. C.J. Wilson (TEX)

Yankees starter A.J. Burnett can safely add “scratch” to his personal history, as Burnett was slated to start on Sunday night against the Red Sox but did not due to back spasms. Last outing, Burnett allowed a historical five doubles during a seven-run fifth inning against his old team, the Blue Jays. Burnett had just won his last two starts before imploding in the fifth. It was the same old tune for Burnett, as his fastball wasn’t sinking and then he got wild. Burnett is a crucial part of the puzzle for the remaining stretch of the season and this would be a perfect time to start giving the Yankees some solid outings again. In 2010, Burnett is 9-9 with a 4.93 ERA.

C.J. Wilson is also coming off a horrible start, his worst in 2010. The lefty Wilson lasted just three innings, striking out three, walking four and allowing four earned runs against the awful Mariners. Wilson has the most walks in the AL with 66, but has struck out 103 batters over 22 starts. Yankee bats crushed Wilson earlier this season, as he lost the game, 5-1. Wilson will be especially careful with new Yankee Lance Berkman and Nick Swisher, who both have hit Wilson well in the past.

PREDICTION:

Wilson’s major advantage would have been his lack of Yankees face-time, as the Bombers struggle with unfamiliar pitchers. Problem is, they never got scared in the first place and that is not good.

Burnett is 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in his four starts against the Rangers in pinstripes, so I am predicting Burnett will come through with a solid performance.

Burnett gets the win.

Yankees beat Rangers 6-2.

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New York Yankees Leave It To AJ Burnett

Posted by on 7 July 2010, 12:45 pm

New York Yankees leave it in the hands of AJ Burnett tonight, as a three-game sweep of the in Oakland Athletics is on the line.

When pitching coach Dave Eiland‘s went AWOL most of June, Burnett was significantly affected on the mound. It was the worst month in Burnett’s career, but it also was the worst pitched by a Yankee for the month ever.

At first, Eiland’s absence seemed like a story thrown out by the Yankees to get him some time, as Burnett ever made an excuse. Ups and downs do follow Burnett, but he hit bottom here for sure.

Burnett lost all five starts, only pitched for a total of 22.3 innings in which he gave up 29 earned runs, 17 walks, 10 home-runs and only striking out 19. The walks are nothing new for Burnett, but before this blow he had improved that figure.

Are AJ Burnett’s dreary days over now?

Hopefully as proved since Eiland’s reappearance. Eiland made a decisive effect as Burnett was back to his best in his last start. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Leave It To AJ Burnett’ »

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Yankees Did Not Lose They Got Beat

Posted by on 20 May 2010, 1:03 am

I was not a devoted fan tonight.

I left the New York Yankees game in the seventh inning, as the Tampa Bay Rays were up 6-2 and Boone Logan was jogging to the mound.

The Yankees looked tired. This does sound like an excuse, which it completely is but it is still a fact. The Boston Red Sox were just in town, meaning games are intense, long and both Monday and Tuesday’s tactics were no different. Both went down to the wire and last night they played till around 1am.

At the same time, the Tampa Bay Rays provide a full-court press on the Yankees. This group pushes and pushes stealing six bases tonight off AJ Burnett, who has only allowed six this season.

Burnett got beat tonight; as the Rays are abundant everywhere and the fourth inning topped the cake with a result of 6-0, Rays.

It was not completely Burnett’s fault. The Rays could see Burnett’s pitches from the get-go, and they utilized on it.

The bottom line is the Rays out played the Yankees, I saw it with my own eyes, and I could not watch it anymore.

Leaving the game was a better option, even though I listened on the subway as Logan did exactly what I thought he would do. Continue reading ‘Yankees Did Not Lose They Got Beat’ »

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Finally Yankees Joba Ruled

Posted by on 11 May 2010, 6:08 am

For one moment, just forget about the New York Yankees two-game losing streak.

If you missed tonight’s avoidable defeat at the hands of the Detroit Tigers, as expected Sergio Mitre did too little too late on the mound.

In Mitre’s defense, he was not as terrible as last season or as Javier Vazquez has been or as AJ Burnett was against Boston. There were fielding errors that would have helped Mitre’s case, but mistakes happen.

A bight light did shine Comerica Park, and not the same one in Gardner’s eyes when he let a pop-up drop.

The light was Joba Chamberlain.

This kid is finally just where he should be and tonight proves it. Continue reading ‘Finally Yankees Joba Ruled’ »

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The Yankees Dive Off A Cliff In Game One

Posted by on 29 October 2009, 4:28 am

Game one was all Cliff Lee.

The Cy Young hero has his best stuff against the Yankees heavy line-up throwing 10 strikeouts and allowing zero walks. It was a tough loss for the Bombers and Lee’s former teammate CC Sabathia.

Sabathia pitched well but not lights out. Without the bats helping out it was Lee’s game in the bag. After handing the ball to the Yankees bullpen, who successfully, once again cemented it into history for Yankees.

Derek Jeter got on base three times and each time leaving the captain hanging out to dry. Damon was successful once, but Tex and Arod, not as successful. Lee dominated by mixing up pitchers and speeds keeping the Yankees on their toes for nine complete innings.

This game was difficult to watch, and it sure sent a reality throughout Yankee Universe.

Game two features Pedro Martinez against AJ Burnett on the mound.

Pedro being Pedro, in his press 45 minute q &a yesterday, whined about how badly the fans and media in New York has treated him. Pedro should not be in the same sentence as Mariano Rivera but that’s what kept coming out of his mouth. Rivera and Pedro may experience the same religious beliefs, does mean they attend the same church.

Burnett needs to throw as well as he has but cannot have one struggling inning. AJ gets so much slack and criticisms, which are not, always fair. FIawed on occasions, Burnett never allows it to last long. AJ can be unhittable, this gets overlooked way too often.

Bottom line is Burnett needs to take his A-game and so do the Yankees hitters. Let’s go back to being the team that wins 103 games during the season.

The Yankees need to take game two in the Bronx, for the fans, for the team but also for the Boss.

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