VERY DISAPPOINTING SERIES for the Yankees this past weekend…too bad it started off so well on Friday…and really, Saturday’s game could’ve went either way, but none the less it still remains that they have lost 2 series’ in a row to two teams they really should have handled…Every day it’s looking like Boston is getting better and better, yet the Yankees are treading water…the Saux took 2 from the Marlins during the week…and then took another 2 from the Braves to go up 4 games on the struggling bombers. BTW the Saux and Yankees are facing the same exact teams…and Boston is showing up…WHERE ARE THE YANKEES!!!! The Nationals host Boston and if trends continue we can see the Saux taking a 5 game lead over the Yankees…The Yanks MUST win this series in Atlanta…I can handle them struggling with weak teams as long as they take this series and don’t let this trend continue…The Saux and the Yanks were handed a cake walk through 3 of the NL East’s bottom teams (well really 2…Atlanta is always a contender) and only the Red Sox took it and ran…The Yankees are looking flat still…where is the emotion and fire boys? We got a sneak peak at it yesterday with Gardner’s triple, but Jeter came up short. Side Track:I got reallllllly pissed when Jeter grounded out…but it turns out it was actually a pitch he should’ve swung at…Lindstrom was struggling and gave Jeter a fastball down Broadway that he should’ve handled…but unfortunately he didn’t and Lindstrom hung on for the save…a shaky one…but a save non the less…and helped the Marlins take the series from the Yanks…very disappointing.
Let’s get to the biggest point though…is there any concern for why Sabathia left the game early? He seems to think it was no big deal…but a workhorse like him is expected to say that…It was called bicep tightness, and hopefully that’s all it was…if there is a problem with CC’s arm that could spell trouble for the Yanks and send them into a huge skid. I’m not worried right now, that is based on the reports I have heard so far, but you never know if that is signs of something worse. Let’s hope they don’t uncover something bad in their tests (which I am assuming their doing…he is worth 161 mill) and can make his next start. If he is out of our rotation for an extended period of time…it is scary to think of what can happen…he is the main stop gap for this team right now, and we need him healthy and ready to perform.
Last night was an unfortunate game for the Yanks, they got off to an early lead and the bullpen, mainly Brett Tomko, couldn’t hold onto it. If Sabathia would have stayed in the game, who knows what would’ve happened, of course you can’t predict that correctly, but you have to assume he could hold that lineup to 3 runs, but that of course is just speculation. The biggest blows were on 2 homeruns, by Hanley and Ross, that put the Fins up 5 to 3 and let Volstad calm down and pitch to his abilities. Of course we now see how important Melky’s errant throw was last night, considering that allowed the, now, game winning run to score. The Yanks made a run in the 9th, but it was to no avail as Jeter grounded out to end the rally. The Yanks are down on their power numbers, and the middle of the order isn’t showing up the way they were earlier this year. The bats need to start getting hot again and soon…Power is the name of their game…and it hasn’t been around for a few games….and don’t expect it back soon b/c Turner Field (it’s still called that right?) is a huge ballpark that is unforgiving to batters…could be a very interesting series coming up. CALLING JOE GIRARDI…now is the time to use our running game and small ball to win games…the Braves have a good starting rotation so runs may be scarce….please play baseball this time and now powerball….let’s go boys…let’s get back to the beginning of the year again…we’re due for a run!!!!
This series has some very interesting pitching matchups…that can truly go either way…and that is the scary thing. The first game is the most intriguing to me…especially to see if Wang can have back to back quality starts. But once again the Yankees are getting 2 pitchers that they have never seen before and two that are new to the Majors, so there is not much to know about them. The first matchup is most intriguing to me only because of Wang… Hanson is a great young talent that was the top pitching prospect for the Braves and has shown off his stuff at the big league level. His numbers so far, are not an indication of what this kid is capable of…he has a bloated ERA, only because of 1 start where he gave up 6 earned…so the Yankees have to be careful with this kid and knock him out of the game early. If they can get Hanson out of the game in the 5th, they can attack a sub-par bullpen that has given up a ton of runs…but they shouldn’t bank on that..they have to get to this kid as well…if he gets in a groove he can be scary. But the key to victory for the Yanks is Wang..he must give them at least 5 innings and only give up no more than 3 runs…if he keeps the Yankees in the game, I have faith the Yankee bats will come through and attack a faltering bullpen. The Yankees have had success against Derek Lowe in the past however, with Lowe posting a 6.07 ERA over 15 starts, now this is a new team, that he hasn’t seen before, and a new ballpark…but sometimes old ghosts come back and hopefully they visit Lowe when the Yankees roll in…he will be facing Pettitte and Andy must be happy…he pitches well on the road and is walking into a pitchers haven in Turner Field…so the Yanks should have the advantage in that one too….The biggest question mark is the middle game with Joba facing Kawakami…neither pitcher has been seen by the opposing team…so this game can really go either way…but Joba should feel better getting a bigger park to pitch in, especially since he hasn’t been dominate with his fastball…it’s the same as always…if Joba can trust his stuff he will be dominate….but if he tries to hard to pinpoint and force his fastball he will be wild and will be out of the game in 5 innings, at best…This series will come down to the bullpens…and I think the Yankees have the advantage….It’s really hard predicting a winner but, I think the Yankee’s have the advantage in every faction, except that they aren’t at home…this is a biggggg series for the Bronx Bombers…they can’t keep falling further and further behind the Saux…LET’S GO YANKEES!!!
Other Notes:
US Open: My man Duval just barely fell short…as well as my other choice Mickelson…gotta be happy for Lucas Glover though…he played decent enough to win…and it’s probably the biggest highlight of this career, if not his life…The course finally played the way it should have and the best players showed they should’ve won…but that’s the way it goes…and hopefully they put Ricky Barnes on suicide watch because he blew it….BIG TIME!!!
that’s it…late
