Just like the Yankees, I’ve been having a hard time keeping up with the action. First off, work has been a beast lately, plus my only friend on this side of the city is finally back in town, so keeping up has been difficult. Latest updates, however, ain’t pretty. A-Rod has joined Jorge on the DL with his quad issue. No updates on his status other than he’ll be eligible for return in 15 days. Just as bad, Phil Hughes has also been placed on the 15-day DL with a strained right oblique. Whether this is a real injury or “work on your mechanics or we’ll send you to the minors” injury, I don’t know, but the Yankees will have to bring someone up to start in his place. The consensus seems to be Darrel Rasner, who is tearing up AAA ball.
The good news (and we need some) is that Posada likely doesn’t need surgery on his arm – just rest. Before they make a decision, however, Jorge will be seen by nearly every doctor on the East Coast (including, according to PeteAbe, Dr. Benjamin Franklin Pierce and Roy “Doc” Hallady – HA!). In the “I can’t believe I’m counting this as good news” department, Chad Moeller – who was unemployed at the beginning of the season after failing to make the Washington Nationals’ roster – has cleared waivers and is back to back up Molina.
So far, there’s a lot to be pessimistic about this season. We’ve got two, maybe three soft spots in the rotation that have shown cause for alarm. There’s been a few bullpen meltdowns. Joba actually showed that he’s a human being and gave up a game winning run. A-Rod, Jorge, Jeter, Giambi, Molina, Pettitte, and GI Joe himself have all missed games. Brian Bruney will likely be out for the season requiring surgery on his foot. Farnsey is still a loose cannon (no disrespect, Kyle – please don’t shoot me) and may be facing a suspension. Cano and Giambi can’t get a ball to drop anywhere in play – its either out or homer, it seems. Finally, their average with RISP is only .236. That certainly adds up.
What’s there to feel good about? Wang. Pettitte. Pretty much the whole outfield. Mo is still Mo – hasn’t allowed an earned run all season. And finally, amidst all of this, you’d think that the Yankees would be 14.5 games back or some ridiculous number like that, right?
Two games back. That’s it.
Slow start by a few Boston players, hot starts by the O’s, Rays, and Jays, and all of a sudden things don’t look to terrible. There will almost certainly be a regression to the mean – The O’s will fall to the cellar where they belong, the Rays-Jays battle will ensue for 3rd, and the rivalry will continue for first place in the AL East. In the immortal words of Axl Rose, all we need is a little patience.
The Yankees just dropped tonight’s game to Detroit 6-2. Pettitte got dinged for 5 runs and Farnsey got beat by Polanco for a homer, but Hawkins and Edwar Ramirez both pitched scoreless innings. The bats… well… they’d better wake up sooner or later.
I’m off to do the opposite of wake up.
