We are now 28 games into this new season of baseball and the New York Yankees are sitting 2 games below 500. They went on a nice 4 game run to then turn around and now currently ride down a 5 game skid. Is this how it is going to be all year? Streak for the good, then one for the bad even worse. I certainly hope not. Joe Girardi I believe is confused. He has never had to deal with so many injuries before in his short years managing and not only with the Yankees.
Chien Ming Wang is a huge disappointment. He had a rough year last year spending most of the season on the DL after injuring his leg running the bases. Stuff like this happens. But what I don't understand is why his sinker just forgot how to sink. He now rides the DL with somewhat of a questionable injury because the Yankees had to basically make up what he had wrong with him so they could send him down to AAA to work on his mechanics. You can't option a player who has been in the Majors to AAA after they have spent 3 full seasons in the bigs. That is the rule. Not sure if it is an unwritten rule or if it was in his contract but non the less he needed to go to Scranton and work out his problem.
Jorge Posada going to the DL is hurting big time as well. He was a strong bat in the middle of the lineup with A-Rod out and now they are paying the price. Posada also missed a lot of last year with shoulder problems. The issues just keep growing for Girardi and his staff.
Put on top of that, Jose Molina now probably going to the DL as well with a strained hamstring. WONDERFUL! Now Francisco Cervelli is the starting catcher for the Yankees. See you in last place! I'm sorry but this kid was just in AA Trenton not even a week ago and now he has to play everyday catching guys like Andy Pettitte, A.J. Burnett and C.C. Sabathia. Girardi will have his hands full just keeping the Bombers out of last place at the All-Star break.
I believe the main problem has not been the inconsistent starting pitching because I don't see any big issue besides Wang to point out. It obviously is the bullpen. Mariano comes in last night with a 6-6 tie in the top of the 9th and gives up back-to-back bombs, first time in his career. Moe isn't even the worst of it. The only consistent reliever they have is Phil Coke and that is saying a lot. Albaladejo sucks. Claggett sucks. Shall I go on? If Moe can't even get 3 outs anymore it is time for a 2nd "42" to go out in the center field monument park. His career is bar none Hall of Fame caliber. I love Mariano but right now, he is struggling. He doesn't have the same stuff he used to and that is the flat out truth.
If Wang can come back and be a solid starter in this rotation one of the remaining 5 will have to go to the bullpen and possibly for good cause. It is not going to be Burnett or C.C. They are paying these guys way too much. There have been talks about Hughes or possibly Pettitte going to the pen when Wang gets back. Let me know what you think.
All I know is that the Yankees need to start playing the market for some relief pitchers because our starters can't throw 9 innings every game. Girardi in my mind right now gets a C- for his Manager grade this season. Yes he has had a lot of crap to deal with and he gets A-Rod back today but some of the decisions he has made in these first 28 games have just left me with my jaw on the floor. He brings in Mariano in the 8th to try for a 4 out save. Ya like that ever happens. Doesn't bunt Gardener with a runner on 2nd and none out down by a run. This is just poor coaching by the skipper. Where is Torre? Oh yea, filling Manny's PED prescription.
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