Monday, June 04, 2012

Good Road Trip

So the Yankees have completed about a third of the season and just finished a short west coast road trip with a stop in Detroit going 6-3 (not bad at all), and will start a big series with the Rays tomorrow. The Yankees have been hanging right around 5 games over .500 and are currently 1.5 games back of the Rays. Given the lack of hitting, having numerous key players on the DL (Gardner, Rivera, Robertson, Joba, & Pineda) I think I'm actually impressed with their Win/Loss record. As any true Yankee fan will tell you it should be better, for instance the sole loss in Detroit when Kuroda only gives up 2 runs is ridiculous, but it could be far worse too. While the trade rumors have begun to swirl, Yankees are apparently interested in adding a starter, I would suggest they look to the bullpen. Hughes has pitched well in his last 5 or 6 starts, his LA start was the only bad one. Pettitte has shown he's back, again LA the only bad start. Kuroda is hit or miss and I think he will be on more often as the season gets going, he's always been a slow starter, and Nova and CC have been pretty consistent. While the bullpen has guys like Cory Wade giving away ballgames late. Logan and Phelps are decent and Soriano will be successful in the closer roll. It's the middle of the bullpen that needs to be strengthened. Yankee trade targets are Garza, Greinke, and Marcum (in that order, from a couple different sources). I think the interesting possible target would be Cole Hammels. The Phillies are in last place in the NL East, though they are over .500. Hammels is a free agent and many don't think he will re-sign with the Phillies. With the pitching depth in the farm the Yankees apparently have, I wonder if Nova and a prospect would get it done. Maybe 2 prospects if the Yankees are given a window to sign him long term as I would think Hamels would be their primary offseason target. Jeter continues to show that he's the Captain and may be on his way to an MVP type season. Granderson is having a great start to the season power wise (17 HRs at the moment) but I would like to see his average closer to .280 than .250. A-Rod is on pace for about .285 and 30HRs. Same with Cano. Swisher needs to get his average above .250. The "role players" like Chavez, Ibanez, Nix, and Jones are doing alright too. The team in general needs to start hitting in the clutch with runners in scoring position though. They are worst in the league and that is unacceptable. Unfortunately with that lineup there is not too many moveable parts. They need to figure it out. Lastly, congratulations to Johan Santana on his one-hitter. Don't know what all the celebration is about.

10 comments:

old professor said...

The Yankees will not get Grienk or Marcum. One because the Brewers are competiti e with these two guys in the rotation and the Yankees have already been burned by giving up two prospects. Pineda is out for the season and Campos has elbow issues., while the two prospects they gave up are having decent seasons.

Same arguments regarding Garza.

Crash said...

I don't disagree Old Prof. but if the Yankees brass feels there are holes in the rotation, they will give the marching orders to Cashman to get a deal done. I think the Yankees are seeing that Nova probably hit his ceiling last year. While his record is 6-2, his ERA is closer to 6 than 5, he's giving up a lot of hits and lot of extra base hits and HRs. I wouldn't be surprised to see him included in a package.

Yankees draft Ty Hensley in the first round at #30. He's a big power right hand pitcher (6'4", 240) out of high school. He's already hitting mid 90's on the gun.

Crash said...

Pettitte continues to be strong. Martin has been showing signs of coming out of his slump too. If the Yankees can continue to get high level pitching with the offense waking up, they could rip off 10 wins in a row pretty quickly. Only 1/2 game back with Nova on the mound tonight.

Crash said...

Just read that a lot of people really like the Yankees first round draft pick of Ty Hensley. The Rockies were set to take him at #10, but when the Pirates grabbed Appel, the Rockies drafted Dahl. If Appel didn't fall, Henlsey would have been taken 10th overall. That's great value for the Yankees.

Anonymous said...

Ty Hensley is a flashback to the drafting of Phil Hughes and is being touted in the same way Hughes was. At best he will be major league ready in 5 years or he could end up like a B. Taylor though he seems much more grounded and has a strong family to lean on.

CC once again gives up a lot of runs and appears to be struggling with location or something else is wrong.

Yankee offense was also anemic. Chance to take over first place and they choke the chicken.

Crash said...

Gardner out until at least the All Star Break. Still having elbow problems. Visiting Dr Andrews this week.

Robertson throwing BP & Bullpens. He goes on rehab assignment and may be up next weekend.

Joba has thrown a bullpen session.

Crash said...

Yankees are back in first place (tied with the Rays). Nova pitched well last night and the bullpen did a good job too. Yankees still didn't hit with RISP (1-8), except Cano in the first inning. But Ibanez came up with a big HR. Someone thought the Ibanez deal was a steal...can't recall who that was.

Crash said...

Yankees in first all by themselves a game up on Baltimore and Tampa. Big late game comeback lats night.

Anonymous said...

Has anyone taken a look at some of the players the Yankees have either traded or released and how they are doing this year? A.J. Burnett was exiled to Pittsburgh because of his lack of performance in NY. He is now 6-2 for the Bucs with an ERA under 4.00. Ian Kennedy has turned into the stud in Arizona, Montero is hitting around 275 Noesi is not pitching well but is still in the rotation and Austin Jackson while on the DL has done well in center for the Tigers and Justin Maxwell is starting for the Astros (though he has not hit with any consistency).

You guys are never willing to take a critical look at what might have been had the team just stayed pat with players from their system.

Crash said...

Anonymous said: "You guys are never willing to take a critical look at what might have been had the team just stayed pat with players from their system."

Yeah...ummm...not the case at all. Always evaluate the pros and cons of all possible trades involving the farm. Yankees did give up Kennedy and Jackson, but got back Granderson. I think the Yankees still got the better end of that. Montero and Noesi for Pineda and Campos. Too early to tell but Montero is putting up the #'s everyone thought he would, Pineda needs to get healthy. As for AJ...he's pitching in a weakened NL Central division, and remember he always started strong with the Yankees too, he started falling off right around now, so let's see how he does from this point on.

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