After watching the Yankees get swept by the Angels this weekend, I asked myself whether they can come together and push their way to the playoffs. Or will they collapse and fail to reach the playoffs for the 14th consecutive year? I have to wonder if they are still adjusting under new head-coach, Joe Girardi. Or is it him that is making the wrong decisions in crucial game-time moments? The last two games of this series, the Yankees blew the lead.
Saturday's game was tied going into the eighth inning. But, the Yankees gave up eight runs in the eighth. Reliever, Edwar Ramirez gave up five of those runs. I think Girardi needs to make smarter, better decisions on when to take out a pitcher.
On Sunday the game was tied as well going into the ninth. Girardi should have taken out Damaso Marte after the first batter reached base. Instead, Girardi left him in and Marte walked the next batter. It was then that Girardi decided to put Mariano Rivera in. And sure enough, Chone Figgins hit a dinky bouncer past second-baseman Robinson Cano that gave the Angels a walk-off victory. Marte is 0-2 with a 4.19 ERA. And you know, if Girardi never moved Joba Chamberlain to the starting rotation it would be Chamberlain coming out and pitching the 7th and 8th innings of relief.
Not to mention the Yankees got rid of Kyle Farnsworth thinking that they would be okay without the right-hander. NOT! Since the trade happened the Yankees bullpen has a combined 8.16 ERA in nine games.
The Yankees keep slipping. Boston and Tampa Bay, especially, keep soaring. It's just a matter of how long it will take for the Yankees to hit the bottom. But there is a part of me that thinks they will somehow rise to the occasion. They have to, right? They're the New York Yankees.
2 comments:
All things must pass, and unfortunately, that may include the playoff run of the New York Yankees. October is not a birth right, in fact I didn't seem them play once when I was a kid in the 80's. It's time to let a new generation of fans learn humility in the face of the game.
Have no fear though, the future is bright, unlike the lights at the Stadium this October.
It's sad to see think that this franchise may not even see October roll around.
Injuries plagued this team and I think it got into their mental game. But you're right, the future does look promising.
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