Make no mistake about it , Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi
were bitterly disappointed by the recent 5-5 home stand.
Especially when you realize they started off 3-0 by sweeping
the Twins.
Why ?
Because this was
10 games at Yankee Stadium during a pennant race.
10 games in late August with N.Y. heat and humidity when the baseballs fly out of the park.
10 games in which the Left handed dominant Line Up
was going to take full advantage of their home field, with its short porch in Right Field.
We’ve heard Brian & Joe say over and over this is a Home Run hitting team
(always makes me cringe) that is built for the dimensions of Yankee Stadium.
Before the home stand, I mentioned the hope was for a
forecast in the South Bronx of ..
HAZY, HOT & .. HOMERS
Well we got …
HAZY, HOT & (something else that comes with heat & humidity)
………… A POWER OUTAGE !!
The Yanks lost 3 of 4 to the last place Indians, and then
were powerless vs the Astros.
For the 3 game series to end the home stand, the Yanks
were completely in the dark, as Houston pitching held the Bombers
to a total of 2 extra base hits (1 2B and only 1 HR)
and a .165 B.A. (including 0-14 w/ RISP )
The lack of hitting actually goes back to the beginning of August
when I wrote a column saying the problem was as simple as 1,2,3 …4
During the month of August,
1 thru 4 in the line-up are “hitting” ..
Ellsbury .258 BA ( he’s had hot streaks but in/out of line up)
Gardner .193 BA
ARod .138 BA ***
Teixeira .175 BA ***
Here is something to be optimistic about.
The next two opponents have had pitching struggles
all year.
The Braves are ranked 23rd in team ERA and the Red
Sox are dead last in the A.L in ERA, compared to the Astros
who are ranked 1st in A.L.
So the Yankee Bat$ should start putting a charge in the ball
over the next 6 games.
When you consider the following stats …
sweeping Atlanta should be the realistic goal :
30th MLB (last) in Runs Scored 464
54-73 Record
16 1/2 games out of 1st Place
-109 ( +/- run differential )
1-9 ( last 10 games).
The schedule will get tough again, but this
is an opportunity for the slumping bats to get back on track,
win 5 of 6 and hopefully regain 1st Place
(presently 1 1/2 back of Toronto – 1 in loss column)
Time to .. #SweepTheBravos & take it from there.
Here is the key point ..
ARod & Tex carried the Offense from April thru July but
were completely “INVISIBLE” in August.
Well Alex & Mark … as the old song goes
Yankee fans truly hope to :
“SEE” you in September !!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy0kNX5xrnE
(Or it could be bye bye, so long, farewell… to the season)
As always,
GO NYY !!
