Prior to going into a huge series vs. the 1st Place Toronto Blue Jays
the Yankees had an opportunity to
win a ball game …win a series vs. the Orioles
and move into a 1st Place tie in the loss column.
None of that happened.
The usually sure-handed Stephen Drew.. mishandled 2 routine plays that cost
the Yankees 3 runs , and the ballgame.
In addition to that, the hot & cold Offense continues to struggle to score runs other
than via the long ball.
The team’s most valuable position player this year, Mark Teixeira is on the
DL and might not return.
The health concerns that the Starting Rotation had before the season started
still exist. In fact the one “healthy” Starter, Nate Eovaldi is now on the DL.
Beltran, McCann, Gregorius, Betances, Miller and others have been very solid.
A-Rod has contributed far more than anyone expected.
Top Prospects Luis Severino & Greg Bird have gotten an opportunity,
and have certainly made the most of it.
So now …
The Yankee season has boiled down to a 24 / 7 situation.
ONLY 24 GAMES LEFT / 7 GAMES VS. TORONTO
This is as close as you can get to playoff baseball in September.
It doesn’t matter that the Yankees had an 8 game lead right before the trading dead-line,
and squandered it.
It doesn’t matter that the Yanks were swept by Blue Jays at the Stadium in August,
and then bounced right back and won a series against them up in Toronto.
It doesn’t matter who is on the DL.
It doesn’t matter who’s hot & who’s not.
It doesn’t matter who’s young & who’s old.
What matters is the fact that the Yankees are one game out of
1st place in the loss column and desperately want to win the
A.L. Eastern Division.
They want to avoid the wild card scenario … and certainly want to
avoid the thought of missing the playoffs for the third straight season.
What happened earlier in the season no longer matters.
The next 24 games will define the 2015 Regular Season, and hopefully
propel the Yankees into the Playoffs and towards their pursuit of a
28th Championship.
That’s what the Yankee Brand is all about… winning Championships.
Derek and Mariano are no longer around.
The Summer is over.
Now is the time, and the opportunity, for names like :
Tanaka, Pineda, Betances, Miller, McCann, Beltran,
even Severino and Bird to step up and carve out
a Yankee Legacy for themselves.
As always,
GO NYY !!
