Monday, June 27, 2005

PASS THE GERITOL

The team looks older by the day. After sweeping the Pirates and Cubs at home the Yankees showed signs of breaking out of their funk but with the Devil Rays in town the Yankees managed only one win in that series before losing two of three to the Mets. To sum it all up the Yanks have been playing some UGLY baseball.

In a game that would turn around the worse teams the Yankees scored 13 runs in the eighth inning to come back from a 10-2 deficit. The very next day the Bombers bombed out and went back to their losing ways. The only bright spots in our line up has been the rookie Robinson Cano and Chein Ming Wang. Sean Henn, who lost to the Mets on Saturday has proved for the third straight time that he is not ready for prime time.

In the midst of thing the deteriorating Bernie Williams has become a scapegoat of sorts. Well even if he isn't a scapegoat over the weekend he was a goat anyway. Sunday night the Yankees had a big come from behind victory against the cross town rival Mets. Again time will tell if that win can turn this team around as the Yankees go into to Baltimore to take on the second place Orioles. As Jason Giambi goes so does the Yankees. When the Giambino hits the Yanks seem to win.
The outfield situation is in shambles. Kevin Reese, the Columbus centerfielder, was brought up to play LF while the Yankee LF (who started the year at 2B) was shifted to CF. The reason Reese was brought up was because Bernie Williams was declared "tired". Monday at Camdan Reese is on the bench while Rueben Sierra spells Gary Sheffield while he rejuvenate himself as the DH. Hideki Matsui returns to LF with Tony Womack in CF. Reese, who wasn't even on the 40 man roster is not the answer. They need a CF, while I still believe Bernie has life as a DH he is a liability in the outfield. One rumor is what Peter Gammons reported that if the A's cannot sign Mark Kotsay to a contract extension the the A's will trade him to either the Cubs or Yankees.

Now, they'll look to make up some ground in the American League East as they open a three-game series with the slumping Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. The Yankees will send the Roadster Carl Pavano to the mound in the series opener. Pavano lost his fourth straight decision Wednesday, allowing five runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings of a 5-3 defeat to Tampa Bay. The O's counter with Daniel Cabrera (5-7, 5.54 ERA). Cabrera lost his third straight start Wednesday, allowing three earned runs and five hits in five innings of a 3-2 loss to Toronto on Wednesday. The 24-year-old right-hander has allowed just five earned runs in 12 1-3 innings in his last two starts after giving up seven in two innings in a loss to Cincinnati on June 11. He is 1-1 with a 4.05 ERA in four career starts against the Yankees, including an 8-4 win on April 17.

There is no relief in sight for our starters either as Jaret Wright was moved from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL. (that may not be all bad)

Do we need to shake something up? Yes we do! We need something to bring this team together. Maybe it is time to change the pitching coach? Maybe a lateral move. Reassign Mel Stottlemyre and make Neil Allen the pitching coach. Rich Monteleone can resume the pen duties. I know it isn't Mel's fault but he is the weakest link on the coaching staff. What do you think? Comment below.

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