All Star Break
Despite losing to the Devil Rays in their final game before the All Star break, the Yankees have to be pleased with their recent string of victories behind relatively solid pitching.
Chien Ming Wang's sinker was so sharp the other night that Jorge Posada didn't call any other pitches. Every call was for the sinker. All that Posada varied up was location. In the big leagues, late movement on pithces is the name of the game, and Wang has enough late drop on his ball to be the Yankees' ace for the second half of this season and beyond.
Although he got knocked around in his last inning, Randy Johnson was as dominant as he has been all season during his last outing against the Devil Rays. He even seems to have developed peace of mind about his limitations at the age of 42; namely, that the days of him going nine strong and striking out at least 10 batters a game are long over. If Randy Johnson can consistently give us six to seven innings of three-run ball in most of his starts for the second half, we'll have a good chance of overtaking Boston.
With the completion of yesterday's game, Jorge Posada became a 10-and-5 player. Translation: with 10 years in the big leagues and his last 5 with the same team, Posada has now earned the right to veto a trade to another team. Also, Posada needs only 18 more starts to lock in a 12 million dollar salary for next season.
Derek Jeter led the Yankees over the first half of this season with a .351 batting average with men in scoring position.
Johnny Damon has been a lot more clutch than we could have hoped for. If this guy gets healthy, and just one of Matsui or Sheffield return by the end of August, the Yankees's offense will be okay.
Where is Aaron Small? Am I the only one who thinks that the Yankees should have demoted Scott Proctor instead of Small to AAA Columbus? Aaron's ERA was terrible, but he wasn't given enough opportunities to establish rhythm. Why do I think that Aaron Small should be in the bullpen instead of Scott Proctor? Small has movement on his ball. Proctor fires 95 mph darts, which are easily handled by big league hitters if his location is off. Oh well, at least Small and his family have his 1.2 million to live on. And we all want Proctor to make some money for his young family.
The Yankees appear to be close to trading Shawn Chacon. Latest trade talks have him going to Seattle for Joel Piniero. Not a big surprise, given that his last four or five outings have been shaky at best and poor at worst.
So, will the Yankees make the 2006 playoffs? Or will this season mark the first of Derek Jeter's career that has him sitting pretty in Tampa come October?
In order for the Yankees to make the 2006 playoffs, here's some of what I think needs to happen:
1. Randy Johnson, Moose, and Wang all have to keep doing what they've been doing over the past few weeks. In the case of Moose, what he's been doing the entire season.
2. Kyle Farnsworth has to show significant improvement. If he doesn't improve, Octavio Dotel needs to be a pleasant surprise, fast.
3. Johnny Damon needs to get healthy.
4. Not an absolute must, but it would really help to get Matsui or Sheffield back by September 1st.
5. And perhaps most importantly, Joe Torre needs to emphasize bunting practice and give the signal to bunt whenever the game is relatively close and the Yankees have men on 1st and 2nd with no out.
Oh, and last but not least, Jeter needs to continue to be Jeter. Where would we be without him?
- Joshua
InsidetheYankees.com
Chien Ming Wang's sinker was so sharp the other night that Jorge Posada didn't call any other pitches. Every call was for the sinker. All that Posada varied up was location. In the big leagues, late movement on pithces is the name of the game, and Wang has enough late drop on his ball to be the Yankees' ace for the second half of this season and beyond.
Although he got knocked around in his last inning, Randy Johnson was as dominant as he has been all season during his last outing against the Devil Rays. He even seems to have developed peace of mind about his limitations at the age of 42; namely, that the days of him going nine strong and striking out at least 10 batters a game are long over. If Randy Johnson can consistently give us six to seven innings of three-run ball in most of his starts for the second half, we'll have a good chance of overtaking Boston.
With the completion of yesterday's game, Jorge Posada became a 10-and-5 player. Translation: with 10 years in the big leagues and his last 5 with the same team, Posada has now earned the right to veto a trade to another team. Also, Posada needs only 18 more starts to lock in a 12 million dollar salary for next season.
Derek Jeter led the Yankees over the first half of this season with a .351 batting average with men in scoring position.
Johnny Damon has been a lot more clutch than we could have hoped for. If this guy gets healthy, and just one of Matsui or Sheffield return by the end of August, the Yankees's offense will be okay.
Where is Aaron Small? Am I the only one who thinks that the Yankees should have demoted Scott Proctor instead of Small to AAA Columbus? Aaron's ERA was terrible, but he wasn't given enough opportunities to establish rhythm. Why do I think that Aaron Small should be in the bullpen instead of Scott Proctor? Small has movement on his ball. Proctor fires 95 mph darts, which are easily handled by big league hitters if his location is off. Oh well, at least Small and his family have his 1.2 million to live on. And we all want Proctor to make some money for his young family.
The Yankees appear to be close to trading Shawn Chacon. Latest trade talks have him going to Seattle for Joel Piniero. Not a big surprise, given that his last four or five outings have been shaky at best and poor at worst.
So, will the Yankees make the 2006 playoffs? Or will this season mark the first of Derek Jeter's career that has him sitting pretty in Tampa come October?
In order for the Yankees to make the 2006 playoffs, here's some of what I think needs to happen:
1. Randy Johnson, Moose, and Wang all have to keep doing what they've been doing over the past few weeks. In the case of Moose, what he's been doing the entire season.
2. Kyle Farnsworth has to show significant improvement. If he doesn't improve, Octavio Dotel needs to be a pleasant surprise, fast.
3. Johnny Damon needs to get healthy.
4. Not an absolute must, but it would really help to get Matsui or Sheffield back by September 1st.
5. And perhaps most importantly, Joe Torre needs to emphasize bunting practice and give the signal to bunt whenever the game is relatively close and the Yankees have men on 1st and 2nd with no out.
Oh, and last but not least, Jeter needs to continue to be Jeter. Where would we be without him?
- Joshua
InsidetheYankees.com
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