Yankees Look Sharp During Dog Days of Summer
These are the dog days of summer when players tend to stop running out balls and lose their focus in between pitches while playing defense.
It's been a pleasant surprise to see the Yankees looking sharp on offense and defense.
Photo by Newsday.com
Despite missing sluggers Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield, the Yankees are providing good overall run support for their pitchers, many of their runs coming from heads up baserunning and situational hitting. When was the last time that you saw a Yankees team lay down four bunts in a single game like they did the other day?
Starting pitching has been very steady. If Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina, Chien Ming Wang, and Jaret Wright continue to provide 5-7 strong innings per game, it won't matter how well Chacon and Sidney Ponson do. In fact, the playoffs, I like our chances with Johnson, Mussina, Wang, and Rivera against any other set of three starters and one closer in the league.
Beginning with A-Rod's grab of a sharp grounder to get Wright out of yesterday's perilous first inning, and ending with excellent throws by Guiel and Cabrera to nab runners at second and home, respectively, the Yankees defense is as sharp as it has been over the past few years. There's no question that Matsui and Sheffield provide more pop to the offense, but Guiel is providing more mental alertness than Sheffield has, and Cabrera's throwing arm is clearly stronger than Matsui's.
With continued strong play over the next few weeks, let's hope that the Yankees can regain the lead in the East and even establish a bit of a lead over the Red Sox.
- Joshua
InsideTheYankees.com
It's been a pleasant surprise to see the Yankees looking sharp on offense and defense.
Photo by Newsday.com
Despite missing sluggers Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield, the Yankees are providing good overall run support for their pitchers, many of their runs coming from heads up baserunning and situational hitting. When was the last time that you saw a Yankees team lay down four bunts in a single game like they did the other day?
Starting pitching has been very steady. If Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina, Chien Ming Wang, and Jaret Wright continue to provide 5-7 strong innings per game, it won't matter how well Chacon and Sidney Ponson do. In fact, the playoffs, I like our chances with Johnson, Mussina, Wang, and Rivera against any other set of three starters and one closer in the league.
Beginning with A-Rod's grab of a sharp grounder to get Wright out of yesterday's perilous first inning, and ending with excellent throws by Guiel and Cabrera to nab runners at second and home, respectively, the Yankees defense is as sharp as it has been over the past few years. There's no question that Matsui and Sheffield provide more pop to the offense, but Guiel is providing more mental alertness than Sheffield has, and Cabrera's throwing arm is clearly stronger than Matsui's.
With continued strong play over the next few weeks, let's hope that the Yankees can regain the lead in the East and even establish a bit of a lead over the Red Sox.
- Joshua
InsideTheYankees.com
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