In Less Dramatic Fashion

             A disaster of a West Coast trip unleashed a pack of gremlins all over the Yankees organization; causing offensive ineptitude of epic proportions and an irresponsible Tweet from Alex Rodriguez. With a possible 50-game suspension hanging over his head, A-Rod saw it fit to start a Twitter account and then immediately announce he's ready to take the field. Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman took the news in good stride; quoting that A-Rod, "Should shut the f*$k up!"



             The only snafu is that a ready and willing Alex Rodriguez is the Yankees best hope for making something out of this season which is rapidly headed for a public restroom. Season-ending surgery on Mark Teixeira's fragile wrist that never healed and a three month time frame of getting Kevin "Still Playing for the Boston" Youkilis back from his back operation makes A-Rod's power potential even more crucial. After taking a few swings in Anaheim, Teixeira took himself out of the game with complaints of his wrist being sore, the same wrist which kept him out at the beginning of the year. When pain-killers didn't do the trick, the inevitable occurred and Teixeira had his trip to the surgeon scheduled. Just about the same time, when Youkilis returned from his DL stint, the bulging disc in his back never got better and he too had to go under the knife. Although there is a window for Youkilis to return in 2013, he's basically finished this year and for the $12 million the Yankees paid him - he contributed with two entire homeruns.



             Although Rodriguez usually does the wrong thing 99.9% of the time, Cashman's reaction to the Tweet was irresponsible for a GM and a clear indication the organization is fed up with all these injuries, the poor offense, and especially the $114 million they still owe to Rodriguez. If somehow A-Rod couldn't ever play baseball again, the Yanks would be able to collect upon the insurance of most of that $114 million as well as be rid of the media circus A-Rod always brings about. Certainly, A-Rod declaring himself ready to play and going over the Yankees' medical team staff in doing it pressed upon many a nerve which prompted the Cashman cursing. Despite that, desperate times cause people to look the other way and with the Yankees' offense as exciting as watching pain dry, a few days after the Twitter situation settled down the front office said Alex Rodriguez is ready to begin his rehab assignment. So A-Rod was right!!



             In less dramatic fashion, Derek Jeter and Eduardo Nunez took the field too on their mission to get back to the club with enough time to make an impact in 2013. Both are about a month away from returning to the majors. Francisco Cervelli is also at the Yankees complex in Tampa working on his swing, but his the broken bone in his hand isn't healed to the point where he can perform his catching duties. Granderson's timetable still isn't drawn, but his return shouldn't take as long as Jeter or A-Rod. These key pieces are needed badly because the feel-good stories of Vernon Wells, Travis Hafner, Austin Romine, and David Adams are really wearing thin on the team in the standings. Couple that in with poor hitting from Ichrio and Lyle Overbay and the burdens weighing on Cano and Gardner, and the once powerful and mighty Yankee lineup is worst than what most National League clubs are throwing out there. The only bright spot has been the play of minor league call-up outfielder Zoilo Almonte who has knocked out his first homerun and has been clutch in a several key situations with men on base. This team which was once thirteen games over .500 is barely keeping its head over .500.



              The strength of the Yankees this season has been the starting staff and the bullpen, but now the starters are beginning to show some rips at the seams. Kuroda still continues to be brilliant, but David Phelps has struggled lately, along with Sabathia and Pettitte, who look nothing like their usual self, and when Phil Hughes does throw a good game, its a game where the Yankee offense totally takes the night off. If Ivan Nova throws enough quality innings out of the bullpen, he can find himself taking Phelps' or Hughes' spot in the rotation. Michael Pineda (the guy they traded Jesus Montero for last season) has been throwing games in the minor leagues as he rehabs from last year's Tommy John procedure and might be a possible arm for the Yanks in August or September, or hopefully they're in it in October, but there's no official word there. Boston has been staying on top, Toronto has completely turned their season around for the better, and Baltimore and Tampa get better each passing day. The Yankees need the big names to stay in the mix.

Position:
43-39 (4th Place AL East - 6 games behind 1st Place Boston Red Sox)

Homeruns:
- There are finally clear timetables for the returns of Jeter, A-Rod, and Nunez, with Granderson sprinkled in the middle.
- Zoilo Almonte reminds Yankee fans of Melky Cabrera, before he became an HGH-head.
- Mariano Rivera continues to shine in this last go-around with tremendous numbers and a sure trip to the All-Star game.

Foul Tips:
- Just when CC Sabathia looks like he's about to put a good string of starts together, he's been coming up with more clunkers than Yankee fans have been used to seeing. Clearly, his adjustment to being a 91mph pitcher is going to have more bumps.
- Nagging injuries and poor performances lately should be telling Pettitte that this might be the last season.
- Ivan Nova is healthy, but fails to dominate and show everyone the Nova from 2011 and most of 2012.
- Statistically Ichiro is hitting a little better, but has yet to show a hot-streak.
- Cano's batting average was down in the .270's and only now is starting to snap out of his funk.
- Jayson Nix is a good role player at shortstop, but his limited skills at the plate doesn't do much for the offense.

Strikeouts: 
- Vernon Wells looks totally clueless at the plate and is nothing more than an automatic out at this point.
- David Adams' two weeks of bliss is a long forgotten memory and is also an automatic out with absolutely no danger to pitchers to hit one out.
- Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain in 2007 were two of the most prized blue chips in the Yankee system, in 2013 they are doughy, inconsistent, and likely gone after this season.
- The Yankee bench is as thin as fly paper and there is nobody Girardi can call upon for a pinch-hitting situation.



             With empty seats at Yankee Stadium and lower ratings for YES Network, even when the team was doing well, it shows the fans want their stars!! So love him or hate him, the fans want to see A-Rod at the plate again because he always brings that excitement that he might hit one out. Whether he has anything left in the tank remains to be seen. This is the one-time the Yankees have nothing to lose with going all-in with A-Rod.

              It can't be any worse than seeing David Adams everyday....

Welcomed With Open Arms

             With the Yankees riding high to the peak of being twelve games over .500, while receiving contributions from youngsters such as David Adams and crafty veterans like Lyle Overbay, many were wondering if the 'Re-Enforcements' would hurt the good chemistry that had developed in 2013. Well, a nightmarish four-game sweep at the hand of the lowly Mets and a de-moralizing weekend series loss to Boston has left the team begging for any shred of offense as they fall down to 3rd Place in the AL East.



              Before any of the 'Re-Enforcements' came back, one needed to be added to the ever-growing list. Andy Pettitte tweaked a trapezoid muscle, or something, in his back and needed a 15-Day DL stint. He's scheduled to be back today, thankfully.



             The first big name to return was Curtis Granderson, who broke his forearm during the opening Spring Training game this season by an errand pitch. After a week back in the "Bigs", Granderson was sent back down, thanks to another hit-by-pitch at Tropicana Field that broke a bone in his pinkie finger. This break isn't listed as severe as before and will only require five weeks before he can return. Some rotten season so far for a player in his contract year who needs to put up big numbers to get a nice new juicy deal.



             After a great weekend against the Rays (despite the Granderson injury) which included an amazing comeback against Fernando Rodney, the Yanks were geared up for the 2013 Subway Series which had been designed differently this year. Instead of the two weekend series showdowns, this time it would be four games during the week, with two in Flushing and two in the Bronx. The Mets had been reeling badly coming in and this was shaping up to be a shellacking at the hands of the Yanks, or three out of four games at the very least, knowing Mets pitching phenom Matt Harvey was starting one of them. This series would turn out to be the beginning of the bump in the road everyone had been anticipating with this surprisingly successful undermanned Yankee squad.



            The Mets took all four games!!



            This included two-walk off wins at CitiField, smacking David Robertson around one night and causing Mariano Rivera to blow his first save opportunity of the season. Then at Yankee Stadium, the Mets totally pounded David Phelps one night and got a great pitching performance from Dillon Gee the next as he struck out twelve Yankee batters. Other than the bad Phelps start, Yankee starting pitching did their best to keep their team in the games, but the offense completely hit a wall and getting Kevin Youkilis and Mark Teixeira back for the Boston series was at an opportune time.



           Things looked promising the first game against the long-time rivals. CC Sabathia turned in his best performance of the season going 7.1 innings and holding the Sox to one lone run. Both Teixeira and Youkilis were instrumental in Yankee rallies that lead to a 4-1 Yankee win. Any thoughts the Yanks had snapped out of their offensive woes were washed out over the next two games. The Sox battered the Yankees 11-1 the following night and shut down the Yanks the next night 3-0. Although, the finale was called by the 6th inning due to rain, but it didn't seem like it would've made a difference anyways. They can't find their hitting!!



Position:
31-25 (3rd Place AL East - 3 Games behind 1st Place Boston Red Sox)

Homeruns:
-Hiroki Kuroda has transformed into the team's most reliable starter (which has been the case since 2012).
-Ivan Nova has life on his pitches again since he's returned from the DL, but for now he's being used solely as long relief. It looks like its David Phelps' starting job to lose.
-Vidal Nuno looks like a keeper!! Even if he's sent back down to the minors, the lefty starter has shown alot of poise and maturity during his first major league stint. Hopefully he'll be a regular in the rotation in the future.
-Lyle Overbay seems to have a knack of getting clutch hits late in ballgames.
-Brett Gardner made some unbelievable catches at CitiField and has been very good as the Yanks lead-off hitter.

Foul Tips:
-Taking away the good start recently against Boston, CC Sabathia has been struggling to keep the other teams off the scoreboard and posts a mediocre 5-4 season record.
-Chris Stewart needed to stay out a few games to rest his groin, but now he left a game to deal with dizziness. Austin Romine seems to be the only healthy catcher.
-After a good start with the bat, David Adams has stopped hitting. Perhaps scouts have figured out something with Adams that Adams doesn't know about.
-Travis Hafner never needed a DL stint for his sore shoulder, but aside from one tremendous homerun in Camden Yards, his power has taken a major vacation.
-No word yet on returns for Nunez, Jeter, and A-Rod.

Strikeouts:
-Ichiro has looked horrible all season long at the plate, thankfully he hasn't carried it into the field.
-After the hot start from Vernon Wells, he's now looking like the Wells the Anaheim Angels wanted to get rid of in the worst way.



              With the return of Teixeira of Youkilis, pending they too don't get a case of the 'Curtis Granderson' Curse, the lineup will be deeper and that takes the pressure off the likes of Ichiro, Wells, and even Cano. The team had smooth sailing all season long up to this point, they had to struggle eventually.

               It happens to every team every season, and at multiple times.....

The Road to First

             The Yankees took a trip to the homely Midwest of America with most thinking they were going to get swallowed whole, but by the time they returned to New York the Yankees would surprise even more people by claiming first place status in the American League East.



             With Kevin Youkilis doing his part as a veteran player for the Yankees by going on the DL with a bulging disc in his back, and being exposed by Jayson Nix playing 3B on a regular basis, Brian Cashman picked Chris Nelson off of the Colorado scrapheap to fill in a body at third (not that he actually produces or anything). Just when Eduardo Nunez finally started to swing the bat, he suffered a ribcage injury and landed himself on the DL. The Nunez news was good for Jayson Nix; he gets to play shortstop everyday until Nunez returns. For whatever reason -  the baseball gods want Jayson Nix in the lineup for the Yankees.



             Francisco Cervelli was swinging a hot bat for the Yankees, which helped calm fans' anxieties over losing Russell Martin. While catching, Cervelli used improper technique and left his bare right hand out and exposed while behind the plate. The reason catchers are told to kept their exposed hand low and away, or behind their back, is in the case of foul tips. Such as the one which led to a broken finger for Cervelli and placed him on the DL. The troubles Ivan Nova was having at the start of the season became very clear when the Yankees had to shut him with a DL stint of his own with inflammation of the right triceps. To help round it all out, the pudgy physic of Joba Chamberlain came back to haunt him as he needed to go to the DL for an oblique injury. Joba also suffered a mental brain lapse in Kansas City when he got confrontational with Mariano Rivera after Rivera told him to pipe down from being loud during the great closer's media session. According to media reports, Joba got into Rivera's face and took objection to the way Rivera handled it.



            The Yankees PR machine tweeted a photo to let everyone know there's no beef between Mo and Joba, but Joba can consider himself off of Rivera's Christmas list.



            With more names to add to the ever-growing Yankees 2013 DL list, and a long road trip ahead of them, how were the Yankees able to capture 1st Place in the AL East?



             The pitching staff rose to the occasion and has turned it on in desperate times. Hiroki Kuroda has taken the lead, mixed in with better performances by Phil Hughes, CC Sabathia, and David Phelps, inserted into the starting rotation when Nova went down, has been brilliant. Surprisingly, Andy Pettitte has been the black sheep on the staff with a few consecutive lame outings, but he was much better in his last start against the Royals and earned the win. In the pen, the old David Robertson has returned and is locking down the 8th inning like he's been expected to. The pièce de résistance, Mariano Rivera, is a sweet 16 for 16 so far in save opportunities in this last Major League season campaign for him.



              With the Red Sox falling back to reality from the torrid start they had in April and the Yankees stringing together close-knit wins based on great pitching and barely enough offense, the Yankees were able to sneak in the backdoor and claim the prize of first place.

Position:
25-14 (1st Place AL East - 2 games in front of Baltimore Orioles)

Homeruns:
- Curtis Granderson is back in the Yankee lineup after rehabbing his broken forearm.
- Robinson Cano has answered his critics about being a No. 1 thumber in the lineup without the usual protection of A-Rod, Teixeira, and friends. Cano is hitting .306 with 10 HR and 25RBI.
- Ichiro Suzuki has been getting it going with his bat and has helped key several Yankee rallies.
- David Phelps has provided quality starts in Nova's absence and gives the Yankees a chance to win each time he's on the mound.
- Mariano Rivera looks like he can pitch another five seasons with a perfect 16 for 16 save marks in 2013.
- David Robertson has gone back to being a shutdown reliever after some early struggles in April.

Foul Tips:
- Austin Romine doesn't look comfortable against Major League pitching, although he's in there for his catching ability.
- Andy Pettitte lost three consecutive starts before finally winning one in a 4-2 win over Kansas City. There was concern that he couldn't find his cutter, which doesn't sound good.
- There might be bad blood in the clubhouse between Rivera and Joba.
- Travis Hafner needed a shoulder MRI that revealed tendinitis. The slugger claims he'll be back in a few days, but Hafner has a bad track record of injuries.

Strikeouts:
- Without the luxury of an occasional homerun to put up some fast runs, the Yankees have been getting shutout more than they're used to in recent years.
- Ben Francisco is turning into Yankees' fan's most hated player with a putrid .128 BA and 1 RBI generated from a solo homer.
- Chris Nelson hasn't given the Yankees anything at 3B despite the second chance he has been given this season after being cut by the Rockies.

            With Boston slipping, the Blue Jays a bust so far in 2013, and the Orioles and Rays struggling to get any consistence play, the opportunity was there for the Yankees and they snatched it!



            ...Bobby V doesn't manage the Red Sox anymore and he must be happy the Yankees are leading the Sox. 



            This early success doesn't make sense when the infield is made up of Nelson, Nix, Cano, and Overbay, but the grit and determination of these 2013 Yankees looks like they can beat the 2012 or 2011 Yankees easily....

Last Minute Tweaks

             Brian Cashman had to do some last minute scrambling before Opening Day to piece some semblance of a MLB lineup and pray to the baseball gods the team can keep afloat until the regulars come back. Not satisfied with Juan Rivera's untrustworthy glove at first base, the Yanks picked up veteran Lyle Overbay, who had recently been cut by the Boston Red Sox.



             Thanks Boston!



             Although Overbay doesn't offer much with the bat, at least he will be a reliable receiver for Nunez's incoming bad throws.

             A very surprising and daring pick up was a last minute decision to trade for Vernon Wells from the Angels. Wells, who has never been the same player after signing that big contract years ago with Toronto, looked about as done as a player could be last season. With very little power in the current Yankee lineup and reports Wells bat had come to life during Spring Training, Cashman opted to bring another former-superstar on board, as if there aren't enough already.



             Opps! Wrong Vernon Wells.



            That's better.

            Thanks Los Angeles!

            Wells might not be a full-fledged superstar anymore, but for peanuts the Yanks can at least have a veteran bat in the middle of the lineup and a rather good defender in the outfield (which lacked any power).

             The notion was that Jeter might miss Opening Day, but he was certainly due to return to the team shortly thereafter. In trying to rehab his way back, Jeter kept expressing discomfort in his ankle. When the pain wouldn't go away, the team decided on an x-ray and the results showed a small fracture in a different part of the ankle he just had off-season surgery on.



             As if this team didn't have injury woes enough, the prognosis is now for Derek Jeter being able to return to the team around the All-Star break, which is more or less the time Alex Rodriguez is supposed to return from his surgery. Maybe they can take the same bus to the Stadium.



             So how is all the garbage picking from other teams and the bad update on Jeter working for these 2013 Yankees????

Position:
12-9 (2nd Place AL East - 2.5 games behind 1st Place Red Sox)

Homeruns:
- Vernon Wells has turned back the clock and is swinging the bat better than he has in years. The 34 year old is batting .293 with 6 homers and 10 RBI.
- Mariano Rivera is business as usual. 7 out of 7 in save opportunities and his location seems as accurate as we would expect. No bad signs yet from missing most of the 2012 season from the freak accident.
- Eduardo Nunez has been making the plays at shortstop in Jeter's absence when before Yankee fans had to hold their collective breath anytime a groundball was hit his way. He's certainly not out of the woods yet, but at least it lessens the anxiety from knowing Jeter is a few months away from returning.
- Russell who? Francisco Cervelli has done a great job in securing his position as leader at the platoon catching spot with Chris Stewart. When everyone asked about Russell Martin's missing power in the lineup, Cervelli responded with 3 homers and 8 RBI. With the Pirates, Martin is behind at 2 dingers so far.
- Both Hiroki Kuroda and Andy Pettitte are off to fabulous starts to the season despite being two of the oldest starting pitchers in the league. Girardi will need to nurse them along as the season continues to make sure they're still standing on the mound when September/October approaches.
- Another Cashman gamble, the often-injured Travis Hafner has come out swinging in 2013 with a .300 average, 5 homers and 10 RBI.

Foul Tips:
- Ichiro Suzuki hasn't been able to get it going with his bat and missing is the "Ichiro" who joined the Yankees last season. Fans have to be thinking that he's also under contract for 2014, but most indications are he'll be back to being "Ichiro" soon.
- Kevin Youkilis did get off to a good start in pinstripes, but a recent back injury has kept him on the bench for a week. Is this something that is going to bother him all season?
- David Robertson hasn't been his usual robotic self in locking down the late innings. Perhaps its hard to have microscopic numbers all the time.

Strikeouts:
- Ivan Nova has not shaken off the funk he's been in since the second half of the 2012 season. He's yet to put a full quality start together and he's struggling mightily with his location. Will the Ivan Nova of 2011 ever come back?
- Boone Logan has been atrocious in most of his opportunities so far and a few more clunkers might have him designated for assignment.
- The other outfield quick-fixes, Brennan Boesch and Ben Francisco, have contributed nothing and either one or both of them are likely gone once Granderson is ready to join the team.

             With many picking the Toronto Blue Jays to dominate the AL East in 2013 and the Yanks predicted to be a pitiful joke, once again such as the 2012 Miami Marlins or 2011 Boston Red Sox, off-season moves don't mean anything once the real games start. The Blue Jays are off to a lackluster 9-14 beginning to the 2013 campaign. For the Yankees, Brian Cashman deserves recognition as a GM that doesn't simply hand out paychecks to superstar free-agents, but has a knack for cleverly uncovering gems such as Vernon Wells, Eric Chavez, Raul Ibanez, Cody Eppley, Andruw Jones, etc., when most other teams have given up on them.



               It's has to be more than payroll as a reason that the Yankees have only missed one postseason since Cashman took over as General Manager of the team in 1998.......