On July 18, the Yankees lead the American League East by 10 games. Another postseason was all but guaranteed in the Bronx. Writers, bloggers, sportstalk loudmouths, and fans alike began prognosticating about the postseason pitching rotation, if Soriano can play the role of Mariano in the postseason, blah blah blah.
Then came the disastrous west coast trip. The Yankees were swept in four games by Oakland, then a King Felix changeup broke A-Rod's hand.
A mediocre homestand against Boston, Baltimore, and Seattle followed, and the division lead shrunk to 6.5 games. Even then, you still felt good about the Yankees' chances.
An injury to CC Sabathia here, a trade for Ichiro there, and a tease of a series win against two-time AL Champion Texas followed. The lead shrunk to 5 games.
Now, after a sweep at the hands of the Central leading White Sox, injuries to Mark Teixeira and Ivan Nova, and the annual waiver deadline splash deal for Steve Pearce, and the lead is down to three games.
Over labor day weekend and the ensuing week, the Yankees will face their closest pursuers in the divisional race, the Orioles and Rays. They play the Orioles for three games at home, then go to the house of horrors in both play and aesthetics in St. Pete for three, then up to Camden Yards for four.
The Orioles enter today three games back in the loss column, the Rays four. With one month to play, these games take on enormous meaning.
The Orioles are gunning for their first playoff apperance since 1997, while the Rays make their annual late season run with no offense and a heck of a lot of pitching.
The Yankees, however, continue to play mediocre baseball at the worst time.
Their hitting with runners in scoring position continues to be an epidemic. Just look at the middle game of the recent three game set against the dead-in-the-water Indians. They continue to rely too much on the home run and the big inning to muster runs.
They have dealt with two disabled list stints by their ace, CC Sabathia. Their young guns, Phil Hughes and Ivan Nova, have had mediocre years. Hiroki Kuroda has been their saving grace. He can't pitch brilliantly on his own.
As any baseball fan, broadcaster, or writer will tell you, this formula will not win games in October, when teams face the best pitching.
Well, September 1st is Friday, the beginning of the first Orioles series, but it may as well be October 1st.
The Orioles are shocking the baseball world by remaining in the postseason hunt this long. They have a minus-45 run differential. They have scored the fewest runs in the AL East. They have missed their most effective pitcher, Jason Hammel for the entire second half.
And they are still in it.
They recently picked up veteran pitchers Joe Saunders and Randy Wolf to solidify their rotation, which is nothing to fear.
And they are still in it.
Why? For one, their closer, Jim Johnson, leads the majors in saves with 40. Their best player, Adam Jones, is having a breakout season, leading the team in HRs with 24, RBI's with 65, and OPS at .837.
Oh, and they have one of the best managers in the game, Buck Showalter. How badly will he want these games?
Then there's the pesky, small market Rays. Since Evan Longoria returned from the DL, they have been the hottest team in baseball. Their starting rotation, led by Cy Young award favorite David Price, has staked its claim as the best in baseball. Closer Fernando Rodney is having the best season of his career with 39 saves.
And the Yankees are 1-9 in their past ten games at Tropicana Field. If they are to break this hex, the time is now.
The Rays and Orioles are young and hungry. The Yankees are aging and fragile.
If the Yankees have any aspirations of winning World Series #28, this ten game stretch will prove it.
One month ago, these games were meaningless.
And now, the Yankees are engaged in a true pennant race for the first time in years. It's time to prove they are true championship contenders.
Play ball, folks!
***Next week: my full NFL preview!!!***
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