Many subscribers are demanding that SU finally come clean that the Yankees are a legitimate playoff team and are better than SU has said all year long. They lead the division by 5.5 games and are hot coming out of the All-Star break. The AL East, while close in ability, is pretty mediocre and there are no world beaters in the AL or MLB in general. Is it time to say the Yankees are actually good?
A. Grossman has been emailing SU directly but a few snippets here: “I can’t see the Yankees falling apart as their entire roster has chipped in during keys times of a game. No one is really carrying this team besides Betonces. Yes, Arod and Texeria have been surprises but we haven’t even seen the real upside yet of Beltran and Ellsbury yet as they are just getting back into shape. With McCan solid and Gardner, admittedly having a really good year….. everyone seems to be fairly balanced… with no one really HOT for a noticeable length of time now-a-days. Right now they are on track to win 90 games. This is only 7 games more than what Las Vegas predicted. Only 60% of the season is over. How many more games will it take for you to reassess them currently being a 500 team. They have faced many ACES and have come up victorious so far.”
OK, I agree that they have over-achieved but they have also been hot and cold all year. The reason I believe that they will still finish with a wins total in the mid-80s is that they are very exposed if there are any type of injuries to either Teixeira or A-Rod or both of them. Garrett Jones is a below average sub at 1st base and A-Rod is your #3 hitter. Their full season projected numbers are just too inflated in this era of hitting. When you combine that with how many 1-run games they play and a bullpen that has been almost flawless to date, I don’t believe it’s sustainable at this rate. Too many things have to fall into place.
I think the pitching is actually good enough. You only need 5-6 innings out of your starters with a strong bullpen. Their need is more offense, more speed and Refsnyder at 2nd base. I am pleased with the recent success but just do not have the confidence in this roster that I have had in past Yankee teams. But SU will be more than happy to admit I was wrong if they win the division by 10 games.
Anyone want to disagree? Feel free to respond. The floor is open.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
The Yankees are not as good as they were 15 years ago. But they don’t need to be. MLB wanted more parity and they got it. What does that mean? Lots of teams with lots of flaws. You watch the Yankees every day and you see the flaws. Then you look at the standings and you realize that every team has flaws and most of them have more flaws than the Yankees.
We keep hearing how great the Orioles are. “Just wait until the Yankees have to play the Orioles.” Well I just watched the Orioles for 3 games and they have plenty of flaws. You also hear great things about the Nationals or the Dodgers and you look at the records and the Yankees are right there with them. The only team that’s head and shoulders above the Yankees is the Cardinals.
Now, it’s important to realize that nothing has really changed. The Yankees have a good sized lead in the division so maybe there’s some security but there’s not certainty. They are no longer the kind of team that’s full of superstars in their prime as was the case 10-20 years ago. In those days if 75% of the team played up to expectations they were a lock for the playoffs. They are now a team built like many others with their success hinging on a number of players being able to exceed expectations. This has been the case so far. There really isn’t any sign that A Rod or Tex can’t keep doing what they’ve been doing. Ellsbury and Beltran cannot be counted on. Headly and Gregorius are actually contributing a bit. The bullpen has been great with only a few hiccups that could probably be pinned on the Girardi.
I wish they were better at manufacturing runs because that is important in the playoffs. I also wish they were better baserunners and that they had anyone else playing 2nd base. Other than that I’m feeling pretty good about this team.
I am a little worried about Toronto. They have played 97 games, have a +97 run differential and are only one game above .500. I can’t understand how that happens. I guess if I watched them every day I would know a little more about their flaws but only the Cardinals have a better run differential and 3rd place isn’t even really close. If they trade for a pitcher or two they could be dangerous.
Seth, good point on Toronto. They are likely a team that will look to pick up a rental pitching stud for the stretch drive – like a Cueto or a Hamels. The Yankees have a lot of games remaining with them on the schedule. My issue is that this year’s team (as well as the 2013 and 2014 editions) are just dull. From 1994 – 2012, that had not been the case. Sure, winning makes a big difference but they had stars, stories, personalities.
Agree on the mediocrity in baseball but I think that goes up and down. The next will be interesting to see who is moved by whom.
They are not exciting offensively but they are a good group. Seem to enjoy themselves more than the past few years. (Not sure how they all stay so happy when they see Drew in the lineup every day.) The contrast is the Mets where their pitchers are exciting, in part because they’re so good and in part because they have no margin for error. I’d rather be in first place.
Met’s trade for some offense, promote another hitter and are making a run. I’m looking forward to a subway series.