As we know, the baseball season is a long slog. There will be ups and downs, winning streaks and losing streaks. The key is not to panic. The Yankees have had their share of extended winning streaks, series won, and have minimized the losing. They have a great record against good teams, and have killed the bad ones this year, e.g., the Orioles.
However….. the last 2 series vs. the Indians and the A’s, both potential playoff teams, have exposed what we knew were the problem areas. Now, SU is generally an optimist and I refuse to be overly concerned, but I do note the following:
- Starting pitching: man, it’s just not very good. The team’s record is great considering how mediocre the starters are. German was great in the first half of the season and has plateaued a bit. Tanaka has not been great of late and Paxton gives up 10 runs in the 1st inning every game (OK, so I am exaggerating a bit). CC is running on fumes and Happ, well Happ is the kind of pitcher when you go to a game in person, you buy tickets for seats in the outfield.
- Right-handed Line-up: as noted by SU all season, this continues to be a problem. When Boone bats Judge and Sanchez back to back, it’s not a good look. Situational hitting? How do you spell that? They are not interested.
- Giancarlo Stanton was in the dugout last night: whaaaaaatttt??? I thought he was down in Tampa working out with Ellsbury. You know, running side-to-side, the occasional sit-up, throwing off flat ground for a distance of 7 feet, breaking for lunch and snacks. Stanton is the key for the playoffs – in a negative way. We do not want him coming back. Can you imagine, Judge, Sanchez and Stanton back to back in the 9th inning? A foul ball would be an achievement. Perhaps he his rehabbing in California.
But here is SU’s prediction. While it looks bad today (4-game losing streak) and CC starting one of the games this weekend against the powerhouse Dodgers, SU predicts the Yankees take 2 of 3. The good news is that they are not hurt by the absence of the DH. I mean, Mike Ford doesn’t play – no loss there. The starters will shine and get into the 5th inning every game – whoo hoo!
The reason SU is still somewhat upbeat is that both Severino and Betances will be back in September. Huge difference makers. If Severino can get enough arm strength to go 4 innings, he is on par with the regular starters and no doubt Happ will be jealous by that type of length.
Steady as she goes. Is SU delusional? Are Yankee fans feeling confident?
Check out ESPN’s special on last year’s US Open Women’s Finals – “Serena and the Umpire.” It is very good. Not a good look for Serena. Stay tuned for SU’s fearless US Open predictions coming this weekend. I am studying the draw sheet and running outcome models as we speak.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
Yankees are 27th out of 30 teams in baseball in runs allowed in the first inning (that is why they have so many comeback wins). It also seems that when they are down early by 3 or 4 a lot of the players get anxious and swing at more pitches out of the strike zone. After LA though, even though they play a lot of the September games on the road, they have a pretty easy finish to the schedule. Assuming they get that far, will probably lose ALCS home field advantage to the Astros.
Wow, I thought this was going to be a story on THE METS!
Yankee fans do need to take a deep breath. Did you really write this…
“Can you imagine, Judge, Sanchez and Stanton back to back in the 9th inning?” I think most teams would be happy to take that lineup.
LFGM!
While I try to be the optimist, our starting pitching is bad. Always hang my hat that in short series, some pitcher can get hot and become Josh Becket or MadBum, and carry the team through. We won in 2009 with a a super CC, pretty good Pettitte and 50-50 AJ. We will need someone to become CC from 2009 (maybe Tanaka but hard to believe). I keep hearing about Severino and Betances but it will be September soon and the clock is running down. Hard to see how we beat Houston with their big 3 pitchers or Dodgers who have 4 good to great ones. Luckily we play them one at a time and as they say, anything can happen in a short series (I lost my first serious money bet as a middle schooler choosing the Orioles over the Mets in 1969–Ya gotta believe!)