Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Despite Setbacks Yanks Need to Keep Rolling

It seems that every game the Yankees have played over the past three days has brought with it some kind of bad news. First there was yet another bad start from Javier Vazquez that resulted in a loss to the White Sox. Not only did New York lose that game, but they also lost Curtis Granderson in the process, probably until June, with a Grade II strain of his groin.

Then on Monday when it looked like the Yankees had dodge a bullet with Jorge Posada and his knee, he leaves the game with a mild strain in his calf. Right now he is day-to-day but injuries with 38-year old catchers can be a little more complicated than that.

On top of those two injury bugs, the Yankees also seem somewhat concerned with A-Rod's knee, forcing the Yankees to give him a day off on Sunday and now Mariano Rivera has tightness in his side. Oh the woes of being a team laden with veterans!

The Yankees can absorb the loss of Granderson for the time being and as weird as it sounds they can get by without Rivera for a little while with Joba Chamberlain in the bullpen. What they can't really afford is losing Posada for an extended period or A-Rod. Those two can't be replaced and the Yanks don't even have adequate stopgaps in their farm system right now with no impact third base prospects anywhere in their system and Jesus Montero struggling in his first month at AAA.

So far it hasn't slowed the Yankees down because they have been playing the White Sox and the Orioles and the starting pitching, sans Vazquez, has been stellar or better. That could change going into the weekend as the Yankees will have to face a quality opponent for every game over the next three weeks.

New York has six games against Minnesota, five against Boston, four against the Tigers, three against the Mets and just for hahas two against the hottest team in baseball the Rays.

The way the Red Sox are playing you could see that as being a break except the games are in Fenway and Boston is sure to get up for those games even if they can't beat the Orioles. The Mets could also be considered a low point especially if they keep leaking momentum like they did against St. Louis.

This is probably one of the toughest stretches in the Yankee schedule so its important for New York to battle through. The injuries will make it tough, but as long as the front four in the rotation keep performing as they have. CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes have a combined ERA of 2.27 in 135 innings. Hopefully they keep it up and A-Rod and Teixeira start hitting or else it could be a long month.

No comments: