Yanks Struggling at Worst Time

The Yankees lost this afternoon, making 4 of their last 5 games losses. This isn't good, especially when the next few teams you have to face are the Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets, and the Twins again. There are two big concerns right now: offense and injuries.

First the injuries, there's really nothing you can do about them and it's how you overcome them. Over the last few weeks we've seen Jorge Posada get limited playing time, Andy Pettitte miss a start, Curtis Granderson and Nick Johnson go on the DL, and Alfredo Aceves sidelined. Even today it was announced Nick Swisher (who had been hitting the ball well) is day-to-day with tight biceps. These guys have been replaced by Francisco Cervelli (who's doing a good job), Sergio Mitre, Randy Winn/Marcus Thames, and Romulo Sanchez. The open DH spot has let guys like A-Rod DH and Ramiro Pena get in, thus weakening the lineup. These guys who are replacing the injured players are just not getting the job done, which means the healthy guys need to pick up the slack, which isn't happening either.

Derek Jeter is in a major slump right now. He was 0-for his last 16 at bats before he singled today. Still, he is 5-for-his last 47 or something like that (I've been listening to Francesa say that all day). Then you have A-Rod. Boy, oh boy, where did all that power go? Three home runs...really? That's it? A-Rod needs to get his power back for the offense to get going. Robinson Cano has slowed down from his hot start, and guys like Winn, Thames, Pena are just getting in more at bats than they should, and are being exposed.

So with injuries getting to the team and the healthy players and ones stepping in aren't getting the job done the offense has fallen apart.

But let's see some of the positives:

• The Yankees return home to play 7 games, in which they are 10-2 at this season.
• The Minnesota Twins are Pedro Martinez's brother. The Yankees absolutely own the Twins, and went 9-1, including the postseason, against them last year.
• They also haven't lost a series to the Red Sox since June of last year.
• Andy Pettitte should make his next start and Phil Hughes is Godly.

So if all goes well, and the Yankees go 5-2 on the homestand, and 3-3 on the road trip, they will be 30-17 heading into a softer part of the schedule...but of course that all depends on everything going right.

Tomorrow

Yankees vs Twins 7:05 p.m. Yankee Stadium

Burnett vs Liriano

See Ya!