It’s difficult to say what’s more annoying these days, watching the punchless and listless Yanks yawn themselves through another loss, or watching that asinine “Jeter has an edge” commercial which seemingly runs hundreds of times a night.
At least with the Yankee games, you see new, inventive ways in which a $200 million plus ballclub can lose games with apparent disinterest.
I know, I know…in this refined, sabermetric era of baseball, we are not supposed to believe in “choking” or “not hitting in the clutch.” So, of course those things are not happening to the 2008 Yankees. Absolutely not.
Let’s just say they are running into an incredible run of bad luck as they continue to struggle mightily with runners in scoring position...Robby Cano is very unlucky when he fails to run out grounders or bother to dive for balls that represent the opponent’s game-winning hit--not to mention his bad luck when he swings at the first pitch thrown in the dirt or up in his eyes.
Also, Manager Joe Girardi is decidedly very unlucky when he continues his bizarre fixation of benching his hottest hitter—or worse, actually choosing to pinch hit Melky Cabrera over Pudge Rodriguez. (Absolutely mind-boggling.)
Don’t get me wrong…I know my WHIPS from my DIPS …but if ever a team were showing signs of mental wear and anguish, it’s these guys. If they aren’t choking, they are certainly having trouble swallowing.
It’s Mid-August, and unless the Yanks completely change their luck immediately, they will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1993. Remember 1993?. Bam-Bam Meulens and Spike Owen say hi.
Among the underachievers, in no particular order:
• A-Rod is hitting .239 with Runners in scoring position this year; .213 with RISP and 2 out; .229 close and late.
• Wilson Betemit has struck out 45 times in 148 at bats, and walked just 4 times. Before he came to the Yanks, he was lauded for his penchant for getting on base.
• Melky has three extra-base hits since the All-Star break, two RBIs and two walks. He doesn’t even hit the ball hard in batting practice anymore.
• The bullpen has surrendered 33 runs over 32 innings. Damaso Marte has surrendered 9 Earned runs in 7 1/3 innings pitched.
• Derek Jeter has hit into 435 double plays.
• The manager is not putting his team in the best position to win. Joe is playing the lefty-righty nonsense ad nauseum – often benching Giambi and Damon against mediocre lefties for Sexson and Melky. As Yankee fans know, Damon leads the league in hitting and Giambi has a .910 OPS.
• Robby Cano has misplaced his Attention Deficit Disorder meds.
Even Field Marshall Hank Steinbrenner seems to have thrown in the towel. After complaining about all the injuries, he told the A.P. "We're going to win it next year. If we need to add a top veteran pitcher, we'll do that. We'll do whatever we need to do. Next year we'll be extremely dangerous.''
(And what kind of message is THAT to give to your underachievers? It's okay to play like horsebleep because the team had some injuries? Wow...these guys deserve a parachute? Hank just quit on the season. And no one cares about the injuries. Every team gets them. No other team has the resources that the Yankees have to overcome the injuries.)
Indeed, with $86 million coming off the payroll next year, the Yanks should be able to regroup, secure better pitching, and have a banner first season in their new park. Something tells me that Melky will not be roaming Centerfield on Opening Day. I would also not be surprised if someone else were playing 2nd.
For the old park, it’s looking more and more as if the last game will be on September 21.
Phil is a staff writer for NYYFans.com, and he writes a weekly column for the website of WCBS News Radio 88, the home of the Yankees. You can reach him at PhilAllard27(at)hotmail.com.
