Let’s see…how should I put this?
I spent this weekend watching the Yankees get swept in Boston while suffering excruciating pain from an abscessed tooth that requires oral surgery today.
Even though I took enough codeine to choke a horse, the medication did very little to sooth my frayed nerves, damaged psyche, and bitter realization that this Yankee team has enormous holes.
Enormous. The loss of A-Rod is nobody’s fault, but how in the name of Red Rolfe can Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman put Angel Berroa at 3rd base in Fenway? Normally a shortstop, the man has played one inning of 3rd base in his major league career. Wherever he plays, his defense is so horrendous, his range so abysmal, his hands so clunky and his instincts so profoundly unacceptable, he makes Cody Ransom seem like an all-star.
Even more frightening, Joe Girardi said he liked Berroa’s “experience” over the rookie Ramiro Pena. (Doesn’t that sound like another Joe who used to work here?) It’s beyond comprehension why Girardi doesn’t just realize that he is getting zero offensive production out of 3rd until A-Rod returns, so he might as well go for the defense with Pena. Anyone who saw Berroa make two errors Sunday night in his first two chances will no doubt concur, not to mention that he was a mile off 3rd when Ellsbury stole home against sleepy Andy and Jorge. Can Eric Duncan be any worse? Can Rich McKinney?
At least 3rd base gets solved when A-Rod returns, but the problem in centerfield is of the Yankees’ own making. Brett Gardner is not a major league hitter. That 48 OPS + is well earned and he does not have the tools to improve. He doesn’t walk at all. There is no reason for pitchers not to challenge him, since a walk is likely a double. Against quality pitching, Gardner is a strike out machine. He might have some value as a 4th outfielder or a pinch runner. But he has no business starting for the Yankees. Melky is marginally better. But despite his two homer game last week, his lifetime 86 OPS+ indicates his below average offensive punch. Answers were out in the market place this winter, but Yankee brass chose to wait out the year and hope Austin Jackson arrives for the 2010 season. That does not help matters right now.
OK…I’m looking for a silver lining here…some reason for hope. The arrival of Mark Melancon certainly qualifies as such. He’s blazed his way through the minor leagues, and deserves every chance to show what he can do in the bigs.
Now that Brian Bruney is injured, don’t be surprised if Melancon emerges as the 8th inning set-up man. It’s not as if he has competition. Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez are far too inconsistent, and Damaso Marte is proving to be an incredibly asinine signing. Brian Cashman not only misread the market with his 3 year/$12 million gift to Marte, he misread Marte’s basic ability as well. Pitching well in Pittsburgh with no pressure does not equate to the A.L. East. (Felix Heredia anyone?)
Well, so far I’ve managed to avoid any direct comments on the weekend games themselves. You have to admit, the Yanks were very creative in their ability to lose games every which way.
Do you want to see the best reliever in baseball history surrender a heartbreaking 2-out, 2-run homer in the bottom of the 9th to lose a 4-2 lead. Then Friday’s your game.
Do you want to see the Yanks blow a 6-0 lead with their stopper on the mound, take the lead back on a 2-run error by the pedophile’s brother, then cough the lead back up with horrendous relief pitching? Then Saturday’s your best bet.
Do you want to see the Yanks get out-hustled, out-managed, out-played and embarrassed by a steal of home? Or see the entire Red Sox dugout laughing at the Yanks' ineptitude? Or see the Sox' no-name kid pitchers show the Yanks up? Then Sunday’s NESN2 broadcast would be your bailiwick.
It’s just one series, but Yankee fans must hope the profound embarrassment serves as a wakeup call.
It’s on to Detroit and the 2009 debut of Phil Hughes on Tuesday. Sure, call me a pessimist, but is there anyone who would be surprised to see Verlander shut down this tired, non-athletic, old team on Monday, especially after the Fenway butt-kicking? Zero runs in 7 innings sounds about right for Verlander. And with Damon's shoulder barking, the bench just got worse. I’ll have the codeine on hand if Giradi and Cashman put Berroa at 3rd again.
Going forward, the Yanks have to sparse out the pen and add some bench depth. The idea of Berroa or Gardner as pinch hitters surely has the rest of the league laughing hysterically. Where is Juan Miranda? Where is Oscar Gamble? Hell, I'll settle for Eric Soderholm.
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.
