By Brad Carroll
Our State of the Yankees column is back for its 17th installment with a much-needed winning week, highlighted by four straight victories, but an injury to CC Sabathia casts cloud over next two weeks. As always, we want to hear what you have to say about your favorite (or least favorite) team below in the comments section. And check back next week for the latest from the New York Yankees right here.
Opening Statement
Just when everything appeared to be going the Yankees way, with four straight victories to bring stability to the rocky road in winning the AL East, news that ace pitcher CC Sabathia would be placed on the disabled list brought back a big dose of reality. Sabathia says he will pitch the day after he's eligible to come off the DL with an elbow injury, but in the meantime, the Yankees will turn to David Phelps and a group of starting pitchers, minus Hiroki Kuroda, that have been anything but great this season. It could be the biggest two weeks of the season, as the Yankees will have to defend their 5-game lead over the Rays and 5.5-game cushion over the Orioles without the team's best pitcher to play the role of stopper, if needed. With all that written, however, the Yankees finally have appeared to put their three-week struggles behind them, winning two straight to split with the Tigers and then taking the first two in a three-game series against Toronto. In addition to simply putting together a win streak, the big positive to take away from the stretch was the performance of Ivan Nova Saturday. With his spot in the rotation hanging by a thread, Nova pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out 10 to improve to 11-6 on the season. Prior to that start, Nova hadn't won since July 8 and was 1-4 over his last nine starts. So, Nova was big for the Yankees, especially with Sabathia being gone for the next two weeks and Andy Pettitte still a ways away from returning.
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| Eric Chavez had a big blast Thursday. (AP photo) |
The High Point
For once, manager Joe Girardi put away his notebook and showed some real emotion, getting thrown out of Thursday's thrilling victory over the Tigers. Girardi went ballistic, and rightfully so, when the third base umpire called a fly down the left field line foul, then changed the call to fair moments later. By then, however, Raul Ibanez had let the ball get by him and the go-ahead run scored and the Yankees were suddenly behind 3-2. Girardi threw his hat to the ground and threw his arms in the air, mimicking what umpire Tim Welke did in changing his call. The display got Girardi ejected, but also got the Yankees players fired up. In the eighth inning, trailing 3-2, Mark Teixeira sent a ball deep into the seats to tie the game at three. Then, on the very next pitch, Eric Chavez blasted his own home run to put the Yankees ahead. Rafael Soriano then allowed a double and single to the first two batters of the ninth before getting a line out, pop out and fly ball to center to close out the emotional victory. The win also gave the Yankees a much-needed four-game split with Detroit.
The Low Point
The Yankees, presumably, traded for Ichiro Suzuki from the Mariners for his speed and fielding. So, one would have to ask, why was Ichiro held at third on a double from Russell Martin as the Yankees were trying to complete a big comeback in the ninth against Detroit Tuesday? With two outs and Ichiro on first, after hitting a two-run single to cut the deficit to 6-5, Martin doubled to deep left. Ichiro, running on contact, was held at third instead of heading for home to tie the game. Third base coach Rob Thomson apparently thought the risk was too great to send Ichiro. But, again, why in the world did the Yankees trade for Ichiro if he can't score on that type plays? Secondly, watching the replay, the play at the plate would have been, at worst, a bang-bang play, either safe or out. With all the things that have to happen in that situation, corral the cut-off throw and then throw perfectly to the catcher, who has to apply the tag, or take the hit from a sprinting Ichiro, too much had to go right for the Tigers not to send him. But Thomson decided otherwise and Ichiro was left at third when Curtis Granderson popped up to end the game. I'm sure Yankees fans would have rather seen Ichiro thrown out at the plate then see him standing on third as the final out was recorded.
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| Raul Ibanez celebrates with teammates. (AP photo) |
Three Up
Eric Chavez: He went 9-for-16 against the Tigers over four games, with two doubles, two home runs and five RBI. Then he sat the next three games against Toronto in favor of Casey McGehee. I'm all for giving McGehee playing time, but nobody's hotter right now than Chavez. Play him until he cools off.
David Phelps: If there was a winner in the aftermath of the injury to CC Sabathia, it is Phelps, who will start in his place Monday night against the Rangers. Phelps hasn't allowed a run in his last seven outings, totaling 10 2/3 innings. He allowed just three hits to go alone with no runs and struck out 14. He gets his biggest shot to prove himself in a starting role against Texas.
Rafael Soriano: The closer was huge in pitching 1 1/3 innings in closing out the Tigers Thursday afternoon, stranding runners on second and third with nobody out in recording the save. Saturday, he pitched a perfect ninth to beat the Blue Jays and pick up save No. 28 on the season. He has a 1.75 ERA this season.
Three Down
Phil Hughes: The Yankees went 4-3 this past week, but two of those losses were pinned on Hughes. He allowed four runs and couldn't get out of the fifth in a loss to the Tigers, then allowed seven runs in four innings in a loss to the Blue Jays. Hughes is now 11-10 with a 4.44 ERA this season.
Rob Thomson: Send Ichiro.
Curtis Granderson: He is 8 for his last 58, a .138 batting average over that time. Not good. He was 4-for-26 this week and is batting just .240 for the season. He's also homered just once over his last 10 games.
What's Next?
The Yankees welcome the Texas Rangers to the Stadium for four games starting Monday night. Then, it's three games against the Boston Red Sox at home. Hiroki Kuroda goes against Josh Beckett on Sunday Night Baseball.
More on the Yankees:
State of the Yankees - Edition 16
State of the Yankees - Edition 16
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