The Yankees have gone from winning eight in row to losing two in row. Here’s the thing the Yankees were too hot and playing a bit over their heads they were due to come back to the pack some. The Yankees at 86 and 52 still have the best record in baseball. They have a 2.5 game lead over the Rays, the team with the second best record in baseball. They have a nine game lead over the Red Sox. Their run differential is a major league baseball leading 182. They are first in the league in runs scores at 746, more than 50 more than the second place Red Sox. Their team OBP is .352 first in baseball. Their 173 homeruns puts them third behind the Toronto Blue Jays and the Red Sox. That is why the Yankees are in first, they get on base a lot and hit a lot of homeruns therefore they score a lot of runs.
The thing is I worry this formula may not hold up well, especially in the playoffs. In the playoffs it’s hard to bludgeon teams to death. It can be done but the pitching is usually much stronger in the playoffs as you are usually only facing the number one, two and three starters. You face the number one and two guys much more in these games. Here’s the kicker as the Yankees stand right now they may fare okay against the other team’s top pitchers but right now the Yankees only have one solid pitcher they can throw out to throw in the playoffs. Right now it’s CC Sabathia and pray for rain. Phil Hughes has won 16 games but he’s never pitched 155 innings more than his first three seasons combined. His ERA has crept up to 4.29. He is a huge question mark for the playoffs. Andy Pettitte is a great playoff pitcher and he was having a great year (11-2, 2.38 ERA) bore he got hurt. Pettitte is scheduled to get back “soon” from his pulled groin. The Yankees need him back and strong if they are to have a lot of hope of advancing in the playoffs. Yep, the Yankee’s season rests on Pettitte’s groin.
