Assessing The Yankees - Week 16

The Yankees have hit a groove and seem to firing on all cylinders, posting a 7-2 record since the break and winning each of their last six series. Not only have they been one of the best teams in baseball over that span, they've also opened up a sizable lead in the AL East. The club has established itself as a viable contender and vastly exceeded the expectations that many had of them at the start of 2015 season.

The Good

Nathan Eovaldi put together one of his his best months of his young career, going 3-0 with a 2.78 ERA in July. In fact he's been pretty solid since that dreadful June 16th outing in Miami (5-0 2.85 ERA). It seems that at least for the time being, the Yankees are much more than they bargained for from the hard throwing right hander, hopefully this is a sign of greater things to come.

It was a productive week for Chase Headley as he went 8 for 22 (.363) and provided some key hits when the team needed them. He's had a bit of a roller coaster year with the bat, but it looks as if he's starting to find some consistency at the plate. Hopefully he can keep this going without to much of a downturn, it could make the offense that much more formidable.

The Bad

Gardner hit a bit of a snag this week going just 5 for 22 (.227) this week. Although he did not perform as well as h has in previous weeks, the probability of the All Star centerfielder going in to a prolonged slump is still pretty low. The Yankees have come to trust Gardner bat a lot this year, so it's safe to say he'll get things going again pretty quickly

Brian McCann went just 2 for 13 (.154) and didn't have much of an impact on the Yankees success as he was outhit by backup catcher John Ryan Murphy (who went 4 for 8 in two games). He has been fairly consistent lately so this could just be a small blip of the radar. However his .149 career average against current Rangers pitchers (minus Kela, Bass, Patton, Tolleson, and the injured Yu Darvish) may not bode well for him breaking out of this abbreviated slump.

Assessing Girardi thus far

Joe Girardi entered 2015 under much scrutiny having missed the playoff two years in a row. To boot, this is also the first season without any member of the core 4 on the roster, placing the leadership role squarely on his shoulders. Though there have been a few hiccups, The Yankees currently sit in 1st place in a strongly competitive division, all while dealing with a multitude of poorly timed injuries to key players. Having dealt with this the past two years, Girardi is a seasoned pro at keeping a team competitive even in the worst of scenarios. It speaks volumes to his character, showing why the Yankees have placed so much confidence in him.

It's no secret one of Joe's greatest achievements during his tenure has been the consistency of the Yankee bullpen. With a 3.36 ERA in 2015, the pen is once again a strength the team can rely on.  It's also helped that he’s had fantastic pitchers in the back end such as Betances, Miller, David Robertson, and the great Mariano Rivera. You can always count on Girardi getting the most out of the pen, something his predecessor (Joe Torre) masterminded during dynasty years of the late 90s.

One could say that the lack of perpetual success is due to the mishandling of a highly paid roster. The decreased production in 2013 (4.01 RPG) and 2014 (3.91 RPG) do make that a valid point. However, things have turned around substantially with the club averaging 4.6 RPG entering Monday, the second best in all of baseball behind the Blue Jays. This is due to the increased production from Teixeira, McCann, Gardner, and especially Alex Rodriguez. None of this would be possible if Girardi wasn’t instilling confidence in their abilities, something any good manager or coach knows how to do with regularity. In the rigors of a long season, things like that are much neglected and underappreciated.

In a year many thought would be the tipping point of his tenure, Girardi has stepped up in the face of pressure and is delivering one of his better managing performances since 2009. Although, he’s not out of the woods yet and is still prone to common mistakes and misjudgments. Not many coaches/managers in sports can say they’ve been through a storm like he Girardi has and come out (though a little worse for wear) just fine. It’s a testament to the firmness and reliability he showed throughout his 14 year acting career.

Assessing the Yankees - Week 14

The first half of the season is officially in the books and the Yankees find themselves resting (though not too comfortably) in first place in the AL East. considering many didn't believe they had enough to compete, being in this position has to be very pleasing.

Top Performers 

Brett Gardner .302 10HR 42RBI 15SB - Gardner put up good numbers for the Yankees. He came up big for the club when Ellsbury went down, earning an All Star nod in the process. It appears investment the Yankees made in the farmhand last season is paying great dividends thus far.

Brian McCann - .259 14HR 55RBI After a sub-par first season in the Bronx, McCann has made up for his underwhelming debut with better production and top notch defense behind the plate. Not only has he nearly matched his total numbers for the entire season already, the veteran catcher also has the third best caught stealing percentage in the league (40%).

Mark Teixiera .240 22HR 62RBI - The average may not be stellar but the Yankees have to be pleased with his power and production numbers. As long as he remains healthy he will allow the team to enjoy continued success in the power hitting department and pace the middle of the order along with McCann.

Biggest Surprise

Alex Rodriguez .278 18HR 51RBI - No one could have ever imagines Rodriguez being a viable and valued part of the Yankees this season. Despite the controversy surrounding him and being away from the game for the better part of two years, he has shown up in a big way for the Bombers. Should he keep up this pace a 30 and 100 season should be well in reach (an impressive feat for a 40 year old.

Chasen Shreve 35.2 IP 2.02 ERA 27 K - The Yankees gave up one of their top pitching prospects (Manny Banuelos) in exchange for Shreve and he has so far fared pretty well out of the bullpen. It also helps that he went the entire month of June without surrendering a single run.

Low Performer

C.C. Sabathia 4-8 5.47ERA - This for sure is not the comeback season Sabathia was hoping for coming off of knee surgery. He has pretty much picked right up where he left off in 2014 and despite all of the changes to his approach, nothing seems to be coming together. With $50 million still remaining on his contract, the Yankees may need to look to other avenues to get the most out of the him or they may have to activate the $5 million buyout in 2017.

Biggest Disappointment

Stephen Drew .182 12HR 25RBI - Joe Girardi named him the starting second baseman before the end of spring training, and right from the start he struggled to collect hits. Despite his relatively high home run number Drew's batting average has yet to get to .200 (.191 is the highest it has been). Noe that Rob Refsnyder has been called up, Drew could find himself in a backup role or worse if he doesn't put together a big second half.

Analyzing the Knicks Free Agency Moves

              

As the free agency frenzy has passed, the Knicks emerged with a handful of new pieces that they hope will help change the culture and fortunes of the beleaguered franchise. Whether these moves will pan out is up to the success of Jackson's plan and the teams patience to see it through.



Robin Lopez 4 yrs $54 million - Lopez may not be the post up big man the team needs, but his intangibles and length fill a gaping hole that has been open for quite some time. His game can translate well to the triangle and he'll deliver a spark on the defensive end. Considering the contracts that DeAndre Jordan, Marc Gasol, and Greg Monroe were given, the Knicks may have a essential bargain (if you can believe it).



Arron Afflalo 2 yrs $16 million (2nd year player option) - This was the teams first move of free agency and a surprisingly fast one at that. Afflalo adds his sharp shooting touch and veteran defensive skills that can keep opposing guards as bay. For a team that struggle to get any real consistency from this position all season, he is a more than welcome upgrade.



Derrick Williams, 2 yrs $10 million - Williams brings a will and determination to the court similar to Quincy Acy. The former 2nd overall pick didn't have the most impressive season, but his effort alone made him an attractive candidate to Jackson. Defense is the primary impact he should have on the Knicks and at this juncture, they can use all the help they can get



Kyle O'Quinn (via sign and trade with Orlando) 4 yrs $16 million - This was a good move for New York, adding more depth to the front court. O'Quinn has many tools at his disposal and if used correctly, will be a ball of consistency on both ends. It also helps that he is a native New Yorker and has experience on the big stage going back to his time at Norfolk State where he helped defeat the No. 2 ranked Missouri Tigers in the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

Things won't turn around instantly for the Knicks, but these moves should get on the right track and build hope for better future.

Assessing the Yankees - Week 13

As another 3-3 week is in the books, the Yankees find themselves atop an embattled AL East with just a week to go before the All Star break.

The Good - The Yankees won successive games in walk off fashion over the Rays on Friday and Saturday. these types are not only good confidence boosters, they build a great camaraderie among the players while adding that special childlike touch that is often forgotten in the professional ranks. 

Though he did not get a decision, Michael Pineda had a strong outing Saturday striking out 10 in 7 shutout innings. After stumbling through the end of June, he seems to have regained the poise and command which propelled him early on. The pitching staff has been up and down as of late and a performance like this is just what the doctor ordered.

The Bad - It was not a good week for Stephen Drew as he was 1-12 (.083) showing no effectiveness whatsoever at the plate. In fact he and Jose Pirela had only one hit between the both of them over the last 7 games (1 for 27 combined). This cannot be sitting well with those still clamoring for Refsnyder to get a call up after losing out the both Drew and Pirela in the spring.

Mark Teixeira went 4 for 18 (.222) this week and is currently 5 for his last 31 (.161). Despite his late inning heroics Friday night, the hits have just not been coming with any consistency for the firstbasemen. He is an important piece to helping the Yankees expand on their slim division lead, so it is imperative he comes out of this slump quickly.

Assessing The Yankees - Week 12

With the completion of a so-so week the Yankees find themselves in the midst of what is sure to be a trialing stretch leading to the All Star break. Things are still as tight as ever in the division and with an important two weeks on the horizon, the team will needs to but it's best foot forward.

The Good - Ivan Nova's return to the Yankees was a successful as he pitched 6 2/3 shutout inning in his first start in since Tommy John surgery 14 months ago. He should provide great protection for the middle of the rotation, especially with Sabathia struggling to find any kind of groove thus far.

- Chris Young had a fantastic showing at the dish this week going 11 for 28 (.393) and getting timely hits when the team needed. This is a far cry from the tumultuous month he put together from May into early june, so this recent tear has to be a pleasant surprise for the fans and especially Joe Girardi. It also helped that he was back in his hometown of Houston with his family and friends rooting him on.

- For as good ans Young was this week, Brett Gardner was that much better going 13 for 26 (.500) and collecting a hit in every game. This hot streak is not only pacing the offense tremendously, it should garner him enough attention to warrant an All Star appearance. Jacoby Ellsbury will soon be on his way back and with Gardner hitting the way he is now, the dynamic duo could give the offense a huge boost.

- Chasen Shreve was extremely effective in his four appearances as he did not allow a single run. In fact the lefty has bot allowed a single run since May 22 collecting 16 strikeouts over that span. No one though much of him when he was acquired from the Atlanta Braves in January, but he has been a more than valuable asset to the Yankee bullpen.

The Bad - Tanaka followed up one of the worst starts of his early career with another poor outing in Houston. He once again surrendered three homers and could not keep the opposing bats at bay with any consistency. It does not appear that anything is structurally wrong with his elbow, so this could could definitely be mental, but nevertheless it does not male his recent poor performances any less concerning.

-  Joe Girardi made the decision to go with a 6-man rotation rather than demote a pitcher to the bullpen to make room for Nova. While this seems like a great idea that would give extra rest for Pineda and Tanaka (who they are understandably protecting), it could cause problem in the long run as the starters will have to alter their 5 day routines to compensate for the added day. The Yankees have instead recalled Esmil Rogers (designated for assignment and outrighted to Triple-A on June 13) and added him to the bullpen. One has to belive that a tough decision will need to be made once the All Star game comes or it may do more harm than good in the log run.