Yankees: Week 23

After a rather poor showing last week, the Yankees bounced back nicely with two series wins over the Rays and crosstown rival Mets. In addition, they closed the division gap with the Blue Jays to just 2.5 games heading into a crucial three game set at the Rogers Centre. This is make or break time for the Yankees as anything less than a series win or sweep could be the final nail in their hopes for an AL East crown.

The Good

In a twist of fortunes, CC Sabathia put up two of his best outings of the year totaling 12.2 innings 8 hits 1 run and 13 strikeouts combined. It's nice to see him showing shades of his old self, especially when the Yankees are down an arm. If he can keep it up for the final two weeks it could pay dividends in whichever playoff situation the Yankees find themselves in.

Justin Wilson showed off his power arm as he tallied 8 strikeouts in 3 nearly dominant outings. The Yankees failure to land a second setup man at the trade deadline gave fans some cause for concern about how the current bullpen would hold up. However, should Wilson continue to work impressive innings like this, he may have that role all to himself when it's said and done.

Dustin Ackley made nice contributions in limited action this week, delivering 5 hits including a back breaking home run Sunday night against the Mets. While there is not much expected of the backup utility, he has shown the ability to gather hits and bet on base, something that the Yankees probably didn't think they would get when he was acquired from Seattle in late July

The Bad

The second half of the season has been unkind to Brett Gardner and it didn't get any better this week. He hit just .124 this week and hasn't put together a good stretch in quite some time. One can only hope that his hitting can return sometime soon or he will make himself into a huge liability for an offense that needs it's batters to step up big from here on out.

Chasen Shreve has a second bat week out of the bullpen as the once untouchable lefty has posted an ERA over 10 in the month of September. His pitches have become very flat and hittable, the tell tale sign of an tiring overused pitcher. It may be wise to limit his innings so that he can get his confidence back in order as the team will need their pen at full strength for the final push.

2015 New York Giants: Ten Players To Watch

With the preseason finished and the 2015 season upon us, the Giants will look to erase the disappointment of last year and build upon a new horizon. Here are 10 players, whom will have a big impact on what could be on that horizon for the Big Blue:

Odell Beckham Jr. - After a stellar rookie campaign Beckham will look ti raise the bar and put himself into the upper echelon of wide receivers. Cornerbacks will surely watch him like a hawk this year, but one has to believe he will welcome and rise to the challenge

Owamagbe Odighizuwa - With Jason Pierre-Paul sidelined for the time being the Giants will need a defensive lineman to step up in his absence. If he puts his mind to it, Odighizuwa could be just the man for the job. Though his pass rushing abilities still need polishing, the former Bruin does have and impressive frame and skill set that could make him a formidable threat off the edge.

Shane Vereen - Under Ben McAdoo's quicker paced spread offense, Vereen should see quite a bit of time in the backfield. Look for him to act as both a runner and pass catcher to give a different dynamic to the offense. He also could be used a bait in order create matchup problems in the backfield.

Ereck Flowers - His true position isn't quite set as he will likely be flipped between left and right tackle for most of the season. His imposing size and strength will allow him to overpower many defenders and give a much needed running game a shot in the arm. His youth and rawness could be a problem to start off, but a the year progresses his talents should shine through.

Larry Donnell - Donnell burst onto the scene last season, becoming a steady target for Manning and the offense. However, dropped passes, costly fumbles, and tighter defenders pushed him out of the loop and slowed down his progression. As long as he can better secure the football and make better use of his size and strength, Donnell should get back to the form he had in the first quarter of 2014.

Brandon Meriweather - It was a nightmare preseason for Giants safeties as four were injured and placed on IR in what seemed to be one sitting. Enter Brandon Meriweather, a player whom has had his share of trouble due to his accruement of penalties for high hits. His aggressive nature is a far cry from what the Giants are used to, but with Steve Spagnuolo back in command of the defense there should be many uses for a player like him.

Rueben Randle - It's a contract year for Randle, which means he should break out for big numbers n order to earn big bucks. With that being said, things could get very interesting for the offense if that is the case. Not only would it potentially give the team three touchdown threats, Randle could also solidify his spot in the depth hart, one that many feel could be challenged by newcomers Dwayne Harris and Geremy Davis.

Victor Cruz - Coming off of a season ending injury Cruz will looks to rebound in a big way for the Giants. He did not participate in the preseason, and while that could make it tough to get back into the swing of things, seeing him healthy is already a step in the right direction. If he gets back to the Pro Bowl form he showed in 2011 and 2012, the passing game could be a force to be reckoned with.

Jason Pierre-Paul - It looked as if Pierre-Paul was ready for a stand out campaign, as the Giants were prepared to give him a $60 million extension.  Then it happened, A July 4th fireworks snafu which caused the defensive end to have his right index finger amputated. If that weren't enough, the lack of communication between he and the team during the summer nearly cost him his roster spot.  Despite all Paul appears to be in good spirits having finally met with team doctors and he will be resuming football activity very soon. Only time will tell if he can be an effective player this year, but he does have the added motivation of proving himself to a litany of critics whom don't believe in him at all.

Eli Manning - Having signed a 4 year $84 million extension, Eli now has the task of leading the Giants back to playoff contention. The improved numbers he showed a year ago are a great sign that he is ready to carve out a new piece of his career, one that sees higher production and fewer turnovers. He has a bevy of talent at his disposal (especially at wide receiver) and if he remains consistent throughout, Giants fans could be in a for a treat in 2015

Yankees - Week 22

After a come from behind victory Sunday afternoon, the Yankees completed the week with two series victories over the rival Red Sox and Rays. More importantly, they were able to keep pace with the red hot Blue Jays in the AL East. As the clock continues to tick on the regular season, The team must focus on the next two series against Baltimore and Toronto as it could go a long way in deciding what happens come October.

The Good

Didi Gregorius has been firing on all cylinders lately, shining both at the plate and in the field. He hit .435 for the week and is batting a scorching .407 over the last 15 games. It seems that ever since he talked to Derek Jeter back on Bernie Williams night, the young shortstop has come into his own, no longer worrying about who he was replacing and the high expectations of the position. He may not be the long term answer the Yankees are ultimately looking for, but if he keeps this up he'll surely make a great case to be just that.

Justin Wilson did not surrender a single run during the week in 2.1 innings out of the bullpen. He's become very reliable to Girardi out of the pen and has compiled a fair share of strikeouts in the process (53 for the year thus far) As long as he isn't used too tremendously over the last month, Wilson should be a valuable asset for the down the stretch and into the postseason.

Stephen Drew has suddenly burst onto the scene, hitting .450 over his last seven games while finally getting his dismal batting average over the .200 mark for the first time all season. He has delivered key hits for the Yankees in big situations and is doing a much better job of driving the ball to the opposite file, something he's struggled to do since joining the pinstripes. If he can keep this up he could find himself with an opportunity to man his spot in 2016 (Though many would like to see Refsnyder get that shot instead).

The Bad

It was not a good showing for Jacoby Ellsbury whom went just 2-16 for the week including going 0-14 before Sunday. This has to a big disappoint for the centerfielder, especially after the hot hitting he displayed for the better part of two weeks. Hopefully this is just an anomaly and his bat will peak for the next two series.

The calendar chance has not done much for Brett Gardner as he is hitting just .143 in the first 5 games of September. Unfortunately this is the continuation of the poor hitting he has showed since late July and it must be addressed hastily. With so much at stake in the final weeks, Gardner has to pick things up in a major way or the Yankees could be forced to drop him into the lower third of the lineup to avoid being hurt by his struggling bat.

Yankees - Week 21

The week began with and anemic performance against the surprise Houston Astros, leaving many pondering if the Yankee offense would ever make another appearance this season. However, a 38 run explosion has erased those doubts, restoring the faith that some had lost. With the next two weeks filled interdivision matchups, the awakening of the slumbering bats is more than welcome sight as the playoff chase reaches it's final stretch.

The Good

Carlos Beltran continued his hot stretch going 9-19 (.474) during the week. This makes it three weeks of positive production from the aging outfielder, something that many doubters probably never saw coming.

It was a nice weekend for Chase Headley (.545) and Didi Gregorius (.583) as they helped jump start the offensive onslaught in Atlanta. The Yankees will surely be hoping the two of them can keep this going, especially with so much at stake in the coming weeks.

The Bad

Brett Gardner has has a tumultuous month of baseball as he continues to get handled by opposing pitchers. The Yankees are expecting reinforcements this week, making it a good time to get him some much needed rest which could rejuvenate his hitting. The Yankees cannot afford for Gardner to stay like this if they want to have any chance at taking the division from the Blue Jays.

Mark Teixiera remains on the shelf as he has not fully recovered from the bruised shin he suffered on August 17. Though he was struggling a bit before the injury, his bat is sorely missed in the middle of the lineup. Greg Bird has done all he can to fill the void, and stands to have a very serviceable career, However, at just 22 years old, one can only expect so much from him as he has quite a bit of growing to do.

Luis Severino put up another stellar performance against the Braves (6.0 innings 4 hits 0 runs 5 strikeouts) solidifying his spot in the rotation for the the final push and perhaps the foreseeable future. He has shown tremendous poise for a 21 year old, leaving many to believe that the Yankees will build their staff of tomorrow around him. While we have not seen him pitch a full season, this small sample is more than enough hang the hat of confidence on this star prospect.

Yankees - Week 20

The Yankees began the week with an impressive sweep of the Minnesota Twins, However things did not conclude very well as they dropped a very winnable 4 game set to a struggling Cleveland Indians team. With the division now deadlocked, every game could be the crucial deciding factor of their playoff destiny.

The Good

It was another good week for Carlos Beltran as he went 8-26 (.308) and continued to get big hits when the team needed them. His batting average (.271) has been steadily increased over the last month, putting to rest the chastisement he received for most of the season's first half

Jacoby Ellsbury was red hot this week going 11-29 (.379), erasing the debilitating slump that crippled him for most of July. As long as he can continue this hot hitting he will once again provide the Yankees with the catalyst they sorely need at the top of their lineup.

Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte were given the ultimate honor of having their names etched among the litany of Bombers legends. They were integral parts to the late 90's dynasty and helped mold a standard of excellence that Yankee fans will remember for many years to come. With 4 of the core members of that team now enshrined in Monument Park, it's just a matter of time until they are joined by a certain captain to round out the era.

The Bad

Brett Gardner has continued his cold hitting, batting just .192 for the week and is starting to pile on one too many strikeouts (17 in the last 15 games) for a top of the lineup hitter. His .214 average over the last month has made things difficult for the offense, so it may be time for Girardi to think about dropping him lower in the order until he can get back to his All Star form.

The struggles of Alex Rodriguez (.167) and Brian McCann (.185) continued as they each failed to provide much to an offense that sputtered over the weekend. THough Rodriguez provided some heroics during the week, it was the only highlight his bat could provide. As for McCann, The adjustments he made to his batting stance don;t appear to be working out too well, However, it is a bit early to determine whether or not it's time to abandon the tweaks altogether.

C.C. Sabathia pulled up in the 3rd inning Sunday afternoon after reinjuring his surgically repaired knee. This setback will most likely end the left handers season, which wasn't going to well to begin with (4-9 5.27 ERA). Many believe the Yankees will be better off without Sabathia in the rotation, and giving how the last 3 years have gone, they may be correct. Still it's never easy to swallow a loss of a starting pitcher this late in a season.

Yankees - Week 19

Things didn't start off too well for the Yankees as the club fell out of first place for the first time since early July. The Blue Jays have made themselves into a significant threat that the Yankees cannot afford to look past. As the season final run draws near, it will up to the Bombers to ris to the challenge and reclaim their spot as the top dogs of the east.

The Good

Since his major league debut Luis Severino has shown early signs that he has the ability to become a future ace for the yankees. Despite not winning each of his first three starts (mostly due to a lack of run support) he has flashed a live arm and great strikeout capabilities. If he can continue to build consistency and confidence, the future of the rotation could surely be a bright one.

It was a nice week for Carlos Beltran (Aside from a costly mistake Sunday afternoon) as he went 7-18 (.388) which included a monumental pinch hit home run that helped the team recapture first place. He appears to have found a groove for the time being and will be seeing more playing time in right as long as this recent streak continues.

Masahiro Tanaka has gotten himself back on track after some shaky outings near the end of July. HIs complete game masterpiece vs Toronto certainly gives the Yankees hope that the he is rounding into form in the nick of time. Pitching will ultimately decide who will come out victorious in the AL East and so the team will need plenty more of these through September.

The Bad

Chris Young failed to get a single hit this week going 0-11 in 5 games. With Beltran swinging a hot bat, he'll probably be relegated to substitution duties util can find another groove.

Alex Rodriguez has hit a very bad stretch as he was 2-22 (.090) this week and is 10 for his last 55 (.182). This could very well be his age and year off catching up to him, but one cannot be too sure as slumps like this are very much a part of the game for players of all ages. However should this persist any longer, there will definitely be some cause for concern.

Yankees - Week 18

After a 3-4 week which ended in a sweep at the hands of the Blue Jays, thing have gotten very interesting for the wrong reasons in Yankee country. The once expandable lead has dwindled just 1.5 games and opened the door for both Toronto and Baltimore to fight for the top spot. How the Yankees handle this adversity will go a long way in determining their fate for the 2015 season

The Good

The Yankees starters turned in quality outings all week long, including an impressive debut from the highly touted Luis Severino whom looks as if he could live up to his hype.  It was also nice to see Sabathia's strong showing against Boston, one he needed in the worst way.

The Bad

The Yankees offense started out strong with a 13-3 drumming of the Red Sox, however it could only muster 4 runs in the weeks final 5 games, including suffering back to back shutout losses for the first time since 1999. This sudden ineptitude has to be frustrating for a lot of people, especially since there was a smorgasbord of runs tom go around just a week ago.

Jacoby Ellsbury went just 3-25 (.120) this week and more times than not looked completely baffled at the plate. Since he is a vital part of the offensive attack, it is crucial that he come out of this slide hastily. The Yankees simply cannot afford to watch their $153 million acquisitions fall off in the all important stretch run, where he'll be expected to step up and earn that high salary.

Brian McCann, Alex Rodriguez, and Brett Gardner did not have good performances this week, exacerbating woes that were all too prevalent. One hopes that this was just a bad week for McCann and Rodriguez, however Gardner has been struggling mightily for over two weeks. As long as he and Ellsbury cannot get on base, it will make any production that much harder for the Yankees.

The glaring absence of the stolen base is something that cannot be tolerated for much longer. The fact that the Yankees have just one attempted stolen base (by Mark Teixeira) since june 12 is mind boggling to say the least. If the team wishes to make the playoffs and succeed, the running game must make a reappearance. It's often the little things that make a big difference in championship runs, the club simply cannot afford to abandon this part of the game any longer.

Yankees: Assessing Week 17

It was quite a week for the Yankees as the team fired on all cylinders, putting up some gaudy numbers in the process. With several teams (the Blue Jays in particular) making splash dives at the trade deadline, this show of offensive strength has come at just the right time. Heading into the dog days of summer, the Yankees are 6 games up in the AL East and are in position to control their own destiny. With important matchups with Boston and Toronto this coming week, the opportunity to pad their lead and make things a little easier cannot be wasted.

The Good

The Yankees put up double digit runs three times this week including a 21 run outburst deep in the heart of Texas. If this is any indication of just what this club is capable of offensively, the rest of the league had better take notice.

Didi Gregorious (12-25 .480), Chase Headley (12-26 .462), and Stephen Drew (6-16 .375) made tremendous contributions this week and were instrumental in the team's offensive bonanza. It's always nice to see role players step up and prove themselves to the club, these three did all of that and then some.

Mark Teixeira has been the second best hitter in all of baseball since the break, batting, .400 with 7 HR and 12 RBI in 15 games. He also set the record for most games with homeruns from both sides of the plate. Having put the last two disappointing seasons behind him, there is no doubt that Teixeira is a force to be reckoned with once more.

The Bad

Michael Pineda was placed on the disabled list this week, halting what had been a steady stream of work thus far. His last two starts were pretty medial and most likely lead to the recent health evaluation. Hopefully the time off will allow his arm to heal and Pineda can round back into his early season form

Brett Gardner's small slump has now stretched itself out as he batted just .222 for the week. This puts his average since the break at .206, a far cry from the torrid pace he had in the games prior. Luckily, the team was not affected by his lack of hitting thanks in large part to the high production form the bottom of the lineup. However, if the Yankees are going to continue to succeed on offense, it's imperative that Gardner get thing going again at the plate.