Assessing the Yankees - Week 6

             

With a 2-5 record for the week, the Yankees retracted the good play they have shown for the better part of a month and with it the chance to create some separation in the division. The team must rediscover the consistency which has propelled them for the better part of a month, or it will find itself in another uphill climb heading toward October.

The Good - C.C. Sabathia got himself back on track with two solid performances, securing his first two wins of the season. This is a good sign for him as things had not gone too well to the big lefty. Here's hoping he can continue this pace and add another dynamic to the rotation.

The Bad - The offense averaged just 1.2 runs in their 5 losses this week, this includes two losses in Tampa where they scored 2 runs in the first inning in each game, but were subsequently shut out the rest of the way. This was an all too common last season and the Yankees cannot allow poor offensive performances like these to happen too often.

- Chase Whitley became the latest victim of a torn UCL (Ulnar collateral ligament), opening another hole in the starting rotation. Even though Capuano did return from the disabled list to take his place, the pitching staff won't be whole again until Masahiro Tanaka is fully recovered.

- Brian McCann and Stephen Drew were not very productive this week, putting up rather poor (McCann 4 for 23 - .174 avg, Drew 3 for 23 - .130 avg).  While McCann is guaranteed a spot no mater what, Drew will need to get his hitting in order if he wishes to prevent fans from calling for him to be Designated for Assignment (the MLB's kind version of a release). The fact that the highly favored prospect Robert Refsnyder lost out on a spot in the majors because of him is certainly not helping matters either. Perhaps giving Pirela more time will motivate Drew to raise his performance and earn the faithful's trust. However, Girardi has already shown his support for the struggling second baseman, so it remains his spot to lose

Assessing the Yankees - Week 5

                

Though the Yankees dropped the series in Toronto, taking three of four from the Orioles more than made up for it. The team remains atop the division with a chance to gain a bit of distance when they visit the Rays in Tampa Bay.

The Good - Micheal Pineda had a absolutely tremendous week, going 15 innings with 22 strikeouts and just one walk.  His performance Sunday afternoon was a thing of beauty as he dominated Baltimore's lineup from top to bottom, setting a new career high in strikeouts (16) in the process. With Tanaka still on the shelf, Pineda has left no question as to who the Yankees ace is.

- Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller are quickly becoming the Yankees deadliest weapons in the bullpen.  The pair has still not surrendered an earned run this season and are getting stronger and stronger by the week.

- It looks as if Beltran may get himself going as he put some good a bats together over the weekend. The added stability to the middle of the order would do nicely, especially since that third of it has been hot and cold thus far

The Bad - Sabathia's record has not gotten any better and the lack of run support he's receiving is only compounding matters.  The team will have to score more runs when he is on the mound to help him feel more comfortable.  C.C. also needs to get better at putting hitters away with two strikes, something he has struggled with the past 3 seasons

- Adam Warren has not made it past the sixth inning and has barely made out of the fifth in any start. He looks to be poised for a move back to the bullpen once Capuano finishes his rehab in the minors. Warren deserves credit for winning the spot in spring training, but it appears his role is best fit for relief duties.

Dynamic Duo Anchoring Yankees Success

                                       

                               

There's been no mistaking the impact that Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller have had on the Yankees early success this season.  The duo has run through opponents with a fervor that is reminiscent of the days of Rivera-Wetteland.  The ability to shorten games and provide protection for the starters is an extremely valuable asset that not many team have at their disposal. While Betances continues to build off of his excellent rookie campaign, one has to be pleasantly surprised at the performance of Andrew Miller, especially since he is a closer for the first time in his career. Should they keep this up, this deadly combination could provide the impetus which drives the Yankees towards a return to October baseball.

Here are their stat line thus far

Miller - 15 Games 0.00 ERA 15.2 Innings 26 K

Betances - 16 Games 0.00 ERA 17.2 Innings 28 K

Not bad huh?

Assessing The Yankees - Week 4

                    

A sweep of the Red Sox in Boston capped off a very fruitful week that saw the club vault itself atop the AL East.  It was all systems go as the Yankees handles themselves very well against their two division foes. The team looks very confident in itself right now and if they can stay consistent, it could mean good things going forward.

The Good - Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances have looked nearly untouchable, surrendering no earned runs in 28 combined innings to go along with 48 strikeouts.  They are quickly becoming a dangerous duo that is sure to strike fear into the hearts of the entire Major Leagues.

- Jacoby Ellsbury flashed a steady bat, going 14-for-26 (.538) and collecting hits in all six games the team played.  His ability to set the table for the Yankee offense was important to this weeks success and will be vital for the games to come.  Combining him with Brett Gardner makes for a interesting dynamic should prove its worth if he keeps this up.

The Bad - Masahiro Tanaka's injury is a huge blow to the starting rotation that now must step up in his absence.  The recurrence of the slight UCL tear is an alarming sign that he could be headed for Tommy John surgery if the arm cannot heal within the month.  The decision to pitch him at the end of last season is proving to be a foolish one as the Yankees could be without the services of their ace for next calender year.

- Carlos Beltran has struggled mightily all season to produce for the Yankees.  He entered the week batting a mere .161 in 15 games and unable to find any type of consistency at the dish.  He did collect two hits in each of the two games he played at Fenway so things could be turning around for the beleaguered right fielder, but we will have to wait and see.

Draft Night is Here - My 4 Round Predictions

                  

Tonight all 32 teams set course for 2015 and beyond as the first round of the NFL Draft has finally come. All of the speculation will become reality as the best the collegiate level has to offer take the next (and perhaps biggest) step in their football lives.

For the Giants, it will be imperative to find the player that not only fit the system, but can boost the future to great heights right away much like Odell Beckham did last season. There is a vast crop of talent that is most enticing, so deciding on whom to take will be a very difficult and pressured task. All in all the I feel the Giants will do what's best for them and seek to solidify a hopefully promising future for the organization.

With that said here are my predictions for the Giants fist 4 picks of the draft

Round 1: Brandon Scherff OT Iowa - This pick should be pretty easy. Unless something drastic happens early and a talent better than Scherff falls, this is the guy to take. He's versatile, has great run blocking ability, and will help the offensive line immediately. Considering where the Giants line has been the past 4 years, Scherff is a must have

Other considerable picks: Andrus Peat OT Stanford, Erick Flowers OT Miami

Round 2: Shaq Thompson S (Safety) Wahington - The loss of Antrelle Rolle to Chicago leaves a big hole in in the Giants secondary.  Filling it an with a sideline to sideline to sideline threat like Thompson would make a mice upgrade. He has a bug size to him which could be a detriment, but what he can do on the field makes up for it. He also can double as a linebacker making a rare two way player if they should want to go that route.

Other considerable picks: Eric Rowe S Utah, Preston Smith DE Mississippi State, Eli Harold DE Virginia

Round 3: Henry Anderson DT/DE Stanford - The Giants struggled to stop the run up the middle and really need to get more help, Anderson is just the guy. He has the ability to quickly plug gaps with his speed off the line and would provide a nice duo with John Hankins, whom played well last season.

Other considerable picks: Mario Edwards DT Florida State, Kwon Alexander LB LSU

Round 4: Durell Eskridge S Syracuse - The team lost nearly all of their safeties to free agency and adding another for depth is good idea.  At 6'3" Eskridge is very tall for this position and his length alone will cause problems for quarterbacks whom throw towards him.  It also helps that Coughlin has and affinity affinity for selecting players from Syracuse.

Other considerable picks: Josh Shaw S USC, Davis Tull DE UT-Chattanooga, Ramik Wilson LB Georgia

Assessing the Yankees - Week 3

             

Last week was a step in the right direction for the Yankees and this week was no different. Fresh off of a series sweep of the Rays, the Bombers rode their momentum into Detroit taking three of four from a very formidable Tigers team.  Them came a series victory over the red hot cross town rival Mets whom entered sporting an 11-game winning streak and the best record in baseball.  Going 5-2 in any week is great, but doing it against two quality clubs in one week is all the more impressive. It appears the Yankees have put their early struggles behind them, at least for the time being.

The Good: - The starting pitching did a great job with each starter (outside of Sabathia) picking up a win.  Tanaka and Pineda were especially impressive in their outings yielding one run each and stifling the opposition.  This could become a dangerous one-two punch if they can stay consistent

- Mark Teixeira came out of his bating slumber this week going 10-24 (.416) and slugged 4 Home runs in the process.  Seeing him hit the ball had to be a nice sight for the club as Teixeira sorely needed to get himself going.  If he can run off a few good games like this week, it will go a long way towards the playoff push.

- The bullpen flashed it's dominance once again, giving up only 2 total runs during the week.  As I've said before this will be a continual strength for them.

The Bad: - CC Sabathia took the only two losses of the week, dropping his record to 0-4 on the season.  Though he pitched well in Comerica, his awful start against the Mets was a noticeable setback.  He may not be the ace of the staff anymore, but he needs to contribute consistent outings to the Yankees cause.  Continued failures could force the Yankees to deem him unreliable, something a proud pitcher like Sabathia surely does not want.

Rejuvenated Islanders Force Game 7

                

After a spectacularly underwhelming performance in game 5, the Islanders willed their way to victory with an inspired 3-1 victory in Nassau Coliseum forcing a deciding seventh game Monday night.  It was a performance that reminded Long Islanders of the team captivated the league and stole the show for most of 2015.  The determination shown by John Tavares and company provided the spark needed to outwit a Capitals team that was very confident they would put a somber end the Islanders days at the Coliseum.

Now the tide shifts to the Verizon Center where everything hangs in the balance.  It will be do or die in an atmosphere that will not be very forthcoming to the men in blue and orange.  The steady attack and hard nosed skating they showed in Game 6 will be absolutely necessary if they come out on top. The last time these two teams squared off in a game seven was the Easter Epic of 1987, with that kind of history and the physicality this series has brought thus far, this game shaping up to be another one for the ages.

Isles Fall Apart in Game 5

               

After disappointing OT loss in game 4, the Islanders put up a rather putrid performance in game 5. Not only were they outplayed in every facet of the game, it looked as if their spirit had been left back in Uniondale.  They squandered a chance to put the Capitals back on their heels, and with it the precious momentum to finish the series.  Now the Islanders must summon the power to force a game seven or face elimination in what could be the final game at the Coliseum.

Hopefully they can put game 4 into distant memory and surge their way to a series victory. Another performance like this and it will be a most devastating going away present for the loyal Long Islanders that have supported them for the past 43 years.