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.

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.