The late season slide is in full effect as the Yankees continue to raise questions about their outlook going into the 2010 postseason.
Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox was the fourth straight game in which the Yankees have been beaten at home and the team has been outscored 34-16 during that stretch. The last 4 loses have served as a microcosm of the entire month of September in which the Yankees are 10-13.
As things currently sit, New York is 1 game behind the division leading Rays and 5 1/2 games ahead of the third place Red Sox. The Yankees finish the season with a Sunday night home game against the Sox, followed by 3 games in Toronto and 3 games in Boston. Hardly the ideal schedule for a team on the ropes. The Yankees need to win 3 games to clinch a playoff spot; and to win the division they will need the Rays to falter against bottom dwellers like Seattle, Baltimore, and Kansas City.
The Yankees have lacked swagger and assertiveness over their poor stretch. They look as vulnerable as they ever have. Being the defending World Series Champion comes with enough pressure as it is, and struggling as the playoffs approach gives the other competitors hope. It is not outside the relm of anyone's imagination to possibly see the Yankees losing to the Rays, Twins, or Rangers during the postseason. For a team that once looked like a shoe in for the World Series, things look bleak and very much in doubt.
Joe Girardi will need to rally the troops in order to produce the same postseason magic that the Yanks were so accustomed to last season. In the rotation, only C.C Sabathia is worthy of being determined as an ace. Andy Pettitte looked lost coming off of injury and it may be asking too much to have the 38 year old replicate past postseason success. A.J Burnett has been anything but convincing this season and may not have a spot in the postseason rotation. Phil Hughes has not reached the 7 inning mark in a game since July 9th and has surrendered at least 3 runs in 4 of his last 6 starts.
Obviously one of the biggest storylines of the 2010 Yankees has been the decline of Derek Jeter. Jeter's batting average, on base percentage, hits, home runs, and walks are down while his number of strike outs is up. Jeter appears to have lost bat speed on his swing and one has to wonder if his struggles this season are a sign of things to come. Jeter can put to rest many of these concerns with a big October, but again that remains to be seen. The Yankees have always been able to rely on guys like Jeter and Pettitte in October, but if the regular season is any indication then it might be time for other guys to step up.
New York would be wise to get their act together before facing a 5 game series against a competing AL powerhouse. Anything goes in a 5 game set and should the Yankees not win the division, they will need to win games on the road.
This is unfamiliar territory for these Yankees. After the glory of the 09 season and the fast start to 2010, the team has not faced the amount of uncertainty and doubt that they will be facing going into October. Every other team is going to be gunning for them, not only because they are the defending champs, but because they are the most hated team in all of sports. Girardi and company will need to find some answers, otherwise it will be a long offseason of criticism and what-ifs.
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