Yankee Fans: Do Not Panic

A Yankee fan cannot be happy with the current six game losing streak the team is going through. Off the field the Yankees were forced to deal with the Jorge Posada debacle and on the field their high priced players are not getting the job done. 

The pitching has been poor.  The Yankees have given up 39 runs during the 6 game losing streak.  The starting rotation has not been able to get past the 7^th inning and has blown leads. Freddy Garcia blew a 4-1 lead on Sunday night against the Red Sox and A.J Burnett who was cruising for most of Monday night’s game, imploded in the 6^th inning blowing a 5-1 lead against the Rays.   A lot of pressure has also been put on the bullpen and they blew 2 leads during this streak.    

The offense has been the biggest disappointment. The Yankees have two players in the lineup who are batting above .280 (Cano .286 and Granderson .280).  The rest of the team is in a total funk. Some of these numbers are scary: Jeter .255, A-Rod .242, Gardner .248, Teixeira .252, Posada .165, and Swisher .218.  Additionally, when the Yankees do not hit home runs, they struggle to score runs.  In the 6 game losing streak, they have only scored 22 runs.  Eleven (50%) of the runs came from 7 home runs. 

As bad as it has been, there is no need to panic.  Both Tampa and Boston went through similar stretches already this season.  Tampa began the season losing 6 straight and is now in first place in the AL East with a 23-17 record.  Boston also lost their first 6 and 10 of their first 12 and is now a game over .500.  Baseball teams can be very streaky and in the same manner as the Yankees lost 6 in a row could come back and win 6 in a row.

For all their recent offensive problems, when looking at the American League team statistical leaders, the Yankees are in the top five in many offensive categories: Runs-2nd, HR-1st, Total Bases-5th, Walks-2^nd, OBP-3^rd, Slugging-1st, OPS- 1st.  The Yankees happen to be a very streaky team.  When they are hot, the lineup is unstoppable, but when they are not, they look pathetic.  The Yankees have not found any middle ground. 

Very often as baseball fans, we like to panic.  Sometimes we need to remember it is a long season.  It is not the NFL where losing 6 in a row ends your season.  For the Yankees, it is only 6 games out of 162.  Despite how bad they have played, they are still a game over .500 and in second place.  If they come back and win Tuesday night against Tampa, they would a game behind them in the loss column, and everyone would shut up for the moment.

The good news for the Yankees is after Tampa, they go to Camden Yards where they always win and then come home to play a crippled Mets team in the annual Subway Series.   The Mets pitching staff will not scare anyone and it will be a great opportunity for the Yankee offense to get back on track.  The Mets will throw Capuano, Pelfrey, and Niese.  It’s not exactly Bucholz, Beckett, and Lester.

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