Can the Yankees Surge In The Second Half?

Jul 2, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner (11) celebrates after his leadoff home run in 1st inning as he is greeted by New York Yankees catcher Brian McCann (34) against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman-The Star-Ledger

There are mixed reviews about the Yankees right now, with many fans in frustration with how the team has played in this first half of the season. However, there is still hope.

The Yankees actually faced a similar situation back in 2007, when age came into play, and was coming down to the wire on whether this team can earn a playoff spot. In the second half of that season, the team had a record that gave them a winning percentage of .671. Things can turn around, but changes will have to be made.

Regardless of having lost five in a row, and having fallen under the .500 mark, at least for one day, manager Joe Girardi still has faith. “I still believe in this team,” Girardi told Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com. “We just need to play better.”

Girardi is right, but there are some steps that need to be taken. One of them heavily relies on Yankees’ hitting coach Kevin Long. With many players that looked like they have run out of gas, like Alfonso Soriano and Brian Roberts, Long believes that keeping Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran consistent will really help drive the offense.

“Beltran and McCann are on missions,” Kevin Long told Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com. “Everyone needs to pick it up a little bit, including the Gardners, including the Ellsburys, and then, these guys have to perform.”

The team consensus just seems to be that the Yankees need to play every game like it is a playoff game, and come out with a win. An 11-game road trip started last night, as they began a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins with a much-needed victory. It doesn’t matter who they are playing, but things need to start clicking starting consistently. Their time is starting to run out.

“Anything that has happened up to this point, you can forget about it,” Derek Jeter told Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com. “Talent doesn’t win games. You have to go out there and win games.”