Since Closed Door Meeting Yankees Have Won 5 In A Row

Last week the Yankees had a closed door meeting after losing their 5^th game in a row. Since then, the Yankees have won five in a row and are right back in the playoff hunt. With the 8-1 trouncing over the first place Royals last night, the Yankees look to be turning it on at just the right time. The Yankees are just 2.5 games back in the hunt for the second Wild Card spot, and recent additions have been all over the place in helping the cause.

Martin Prado walked off on the White Sox Friday night and he has been on an absolute tear of late. Prado is hitting .417 over his last 9 games and is settling into his role with the team. That is a major positive considering he is signed through the 2016 season. The Yankees have a lot of question marks on their team with aging players and questionable contracts. Knowing Prado will be with the team for the next 2+ years puts ease on the front office.

Michael Pineda threw a gem last night. Of course he is not a new addition, but he sure feels like it since he missed nearly all of the last three seasons. Pineda threw 6.1 innings of 1 run ball, lowering his season ERA to 1.95. He threw a heavy fastball that was in the mid-90s all night. Even light hitting Stephen Drew got in on the action, hitting a solo shot in the 4^th to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead. Though the game was close at the time, the Yankees offense came together and piled on James Shields and company.

The Yankees begin a 3 game set with the Detroit Tigers today. It was just a couple weeks ago that the Yankees embarrassed the Tigers, winning 3 of 4 against Detroit’s brand new Cy Young rotation. For the meantime, Detroit is in the Wild Card hunt right ahead of the Yankees. Winning this series will get the Yankees even closer to that 2^nd Wild Card spot.

In the Yankees meeting, they mentioned playing with fire and energy. While they haven’t been an offensive powerhouse in all five games since, there have been moments of cohesion – something the team has lacked for most of the season. It is going to be close down the stretch, but the Yankees may have just found some more fuel in the tank.