The Yankees are going to qualify for the playoffs this year. And it won’t just be because of baseball’s expanded postseason format. This team is getting in, 10 teams or 16 teams – it’s happening. That’s my prediction and I’m sticking to it.
However, injuries are once again threatening to derail the Yankees. Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge have been unable to stay healthy again. It’s unfortunate for both superstars, but it’s also a familiar headline for fans.
Putting my prediction for the Yankees aside for now, there’s one team out there they want to stay clear of in October.
Tampa Bay’s 5-3 loss to the Yankees last night propelled their rivalry to another level. These two teams don’t like one another. And, as has been the case for the last three seasons, heated words are being exchanged.
Heading into today’s slate of games, the Rays have won seven of nine from the Yankees. Four of those wins have come at Yankee Stadium. I believe the Rays don’t just have their number, it’s on speed dial.
Is it time for the Yankees to worry about Gerrit Cole?
When the ace of the pitching staff has given up 12 home runs in his first 46 innings of work this season, it raises eyebrows.
Over his last three starts, Gerrit Cole has surrendered seven home runs in 16.2 innings. Earlier this week, Tampa Bay tagged Cole for two home runs.
The streets are not only watching, they’re talking now. Cole, with the nine-year $324 million deal, is tied for the most home runs allowed this season. We’re at the halfway point of a truncated season, and it’s not helping matters the team is currently struggling. The Yankees need their ace to do what they’re paying him to do, stop the bleeding.
Lately hitters have been teeing off on Cole. This has led to speculation that Cole might be tipping his pitches. This is when a pitcher is making a visible change in his delivery the batter can use to identify what the next pitch will be.
Cole throws a baseball 95-plus miles per hour, but professional hitters are paid to figure out how to hit those pitches. So, if they know what’s coming before Cole throws it, that’s obviously a problem.
The Yankees will need Cole to adjust and the chances are good that he will. I wouldn’t worry about him – just yet. Now, as for the rest of the stating rotation …
It’s only one start, but Deivi Garcia looks damn good …
It’s way too early to compare Deivi Garcia to a Hall of Fame pitcher. But it’s not too early, however, to think Garcia is exactly what the Yankees need right now.
Pedro Martinez, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, was impressed with Garcia’s debut in a win over the Mets this past weekend. Garcia allowed one unearned win over six innings with six strikeouts and zero walks.
“Congrats to 21-year-old Dominican pitcher Deivi Garcia on an excellent debut for the Yankees,” Martinez tweeted. “He did a great job at mixing his pitches. His body looked stable and fully extended. I was impressed with the way he commanded his pitches.”
If there’s anyone’s vote of confidence we should take seriously, it’s Martinez. The man knows pitching and, as an analyst now, can break down the game with the best of them.
Garcia and Martinez are both from the Dominican Republic and are both diminutive, at under six-feet tall. That’s about as far as I’ll go with comparisons, we obviously need to see more from the youngster.
But watching Garcia overwhelm the Mets, it’s clear why the Yankees have been so protective of him. His fastball is decent but its his curveball that has everyone’s attention.
It looked as if he’d just been waiting for the Yankees to call his number so he can ask what took so long.
“A composed pitcher and a strike-thrower,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “He looked very comfortable and he looked like he belonged. It didn’t look like it was his first time.”
It won’t be long before it’s time to talk about the playoffs. The Yankees have legitimate questions in their starting rotation. After Cole and Masahiro Tanaka, there’s room to speculate. There’s room, and time, to take a significant look at Garcia.
What are your thoughts on the state of the Yankees?
Let’s talk about it, leave a comment below and let’s discuss the Bronx Bombers here on the Baseline!
