atop the AL East on Thursday, the New York Yankees stumbled to the
first-half finish line, getting swept in three games by the Angels in
Anaheim.
During that time, the Red Sox won the final three games of a
four-game set against the Royals at Fenway, reclaiming a three-game
division lead heading into the All-Star break.
For Yankee fans, it’s not exactly panic time. Cold streaks happen,
especially 3,000-plus miles from home. And facing just a three-game
deficit with 74 outings left on the schedule, a lot can happen before
October calendar pages are flipped. The Yankees currently own the AL
wild card and would play the Angels in the ALDS if the season ended
today. And we all know what a crapshoot the MLB postseason is.
But the Yanks being broomed out of Anaheim should raise some eyebrows along River Ave. After all, the Yankees are 5-15 combined
against the Red Sox, Tigers and Angels — the three AL team who are
positioned to advance to the postseason. They’re 0-8 against their
rivals from Beantown. Not exactly what a team with a $210 million
payroll and a brand-new $1.5 billion stadium had in mind.
On the bright side for New York, that means the Bombers are playing
.703 (46-22) ball against all other teams. Unfortunately for them, most
of them have no chance at even sniffing pumpkin-related ball.
The Yankees got hot as soon as summer became official, winning 13 of
15 games from June 24 through July 9. But with a three-game set against
the first-place Tigers coming out of the break, and a four-gamer
against the BoSox in early August, Joe Girardi’s club better figure out how to beat teams not named the Nationals or Mariners.
Or they’re going to find themselves in a hole that might be too deep to exit. Even if CC Sabathia is holding the second-half ladder.
