The Bad and The Really Ugly-There is just no excuse possible that can be spewed by the politically correct YES announcing team that can come close to justifying a 19 and 19 record. Injuries are a fact of the game and only losers use injuries to try to excuse their stink. Injuries should be looked at as opportunities for other's to succeed. The only reason I can imagine that Cashman still has his job is for some reason the sawks have waited on us and we sit back 4 games going into tonight's series against the Rays. Yesterday's rainout means; however, that "Iggy" can be passed over and Pettitte will go tonight. The fact that the Yanks are forced to keep Igawa in the rotation, more due to his gaudy salary than anything else, shows just how desperate we are for a 5th starter. The fact that we are still discussing Pavano's return is just ridiculous. $200,000.00 and we are even through 38 games...and Torre is in La, Mel and Guidry are at the house, and this team is still in disarray. Huh. Maybe, just maybe the problem lies elsewhere.
Now that I have berated this team I will now look at the Good and there is reason for optimism. Rivera is the Man! He is Sandman, there is no doubt. Add Joba to the back of the bullpen and these two guys are just flat out get’er dun. Farnsworth has pitched better in his last several attempts than at any other time I can remember and the fact that he got out of that last mess he created on his own has to boost his confidence which should help his next performance, building on the positive. Even with several injuries to the bull pen they are doing a very good job and hopefully that will continue. Giambi and Cano have been coming around albeit very slowly and hopefully with the warm weather of Tampa their bats will continue to warm. The main problem with our offense is RISP and that is a theme that has leaped over the last 2 or 3 seasons. ARod is constantly chided for his lack of RBI production and he should be. ARod is paid to drive in runs but the problem doesn’t stop there. Everyone in this lineup has stranded way too many runners way too many times and that is the main area the offense HAS to improve. Runners on second and first with no outs and the not only do we come up empty but they can’t even move up one stinking base. I don’t know what the answer is to this problem but it was going on when ARod and Posada were in the lineup and their absence hasn’t changed much, but their speedy returns is needed plus the resurgence of Giambi and Cano.
It is a long season and the hole we are in this year is by no means as bad as last but that isn’t due to our play but more to the problems the sawks are having. I am optimistic that this team can turn it around but sustained success will hinge their ability to drive in runs and get quality starts. I do not believe that our existing starting staff is good enough but Rasner has been a nice surprise. Somehow, some way we need to find another effective starting pitcher but where or who that pitcher is I have no clue and I sincerely doubt Pavano will be the answer but I know Iggy will never be the answer.



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