The Yankee Clipper: A Series Win Before Heading Back to the Bronx

The Yankees lost for the first time in Minnesota since August of 2008 last night but they still leave Minnesota with a series win and head home to face what should be the easy part of their schedule (here's a look at their pitching probables from Zell's Pinstripe Blog). Since it's been a while since we've done a Yankee Clipper, let's look at how we got here, shall we?

1. A split with Boston, a 2-game loss to Tampa, and then a series loss to the Mets. Yeah, it's been a while since we've done one of these. Tampa seems to be on another level than the rest of the majors, this past week's series against Boston notwithstanding. The split with Boston was disappointing since they had every chance to win that second game including a 5-1 lead and a rally towards the end. The Mets series was even more disappointing as the bats went dead (a theme that has carried through since). Jason Bay continues to be a Yankee killer. Jason @ IIATMS looks into whether the Yankees are waiting for the big hit and while many Yankee fans were busy panicking, Steve at River Ave Blues put everything into perspective. Also to be put in perspective, the Yankees have been playing without Curtis Granderson who returns tonight and Matt from TYU looks at what Granderson's return means to the Yankees. I think it means more protection in a lineup that has recently been pretty bad throughout, especially the middle of the line-up. Getting Granderson back could allow the Yankees to move Swisher into the #2 hole, Granderson into the #6 hole and Gardner further back in the lineup where he thrived earlier in the season.
2. The Yankees still have Minnesota's number. Two one-run games (one suspended) went to the Yankees in the first two. Home runs by Derek Jeter and Nick Swisher in a park that has shown to be very hard to homer in were the difference. Jeter's bad and glove had been questioned recently so it was good for him to show up. So calls about his defense and moving him out of the lead-off spot will have to wait for now.
3. But other teams still have Javier Vazquez's number. Despite looking really good in his last two starts, Vazquez didn't look quite as good last night going for the sweep. Maybe it was that bunt attempt that he took off of his finger...or maybe he really hasn't turned a corner just yet (or maybe he's historically struggled against some of the Twins). Rob from Bronx Baseball Daily writes that just when Javy looked like he had turned the corner, last night happened, and Joe from River Ave Blues writes that there was some good, but mostly bad last night.
4. How bad is Alfredo Aceves' injury? Bad enough the Yankees brought back Chad Gaudin and his 8+ ERA after cutting him in Spring Training (and, as Matt from Fack Youk points out, that his ERA is a fluke). But let's hope that the New York Post report from yesterday that Aceves may need back surgery and be out for the season is premature. Until the Yankees gave Aceves an ill-advised spot start last season, he was one of their better relievers. Although his K/BB ratio was way down this year (he only struck out 1.5 per 9), his career mark of almost 3 K:BB as well as his 3.21 ERA and ability to pitch long relief, middle relief and set-up for the Yankees were extremely valuable. Aceves will certainly be missed no matter how long he's out.
5. The Hughes Rules. Just when you thought you had enough of the Joba Rules, here comes the Hughes Rules. According to ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand, the Yankees hope to use days off in June and July to help limit Hughes' innings but you hope that they layoffs won't render Hughes as ineffective and out-of-sync as they left Joba last year. The proposed rules do seem to have more of a concrete theme and HardballTalk's Aaron Gleeman points out that Hughes is on pace to throw many less innings, but you certainly hope that Hughes can handle it better than Joba. The other problem, if he sits at about 175 and the team makes the playoffs then what do you do? Still have him start? Move to the bullpen? Shut him down? Something to keep our eyes on.

The Yankees now head home for 3 games against the last place Indians followed by 3 against the last place Orioles. Combined both teams are 32-61 and should be teams that the Yankees beat, especially at home where they've dominated this year (13-6) as they did last year. The Yankees follow these two series with one at Toronto, one at Baltimore and then one at home with Houston (also last place) before the Phillies and Mets roll in for Interleague Play in mid-June. Those 5 series could help the Yankees greatly in decreasing their AL East deficit from 4.5 games. The quest for 28 continues tonight as I head down to the Stadium to see Hughes take on sinkerballer Fausto Carmona.

Poll Results:

Who Has Been The Most Disappointing Player for the Yankees So Far?

Nick Johnson	0%
Mark Teixeira	9%
Alex Rodriguez	14%
David Robertson	4%
Javier Vazquez	71%
Curtis Granderson	0%

Picture from The Star-Ledger