Picking up steam? Meh.

Sorry for the hiatus. I was busy advising the Yankees front office on which over-the-hill cast-offs to patch the roster with. Matt Nokes has been working out lately.

I thought I would take a look at my what-has-to-go-right list from June 13th and see if we've made any progress in those those problem areas.


- Andy has to settle in.
Since my post, Andy has gone on a 5-2 run at a 2.39ERA clip and has gone 6 innings or more 7 out of 8 times.

- Joba has to pitch efficiently.
He's average about 5.2 innings since my last post which is OK but what he's done on the mound is nothing short of briliant. The absence of walks in the past couple of games is a great sign for Joba and hints at a career in the front of the rotation. Just imagine if this kid got some run support.

- Moose has to keep selling children to the devil to continue his renaissance.
Moose's ERA keeps plummeting as he goes for a 2.84ERA since my post. His recent increase in K-rate is very encouraging.

- Wang has to return to Wangdome.
Has vaginas for feet.

- Hawkins has to leave.
While he's still on the team, you can barely notice as he's pitched once (with a 7-1 lead) in over a month. Time to dump this waste of a roster spot and bring up one of the kids that can actually help out. Preferably Bruney.

- Dave Robertson or Mark Melancon have to come up to steady the bullpen.
Robertson is up and dazzling. 14 Ks in 10 IP and allowing only 2 ER.

- Giambi needs to keep the mustache.
The 'stache remains. Giambi's OPS has dropped 50 points over the past month but he still remains a force at the plate. Why they're allowing Richie Sexson to take ABs away from him, I'll never understand.

- Jeter, Melky, and Cano have to at least become average athletes.
Since June 13th:
Jeter: .815 OPS
Melky: .568 OPS
Cano: .887

I didn't think it was possible but Melky managed to get even worse. Damon's delayed recall from the DL means that the Yankees will have to feature Brett Gardner and Melky in the same OF. Weak grounders and pop-outs aplenty.


In this time period, the Yankees have gone 18-12 in one of the cupcake-iest tours of their schedule. Obviously this would be a bit improved had the Yankees not lost Wang/Damon/Matsui and traded for CC.

Kudos to Joba, Andy, and Moose for bolstering a rotation that lost 3 pitchers and to the best bullpen we've seen in the Bronx in years. (Is this true, I'm too lazy to check stats.)