I break a team down into three main categories: Offense, Defense, and Pitching.
It seems like the offense is doing well, but what area do you think is cause for the poor performance so far?
2007-05-21 00:49:18 · 13 answers · asked by Awesome Bill 7 in Sports ➔ Baseball
In general terms, age!! Specifically, starting pitching. Their defense has also let them down in some cases as well. As great as he has been, Mariano Rivera is passed his prime. It's been evident these last two seasons. He is still better than most closers but he's not the invincible player he once was.
I understand how those who dislike the Yankees are making the most of all this. However if you're a true baseball fan you understand the highs and lows of this game. Everything runs in cycles. They Yankees have depended on their key players for the last 10 or 12 seasons. Those players have gone from the top of their game to where they are now.
The Yankees knew going into the season that they had to do something about their pitching. They also knew that their lineup was probably the best in baseball. I'm sure they figured they could out hit everyone while they waited for the pitchers on the DL to get healthy. What they didn't plan on was for several key players to go into batting slumps. That's why they are 10 games out at the moment.
The slumps won't last forever and the pitching staff will get healthy very soon. I'm not sure how much Roger Clemens will add to the staff but I'm sure it will be an improvement to some degree. All in all they should make a run at the playoffs.
2007-05-21 01:42:20 · answer #1 · answered by Yankee Dude 6 · 9⤊ 0⤋
The Offense right now is struggling.
Only Jeter and Posada are hitting and Hideki has been hot as of late and his Avg has risen almost .60 pts.
The Defense has also been spotty. People have started to finally see Jeter's weakness is going up the middle and he's got poor range there.
Cano's had lapses also.
The Pitching has finally come around. The Starters are finally giving the Yanks some Quality Starts.
The real problem with the Yanks is the Manager, Joe Torre.
The man simply butchers his bullpen. It happens every year...he will kill a pitchers arm or two.
Last year he abused Scott Proctor, before him it was Paul Quantrill.
This year Joe Torre simply will not let his pitchers pitch outta jams. Once a pitcher gets in trouble Torre wants to pull them.
Sometimes, it doesn't even make sense when he does it.
He's pulled Wang out of a game where he had runner on 1 & 2 with 1 out. He then brings in Vizcaino to get a ground ball...and Vizcaino is a fly ball pitcher. Wang is the groundball specialist! Duh!
Joe Torre needs to go already.
And the Yanks need to keep getting Younger. Hughes, Cano, Wang, Melky will all be the future...and the Yanks need to stop brining in older players like Abreu.
2007-05-21 03:22:12 · answer #2 · answered by Starks 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Yankees biggest problem by far is the pitching. It happens to them every year. Steinbrenner pays the big bucks to bring in old, washed up, injury prone pitchers. They get injured and I bet they're thinking "Hey I'm getting paid 5 million dollars to be injured." How many different starters have they used so far this year? The bullpen is strong for the most part. Have had some injuries in there too, but once Rivera gets in there to save a game, it's over.
Batting.... look at their lineup. All Star at every position. Enough said. Posada and Jeter 1 and 2 in AL batting.
Defense. A Rod's still iffy over there at third base, Cano had a brutal game against the Mets there a few days ago. Pretty sound team defensively, but they have to tendency to make an error when the big play is needed. Damon good in center field but, he's geting older, range isn't as good and a non existent arm. Same goes for Matsui.
2007-05-21 01:02:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Starting pitching has been the weakest part of the team over the past month with all the injuries. They made some changes like signing Clemens and sending Igawa to the minors. Mussina and Wang have since come back from injuries. Phil Hughes will be back soon.
May has been a bad month for Yankees hitters, except Jeter and Posada. The team is in some kind of slump.
2007-05-21 01:00:41 · answer #4 · answered by dj 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
None of them have been good consistently. When they score 7 runs, their pitching gives up 10. If they hold a team to 3 runs, they score 2. Defense will always be an issue because they sign offensive players.
2007-05-21 01:21:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Starting pitching. If you have to go with rookies all year long you have a team that is in trouble. Offense can only take you so far.
2007-05-21 00:53:52 · answer #6 · answered by Frizzer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get rid of the manager and this team does have 1/2 a chance to win some games. The manager is old and clueless.
2007-05-21 02:46:27 · answer #7 · answered by Michael M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WOW!! This is a really TOUGH question. Have you recently looked at their pitching staff?? A poor excuse for a major league staff. Their pitching is pathetic!!
Chow!!
2007-05-21 03:08:15 · answer #8 · answered by No one 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I consider myself the "greatest Yankee Fan ever"......the weakest item has been the same ever since they lost to the Marlins.........JOE TORRE!!.....great guy and he had his run....time for a change......time for him and Rudy "Comeover" Guliani to disappear from our games.......JOE TORRE!! that is the weakest part of the team.......is Bob Lemon still around?....bring 1978 back!!!
2007-05-21 03:30:59 · answer #9 · answered by Mickey Mantle 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of their pitching is weak. But thier relief isnt that bad with Procter & Pettite.
And who has a better record Yanks or ORIOLES?!?
2007-05-21 01:05:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋