Wednesday, August 04, 2010

I've Been Watching. Really.

The baseball season is a long, difficult grind and a game of averages. No team is demonstrating that more than the Yankees. The core of the team is more than experienced. The core is old. And one fact both Picasner and I are sure of from personal experience, you can’t hide age. And averages are catching up with others.

Jorge Posada, over 35, has played in a total of 74 games and is increasingly becoming a defensive liability. The Roid, over 35, contributes an anemic .264 BA and compared to his career performance, miserable power numbers. Andy Pettitte’s, over 35, outstanding performance is currently on hold with a trip to the disabled list. And I hate to mention Derek Jeter, over 35, hitting 40 points below his career average. Annie-O gets really mean whenever I speak the truth about the heart-throb.

Indeed, baseball is a game of averages. After torrid starts, Fancisco Cervelli is hitting .195 since mid-May, Brett Gardner is batting .290 and sinking, Robinson Cano is “down” to .326 and fortunately, Mark Teixeira is “up” to .255.

No Surprise – Curtis Granderson in hitting .245 overall and about .214 facing lefties.

Mild Surprise – Nick Swisher is a steady .300 at the plate… although still a circus act in right.

Big Surprise – Who leads the team in OBP?

So what does it all mean? Le boa est tompe de l’arbre et il est mange le petit enfant? Nope, just a pennant race.

The best news is that the Yankees have eleven games in August against KC, Detroit, and Seattle. That should give Girardi an opportunity to rest his aging minions before the September stretch when it all hits the fan. And even better – that’s eleven summer evenings that LT and I can spend doing things far more interesting.

See you in September.

V.

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