May 22 , 2006

The empire is showing cracks and might just be about to crumble. With so many injuries, it might be getting near the time that the cheque book once again has to come out as the farm system is not major league ready as it was in the early 90’s.

Offensively, the loss of Sheffield and Matsui is huge. Both are 100 RBI men form an integral part of the Yankees 3, 4, 5 and 6 line-up. All four guys protect one another with A-Rod and Giambi making up the other two. Sheffield’s imminent return will help but could still not be enough.

As a highlighting point, on Saturday against the Mets, the Bronx Bombers had 8 hits none of which were for extra bases, yet struck out 10 times in 11 innings. On Sunday the Yankees managed 12 hits but only managed to score 3 runs whilst stranding 15 runners.

On the pitching side, Pavano is lost for the season and Chacon has just been put on the 15 day DL. The Big Unit is a shell of what he achieved last year and a skeleton of what he produced in Arizona. Sturtze is another missing link from the bullpen that Torre loved to go to get from the starter too Flash and then the Sand Man. I have my own opinion on Sturtze and his injury and that is that Torre has shot his arm using him the previous two seasons at every possible chance that he could.

The infield defence has been appalling highlighted by the fact the Yankees have committed 14 errors over the last nine games, heading into Bean Town. In fact, 25 opposing players have reached base via an error vs. the Yankees this season; no other A.L. team has allowed more than 18. It’s hard enough to get 27 outs in a game, but when you allow this many additional runners, you are asking for trouble, and it’s only a matter of time before this will explode.

What is amazing is that New York has grinded out a 5 - 5 record over their last 10 games. That is the number of games since the Bombers have played without both Matsui and Sheffield in the line-up. I say amazing because during that span the Pinstripes have been outscored by eight runs. Under normal baseball circumstances and during a span of forty plus games, if a team is being outscored by nearly one run a game they would be doing well to win 30% of their games.

Unless the Yankees can get their swagger back and the "aura" they once held over teams, they have no chance of making the post-season. As the AL stands at present, it’s going to be difficult for either the East or West to supply the wild card team. So it’s win the division or be done and at present and the foreseeable future, it’s looking more of a case of the latter.