Even though we keep talking about how important each series is for the Yankees, the time has officially come to either put up or shut up. No more complaining about blown calls or injuries or anything else. The Yanks are currently involved in heated pennant and wild card races, and the season is starting to wind down.
Even though this team has been involved in countless of these races, this one has a different feel to it. This is because if your team doesn't win the pennant, the consolation prize is now a "play-in" game because of the addition of another wild card. The pennant is now has an added weight and there can be no more slipping. The other reason why this race feels different is because the Red Sox are not in the running for a playoff spot for the first time in a while.
The Yankees currently have 16 games remaining and today is their last day off. Even though there are a small selection of games, the Yankees actually have a pretty easy schedule (knock on wood.) They play 7 against the Blue Jays, 3 against the wild card leading Athletics, 3 against the Twins, and then they close the season out with 3 games against a familiar foe, the Red Sox. In past years the Twins and especially the Red Sox have been locks for the playoffs, but not this season. Both teams are both comfortably way below the .500 mark and in last place of their respected divisions. So these games are all very winnable, and the key series is the 3 game set in the Bronx with the A's. Oakland currently hold a playoff position and that series could determine who makes the playoffs and who doesn't, because the Rays and Orioles are nipping at our heels.
Besides having an easy schedule, the Bronx Bombers are healthy for the first time in a while. Even though Derek Jeter is fighting through a bone bruise on his ankle, he is in the lineup. First Baseman Mark Teixeira is the only every day guy that is out with his lingering calf problem. In terms of pitching health, manager Joe Girardi and the Yankees could breath a sigh of relief as Ivan Nova returned from an inflamed rotator cuff and pitched very well and got a win against the Rays. On top of Nova's return, Andy Pettitte will be making his return from a fractured ankle tomorrow against the Blue Jays. If Pettitte can give the Yankees 5 solid innings without a set-back, he could very well be on his way to a full return by the playoffs.
The final positive for the Yankees heading down the stretch is now their bullpen is packed with people who can get you outs. A once shaky unit when Mariano Rivera went down, is now a strength, especially with the return of Nova and Pettitte. The reason why is because now young stud David Phelps and Freddy Garcia will now slide out of the rotation and into the bullpen providing more depth. I think that the back end of the bullpen should be set now as well. Joba Chamberlain has settled in a has pitched well enough to have the 7th inning be his inning. No more mixing and matching for Girardi. Once it gets to the 7th and the starter is done, it should go Chamberlain, David Robertson in the 8th and Rafael Soriano in the 9th, every time. The one batter at a time cat and mouse game needs to stop. Boone Logan, Cody Eppley, and Clay Rapada, should see limited action and some consistency will help these guys get comfortable and prevent them from constantly looking over their shoulder after every batter.
One Last Thing: These are all positives and I'm not trying to just speak highly of my favorite team because there are some big problems going on right now with the team as well. Our ace CC Sabathia has not been pitching up to his standards at all. He has blown leads in 5 straight games, and that needs to be corrected soon with these important games coming up. Another negative has been the play of Nick Swisher. Swish is batting .127 (7 for 55) in the month of September with 0 home runs and 2 RBI's. So hopefully these two guys start to play well, and the Yanks can win the pennant!
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