By Eddie Castro
As we go to press, the New York Yankees just completed the gauntlet part of their schedule with match ups that included, the Astros, Tigers, Blue Jays and Red Sox. In those 12 games, the Yankees went a combined 7-5, which Yankee fans can consider a win-win when you take into account that those four teams would be playoff teams in the American League if the season ended today.
The Yankees had some timely hitting in those series and most importantly the team captain Aaron Judge had an impressive showing during that 12-game stretch in which he hit 5 home runs.
He was the player of the week in the American League. With their impressive play, included taking two out of three games against the rival Red Sox, the team has just a one game lead for the top spot in the AL Wild Card standings.
The Yankees are still in the hunt for the AL East crown but with some recent loses and wins by the division leading Blue Jays, the division appears to be a forgone conclusion with the Yankees now five games behind (six with the Blue Jays owning the season series against the Yankees).
After a dreadful summer stretch, the team has played better of late. The Yankees are 21-11 in their last 32 games thanks in large part to not only the lineup’s ability to hit home runs, but the efficiency of the starting rotation lead by Max Fried and Carlos Rodon. Although the Yankees are in good shape to clinch another postseason berth, the question still remains just what version of the Yankees we will see come October
The Yankees schedule (on paper) is an easy one. Tonight, they will finish up a three-game set against the Minnesota Twins. This will follow up with four more games at Baltimore, a team that has played better recently, and then returning to the Bronx to play the Chicago White Sox for three and another three-game set to finish up the campaign against the Orioles.
This season has given Yankees fans both highs and lows. The offense is obviously the team’s strong point. However, there are teams where the lineup can look unstoppable and then have 10-game stretches of several players in hitting slumps at the same time.
The Achilles Heel for the team when they are off has been the situational hitting and the defensive lapses of defense and a bullpen which Aaron Boone is still trying to sort out just who to place where in the later innings as the consistent bridge to get to closer David Bednar. It is important for the Yankees to finish the season hot.
The most important thing for the team is to have Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton right for the postseason as the two could very well be the talk of October if they are able to catch fire. These next two weeks will hopefully answer just what version of the Yankees we will see as we approach playoff baseball.
Sports Notes: (Basketball) As we go to press, the New York Liberty currently holds a 1-0 series lead against the Phoenix Mercury in the first round of the playoffs. (Football) Both the Jets and Giants will look to pick up their first wins of the season. The Jets will play their first road game of the season as they prepare themselves to go head-to-head with Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Giants will play the Kansas City Chiefs in their home opener on Sunday Night Football. Tune in to an All-New episode of Sports Talk With Eddie presented by Our Time Press live tonight at 5pm on the Our Time Press. You Tube channel. Call-ins are available.