Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez have yet to take the field this year. Curtis Granderson returned last week after missing the first six weeks when his forearm was broken by a wild pitch in Spring Training, only to then go back on the DL when his left pinky was broken by a wild pitch Friday night. Kevin Youkilis -- the guy brought in to replace A-Rod at third base -- has played one game since April 20 and has been out since April 28.
Who's been getting the job done for the Yankees? Besides Robinson Cano doing his usual thing (.291 batting average, 13 home runs, 34 RBI), Vernon Wells has recaptured his mojo since being signed in Spring Training to the tune of a .278 batting average, 10 home runs and 24 RBI. Lyle Overbay -- who had his best years with Toronto between 2006 and 2010 -- has driven in 27 runs through 45 games, and Travis Hafner has given the Yanks some pop at the plate with eight homers and 24 RBI in 35 games. And here I thought GM Brian Cashman was either desperate or out of his mind signing Wells, Overbay and Hafner.
Logic normally dictates that a team with 10 players on the DL (soon to be 11 with Granderson heading back there) has to struggle. But we haven't seen that with the Yankees, and I'm not sure we will. Cano has done a great job anchoring a lineup in constant flux, and the pitching has been solid.
The question is, what will happen with the Yankees once they get Jeter, Teixeira and Youkilis back -- or maybe even A-Rod? Will they continue to play well, or will they start struggling while their stars shake off their rust? It's crazy to think that the Yanks might play better without their superstars than with them, but it could happen.
Still, I think the Yankees would like to have their stars back on the field.
No comments:
Post a Comment