Yankees Missing Key Pieces To A Championship Team
| By AMIR ALI SAID |
Every year the New York Yankees are in the hunt for another World Series championship. Most of the time the Yankees will win the AL East in style. In recent years, the Yankees have had competition and occasionally someone in the AL East breaks the chain of pinstripe dominance. But this year the Yankees are missing some championship team like pieces. The Yankees have done a few things that wouldn’t, couldn’t, and shouldn’t work for any other team in the majors.
It starts with pitching. Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia have done wonders for the Yankees this year. 38-Year-Old Colon is 6-6 on the year with a 3.34 ERA and 88 strikeouts. 35-Year-Old Garcia is 8-7 with a 3.21 ERA and 69 strikeouts. Both of these middle age pitchers are way past their primes. Colon’s time came 6 years ago with the Angels. He started the 04’ season with the Angels. Colon then went on to go 21-8 with a 3.48 ERA and he won the CY Young award. Garcia, ironically had his best year in the 05’ season.
The following year Freddy Garcia would go on to have the best year of his career. Finishing 17-9 with a 4.53 ERA, Garcia led a White Sox team that had the best record in the majors. The Sox continued their great year by winning the World Series. While both pictures delivered great one-year performances, injury plagued them through the next couple of years. But now they’re back. Giving an unbelievable performance for the Yankees. Even though their pitching is exceeding expectations, help is needed.
The Yankees can use all the help they can get. A big move for a starting pitcher should be made. The Rockies seem to be asking for too much for Ubaldo Jimenez. But that shouldn’t stop Cashman from shopping. The Yankees should pursue any and every option at starting pitcher. I’m not for messing with what works. But I’m not sure if Colon or Garcia can keep up their success for the rest of the year. In the playoffs you want to be certain that you have a solid rotation. It’s time for Cashman to actively pursue starting pitchers over the next week. He also should take a look at some position players.
I think the Yankees lack utility players. Besides Andruw Jones there isn’t a player coming off the bench having an impact. On the days Jeter or Granderson have days off you need players that’ll make sure the Yankees don’t miss a step. Cashman should be looking at one more outfielder and infielder to pick up. When the Yankees get some utility players they’ll have a stronger offense.
The Yankees have pieces to the championship team puzzle. But there are some pieces left to fill. The issues of pitching and utility players must be addressed. The team is ready. Every year the Yankees are ready to win. They have the most championships in all of sports. But this 2011 season I think the Yankees have something to prove. The Bronx Bombers are a few players down and there team isn’t as strong as others. The little things that are missing go a long way. But this team has the potential and enough players to win a championship.
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