Offensive malaise continues as Yanks drop third straight

By Larry Koestler On May 13, 2011 · 5 Comments · In Game Recaps

(photo c/o Getty)

For the second straight game the Yankees were kept hitless for the first three innings, setting the tone for a masterful start by , who threw seven strong innings, striking out seven, walking just one and giving up two runs as Boston took the first game if this three-game set, .

paced Boston’s offensive attack (speaking of offensive attacks, it must be delightful when your team actually has one), blasting a solo shot to put the Sox up 1-0 in the 4th and also adding the go-ahead sac fly in the 7th, breaking a 2-2 tie. For his part, threw another solid game, going six-plus and only giving up two earned runs, but the painfully slumping Yankee offense — along with still more defensive miscues and a shaky , who gave up a key two-run bomb to that wound up being the decisive blow — were too much for the team to overcome.

The Yankees have apparently decided they are a National League team, as they’ve now averaged a pitiful 4.2 runs per game over their last 18, and that includes two separate 12-run outbursts. They briefly made things interesting in the 8th against , but couldn’t hold off on a high fastball and struck out with two men on and one out, and could only ground out after a big double-steal that put and in scoring position. And then again in the ninth, Derek Jeter singled against Jonathan Papelbon with two outs and Curtis Granderson — seemingly the only Yankee capable of doing anything on offense of late — came through with a single to bring the Yankees within one. This brought Mark Teixeira up with a chance to win the game with one swing of the bat, so of course he swings at the first pitch and pops up to the infield. And so the great RISP Fail of 2011 continues, with the only runs coming on a game-tying two-run bomb and a wild pitch by Bard that scored , who had hit a triple.

These last two and a half weeks have been painful to watch, to the point where it feels as though we’ve been transported back to September 2010. Outside of those two aforementioned 12-run outbursts the Yankees haven’t scored more than five runs in a game in nearly three weeks. The offense is better than this, and needs to find its way soon before things start to get even uglier, seeing as how the Rays are apparently never going to lose a game again.

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5 Responses to Offensive malaise continues as Yanks drop third straight

  1. oldpep says:
    May 13, 2011 at 11:52 pm

    Having a black hole at the DH spot is really dragging this team down. Jorge has been one of my favorite Yankees (and the de facto captain) for a long time, but he’s hurting the team.
    The article about a team ‘with their payroll’ and the RP we had pitching the other night was pretty solid, but a team ‘with their payroll’ has to be able to get more offense from the DH.

    [Reply]

  2. G says:
    May 14, 2011 at 12:55 am

    Time to call up Montero for backup catcher duties, DH spot and let Posada go- unfortunately Posada is at the end of the road and is an auto out in the lineup – we need to lengthen it, not shorten it. We need some new energy and someone to bring life into lineup and Montero can be that person

    [Reply]

    Duh, Innings! Reply:
    May 14th, 2011 at 7:19 am

    2012 Yankees Startng Nine/Batting Order:

    Gardner LF L
    Jose Reyes SS S signed
    Cano 2B L
    Teixiera 1B S
    Granderson CF L
    Montero DH/Backup C S
    Melky Cabrera RF S re-signed
    Martin C R
    Nunez 3B S

    5/9ths homegrown

    7/9ths under 30

    Granderson is the oldest everyday player, Teixiera the second oldest.

    Teixiera is the slowest everyday player and only one not a threat to steal if the Yankees can teach Cano and Montero how to steal bases (Montero would certainly have all the time in the world to learn as the full-time DH.)

    Zero defensive liabilities save maybe Nunez, but Nunez could be at least average playing every day.

    Reyes and Teixiera would be the lone long-term contracts.

    The Yankees could realistically trade anyone save Teixiera whose remaining contract is probably too big to take on and Reyes who you’re not trading for at least the time Jeter is still a Yankee if not a year after he retires or moves on.

    Five switch-hitters.

    A strong arm and Gold Glove candidate at every OF position.

    A Gold Glover and Gold Glove candidate at every infield position save 3B.

    A-Rod traded in the offseason for prospects (salary dump.)

    Posada let go of or re-signed for a year and $4M (Martin’s 2011 base salary.)

    Swisher bought out and let go of unless he’s willing to take a year and $4M ($6M including his $2M buyout) to back up or platoon with Cabrera.

    Jones re-signed for another year and whatever he got this year.

    Throw in incentives based on plate appearances for Posada and Swisher.

    Jeter told to learn 2B and 3B for his role as the new backup 2B/3B/SS and if he doesn’t like it he can ask for a trade or retire. He got his years and money, so he’ll shut up and play, go elsewhere, or hang it up.

    If Jeter, Posada, and Swisher really want to remain Yankees, then Jeter will accept being the $16M backup 2B/3B/SS, Posada will accept being the $4M base pop off the bench, spot DH, and third-string catcher, and Swisher will accept being the $4M base backup 1B/RF. Who’s to say Posada and/or Swisher couldn’t reclaim their everyday jobs if Montero and/or Cabrera aren’t getting it done?

    With A-Rod’s contract off the books and Posada and Swisher re-signed for discounts which clear even more salary, the Yankees could afford to pay Jeter, Posada, and Swisher $24M base total to be the bench along with Jones.

    [Reply]

    T.O. Chris Reply:
    May 14th, 2011 at 8:18 pm

    Melky Cabrera in RF? I just don’t even know what to say anymore.

    [Reply]

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