Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees: New York Must Not Panic After ALDS Loss
October 7, 2011 · Michael Dixon · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Major League Baseball’s two most followed teams are the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. It wasn’t that long ago that the Yankees’ fans were laughing at the late-season collapse and subsequent panic of the Boston Red Sox.
Now, turnabout is fair play, as the Yankees have now had two straight seasons without winning a World Series, which is an eternity for them.
All of a sudden, their vaunted lineup looks very old. Derek Jeter is 37, Alex Rodriguez is 36, Curtis Granderson is 30 and Mark Teixeria is 31.
But with the exception of Jeter and possibly Rodriguez, age isn’t really going to bother those guys. Jeter is the only guy there who isn’t driven by power, and power hitters can launch the ball well into their 30’s. Rodriguez has been bothered more by health than anything else.
No, the problem is really simple. C.C. Sabathia is the unquestioned ace of the staff. If there hadn’t been a Game 1 rain delay, the Game 5 matchup would have been Justin Verlander against Sabathia.
So, neither team got to throw their ideal man in Game 5. But while the Tigers had a veteran in Doug Fister to fall back on, the Yankees had to go with a rookie in Ivan Nova.
So, the Yankees don’t need to blow up the offense. That would be a terrible decision to make.
What they need to do is find some more reliable arms to back up Sabathia.
There is a rumor that Sabathia just played his last game with the Yankees. They need to do whatever it takes to be sure that doesn’t happen.
But he can’t do it alone, no matter how great the offense is.
Pitching is becoming more of a trend in baseball. The last two years have both been called the “Year of the Pitcher.”
One ace is simply not going to get it done. So, rather than panicking and blowing up the same group that won this team a World Series in 2009, the Yankees need to add to their greatest weakness.
If they don’t, the October problems aren’t going to go away.
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