Red Sox and Orioles Will Be Big Tests for Rodriguez-Less Yankees
July 27, 2012 · Alex Bacon · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Almost 100 games into what has been a great season so far, the New York Yankees will need to compete without 14-time All-Star Alex Rodriquez due to an injury to his hand (Yahoo! Sports). Since the Yankees have been playing such great baseball this year, they have a little wiggle room with a seven-and-a-half game lead in the American League East.
This is not the time for the Yankees to hit the panic button, although losing A-Rod may hurt, he is not the same 40 to 50 home run hitter he used to be. The Yankees batting should be just fine with Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira and newly acquired Ichiro Suzuki.
This next series will provide Brian Cashman and the rest of the Yankees staff with an idea of how they should approach the Rodriquez injury. They can either internally replace him with Eric Chavez, or go out and make a trade.
Possible trade candidates include Scott Rolen, Aramis Ramirez or Chase Headley—all of whom would fit in well with the Yankees.
If the Yankees can win one of the three games in the upcoming series against the Red Sox, then they should be in good shape. If Boston sweeps them, maybe it is time to turn the panic meter up a little bit. That would mean that the Yankees will only own a seven-and-a-half game lead over the Red Sox, and will need to worry about a series with the Orioles. They will most likely be less than seven-and-a-half games back themselves.
Then with a series against Baltimore, the AL East race could tighten.
With the trade deadline only four days away, the Yankees will not be able to make a trade after their series with the Orioles, so if all goes well against the rival Red Sox, do not expect the Yankees to find an external replacement.
Help is on the way with the return of Nick Swisher and acquisition of Ichiro Suzuki, so a trade is unlikely.
Eric Chavez will get the starting role at third base (Fox News), and hopefully he will be able to replace Rodriguez’s bat and glove.
If that’s the case, then the Yankees should not rush Rodriguez back to the lineup. If he’s not rushed back, the Yankees should have a healthy team to finish the season strong.
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