Earlier in the season, this blog called for Brian Cashman to give Yankee fans an explanation. We are still waiting to hear his reasoning for trading the clutch Melky Cabrera for Javier Vazquez, but now I want more answers from the man they call Cash Money. Why did the Yankees sign the injury-prone Nick Johnson, who is out with a stiff back? I'm not quite sure why Nick Johnson has a stiff back...maybe from just standing around at home plate while pitches go by.
I'd also like an explanation as to why we traded three players: Austin Jackson, Phil Coke, and Ian Kennedy, for Curtis Granderson. Jackson, a young centerfielder with a lot of promise, hit his fifth double and first homer today against Texas. Curtis Granderson hit two homers against Boston in April, and has done absolutely nothing since. As we've seen in his career, Granderson is back down to .250, which we should get used to from the Yankees' outfield. Marcus Thames can hit, but the guy looks like an overweight softball player in left field. Again, questionable offseason moves made by Cashman and the Yankees.
Nice managing by Joe Girardi today. This is typical of what he did in the post-season. Girardi is not a great manager. He got lucky using three starters last October and November. Today, after Javier Vazquez once again proved why he can't pitch in the American League, Girardi let Alfredo Aceves pitch. Aceves retired five batters in a row, but for some reason, he was lifted for Damaso Marte. Marte, who already pitched yesterday, did his usual: walk, hit by pitch, fielder's choice, three run bomb. Game over. First series loss of the season.
The Yankees really do need to start hitting. Mark Teixeira continues to do nothing other than walk, and Alex Rodriguez still has just two homers. Where would this team be if Cano and Posada were not starting the season on an absolute tear? The team will enjoy an off day visiting Barack Obama Monday, followed by the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday. Anything less than a sweep will be unacceptable, as the Orioles stand at 3-16. Then, believe it or not, the Yankees will enjoy some home games after their trip to Baltimore.
Bottom line: the team is still playing .667 baseball, averaging 2 out of 3 victories in each series. You play like that all year, you make the playoffs. Maybe not the division, based on how solid the Rays look, but you make the playoffs and you see what happens. It's really amazing that guys like Teixeira, Johnson, and Rodriguez haven't hit and the team is off to a good start for a change. It's also amazing that the team has lost 6 games on this young season, and Javier Vazquez is already 1-3. It's obvious that Cashman and the Yankee front office are sitting in Tampa resting on their laurels.
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