Cause for Concern

These last two horrible games with the Seattle Mariners have really been eye-openers. I know, I know. They've faced two of the best pitchers in baseball: Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez. They are both very, very difficult and very, very talented. You've got two aces against the 4 and 5 starters of another team. Even though these games have been in the Bronx, you wouldn't be wrong in assuming that Seattle should have won both of them. But there are several causes for concerns with this Yankee team, which holds just a one game lead in the A.L. East.

The number one concern has been the offense. This has nothing to do with who they faced; rather, it's the type of approaches they take at the plate. It also has everything to do with the fact that the bottom of the lineup is absolutely terrible. Francisco Cervelli's magic is over, which is why the guy was in Double A before coming to the Yankees in 2008. The combination of Chad Huffman/Colin Curtis doesn't produce much, but they're not supposed to. It's Brian Cashman's fault that the bench is not full of guys like Jerry Hairston and Eric Hinske. Mark Teixeira looks like he will not come out of his slump this season, and I believe he needs to undergo an eye exam. Finally, you've got guys like Derek Jeter, Nick Swisher, and Curtis Granderson who do nothing but swing at almost every single pitch instead of trying to run up Felix Hernandez's pitch count and possibly see a Seattle relief pitcher on the hill in this series.

The second concern that's really not a surprise to anyone is this bullpen. Chan Ho Park and Chad Gaudin have both been useless acquisitions. They're so bad that Michael Kay and Al Leiter make a huge deal out of it when one of them throws a scoreless inning. Joba Chamberlain either strikes out the side or gives up four runs. Boone Logan looks like he should be pitching in A-ball. And tonight, Damaso Marte did a great job with Russell Branyan, who completely owns the Yankees, as Branyan went deep again at Yankee Stadium.

If the Yankees fail to reach the post-season this year, I believe that Brian Cashman should be fired. I know the owners typically have something to do with what happens in the off-season, but this falls on Cashman. He signed Nick Johnson instead of Hideki Matsui or Johnny Damon, and Johnson hasn't played since the first week of May. Instead, Francisco Cervelli catches, and Jorge Posada DH's. Neither of them are hitting much at all. The Granderson trade hasn't worked out all that well. Austin Jackson looks like a pretty good player, and the Yankees gave up two much for a guy who can't even hit .250. Finally, the Yankees traded Melky Cabrera for Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan. Vazquez has been just OK, while Logan hasn't been able to get anyone out.

Tomorrow is an absolute must win game, but no one will get to watch it. For some odd reason, the Yankees have four consecutive 1:00 games coming up at Yankee Stadium. Either way, C.C. Sabathia's got to put a stop to this madness and beat the Mariners. Of course, the Yankees visit Seattle next week, so we'll see Lee and Hernandez again. By the time the Red Sox face the Mariners, I'm sure Lee will be traded to the Mets, and it won't be Hernandez's turn in the rotation.