Last updated: 7:03 am
July 18, 2008
Posted: 2:32 am
July 18, 2008
IF YOU like the Yankees to make the playoffs right now, it is because of their past or because you have doubts about Tampa Bay's short-term future. But it is not because you really like the Yanks' present.
These Yanks excel at one facet of the game - when Mariano Rivera has the ball. Besides that, they are rather average. Average on offense. Average on defense. Average on the mound.
Before the season started, the Yanks would have signed up for the average defense and pitching because they were positive they had a menacing batting order that would conceal the warts. But a funny thing happened on the way to 900-plus runs.
Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada got hurt, then Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon did, too. Derek Jeter, Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano regressed offensively. Jason Giambi grew a mustache and in popularity, but he didn't hit much in the clutch, an epidemic problem on the roster. The position player depth was so atrocious you started to wonder if the Yanks could find the phone numbers for Aaron Guiel and Josh Phelps.
They did get in touch with Richie Sexson, who will be joining them for the second half. They will not be reaching out to Barry Bonds. Yankees officials simply expressed no desire to enlist a 44-year-old who has not played since last season, is beset with physical and makeup issues, would need a few weeks to prove he could or couldn't still perform, and has federal charges pending.
The Yanks paid lavishly to retain A-Rod in some large part so he would be in their uniform when he breaks Bonds' all-time homer record. They hardly want to help Bonds extend that record further.
They also learned with Red Sox, Blue Jay, Astro and Yankee Roger Clemens that when the bad news comes he will only be referred to as former Yankee Roger Clemens. They do not want Bonds going into a federal penitentiary as former Yankee Barry Bonds.
