I couldn't careless what A-Rod did, what the New York Yankees/Steinbrenners are trying to do, I just want to see my team win. I want to see us, somehow, getting on a winning streak; that A-Rod can spark this team into winning seven-in-a-row and get us close to the top of the American League wild card standings.
As far as the East Division, it's farfetched right now. The wild card seems to be the believable destination to make the postseason.
Right now, the Yankees are 4.5 games back in the wild card. With fives teams on front of them. I expect three of those fives to fall off and get cold. Teams like the Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, are going to get cold -- because they've been too hot, and the Yankees haven't even gotten going yet.
But it's gonna be tough. But it is due-able? Yes it is. The Yankees need to get on a tear, here. Because 4.5 game back in August is walking on thin ice, if they want to make the postseason.
Yankees MUST take two out of three or sweep the Chicago White Sox. They cannot -- I repeat -- cannot lose another series; especially to another bad team.
vs.DETROIT TIGERS 9th-11th/L.A ANGELS 12th-15th:
Gonna be a tough series, but they're gonna be at home and they need to win their home games. The Tigers are damn good, but the Angels aren't.
This is the week that the Yankees have to go on a tear. Hopefully they'll get a good, loud home crowd and fans can really push their team.
In the Tigers/Angels series, you'd like to go 7-0 in those home-stand. They should go 6-1, but the most possible record would be 5-2, or 4-3.
It's all about scratching for two wins in the Tiger series. The Angel series can go either way. Yankees can sweep or the Angels can sweep.
@BOSTON RED SOX 16th-18th:
I like us going into Fenway Park with potentially having A-Rod in the lineup. Because he can bounce balls off that green monster. And he Yankees nearly took the series the last time they were there.
vs.TORONTO BLUE JAYS 20th-22th:
Yankees have a doubleheader on the 20th of August, against the Blue Jays. Yankees have to win those two games. That's a plus game. Yankees need those two wins in one day when they're in the wild card chase. That can be huge for them. Then in the next two games against the Jays, the Yankees can be in control.
@TAMPA BAY RAYS 23th-25th/@TORONTO BLUE JAYS 26th-28th:
HUGE series against the Rays, since they're first place in the wild card. And the Yankees will have Derek Jeter back by then (that's if he goes back on the D.L).
At Blue Jays, could be tough. I can see the Yankees losing that series. Just hope it won't cost them in the standings.
vs.BALTIMORE ORIOLES 30th-Sep 1st:
Another big series for the Yankees; well, every series is in August.
By the end of August, the Yankees can't be 4.5 games out. In September 1st, the Yankees have to be 2.5 games out or better. They can only be 4.5 game back and have chance by Septemeber is if they're only two teams on front them -- but that might not be still enough.
There is a chance. Look at those games in August; all those games are chances to get back in the playoff hunt.
If you look at the games the Yankees have lost since the all-star break, they played well in them. Unfortunately the games they've lost badly in were the games C.C Sabathia pitched in.
The three players who need to be good for the Yankees to make a run in August, are A-Rod, Sabathia, and Austin Romine. Romine is hitting well and can be that young spark the Yankees need. A-Rod will put less pressure on players like Robinson Cano, Lyle Overbay, Alfonso Soriano, and if Sabathia can get on a run -- which he is due to make -- the Yankees really have a chance to make noise in the next two months.
