But is it impossible to overcome a 5.0 game deficit in the wild card, in September? No. But this weekend and next week coming up, is the best chance the Yankees have to cut this lead. If they don't win enough games this weekend and next week, you can pretty much discuss the off-season plans.
The reason why I feel that this week coming up is the best chance for the Yankees to cut the lead in the wild card, is because the Oakland Athletics face the Tampa Bay Rays this weekend, August 30-September 1st, in a three-game series, and face the Texas Rangers in September 2nd-4th, in another three-game series, all at home. The Rays and Rangers are the only teams that will play Athletics tough, in my view, because Tampa Bay and Texas are still playing for their postseason position.
Then after those six games, the Athletics have an easy schedule in September; they have a cake walk. That's why this weekend and next week the Yankees have the best shot to trim the lead, at least, to 2.0 games back. They cannot be 5.0 games, or bigger in September --- that's if they want to make the postseason.
The Yankees can't worry about the Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles(only when they don't play them) in the wild card. Gaining games on the Indians and Orioles means nothing, anymore. Yankees have to start gaining games on the Athletics to get things going.
The Bronx Bombers can do well, since this is the first time in a while where they have long home-stand.
But who knows -- maybe the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners give the Athletics a hard time in September.
There's a lot of games in September. You never know. Though this weekend is major for the Yankees. Not saying they have to take the lead in the wild card this week, but at least trim it to 3.0 games, by the end of the first week of September.
Yankees wins and Athletics loses.
A.L EAST: Believe it or not, the Yankees have a better shot at the East. With the Boston Red Sox Schedule being far more worst than the Athletics', and Yankees having to play them seven more times in September, it's not impossible for a division run.
I'll say this --- if the Yankees can trim the A.L East deficit to 6.0 games back by September 5th when the Yankees meet the Red Sox at home for a four-game set, it could get very interesting.
Seriously, if the Yankees get to 6.0 games back by Thursday, their chances in the East look better than the wild card.
I might be reaching - lol - but hey, I'm trying to be positive.
But who knows -- maybe the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners give the Athletics a hard time in September.
There's a lot of games in September. You never know. Though this weekend is major for the Yankees. Not saying they have to take the lead in the wild card this week, but at least trim it to 3.0 games, by the end of the first week of September.
Yankees wins and Athletics loses.
A.L EAST: Believe it or not, the Yankees have a better shot at the East. With the Boston Red Sox Schedule being far more worst than the Athletics', and Yankees having to play them seven more times in September, it's not impossible for a division run.
I'll say this --- if the Yankees can trim the A.L East deficit to 6.0 games back by September 5th when the Yankees meet the Red Sox at home for a four-game set, it could get very interesting.
Seriously, if the Yankees get to 6.0 games back by Thursday, their chances in the East look better than the wild card.
I might be reaching - lol - but hey, I'm trying to be positive.
