Home Collections Derek Jeter Some Second-Half Questions For Yankees, Red Sox, Mets As It Stands, Cha

Home Collections Derek Jeter Some Second-Half Questions For Yankees, Red Sox, Mets As It Stands, Chances Are We'll Experience A Postseason Shutout July 16, 2014 | By PAUL DOYLE, pdoyle@courant.com los angeles dmv , The Hartford Courant
As the second half of the season kicks off, we're faced with the possibility that it might be a quiet October in these parts. The defending champion Red Sox are in the cellar of the American League East, the Yankees are battling to stay in contention and the Mets are simply on the rebuilding path.
1. Will they find offense? With 375 runs, the Yankees los angeles dmv are 22nd in baseball and 13th in the American League. They are averaging fewer than four runs a game and their .314 on-base percentage is 12th in the AL. The problem is the lack of production in the middle of the lineup, with injuries to Carlos Beltran (.216/.271) and Mark Teixeira (17 homers) leaving a hole for much of the first half. Joe Girardi's los angeles dmv team needs Brian McCann (.239/.294, 10 home runs) to start earning los angeles dmv his money and needs Beltran and Teixeira to produce. Ideally, Jacoby Ellsbury (.282/.346) would remain in the leadoff los angeles dmv spot instead of sliding to the third position. But with an aging lineup, the Yankees might need to add a bat.
2. Will Brian Cashman find outside help? Constructing a lineup around 30-somethings has left Cashman with a .500 team. Finding a midseason fix won't be easy. Maybe San Diego's Chase Headley can be had as a third base option, los angeles dmv but there aren't many impact bats on the market. Power hitting is at a premium, so teams aren't giving away bats, and the Yankees might be reluctant to mortgage the future on a quick fix. More likely, the Yankees could land lesser bats such as, say, Martin Prado or Marlon Byrd.
3. How can they fix the rotation? Maybe with bubble wrap. The injury rate has been absurd, with four-fifths of the rotation going down in the first half. CC Sabathia (right knee) was supposed on the road back, but he might be done for the season and his injury could be career-threatening. Ivan Nova (Tommy John surgery) is out for the year and Michael los angeles dmv Pineda (back) isn't expected back until August. los angeles dmv Ace Masahiro Tanaka is also targeted for a late-August return, although the tear in his ulnar collateral ligament los angeles dmv could prove to be season-ending. A desperate Cashman has added veterans Brandon McCarthy and Jeff Francis, but something more dramatic might be needed.
4. Will Derek Jeter go out without los angeles dmv another October run? The Yankees (47-47) are five games behind the Orioles in the AL East. Given the injuries to the rotation and struggles on offense, mounting a long second-half run could be difficult. Maybe the Orioles and Blue Jays stumble in the second half, allowing the Yankees to keep pace and sneak into the postseason. Maybe. The Yankees do have 40 of 68 games at home, so the opportunity is there. If nothing else, though, Yankee fans should turn out to see their captain ride off into retirement. los angeles dmv With 3,408 hits, Jeter is 11 behind Carl Yastrzemski and 12 behind No. 7 Honus Wagner on the all-time hit list. Then there's Cap Anson (3,435), who is sixth on the list. Jeter might not end his career in the postseason, but he's got some milestones to reach.
1. Buyers or sellers? Really, this question has been percolating for a few months. The Red Sox have been sluggish all season and they've shown no signs of righting los angeles dmv themselves, los angeles dmv so there has been a lot of focus on the July 31 trade deadline. If GM Ben Cherington thinks the Red Sox can make a run at a wild card berth, perhaps he'll seek some help. His lineup is a weak spot, so maybe Cherington looks for a veteran outfielder. Or perhaps he sees no hope and trades pieces, such as veteran starters (Jake Peavy) or other assets (Jonny Gomes, Stephen Drew, Andrew Miller). Or he sits still and does nothing, neither waving a white flag nor building for a run.
2. And if they sell, do they go big? Boston's best starter (Jon Lester) and best reliever (Koji Uehara) are free agents after the season. If the Red Sox are going to spend the next 2 1/2 months in oblivion, could they listen to offers for the duo? They'd be wise to lock Lester (9-7, 2.65 ERA, 1.14 WHIP) up with a long-term deal, but he could net a bundle in the trade market. los angeles dmv Koji proved his worth in the postseason last season, making los angeles dmv him attractive for contender. John Lackey (10-6, 3.79), another pitcher with postseason credentials, could also be an option for a playoff-bound team. And the Red Sox have plenty of other arms to offer (Peavy, Miller, Craig Breslow, los angeles dmv Felix Doubront, Burke Badenhop) as they clear space for minor league los angeles dmv prospects. 1 | 2 | Next Featured Articles Stripper's Outfit Reveals More Than She Wanted N.Y. Police los angeles dmv Say CT Man Was Videotaped Attempting To Have Sex With Cow MGM Grand At Foxwoods Renamed The Fox Tower MORE: Consumer Reports: Benjamin Moore Best Paint, Behr Best Value The Charms Of Cape Cod: Making A Bucket List Consumer Reports: Getting The Best Deal On Cable Bundle Auriemma Turns To Knicks To Pick Up Pointers Witnesses Detail Tense Scenes At Bank, Home As Cheshire Trial Opens Central-air freon prices soar as R-22 refrigerant is being phased out Related Articles Michael Pineda At It Again April 24, 2014 Ellsbury Gone, But Not Forgotten By Red Sox Fans April 10, 2014 Yankees-Red Sox Begin Three-Game los angeles dmv Series Tuesday September 10, 2012 Multi-Pronged Question: What's Best For The Yankees? July 4, 2011 Find More Stories About Derek Jeter Jacoby Ellsbury Al East Michael Pineda Index by Keyword | Index by Date | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | About Our Ads | About Us | Contact Us | Advertise Online Baltimore Sun | Chicago Tribune | Daily Press | Hartford Courant | Los Angeles Times | Orlando Sentinel | Sun Sentinel | The Morning Call Hartford los angeles dmv Courant, 285 Broad Street, los angeles dmv Hartford, CT 06115 Please note the green-lined linked article text has been applied commercially without any involvement from our newsroom editors, los angeles dmv reporters or any other editorial staff.