I hope the Yankees can make it to third place

[Hank Parks]

That's about it this year

[YankeeFanUK]

end of May 07 the Yanks were 7 games under..they didnt get over the .500 hump till the middle of June YET they won 90+ and made the p/offs YET AGAIN...dont write them off yet my friend

[Hank Parks]

the pitching is not good at all like the other years
they should of went for Santana
the Japanese guy is terrible and those two young kids are bombing all over the place
Mussina is on his way out
He gives you 4 or 5 good innings than it's Heroshima time

[mikeymussina35]

the pitching is not good at all like the other years
they should of went for Santana
the Japanese guy is terrible and those two young kids are bombing all over the place
Mussina is on his way out
He gives you 4 or 5 good innings than it's Heroshima time

Mussina is not on his way out

5 straight wins while giving 5 or 6 solid innings. He is 39 for god sakes.
They have had a better start than last year so don't get on them just yet but the way they are playing is very frustrating.

[Urbanshocker13]

Wang has been great! The bullpen has been good, Mo being outstanding. Moose has been good this year. Rasner so far has been alright. The two Young guns have been dissapointing, but that's what might happen when you have young players. The offence has been horrible, flat and unproductive but they are missing one of the best hitters in this generation from the lineup and the best hitting Yankee catcher who didn't wear number 8(or argueblely 15). So it's really too early to throw in the towel, if the offence finally comes aroung the Yanks will be alot better.

[foresthawk]

One thing helping is that a lot of teams seem to be struggling so far this year. As noted, its early. But the pitching (starting especially) is not strong, and the offense has not been good all year. Missing A-rod and Posada has been a blow, but the rest of them should be hitting, and isn't. Seven runs against the Rays in four games was alarming.
And once you get by A-rod, there isn't much punch on this years team, meaning home run power.

[Evangelion]

the pitching is not good at all like the other years
they should of went for Santana
the Japanese guy is terrible and those two young kids are bombing all over the place
Mussina is on his way out
He gives you 4 or 5 good innings than it's Heroshima time

LoL, their pitching staff was better last year? You are aware Wang been one of the best pitchers in MLB. Mussina is much better than he was last year, too. The pitching staff was in worse condition last year than this year. Heck, the bullpen is better than last year, too. If you're going to complain, at least complain about the issues the Yankees' team having, like the offense.

If Pettitte wasn't struggling, the pitching won't be a concern with how Rasner pitched. I'm under the impression people expect a decent pitcher to be in a fifth hole when many teams are dealing with worse issues regarding starting pitching. If Pettitte gets back on track and Rasner picks like he has, there's no problem with starting pitching. The current problem is the Yankees' offense not being able to break through good pitching, because it's what they're being hit with a lot. You thought they turned a corner when they mangled up King Felix, but they haven't. Whether it's the top talent, C.C. or Kazmir or the young and up and coming talent, Jackson and Garza, the team can't hit against these pitchers. You can hurt a bullpen, if you can get to it much earlier than the 7th inning.

[DoubleX]

the pitching is not good at all like the other years
they should of went for Santana
the Japanese guy is terrible and those two young kids are bombing all over the place
Mussina is on his way out
He gives you 4 or 5 good innings than it's Heroshima time

The pitching was much worse this time last year as the team paraded out guys like Jeff Karstens, Kei Igawa, Chase Wright, Tyler Clippard, and Matt DeSalvo for a number of starts. Mike Mussina was very mediocre last year as well, leaving the team with just two reliable pitchers for most of the season - Wang and Pettitte. The bullpen was also much shakier last year.

It's a long season, and in recent years the Yankees have come back from greater deficits later in the season, so it's not time to panic. However, I am concerned by the offense's ineptitude. Losing A-Rod and Posada hurts, but when you're paying guys like Damon, Jeter, Abreu, Matsui, Giambi, and Cano, the team should not struggle to score a run or two like it has been.

[Mike27]

This reminds me of reading the newspaper... Let's rip apart the Yankees because they are starting slow JUST LIKE LAST YEAR, but ignore all the positives, just lie about the pitching staff, and, OH NO, a 21 year old pitcher isn't pitching like a seasoned major league pitcher.... What a surprise.
Hank Parks, I've seen many negative posts where you are quick to jump on a player/team for underperforming. Obviously we're all growing a little tired of this mess, but look at the positives, and try to be optimistic. Wang, Rasner, and Mussina have been pitching very well lately, Pettitte will still be reliable, and one of the younger guys will probably start pitching on an MLB level, whether it be Hughes, Kennedy, Wright, or someone else that wants to step up. The bullpen is really becoming a strength for this team, something you just completely choose to ignore, even though it was horrific last year. And yes, the hitting has sucked, even factoring in the losses of Po and Arod. But do you really expect this team to finish in 4th or 5th place?????

[dougj1]

I found your question about finishing 4th or 5th to be interesting...I really don't care one way or the other, but obviously you do...If they wound up in 3rd place I guess you would consider that a good season but I don't...I'll tell you what a good season is; It's when your GM has put together a team that might not win a WS, but shows considerable improvement over the previous year and has improved the team so that the chances of winding up in a WS are enhanced. That to me, is a good season...Brian Cashman has, for 3 years taken over the decision making of this team.The 06 team did not get closer to the goal of WS winner, anymore than the 07 team which could not even win the Division, and the 08 team look no better.This rebuilding with "Youth" , hasn't shown a thing.Furthermore, I have never seen a worse bench than this current bunch.I know getting pitching is difficult, but there's no excuse for a group of reserves who are as lousy as this group.....Cashman looks overwhelmed the last few years.This once great franchise has been turned into an also ran in which he cannot put together the right pieces to make them a true winner...Some years the SP is poor, but the pen is good. Other years it's vice versa...This year hitting is a problem ,exacerbated by the poor showing of the bench...It's always something with this GM . It's time someone else gets a chance to try and bring back the greatness that Cashman inherited from Michael but has allowed to disappear.

[bigbadwolf]

Will you recant your statement if the Yankees reach the WS???

[YankeeFanUK]

Will you recant your statement if the Yankees reach the WS???

thats a big IF my friend

[dougj1]

If the Yanks go to the WS this year, I not only will apologize for tearing into Cashman(I've been at it since the days of Henry Rodriguez, Joe Oliver, Witasik, Wohlers,Boehriner and others on that 2001 club) but I will give you the keys to my car.More important, I will keep all of you happy, by never darkening this site again.(Don't forget to bring up this reply on the day they enter the WS).You might get lucky since the AL this year looks rotten, but don't hold your breath...I won't look for any comment by you, if I'm correct.

[bigbadwolf]

I will be more than happy to acknowledge your insight and admit you were right if the Yankees finish 3rd or worse. You can keep the keys to your car, just send me a six pack of brew.

[bigbadwolf]

thats a big IF my friend

You can say that for almost any team in MLB. No one has a lock on it.