Random Yankee Thoughts

Oakland, CA (WFAN)  -- A few random thoughts heading into this weekend's series in Boston:

*Yanks will still be in first place on Monday, no matter what happens in this series. That was an important position to consider when the Yankees started their long road stretch on July 27th with a 2 ½ game lead.

But before we get too comfortable, remember that the Rangers are serious wildcard contenders and visit Yankee Stadium next week. Josh Hamilton is back and ready to put on another show in New York. And the same White Sox team that smacked the Yankees around a few times in Chicago three weeks ago is back too.

And for good measure there are four games with the Angels in September (three in Anaheim plus a makeup game in NY).

Yanks are looking good and I still think they win the division fairly comfortably. But as Han said to Luke, "We're not out of this yet."

*Fans everywhere have been wringing their hands over the Yanks 5th starter situation. Well check out this breakdown: the Yankees are 63-34 (.649) in games started by CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte, and Joba Chamberlain. They are 13-11 in games started by anyone else.

This is totally acceptable, considering your 5th starter won't even pitch in the postseason.

As comparison, in 2003 (the last time the Yankees went to the World Series) they were 82-45 (.646) in games started by Mike Mussina, David Wells, Roger Clemens, and Andy Pettitte. They were 19-and-16 in games started by others, a group that included such fan favorites as Jeff Weaver, Jose Contreras, Sterling Hitchcock, and Jorge DePaula.

Regardless of who is the 5th starter this Yankee team is perfectly capable of getting to the World Series. And if they don't, it will hardly be Sergio Mitre's fault.

*Mark Teixeira for MVP is worth the discussion. But is it really possible that a big-time free agent signed by the Yankees who immediately produces big power numbers can lose to a guy that happens to flirt with .400 for a while and wins the batting title on a Minnesota team that finishes well out of the race?

It already happened…in 1977. Rod Carew hit .388 for a Twins team that finished almost 20 games out and won the AL MVP. Reggie Jackson (.286-32-110) finished 8th!! Check out the results here thanks to Baseball-Reference.com.

Joe Mauer is having a phenomenal year. And as positively as Mark Teixeira has impacted the Yankees this year, he's not having the kind of year Mauer is.

Of course, now all Teixeira has to do is hit three home runs in Game 6 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium and nobody will worry about the MVP. And maybe they'll name a candy bar after him.

*And then there is the MVP candidacy of Derek Jeter, batting .331 and quieting critics of his defense with his best glove-work in years (check our last entry to hear Infield Coach Mick Kelleher's comments on that). And click below to hear Joe Girardi give reporters his thoughts on Jeter's latest hot streak and MVP caliber year…



*Now that the Yanks have polished off their draft and signings, here are some opinions I solicited from scouts from other teams about the Yankee selections. I won't give you their names, since they are commenting on players that aren't their own, but I will share some of the insights:

Slade Heathcott, OF, 18 years old (1st round): A "great pick" who has a "little Johnny Damon to him." Seen as a line-drive hitter who can develop 20 HR power.

J.R. Murphy, C, 18 years old (2nd round): Needs some more time learning to catch, but will make his way to the majors because "this kid is gonna hit." Another scout called him "a true baseball player."

Adam Warren, RHP, 21 years old (4th round) and Caleb Cotham, RHP, 21 years old (5th round): Both kids viewed as back of the rotation starters. Warren throws 91-94 with a great slider and could move quickly through the system. He started 4-1, 1.05 ERA for Staten Island. Cotham would have gone higher if not for a knee injury. Throws 88-91 with good command of three pitches.

Robert Lyerly, 3B, 22 years old (6th round): Has good power, what one scout called "loud swings," but probably more of a first baseman than a third baseman.

Sam Elam, LHP, 22 years old, (8th round): One veteran scout called this a "great pick" because of his explosive fastball, anywhere from 91-96. Control is a problem. He walked 19 batters in his first 5.1 innings between the Gulf Coast Yankees and Staten Island.

Yanks also drew some raves for 7th rounder Sean Black, a 21-year old RHP who is 4-0, 1.52 ERA at Staten Island and 9th rounder Gavin Brooks, a 21-year old LHP who has a 0.85 ERA and .171 BAA in 22 games at Staten Island.

Meanwhile, the Yankees thought enough of 44th round pick Evan DeLuca, a LHP from Immaculata H.S. in New Jersey, to give him $500,000 rather than have him accept a full ride to San Diego State. He is also a product of the Jack Cust Baseball Academy in New Jersey. DeLuca impressed scouts with a jump in velocity this summer from around 90 up to 94. So the Yankees made sure they didn't let him get away.

**Enjoy Yankees-Red Sox.

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Sweeny