Next Four Weeks Will Tell Us About Yankees

As of this morning, the Yankees sit five games back (in the loss column) of the first place Boston Red Sox. That’s amazing - considering how the Yankees have hovered around .500 all season.

The Yankees will play the Red Sox on July 3rd - at Yankee Stadium - which will be the first game of a four-game series. Between now and then, the Red Sox will play 21 games and the Yankees will play 22 games (or, 23 games, if that rain-out game against the Mets is made up when the two teams face each other again).

The Yankees will have 10 games at home and 12 games on the road. The Red Sox will have 9 games at home and 12 games on the road. Six of the Yankees’ 22 games will be against the Reds and Astros. And, six of the Red Sox’ 21 games will be against the Reds and the Astros. Could the Reds and Astros play a big hand in determining how close the Yankees and Red Sox are when New York and Boston next face each other? It sure sounds like it.

In their “other” games between now and July 3rd, the Yankees get to play 9 games against the Padres, Rangers and Pirates. Clearly, the Yankees must win at least 6 of these nine games as well.

The Red Sox, in their “other” games between now and July 3rd, have to play 12 games against the Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Phillies and Rays. It would be nice to see Boston lose at least 6 of those 12 games.

This all said, the next four weeks should tell us all we need to know about the Yankees and whether or not they’re a contender this season. This period is an excellent junction in the season for New York to make a run at Boston and close that five game gap in the loss column.

To be candid, I expect the Red Sox to play, at the least, around .500 ball between now and July 3rd. And, I want to see the Yankees play .600 baseball between now and July 3rd. Looking at the schedule, there’s no reason why the Yankees cannot win around 14 games between now and when they next face the Sox.

And, if New York doesn’t take advantage of this situation, then, sadly, we may not see them make much of a run at any time this season.

June 9, 2008 | Filed Under Rivalry Snapshots

Comments

8 Responses to “Next Four Weeks Will Tell Us About Yankees”

OnceIWasAYankeeFan on June 9th, 2008 9:25 am

First of all, the Yankees will still have an opportunity to do something in July when they practically stay home the entire month. So I wouldn’t draw conclusions based on what happens between now and the 4th of July holiday.

I believe I previously expressed annoyance about the unbalanced interleague schedule, and while Arizona doesn’t look as tough as they did in April, the Sox still have the tougher opponents, on paper, than the Yankees do.

It will still come down to who pitches better, and to a lesser extent, whether the Red Sox can start winning on the road. On the pitching issue, its pretty clear that the trends favor the Red Sox. Both their rotation and bullpen have been performing well lately, while the Yankee pitching staff, too put it nicely, has had some issues lately.

You might have also mentioned that the injury shoe is on the other foot this month and that may have an impact as well.
Steve Lombardi on June 9th, 2008 10:35 am

~~First of all, the Yankees will still have an opportunity to do something in July when they practically stay home the entire month.~~

Sure. BUT, if Boston wins 14 of their next 21 and the Yankees go 11-11 in their next 22, then New York will be 9 games back in the loss column on July 3rd. And, THEN, they’ll need a HUGE July to get back into the race. That’s my point - that N.Y. needs to start playing better - NOW.

~~You might have also mentioned that the injury shoe is on the other foot this month and that may have an impact as well.~~

Playing the injury card, IMHO, is excuse making. Good teams overcome.
MJ on June 9th, 2008 10:44 am

I believe I previously expressed annoyance about the unbalanced interleague schedule…the Sox still have the tougher opponents, on paper, than the Yankees do.
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Cry me a river about the schedule. The Yanks played how many games on the road in April? They played how many consecutive games to start the season?

Remember that the Red Sox will not cross beyond the Central time zone after the end of July whereas the Yanks have a trip to the West Coast after Labor Day. So spare me the whining.
OnceIWasAYankeeFan on June 9th, 2008 11:41 am

The issue is the schedule in the month of June, where Steve wants/expects/hopes for a Yankee revival. And clearly that schedule favors the Yankees when they don’t have to play the Phillies or Cardinals or Rays or a not quite as good D-Backs.

Fortunately, the games aren’t played on paper and unless the Yankees get better, more consistent play in all areas of the game, I wouldn’t expect them to play .600 ball.

Last year when they were at .500 at this time, they had a run differential of +50. This year its still in the negative range. Until that changes there’s no reason to expect big improvements in results.
Steve Lombardi on June 9th, 2008 11:57 am

Having Posada and sitting Molina could make the difference in that run differential.
hopbitters on June 9th, 2008 12:08 pm

With Arizona, it somewhat depends where you hit them in the schedule. If you get Webb, Haren, and Davis, you could have trouble. If you get some combination of Owings, Johnson, and Scherer, you’ll probably be fine. Those guys can beat up weaker teams when they’re on, but I doubt Boston’s rotation would be fazed. The offense is pretty much a crapshoot.
Raf on June 9th, 2008 12:18 pm

Playing the injury card, IMHO, is excuse making. Good teams overcome.
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That isn’t necessarily true. Some things you just can’t plan for. The ‘79 Yankees come to mind.
ken on June 9th, 2008 4:44 pm

Thoughts about this thread:

1- The Yanks are playing for the wild card. And that is still a tight race which we have a very good chance to get. At this point, it’s the Sox’ division to lose.

2- A lot depends on Pettitte and Wang getting back in form. Otherwise, nothing else matters.

3- Making a big move in June would be nice but not necessary.

4- The past week, despite some exciting wins, is not encouraging. We made KC look like a real team which until this past weekend, they were not.