Bartolo Colon hasn’t won a game since the beginning of August. He has a 5.09 ERA with a .298 opponents batting average since the all-star break, and he’s lost his past four decisions.

The lightning might be out of the bottle.

“When we went into this year, we weren’t sure how many innings we could get out of him,” Joe Girardi said. “There is some concern there, so we’ll continue to evaluate as we move forward… It’s location, it’s movement and it’s some velocity, as well. That’s why there are concerns.”

Great. Colon is cooked. Sabathia cannot command his fastball. Hughes stinks and has a bad back. Burnett is Burnett. Garcia has been very hittable.

It’s Nova and a prayer in the ALDS for the Yankees. This thing could be a three and out job for New York.

In case you couldn’t tell from watching, the numbers show that something’s wrong with C.C. Sabathia’s fastball

Since the beginning of August, hitters have been crushing Sabathia’s heater like few others in the major leagues.

Overall, it’s been hit to a .408 batting average by opponents over his last nine starts. Entering Tuesday, there were only three pitchers whose fastball had been hit for a higher average in this stretch.

The unfortunate leader happens to be Sabathia’s teammate, A.J. Burnett (.466).

The pitch location hasn’t mattered. If the ball is in the strike zone, it’s getting pummeled. The Rays bopped Sabathia’s fastball for four home runs the last time they faced him last month (they hit five against him in the game). Since then, Sabathia has yielded only one long ball with his fastball, but he’s given up 34 other hits with it.

Sabathia’s fastball velocity is not down at all comparatively. It’s still coming in at an average of 94.4 miles-per-hour. It’s going out at a faster velocity too, particularly when Sabathia throws it waist-high.

Since August 1, opponents are 27-for-53 (.509 batting average, .849 slugging percentage) in an at-bat that ends with a belt-high fastball. They hit .290 against it, with a .355 slugging percentage (meaning it was mostly hit for harmless singles) prior to this slump.

Since the velo is still there, I wonder what the issue is?  Lack of movement?  Maybe?  But, it’s probably all command.  And, maybe that’s a matter of being too strong…because of the six-man rotation and all…

Face it, over August and September, to date, Sabathia has pitched like a slob. And, he CC does this in October, the Yankees have zero chance at #28.

Via the Daily News yesterday -

Francisco Cervelli has experienced his share of concussions and numerous other occupational injuries. But the Yankees’ backup catcher completed Thursday’s 5-4, 10-inning loss to the Orioles despite absorbing a hard, shoulder-to-head blow from Nick Markakis on an out at the plate in the seventh.

“A little dizzy, but it’s OK. I’ve been hit before,” said Cervelli, who said he didn’t undergo any concussion testing after the game. “I’m ready to play tomorrow, and that’s it. Catchers gotta be tough.”

Cervelli has suffered at least three known concussions in his career, and he’s occasionally donned an oversized “Great Gazoo” batting helmet because of them. That look also was briefly adopted and ditched by Mets star David Wright when he returned after being hit in the head by a pitch in 2009.

“For Cervy to hang in there, he got hit pretty hard, and we’ll see how he is (Friday),” Joe Girardi said.

But, now, via Bryan Hoch today -

Rob Thomson just posted a new lineup minus Francisco Cervelli. Joe Girardi said Cervelli’s concussion symptoms are back and he’s being sent for an impact test.

Updates to follow, Russell Martin is catching.

Yikes.  Just the other day, I was reading about Drew Cumberland.  This is very serious stuff.  I hope that Cervelli is going to be O.K.

To date, this season, Bartolo Colon has faced a team with a winning percentage of .500 or better in 13 games (with 11 coming as a starter). He’s thrown 69 innings in this situation and his ERA is 4.57 (when facing these teams). Over these games, he’s faced 300 batters and allowed an OPS of .797 (and 11 homeruns).

To date, this season, Bartolo Colon has faced a team with a winning percentage less than .500 in 6 games (with 5 coming as a starter). He’s thrown 40 innings in this situation and his ERA is 1.13 (when facing these teams). Over these games, he’s faced 153 batters and allowed an OPS of .517 (and zero homeruns).

To date, this season, Freddy Garcia has faced a team with a winning percentage of .500 or better in 13 games (with 12 coming as a starter). He’s thrown 70.2 innings in this situation and his ERA is 3.82 (when facing these teams). Over these games, he’s faced 310 batters and allowed an OPS of .797 (and 7 homeruns).

To date, this season, Freddy Garcia has faced a team with a winning percentage less than .500 in 7 games (all as a starter). He’s thrown 46.2 innings in this situation and his ERA is 2.31 (when facing these teams). Over these games, he’s faced 185 batters and allowed an OPS of .616 (and 2 homeruns).

If the overall numbers of Colon and Garcia look good this year, to date, it’s because they really feasted on some bad teams.

Either the Yankees or the Red Sox are going to win the East. And, either the Rangers or Angels are going to win the West.

And, most likely, it’s the two left after that who are going to fight for the A.L. Wildcard this season.

If the Yankees don’t win the East, should they be concerned about losing the ‘card to the Rangers or Angels? What do you think?

The Angels sort of scare me – they are 26-12 since June 13th. They are finding a higher gear. The Yankees, meanwhile, are 11-10 since July 3rd. That’s not a great pace. Texas, by the way, is 15-5 since July 4th.

New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez has been battling a left shoulder injury of unknown severity for the past couple of weeks, an injury that may be the reason for his lower-than-average power production.

“It’s just a small issue that only bothers him when he dives for a ball,” manager Joe Girardi told ESPNNewYork.com after having a conversation with Rodriguez shortly before Sunday’s game between the Yankees and Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

But another clubhouse source, who asked that his identity not be revealed, acknowledged that Rodriguez has been suffering from what the source called “a strain” for several weeks.

“He’s managing it as best as he can,” the source said.

Girardi, however, said Rodriguez is playing with a sore shoulder, not a strain.

“Guys are sore and a little beat up,” he said. “No doubt about it. … No, it’s not a strain.”

Following the Yankees’ 10-4 win over the Cubs on Sunday, however, Rodriguez said his shoulder feels OK and he is getting treatment, calling it part of the normal wear and tear during a long season. He had three hits and scored three times during New York’s victory.

“You go through regular bumps and bruises in a long season,” he said. “I think that’s just another small example of it. But for the most part, I feel pretty good.”

He said he has been getting treatment on his shoulder for about 10 days, but called it “nothing out of the ordinary.”

“It feels OK,” he said.

Before Sunday’s game, he was seen with his left shoulder heavily wrapped in what appeared to be large ice packs. He also spent a long time in the trainer’s room and could be seen lifting 10 pound dumbbells under the supervision of Yankees conditioning coaches about two hours before the game.

What a drag it is getting old.