YankeesRedSox.com

A word before I look at the team.  I understand that Hal Steinbrenner and his family own the Yankees and I understand that they wish to do something to remember their Dad.  But, that thing cannot be renaming Yankee Stadium "Steinbrenner Field" as I have read in some circles.  George was many things, but he was not bigger than the Yankees.  For 87 years the Yankees have played at Yankee Stadium.  It was originally built in 1923, refurbished in 1974-75 and a new one arose for the 2009 season.  It remains one of the four stadiums left that did not sell out their naming rights.  (Though ironically, Wrigley Field is in a way, the originator of naming rights) It remains to New Yorker's "The Stadium" and it always should remain that way.  The city should get in front of this issue and rename 161st Street in the Bronx "George Steinbrenner Way" There are plenty of other streets named throughout NYC for much lesser figures, that would be the correct way to proceed.

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Now on to baseball.  As things stand the Yankees have a 2-game lead in the division with a 5-game lead in the wild card.  They have finished their trips to the West Coast, but they also have 13 games left against Tampa, which could go a long way to deciding things in the AL.  September 20th-September 26th looks to be the critical stretch with four games against Tampa followed by three games against Boston. 

The Yankees have 2 big issues they need to address.

1- The bullpen.  Mariano is back to being Mariano, but he needs to be handled gently.  The problem is after him, where do you turn?  Damaso Marte is great against lefties, but wild against righties.  Joba has had bad luck, .370 BABIP, but something weird is also happening.  The percentage of balls outside the strikezone that hitters make contact with has jumped from 40% in 2007 to 61% in 2010.  When he came up in 2007 he threw sliders 34% of the time and curveballs only 2% with fastballs at 62%.  In 2010 he throws a fastball 65%, slider 27% and curve 7%. I wonder if he needs to go back to throwing more sliders and less curveballs.  (Though I will also readily admit that Lopez parked a 97-mph fastball last Saturday for a grand slam)

Beyond Joba there are plenty of questions as well.  Robertson is better, but still wild.  Chan Ho Park is still a mistake signing.  Aceves is probably gone for the year, which is a HUGE loss, and Mitre will be back soon.  One guy to keep an eye on is Albie.  He is dominating in Scranton pitching only one inning at a time.  That's significant because in his career he has been much better in his first 25 pitches than his next 25.  Could he be part of a bridge to Rivera?  

If the Yankees feel Joba will come around and Albie can be trusted in big innings, then a trade is probably not necessary.  But if they don't, Brian Cashman needs to work the phones.

2- The bench  The Yankees need to build a better bench.  They were on the right track with guys like Russo and Pena, but those guys can't hit.  Both are sub .500 OPS.  Thames is a nice piece to have and Cervelli is a solid backup catcher, but beyond that the Yankees need some help.  An interesting move they are currently trying is Eduard Nunez at third and second.  Nunez is a shortstop hitting .305/.354/.405 at Scranton with 18 steals.  If he is ready to play multiple positions on the infield, he would allow the Yankees a chance to rest A-Rod and Jeter more or DH them more.  Ultimately though, it comes down to Nick Johnson and what his prognosis is.  If he is truly hurt for the year (and I would bet he is) a trade makes a ton of sense.

16 days to the deadline and counting.