Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Perception vs. Reality
If all one did was read ESPN.com or The Sporting News, you'd think that in the last month the Red Sox had been surging, and the Yankees faltering, the reversal of fortune culminating in this past weekend's emotional series in Fenway.
HOWEVER, if you have also been looking at the standings, you'd have noticed that in the month or so since the Yankees swept the Sox in the Bronx, the Red Sox have gained exactly -1/2 games.
The Yankees have the second best record in the majors.
Relax.
Mussina and Brown will be back. We still have Vasquez. Between Hernandez, Contreras, Sturtze, Halsey, Lieber, and whoever else, there will be one serviceable starter and several long men for the playoffs. So even if the Yankees don't get Johnson, I still like our chances.
Are the Yankees prohibitive favorites? No ... but this is baseball, even the best teams lose 4 out of 10 times.
When you have an 8 game lead in your division, you can survive with a rotation that's in disarray for a couple weeks ... or months.
The most important thing now is to rest the bullpen.
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HOWEVER, if you have also been looking at the standings, you'd have noticed that in the month or so since the Yankees swept the Sox in the Bronx, the Red Sox have gained exactly -1/2 games.
The Yankees have the second best record in the majors.
Relax.
Mussina and Brown will be back. We still have Vasquez. Between Hernandez, Contreras, Sturtze, Halsey, Lieber, and whoever else, there will be one serviceable starter and several long men for the playoffs. So even if the Yankees don't get Johnson, I still like our chances.
Are the Yankees prohibitive favorites? No ... but this is baseball, even the best teams lose 4 out of 10 times.
When you have an 8 game lead in your division, you can survive with a rotation that's in disarray for a couple weeks ... or months.
The most important thing now is to rest the bullpen.
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