Trouble in NY

The Yankees have always been a well hitting team and this year the pitching has finally come around. The Yankees have been on a stretch where the starting pitchers have gone 6 or more innings consistently with a low ERA.

Before the season started the Yankees traded top catching prospect Jesus Montero for the 22 year old pitcher Michael Pineda. Pineda was injured before the season started and that was where the pitching problems began. It was a blessing to the Yankees and their fans when word that the 240 game winner  Andy Pettitte was making a return from retirement to fill the roll.

In the beginning of the season Freddie Garcia and Phil Hughes were no where as good as they were in the past and eventually Garcia would be sent to the bullpen. Hughes has shown why he won 18 games in 2010 in a few games, but it seems like you get all or nothing when he pitches.


Perhaps the biggest blow to the Yankees was the injury to Mariano Rivera. Rivera tore his ACL and partially tore his meniscus. X-Rays also showed he had a blood clot in his leg. Rivera would undergo surgery and be out for the entire year. The all time saves leader hinted this might be his last season, but he said he will come back next year. Rafael Soriano has taken over the role as closer. 


Yesterday the Yankees put CC Sabathia on the 15 day DL with a strained abductor muscle. That was a huge blow to the Yankees to lose their ace starter. During yesterday's game against the Indians Andy Pettitte took a ball off the ankle and X-rays showed that it was fractured. Pettitte is said to be out for a minimum of 6 weeks.   


The Yankees may hit a rough patch now, but their offense could bail them out. Pettitte should return somewhere in August. In August and September the Yankees play a lot of games against the American League East. They will get Joba Chamberlain and David Aardsma back soon to help the already good bullpen. 


Adam Warren and Freddie Garcia are said to fill the gap for Sabathia and Pettitte, but other alternatives could be a trade. Rumors have flown around that Zach Greinke, Cole Hamels, Ryan Dempster, and Matt Garza are available for trade. The one acquisition that has held much significance is the signing of Hiroki Kuroda who has a 3.40 ERA in 15 games this season.