Friday, June 01, 2007

The Yanks just had two more setbacks: (1) Giambi is likely done for the year; (2) Hughes is out until mid-July at least with a grade 3 ankle sprain. ARGH.

Joel Sherman sees one ray of hope: 1995. It's been 12 years since the RedSux beat the Yanks for the division title and that year had similar expectations and problems: the Yanks had big expectations after a rolling to an AL-best 70-43 record before the infamous 1994 strike, the Yanks had devastating injuries (Jimmy Key out for the year after five bad starts; he led the staff in '93 and '94 with a combined 35-10 record), the Yanks stank through their first 50 games (21-29 -- sound familiar?).

The boosts came from rookie Andy Pettitte and the mid-season addition of David Cone and the team finally put itself aright with a 26-7 closing stretch to go from five games under .500 through 111 games to 79-65 and the wild card.

Thus, a comeback is possible.

But to achieve that, the Yanks need to make an addition and hope their faith pays off. The faith portion is Roger Clemens, who starts Monday in Chicago (don't ask why the Yanks have two series with the Chisax in Chitown within 3 weeks -- monkeys must make the schedule).

The addition: another bat, in all likelihood. The best target is Mark Teixiera the Rangers' all-Star Gold Glove firstbaseman who will not stay in Texas after his contract runs out in 2008. The question is, will the Yanks do the deal if the price includes Melky Cabrera and Hughes, last year's first round pick Ian Kennedy (6-1, 1.29, 72K and 39H in 63IP in high-A ball), Joba Chamberlain (2-0, 1.61 and a Pedro-esque 14H in 28IP in high-A ball), or top lefty reliever Zach Kroenke. I wouldn't move Melky, no matter how much he's struggled at the plate.