Phil Hughes wasn't terrible. That is about the best I can say about his outing tonight. He went 5.2 innings and gave up 4 runs on 4 hits. Boone Logan followed him and on a misplayed ball by Nunez, they score 2 more runs. Raphael Soriano gave up 1 more run, for a total of 7 runs scored by Baltimore. However, the only way the Yankees were winning tonight was if Phil and those that followed pitched a shut out. With the Yankees only run coming off the solo home run by Curtis Grandrson in the first inning. One run, that was it from the Yankee offense. So, as much as Phil didn't pitch great and Nunez made errors in the outfield, the Yankees lost because out of 10 players going to the plate, only three (Jeter, Granderson and A-
Rod) got hits. It was an ugly and painful at times to watch game.
The Yankees team batting average is at .273, which is 4th in MLB. Keep in mind, however, Jeter currently has a .400 batting average. So, think what that team average would look like if you didn't have Jeet's hot bat factored in. The Yankee offense is anemic. The pitching is starting to look like the good part of this team (and that isn't saying much).
The obvious answers right now is you don't have Swisher or Gardner in the line up. I think it was a mistake for the Yankees not to have put Gardner on the DL and call up someone from the minor leagues. Not only could you use the bat, you really needed it for the outfield. Clearly, Nunez is struggling. Before last night, he never played the outfield in his major league career. I am sure he was wound so tight worrying the ball would find him (which it did). Andruw Jones and Raul Ibanez cannot handle the outfield every night. The Yankees took a chance on trying to piece the outfield together without Swisher and Gardner without putting them on the DL. They rolled the dice and lost.
The bats are cold and the pitching is mediocre at best right now. We all know it's early yet. But things have a way of slipping quickly in baseball, if you don't stop the bleeding.
Yes, there are certainly more questions than answers right now for the Yankees and they need to find some of those answers now. Hopefully, Swisher and Gardner will be back sooner rather than later.
As for Phil Hughes, like I said, he wasn't terrible. I don't know if moving him to the bull pen is the right decision now. He did do better than his outing (which isn't saying much); but they may not have a choice but to keep him as a starter. The next big start will come from David Phelps, who is taking Freddy Garcia's spot. The results of his start may answer one of the starting pitching questions.
Tomorrow, hopefully the Yankees can salvage the series and take 2 out of 3 from Baltimore and then it's on to Kansas City. Let's hope so.
As usual, GO YANKEES!
