By JUSTIN TERRANOVA
A look at five keys to the Yankees’ second half as they attempt to make the playoffs after missing out last season. Tomorrow we will look at the Mets.
The Yankees are obviously in much better position than the Mets — both in the standings and physically. The Bombers enter the second half three games behind the Red Sox in the AL East and 2 ½ games ahead of the Rangers in the wild-card race.
1. Figure out the Angels, Red Sox — This has become a beaten-up point over the past couple of days with the Bombers swept by the Angels, but it doesn’t make it any less true.
Cabrera and Gardner have far exceeded expectations with their center field platoon, but can the youngsters keep it up?
Swisher’s personality has paid dividends in the clubhouse, but he’s been up-and-down on the field. Hinske has looked good in pinstripes, but the loss of Xavier Nady could come back and bite the Bombers.
3. Trust in Phil Hughes — Hughes has been amazing since being moved to the bullpen — posting an 0.98 ERA in 13 games; he hasn’t allowed a run since his second relief appearance in Boston.
Sergio Mitre likely will begin the second half as the Bombers’ fifth starter, which is a good thing, in my opinion. Alfredo Aceves looked great as the Yankees’ long man out of the bullpen, and it’s not as if Brett Tomko or anyone else seems prepared to take over that role for him.
If Mitre isn’t up to the challenge, then at least the Yankees will know it and could pursue other options for the fifth starter. If they can find a way to land Roy Halladay obviously all the problems disappear, but it’s not a move fans should count on happening.
5. Hope the Rays don’t get red hot — I believe the Rangers can make the playoffs, but if they do it will be as AL West champion. Though the Angels own the Yankees, they still are not as good as Angels teams in years past. For now they are without Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter and eventually they could succumb to what has been a brutal injury season. And I just don’t see the Yankees fading that way unless they suffer a rash of injuries. And I doubt the Rangers are on the verge of a dominant second half in the heat of Arlington.
The Mariners and the AL Central second-runs (White Sox, Twins) shouldn’t show up on the Yankees’ radar either, so that leaves the Rays, who should scare any Yankees fan.
With their young talent, Tampa Bay has shown they are capable of running off a winning streak at any time. If they sustain that play, the Yankees could be the odd team out in the AL East again.
The Yankees and Rays have split eight games so far this season and Tampa Bay will have 10 more head-to-head chances to make a move on the Bombers, whom they trail by 3½ games right now in the wild-card chase.
