...if Warren continues to pitch well in a starting role why would the Yanx move him to the pen?...that makes absolutely no sense.
Keep an eye on Toronto. That team is a run scoring machine. If they get some pitching they could be tough.
Statistically over a 162 game season, a .500 team can swing from +/- 6 to 12 games. Do you get up and leave the stadium assuming a win if they have a 2 run lead after 3 innings of play? Of course not. As you've noted, some tough stretches of schedule ahead. Let's see what they can gut together.
Yet, this team continues to beat mosts expectations and is actually fun to watch. They bounced back nicely from that terrible streak. This is not the 2014 Yankees, which is a relief. Tanaka back and Nova soon and there is still a reason for optimism. Baseball in the summer, a game on every night and a team that's worth watching.
Until this recent streak this team has been a case of one step forward & two steps back so I'm hoping that this time they can stay afloat & continue doing what they're doing because you're right, for the first time in a while this team is fun to watch.
That's my point also Ron, though I am enjoying the teams current success theirs just been way to much inconsistency for this team to get excited about this early in the season. And I know everyone is looking forward to the return of Nova but we've really got no idea how he's gonna pitch. So I'll reserve judgement on him & the team for another month or so.
Can I go on record as saying I'm already more positive of Nova's anticipated starts than I am of CC's? They've been more good than bad but agree, needs to be more consistency - and hopefully consistent on the winning side. Looking forward to Ellsbury returning. He has a huge impact at the top of the lineup. There's a marked decrease in Gardner's production (avg and obp) since Ellsbury went down.
Gardner battered 291 when Ellsbury was hitting in the lineup. He's battered 253 since Ellsbury went down.
..I said before the season began that CC and Tex were the "wild cards" for this team...Tex has been surprisingly valuable...but CC, not so much. I just have no confidence in the guy anymore.
...yup, since Ellsbury is no longer on base and a threat to steal, Gardner is no longer getting those predictable FBs...his BA has not only suffered, but he's also striking out at a higher rate.
Where was all this optimism during the losing streak? What has changed with this team since then....it's the same. The only thing you can say with certainty is that this team has sucked less than the rest of the division up until now.
You can also add that this team is much better than last year. I don't know how the records compare this year vs last at this time but a 2-3 run deficit in the early innings is no longer insurmountable - that was tough to watch. What does that mean for this years team right now? 1, more fun to watch, and 2, has a shot to win a very unremarkable division.* * It's June.
Are you still wearing that Lava Rock Birthstone Rick......... I know you got to Cleopatra long before Marc Antony........
...^^^ I heard a comment on Tex last week, how he's gone on a diet this last year beginning in the off season. No Gluten, no Sugar, no Fats (less red meat)....... I guess he's got a inherent inflammation condition, and this diet reduces inflammation tremendously, as well as Tex said: "this Diet, (recommended by his personal trainer); it's given me alot of energy and stamina I did not have last year"........
