The Yanks host the Orioles this weekend at the Stadium. Next week, they go to Tampa for three and then to Baltimore for a four-game series.
So, here it is, the Yanks have been mincing around for a month and now they’ve got their toughest ten-game stretch of the season.
I wonder if they’ll rise to the occasion. I can’t call it.
[Photo Credit: Matthew Pugliese]
It doesn't get much easier after that. They get Boston for three games and then Tampa for three. So that's 13 of the next 16 games against O's and Rays.
Yeah. And the A's once more. Though the season ends with a nice helping of Minnie, Toronto and the Sox.
Returning to a topic I broached briefly yesterday---the more I think about it, the more I think the Nats are crazy to shut down Strasburg.
I understand the argument that he's a hugely valuable resource they should product for the longterm, and I would never advocate making him throw 300 innings or the like. On the other hand, if you look at his game logs, they *have* been careful with him so far. Plus, I am not sure what legitimate incentive the Nats have to protecting him for the long run:
--He already had an injury, and protecting him this season is no guarantee he will avoid injury in the coming years
--As I understand it, a heavy pitching load is most likely to affect a pitcher the following year, not this year, so there is lower risk that he gets hurt during the stretch run.
-- He will be a free agent in 2017, so the most the team could hope to get is another 4 years of service.
-- His agent is Scott Boras, and this suggests that the Nats have very little chance of resigning him
--As much young talent as the Nats have, nevertheless this is a franchise starved for success. Moreover, for most teams the window of opportunity for winning the big one is narrow.
So, as I see it, if the Nats stick to a hard innings limit, they hurt their chances this year (a good year for them, too, as there is no dominant team in the league), all in the name of keeping Strasburg for at most four years before he signs with another team, on the hope that they can get another post season push or two in those years.
Nope. If I'm the Nats brass I go for the gusto this season and worry about next year...next year.
On keeping Strasburg out of the postseason, I'll believe it when I see it.
[4] Me too!
O's win. Three back.
I can't help but watch the games, but these next 10 games scare the shit out of me. Simply put, losing Teix in an already questionable lineup, is the straw that broke the camels back. We need Robbie and Grandy to catch on fire, and some 'surprisingly good' performances by our starters.
But on paper, the team we are now putting out there is barely a .500 team.... and against the league's better teams, have a real uphill battle.
The Orioles are not one of the league's better teams on paper.
In local news:
Last night Red Sox rookie Zach Stewart had an inauspicious debut, coughing up nine runs in three innings, the most runs in a Sox first start since Norwood Gibson allowed nine in 1903.
Tonight, Daniel Bard returns. Bard walked 29 in 31 innings in Pawtucket. Angel batters better keep their heads on respective swivels.
The horrible terrible AAA Blue Jays have embarrassed the scary awesome Rays, 2-0.
Ace Lester gives up 4 ER in the first 3 innings against Trout & Company.
Taking my son to our first game at the new stadium Friday against the O's. What time should we arrive to see BP, etc? Any chance of autographs if we get there really early? We're sitting row 20 behind home plate.
Thanks!