tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Yanks Hop Into 1st

Unbelievably, the Yankees in spite of injuries and a weakened, duct taped pitching staff is one half game in first place this morning as a result of their 8-3 win Saturday and Boston's 6-4 loss to Pittsburgh.  Despite Boston's torrid June prior to hitting the Steel City, the Yankees have been able to keep up with their arch rivals.  Not to mention the fact that the Red Sox hold an 8-1 series lead this season over the Pinstripers.  If the Yanks had won 4 of the 9 games they would be 3 1/2 games up.

When you look at the season so far, both teams have flaws and injuries to deal with.  The flaws are in both of their pitching staffs.  Whichever team is able to stabilize their rotation and bullpen will probably win the division with the loser being the wild card.  But one has to wonder what would happen in October when you will be facing another team whose pitching staff may be more consistent.  Just look at what happened last year with Texas.  And while we focus on what Boston and New York will do at the trade deadline, what happens if a Detroit for example is able to get a top pitcher to team up with Justin Verlander similar to what Texas did last year with Cliff Lee??  Verlander, Felix Hernandez and Max Scherzer.....mmmmm.  I'm not suggesting Hernandez is available, particularly with the Mariners in the hunt for the AL West crown but you get where I'm going with this.

Time will tell and as we head into July things will certainly heat up.