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

Reality Check Time, Yankee Fans

In today's game of baseball, going eight innings and allowing 4 runs is usually good enough to win. That's what AJ Burnett did last night but the Yankees lost 4-2 to the lowly Baltimore Orioles. Most Yankee fans, myself included, are down on AJ Burnett and rightfully so. But last night's game is on the hitters who weren't able to do anything against Jeremy Guthrie. That doesn't change the fact that Burnett is always a mystery when he takes the mound. With that being said it is apparent to many that if the playoffs started tomorrow (and the Yankees are in it) Bartolo Colon would be the number two. Yankee fans how comfortable do you feel about that??

With the trade deadline being tomorrow at 4pm, I'm not sure what the Yankees will do if anything. Typically, most teams ask for more from the Yanks than they do from other teams. Just think about the Mariners last year with the Cliff Lee dance. Because of that I can understand why Brian Cashman is holding firm against being held up by the Rockies or Dodgers or anyone else for that matter. The problem is Cashman shouldn't be in this position.

We all knew at the end of last season when it was becoming clear that Andy Pettite was not coming back that the Yankees were going to need another starting pitcher. Brian Cashman set his free agent sights on Cliff Lee and got played and once the Phillies signed Lee, he was left to take gambles by signing Colon and Freddy Garcia. Gambles that have paid off so far against the Mariners, A's, Royals, Orioles, Mets and Rockies. But what will happen in October when it could be the Rangers, Tigers, Angels or Red Sox, let alone if they made it to the Series and faced the Phillies or Giants.

The truth of the matter is that Brian Cashman set the stage for where the team is at going back to last year's trade deadline when he couldn't seal the deal on Lee because of Eduardo Nunez and compounded it by striking out in free agency to get Lee. What if Colon and Garcia failed, where would the Yankees be???

A few weeks ago I happened to be watching Mike Francesa and a caller brought up that the Rafael Soriano signing and his subsequent mediocre-at-best performance proved that Cashman was right when he came out against the signing. Francesa went on to defend Cashman further even saying that he was not so sure that Nunez was the reason why the Yankees didn't make the Lee deal. Of course, Mike has a relationship with Cashman so I am not surprised that he would be defending him. However, the fact remains that whether Soriano panned out or not has nothing to do with the starting rotation. The bullpen is not an issue except for the fact that they don't have a reliable lefty. Oh yeah, didn't Cashman acquire Felicano - he who was overworked last year by the Mets and probably won't pitch at all this year for the Yanks??

The reality is that the Yankees knew that with their offense, CC and Rivera they would have enough to compete and probably make the playoffs. The fans will get all jacked up and dream of another championship when the reality is that this team is not good enough. The trade deadline will come and go and the Yankees may make a deal but unless its some kind of blockbuster this team will not win the World Series and I don't see Cashman having the guts to make such a move. Besides, a playoff series or two will be good for business, even though they sell the crap that only a championship is a successful season.