WHY THIS WEST COAST SWING IS HUGE

As of Memorial Day Weekend, the Yankees are percentage points ahead of the Red Sox for first place in the American League East. At 27-21, the Yankees know that they could have a better record than where they stand as of now. But, you have to move on from that. The Yankees will face a real test as they travel out to the West coast to take on the Mariners, A's, and Angels.(photo: AP)
SEATTLE- May 27-29: Although the Mariners are 13th in the American League in runs scored, they can throw out a starting pitcher every game that can dominate. On Friday, the Yanks get a look at phenom Michael Pineda. Pineda has been dominant in his rookie season, sporting a 6-2 record with a 2.16 ERA. He also has struck out 61 in 58.1 innings, and he is currently riding a 14 inning scoreless streak into this start. And by the way, the Yankees have never faced Pineda and we all know the troubles the Yankees have had with facing pitchers for the very first time.

On Saturday, the Yankees will get another crack at Felix Hernandez. Last season Hernandez went 3-0 in three starts while allowing just one earned run in 26 innings pitched against the Yanks. On Sunday the Yanks face Jason Vargas who is certainly no slouch. He is 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA this season.(Photo: Getty)
In the series, the Yankees will send out A.J Burnett, Ivan Nova, and CC Sabathia. With the three starters the Yanks are facing, it would be very encouraging if the Yankees can take two of three from Seattle before heading to Oakland.
(photo: AP)
OAKLAND- May 30-June 1: After playing three in the Pacific Northwest, the Yankees will travel south to take on the Oakland A's. Like the Mariners, the A's aren't a very good hitting team, but they sure can pitch. Oakland is 12th in the American League in runs scored, but they have a major league best 2.87 ERA. And of course, the Yankees have to face Oakland's three best starters. Trevor Cahill (2.02 ERA), Brett Anderson (2.84 ERA), and Gio Gonzalez (2.20 ERA) are in line to start Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, respectively. The Yankees will send out Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, and A.J. Burnett. The Yankees have had their way in Oakland the last few seasons. Since 2008 the Yankees are 9-3 in Oakland. At least that's something positive to look at when they're going to face three aces. And like in Seattle, if the Yanks can grab two of three you'll definitely take it.
LOS ANGELES- June 3-5: After an off day on June 2nd, the Yankees will go down to Anaheim to take on the Angels. The Angels have two aces like the Mariners and A's do, in Jered Weaver and Dan Haren. On the season Weaver is 6-4 with a 2.35 ERA, good for 8th in the American League, while Haren is 4-3 with a 2.24 ERA, good for 7th. The pitching match ups are not set for this series, but with the luck the Yankees have run into of late they'll probably have to face both of these aces. Since 2004, Angel Stadium has been a house of horrors for the Yankees, as the Bombers have gone 7-21 at the Big A in the regular season. And in the 2005 and 2009 postseason they dropped 2 of 3 both times in LA. It seems like if the Yankees can get one in this series you'd most certainly take it, but you know that you really want to take at least two of three as always.

After this nine game swing you'll really get a sense of what the Yankees really are. Some say the Yankees don't have an identity. But, after this nine game stretch, you'll know what the Yankees are and you'll know if they can handle elite pitching. If they can go 5-4 on this trip you'd have to be very pleased. But the one thing the Yankees have to do during this road trip is hit consistently with runners in scoring position. The Yankees have to make most of their opportunities with RISP. Don't expect them to go 1-13 with RISP and get a win. With the pitching they'll have to face, they'll need to take advantage of every opportunity because there may not be very many.



--Jesse Schindler, BYB Staff Writer




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