YANKEES LOSE 5-2; REDS TAKE 2 OF 3 IN SERIES

You know your team is struggling when it appears the only way the Yankees can win these days is if our starters/bullpen throw a shutout.  That's where this team is right now.  Today the Yankees lost to the Reds 5-2 which means they lost this three game series.  The only game they won was Friday night when Andy Pettitte threw 8 innings of shutout ball and Boone Logan shut the door in the 9th.  Today, although only giving up 3 runs, CC Sabathia was on the losing end of a 5-2 loss.  CC's final line:
7 IP - 3 Runs - 6 Hits - 6 K's - 5 BB's

Once again, it was the Yankees offensive woes that you have to "credit" for this loss.  You can certainly make an argument that the Yankees gave CC a 2-0 lead and he could not hold it.  But, in the end, on a day when Sabathia struggled with his control, he still only surrenedered 3 runs in 7 innings of work.  That is not awful and certainly should be enough for this Yankee team to overcome.  But these days, this Yankees offense really has fans scratching their heads and today was no different.  I mean, what is going on?  As I mentioned in yesterday's recap, other than Raul Ibanez, who in this lineup is going to step up and start hitting with RISP? 

(Arod looks on in disbelief after flying out deep to left in 8th inning)

The Yankee woes could really be summed up in the 8th inning today.  With one out, the Yanks down 3-2, and a runner on, Arod stepped up to the plate.  Arod hit a high fly ball to left field and immediately flicked his bat and looked into the dugout as if he "knew" it was gone.  Well, it ended up about 8 feet from the wall for an out.  Now, did the win hold it up?  Probably.  But it is just another example of how much this team relies on the long ball.  Obviously there is nothing wrong with hitting home runs, but when its the only way your teams scores runs, you have a problem.

(Yankees hitting coach, Kevin Long)

Look, in the end, you can point fingers all day long at who isn't hitting. You can even start to look at hitting coach Kevin Long and start to question whether or not he should take some of the blame.  I mean, after all, when the Yankees are hitting the cover off the ball, YES broadcasters are always quick to point out what a great job Kevin Long is doing.  So, Long should probably check himself as well.  But, you know and I know, its the players themselves that need to get the job done.  Our boys need to each be held accountable for their lack of production and work it out.  WORK IT OUT!  This losing is getting old really fast!

Tomorrow night the Royals are in town to begin a three game series before heading out west on Friday.  Hiroki Kuroda takes the mound for the Yankees.  Kuroda has been good at home in the Bronx.  Let's hope he doesn't need a shutout to win tomorrow.

--Mikey Blue, BYB Senior Writer
Email: DonnieBaseball2323@gmail.com
Twitter: @MikeyBlu23


ORDER A BYB SHIRT NOW, DROB WEARS ONE! Also, Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.