THE RAYS ARE CREEPING SO THE YANKS MUST WIN

The Yankees are playing OK.  Not excellent, not terrible, they're getting by.  But "getting by" doesn't cut it.  You know how I know? The Tampa Bay Rays are breathing down their neck.  Look, it's not enough to be in first place all season and then drop to second by the beginning of September.  All it means is you're not in first anymore.  Sure, the Wild Card can save a team, but I hate the wild card.  All it means to me is that you didn't make it to the first round and Major League Baseball is going to help you out alittle bit so they can make even more money.  It's silly.  That being said, the Wild Card has helped plenty of teams out in the past, and it makes for an exciting fall classic.

I am not a fan of Joe Maddon.  I think he's a good manager, but tries to be the cool dad way too often, read JOE MADDON'S "COOL DAD" ACT IS OLD.  I think he's arrogant. I think he thinks he's smarter than the umpires.  I think he reminds me of the Great Gazoo from the Flintstones.  A know-it-all.  But all that doesn't matter if the Rays take first place in the American League East and hold it.
What the Yankees have to do is simple.  They need to win.  They need to win a lot and often. Sound redundant? Not to me.  In other words, they need a streak.  A big one, 10 games, 12, whatever it takes.  Sure, the Yankees have put together a nice string, but there is no doubt the Rays are winning too.

Small ball is creeping into the Yankees plans and I love it. They've managed to combine home runs with men on base, as well as playing situational hitting and it almost seems that once Ichiro showed up, things started to happen.  Plus, Derek Jeter, the man the New York Sports media wrote off after his .270 average, has come up big and doesn't look 38 at all...he looks 28. I've always called for the Yankees to use the basics of baseball... and finally, they are (Read: YANKEE BASEBALL: THE BASICS OF HITTING.) One thing that's important with this scenario, they need to do it consistently.

Now let's think about the pitching for a moment. There's no question Ivan Nova is having some serious problems.  Last night was his 9th start where he struggled.  That's not only a cause for concern, it can easily turn into a tragedy for the Yankees starting rotation.  CC Sabathia is still on the DL, his second stint of the season, Phil Hughes has been inconsistent and Andy Pettitte is out for the season.  We were forced to use Freddy Garcia, who, dare I say has done his job well, and David Phelps who isn't quite stretched out yet. That's it! It's not like we have someone waiting in the wings, it is what it is. Now look at who the Tampa Bay Rays have. Their pitching has proven they can handle any lineup in baseball.  Again...here come the Rays, the Yankees need to step it up. 

Lately, the bullpen's been a problem too.  Bringing Joba Chamberlain back was a great thing, but did he come back too fast? Think about this for a second.  The bullpen was humming.  Guys like Cody Eppley and Clay Rapada were unknown to baseball fans...now they're stars.  Boone Logan, other than 2 nights ago has been pretty solid.  But I'm going to make a statement that is going to sound like Monday morning quarterbacking...but I've said it before so just hear me out; Sometimes bringing in new blood during a run full of "clicking" can break up momentum.  Did Joba break it up? Who the hell truly knows, but things are different with this bullpen lately.

There's one moment that actually sticks in my mind that may have or may not have triggered this weird pen vibe lately, or maybe, you tell me. Remember June 28th? Remember the night Clay Rapada and David Robertson lost that game? DRob got the loss and the big "controversy" was that DRob should have come into the game at the beginning of the inning and not in the middle of the inning when men were on base... read HERE. Look, my take has always been you come into a game when your needed to help your team.  You can second guess it after a loss all you want but it's still a loss. That's my take anyway. But look, no one can really pinpoint when a group of guys goes south.  I do know this though, the Yankees pen isn't consistent of late. Sure, June 28th is just another loss to many, but not to me. It sticks with me. Can they turn it around? Sure they can, but they need a rhythm... a clicking, kind of like the way Kerry Wood came in a few years back, believe me, it can be done.

Can the Yankees stay in first place? I believe so.  I love this team and  they've impressed me every step of the way despite dumb stories about Dewayne Wise refusing his demotion or Michael Pineda's DUI.  The Yanks seem to put stupid stuff aside and guys like Raul Ibanez, Eric Chavez, Ichiro and Jayson Nix have done some great things lately.  But it's not enough...we need 25 guys.  "25 Paul O'Neill's" as I've said before (HERE), especially now with the Rays breaking down their neck.

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.