SIMPLE WAYS THE YANKEES CAN WIN THE ALCS

The same routine sometimes brings a rut. I get ballplayers, I understand superstition. I also understand that if something's not working, you need to change it up. In a playoff that doesn't always work, because sometimes you need time for it to flower. Bottom line, we don't have time, we need the wins now.

Look, there are exceptions, Raul Ibanez is making a run of a lifetime right now. It's incredible. That was a "gut" move by Girardi, so he says. I call it desperation, but whatever, it worked. But in this world of a short season, you need to stick with what works. I have to tell you, the Yanks can do a few minor things to get things going, tell me if this works for you:

Run your ass off: You want to have the Tigers heads spinning? Run, run, run and then run some more. The Yanks are way too hesitant on the base paths. That may be a confidence thing. I'm telling you tough, it's necessary and the reason is simple...no one's hitting, so if guys like Ichiro or Curtis Granderson work a walk, you need to get in scoring position fast, because this slump can't last and the gang of 4 (ARod, Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher and Granderson) are minutes away from hitting again... A change of scenery will do the body good. So, quite simply... run and be aggressive!

Don't swing for the fences every time: We've fell into the trap of wanting to be the hero. How about we just hit to get on base. There's an expression "Keep the line moving."  Just hit to get on base and let the others follow. Then, if there are 2 men on, and you think you have a shot...THEN you swing for the fences. It's simple enough, and not executed at all.

Don't put Gardy in the lineup: Believe it or not, putting a player in the lineup who hasn't hit since April may be the wrong way to go. I like the idea of rolling the dice on Grandy, Swish and Cano in Detroit. I just have a gut feeling they'll do well, plus, in the late innings Brett Gardner becomes a weapon...speed. Trust me on this, Garnder won't change the momentum this late in the game. I roll the dice on the gang of 4 actually snapping out of it and use Gardner later.

 Keep Alex at 3rd:  Raul Ibanez needs to stay in the lineup as a DH, but Alex needs to continue to play 3rd. Playing in the field as well as the lineup in Detroit, as opposed to being booed in the Bronx may actually benefit Alex. He's playing a great third base and I like the idea of Eric Chavez as a bench player. Late inning heroics are part of Yankees games and Chavez should be part of that plan.

Pitching needs to stay Red Hot: The pitching has been incredible and has no support from our offense.  If the offense shows up, can the pitching continue it's dominant ways? If it can and Robbie Cano decides to actually hit, we will win the ALCS, but it can't be one or the other.

Never crap where you eat: Finally, Nick Swisher needs to understand that when pressure builds, you harness it and turn it into a positive. Sure, crapping on players by fans is exhausting and cruel, but if Nick Swisher doesn't understand why it's happening after 4 years in the Bronx, maybe his time is up. Remember, Nick is an adult playing a kids game, plus, this is business, we're not friends with players. As much we love them, they still have to deliver.  I'll have an extended commentary on this in my Swisher post today, a different angle not covered in the baseball world right now. BYB will cover it and I think you'll like it.

Look, I am frustrated, but I stand by my Yankees. After all, we'll done the impossible this season, division champs, ALDS champs, all with injury and heartbreak. We're almost there... We can do this...

GO YANKEES!

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