It has been an assumption for weeks now. Ever since the Boston Red Sox continued their implosion of last September and the Tampa Bay Rays struggled with injuries and inconsistency, it seemed a given that the New York Yankees would cruise to their 13th American League East title since 1996.
New York was 10 games up on second-place Baltimore as recently as July 18 and 10 ? up on the Rays. Entering play on Tuesday, that lead was down to just 3 ? over the Orioles and 4 over Tampa Bay. Injuries have played a role. Starting pitcher Andy Pettitte (broken left fibula) is out, stretching an already thin rotation. And Alex Rodriguez, while not the player he once was, has still been missed at third base. He’s been on the disabled list since July 25 with a broken left hand.
The lineup is still potent. The Yankees rank fourth in baseball in runs scored. The bullpen (3.35 ERA) remains solid even with legendary closer Mariano Rivera out for the year with a torn ACL. But now first baseman Mark Teixeira has a strained left calf that could keep him out for weeks. The same injury cost Derek Jeter three weeks last summer.
So the Yankees will have to earn their title. Beginning this Friday they play Baltimore and Tampa in 10 straight games, seven of them on the road. They take a brief break against the Red Sox and then host the Rays in another critical three-game series. Between now and Sept. 16, New York will know if it has wrapped up the division or if these injuries and age have finally caught up to it.
– Brian McNally
