Kuzul

Barring an epic, Texas-sized collapse over the remaining 12 games of the regular season schedule, the American League West-leading Texas Rangers are poised to return to post-season baseball for the first time since 1999.

Of course, nothing is yet set in stone, but with their magic number still standing at six after last night’s second consecutive loss at Anaheim, any combination of Ranger wins or Oakland losses equaling six will guarantee them a berth in the playoffs. With a seven game lead in the division, the odds favor Texas heavily to gain entry into October playoff baseball once again.

They still won’t know who awaits them until possibly the last day of the season, as the Yankees and Rays are still locked in a ferocious battle atop the tight AL East standings. It will be either New York or Tampa, however, as neither of those teams are able to face one another, due to hailing from the same division. Whoever settles for the Wild Card between those two will face Minnesota, with the East winner taking on the Rangers.

Regardless of their opponents, the Texas Rangers still have questions to ask of themselves prior to entering the fray of October playoff baseball. Let’s take a look at three of the most significant issues facing the Rangers as the regular season winds down.

Can They Win Away From Arlington?

Throughout 2010, the Rangers have been a force to be reckoned with at The Ballpark at Arlington, with their home record standing at 48-26.

Over 74 home games, they currently rank second to only the Yankees in runs scored at home, their collective .291 home batting average leads all AL teams, and their team home OPS of .810 is also second only to New York. Offensively, they present a formidable challenge in Arlington for even the most resolute of visiting pitching staffs.

For a park renowned as a hitters’ haven, the Rangers’ pitching staff has also performed well at home. Their staff ERA of 3.61 in their ballpark ranks them fifth amongst AL clubs, only trailing Oakland, Seattle, Minnesota, and Tampa Bay, most of whom play in parks that tend to favor pitchers far more than Arlington does.

Unfortunately for the Rangers, as things stand currently, they would not possess home-field advantage in any series throughout the post-season. Unless they can go on a miraculous run, aided by a complete collapse by Tampa Bay, they will finish with the worst record of any American League playoff club, assuring that they will play the role of visitors more than that of hosts.

This is not particularly encouraging news for them, as Texas has, by far, the worst road record of any AL playoff-bound club at 35-41. It gets even worse upon closer examination, as the Rangers have not won a single ballgame in 2010 while visiting Yankee Stadium, Target Field, or Tropicana Field. They are 0-10 when playing at any of their likely playoff foes’ parks, a trend that must be reversed if they hope to progress deep into the playoffs this year.

As a pitching staff, the Rangers see their collective ERA rise from 3.61 at home, to 4.25 on the road. Not a significant increase, but when you consider that total includes many innings against the Angels, Mariners, and A’s—all in the lower half of offensive scoring in their own parks—then it becomes more acute of an issue. The Rangers won’t be so fortunate in October, as the Yankees and Twins rank first and fourth respectively in runs scored at home.

Offensively, the Rangers are not nearly the threat away that they are in Arlington. Ranking only eighth amongst all AL teams in road scoring, their team-wide slugging percentage of only .387 drops them to tenth out of 14 clubs. Similarly, their .709 OPS also ranks them tenth.

Although they won’t hold home-field advantage, the 2010 Rangers have seen plenty of success at home against their likely playoff competition. At 2-1 versus Tampa, 3-1 versus Minnesota, and 4-1 against the Yankees, including a three-game sweep just two weeks ago, the Rangers will feel confident in their own ballpark. However, they’re going to have to overcome their lack of success on the road, particularly against their three American League opponents, if they hope to escape the first round of the 2010 playoffs with victory.

How Serious Is Josh Hamilton’s Injury?

Yesterday’s news regarding Josh Hamilton’s two fractured ribs provided some relief to the star outfielder, since he finally has a reason for the mysterious pains that have plagued him since September 4.

He has not played since crashing into the wall at Target Field that day, and team doctors have had trouble diagnosing the particular issue that has kept him sidelined. They finally discovered the injured ribs and have begun treatment, but Hamilton is still out indefinitely, and not involved in any baseball activities for the time being.

Of course, the Texas lineup is not entirely dependent upon Hamilton, as they have proficient hitters throughout, but the absence of one of the AL’s leading MVP candidates cannot be underestimated in the post-season.

Not only is Hamilton leading all MLB hitters in batting average at .361, but his slugging percentage of .635 and OPS of 1.049 are also tops in the league. He leads the Rangers in almost every offensive category, with his .414 on-base percentage and 31 home runs  pacing the club, and his 97 RBI trailing only Vladimir Guerrero.

Statistically, Hamilton’s formidable production is obviously missed, but his absence affects the balance of the predominantly right-handed Texas lineup as well. Aside from Hamilton, only David Murphy, Julio Borbon, and Mitch Moreland, among the regulars, hit left-handed, so there could be a gaping void in the heart of the order, which would serve to make match-ups easier on opposing managers.

Considering that Hamilton is tearing up right-handed pitchers in 2010 to a scorching .405 batting average, with a monstrous 1.175 OPS, versus a .271 and .789 against lefties, he would clearly force foes to burn through left-handed relief in an effort to subdue him late in games. If he’s not able to play regularly, that concern is not nearly as pronounced, since Vlad, Kinsler, and Michael Young are all more productive against left-handed pitchers and wouldn’t require opponents to make as many moves to their bullpen.

Of course, players like Murphy and Moreland can help to alleviate the balance issues, but they’re not nearly the offensive threat that Hamilton is that would require bullpen moves on a constant basis. Against a team such as the Yankees, this becomes even more of a consideration, since they have only one left-handed reliever in their bullpen, Boone Logan.

If Josh Hamilton is to make a significant impact for the Rangers this post-season, he must improve enough to play regularly in the outfield. Normally, the designated hitter role could be used to ease Hamilton into playing time and, even if he wasn’t fully healthy, to keep his potent bat in the lineup.

However, the Rangers’ second-most powerful bat, that of Vladimir Guerrero, resides nearly full-time in the DH spot, so that isn’t likely an option for Hamilton. Vlad has played a handful of 2010 games in right-field, but the Rangers have no desire to re-visit that defensive configuration, for the good of the defense, as well as helping to preserve Vlad’s health.

With apparently no set timetable for a return, and the regular season quickly dwindling, the health of Josh Hamilton is becoming a greater concern by the day. If the Texas Rangers hope to progress beyond the Division Series for the first time in franchise history, the status of their star outfielder must be resolved soon. Otherwise, fans in Arlington may have to wait another long off-season before getting the chance to urge the Rangers on once more.

Will the Lack of Adversity Down the Stretch Make It Difficult to “Turn It On” Come October?

After trudging through a mediocre April in which they bottomed out at 10-12, finding themselves in fourth place in the AL West on April 29, all the Rangers needed was a three-game winning streak to vault them into first place by May 2.

They continued to turn it around in May when they went 15-12, despite a run differential of only plus one. The modest improvement in their fortunes was enough to keep them in first or second for most of the second month of the season, never dipping more than a 0.5 games out of first through the end of May.

One last day of second place, on June 7, a half-game out, the Rangers then went on a tear over the course of the month, posting a stellar 21-6 record in June. That tremendous hot streak helped them to finish June at 47-30, 4.5 games up in the division. Then they turned on the cruise control.

Despite posting unimpressive monthly records of 14-13 in July, 13-15 in August, and 9-9 in September, the Rangers saw their lead in the West balloon to 10 full games on September 18. Somehow, although they’ve played baseball at a 36-37 pace since July 1, they have not held less than a 3.5 game lead during that span.

A division race that was expected to be a thrilling fight from April through September, the AL West has, in actuality, been anything but. Mike Scioscia’s always-tough Angels saw their season derailed by a few key injuries and maybe a couple mistakes on player personnel decisions.

The Mariners, after bringing in Cliff Lee, Chone Figgins, and Milton Bradley, became a trendy pick to challenge the perennially favored Angels for the division crown.

Oakland, despite their small market financial constraints, continually find ways to maximize their modest resources to remain competitive against their wealthier opposition.

The enthralling drama that was expected to take place never actually occurred. By the July 31 trading deadline, with the Rangers leading the West by 8.5 games, the only action of interest was the slew of veterans that Texas would pick up to solidify their position.

There is always the fear that a team with a significant division lead can become complacent without the everyday tension of a close race to keep them sharp. With such a seemingly insurmountable lead, games can take on the feeling of “meaningless” as the team easily breezes their way toward the post-season.

Of course, a sizable lead does afford a team certain luxuries as well, such as resting key players down the stretch to keep them healthy, and setting up your rotation in the final weeks, so that it is aligned precisely as you wish for the post-season run.

It’s never simple to determine how a team will react to a lack of competitive adversity down the stretch. Will they be able to reignite that fire that saw them claw their way to the top of the heap in the first place? Or will the shock of the postseason be too much for them to bear, once the level of intensity proves to be far greater than what they had grown accustomed to for several months of the regular season?

If the Rangers are to advance deep into October, they need to step it up a notch now, so they aren’t caught unaware once the playoffs begin.

Let the Games Begin

With less than two weeks of games left before baseball’s “second season” begins, time is running out for teams to put the finishing touches on their 2010 campaigns.

It’s often said that getting to the playoffs is the ambition, and that once there, anything can happen. If the Texas Rangers are blessed with a healthy Josh Hamilton, if they can find a way to win on the road, and are able to step up their game after months of running away with their division, the talent is there to finally bring a World Series championship to Arlington.

The time to answer those critical questions lurks just beyond the turn of the calendar into October.

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Yankee fans and management had been growing uneasy recently, as the state of the starting rotation heading into the final weeks of the season has helped to create as many question as it has answered.

The prospect of heading into the post-season with a starting rotation led by CC Sabathia, followed by Phil Hughes, A.J. Burnett, and Javier Vazquez or Ivan Nova was enough to shake the confidence of even the most ardent supporter of the team.

Of course, CC is the indisputable ace of the staff, providing stability at the head of the rotation, and the obvious choice to start any Game One the Yankees have. Immediately thereafter however, the uncertainty begins.

Phil Hughes, the 24-year-old right-hander, whom the Yankees view as a potential future ace, has stumbled occasionally down the stretch as he nears the proposed innings limit the Yankees have in place to protect his arm. He has won 16 games, and was named an All-Star in July, but as he has ventured deeper into uncharted territory in regard to his innings total, fatigue has appeared to take its toll upon him.

That’s not to say he has pitched poorly because that’s not the case. But his results over the last three months have been uneven, and in three of his last five starts, he’s given up four earned runs or more. Of course, in his last start against the Rays in Tampa, he pitched masterfully but was undone by two swings of Dan Johnson’s bat, ending up on the wrong end of a 4-3 result.

As he has now doubled his innings total from last season, it is difficult to know what to expect of the young hurler going forward into October. Add to that the fact that he has not yet started a playoff game in his young career, and one can understand the reluctance to lean on him too heavily.

A.J. Burnett on the other hand boasts 12 seasons of major league experience, as well as five starts for the Yankees in their run to the World Series title during the 2009 post-season.

Despite his resume, the 33-year-old Burnett represents possibly the biggest question mark on the Yankee staff. To say he has been inconsistent in 2010 would be an understatement. The variance between his good days and his bad days could possibly be the greatest chasm in baseball today. Blessed with such phenomenal stuff, he’s just as likely to hurl a thoroughly dominant gem as he is to completely lose control and toss what resembles batting practice to the opposing team.

In Burnett’s 30 starts in 2010, he’s gone at least six innings and allowed two earned runs or less 10 times. Conversely, he has given up at least five earned runs in nine other starts. The utter inconsistency becomes more frustrating when you know what he’s capable of. His four September starts have been an improvement from his embarrassingly awful August, where he went 0-4 with a 7.80 ERA. A continual trend of improved performances must be demonstrated if Joe Girardi is to show faith in Burnett and reward him with post-season starting pitching assignments.

Javier Vazquez has been similarly inconsistent, but he has at least developed enough of a pattern to gain some level of expectation regarding his performance. After dealing with “dead arm” issues, and apparently working through them to see his velocity increase once again, Vazquez has returned to the bullpen for the time being. This could only be temporary however, so he remains a consideration for the October rotation.

His candidacy is harmed by his poor playoff experience, especially that of his showing against Boston in 2004, too recent to have been expunged from the collective memory of Yankees fans.

The other issue is that against stronger offensive clubs in the AL, Javy has almost invariably struggled. His efforts against Tampa, Texas, and Minnesota (his likely playoff adversaries) are among his very worst of 2010. Against those three potential foes, in five starts over 27 innings he has allowed 52 base-runners and 27 earned runs. Those are numbers that don’t exactly instill the kind of confidence necessary to send him to the mound in the ALCS. He would likely serve out of the bullpen in the first series, as a fourth starter may not be necessary in a best-of five set.

23 year-old Ivan Nova, he of five career major league starts, will be around for an emergency, but is unlikely to see a spot in the playoff rotation with all those veteran arms around. If it became necessary for the Yankees to use him, his demeanor and poise could serve to calm the panic over starting such an inexperienced pitcher on such a dramatic stage. However unlikely the scenario may be, Nova doesn’t seem the type of young player to wilt under pressure.

These various uncertainties combine to make the return of Andy Pettitte all the more critical for the Yankees. After a few hiccups on his path back to the big league rotation, Pettitte finally found himself back on a mound at Camden Yards yesterday. Out of action since injuring his groin against Tampa on July 18, the veteran left-hander’s presence had been sorely missed. At the time of his injury, Pettitte had been 11-2 with a 2.88 ERA and was in the midst of one of the finer seasons of his career.

Please continue HERE to read the full article, and for more quality New York Yankees content by Scott Gyurina, please check out PinstripeWest.com.

Here are a few other recent Yankee articles you may enjoy as well.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/466282-new-york-yankees-alex-rodriguez-and-his-quest-for-the-elusive-clutch-reputation

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/464117-ny-yankees-kerry-wood-joba-chamberlain-and-the-state-of-the-bronx-bullpen

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

No, I’m not just excited because Alex Rodriguez hit a three-run home run with two strikes and two outs in the ninth inning of last night’s game to claim a dramatic, 4-3 come-from-behind victory for the Yankees in Baltimore.

It is true that A-Rod may have almost single-handedly salvaged a game in which the Yankees snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a contest they so desperately needed. His two home runs and four RBI accounted for all of the Yankees’ scoring and proved to be enough to defeat the suddenly competitive Baltimore Orioles in the opener of the weekend series.

This is only the latest in a series of heroic exploits perpetrated by Alex Rodriguez in a Yankee uniform.

For a man unfairly defined by his failures during his early years as a Yankee, the list of pinstriped successes continues to grow. It became trendy to extol the virtues of Derek Jeter, while demonizing A-Rod, a man everyone loves to hate, for every insignificant move that he made.

Sure, the man is not flawless, but in reality, who is? If every one of us were forced to publicly declare each and every transgression we have committed, most would retreat from the public eye, never to return. To hold professional athletes to a higher degree of scrutiny, simply because we have a quixotic notion of what it means to be a ballplayer, is inequitable and unrealistic.

Admittedly, I too have done my share of A-Rod bashing over the years, but eventually there came a time when his trivial transgressions of personality were outweighed by his contributions to the overall Yankee cause. While character is an integral measure by which we judge any man, so much of that is subjective and nearly impossible to quantify justly. Because of preconceived notions regarding Alex Rodriguez, it became easy to vilify the man for minor trespasses for which we would have easily forgiven others.

Of course there are lapses in judgment and breaches of character which by nature are far more difficult to forgive. If Alex was an accused rapist or guilty of smuggling young immigrants for exploitation in a sexual slavery ring, then have it him. But he’s not guilty of such extreme crimes.

If you want to hold his admission of past steroid use against him, I fully understand that perspective. While I haven’t completely decided how I feel about that issue, I completely comprehend the desire for purity of competition in the sport we love.

Unfortunately, the further we delve into the dark chapter of baseball’s past, I feel that the line between guilt and innocence becomes blurred and our ideas of clean and dirty become skewed. When it becomes clear that heroes of prior generations were simply using different substances to get an edge, then where do we draw the line?

We know that players who utilized various methods of “cheating” are already immortalized in the Hall of Fame, yet we reserve our harshest scorn for this generation of ballplayers.

Other issues like cheating on his wife don’t bother me, because I have no intimate knowledge of the intricacies of his relationship. Do I endorse it? No, of course not, but I certainly won’t let it affect how I root for him on the baseball diamond.

The guy took his shirt off on a sunny day in Central Park? I’ve done that myself, along with millions of other people at various times over the years, and I would hope to not have my character called into question over it.

The Vanity Fair images of him kissing himself in the mirror? Questionable, considering his public persona as a self-centered narcissist, but hardly egregious enough to leave a lasting impression.

My primary concern is whether Alex Rodriguez puts forth his best effort to help the Yankees, the team I have rooted for my entire life, win baseball games. And that he does.

Until last year, Alex’s reputation was based upon his miserable playoff statistics with the Yankees from the last few games of the 2004 postseason to 2006. Everyone wondered how a player of such magnitude could struggle so mightily when the lights shone their brightest. Realistically though, the stretch for which he was crucified was a mere 50 plate appearances or so.

Yes, the scrutiny is greater because of the high stakes in the playoffs, but in the context of the baseball season, the 12 or so games on which so many based their opinions of A-Rod’s perceived failures represent roughly two weeks worth of action.

Everyone conveniently forgot his heroics of the 2004 ALDS against the Twins, or his tremendous first four games of the infamous 2004 ALCS collapse against Boston. Alex, along with much of the rest of the Yankees, disappeared for the fateful last three games of that series, but he became a symbolic representation of that failure.

Truthfully, his next two appearances in the postseason against the Angels and Tigers in the first rounds of 2005 and 2006 respectively were miserable. It’s difficult to deny that. In baseball however, it is simply unrealistic to pin the failures of an entire squad upon one player, but unfortunately for him, so many were willing to do just that.

It took until the 2009 playoffs, his sixth year in the Bronx, to finally earn some respect amongst a vast majority of Yankee fans. Each series contained a personal highlight reel, a testament to Alex Rodriguez’s newfound clutch status and finally a chance for him to “earn his pinstripes.”

He repeatedly tormented pitchers throughout the postseason, continually producing memorable moments and a game was never over when A-Rod still had an opportunity to bat. His multiple late-inning heroics against the Twins, then Angels, were some of the prime catalysts which propelled the Yankees into their first World Series during his career in the Bronx.

During his first World Series of his career, Alex continued the dominant performances against the Phillies that had already typified his 2009 playoff experience. The timely hits kept coming, as Alex and his teammates finally hoisted the World Series championship that had eluded the franchise since 2000.

With the ultimate team ambition achieved, it was finally impossible to question A-Rod’s contributions to that endeavor. In 15 playoff contests, in which the Yankees went 11-4, Alex hit .365 with a phenomenal 1.308 OPS, crushing six home runs, scoring 15 runs, and driving in 18. It would seem that the “most-hated man in baseball,” had finally accomplished the feat which would surely help him shed the reputation of an egocentric superstar with a knack for empty successes.

While many fans and members of the media jumped back on the A-Rod bandwagon following his tremendous display of playoff heroics, the road to respectability would still not come easy for Alex Rodriguez.

The Yankees, courtesy of their dramatic come-from-behind victory at Camden Yards, once again stand atop the AL East with the best record in baseball. Alex Rodriguez’s two home runs and four RBI were responsible for the entirety of the Yankees’ scoring in this crucial 4-3 victory.

Please continue reading the full article HERE, and for more quality New York Yankee coverage, please visit PinstripeWest.com

And while you’re at it, why don’t you peruse this slide-show I created regarding the current state of the Yankee bullpen? I’d appreciate it!

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/464117-ny-yankees-kerry-wood-joba-chamberlain-and-the-state-of-the-bronx-bullpen

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

We’ve seen it throughout the years, as teams encounter difficult decisions, when long-serving veterans and fan-favorites enter the inevitable, athletic decline phase of their careers.

No one can escape the clutches of the dreaded father time, when a player’s body simply cannot do the same things that it could during the prime of his youth. Maybe it’s the eyesight, maybe the legs feel heavier and the footwork slower, the hands a tick behind Major League fastballs.

For all their apparent super-human qualities, athletes face a rather dramatic fall from grace as they enter the winter of their playing days. The physical gifts that set them apart from mere mortals begin to fade, rendering them human once again as they prepare for life after professional sports.

This is the critical juncture at which teams must decide between loyal sentimentality, and doing what is collectively beneficial for the future of their organization. Does it best serve the team to reward a player for his past contributions and commitment to the cause; or is it worth it to risk the wrath of the fans by severing ties with a long-standing member of the squad?

In recent seasons, the Yankees have struggled with this scenario, as various older members of the team have come up for contract renewal. Being the Yankees, the financial restrictions that face most other teams don’t necessarily come into play. The team has had the ability to retain veterans, even at inflated prices, when many other teams would have been forced into saying their goodbyes.

From the other side of the AL East divide, we have fairly recently witnessed the Boston Red Sox cut ties with several critical players whom they either felt no longer fit into the long-term vision, or simply didn’t warrant the commitment in dollars and years that the players were seeking. Pedro Martinez and Johnny Damon were allowed to walk in free agency, when management reached the decision that neither were critical to the team’s future at the free agent costs that they were likely to command. Manny and Nomar were both traded away mid-season in an effort to reduce existing tensions and potentially bolster the team’s likelihood of advancing deep into the post-season.

Of course, as great as some of those Red Sox players were, none of them were Derek Jeter.

Following the bright lights and crisp nights of October baseball, and the potential defense of their World Series title, the Yankees will find themselves embroiled in contract negotiations to determine the future of their homegrown captain and most popular player.

No one in their right mind truly believes that Derek Jeter is going to play for another baseball team in 2011. The prospect is nearly inconceivable. Try imagining the Yankee captain and short-stop of 16 seasons in a different uniform than the familiar pinstripes or road grays. It’s tough to even trick your mind into entertaining the notion without it reverting to images of Jeter in Yankee pinstripes. Even during the World Baseball Classic, seeing the face of the New York Yankees in the Team USA jersey didn’t seem quite right.

That’s what makes this scenario so difficult to handle for the team. Derek Jeter is the captain, the face of the Yankee’s most recent run of success, bridging the gap between the Joe Torre era and the 2009 Championship squad. Jeter is arguably the most recognizable and marketable player in all of Major League Baseball. His value extends far beyond the diamond.

However, regardless of a player’s leadership, marketability and various intangible qualities, a team must seriously consider how much to factor in those issues while evaluating a player’s future value as his playing skills inevitably deteriorate.

After watching Jeter produce one of his finest seasons in 2009, en route to the Yankees’ fifth World Series ring during his tenure, it seemed as if this immortal would continue on his established path toward Cooperstown forever.

Many fans figured the team would bypass the team’s consistent practice of waiting until a contract is over, before negotiating an extension in the off-season, thereby alleviating the pressure on Jeter to perform in a “contract year”, and rewarding him for his faithful allegiance to the Yankee cause. The team however, steadfastly refused to deviate from their plan, preferring to wait until Jeter’s contract expired after the 2010 season, before even considering renewing his deal.

Then the 2010 season happened.

Undoubtedly, the Yankees would have preferred another Hall of Fame caliber season from Derek Jeter this year, but his significant decline in performance during 2010, has given the decision to wait on any contract decisions an appearance of a masterstroke by management. By declining to sign him immediately following an MVP-caliber season in 2009, the team likely saved themselves many millions of dollars of future financial commitment to Derek Jeter beyond 2010.

Aside from perhaps saving the team a significant amount of money, Derek Jeter’s sudden descent into normalcy is prompting several questions in regards to Jeter’s future with the Yankees.

Standing at 2,893 career hits, with just over 30 games remaining this season, Jeter is in prime position to join the 3,000 hit club sometime during the first half of 2011. Considering that he is already the Yankee’s all-time hits leader, and the fact that not one player has ever accomplished the feat as a Yankee, fans can rest assured that he will continue his pursuit of history in the Bronx.

The outside chance that he could someday challenge Pete Rose’s all-time record of 4,296 looms as a potential goal, however unlikely it may be. If Jeter were so inclined to chase down that lofty ambition, that would likely throw significant doubt upon his ability to remain a Yankee, as they would have trouble committing to such a long-term pursuit, even for Derek Jeter.

1,403 hits is a rather long way away for a 36-year-old ball-player though, so we’ll save that dream for another day.

In the likely scenario that the Yankees do retain the services of Derek Sanderson Jeter, the question then becomes, “what is his position?”

Since claiming the Yankee short-stop duties from Tony Fernandez before the 1996 season, Jeter has made the spot his own, rarely missing much time aside from a freak injury on Opening Day 2003. The 11-time All-Star even withstood the arrival of former MVP Alex Rodriguez, who, while many thought he was the superior short-stop, moved to third in deference to Derek Jeter.

The image of Derek Jeter manning short-stop for the Yankees is as familiar as any in modern baseball. Realistically though, how much longer can we expect to see him jog out to his position on a daily basis?

Jeter has long been criticized for his defensive shortcomings, despite the fact that he has thus far been awarded four Rawlings Gold Glove awards. Critics have gone so far as to call him “the least effective defensive player at any position in baseball.” As we all have likely witnessed, Gold Gloves are often awarded to solid fielders who also happen to hit well, so they are not necessarily a precise indicator of a player’s fielding ability. However, the assessment that he may be “the least effective defensive player at any position,” would lead me to wonder if Bill James and his statistical gurus hadn’t somehow missed out on a bunch of other terrible fielders over the course of their analysis.

I feel that the truth lies somewhere between Gold Glove caliber and the absolutely atrocious level that Jeter’s detractors would have you believe.

However you rate his defensive prowess, it is a well-documented fact that championship teams rarely include aging starting short-stops. In fact, including the 2009 Yankees, there have only been four teams to win the World Series with a starting short-stop over the age of 35, and last year, Jeter became the first since a 37-year-old Pee Wee Reese won with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955.

Obviously, the 2010 Yankees have no choice but to attempt to defend their World Series title with Jeter at short. Given his impending free agency however, the 2011 and beyond Yankees may find it necessary to explore their available options, rather than keep trying to turn back the hands of time.

If the Yankees make the decision to look elsewhere for a short-stop solution in the near future, then the question becomes, “where else does Jeter fit in with the Yankees?”

Please continue reading the full article HERE and for more quality New York Yankee coverage by Scott Gyurina, please visit Pinstripewest.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Upon his return to the Bronx this season, Javier Vazquez was clearly a divisive figure among Yankee fans.

Some saw the potential in the one-time Yankee, thinking that the man who dominated for the Braves in 2009 after finishing fourth in National League Cy Young voting had learned enough since his uneven 2004 stint in pinstripes to be a solid back end of the rotation starter. After all, the rotation was much stronger this time around, lessening the pressure on Vazquez to be a front of the rotation type starter.

To others though, the lasting images of Vazquez entering to salvage Kevin Brown’s terrible outing in Game Seven of the fateful 2004 ALCS, but instead pouring gallons of fuel onto the fire, were enough to conjure nightmares for Yankee fans upon mere mention of his name.

While it’s not fair to blame the epic collapse of 2004 on one man, Vazquez did serve to hammer the proverbial nail into the coffin of Yankee ambitions that season. His entrance into the deciding game, allowing a game-deciding Johnny Damon grand slam on the first pitch he threw, was his final act in a tumultuous season as a Yankee. Two innings later, Damon’s second home run off Vazquez erased most hopes of a dramatic Yankee comeback to reclaim the series.

After making the 2004 American League All-Star team, Vazquez collapsed in the second half, barely resembling the pitcher he had been through mid-July. Down the stretch that year, he was shelled regularly, seeing his season ERA balloon a full run and a half from the All-Star break through the end of the year.

Culminating in a dreadful playoff performance, in which he did little more than provide copious amounts of run-scoring opportunities via 16 hits and nine walks over 11.1 innings, 2004 was largely a disappointment for Javier Vazquez. He then had the misfortune of timing, playing such a significant role in the final defeat the Yankees would suffer in 2004, as they etched their names into the record books in such undesirable fashion. Vazquez, with whom fans in the Bronx had yet to grow fully comfortable, provided many with an easy scapegoat for the travesty of ’04.

When the Yankees traded Vazquez, Brad Halsey, and Dioner Navarro to the Diamondbacks for future Hall-of-Famer Randy Johnson in January 2005, fans barely batted an eye. Of course, the Big Unit would have his own issues in the Bronx, but no one knew that at the time. For now, Javier Vazquez was gone and there were plenty who rejoiced.

Flash forward five years. Following four seasons of inconsistency with the D-Backs and White Sox, and one stellar season in Atlanta, Javier Vazquez would find opportunity for redemption in the Bronx. Returning to the Yankees in a trade for Melky Cabrera, Mike Dunn, and Arodys Viscaino, Vazquez was stepping into a much different situation this time around.

In 2004, Vazquez was looked at as a potential breakout ace, after his early years of success in Montreal. The 2010 Yankees, fresh off their 27th World Series title, only needed him to solidify the fourth slot in their rotation. After his ace-like 2009 for the Braves, Vazquez certainly seemed capable of the task.

If given a choice in the matter, I’m fairly certain that Vazquez would have chosen differently than what occurred. 2010’s Yankee redemption began horribly for the pitcher, as he was shelled in his first five starts, immediately bringing back painful memories to Yankee fans of 2004. Many chimed in with the obligatory “I told you so’s,” when the gamble to bring Vazquez back to the Bronx started as awfully as it concluded in round one.

Over the course of five starts, Vazquez threw 23 innings, allowing 32 hits, 25 earned runs, walking 15, and serving eight home-runs. His 1-4 record with a 9.78 ERA had fans and eventually the team, questioning the wisdom of the transaction. Trade rumors Vazquez returning to the National League imminently, surfaced in early May.

Then the Yankees skipped his scheduled sixth start, opting to not have him face the Red Sox in Fenway.

Following his team-imposed break, Vazquez hurled a gem, in which he lost 2-0 to the Tigers, but the progress was noticed, as it was his first positive outing of 2010. Over the next 15 appearances, 14 of them starts, Javier Vazquez slowly pitched his way back to respectability as a Yankee.

Javy was now proving the doubters wrong; he could pitch in the more offensively dynamic American League. His critics claimed that he was simply another in a line of pitchers who have struggled in recent years with making the transition from the National League to the American League.

Or so it seemed.

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The weeks surrounding the MLB trading deadline can represent an emotional roller-coaster for everyone involved.

Often, players are finding it increasingly difficult in our technological and information-obsessed modern world to tune out the buzz linking them to potential trades. Players like to remain stoic, as if they don’t pay attention to any of the swirling rumors. But realistically, in this age, that scenario is nearly impossible.

It’s easy to view team executives and management as emotionally detached from personnel maneuvers, simply performing the tasks that their profession entails. This isn’t true either as general managers often become intimately entangled in the successes and failures of players. After all, GMs are chiefly responsible for bringing players into franchises, so a player’s fortunes often directly correlate to an executive’s baseball-related decision-making prowess and business acumen.

Also, just from the human angle, no general manager can enjoy telling a player that he’s no longer welcome, no longer able to go to battle with his friends and teammates and must now go ply his trade elsewhere. As easy as it is to dehumanize authoritative figures and presume that they are devoid of feelings and simply acting out of a sense of duty, they feel the impact too. It’s just part of their jobs to sweep the emotional aspect aside and strive toward the betterment of their ball-club.

Fans too experience the emotional turmoil associated with the weeks of rumor and innuendo, eventually culminating in the arrivals of exciting new recruits or occasionally the departures of our favored sons.

It’s rather easy to gauge the impact of these transactions on the players directly involved. Players often get emotional when they’re traded away. Occasionally, we witness these indomitable embodiments of athletic endowment in moments of unguarded, raw, emotional honesty, breaking down for all the world to see.

Conversely, when players are imported into new teams, we also get to witness the contrary reaction. The welcoming press conference replete with smiling faces, optimistic pronouncements and handshakes as his new manager or teammates help him try on his new jersey. If he’s been traded from a struggling franchise to a contender, the pain of his departure is eased greatly by the promise of winning baseball and the looming prospect of October glory.

But, what of those left behind?

Trades don’t solely affect those directly involved. For every personnel transaction, there can be a multitude of repercussions felt throughout the team.

In light of the recent non-waiver July 31 deadline trading completed by the New York Yankees, it interests me to contemplate the direct or indirect impact of those moves on the players who remain with the franchise.

Considering that we’re discussing the Yankees, their deadline maneuvering has been closely scrutinized and well-documented. By now you’ve likely heard that the Yankees acquired through various trades, first baseman/designated hitter Lance Berkman, relief pitcher Kerry Wood, and utility outfielder Austin Kearns.

Commencing with the highest profile arrival Lance Berkman, while he will likely provide a positive influence, he is profoundly impacting the way Joe Girardi utilizes his squad. Berkman will essentially fill the role originally envisioned for the predictably injured Nick Johnson, acting primarily as a designated hitter, and occasionally spelling Mark Teixeira at first base. 

The first Yankee that this impacts is Juan Miranda. Although he was used infrequently by Girardi, the 27-year old Cuban slugger had been vying for a sustained opportunity to prove his worth in the Bronx. Now though, after being optioned once again to the Yankees’ affiliate at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Miranda’s future in the Bronx appears bleak. Already fully aware that his path at first-base is blocked for at least six more years by Mark Teixeira, Juan’s opportunity for big league success likely lies elsewhere.

At 27, Juan Miranda is nearing the age at which baseball players must fully evaluate their situations, determining the realistic prospect of making a career in the major leagues. If the Yankees have no use for him, he would likely be best off finding out soon, when he still may hold value to other teams. The employment outlook for beyond their prime baseball players— who left their families behind in Cuba with no option to return home—are discouraging at best.

Beyond Miranda, the Berkman acquisition creates ripple effects throughout the roster. Due to Berkman’s struggles as a right-handed hitter, and Marcus Thames’ prowess against left-handed pitchers, Thames will likely get regular action in the DH spot when left-handed starters take the hill against the Yanks. This won’t change Thames’ situation drastically, as he is far more effective in a platoon role, and is best utilized far from any defensive role.

As for other Yankees, it will reduce Joe Girardi’s roster flexibility and ability to give aging veteran’s Jeter and Arod, among others, half days off by serving as the DH for a day. This will force Girardi to keep them in their regular roles most often, hopefully not sacrificing production as the season wears on. With Arod and Jeter staying in their respective positions as often as possible, this reduces the backup role of Ramiro Pena, making it likely that he only sees action in dire emergencies or as the occasional late-game defensive replacement.

Furthermore, Girardi must decide what this means for Jorge Posada. While the long-time Yankee catcher remains a potent offensive contributor, his days behind the plate are dwindling. With his deteriorating defensive skills, limited mobility and increasingly injury-prone body, Posada is best suited for DHing many nights while Cervelli catches, and donns the “tools of ignorance” on a limited  basis. With Berkman now taking a sizable portion of the designate hitter at-bats, the Yankees must soon determine what type of balance best suits the team.

The insertion of Austin Kearns into the outfield equation provides more flexibility, with less need for controversial decisions than does the Berkman move. Kearns, a solid right-handed outfielder who can capably cover all three outfield positions, allows Girardi the option of resting any one of his regulars on a given night. His arrival also guarantees that we are unlikely to see the defensively challenged Thames in the field very often at all, if ever, which any Yankee fan can heartily accept.

Kearns also provides the option of a platoon partner if Granderson’s severe struggles against left-handed pitchers continue. Granderson’s .538 OPS versus left-handers and 25 percent strikeout rate are more than a minor concern. The team would likely be best served by starting Kearns in left against tough lefty starters and shifting Gardner to his natural center-field.

Of course, the player most drastically affected is 25-year old outfielder Colin Curtis. Along with Miranda, he was optioned back to Scranton. Curtis likely wasn’t entertaining the notion of a permanent stay in the Bronx, but once tasting the good life of the big leagues, no one wants to return to the long bus rides and less comfortable life of the minors. Curtis performed admirably, if unspectacular, while dutifully sharing his backup outfield duties with Kevin Russo, Chad Huffman, Randy Winn, and Marcus Thames throughout the course of the season. He’ll bide his time at Scranton for now, providing cover in the event of another injury to a regular.

The Yankees also made a player acquisition to address their most glaring need, a late-inning bullpen arm. By trading a player to be named later, the Yankees landed Kerry Wood, the oft-injured Cleveland Indians closer who still possesses impressive enough stuff to warrant giving him an opportunity to help solidify the bullpen. Gambling on Wood’s health is no sure bet, but the thought of potentially catching him while healthy and possibly right at the beginning of a hot streak, certainly tantalized Brian Cashman. If healthy, Wood offers plentiful veteran experience and still-scintillating stuff to try and bridge the gap to Mariano that has wobbled at times in 2010.

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Fans in every city throughout the league know full well who the stars in baseball are. They’re instantly recognizable with their gaudy stats, household names, and exorbitant contracts. As if immortals descended from Mount Olympus to thrill us with their power, grace, and athletic prowess, these men sell the jerseys and pack the stadiums.

Teams aren’t just constructed of high-profile stars however. Players possessing a variety of skill sets are vital to a well-balanced team. Of course, a general manager would love to fill his 25-man roster with five-tool players at every position, but that’s not realistic. All baseball players have their own unique strengths and weaknesses that they bring to the team, and the manager must strike the perfect balance in order to achieve success.

Enter the super-utility player. Often possessing a vast range of fundamental baseball talents, these ultra-versatile players help to bridge the gaps in the team and offer their manager increased roster flexibility, while also providing cover for injuries and the ability to make important personnel decisions as unique situations may dictate.

There are plenty of players who are athletic and coordinated enough to play a few different positions. These are professional baseball players after all. Many guys grew up playing in various spots throughout their youth, and since they usually aren’t very far removed from those days, they can often recall the necessary skills to at least cover a position or two somewhat adequately.

Super-utility players are more than that though. They’re not simply a guy you can move from third over to first, or a corner infielder with the ability to play left field if called upon. These ultra-versatile performers possess the skills necessary to play a multitude of positions, and often one of the more specialized, premium spots such as short-stop, center-field or even in a pinch, catcher.

Often, these super-utility players shine in this versatile role for only a limited time, as the best of them usually graduate to full-time status at a particular position at some point in their careers.

Over the last several years, we have seen a slew of fantastic super-utility guys who provided so much value to their teams, that management found it increasingly difficult to keep their names out of the lineup on an everyday basis.

Players such as Chone Figgins, Marco Scutaro, Mark DeRosa, Brandon Inge, and Mark Loretta have all excelled over the last decade in a super-utility role for their respective teams. Loretta is now retired, but the remaining guys have all gone on to varying degrees of success as regular players with mostly one clearly defined position.

Another type of versatile player, guys like Darin Erstad, Mark Kotsay, Nick Swisher, and Lance Berkman, have all bounced around the entire outfield, while also putting in time at first-base, before generally settling on one position after several seasons of the nomadic lifestyle.

Increasingly, those in the game have begun to appreciate the role that these unique players bring to their teams. We even witnessed one of these guys named to the National League All-Star team.

Let’s examine a few of baseball’s top super-utility players while they still hold that title, before they settle down in one position and we have an entirely new generation of versatile ball players emerge.

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As the deals begin to pick up steam in the waning moments before Saturday’s MLB non-waiver trade deadline, inevitably the accompanying rumors have increased in frequency as well.

The last few days have seen a flurry of player movement with high profile players such as Dan Haren and Roy Oswalt changing teams, in addition to the numerous smaller deals that have been occurring around the league. Since adding Cliff Lee and Benjie Molina, Texas also just acquired Jorge Cantu to provide injury cover and bolster their lineup. San Diego obtained infielder Miguel Tejada to bring some veteran leadership and experience to their squad.

While most eyes focus on the blockbusters, keen observers are aware that contenders aren’t usually in need of a massive deal to solidify their standing amongst the top teams in the game. They usually are in a contending position by July 31 because they already have a deep, talented team. Many times, a shrewd move for a veteran utility player with the versatility to play several positions can bring depth and stability to a team as they fight towards October.

Of course, everyone wants to know if bigger names like Prince Fielder, Adam Dunn, Lance Berkman, or Derek Lee are bound for greener pastures. As a culture infatuated with celebrities, we’re naturally enamored by the glamorous names splashed across the rumor pages.

Naturally, the big-spending teams like the Yankees draw a lot of attention at times like these. As they are often active in both free agency and in the trade market, teams and players always try to involve the Yankees in order to create leverage for themselves.

Clearly in the free agent market, an agent for a player almost always hopes to engage the Yankees in dialogue, expecting their free-spending ways to assist in driving the market up for whichever player they represent. Even when the Yankees are not even remotely involved, mysterious sources will often float purported rumors attributed to the team.

Conversely, when a team is trying to drum up interest in a player that they have made available on the trading market, they want as many teams involved as possible to attempt to secure the best potential deal they can for their franchise. Knowing that the Yankees are interested, along with their vast resources and willingness to deal, can serve to apply pressure and a sense of urgency when exploring the trade market. If a team knows that the Yankees are looming, it may force them into action, fearful that they might miss out if they hesitate.

True to form, the July 31, 2010 non-waiver trading deadline has seen the New York Yankees mentioned in connection with nearly every player who may or may not have been made available by their team.

Over the last several weeks, the Yankees have allegedly been close to deals on Cliff Lee and Dan Haren, they have been shopping for Zack Greinke and Joakim Soria. Various sources have linked them heavily to Prince Fielder, Adam Dunn, Ty Wiggington, and even a potential reacquisition of Hideki Matsui.

As fans, it’s fun to read the stories and follow the rumors, but honestly, most of it is merely wishful thinking or completely fabricated nonsense.

You have to separate the fantasy from reality and seriously consider the potential impact of any such deal and how it could potentially fit into the fabric of the team as currently constructed.

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With July 31 rapidly approaching, teams throughout Major League Baseball are scrambling to bolster their squads for the remaining two months of the regular season, hoping to propel themselves into October baseball.

Whether your team is in the market for a middle of the order bat, a veteran utility man to cover for potential injuries or rest a few regulars down the stretch, an ace starting pitcher, or a dependable reliever to add depth to your bullpen, there is likely a player available to suit your needs.

Teams have long since determined whether hope remains for their 2010 aspirations or if the club is best served by turning their collective eye toward the future. Do we hold on to the few recognizable names we have to help fill seats over the remainder of 2010 or is it best to jettison those in favor of youth and potential building blocks for the future foundation of the franchise?

It’s clearly never an easy decision to make, but the time is now to either act decisively or stand pat and take your chances with the squad you’ve constructed up to this point. Of course, there is always additional maneuvering prior to the August 31 waiver deadline, but that’s an entirely different story altogether.

A clever deal for the right player can alter the destiny of your team but can also prove fruitless and make the baseball world question your sanity. Occasionally, you end up with a scintillating Randy Johnson at the deadline, as the Houston Astros did in 1998, and other times, you may get a woefully over-matched Denny Neagle like the Yankees did during the summer of 2000.

With several high-profile deals already completed, the majority of the deadline dealing may be finished. There are still plenty of rumors floating around several teams and occasionally one team’s move forces the other contenders to attempt to counteract their rivals’ maneuvers. No one wants to remain stagnant while their potential playoff foes are fortifying their squads.

In light of all the recent activity around the league, let’s take a closer look at several of the most significant mid-season trades of the last decade.

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Earlier this week, I took a look at one of the primary concerns for the Yankees as they head into the dog days of summer, the suddenly fragile state of the starting rotation. In the subsequent games since my article, we have been treated to a well-diversified display of the myriad issues facing the Yankees starting pitching.

In the week of games since the Tampa Bay series, the rotation has had its share of ups and downs, which is certainly not an uncommon occurrence for any rotation. The timing of this recent run, though, helps to magnify the uneasy feelings regarding the starters.

With exactly one week left before the July 31 trading deadline, Yankee brass must decide if they are comfortable sticking with the current configuration: Sabathia, Burnett, Mitre in place of Pettitte, Vazquez, and Hughes.

Mitre showed yesterday, via his batting practice session that he tossed to the Kansas City offense, that he may be better suited for the bullpen than a starting role. Granted, he just returned from over a month on the disabled list, so being thrust into a start as a replacement for the thus-far stellar Andy Pettitte is not as simple as us fans would like it to be.

Phil Hughes, in his last start against the Angels, continued on his downward trending path that he has embarked upon since mid-June. Showing little command of most of his pitches, Hughes walked three and was pounded for nine hits, including two home runs, as he allowed six runs in five innings, en route to his third loss of the season.

Just today, Hughes again trudged through five and third innings, allowing two more home runs, but left the game in line for the win.

Javy Vazquez showed further signs of personal improvement against the Angels, only to regress in effectiveness as the start wore on, eventually allowing five runs on nine hits over only five innings. Fortunate to pitch on a day that the Yankee offense provided ample run support, he was able to pick up the win, but it didn’t mask the inconsistency of his outing.

As of yesterday, Andy Pettitte was already reporting that his groin strain is improving quickly and that he doesn’t expect to be sidelined for the previously estimated four to five weeks. Of course, players are often difficult to gauge when trying to predict injury recovery times, as they are usually eager to return to action as soon possible and may not always consider the long-term consequences of rushing back from injury.

The team will likely employ the cautious approach with the 38-year-old veteran and it should be noted that he has yet to throw from a mound, so although he may be feeling better, he hasn’t truly tested the injury to know whether it may be ready to withstand the rigors of game action.

It has been widely reported that the Yankees have been in contact with various teams regarding a variety of starters who may be available via trade over the next week. The Andy Pettitte injury seemed to heighten the possibility of the Yankees exploring starting pitching options in the trade market.

Even if Pettitte won’t be out as long-term as the team doctors initially postulated, a trade for a starter could serve to bolster the Yankees pitching staff in multiple areas.

As the baseball world is well aware, the Yankees intend to limit the wear on Phil Hughes’s young arm by closely monitoring his innings as the season progresses. Hughes is now entering uncharted territory as a major league pitcher as he is now at 106 innings, 14 more than his 2009 total, which includes his postseason outings.

Although it has never been explicitly stated by the team, it is widely believed that the Yankees intend to limit Hughes to the 150-160 inning range.

Considering the fact that Hughes may only have 40-50 more innings before he reaches his intended cap for this season, some creative thinking might become necessary to achieve that predetermined goal.

At this point, the Yankees may try to tinker with his routine and skip a start or two, but just as recently as last year, the team faced trouble when applying the same strategy to Joba Chamberlain. Many in the game view that as the reasoning behind Joba’s unraveling down the stretch, and the team may be reluctant to revisit the same plan with Hughes.

This is where the trade deadline options come into play. In light of the Pettitte injury, the Yankees were already exploring their potential trade options, whether in the form of Oswalt, Haren, Lilly, Sheets, or a few others. Any of these veteran hurlers could have possibly helped cover for Pettitte as he makes his way back from his groin injury.

Now, though, even if Andy returns sooner than expected, the addition of a veteran starting pitcher could help to address two of the team’s most obvious needs with one personnel transaction.

With the continuing struggles of Joba Chamberlain, and his inability to confidently stake claim to the eighth inning setup role, there is clearly a glaring void in the ranks of the team’s late bullpen arms as well as in the starting rotation.

Considering the absence of Alfredo Aceves, the slow return to 2009 form of David Robertson, and the fact that Damaso Marte is most suitable for a left-handed specialist role, there is not a clear in-house favorite to assume ownership of the critical primary setup job.

If the Yankees were inclined to enter the fray of the pre-deadline trading market, a move for a veteran starter could help cover for the injured Pettitte in the short-term, while allowing Phil Hughes to also make a few more starts.

Once Andy Pettitte returns from his stint on the disabled list, having another veteran arm could then allow Phil Hughes to return to the eighth inning role, allowing him to get closer to his proposed inning limit while still continuing to pitch out of the bullpen.

Phil Hughes thrived in the setup role last season, one of the keys to the 2009 Yankee Championship run in the eyes of many observers. Returning him to the familiar role for the remainder of the 2010 season could serve to once again solidify the bridge to Mariano that has been sorely lacking thus far.

It would also give the Yankees an easier way to maintain Hughes’s innings limit without venturing into the awkward territory of attempting to skip his starts or truncate his outings, a la the bizarre Joba Rules experiment of late last year.

I can’t imagine anyone in the Bronx or the Yankees’ Tampa complex feeling comfortable heading down the stretch relying on the current bullpen configuration to help successfully defend the World Series title. I don’t want to lay it all on Joba, but his wild, pendulum-like swings from dominance to utter ineffectiveness clearly are not the answer for now.

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