Robbins Nest
By Lenn Robbins
The Yankees didn’t blink.
They just shut their eyes on the season.
Is it possible this offensive juggernaut can
offset the recent horrible starting pitching and lead the Bombers to a 28th
World Series title? Of course.
But that lineup took another hit on Wednesday
when manager Aaron Boone announced that first baseman Luke Voit is headed to
the injured listed with a sports hernia. If Voit needs surgery he could be lost
for the season.
That’s 19 home runs missing from the lineup.
Also out of the lineup is
Giancarlo Stanton (PCL), Gary Sanchez (groin) and Brett Gardner (knee). Although
that lineup remains potent, good pitching has always shut down good hitting in
the postseason.
And Wednesday was all about the postseason.
The trade deadline came and went with GM Brian
Cashman failing to land a quality starter. Cashman has earned the benefit of
the doubt. He told reporters he would not be pressured into a trade. Only he
knows what teams were asking him to part with for a quality starter.
The Yankees, who improved to 68-39 with a 7-5
win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, improved their lead in the AL East to eight
games over the Rays and 9.5 games over the Red Sox. But they didn’t improve
their pitching which makes hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy a daunting task.
The Yankees saw Zack Greinke go to the Astros.
Trevor Bauer go to the Reds. Marcus Stroman go to the Mets. Madison Bumgarner
stay in San Francisco, and Zach Wheeler and Noah Syndegaard remain with the
Mets.
Division leaders Astros, Indians, and Dodgers
have better starting pitching on paper. They’re lineups also are potent.
Let the games begin.
Is it possible the Yankees get the boost they
need from the return of Luis Severino (lat strain) from the injured list? Sure.
But he has yet to pitch this season.
Is it possible the pen is bolstered by the
return of Dellin Betances (right shoulder strain)? Sure. But he too has yet to pitch this
season.
August in here. The race to October has begun. The
Yankees are the same team they were in July, the same franchise as the one that
hasn’t won a World Series since 2009.
If they don’t win it this year, the Yankees may
very well look back on Wednesday.
