Travis Hafner and Vernon Wells. For crying out loud.
Who saves the Yankees’ behinds next year? Edgar Renteria and Hank Blalock?
The Yankees are mocking the very notion of organizational depth. Of statistical analysis. Of common sense. They are to reclamation projects what Hollywood is to suck-ups.
They are 14-9 with an increasingly makeshift lineup, and good luck figuring out when this fantasy cruise will run out of fuel.
Hafner’s game-tying, three-run homer and game-winning triple propelled the Yankees over Toronto, 5-4, their third win in three days — all coming from behind — against the unofficial reigning Hot Stove League champions. Wells added a single, walk, two runs scored and an RBI. The Blue Jays look like a truly lost team, bracing for defeat even when they’re ahead. Today, they’ll turn to former Met R.A. Dickey to salvage one victory in this four-game set.
In his first start in New York since he picked up his 20th win last Sept. 27 at Citi Field, Dickey will pitch to what looks — on paper — like an unimposing lineup. That is, assuming that paper was written in 2011 or 2012, as opposed to 2006 … or 2013.
“It means they have a lot of baseball left,” winning pitcher CC Sabathia said of Hafner and Wells. “People write them off in other places. They still have a lot of game left. I think being here rejuvenated them.”
What is it about the Yankees that propels to has-beens to once-mores? Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia in 2011. Eric Chavez and Raul Ibanez last year. And now, in what figured to be their most trying season in over two decades, Hafner and Wells. Kevin Youkilis, too, returned from a six-day respite (achy back) and contributed an important walk to the team’s cause.
“You know you’re going to play in front of huge crowds all the time,” said Hafner, who now has six homers, a .433 on-base percentage and .727 slugging percentage. “It’s a great ballpark to play in. Great clubhouse. Good dudes. It’s been a lot of fun for me coming to the park every day. I’m really enjoying it.”
Said Joe Girardi: “It’s a great atmosphere to come into every night, whether you’re home or on the road. There are expectations here. I think a lot of guys feed off of that.”
The Yankees began the day by placing two more assets, Francisco Cervelli and Ivan Nova, on the disabled list and replacing them with call-ups Austin Romine and Vidal Nuno. Then they watched their ace Sabathia, with better velocity but worse stuff, fall behind, 3-0, in the fourth.
Hafner, getting a rare start against a left-hander due to the struggles of the righty-hitting Ben Francisco, followed walks to Wells and Youkilis with a three-run blast to right-center field off Toronto starter J.A. Happ.
When Sabathia gave up a solo homer to Brett Lawrie in the sixth, putting the home team in a 4-3 hole, the Yankees responded with an two-run rally in the seventh, in which Wells drove home Robinson Cano from second base with a single to center field off Esmil Rogers and, after a Youkilis groundout (and a Wells steal of third base), Hafner faced lefty reliever Brett Cecil and powered a fly ball to very deep center field. Speedy Toronto center fielder Rajai Davis, struggling to get his bearings as he pursued the ball, got a glove on it before it hit the wall.
Wells trotted home with the game-winning run, and on this team that already has received so many contributions from so much, Joba Chamberlain took over for the resting Mariano Rivera and David Robertson to pitch the ninth inning for the save.
Hafner spent his final five years with Cleveland as a walking disabled-list entry and signed with the Yankees in February for $2 million. Wells, who owns six homers, a .374 OBP and .580 slugging, played himself onto the Angels’ bench the prior two seasons before approving a March trade to the Angels.
“We come here and are asked to be in the middle of this lineup. It’s fun,” Wells said. “I think that’s the biggest thing is, we’ve enjoyed putting going out and having a chance to contribute.”
Without these two guys, where would the Yankees be?
In trouble, for sure. Unless, of course, Garrett Anderson and Preston Wilson had stepped into these openings and performed just as well.