Manager Joe Girardi called the lack of ninth-inning comebacks this season by the Yankees “somewhat surprising” when asked about it over the weekend. It also could be somewhat disturbing for a team trying to get into the playoffs.
The Yankees head into tonight’s series opener against the Blue Jays in The Bronx 0-54 when they trail after eight innings.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last team to reach the postseason winless in those situations was the Cubs in 2003, who went 0-64, but won the NL Central with an 88-74 record. They went on to reach the NLCS before losing to the Marlins in the series made memorable by Steve Bartman.
The prospect of the Yankees reaching a World Series without any late-inning dramatics is even more daunting.
The 1972 Athletics, with Reggie Jackson, went 0-for-46 before winning the first of three straight titles. No team in the same circumstances has gotten to the Fall Classic since then.
Although the Yankees have eight victories when they have been behind after seven innings, Girardi acknowledged it was fair to knock the team for coming up empty in the ninth and beyond.
“We haven’t had any [wins],” he said. “I don’t think it’s unfair.”
* Team president Randy Levine told MLB.com the Yankees remain open to Mariano Rivera’s return in 2013.
“If he wants to come back, we’ll welcome him back,” Levine told the site.
He didn’t rule out the return of Rafael Soriano, who can opt out of his contract.
“[He] has done a great job,” Levine said. “I personally have a very good relationship with him.. …We want him to be here.”
* With the Yankees scheduled to face two lefties against Toronto, Ricky Romero tonight and Aaron Laffey on Thursday, Andruw Jones should see plenty of action.
But Jones has become a liability regardless of what kind of pitcher he’s facing. He’s hitting just .201 with nine homers, 22 RBIs and an OPS of .687 against lefties this season. The veteran is a .258 hitter with a .852 OPS in his career versus southpaws. He needs to do something. Jones is 6-for-46 with two RBIs since Aug. 17. His last extra base hit was a homer against the Rangers on Aug. 16.
“I’m just rushing too much,” Jones said. “Sometimes you feel comfortable at the plate and sometimes you don’t. I have to slow down.”
The Yankees don’t have many attractive alternatives to replace Jones, because Ichiro Suzuki, Raul Ibanez and Chris Dickerson are all lefty hitters who struggle against southpaws.