The Yankees open a six-game stretch today in Baltimore in search of answers more than results.
With the dismal Orioles and the awful Astros on the schedule, the Bombers surely will keep piling up the wins, but the bigger question is just how good this team really is and what areas need to be tinkered with as the trade deadline approaches.
The Yankees have the second-best record in baseball, which is only good enough for second place in their division, courtesy of the Rays. They were tied with the Red Sox atop the majors with 314 runs scored heading into last night’s action, but constantly seem to fail with runners in scoring position.
“I’m not concerned with it,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said of the offense. “We have not been as good with runners in scoring position or moving the runners over, getting the sac fly, getting the guys in, for instance, as we’d like.
“We haven’t been as consistent as we have been or we were last year. Our numbers are there overall, but they’re coming in bunches. We might drop a 13-spot or a 12-spot on the board, and then follow that up with a couple of tworun ballgames. Then, you drop another 14 spot. Overall it looks good, but on the day-to-day ability to put points on the board it hasn’t been as cohesive as that.”
With less than eight weeks to go before the July 31 deadline, Cashman needs to figure out whether he needs to add a bat to this lineup.
When Nick Johnson went down, it left a hole at designated hitter. The Yankees currently are using Jorge Posada as the DH, but he is expected to return to catching duties soon. There is a thought that Posada should shift to fulltime DH even if he can catch, but Francisco Cervelli has worn down as the regular starter behind the plate.
Since taking the starting role on May 17, the day after Posada broke a bone in his right foot, Cervelli has hit .180 with more strikeouts (11) than RBIs (10).
The Yankees also need to see if Mark Teixeira snaps out of his slump and if Alex Rodriguez goes on a power binge. The duo currently has 16 home runs combined.
If Cashman decides to bolster the lineup, he should have options.
The White Sox are listening to offers on Paul Konerko, according to an industry source. He has 17 home runs, but is 34 years old and is getting $12 million this year, the final year of his deal.
Lance Berkman is in a similar situation. The Astros are going nowhere and need to dump the 34-year-old, who has underperformed this year and has a $15 million option for 2011.
The Rangers are willing to listen to offers for Josh Hamilton, but want a significant major league player in return. The Yankees are unlikely to do that.
Over the last few years, Cashman has shown an inclination to acquire complementary pieces in mid-season rather than making the big splash. He brought in Eric Hinske and Jerry Hairston a year ago, Ivan Rodriguez, Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte in 2008 and Wilson Betemit and Jose Molina in 2007.
Cashman could turn to the second-tier of hitters out there like Nady, whom the Cubs could end up shipping out, or Raul Ibanez, who has been terrible in Philadelphia this season.
Additional reporting by George A. King III
brian.costello@nypost.com