There’s misery, so much misery, everywhere you turn in the Yankees’ universe.
There’s Masahiro Tanaka, admitting “I still feel” the pain in his right elbow, although he professed it’s getting better.
There’s Carlos Beltran, returning from his latest injury and trying with a grimace to keep his body intact for another 68 games or so.
There’s general manager Brian Cashman, conveying the news that CC Sabathia will require season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and might still eventually need a career-threatening microfracture procedure.
For one night, at least, the Yankees found solace in the best possible location: Between the first and ninth innings. They kicked off their second half Friday night by edging the Reds 4-3 at Yankee Stadium to lift their record back over .500 at 48-47.
“It’s always nice to see the guys swinging the bats well in a win,” said Jacoby Ellsbury, whose two-run, fifth-inning homer off Reds starter Mike Leake broke a 2-2 tie.
Ellsbury teamed with his fellow new guys Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran to drive in all of the runs, and unsung pitching hero David Phelps overcame a pair of infield errors to provide 6 ¹/₃ solid innings of work.
It proved to be a hard-fought victory against a good team, and in all, the day’s events reiterated what we already knew: The Yankees have an awfully tough row to hoe if they are to produce a second-half surge and qualify for the playoffs.
“We’re more vulnerable,” Cashman said, “because we can’t afford any more injuries.”
Cashman is trying to upgrade the club on the trade market — he said he doesn’t see a fit for released Braves second baseman Dan Uggla — with starting pitching the most pressing need and the Yankees’ trade-chip supply improved, if not overflowing. Philadelphia’s Cliff Lee, who has missed extensive time with a left elbow injury, is on track to make a few starts before the July 31 non-waivers trading deadline.
The Yankees’ best plan for a revival features a surge in run production, for in theory, the team wouldn’t need to make any trades to make that a reality. It’d be a matter primarily of Beltran and McCann producing at a level closer to their contracts. Beltran, in his first game back after serving time on the seven-day concussion disabled list, delivered a third-inning RBI single and fifth-inning, shift-beating double down the third-base line, while McCann drilled an RBI double in the first inning, making him 16-for-45 in his last 11 games.
“I’ve been feeling pretty good at the plate for the last 10-to-12 games,” McCann said. “Hopefully, I can keep it up and drive in some runs.”
The Yankees also could try one of two minor leaguers, Rob Refsnyder or Jose Pirela, and see if they can provide more impact on offense than current right fielder Ichiro Suzuki.
The starting rotation represents a far bigger conundrum, and with that comes the season-long concern that the bullpen will get fried from overuse. All-Star Game witness Dellin Betances delivered another 1 ²/₃ innings of solid relief, and David Robertson picked up his 24th save in 26 opportunities.
“I think there were inconsistences with our offense at times during the first half so that needs to be more consistent,” manager Joe Girardi said before the game. “And sometimes the length we have been getting from our starters. They weren’t built up. We need some consistent distance.’’
Cashman noted the pitching help the Yankees have received from the likes of rookies Shane Greene and Chase Whitley, with Whitley’s contributions particularly surprising given that he spent most of his minor league career as a reliever. When you throw in how helpful homegrown pitchers Betances and Adam Warren have been, it’s unrealistic to expect much more from this group.
So Cashman looks for more upgrades like Saturday’s starter Brandon McCarthy, and the team crosses its fingers Tanaka can defy the odds, avoid Tommy John surgery and come back this year. And that the brittle Michael Pineda (right shoulder blade) continues his currently smooth path back toward the active roster sometime in August.
And, longer term, that Sabathia bounces back next season after undergoing the debridement on his right knee.
Many such Yankees hopes have been dashed in the last year and a half. The Stadium is littered with misery. It’ll require far more than a positive first step to fully clear all of the litter, yet given how much turbulence they have endured, the Yankees will settle for the reality that one positive step out of the break is better than zero.