The best way to describe the Yankees’ June is this: They survived.
When play started on June 1, the 29-25 Yankees were 2 ½ lengths back of the AL East-leading Blue Jays in second place. After getting edged by the last-place Rays 4-3 in 12 innings Monday night at Yankee Stadium, the 41-40 Yankees are, still, 2 ½ games out, but in third.
So, despite going 12-15, they didn’t lose pace.
Look at that any way you want. The glass-is–half-full crowd is encouraged the Yankees didn’t fall eight games out. The half-empty folks, always full of self-hating Yankee fans, believe the club missed a strong opportunity to take control of a division that is wide open.
Now June moves into July, a month that will determine whether the Yankees sell playoff tickets or miss the postseason for the second straight year.
The Yankees are going to make a deal before the July 31 trading deadline. What that trade is will shape the final two months of the season.
Contrary to popular opinion, according to evaluators from other organizations, the Yankees’ list of prospects is viewed as being better than it has been in years so they could be in play for/have the talent to acquire Jeff Samardzija from the Cubs and David Price from the Rays although that deal might need a third partner.
Here is a look at June:
MVP: Jacoby Ellsbury
The Yankees had three productive hitters in the month in Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner and Mark Teixeira. Any of them could be listed in this category but Ellsbury is the pick.
He batted .324 (34-for-105) with two homers, 12 RBIs and a .803 OPS hitting third, which isn’t where the Yankees envisioned him when they signed him to a seven-year, $153 million contract.
Ellsbury was supposed to lead off, but when Carlos Beltran went down Joe Girardi shifted Ellsbury to third. He has batted first just twice since May 11.
Ellsbury, Gardner and Teixeira are the biggest reasons the Yankees survived June.
LVP: Carlos Beltran
The Yankees paid Beltran $45 million across three years to be a middle-of-the-order run producer and three months in it appears to be a blunder.
Beltran, a switch-hitting right fielder when healthy, carries a .219 average.
He says the bone spur in his right elbow and the forearm tightness in the same arm don’t bother him at the plate. Yet, how do you explain a .283 career hitter batting 64 points below that? Or a .275 on-base percentage when the career mark was .359?
Yes, Beltran is 37 so some slippage was to be expected, but if it’s not the elbow/forearm the contract is easily the worst one in years.
A game-winning homer at home on June 20 was seen as a possible launching pad. Instead, Beltran has gone 6-for-34 (.176). And he needed a 3-for-4, homer game Sunday to get there.
At some point, no matter how much money is invested, Joe Girardi has to decide if there is better option at DH.
Game of the Month
June 20: Yankees 5, Orioles 3
Trailing, 3-1, going to the home ninth the Yankees sent the top of the order to face Zach Britton. Brett Gardner provided hope with a leadoff single but Derek Jeter struck out looking and Jacoby Ellsbury flied to center. A walk to Mark Teixeira kept hope alive and Brian McCann’s single scored Gardner to make it a one-run game. Beltran homered to left and it was believed by some the blast would serve as a stepping stone to getting Beltran straightened out. It didn’t.
Looking Ahead
The Yankees are getting a much-needed bat! The Yankees are getting a much-needed arm! Tis the season.
How is this for a reality check? By the last week of July the Yankees are sellers?
The AL East race isn’t likely to slip away from them by the deadline, but for three months the Yankees have survived playing Yangervis Solarte at third, have gotten no power from Alfonso Soriano or Ichiro Suzuki in right field and have squeezed a lot out of Chase Whitley and Vidal Nuno.
And Brian McCann and Beltran are hitting .221 and .219 respectively.
So, what Yankees appeal to contenders if the team falls out of the race? The Dodgers and Angels surely would have an interest in Hiroki Kuroda. If healthy, Francisco Cervelli would be attractive. Ichiro and Kelly Johnson might draw interest.
If they are buyers?
CC Sabathia is due back at some point this month but this rotation needs more than him. And only the very naïve believe Michael Pineda will offer help.
Samardzija and Price are going to be dealt. If Cliff Lee proves he is healthy he will be on the move. The bats aren’t as sexy, but the White Sox have let teams know they will listen on a lot of players including infielder Gordon Beckham who could play third. The White Sox are looking for catching of which the Yankees have plenty.
As for the schedule, July doesn’t appear to be overwhelming but nothing comes easy for this team. An 11-game, three-city trip opens Thursday in Minneapolis, moves to Cleveland and ends in Baltimore. After the All-Star break the Yankees host the Reds, Rangers and Blue Jays before finishing the month in Texas.
Joe Girardi’s dilemma
The manager is doing the right thing and it has turned out wrong on three fronts.
Alfonso Soriano has been awful against right-handers so Girardi has played Ichiro against them and Soriano versus left-handers.
Working with a lineup starved for power, Soriano needs to play every day to produce. Put up with his strikeouts and hope he goes on one of those hot streaks that have defined his career.
Or, if you are seduced by Ichiro’s singles and being a better defender in right, play him.
Girardi might be better off playing Ichiro or Soriano and see if that improves a lineup that at times is allergic to touching home plate.
Five key stats
0: Number of homers hit by Alfonso Soriano in June.
.115: Opponents’ batting average against Dellin Betances, who has fanned 76 in 48 innings.
.173/.299: Surprising batting averages by lefties/righties against the right-handed Adam Warren.
.161: Carlos Beltran’s batting average with runners in scoring position.
81: Regular-season games remaining in Derek Jeter’s career.