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Where are the New York Yankees sluggers?

By Darrell Samuels

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There clearly appears to be issues involving the New York Yankees and their quest for being at the top of the standings of the American League.

The calendar has flipped to August and something is in the air and not necessarily a good thing for the New York Yankees. They have lost 7 of their last 11 games and since August 5 game versus the Boston Red Sox have only scored 17 runs in their last 8 games.

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As already stated here, the bats have gone to sleep for the New York Yankees. Outfielder Brett Gardner, designated hitter Alex Rodriguez and first baseman Mark Teixeira hit a combined 5 for 30 in a series last weekend against the Toronto Blue Jays in New York at Yankee Stadium.

The team has played two games against the Cleveland Indians and lost 5-4 in a five hour 16 inning game on Tuesday night. Wednesday night, they lost again to the Indians. This time the score was 2-1. The bats have continued to be bone dry for the team of the Bronx. Gardner has gone 4 for 13 in the three games at Jacobs Field. Teixeira and Rodriguez have been pleasant surprises for the team in 2015. Both of them have gone 2 for 20 combined over the first two games. The final game of the series, Rodriguez went 0 for 4. Teixeira was not in the final game of the series and preparing for a big series in Toronto against the Blue Jays.

Thursday night, the Yankees defeated the Cleveland Indians 8-6. They head to Toronto to play the Blue Jays in a three game series at the Rogers Centre this weekend.

Ever since their 4 World Series titles in the late 1990’s and into the 21st century, fans have come to their conclusions about assessing one of the richest teams in all of North American sports. To some, they see the team as slow. To others, they see the team as to old to keep up with the youngsters. However you slice it, there appears to be some a strong aroma coming from the dugouts of the Bronx Bombers and it is not an alluring or inviting stench.

Things have to change and fast, otherwise there will be sacrificial lambs slayed with player or management personnel. One would have to think that either General Manager Brian Cashman or Manager Joe Girardi would have to pay the price for this potential epic collapse.

If that was not bad enough, they have had to look in their rear view mirrors at the surging Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto has just completed a sweep of the Oakland Athletics. They are also winners of 14 of their last 15 games. Everything is clicking right for the team in Canada and, at least on the morning of August 13, can sit with pride and cockiness as the Blue Jays have overtaken their nemesis known as the New York Yankees. The team north of the border has moved into first place of the American League East.

Everyone is happy in Toronto and actually all across Canada. The Blue Jays are prominent in the Canadian sports fan’s mind and seeing the New York Yankees clearly with field miscues is utter elation to Torontonians.

There is still a lot of baseball left to play and a lot can happen. There’s no reason for New York fans to be discouraged completely. However, there should not be thoughts in Toronto that just because they overtook their rival that it is a foregone conclusion that they are now destined for the playoffs and another trip to the World Series that has not been seen since 1993.

Lots can still happen and things can change in a heartbeat.

Next: Trouble Brewing in the Bronx?

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