July!
By Joe Davis
Whenever I rub into Yankee fans faces' that their team is struggling in April, May, and June, I usually get, "It's only *insert month here,*" and a, "Wait 'till October!"
Well July is usually the time of the year when I can't say that anymore, and usually around the All Star break. Well this year I can safely say that I will be able to face Yankee fans well after the All Star break.
The Red Sox are poised to win the AL East but not just because they have been playing great baseball. The Baltimore Orioles have struggled in June, losing 15 games. They were on top of the AL East by 3 games a few weeks ago. Now they are on the opposite end, looking up at the Red Sox down by 2.5 games.
Time will tell if the Baltimore Orioles will have an Atlanta Braves attitude. The Orioles are hurting and need to step up if they want to play with the big spenders. Tim Hudson, Mike Hampton and Chipper Jones, three key members of the Braves are out, they are 4.5 games out of the NL East, yet they are leading the Wild Card race. The Orioles are without Javy Lopez, Erik Bedard and BJ Surhoff. Recently, Steve Kline lost his cool with an umpire and is now suspended 4 games, further hindering the Oriole roster.
The Yankees are in an even bigger hole. Looking at the Red Sox down by 6 games. Good news for the Yankee fans is that they are at least over .500. Bad news is that Gary Sheffield is causing trouble in the clubhouse and Cashman is looking to move the big bat to other teams. The NY Post recently posted a supposedly proposed trade that would have sent Sheffield to the Mets and Mike Cameron to the Yankees. Sheffield followed up with complaints (like usual) and threats, which he is been accustomed to do lately. Sheffield's complaints include telling reporters that he will not try on a team other than the Yankees. Sheffield has also been suspended 2 games for throwing his helmet and getting up into a first-base umpires' face and screaming. Classy, indeed.
Also recently, the Yankees designated experienced relievers Mike Stanton and Paul Quantrill for assignment. And in a matter of weeks, will be released from the team or traded.
July will only tell if the Yankees desperate moves will help or further handicap the Yankees. Jaret Wright and Kevin Brown should both come off the DL in the July and will be important for their stretch run. However, Kevin Brown hasn't been known to exactly help the Yankees (See: Wall punching incident). But Wright who was their best pitcher up until going on the DL will probably help the Yankees.
At the end of July we will know if the Yankees will rise to the occasion or choke, like their 2004 predecessors (well, not as bad as that but you get the point). With a tough schedule for the rest of the year, the AL East will be less than likely to produce the Wild Card this year, which will make the Pennant chase even more exciting towards September and into October.
