Yankees Pinstripe Weekly: Busted Up Vazquez

So, after two weeks of the season, like last week, the Yankees sit at 12-6, or in other words, they have won exactly two-thirds of thei games. Projected record: 108-54. Not bad.

But want to know an interesting problem? Half of the Yankees six losses have come with Javier Vazquez on the mound.

Problem brewing? I think so.

Thanfully, Vazquez HAS won one game, on Tuesday against the Oakland A's. He only allowed three runs in 5.1 innings of work, though you have to admit, he needs to eat more innings. Outside of Tuesday though, it's been trouble for Vazquez.

Why is this such a big concern? Well, I don't think it's Vazquez on a slow start, I think he is genuinlly struggling against the American League. I believed the Yankees overpaid for a guy who struggled his first time around the Bronx and is continuing to do so in 2010.

The problem will be mroe apparent when the Yankee come back down to earth. An 11=3 record when Vazquez is not pitching won't be sustainable and once the team comes back down closer to earth, Vazquez's losses are going to become more and more painful.

The Yankees aren't perfect, despite the great start. There is no doubt they will need betetr pitching from Vazquez to be able to succeed late in the season. Vazquez is living up to his bust label in fantasy baseball, and for the real Yankees baseball team, this is just unacceptable.

Studs and Duds This Week

NY Yankees 7, Oakland 3
Stud: Alex Rodriguez- he only had oen hit, but it was a huge 3-run homer that effectively put the game away in the fifth inning as the Yanks opened up a 6-0 lead. Sometimes its about the momentum swining hits and A-Rod won the game with that one swing.

Dud: Gio Gonzalez- Bad outing for the young A's starter, as he got hit hard in the first inning and was crushed in the fifth as well. Couldn't hold his own against the Bombers.

NY Yankees 3, Oakland 1
Stud: Phil Hughes- Two see two close no-hitters this early in the season is hopefulyl a sign of things to come. I liked Hughes in the rotation from day one in spring training, this is Example A of why.

Dud: Mark Teixiera- Sorry to Tex, but 0 for 4 with two strikeouts on Wednesday. And your average is down to .118 at this point. Eek.

Oakland 4, NY Yankees 2
Stud: A-Rod to Cano to Teixiera- How about the first triple play since the 1960's for the Yanks? About one of the few things that went well on Thursday, but man was it pretty awesome.

Dud: Nick Johnson- Again, like Teixiera, I don't want to pick on you, but an 0 for 4 day drops his average to .125. On-base percentage or not, that's just terrible.

LA Angels 6, NY Yankees 4
Stud: Kendry Morales- Holy smoke, Morales was on fire on Friday. A perfect 3 for 3 day with an RBI single and two-run homer, Morales was a huge part of the Angels' win.

Dud: Mark Teixiera- ANOTHER 0 for 4 day, ANOTHER two strikeouts, and his average? .117 To be fair, he DID score a run though.

NY Yankees 7 LA Angels 1
Stud: Robinson Cano- Any time a players has a four hit day, it has to be commended. Cano tour the cover off the ball with four singles on Saturday. Kudos to him.

Dud: Torii Hunter- No offense to Hunter or anything ,but he was pretty silent and a non-facotr on Saturday.

LA Angels 8 NY Yankees 4
Stud: Kendry Morales- Rare that the opposing player gets two studs in the same series, but ANOTHER 3 for 3 day for Morales. Great start of the season for him.

Dud: Mark Teixiera- Hitless again, this time 0 for 2. He started with an average of .118 this week, ends it with an average of .119. Watch out Mark, you may be in JAvy's spot next week.

My Yankees Picks This Week

Oops! I picked the Yankees to lose a series this week ,but I picked the wrong series. As a matter of fact, I SOMEHOW managed to go 0-6 this week!!! This week, it's easier. The Baltimore Orioles are playing lousy baseball right now, and to me, the Yankees should sweep easily. Especially since Vazquez won't pitch. Then, they will return home this weekend to host the Chicago White Sox. A win, los, loss is in store for the Chicago series.

Last Week 0-6
Season 4-13 (ouch!)

Tues. at Baltimore WIN
Wed. at Baltimore WIN
Thurs. at Baltimore WIN
Fri. vs CHI White Sox WIN
Sat vs CHI White Sox LOSS
Sun vs CHI White Sox LOSS

It's Happy Time!!!

Happy 27th Birthdya Juan Miranda- This organizational player for the Yankees had a game wiing hit against the Royals last Septmeber. How do I know that? It was my first game ever at the new Yankee Stadium. Anyways, happy birthday Juan.

Happy 15th Anniversary Baseball- Yes, baseball in general, it returned on this day 15 years ago from the devestating 1994 strike. Sicne then, it has never had a work stoppage, something that the NBA, NHL ,and maybe soon the NFL may not be able to say. Incredible.

Happy Trails Chris Jakubauskas- A very sad happy trails to Chris, who was knocked out by a line drive in his first start of the season last night. It appears Chris will be ok, but he did hit the DL with a concussion and head contusion. Let's all hope for a sppedy recovery.

Around the MLB

AL East- In the wild cand wacky AL East, the Yankees, despite a .667 win percentage are 1.5 games back of Tampa Bay!! The Rays are truly rolling to start out the season and with solid appearences against the Yankees and especially Boston, the Rays are the team to beat early.

AL Central- The Tigers SS Adam Everett straiined his hamstring on Saturday against Texas. He didn't play today and it should be worth seeing the injury is day to day or DL worthy. Ramon Santiago will take his place. Big difference, huh?

AL West- Good news for Cliff Lee owners. He threw an awesome rehab start in AAA today and appears to be ready to rejoin the Mariners this week. Seattle is already heading upwards in the division and this team oculd assure itself of playoff worthiness with Lee throwing regularly.

NL East- How about the Nationals? A solid showing this week against the Rockies and Dodgers have the Nationals in....second place? Yeah, and just 1.5 games back of division leading Philadelphia at 10-9. Yeah, it's early ,but this is a big difference from last year's squad and this is WITHOUT Strasburg. Time will tell if the Nats are for real.

NL Central- A huge amount of storms devestated the Southeats U.S. this weekend and Roy Oswalt left the Astros to help his family with recovery in their tornado damaged town. Our bets wishes and prayers to Oswalt and his family and everyoen in the region.

NL West- The opposite end of the Nats-Dodgers series this weekend. Los Angeles is struggling ,tied for last place at 8-10 after today. Los Angeles IS only three games back of the division leading Padres. Yeah the Padres. L.A. will get back. I picked then to win the National League after all.

What To Watch This Week

Monday- Philadelphia at San Francisco 10:15 CSN Philadelphia
Roy Halladay (4-0) vs. Jonathan Sanchez (1-1)
Halladay goes for 5-0 on the season,but has a tough challeneg against Sanchez, who's ERA is 1.86 so far, in this tough series opener at San Fran.

Tuesday- Oakland at Tampa Bay 7:10 SUN Sports
Ben Sheets (1-1) vs. Wade Davis (1-1)
Sheets looked pretty good against the Yankees this week, now his upstart A's team travels to play the best team in baseball at the Trop.

Wednesday- LA Dodgers at NY Mets 1:10 SNY
Charlie Haeger (0-2) vs. John Maine (0-1)
A struggling Dodger team takes on a Mets team that played well this past week. But the drawing card here is knockleballer Charlie Haeger, how will he fare against the Met lineup?

Thursday- Minnesota at Detroit 1:05 FSN Detroit
Carl Pavano (3-1) vs. Dontrelle Willis (0-1)
The top two teams in the AL Central and growing rivals play a natinee at Comerica as the pitching matchup looks like a sea of second chances.

Friday- Oakland at Toronto 7:07 CSN California
Brett Anderson (1-1) vs. Brandon Morrow (1-1)
Two teams that have surprised with their solid startslook to finish April strong as they face off north of the border at the Skydome.

Saturday- NY Mets at Philadelphia 3:10 FOX
Mike Pelfrey (3-0) vs. Roy Halladay (4-0)
Oh boy, a double dose of Halladay this week. This  one will be a toughie, as the MEts are playing well and Mike Pelfrey is looking good at 3-0. Should be a good one.

Sunday- Colorado at San Francisco 4:05 FSN Rocky Mountain
Jason Hammel (0-1) vs. Jonathan Sanchez (1-1)
A double dose of Sanchezs too this week. The Giants and Rockies could very well finish one-two in the NL West this year and this early season series may start a trend for future weeks.