New York Yankees Have to Beat Teams Other Than Seattle

Before last night's 14-strikeout blowout by Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander, the New York Yankees took two of three games from the Seattle Mariners in the Bronx last weekend.

The Tigers' 7-2 smacking marks the Yankees' 11th loss in their last 17 games, and the Bombers are now four games deep into a 20-game stretch that continues with three more versus the Tigers.

The Yankees head into Comerica Park tonight maintaining a 5.5-game lead in the AL East, but like the great Yogi Berra said, “It ain't over until it's over.”

Now, this year in Detroit it has been a different story.

Coming into 2012 as the heavy division favorites, the Tigers stumbled through the first half of the season. But, thanks to improved play and a weak AL Central, they now trail the Chicago White Sox by just 1.5 games.

The Tigers are hot, as they are on a five-game win streak and came in fresh off a walk-off win on Sunday, courtesy of a Miguel Cabrera homer in the 10th inning. Oh, and the Tigers haven't lost in Comerica in their last nine games either, so home field lends some comfort.

Call me cynical, but I think a better word is concerned, as the Yankees are coming into this stretch stumbling a bit. They haven’t been at their sharpest over the last two weeks.

Fact is, since July 18, the Bombers have lost 11 of 17 games and lost series to the Red Sox, Orioles and Athletics. Four of their six wins were against the Mariners, which is not comforting.

If you think I am the only person worried about the state of the Yankees, you would be mightily mistaken.

So, I compiled a list of some good reads for Yankee fans out there, like from my father, who is already talking about the World Series and such.

State Of The Yankees 16: Needed Series Win Over Seattle Has Yankees On Road With Positive Momentum—Brad Carroll’s Gameday

Yankees' situational stats are reason to sweat—NY Post

Past collapses show Yanks’ lead is not insurmountable—Hardball Blog, NY Post

Yankees pregame: The injured come into focus—LoHod Yankees Blog

New York Yankees: Why Fans Need to Be Patient with This Year's Team—Bleacher Report

New York Yankees: Surviving August Schedule—LadyLovesPinstripes.com

Injury updates on A-Rod and Andy Pettitte—NY Daily News

If anything, I hope this adds some perspective to the numerous delusional Yankee fans out there, as after this Tigers series, they face the Blue Jays, Rangers, Red Sox and White Sox all in a row. Things don’t get easier any time soon.

Fact is, the Yankees need to play better baseball now to stay atop the AL East.