Questions For The Yankee Universe Members?

Welcome to New York  Yankees Baseball. I got the Direct TV package. Watch just about every game. Michael Kay, David Cone, Al Lieter, Paul O'Neil and the guys. Love the action. But I sure have developed lots of questions about this years team.

Lets take a trip around the diamond and cover some of these questions. Starting with Jorge Posada behind the plate. Has Jorge slipped a notch as our backstop? Seems to be an awful lot of balls sailing past his glove lately? And every opposing team has been running on Jorge lately? I wonder if Jorge can stay healthy, and if this kid Cervelli is ready for the long haul? He has been very impressive thus far.

Must admit I have no questions involving First Base. Mark Texiera has won me over with his great attitude. I love the way he plays the game. He does things that we don't expect from super stars, reminds me of Larry Bird back in the day.

At Second Base, I still have questions regarding Robby Cano. Does he really show up to play every night? Does he take games off?  Here is another question. Has Cano lost a step in the field? He doesn't seem to be getting to a lot of those balls to his left or right? Just seems to be a waste of all that talent, because of his attitude? Can Cano mature in time for our run at the pennant in late September?

Third base has become a mystery to me. Arod, a guy I once annointed as the best player in the Major Leagues, has become a "human rally killer" in recent weeks. Talk about talent! This is a guy that out thinks himself. Imagine if Arod simply played the game as it was designed. Am I losing it, or should Arod be dropped down in the batting order as his numbers would suggest?

With regards to the Short Stop position, why do people keep bad mouthing our Captain?  Derek doesn't get to balls he once gobbled up. I agree with that thought. But, he makes up for that lack of range with his smarts. This guy is the consummate professional. And he is swinging that hot bat, especially in clutch situations. I have no questions whatsoever regarding Capt. Clutch.

The biggest question I have involves this years edition of the Bronx Bombers. The Outfield. Yes, all three positions. How did Brian Cashman collect these three wanna be major leaguers?

Okay, we can live with Johnny Damon in left. Johnny comes to play, and carries a hot bat on occasion. Melky in Center is usable, would probably be a solid back-up for a losing team somewhere else. Swisher in right is absolutely terrible. We just have to hope that he can hit somewhere around .250 for the year. Gardner, the fourth outfielder can cover some ground, but I fear will never be a bonafide big league hitter.

And I haven't even gotten to the biggest question regarding this years outfield situation. Can anyone of these outfielders actually throw the ball to home plate when needed? I have seen virtually every game this season, I have yet to see an accurate throw to the plate in scoring situations? Can anyone remember guys like Abreu and Sheffield, and the guns they flashed from right field in the past?

Lets not forget Mr Cashmans collection of bench players this year. Have we ever had a poorer group than this?  Pena is passable, thanks to his speed. Appears to have no bat? Berroa is not, nor was he ever, a valid major leaguer in any category.They figured him out years ago. Why do we need two utility infielders? Cervelli is usable, as all teams must have a back-up catcher. Sorry, I gotta ask?  Why don't we have a bat, someone who can actually pinch hit, on the bench?

Lets face the facts. The Yankees have invested over $200-Million dollars, but they forgot about the Bull Pen?  We have virtually nothing out there in that magnificent new Pen-area. Sure we have Mariano, he can still handle most teams on reputation alone. I kinda like this Robinson kid. Beyond that we could unload the rest, although I doubt that any bonafide team would want them?

They keep telling us about Bruney. He's almost ready. He is coming back soon? Face the facts. Watch Bruney pitch, study his motion. This guy will never be without arm problems the way he throws. That is not a question, that is a fact. And I am quite sure that Marte will never be a winning factor with the Yankees. Maybe some other team would like to take our Pitching Coach? But, I doubt it.

That will be enough questions for this day. We'll get back another day and address the starting pitchers. Lets hope we don't have as many questions to be answered then. I'm on my way out the door to get a new Yankees sweatshirt.

Keep your chins up Yankees fans. We might have a very long season ahead. Do you actually believe that they will keep this Girardi guy as the Manager much longer?

                                                                                             endit-lfj