Buddy Carlyle, Boone Logan and No Timely Hitting Means Yankees Lose

It's been said many times, but it was really confirmed when the Kansas City Royals beat the New York Yankees, 4-3 in 11 innings last night.

It hurts less to lose 10-0 than to lose 4-3.

The Royals managed a mere four hits, but Yankees pitchers issued 11 walks and hit a batter. It was as ugly as it can get.

The Yankees had 12 hits, eight walks and one hit batter. Robinson Cano was beaned by Nate Adcock and was forced to leave the game.

Lead off batter Derek Jeter was hitless in six at-bats, stranding six base runners. The Captain is now batting one point higher than he hit all of last season (.271 to .270).

In the first inning, with runners on first and second and one out, Alex Rodriguez, who ended the game hitting .259, grounded into a double play.

Robinson Cano led off the second with a single. Nick Swisher and Jorge Posada followed with singles to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead with runners on first and second and no outs.

They didn't score again in the inning.

Curtis Granderson hit his 12th home run leading off third for a 2-0 lead, but despite loading the bases, that was all the Yankees scored.

With the Yankees leading 2-1 in the eighth inning, old friend Wilson Betemit singled home old friend Melky Cabrera to tie the game, and then in the Royals half of the 10th inning, former New York Mets right fielder Jeff Francoeur doubled home rookie Eric Hosmer.

To their credit, the Yankees tied the game in their half of the 10th inning, but Buddy Carlyle walked Chris Getz leading off the 11th inning. Getz eventually scored what turned out to be the winning run.

This was a team loss for the Yankees, but it is only one game. The problem is that it exposed some glaring weaknesses that must be corrected, if that is possible.

Forget the lack of clutch hitting. Batters and teams go into slumps, but the way games are managed today, the bullpen has become a critical part of the team.

Boone Logan is the sole left-hander in the Yankees bullpen. It is unacceptable to have only one lefty for relief, but the weakness is exacerbated when Boone Logan is that left-hander.

Yes, last season Logan did well, but this year, he has reverted to form. In 13 games, he has a 5.19 ERA and a 1.615 WHIP, which is horrible, but which is untenable for a left-handed specialist. His ERA+ is 81.

This season is consistent with Logan's checkered career. With the Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves, and Yankees, he has a career 5.10 ERA, a 1.611 WHIP, and an 89 ERA+.

But Buddy Carlyle, who was last night's loser, may be more of a liability than Logan.

This season, our Buddy has done well statistically in his five and one-third innings of work, compiling a 3.38 ERA, a 1.313 WHIP and an ERA+ of 128.

Buddy's career totals are a different story. He has a Boone Logan-like 5.56 ERA, a 1.446 ERA and a 77 ERA+.

As Lou Piniella stated a few days ago, every team has some major weaknesses. No team in 2011 reminds anyone of the 1998 Yankees or the 1975 Cincinnati Reds.

It is a long season and the Yankees figure to win the Eastern Division title or at least qualify for the playoffs as the wild card, but nothing is guaranteed.

They must improve their bullpen, hope that Freddie Garcia and Bartolo (stem cells) Colon remain healthy and effective, and wait for Alex Rodriguez to find his power.

Mariano Rivera, Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson can't do it alone.

Reference:

Baseball Reference