"I Wouldn't Bury Them Yet"

Anthony McCarron of the Daily News spoke to a major league scout who has been covering the Yanks this year. Here's his take on the team:

“I wouldn’t bury them yet.”

Still, the scout said he didn’t like the Yankee pitching staff, for the most part, and he thought that hitters would begin to figure out Mike Mussina. “(Andy) Pettitte’s pitching lousy,” the scout said. “He’s not the Pettitte we knew. And they’re running kids through there like it’s lollipop time.”

Here’s his take on Robinson Cano: “I hope he’s not reading his own press clippings, where he believes he’s this great hitter. I hope there is not something in his head that’s causing this start.” Ultimately, though, the scout said, “the kid will hit. He really is a great hitter.”

When I asked the scout if getting Alex Rodriguez back would solve all the Yankees’ offensive problems, he replied, “No. It will solve some of them. They’ll never be able to be Billy Ball, because they can’t bunt and steal, so you can throw that kind of stuff out the window. The basic thing is that Rodriguez and Posada have been out. It’s a big part of why they haven’t hit. But it’s not the only part. They are too top-heavy with lefties and their two best power hitters, both right-handed, have been out.”

Very fair assessment of this team, nothing I think anyone would really disagree with. The one thing I think they need to do but won't be able to without making a move is bunting and stealing. They need to play small ball, they need to manufacture runs, if they don't, and continue to sit and wait for the 3-run homer they will be in a lot of trouble.