Yankees 2015 Recap

     So once again the Yankee season has come to a close.  This time being virtually the same to last year, even the same record.  But due to the fact that everybody else in the A.L decided to not show up this year, (i'm looking at you Angels, Mariners, Orioles, Redsox, Tigers and Whitesox), the Yanks managed to "earn" a wildcard berth, not only that but have it at their stadium.
     Then the game started, but it was really over before it began.  Houston had Dallas Keuchel on the mound, and i don't care how iffy he has been on the road this year, any time the Yanks faced a quality pitcher in the second half of the season, the quality pitcher won.  And that is exactly what happened.  The Bronx bombers could not touch him.  Their best attack was hoping he walked them, which worked a few times, but when they needed a hit, they sure as hell did not get one.  Oh and if you did not know, after A-rod was put out with men on first and second, he became the holder of another record.  He now holds the record for worst batting average with runners in scoring position in post season history.  Really earning that contract.  Back to the game, i feel bad for Tanaka, he gave up 2 runs and lost, what else did you want him to do?  How could you celebrate the way you did after clinching a postseason berth than show up to the postseason game at home, and not score a single run.  That is utterly disgraceful.
     But then again, they should not have even been there to begin with.  Most "experts" agreed that the Yanks would be a very average team at best, with some choosing them to finish last in the A.L East. Most people had either the Jays, Redsox or Orioles winning the division, which props to the Jays for finally fulfilling their potential.
     That's where the problem lies.  They will in theory be showing up next spring training with a virtually similar roster to this years, but you can not expect all the teams that underperformed to underperform again.  Which means the Yankees are going to have to get better. The Yanks have very little to no flexibility though.  Texeira is still undercontract, same with CC, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner, Chase Headley, Carlos Beltran and of course good old A-rod.  None of those players are tradeable, not with the contracts they have and the way they have played.  Which means the opening day lineup will be virtually the same as this years, with one exception at second base, though Dustin Ackley, or Rob Refsnyder are sadly both only slight improvements over Drew.  The only real place you can improve is the pitching staff.  But i doubt Cashman gives a big time contract to a big time pitcher, not with how the last 2 he handed out look now (Tanaka and CC).  So the one area he could, and should upgrade is the bullpen.  Unless your name was Betances, Miller or Wilson, you probably were not the most reliable person in the world.  So an upgrade here should be expected. 
    Lastly the coach.  I am honestly not a huge Joe Giradi fan.  I think he plays by the book too much, mis-uses his bullpen, and is generally scared to bench the big money players for people who are playing well.  Though he did bench jacoby yesterday for Young, but Jacoby has been playing so bad recently if he did not do that i would have called for his head immediately.  His saving grace is he has won a worldseries, how much of that was because of him who knows, and their aren't many replacement options out there that really would make me jump for joy.  So if he gets fired or comes back, it really would not surprise me.   Unless he personally asked cashman to give all these aging players absurd contracts, you can't entirely blame him.
    So next year will come and the Yanks will be average again, though maybe not, maybe they will make some moves, or let the youngsters play, or over-achieve once more.  Until then though, time to enjoy watching some real playoff caliber teams play baseball.