Ryan’s Rants

It’s coming down to the final stretch of the 2007 MLB season and the Yankees are trying to find a way into the postseason. Early on, the Yankees struggled, it got to a point where they had no idea who would be starting the very next game. Well now they have seemed to fill in their gaps and are breathing down the Red Sox’s backs. Currently, they are 5 games back from the Sox, which at one point the lead on the Yanks was more than 10 games. They are also 1.5 games back from the Mariners, who somehow, someway have maintained a respectable record despite having no pitchers. This September will decide everything… who will take the AL East division? Furthermore, who will capture the AL Wildcard? Hopefully the Yankees can pull it out down the stretch and work towards yet another championship.

Right now the Yankees seem to have a steady 5-man rotation of Wang, Pettitte, Mussina, Clemens, and the rookie phenom Phil Hughes. Everyone is clicking, hitting and pitching well. Alex Rodriguez recently hit his 40th home run of the season, extending his lead for AL MVP.

I think that the Yankees’ recent move of bringing up pitcher, Joba Chamberlain was the best move they’ve made this season. Unfortunately, Joba is really a starting pitcher and the only spot they have for him at the moment is in relief. He has dominant stuff, averaging almost 2 strikeouts an inning on opposing hitters. I really hope he can take over as the future closer, replacing the best closer of all time, Mariano Rivera. Some people disagree with making Joba the future closer because he can be such a great starting pitcher down the road, which makes sense, but with prospect Ian Kennedy working hard in the minors, it may work out better if the Yanks transform Joba into the next best closer the big leagues have ever seen.