The Yankees depended a lot upon their bullpen in 2013. One of the things that was surprising in September was that those who had performed so well until then began to fall apart but, thankfully, a new group of relief pitchers came up from the minors to take up the slack. Let’s see who benefitted from the roster expansion and who needed to be bailed out…..
The New York Yankees have had substantial problems in 2013 both with their batting and their pitching. If we add this into the amazingly high number of injuries they have suffered throughout the season, it is so surprising that they stayed in contention for a wild card place until the last week of the season. They cannot possibly suffer as many injuries next year. There should be huge plaudits to the management team for keeping them in the reckoning so long. All of this makes it very apparent why the owners and general manager were keen to make sure Joe Girardi was offered a new contract ASAP and why they can look forward to 2014 with some optimism. Nevertheless, it is true that in the last month of the season, only two players who played in the majority of the games batted over .250. Let’s look at that final month……….
The Yankees have seen most of the season through with two strong starters, three weak starters and a good bullpen. That remained the same in August but the names were shuffled around……
The Yankees had a better month in August going 16-12 over the 28 games they played. Improvements in batting and pitching and some notable returns kept them in the frame for a wildcard and a possible backdoor entrance into the post-season…..
In July, the starters and some of the relievers continued to struggle. Thankfully, the Yankees have Rivera and Robertson to pull them through in the tight games……
After going fast out of the gate in April, the Yankees had fallen off the pace. July was another disappointing month – only achieving a 14-12 record in the period. However, some of the guys with the bats began to step up and produce so maybe there was the promise of a better August…….
What: All’s Well That Ends Well
Where: Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon
When: 1st August 2013
Last time out for me, with the Royal Shakespeare Company, was to see their outstanding, remarkable and bloody production of Titus Andronicus in the Swan Theatre. This time I’m in the main Royal Shakespeare Theatre watching a solid but not quite as remarkable version of All’s Well That Ends Well.
What: Titus Andronicus
Where: Swan Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon
When: 30th May 2013
Perhaps, before I begin this review, I have to make a confession, Titus Andronicus is one of my favourite plays in Shakespeare’s oeuvre. Whilst other reviewers see it as being out of step with contemporary tastes, I have written quite extensively about its resonance with contemporary mores and issues. So whilst others were surprised to see it included in the RSC’s current season, I was pleased and excited to see it there. And I have to say that this production did not disappoint but lived up to all my hopes and expectations.
The bullpen – good to great
The rotation – good to poor
The Yankees have a quandary to solve in the second half.
The Yankees batting and injury problems just got worse as June progressed, seeing them fall from 1st at the end of April, to second at the end of May, to 4th at the end of June. The team batted only .223 across the 27 games in June leaving 11 squad members batting well below .250 for the month. Consequently, our survey below has expanded the middle section!
