How the Yankees will win the AL East

Jordan Berkowitz
August 21, 2012

With the extra wild card added in baseball before the 2012 season, winning your division becomes so much more important for teams. The Yankees currently hold four game lead over the red hot Rays, and are in danger of losing the lead they have held since June 12th. However, with a few moves, New York can regain complete control of the division, and cruise right into October with the division title.

1. Move Phil Hughes to the bullpen

When CC Sabathia returns from the DL soon, I think that Phil Hughes should be moved to the bullpen, leaving David Phelps in the rotation. Hughes was so dominant out of the pen in 2009, and I believe he can easily return to that form. With Joba Chamberlain struggling, and in inconsistencies of guys like Boone Logan and Cody Eppley, the bullpen is definitely in need of help. Phelps has already proven himself as capable of a starting spot, and the combination of him and Derek Lowe can work until Andy Pettite returns. Hughes has struggled a lot this season, and a change of scenery in the bullpen can help him get back on track. An ERA of 4.23 is not going to cut it.

2. Fix the Lineup

In the past, the Yankees have been known as having a consistent lineup vs righties and lefties. However, this year it has been all over the place, and Joe Girardi seems to be over managing. Besides Jeter at the top, Girardi needs to choose between Swisher and Granderson second, and Cano and Teixeira third and fourth. Batting in a different position everyday can throw a batter off, causing him to struggle. In addition, Girardi batted four lefties in a row sunday night against Boston, which I found ridiculous. When Boston brought in a lefty in the seventh to face Cano, Granderson, Chavez, and Ibanez, the Yankees couldn't get a hit. I don't know what Girardi has been doing with the lineup all season, but it has to be fixed and stabilized, especially before A-Rod comes back.

3. Stop relying on the home run

This season, more than 50% of the Yankees runs scored have come from home runs, the only team in the majors over 50%. This is mainly due to playing in Yankee Stadium, however you live and die by the home run in baseball, and it can not be relied upon. For example, twice this season the yankees have hit 5 home runs against the Red Sox, but all five of them were solo shots. When competing with Tampa Bay and Baltimore down the stretch, more than five runs in most likely going to be needed in order to win. The Yankees need to start running more and giving themselves more opportunities to manufacture runs. The addition of Ichiro should help, but unless the Yankees start playing more small ball, they could collapse quickly.

4. Get Healthy

I know this is not a managerial move, but the Yankees have had an overwhelming amount of injuries this season, and I don't see them playing late in the postseason unless they get healthy. Brian Cashman has done an excellent job of finding replacements such as Jayson Nix and Casey McGehee, but this team is not going anywhere without A-Rod, CC, and Pettite.

In conclusion, it is not time to hit the panic button with the Rays creeping up the Yankees, but Joe Girardi and the rest of the staff really need to buckle down in September and make the necessary moves in order to win the Division.