So much for 30 games over .500.  That lasted all of one day, after taking nearly a month to get there.   The Yankees reached 29 games over .500 on July 29 when their record reached 65-36.   Then they lost, and won and lost and won etc.  They are 12-12 since July 29, which is how they got to 77-48.

If you look at the season, its been a upswings and plateaus.

  • First Sustained Winning Stretch – April 4th to May 8th.  By April 21st, the team was already 11-3 (8 over).  By May 4th (12 games later) they reached 10 over for the first time at 18-8.  By May 8th, the Yankees were 21-8 (13 games over).
  • First Doldrums –   Then came the first doldrums of the season.  When the Yankees lost the last game of the Boston series on May 9th, (Burnett giving up 9 runs in 4.1 innings), that started a stretch of inconsistency with the Yankees going 5-10 (losing 3-4 to Detroit, winning a 3 game series vs. Min, splitting a 2 game series with Boston, losing a 2 game series to Tampa, and losing a series 1-2 to the Mets), leaving the Yankees at 26-18 on May 23 (8 games over, back where they were on April 21st).  
  • Second Stretch of Sustained Wins – This excellent stretch began after the loss to the Mets.  From May 23 through July 29, the Yankees went 39-18, running their record to 65-36 (the first time they reached 29 over).  Pettitte strained his groin on July 18th, and Mitre lost the first start in Pettitte’s absence (July 24), Mosely one the second start in Pettitte’s absence (July 29).  However, without Pettitte and with Vazquez and Burnett and Hughes all relatively shaky, we are again in the Doldrums.  (FYI this is why Cashman tried to get Cliff Lee)
  • Doldrums II – Beginning July 30 with the series with Tampa through today, the Yankees are 12-12, going 5-7 against through the tough stretch of Tampa, Toronto, Boston and Texas and 7-4 against the easier stretch of KC, Detroit and Seattle.  With the loss yesterday (thanks Jose Bautista), the Yankees are back at 29 over at 77-48.

With 37 games left, and the Yankees tied with Tampa, here are a few things to ponder.  A-Rod is on the DL; Pettitte is on the DL; Burnett is maddeningly inconsistent; Vazquez is inconsistent; and Hughes has an innings limit.

Here are the Yankee opponents down the stretch: @ Toronto (who currently lead the season series 4-6 and who hit the most HR in the AL); @ CWS (tough team, in playoff fight, good starters, good bullpen); vs. Oak (best ERA in the AL); vs. TOR (again); vs. The Fighing Showalters (12-8 since Buck to the reigns); @ Tex (good team, great pitching, playoff hunt); @ Tampa (no need to comment); @ Fighting Showalters; vs. Tampa (again); vs. Boston (Armageddon); @ TOR (again); @ Boston (Armageddon II).

The Yankees need to get on a roll, and soon.  Even though Boston is 6 games back in the loss column, all they need to do is shave off 3 games and the those games in September all of a sudden mean a hell of a lot.  Here’s to Pettitte recovering soon.