Rotation jelling at the right time

Andy’s perfect balance & mechanics have been a big boost

Things have certainly changed for this Yankees team over the last 2 weeks.  On May 21st, they had just been shutout by the lowly Kansas City Royals 6-0 to drop them to 21-21 and into a tie for the basement in the AL East – 5.5 games out of 1st.  The team had just gone 1-6 over their last 7 and the bats were failing at a miserable rate, having scored 2 runs or less in 5 of those 7.  But since then, the team has picked things up.  Thanks to 5 straight wins over KC and the Oakland Triple A’s, they have found their stride and have won 10 of their last 13 to put them a half game behind Baltimore for 1st place.

So what has changed  in the last 13 games to propel this team?  Well the offense has picked it up scoring 5.4 runs per game but it has been the pitching staff that has done the heavy lifting.  They have an American League-best 3.06 ERA with 10 Quality Starts.  Except for Phil Hughes’ clunker in L.A., the starters have pitched at least 6 innings of every game which is a huge lift to a bullpen that has lost its top 2 arms.

Below are the numbers for the starters over that period and it seems everyone is pitching well at the same time.  I believe Pettitte has been a big stabilizing factor for this team and the rest of the staff.  It seems both Nova and Hughes have begun to work faster, be more aggressive and concentrate more from pitch to pitch in their last few outings – all Pettitte trademarks. It could be just a coincidence but I think Andy’s presence and value to the team goes beyond taking the mound every 5th day.

With the rotation throwing well, if some of the bats start to heat up this team can go on one of their typical hot summers and begin to build a lead in the division that no one seems able to run away with.  The rotation and pen seem strong and if Cashman wants to make a deal, he may look to add something to the offense.  A lot will be learned in the near future with David Robertson & Brett Gardner attempting comebacks.  If Brett has another setback, this team will definitely need another OF.  What do you all think of this team?  Is the turnabout in the last 13 games for real and what would you add at the trade deadline, if anything?