What Twins-Yanks Has Taught Us So Far
The Yankees and Twins will play a rubber match today before baseball's All-Star break. CC Sabathia and Kyle Gibson will pitch against each other. What have we learned about this series up to this point? Simply this.
- The Yankees still for the most part dominate the Twins. For some reason or another, New York is a match-up problem for Minnesota year after year, going back more than a decade. Expect the pinstripes to take game three in the Bronx with the pitching edge in Sabathia.
- Hiroki Kuroda has been the Yankees' best pitcher. He won game one and set the tone. Where would New York be without him?
- The Yankee offense is still dreadful. Three runs in two games against young, growing pitchers? Pathetic.
- Stop Mauer and Morneau, and you likely win. The Twins have no firepower in their offense, no pitching and an unproven bullpen outside of All-Star Glen Perkins. If you stop Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, you are likely to beat the Twins.
- Phil Hughes is still what he is. A few good starts in a row? It leads to him giving up more home runs against Minnesota, overall a punchless lineup. The Yanks need to end the Phil Hughes era after 2013.
By: Mike Lindsley, "Mid-Day with Mike," M-F 1-4, Yankees pre/post game host on 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio. Follow him on Twitter at Twitter.com/MikeLSports.