Why the Yankees have gone 23-28 Since May 26

This is not a look at the injuries, turmoil, or the budgetary restrictions of the 2013 New York Yankees.

To quote Dragnet's Joe Friday, "Just the facts, ma'am."

Since May 26

After play on May 26, the Yankees were 30-19 (.612) and basically tied with the Red Sox who were 31-20 (.608) for first place. Since that date, the Yankees have been 23-28 (.451) the third worst record in the AL, only "better" than the Astros 20-29 (.408) and the White Sox 15-34 (.306).

With their victory last night, Boston for the 58th consecutive day remained in first place in the AL East, but don't be misled by that, they have only pulled away from the Yankees and Jays (24-25). Boston and Baltimore each have played 30-21 ball since then and the Rays have a 34-18 record, the best record in baseball since that date. 

So what's gone wrong for the Yankees?

Nine to Know since May 26:

1. The Yankees are hitting .238 as a team, the Astros at .223 are the only team with a lower batting average.
2. The Bronx Bombers have hit 27 homers, only the Giants with 24 have hit fewer long balls.
3. The Yankees have a .303 OBP, topping only the Marlins (.299) and the Astros (.284).
4. Travis Hafner has hit .160 with four homers and Vernon Wells has hit .207 with no homers.
5. The 3-4-5 batters have a slash line of .221/.294/.337.
6. From the 7th inning on, the Yankees are hitting .213 tied with the Brewers for the worst BA in baseball.
7. Yankees from the right side of the plate are hitting .206/.267/.253. Their .520 OPS is the worst in baseball (the Tigers righties' OPS is .807).
8. Andy Pettitte is 3-4 with 5.04 ERA and 1.410 WHIP.
9. CC Sabathia is 5-4 with a 4.80 ERA and a 1.212 WHIP. 

Should Joe Girardi be manager of the year?

This has been a trying season for Yankee Universe and there is no indication that it is going to get much better.

Brian Cashman keeps working the phones, Joe Girardi keeps working on keeping his non-injured players looking for wins, and the press keeps working on the impending Alex Rodriguez bombshell. 

The fact that the Yankees are just seven back in the AL East and just 5.5 back in the AL Wild Card race has some people talking about Girardi as Manager of the Year.

While Girardi would appreciate this memorable honor, I'm sure in future years Girardi will be doing everything he can to forget this season, not remember it.

CC Sabathia's Diminishing Fastball 2008-2013

CC Sabathia is a work horse who is at his strongest and his best in the final months of the season.

Sabathia month by month career numbers

I	Split	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP
	April/March	24	16	.600	4.05	61	61	3	0	387.0	369	188	174	34	135	320	1.302
	May	37	22	.627	3.47	75	75	6	3	505.2	490	210	195	55	135	386	1.236
	June	34	13	.723	3.55	64	64	4	2	420.2	377	186	166	25	119	360	1.179
	July	26	25	.510	4.00	63	63	8	3	411.1	405	208	183	38	149	367	1.347
	August	44	13	.772	3.25	68	68	8	3	476.1	444	183	172	51	117	452	1.178
	Sept/Oct	31	17	.646	2.86	64	64	6	1	443.1	362	156	141	35	130	400	1.110

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table Generated 6/2/2013.

After he defeated the Red Sox, this past Friday night, Joe Girardi made the statement that CC is right where he should be for this time of the year and talked about how Sabathia was hitting speeds that he had not reached earlier in the season.

The manager was right in terms of speed, but the significant dropoff should not be minimized.

Let's take a look at Sabathia's fastball over the years

Start of the season to May 31

• 2008: 1241 total pitches thrown, 735 fastballs 59.2%, avg vel: 93.1 max vel: 96.9, 336 swings - 44 misses, BBA - .340 (!), seven homers, 88-92 mph: 155 fastballs, 93 mph+: 552
• 2009: 1207 total pitches thrown, 683 fastballs 56.6%, avg vel: 93.9 max vel: 97.3, 319 swings - 37 misses, BBA - .255, two homers, 88-92 mph: 90 fastballs, 93 mph+: 593
• 2010: 1084 total pitches thrown, 508 fastballs 46.9%, avg vel: 93.1 max vel: 98.3, 193 swings - 26 misses, BBA - .260, two homers, 88-92 mph: 157 fastballs, 93 mph+: 351
• 2011: 1317 total pitches thrown, 507 fastballs 38.7%, avg vel: 93.0 max vel: 96.1, 225 swings - 30 misses, BBA - .225, three homers, 88-92 mph: 150 fastballs, 93 mph+: 357
• 2012: 1103 total pitches thrown, 435 fastballs 39.4%, avg vel: 92.3 max vel: 95.5, 204 swings - 20 misses, BBA - .230, two homers, 88-92 mph: 243 fastballs 39.4%, 93 mph+: 191
• 2013: 1242 total pitches thrown, 521 fastballs 41.9%, avg vel: 90.3 max vel: 93.6, 232 swings - 32 misses, BBA - .292, six homers, 88-92 mph: 506 fastballs 41.9%, 93 mph+: 15 (12 in his start against Boston on 5/31, two in his start against Tampa Bay on 5/26, and one in his start on 4/27 against Toronto)

Numbers to note 

• In 2008, Sabathia's fastball as being hit successfully, but batters only hit .089 against his cutter. In April that year he was 1-4 with a 7.88 ERA. He finished the season 17-10, going 11-2 for Milwaukee after being acquired from Cleveland on July 7.
• In 2008, he had 552 pitches of 93+ mph in April and May.
• 2009 was the last season that Sabathia was a fastball pitcher the majority of the time. While CC throws the fastball more than any other pitcher, it is now around 40% mark most starts of seasons.
• 2009 was the peak of his throwing fastballs 93+ mph.
• The drop in 93+ fastballs was precipitous starting in 2012. 

What a difference five years make

Look at the top line to see Sabathia's pitches

2008

2013

As the weather heats up, it will be interesting to see if CC does as well.

However if he doesn't, it will get very ugly very quickly in the Bronx,

CC Sabathia's Miserable Opening Days

Things are simply getting worse for Yankee Opening Days for CC Sabathia. Since he's joined the team, he's 0-2 with three no decisions and he has yet to pitch well in an opener.

What should be of greater concern for New York is his decreasing velocity and the declining number of pitches over 90 mph.

Take a look...

2013 (L)(L, 2-8)

It was an ugly Opening Day for CC Sabathia and the Yankees as the Red Sox sent New York fans home early en route to an 8-2 victory.

Sabathia did not impress on this Opening Day against Boston lasting five innings and allowing four runs on eight hits, walking four and whiffing five. He did not allow a home run. He tossed 102 pitches at the average speed of 84.3, topping out at 91.7, with 29 pitches exceeding 90 mph. Batters swung and missed on 14 pitches.

2012 (ND) (L, 6-7)

Sabathia did not impress on this Opening Day against Tampa Bay lasting six innings and allowing five runs on eight hits, walking three and whiffing seven. He allowed two home runs. He tossed 104 pitches at the average speed of 87.4, topping out at 94.5, with 54 pitches exceeding 90 mph. Batters swung and missed on 16 pitches.

2011 (ND) (W, 6-3)

Sabathia pitched a near-minimum necessary for a Quality Start on this Opening Day against Detroit lasting six innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits, walking two and whiffing seven. He allowed no home runs. He tossed 106 pitches at the average speed of 88.6, topping out at 94.7, with 68 pitches exceeding 90 mph. Batters swung and missed on 14 pitches.

2010 (ND) (L, 7-9)

Sabathia did not impress on this Opening Day against Boston lasting 5.1 innings and allowing five runs on six hits, walking two and whiffing four. He allowed no home runs. He tossed 104 pitches at the average speed of 88.7, topping out at 94.9, with 47 pitches exceeding 90 mph. Batters swung and missed on 7 pitches.

2009 (L) (L, 5-10)

Sabathia did not impress on this Opening Day against Baltimore lasting 4.1 innings and allowing six runs on eight hits, walking five and whiffing none. He allowed no home runs. He tossed 96 pitches at the average speed of 88.4, topping out at 95.4, with 54 pitches exceeding 90 mph. Batters swung and missed on 6 pitches.

In closing...

The Yanks better hope that Opening Day for CC was just another in his list of poor first starts because if this was any indication of how he has recovered from his offseason elbow surgery, the Yankee problems are much worse than anticipated.