Six Reasons Why the New York Yankees Are Missing the 2008 Playoffs

There is plenty of blame to go around on the New York Yankees for their shoddy performance on the field this year. About to miss the playoffs for the first time in fourteen campaigns, the New York Yankees can fall back on the excuse that injuries to key players are the culprit, but those who watch the Yanks on a regular basis know better. Despite the loss of Chien-Ming Wang, Jorge Posada, Joba Chamberlain, and Hideki Matsui to various ailments the Bronx Bumblers still had the horses on paper to garner a playoff berth. Here are the five main reasons the New York Yankees will be watching the 2008 playoffs.

1.Lack of clutch hitting- New York simply does not hit with men on base. They squander one opportunity after another with men in scoring position. Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi are the parties guiltiest of leaving men stranded. A-Rod always is coming up with runners on and he so rarely produces this year that it is actually news when he does. Giambi had a mini hot streak earlier in the season but he too cannot drive in key runs. Both men opted out of this year's Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium, saying that it would possibly hurt their batting swing, yet both swing from the heels and for the fences every time up.

2.Bullpen failings, including Mariano Rivera's- The pen was getting by on smoke and mirrors for a good part of the season against lesser clubs but has recently imploded. The lack of a set-up man after the trade of Kyle Farnsworth to the Tigers has been obvious. Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez, David Robertson, and even Hall of Fame- bound Rivera have come up way short with games on the line. Although Rivera has but one blown save, he always seems to give up a run or two when he comes into tie situations. Bringing in lefty relief specialist Billy Traber is the equivalent of giving a fireman napalm to put out a blaze.