The Captain's Blog

After much ado, Javier Vazquez makes his long anticipated return to the Yankees rotation. And, to honor the occasion, the Yankees and Tigers have decided to play two games.

In the first game of a split doubleheader, Vazquez will face off against Tigers’ righty Rick Porcello, who has been struggling in his own right. Porcello has yielded at least five runs in each of his last four outings and pitched through the fifth inning only once. He’s the Tigers’ problem, however. The Yankees have had their hands full trying to diagnosis the reason for Vazquez diminished stuff and declining performance. During his hiatus from the rotation, Vazquez worked on mechanics with pitching coach Dave Eiland, so you can be sure the Yankees will be watching each pitch closely. One early indicator of how much progress has been made should be how hard and how often Vazquez throws his fastball. If he can establish that pitch early, Vazquez could allay the concerns that have surrounded his every start.

Some early runs might also go a long way toward helping Vazquez settle back into the flow. To bolster the Yankees’ dwindling bench, the team recalled Greg Golson, who takes the roster spot of Alfredo Aceves (15-day DL). Golson’s arrival will allow the Yankees to interchange Winn and Thames during a game without sacrificing defense in the late innings. Regardless, with the lack of depth apparent, the Yankees will need the big boys in the middle of the lineup to make up the difference.