New York Yankees At Texas Rangers: New York Hopes Bats Wake Up

The New York Yankees shuffle into Texas tonight for a three-game series fresh off losing their last three games to the previously struggling Detroit Tigers. Maybe it's appropriate that the weekend series will encompass Mother's Day, because the way the Yankees played the past few days they are definitely in need of a hug.

The Yankees are 17-12, still in first place in the American League East by one game over Tampa Bay. New York is just 5-5 in its last 10 games, and the Yankees offense has sometimes been non-existent. In their last 11 games the Yankees had one 12-run outburst against the Chicago White. Other than that, the best they have done is score five runs. They have been shut out twice during that stretch.

Derek Jeter is hitting a weak .250, and his struggles have been well-documented. He is hardly the only Yankee struggling at the plate, though. Alex Rodriguez has not homered in his last 10 games. Nick Swisher is hitting just 214. Mark Teixeira has only eight RBI since April 7. Jorge Posada is still hitting just .154.

General Manager Brian Cashman is exactly right when he says the Yankees are "not firing on all cylinders."

The Yankees have had pitching issues, too. Phil Hughes is on the disabled list with a still undetermined arm issue and won't be back for at least six to eight weeks. Rafael Soriano is an adventure in the eighth inning at this point. The Yankees are getting by with a starting rotation that includes Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia and Friday night's starter, Ivan Nova.

The most amazing this about all of this is that the Yankees still lead the American League East. Somehow.

The Rangers are just 3-7 in their last 10 games, one game behind Anaheim in the American League West. We will see which one of these two scuffling teams can pull itself together this weekend.