The New York Yankees closed out the first half leading the American League East by 3.5 games, and 4.5 games over the Toronto Blue Jays. They currently trail the Jays by 4.5 games. There are plenty of reasons for that nine-game second half swing, for the most part those reasons have more to do with the Blue Jay winning 36 of 50 since the break than anything the Yankees have done. New York hasn't fallen apart in the second half as much as it has simply been run down by a red-hot Toronto team. Key injuries and offensive slumps haven't helped, but another area where the Yankees have seen a drop-off in the second half is in the bullpen.
Yankee bullpen taken a step back in the second half
