NEW YORK -- Joe Girardi is a long way from the environment that he took on as the Marlins' manager in 2006, piloting a clubhouse filled with fresh-faced rookies and a shoestring payroll. Then again, some days, it may not feel all that detached.

Injuries have forced the Yankees to lean upon their Minor League system for reinforcements once again this season, leading them to already use a total of more than three dozen players as they attempt to get their footing in the American League East.

For starters • Home stretch has room for surprises • Prospects loom large in second half • Possible second-half surprises • Roundtable: Who gets traded? • Roundtable: The NL Central • Roundtable: The NL West

"It has been a substantial amount," Girardi said. "That's another thing that shows that the Minor Leagues, for our ballclub, is getting stronger. We're able to bring guys up that are able to come and help us out. A lot of these guys have really helped us out."

While Brett Gardner and Justin Christian will be asked to fill in while Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui mend their respective injuries, the freshest faces have been on the pitching side, where Dan Giese, Scott Patterson and David Robertson have all made appearances, despite being considered fringe roster candidates in Spring Training.

Promoting youth is nice, but winning games is nicer. To do that, the Yankees will need to eradicate some of the inconsistency they experienced in the first half and lean on their offense to perform better with runners in scoring position. With All-Stars Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, plus proven veterans Jorge Posada, Jason Giambi and others, they have the firepower.

"We've had some adversity and our guys have fought through it," general manager Brian Cashman said. "You've got to manage the ebbs and flows of the season. You can't get too crazy with small samples if you're underperforming, but at the same time, you've got to pay attention if storm clouds start gathering on the horizon."

Club MVP: The Yankees' lineup is a different animal with A-Rod in the heart of the order. He hit well over .300 with power after returning from the disabled list on May 20, including a 10-game hitting streak, and he helped the Yankees play plus-.500 ball over that span. The third-base dropoff when Rodriguez is not in the lineup is massive.

Call him "Ace": With Chien-Ming Wang on the disabled list, it's stunning to think where the Yankees would be without Mike Mussina's 11 victories. Girardi admitted they would be below .500 if not for Mussina's resurgence, and in a season where Andy Pettitte has struggled, Mussina's reliability has been desperately needed.

Greatest strength: What was all that crying about how Joba Chamberlain's move to the rotation would hurt the bullpen? Jose Veras and Kyle Farnsworth have stepped up in a big way to help solidify the back end leading to All-Star Mariano Rivera, who may have found a new gear at age 38 and was perfect through his first 23 save opportunities. The Yankees have it figured out once they get a lead through six innings.

Biggest problem: Injuries and inconsistency have hurt the Yankees in a big way. Posada and Damon had never spent a single day on the disabled list before this season, and A-Rod's last DL stint came when he was wearing a Seattle Mariners uniform. The wear and tear of Matsui's long consecutive-games streak is catching up to him, and the Yankees have looked like an older, slower team at times.

Biggest surprise: Raise your hand if you thought Giambi would not only lead the team in home runs at the All-Star break, but also have stayed relatively healthy while pounding his big frame around the first-base bag on a regular basis. Giambi loves playing the field and, as long as his production stays at a high level, the Yankees are more than happy to truck him out there.

Team needs: Aside from health, the Yankees are counting on Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera to do what they did last year and find another level of production for the second half. They're rather tightly strapped positionally, but the pitching staff is ripe for an upgrade, particularly the back end -- Darrell Rasner has struggled mightily after making a three-start bid to be this year's Aaron Small.

Oh, doctor:
RHP Jonathan Albaladejo -- Out for the season with a stress fracture in his right elbow.

IF Wilson Betemit -- Missed 19 games beginning on April 14 with corneal conjunctivitis, then was on the disabled list in May with a strained right hamstring.

RHP Brian Bruney -- Tore a Lisfranc ligament in his right foot in April; avoided surgery and could rejoin the Yankees in late July.

OF Damon -- Hit the disabled list for the first time in his career on July 6 with a sprain and contusion of the left AC joint of the left shoulder. His best-case return would be 15 days, and his throwing may be limited.

1B Shelley Duncan -- Separated his right shoulder while diving for a ball in a game at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and may be out for the season.

RHP Phil Hughes -- Has been on the disabled list since April 3 with a stress fracture in one of his ribs. He could return in August.

SS Jeter -- Was hit in the left hand by a Daniel Cabrera fastball on May 20 and fell into an extended slump immediately after.

DH Matsui -- Aggravated his left knee by playing the outfield for two games in Houston and is currently on the disabled list. Season-ending surgery is a possibility.

RHP Carl Pavano -- Continuing to rehab from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery and could be ready for a big league promotion in August.

C Posada -- Was on the disabled list from April 28 through June 3 with right rotator cuff tendinitis that curtailed his throwing.

3B Rodriguez -- Missed 16 games with a strained right quadriceps after turning a Grade 1 strain into a Grade 2 by rushing back. It was Rodriguez's first stint on the DL since 2000.

RHP Humberto Sanchez -- Currently pitching in the Minor Leagues, Sanchez (acquired from Detroit in the Gary Sheffield trade) could be considered for his big league debut in September.

RHP Wang -- Suffered a partially torn tendon in his right foot on June 15 while running the bases in Houston. He is on crutches and is out until September.

He said it: "We need to play better. The bottom line is that we really haven't swung the bats well. I think everyone realizes that we're capable of playing a lot better than we have been. We need to come out and forget about what's happened to this point in the season and hopefully start playing a lot better." -- Jeter

Mark your calendar: July 25-27 at Boston; Aug. 8-10 at Anaheim; Aug. 26-28 vs. Boston; Sept. 2-4 at Tampa Bay; Sept. 4-7 at Texas; Sept. 8-10 at Anaheim; Sept. 12-14 vs. Tampa Bay; Sept. 18-21 vs. Baltimore (last regular-season games at Yankee Stadium); Sept. 26-28 at Boston.

Fearless second-half prediction: The Yankees will improve upon their previous season high of seven games over .500 and put themselves into position where a strong September will be the difference between lighting up Yankee Stadium for the playoffs and the disappointment of a dark October.