It’s times like these that we roll out the classic quote from former Knick and Net basketball player, Michael Ray Richardson. The Yankees’ boat is taking on water at an alarming rate these days and if you check the standings this morning, the Baltimore Orioles are only a half game behind for the last, final spot in MLB’s NHL style playoff format for 2020. And even in the loss column. Look a little more closely and the Detroit Tigers are 1 game behind and also even in the loss column.
Last time SU checked, both the Orioles and Tigers are in major rebuild modes. The Yankees were the odds on favorites to win the World Series this year. So, what went wrong?
- Injuries: so yes, they have had a lot of them – but just like last season and they still won over 100 games in 2019. Both Judge and Stanton missed major parts of the season – just like this year. The difference is others stepped up big-ly vs. this year when it’s been very small-ly.
- They miss Didi. SU mentioned this during the winter. Miss his left-handed bat, presence in the clubhouse, skill at shortstop. Gleyber Torres has been equally bad at the plate and in the field. Maybe the expectations were too high for a youngster to move to short and continue to hit? Maybe Didi was a keeper? SU says this was a big miss by Cashman.
- Gary Sanchez: perhaps you have seen Sanchez’s video on his approach to hitting? Actually, it’s just a pamphlet. Ignore the shift, ignore that you will get 80% low and away sliders and swing for the fences no matter the situation. Sometimes the Austin Romines of the world are just fine on a stacked team.
- Bullpen: look, Tommy Kahnle’s injury was a loss but come on – lots of guys to step up. A collective failure in 2020.
- Aaron Boone: SU gives him a pass. Not his fault. Who do you suggest he put out there? Makes no difference.
- Hitting Coaches: Long-time subscriber, A. Grossman, has always preached about the importance of the batting coaches and he did again yesterday in his comment. SU says the hitters are professionals and it’s up to them to be accountable. But clearly a new voice is needed in 2021 it seems.
- Brian Cashman: SU has felt that the all right-handed line up is a problem for a few years now. Hated the Stanton trade from the beginning. Cole has been mediocre but SU is OK as it’s not my money. He will be better and could be a difference maker in a 2 out of 3 game series in the first round. But if anyone, this season is on Cashman as it’s his roster and farm system.
Can they turn it around? SU says unlikely. Success will be making the 8th seed and losing in the first round given where they are right now and with all of the injuries. Missing the playoffs completely will be the ultimate embarrassment. Stay tuned.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
Every player even most of the great ones from time to time needed advise from coaches. Whether it be hitting, pitching, stealing bases, bunting (remember that part of baseball), going to the opposite field (another historic feature of the game) etc. etc. Yes they are professional players but if you look at golf, for instance… Tiger Woods tweaked some things during his heyday and thereafter. I still feel that a hitting coach can have more impact on a hitter than simply saying that “these are professional hitters.”
I had not seen a Yankee game for at least 10 days until last night. They hit more like a minor league team. When Sanchez came to the plate Michael kaye mentioned that over the last few days when he sat out that the hitting coach was working with him. I wonder if he ever worked on his eyesighty because on one AT BAT Sanchez swung at 2 pitches that were so far out of the strike zone… I mean a foot out of the strike zone. Are you kidding me? Did he approach the plate so poorly 2 years ago? It was funny how they showed his previous 24 strikeouts and i was surprised to see that only 5 were out of the strike zone all outside but all fairly close to the strike zone. Well they will need to widen the view because his third at bat showed him swinging at a ball at least a foot outside and a foot low…. while again the previous 24 strike outs showed most were due to high pitches above the plate. He needs an eye doctor as well as a hitting coach.
Lastly, while it was impressive that every 2nd string batter did well last year almost the exact opposite can be said for these same players this year. I’m amazed how an entire team can shut down. You would think there would always be 2-3 players to carry the load any given day with almost any given 2-3 players on our team. So far you have to say that the biggest disappointment in baseball has the be the guys in pinstripes.
Cashman is responsible for Jacoby Ellsbury and Stanton. One would have sunk most GMs, he’s had two. One World Series win in 20 years. It’s time to go, and take your son, Brett Gardner, with you.
Off topic but I’d like to hear SU collective opinion on the Mets pending ownership changes. Is it thought to be better for Cohen to buy them or the J-Lo/A-Rod group? I would think Cohen strictly because I get the feeling that he actually wants to end decades of frustration of the Mets fortunes while the J-Rod group might be more interested in public posturing and how good they look on camera watching from the owners box. Thoughts?
PS – Apologies in advance for the flagrant hijacking attempt.
I would have to agree with you. I think the successful owners take more of a back seat vs. seeking out the limelight. Better not to compete with the manager and the players. From what I heard, J-Lo would be the true owner and A-Rod would not be in the background. For Met fans, better to have an owner with deep pockets who can buy players and doesn’t seek the attention.