You may ask: “SU, what’s up with that number?” If you give it some thought, and if you’ve been watching the Yankees of late, you would know that this is the probability of the Yankees making the playoffs this year as a wild card. Toronto, as of this morning, sits at 71% and the Red Sox are at 90%.
If you are the former President, you may yell, “Fake News! You can’t believe the polls.” The problem for the Yankees is that they have squandered the easy part of their schedule and after this series with the Texas Rangers at home, it’s the Red Sox and Toronto on the road, and Tampa Bay at home. The Rays may no longer care about that series but SU believes it won’t matter by then. And I am going to tell you why:
- When the Yankees won 13 in a row, it was the utility guys that played a big role, i.e., Wade, Velazquez, Higashioka. Once Gleyber returned, they shipped Velazquez out and sat Wade in large part. It was the players who put the ball in play and got on base that made a difference. Boone has reverted to his right-handed sluggers’ line up. Well, we had a half season of that to know the outcome.
- Gallo is not an impact player. But SU will not blame him for anything. He doesn’t affect the outcome and it’s not like you were sitting a superstar by playing him.
- The pitching staff carried this team all year. All year. But they lost Britten, German, Kluber, Severino, Loaisiga and some of the trades were head scratchers (Heaney?). Green is a firestarter but he has been over-worked all year. Well, the pitchers are now imploding and the relievers in particular are spent. You can’t trust anyone. Not their fault and really not Boone’s either.
- The all right-handed line up. It’s awful, awful, awful. Better now but it killed this team all year.
- Under-performing hitters. Do you remember that A-Rod used to drive in 125 – 150 runs in his prime? I mean Stanton won’t even get to 100 and the announcers say he has had a solid season. I’m sorry – not solid. Not $30 million of solid. LeMahieu has not been good but that happens. He was awesome for 2 seasons. So many hitters had subpar years – as in all of them. None has over-achieved. Who is to blame for that? Manager, hitting coaches? Not my call. But something will need to change for next year.
- Lack of team spirit, baseball IQ, sense of urgency.
SU has emotionally moved on. Happy to be surprised by a late surge in the next two weeks but it’s not enjoyable.
Btw, the Mets really should have been in contention as well. The NL East was so winnable this year. They will regret this season.
And there is NY football! Thank goodness for the Red Zone Channel.
Yankee fans, is there still hope?
Sports Update Intergalactic 
0.5%
Don’t count out the Mets. 😉
A frustrating year for NY baseball. The Yanks have been hot and cold all year so maybe they can put a run together these last two weeks.
It is amazing how both teams have had somewhat similar experiences this year. Pitching and utility players managed to carry both teams during a spate of injuries to provide the illusion of strong contenders. So many hitters have underperformed this year on both teams with the exception of the two big guys, Judge and Alonso. A couple of “average” seasons from the rest of the core could have made all the difference.
So who is to blame? Hard to fire 26 players so at least in the Mets case the manager will go. I don’t think Importing the Oakland A’s brain trust is the answer. We need to build an organic NY solution from the ground up.
I suspect if the Yanks do not make the playoffs Boone could be gone as well. How does the SU crowd vote?
I do worry that the Mets have lost any sense of cohesion. The good feel of up and coming youngsters who have each other’s back has not been there this year. The team seems to be divided into a Latin clique and an US clique that is hurting the chemistry. If I were Cohen I’d be sending our two de facto leaders, Lindor and Alonso, on my private jet to my private island for a two week family vacation to promote some bonding and trust.
Finally, with an 0-4 NY football start it’s time to talk HOCKEY!
The Islanders have righted two wrongs from the Milbury “error” by signing Parise and Charra. 20 years late but 82 years of wisdom combined to help push us to the next step. LGI!
I completely agree with all you points to the T. If we do not make the playoffs and at the very, very least do not win the Wild Card then i would consider this the biggest disappointment of a Yankee season that I can recall. I’m sure all of Monument Park are shaking in their boots as this team is staining Yankee lore big time.
When the boat ain’t broke, why fix it? That’s what we had during our winning streak. Boone changed that so I blame him for 80% of what happened to the dynamics of the team.
So where do you turn to? The Giants/ The Jets? The Mets? We have 4 huge disappointing teams for various different reasons. The bottom line is that collectively this is a big disappointment for New York and their fans. Hockey? Only the Islanders over achieved. The rangers are trying to figure things out. The Devils are not going to be relevant again. The Net’s superstars are for the most part made of glass. Who really knows what the Knicks will give you. Maybe that’s why so many people were escaping New York City over the past year. It sucks not to be relevant. Imagine if SU decides to retire. Aye caramba.