SU must admit it: in a way, I am relieved for this season to be over and no longer feeling the need to watch this under-achieving team. Let’s get right to it:

1. If nothing else, 2021 proved that an all right-handed line-up at Yankee Stadium does not work and is just a bad idea. SU was on record on this going back to March. It won’t happen again.
2. Cole is a competitor and he cares. SU is convinced that his hamstring has been an issue going back to early September and I don’t fault him for last night. He tried but was not himself. I don’t think it’s a make-up thing, can’t handle the pressure thing, a can’t pitch in NY thing. Move on.
3. However, the problem is this. Boone went with basically an opener mindset on Sunday to get that one last win thinking he would receive a normal start from Cole. Instead, you get 2+ innings and had to roll out the same pitchers who were in high pressure situations on Sunday. It showed last night. A lot of walks, missed targets. The Sunday game had a direct bearing on the Wild Card game.
4. SU believes that LeMahieu was suffering from the sports hernia all year. He hit with no power this season and so many ground ball double plays. Something has been off all year and I am confident he will bounce back in 2022. He’s not that old and he’s a gamer.
5. SU is done, done, done with the following players:

• Gary Sanchez: he will not hit to right field and is not getting better defensively. Stop telling me that a .210 batting average is “above average” for catchers in 2021. Low baseball IQ. He will do well with a fresh start somewhere else.

• Joey Gallo: SU does not care about the stats. It was stupid to bat him behind Stanton for a half season. A-Rod went off on him all night in the game last night as the weak link, and he did not disappoint. Not a bad guy, great outfielder. Must be a taker for him somewhere in MLB.

• Luke Voit, Aaron Hicks, Odor, Clint Frazier: find a home for them somewhere else. All or nothing players. Odor was the poster child for this year’s team. A .200 hitter who swings for the home run on every pitch and has a mindless approach at the plate.

SU had no favorite players on this year’s team. No Didi type player. I think that sums it up for me. This team played many, many low scoring, close games and won a surprisingly high percentage of them. But the wins were agonizing and Boone’s handling of the relievers made it even more torturous. Chapman was great and then terrible and finally just struggled each time out. The relievers were solid and Cortes was an eye opener. Montgomery improved. Taillon was a great pick-up and Kluber should be brought back for another season. Really, the pitching is fine. The offense is not and SU says the all or nothing approach is not enjoyable or a winning formula. No .300 hitters and few who can hit with RISP.

It will an interesting off-season for Cashman who must figure out shortstop and first base. Rizzo is a free agent and signing him creates the problem with LeMahieu and Gleyber. They need a shortstop but SU is not in favor of overpaying for one of the free agents. Hey, you can probably get back Didi as a rental for a year as he hit about .210 for the Phillies and must have more left in the tank than that. Bring in guys who are likeable and who care. Greg Allen who was banished to Scranton because he was out of options is a nice bench player. Gardner had a long Yankee run but time to move on.

SU never endorses firing managers or coaches. But this team needs a new mindset at the plate. Other than Judge and Stanton, no one had a better year than the year before. Other than Michael King, none of the other young pitchers emerged. Devi Garcia took a step back. But there are some strong arms ready to emerge in 2022 I think.

Much work to do. SU will move on – and easily this year.

Yankee fans: are you disappointed? Ready to move on? Ready to fire the manager? Feel free to weigh in.