What’s Wrong With the Yankees?
Photo credit: Wendell Cruz – USA Today Sports
TAMPA — The Yankees are one of the greatest teams in baseball history, winning 27 World Series titles since becoming a team 120 years ago in 1903.
However, the Yankees haven’t won a World Series since 2009 when Hall of Famer Derek Jeter was captain of the legendary franchise.
Since winning their last World Series championship in 2009, the Yankees haven’t been able to make it past the ALCS, missing the playoffs entirely in 2013, 2014 and 2016. So what is the problem with the New York Yankees?
The problem begins with Yankees General Manager and Senior Vice President Brian Cashman, who has been with the club since 1998.
Since winning the World Series in 2009, Cashman has not been able to acquire ballplayers who are consistent.
An example of the inconsistency is in Giancarlo Stanton, who hasn’t been able to find his rhythm while wearing the pinstripes. During the 2022 season, he had 31 home runs with 398 at-bats, a batting average of .211, and was struck out 137 times.
Stanton’s batting average has dropped substantially since last season. His batting average in the 2022 season was .211, and this season his average is .202.
There is also a drop in hits from 84 to 59. This drop can be attributed to being on the injured list this season, but his numbers have dropped dramatically since arriving in the big city in 2014. His current contract that goes through 2027 is a $325 million contract, a little much for a player whose numbers are diminishing.
Signing pitcher Carlos Rodon looks to be another mistake for the Bombers as he has only played a total of five games in Yankee pinstripes, losing four of them, and has been off and on the injured list since the beginning of the season. Rodon has a 7.71 ERA and signed his contract accepting a six-year $162 million deal.
Last season Aaron Judge hit 62 home runs during the regular season, pretty impressive. But what’s not impressive is Aaron Judge going 1-for-16 with a single, a walk, and four strikeouts in the ALCS against the Houston Astros.
Yankees fans, however, see Judge as the go-to guy for the team. Just this year alone, Judge is not hitting anywhere near where he was in the previous season, with only 19 home runs. He may have a .291 batting average and 40 RBIs, but in the last 30 games, Aaron Judge has struck out 36 times.
The Yankees, between the three players, have appeared to have wasted almost $850 million.
The other problem is with Yankee manager Aaron Boone. Boone has been with the club since 2018 after succeeding former Yankee manager Joe Girardi. Boone signed a new contract in 2021 where he will stay with the club through the 2024 season, getting paid more than $3.45 million.
During the 2018 season, the Yankees ended in second place behind their rivals the Boston Red Sox going 100-62. In 2019, the Yankees ended in first place going 103-59 and didn’t make the World Series due to losing to the Houston Astros in the ALCS in six games. In the 2020 season, the Yankees went 33-27 and ended in second place behind the Tampa Bay Rays.
They would have the same result in the 2021 season this time having a record of 92-70. Last season, the Yankees ended their season in first place going 92-63 while again losing to the Houston Astros in the ALCS.
This season does not look any better, as the Yankees are 19 games behind the first-place team. After their August 27th loss at home against the Washington Nationals, the Yankees extended a losing streak to eight games. This is the first time in 28 years that this has happened.
The duo of Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone does not look to be the likely candidates for taking the Yankees back to the promised land. Keeping Cashman and Boone for this long looks suspicious. Could there possibly be some corruption inside the club that Ruth built?
The Yankees need to do something, and fast, if they ever want to reclaim their legacy as the best team in baseball.