The Big Yankee Meltdown!

The Yankees have proven one thing: if they don’t hit home runs, they don’t score runs.  And guess what, that’s been happening a lot as the Yankees continue to melt down after an incredible stretch in August. And in August, the Yankees mixed it up with small ball, quick feet and a feverish sense of urgency that seems to have disappeared lately. Fans, we are witnessing the big Yankee meltdown and it is ugly to watch.

“We’ve been the streakiest team in the league,” said infielder DJ LeMahieu. “One good game and the tides can turn in a hurry, like we’ve seen all year. We’ve either been playing really bad or we’ve been playing unbelievable, and not a whole lot in between,” reported Bryan Hoch via MLB.com.

Streaky is an interesting word, considering that Aaron Boone controls who “rests” and who he puts into games in sometimes the most unlikeliest situations. Exhibit A: Andrew Heaney. Exhibit B: Boone does not play Giancarlo Stanton three days in the row in the field.  Interesting. Aaron Boone is the guy behind this streakiness that is personifying this Yankee team, don’t kid yourself.

“We’re trying to do the best,” Urshela said. “Errors are going to happen. We have to control what we can control. If we make an error, just keep going and stay focused for the next play,” reported MLB.com. It is difficult to wrap your head around the number of errors committed by this team. The absolute worst error of them all was Gary Sanchez missing the tag at home plate in Friday night’s loss against the Mets. Joey Gallo‘s terrific throw beat Jonathan Villar by more than 20 feet, but Sanchez was so nonchalant in his reach for Villar that he completely missed him. Embarrassing. 

The Yankees need more than a pep talk. They need more than the Mets kicking them in the butt. They need to play smart and they need a coaching staff that can read the game, not play the game by numbers. If a player is hot, you play that player every night. You don’t give up important ball games or rest players because you are waiting for the “stretch.” The stretch, Aaron Boone, is now. And the lack of urgency or perhaps confusion I see in your eyes night after night as the Angels, the Orioles, the Blue Jays and the Mets beat the Yankees up, is just unacceptable. The Big Yankee Meltdown is happening because the sense of urgency went away. 

–Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof