With the shortened MLB season nearly at its midpoint, how do the New York Yankees stack up? The simple answer right now is, that the once favored Yankees have now lost East Division to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees can turn it around, but some big changes will have to happen for that to occur, and they must happen quickly.
Taking the most negative viewpoint that I can, the Yankee pitching stinks, many of the bats are dead, the Yankees have a catcher and a shortstop that can’t get the job done, either at bat or with their fielding. At a crucial time in the season, the Yankee also have their three most valuable players on the IL. So the Yankees have pitchers that can’t pitch deep into games, and a “B” lineup, except for a few, can’t hit the ball.
Continuing on the negative bent, other than Gerrit Cole, James Paxton, who is the number two starter, has a 1-1 record with an ERA near 7 in five starts. Next in the rotation is Masahiro Tanaka, he’s 0-1 in four starts with an ERA of 4.60. Next up is J.A. Happ, he’s 1-1 with an ERA of 6.39, then there’s Jordan Montgomery, in his four games he is 2-1 but still with an elevated ERA of 4.66. Besides Cole, that is a rotation ERA averaging 5.84, or in real terms, they give up nearly six runs over nine innings. You can’t give up six runs and expect to win games. Compare that to the Rays rotation ERA of 3.66.
On the hitting side of the situation, Miguel Andujar is hitting .095, Gary Sanchez is hitting .132, Brett Gardner is hitting .176, Mike Ford is hitting .175, Wade .190, Hicks .222, and Torres .231. That’s seven hitting at .231 or below. That’s a problem. Although the Yankees have had a couple of small ball games, they have had to rely on the home run. And with few on base, it reduces the value of those home runs.
Looking at these facts, it’s amazing the Yankees are even second in the East. But the positive outlook explains why they are. We must mention that the NL East teams outside of the Atlanta Braves stink, as do most of the AL East teams. The big thorn for the Yankees is the Tampa Bay Rays; the Yankees have a 1-6 record off the first-place Rays.
Gerrit Cole has been, as expected, amazing, winning his first five starts. Zack Britton, who was asked to be the closer for the New York Yankees in Aroldis Chapman’s absence due to the coronavirus. Britton has saved all of his save opportunities. Reliever Chad Green has been dominant. He has pitched 12.2 innings across nine games, allowing only one run. Coincidentally, the Yankees have won every single game that Chad Green has pitched in.
On the hitting side, DJ LeMahieu, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Luke Voit, Mike Tauchman, and Gio Urshela have been bright spots, both behind the plate and in the field. Urshela has the third most home runs on the season, and his defense has been nothing short of amazing, last night diving into the Rays bullpen to make an out. Stanton had a new plate discipline and a batting average hovering at .300. Luke Voit has emerged like a thunderbolt to overtake Aaron Judge for the most homers on the team (10).
Mike Tauchman has been a standout so far this season, his defense on the field, wherever he is placed, has been excellent. Add to that the T-Man has been an outstanding hitter. Only DJ LeMahieu has a higher batting average. Clint Frazier, not playing in all games, has two homers and has shown signs of greatness, with much-improved field play.
Looking at the injury situation, this short season is beginning to equate the 2019 season. These players are either on the IL, or their status is unclear. Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring), Aaron Judge (calf), Luis Severino (elbow), Tommy Kahnle (elbow), DJ LeMahieu (thumb), Zack Britton (hamstring), Kyle Higashioka (oblique), James Paxton (forearm), and Gleyber Torres (hamstring). Outside of Aaron Judge, the rest of the players on the list will be out at least another week.
Other than the injuries, the Yankees have been relatively lucky. The shortened season allows previously injured players to start the season. The Yankees also have remained relatively untouched by the coronavirus that has ravaged a few MBL teams.
So averaging the negatives with the positives, where does that leave the New York Yankees going forward into the second half of the season. The Yankees must get healthy again and quickly. Slugger Aaron Judge may be back with the team this weekend. But Yankees fans will have to wait another week or so for the return of Stanton and LeMahieu, and now the status of others unclear.
The Yankees hitters that are not performing have to start hitting and creating some runner on base, so when the big bats hit, those won’t be solo home runs. Manager Aaron Boone with all the injuries is having less and less choice as to who he can plug in during dire situations. One thing he should do is stop using the not performing Brett Gardner instead of the hot Mike Tauchman.
The New York Yankees have to do a 360 and turn around the pitching ills, and lack of hitting, if they are to get to the postseason at all. The pitching staff as it is will not fear well against postseason pitchers. The Yankee may have to be more active before the trade deadline. We now have only one backup catcher, that is a problem. We also have to replace J.A. Happ with an acquisition or with the likes of Clarke Schmidt, who they have not utilized.
The Yankees now appear to miss an easier series with the Mets, due to some Mets staff testing positive. Then they will again face the Braves, and it’s back to another three-game series with the Rays. The Yankee must find a way to win against the Rays. There are only five weeks left to the season; the Yankees can not continue to lose games. Each and every game as the season progress takes on even more importance. Are the Yankees up to the challenge? The next few weeks will tell. As a life long Yankee fan, I certainly hope so.