How can we possibly put a positive spin on the injury bug plaguing the New York Yankees right now? Let’s see if we can try.
A major league baseball team plays 162 games per season, which is a great deal of time for players. Teams who make the postseason could end up playing 20 extra games (given that each series went to the final game). In an attempt to avoid fatigue, managers will often give a player a day off to allow them to rest.
Key players for the New York Yankees like Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Didi Gregorius, Luis Severino, are all rehabbing and resting on the injured list. These players who are taking time off to care for themselves could benefit the team greatly when they come off the IL.
After the All-Star break, the races for division winners and wildcard contenders will begin. The Yankees will have these key players fully rested and healthy, ready to go. In the last 50 games of the year when other team’s players are fatigued, our guys that are off the IL will hopefully be feeling fresh and new. Fully rested players that are starting their seasons 40-50 games in could potentially add to the Yankees’ World Series hopes.
Where have the Yankees seen this before?
2019 World Series champions, the Boston Red Sox, played an extra 14 games for the postseason. This brought their season into late October. Since their season went so long, the Red Sox didn’t pitch their starting rotation a ton during spring training to allow them to savor the health of their arms. This is possibly why the Red Sox’s start to the season was so lousy.