2020 was supposed to be the year that the New York Yankees took back their spot at the top of the mountain. They finally had the missing piece (Gerrit Cole) to winning a championship. They had the lineup, the pitching staff, and the bullpen.
The Yankees seemingly had everything you needed to win a championship. All they needed to do was stay healthy and play to their talent level. Well, with just a few weeks left in the season, neither one of those things has happened.
The Yankees have been dealt devastating injuries, and the players who have played haven’t played well outside of a couple exceptions. A team that seemed to be a World Series favorite, is now just 1.5 games ahead for the last playoff spot in the AL.
Keep in mind that the only reason the Yankees would make the playoffs is the COVID playoff expansion. If it wasn’t for that, the Yankees would pick up their ball and go home in a few weeks.
Aaron Boone speaks to the media following a tough loss in the Yankees' series opener against the Blue Jays. pic.twitter.com/V4ELnYEBnw
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) September 8, 2020
The Yankees crushing defeat
Last night, the Yankees hit a new low. Recently, the Yankees were surpassed by the Toronto Blue Jays for second place in the division. The majority of their remaining games come against Toronto.
The Yankees have struggled mightily over the last few weeks entering last night 5-13 in their previous 18 games. The Yankees came out of the gates hot with a couple of home runs. They took a 6-2 lead into the sixth inning.
The Yankees had it setup perfectly for their best bullpen arms to close it out. You had a feeling that this could be the game that turns it around. However, the Blue Jays scored an astonishing ten runs in one inning to deal a knockout blow to the bombers.
I couldn’t hardly believe what I was watching. The Blue Jays scored ten runs off Chad Green and Adam Ottavino before the Yankees recorded two outs. There is horrific performances, then there’s what we witnessed last night.
Granted, the blame cannot go completely to the Yankees relievers. With the bases loaded, Luke Voit got a ground ball right to him which would have recorded the second out of the inning. He booted the ball, and the onslaught continued. The Yankees lost the game 12-7.
Where to go from here
Just when you think it can’t get worse for the Yankees, it does. When they get great outings from their pitchers, the offense can’t generate more than a run or two. Whenever their offense gives them a lead, the bullpen can’t hold it.
At this point, I’m not even sure I would feel comfortable if the Yankees were winning a game 10-0. That’s how bad it has truly become. This team can turn it around, but I’m not sure anyone believes that they will at this point.
There has to be some heat on Brian Cashman. The Yankees were spiraling out of control last week and Cashman did nothing at the deadline. No reinforcements for the bombers, just praying they get better.
Unfortunately for Cashman, not only have the problems continued, they’ve become worse. If the boss were still alive and running the team, I would not want to be anyone in the Yankees organization. I’m not sure what the answer is, but it’s truly dark times in the Bronx.