Yankees’ stars discuss club struggles and team meeting

With the 8-2 loss against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, the New York Yankees fell to 5-8 on the 2021 season, and they are in last place not only in their own division, but also in the American League as a whole. The offense has been stagnant, the defense sloppy, and the starting pitching hasn’t been providing much length aside of Gerrit Cole.

The Yankees will, most likely, turn the corner at some point but it has been an ugly showing so far. Some of the team struggling stars such as Clint Frazier and Giancarlo Stanton talked to the media about the struggles.

Frazier acknowledged that Yankees’ skipper Aaron Boone held a heated team meeting in which he talked in a different tone than his usually calm nature.

“He’s so chill that when he does address us the way that he does (when he’s upset), everyone should listen because he’s not the kind of guy that really gets that upset. So I think your ears perk up a little bit more. I think everyone’s going to come ready to go (Saturday), and maybe we needed Boonie to address us that way for it to happen.”

The Yankees’ offense has performed well below expectations

The Yankees are scoring less than four runs per game, at 3.85, which according to NJ Advance Media is the 13^th ranked offense out of 15 American League teams.

“We’re going to be successful,” Boone said. “I have the utmost confidence in this roster, in this team. We just have to start playing better, period. Right now we just have to really focus on our individual crafts — me, our coaches — making sure we’re getting our guys ready to be the best they can and put them in a position to go out and let their talent take over.

“We’re making sure we’re paying attention to details when we show up each and every day. The results will follow. They’ll be there. We’re just going through a tough stretch right now.”

Giancarlo Stanton, who showed up in the Yankees’ box score on Friday by homering in his last at-bat, was also critical of the team’s play.

“We’re definitely underperforming,” Stanton said. “Definitely the offensive side, which is me a big part of. And some of the guys will tell you they haven’t played the way they’d like to, as well. We’ve got to pick it up.”