The New York Yankees season is on the brink after being shut out by the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night. It was almost fitting that the team that essentially ended the Yankees season happens to be the gold standard in the sport in terms of management and roster construction. The Braves’ front office is everything the Yankees haven’t been the last few years, namely savvy. That old saying, ‘You are what your record says you are,’ holds especially true with these 2023 Yankees. They are 60-60 and in last place in the division, the definition of mediocrity. Whilst the Braves are 77-42 and flying high atop the National League. Meanwhile, Yankees fans (much to their chagrin) get the daily positive message from Yankee brass, the reality is starkly different. This Yankees season is on the brink due to years of mismanagement.
Indeed, this is the worst record they’ve had since 1995. For people paying attention, this shouldn’t come as a shock.
With tonight's loss to the Braves, the New York Yankees have fallen to .500 pic.twitter.com/lsIGEhWgSt
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 16, 2023
Yankees Season on the Brink:
Lack of Impact Players
Outside of the generational Aaron Judge, and their ace starter Gerrit Cole, who are the impact players on this roster? For a $293 million payroll, it’s startling the lack of depth and talent here. Besides those two names, Gleyber Torres has had his strongest season in a few years and has been the team’s most consistent offensive player all season. However, he’s still streaky. Especially due to his lackadaisical approach to defense, which has taken a steep downturn this season. That leaves aging former stars Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Rizzo, and DJ LeMahieu.
The latter names are currently injured. LeMahieu has gone from a batting champion to hurt. Rizzo started the season like gangbusters, but after a collision with Fernando Tatis Jr. in May it collapsed. Consequently, this led to him becoming statistically the worst player in baseball until they shut him down only recently for a concussion. This further begs the question of how the Yankees’ front office manages injuries.
In Stanton’s case, he’s still a tremendous hitter, but far too streaky, and is almost guaranteed to miss a chunk of each season due to constant leg muscle injuries. They are afraid for him to even jog around the bases let alone play the outfield these days.
That’s pretty much it for the offense. Far too many at-bats given to journeymen players like Jake Bauers, Willie Calhoun, and Billy McKinney. Also, far few at-bats given to young prospects.
As for the pitching, Carlos Rodon‘s big-money signing should have led him to be Cole’s number two this season, but he’s been injured all year and pitching to a 7.00 ERA. Frankie Montas is lost somewhere in the Carl Pavano ether of perenially injured failed past acquisitions. Luis Severino went from one of the best arms in the league to a 7.98 era this season. Truthfully, outside of Cole’s excellent starts every fifth day, Yankee starters are pitching to a 6.00 ERA. Outside of Cole, the best Yankee starter has been Clarke Schmidt.
For almost $ 300 million, ownership should be shocked at where the money has been allocated.
Brian Cashman Hasn’t Heeded the Warnings
Brian Cashman has unparalleled power in the organization. However, the buck stops with him because the Yankees’ season is on the brink due to years of mismanagement. He’s been very slow, and inarguably, arrogant with his approach to roster construction lately.
These issues have hardly snuck up on him. Yet, he failed to heed clear warnings. The most blatant sign of this was when the Yankees were swept last season in the ALCS by their arch-nemesis, the Houston Astros. They looked wholly unprepared to even be in the postseason, and as a team, they bat .170. This would normally be a sign to upgrade the offense in the offseason, but Cashman doubled down and brought back the same offense, minus a left fielder. They are now 29th in Baseball in batting average and hits, only ahead of the Oakland A’s who are trying to lose to relocate their franchise.
Furthermore, they doubled down on Josh Donaldson and Aaron Hicks, both had horrendous seasons last year, often being booed off the field. Neither decision went well. Hicks got released and is now in Baltimore, and Donaldson has a .140 batting average and is hurt.
Cashman had ample opportunity to amend his approach to the roster after being beaten ingloriously in the Wild Card Game in 2021 against the Boston Red Sox. This was after being caught sleeping by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020’s postseason. Much of those defeats centered on a lack of contact hitting, a lack of lefty bats, and a lack of athleticism in the lineup. Cashman chose to maintain the status quo to their detriment.
Over the last 200 games, the Yankees are 100-100. This is not a short sample size. This roster is mediocre even with Aaron Judge, arguably the best hitter in baseball.
first time since 1995 that the new york yankees haven't won more of their first 120 games of a regular season than they've lost pic.twitter.com/Lcjsc0Bblv
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) August 16, 2023
Failed to Take Advantage of Their Brief Window
After the Yankees missed out on a World Series spot in 2017 by a single game, they were in an enviable position, flush with money and young talent. Unfortunately, due to baffling decisions by their front office, their current title window appears slammed shut.
The first move Cashman made after 2017 was to go all-in on analytics and hire player-friendly rookie coach Aaron Boone. They have a huge staff of analytics guys, but it seemed to be at the expense of player development. Players like Gary Sanchez, Clint Frazier, and Greg Bird all failed to materialize.
Under Boone, the Yankees have never been as close as they were in 2017 with Joe Girardi.
On top of that, Cashman misallocated resources to Aaron Hicks and Aroldis Chapman extensions, both baffling decisions due to their struggles for long periods.
Last but not least, failing to even contact Bryce Harper and Manny Machado when they were free agents, both of whom were desperate to become Yankees. Instead, left field has been a question mark for years now. Manny Machado would have been a perfect third baseman, but instead, Cashman chose to trade for Josh Donaldson.
The worst aspect of that trade was not even taking on the declining 36-year-old, but by eating his $50 million contract it allowed the Twins to use that freed-up cash to sign Carlos Correa in free agency. Someone the Yankees should have gone after instead of trying out Isiah Kiner-Falefa there last season. It might have actually helped Anthony Volpe in his long-term development learning under him for a season or two.
Cashman also passed on acquiring prime corner infield talent in Matt Chapman and Matt Olson. Incidentally, Olson is having an incredible season for the Braves.
Thus the organization wasted the prime years of Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole.
Boone too Relaxed
According to reports, Aaron Boone will be in trouble if the Yankees finish in last place. Yet reportedly Cashman’s job will be safe regardless. Whilst I’m not sure what manager would succeed with this barren roster, Boone still hasn’t covered himself in glory.
I understand he’s reading from the organization’s script, but he seems far too relaxed for the complete mess this team is in. He generally gives off an impression of being unperturbed by how the season is going. For instance, after his team struck out 18 times against the Baltimore Orioles a few weeks ago, he commented that the team “did well to work their pitcher minus the strikeouts.” An odd message to send to his club, peers, and fanbase. I would argue his club has carried that attitude into most games as they often look wholly unprepared.
His team makes too many outs on the basepaths, but when asked about it a few days ago postgame, he replied that they are one of the best baserunning teams in the league. This is factually incorrect when they are in fact 28th in the league in baserunning.
Strategically, his in-game decisions remain baffling. Case-in-point pitching to Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels back in July, instead of walking him. Leading to a game-ending 3-run homerun. Then using a perplexing argument afterward that 90% of the time he doesn’t hit a home run. A simply absurd thing to say about a man with 41 home runs this year.
Similarly against the Miami Marlins over the weekend, he didn’t pitch around the red-hot Jake Burger, and Burger delivered a walk-off RBI to cap off a 5-run Yankee meltdown in the ninth inning.
Boone may be a fine manager for a team built to win, but when asked to lead men and strategize wins, he doesn’t appear capable. The Yankees have been going backward for the last few years due to his laisse-faire approach from one day to the next. There appears to be little accountability in the locker room.
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They Must Evaluate Talent
The best thing the Yankees can do after they botched the trade deadline and refused to pick a direction is to spend the remaining two months of this lost season evaluating their farm system. That means calling up Oswald Peraza to play third base. Call up Austin Wells to catch or play DH. Further to that, most pressingly, call up Everson Pereira to play left field. Then evaluate Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez in the rotation.
They have to do something, the season is lost. A wasted season spent deluding themselves about their talent levels, giving too many at-bats to journeymen. Allowing the entire AL East division to overtake them in just one season.
There are too many problems here to patch up a few holes this coming winter. Their baseball operations department needs an overhaul. Their roster needs a serious overhaul, and a new manager will likely hold the organization to a better standard than this proud franchise has performed this season. Everyone should be held accountable.
Main photo credits:
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
