A few weeks ago, when the Yankees were struggling, it was too early to panic. But sooner or later, that is no longer a valid excuse. Even manager Aaron Boone publicly shows his concerns as the Yanks continue to head down an inevitably inescapable path.
There’s no doubt New York has some of the best talent in the league with a bright star in Aaron Judge, an ace in Gerrit Cole, and a star closer in Aroldis Chapman. On top of them, there are solid pieces all around the diamond and in the pen. But despite the talent, the squad is still failing.
The truth is the Yankees are mediocre in many hitting statistics this season. And under the bright lights, anything close to average is unacceptable. New York is expected to compete for titles year after year, but now they sit fourth in their division.
On Sunday, the Yankees fell to the Phillies 7-0, which seemed like a clear sign this season is spiraling out of control. However, Postgame Aaron Boone spoke to the team’s potential comeback.
“We’re clearly in the midst of incredibly tough times,” Boone said. “We’ve faced it throughout this season. And we’re going to find out what we’re made of and if we’re the team we think we are.
This is make or break time for Aaron Boone and the Yanks. The heart of the team seems lost and almost at the point of no return. Boone mentions character, and it’s been lacking from everyone, including himself. The tipping point was when the Yankees lost 6-4 in extra innings against the Red Sox. This was an infamous game where Rougned Odor was struck out in the ninth inning by a very questionable call. It was evident the pitch was nowhere near the zone, but the only people arguing were the assistant coaches. In fact, a few got ejected while Boone did nothing. In the end, the team lost by two runs.
At this point, every game is crucial, and this is a rare statement, but the Yankees are almost in the cellar of the AL East. The playoffs are in the distant future, but New York needs to focus to even qualify. The next few weeks will be very telling to any success this season. The talent is there, and there’s no time for excuses. Now it’s time to perform.
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