Gary Sheffield, Jr
Videos by OutKick
The Yankees had their ace Gerrit Cole on the mound against a mediocre Indians team as they looked to close the gap in the Wild Card race. By day’s end, Cole was shelled for seven runs and the Yankees season was essentially caput after a final score of 11-1. Destroyed by a .500 team in the American League Central. My goodness.
Though this team won 13-straight games last month, their demise tells the real story: Aaron Boone, half this roster, and many in that front office should be headed for the exits come late October.
Gerrit Cole leaves and gets booed. Gee, he's been CARRYING this team all year. pic.twitter.com/pPGgJFeC7c
— John Sterling Calls (@JSterlingCalls) September 19, 2021
This Yankees fan base booing their most prized asset following a brief stumble when he was lights out all year is more a jeer at the overall product than frustrations at the individual. Steep concession prices, veteran has-been talent all over the field, and just a plethora of power bats that blew out down the stretch.
There’s no denying this product as a whole is an utter joke, especially when you take a look at WHY they fell short. The Yankees most likely miss the playoffs this year because they couldn’t manage to beat the Baltimore Orioles. They’ve lost eight games to the Os this year. When 15% of a team’s wins come against your squad while they sit almost 70 games under .500 — you clearly haven’t built a winner.
Falling to fourth place in the AL East behind the Rays, Red Sox, and ascending Blue Jays calls for a drastic overhaul. Firing Aaron Boone is merely a start when this team clearly quit as they’re blown out in two straight outings to a team that’s hardly trying.
Hitting coach Marcus Thames is surely gone by season’s end and I’d say the only staff member that should feel any sense of security is pitching coach Matt Blake. The first-year coach polished Jameson Taillon into a reliable starter all year long, and this pitching staff has been nails overall. Everything else has been horrid. Offensively, defensively, and often times lost on the base paths, which shows this team isn’t prepared to play before first-pitch.
The Yankees technically have a chance at just a game and a half out from second place in the AL Wild Card, but they should probably hope they don’t make it at this point. Maybe it’s best to miss the playoffs completely to entice ownership into a much needed overhaul?
If they go 7-5 the rest of the way they’ll win 90 games. That’s good enough most years. Tough division. They’re going to have an interesting off season. I do like the top 3 of their rotation. The next manager will have nice pieces to work with.
Beautiful. Come on Blue Jays!
…. Maybe this is the off-season they FINALLY jettison Gary Sanchez. Worst catcher I’ve ever watched. Yankees love their pitch framing though…🙄
I agree. He’s one of the worst defensive catchers in baseball. He’s gotten better with passed balls but he’s still shakey defensively. That’s one position where offense is completely optional but being able to manage a staff, frame, block, throw are essential. I’d rather have a catcher who hits .220 with 5 homers but is a gold glove defender.
Buster Olney mentioned something on the broadcast last night about Ron Washington, Bruce Bochy and Buck Showalter getting a look this offseason with some other expensive teams that have underperformed (Mets/Padres) thinking about making a switch. Maybe a return to managers that talk to their players and look them in the eyes rather than checking a spreadsheet to make decisions will become a trend.