BETANCES SAYS THE 2016 YANKEES ARE LIKEABLE

At the end of last week, Andrew Marchand posted a piece on ESPN.com that really brought together three very important things to any ball club: TV ratings, ball park attendance and likability.  Now, when you look at the Yankees' record and their inconsistent ways, it is very daunting.  As a writer for site where fans go to find some hope, stay close to the team and just stay current, I am used to getting direct messages, tweets and Facebook comments that say things like this:

But when Marchand questioned the Yankees' likability by fans, it was painful to read.  "The team’s popularity is best gauged by its attendance and its television ratings. The number of fans who attend Yankee games continues to trend downward. They are on pace to eclipse 3 million fans, which is an impressive number, but every year since the new stadium opened -- save for Derek Jeter's final season in 2014 – the Yankees have drawn fewer than the previous season."

Dellin Betances questioned why fans wouldn't like the 2016 Yankees.   “I don’t see what is boring about the team,” Betances said. “Teams are going to go through ups and downs. We have a lot of games left. We have power hitters. We have guys that can run. We have guys who throw 103, 104. We have veteran guys. We have young guys. So I don’t agree with that.” So the Yankees are likable? Prove it and guess what, he has evidence.

"Betances went on to point to Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez and Beltran as reasons to go to the park, which is a better argument for 2006 than 2016, even with Beltran and Sabathia having All-Star-quality first halves."  I wish I could believe Betances.  But when tickets continue to go unsold and fans seem unfazed by two walk offs, likability has to be questioned.  "The best seats — even the second- and third-best, thousands of them — went mostly empty as a matter of obscene overpricing, more evidence of “knowing what we’re doing," stated the NY Post after last week's home stand against Texas where seats should have been filled.

So are the 2016 Yankees likable?  All evidence point to, no, they aren't.  But there is something about history and legacy for this All-American sport and this team called the New York Yankees who have earned the respect and yes, likability rating of fans across the world because of their overall number of championships and champions over the decades.  I love the Yankees.  But, quite frankly, I don't like them very much right now.  But I respect the team and will watch them every chance I get.  But their likability in 2016, is just about run out of get out of jail free cards for me.

Sorry Dellin and Gardy, I just don't like your team right now, even if you win six in a row, one day.

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer
BYB Hot Stove Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof