THE BIG YANKEE MELTDOWN!

The Yankees have proven one thing: if they don't hit home runs, they don't score runs.  And guess what, that's been happening a lot as the Yankees continue to melt down after an incredible stretch in August. And in August, the Yankees mixed it up with small ball, quick feet and a feverish sense of urgency that seems to have disappeared lately. Fans, we are witnessing the big Yankee meltdown and it is ugly to watch.

“We’ve been the streakiest team in the league,” said infielder DJ LeMahieu. “One good game and the tides can turn in a hurry, like we’ve seen all year. We’ve either been playing really bad or we’ve been playing unbelievable, and not a whole lot in between,” reported Bryan Hoch via MLB.com.

Streaky is an interesting word, considering that Aaron Boone controls who "rests" and who he puts into games in sometimes the most unlikeliest situations. Exhibit A: Andrew Heaney. Exhibit B: Boone does not play Giancarlo Stanton three days in the row in the field.  Interesting. Aaron Boone is the guy behind this streakiness that is personifying this Yankee team, don't kid yourself.

Source: NJ.com

“We’re trying to do the best,” Urshela said. “Errors are going to happen. We have to control what we can control. If we make an error, just keep going and stay focused for the next play,” reported MLB.com. It is difficult to wrap your head around the number of errors committed by this team. The absolute worst error of them all was Gary Sanchez missing the tag at home plate in Friday night's loss against the Mets. Joey Gallo's terrific throw beat Jonathan Villar by more than 20 feet, but Sanchez was so nonchalant in his reach for Villar that he completely missed him. Embarrassing. 

The Yankees need more than a pep talk. They need more than the Mets kicking them in the butt. They need to play smart and they need a coaching staff that can read the game, not play the game by numbers. If a player is hot, you play that player every night. You don't give up important ball games or rest players because you are waiting for the "stretch." The stretch, Aaron Boone, is now. And the lack of urgency or perhaps confusion I see in your eyes night after night as the Angels, the Orioles, the Blue Jays and the Mets beat the Yankees up, is just unacceptable. The Big Yankee Meltdown is happening because the sense of urgency went away. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

YANKEES STRAND RUNNERS, COMMIT ERRORS & LOSE

Source: NY Post Bill Kostroun

The best the Yankees can hope for today is to win the series against Division rivals Baltimore Orioles.  Picking up from where they left off last year, the Yankees had little to no offense in Saturday's 5-3 loss against the Orioles, who are rebuilding and reinventing themselves.  There is simply no reason to lose games to teams in transition and yet, here we go again.  Oh let me add some salt to our wounds as fans; the Yankees committed three errors, which also contributed to their loss.

Source: Charles Wenzelberg

"Wasted opportunities at the plate early and three errors sprinkled throughout the game made a ninth-inning rally not enough to beat what many believe will be the worst team in the majors this season," reported the NY Post.  Aaron Judge also added his two cents after yesterday's disappointing loss. "Missed opportunities and costly errors. You make errors in the major leagues they come back to bite you,’’ said Aaron Judge, whose single in the ninth helped fuel a two-run rally that was started by Troy Tulowitzki’s opposite-field homer to right."

Source: John Munson | NJ Advance Media

The biggest of the three errors came from Gary Sanchez, who costly throwing error and poor decision to not go for the lead the runner, cost the Yankees and James Paxton a win despite the lefty's stellar performance in his first game in pinstripes.

"The Orioles pulled a double steal. With Richie Martin racing toward third base, Sanchez tried throwing out Jonathan Villar at second base. Sanchez’s rushed throw bounced well in front of second base, making an awkward hop in front of Gleyber Torres," reported NJ.com.  And add Luke Voit's throwing error along with DJ LeMahieu’s error in the 9th to cost the Yankees the game despite a 9th inning rally.

Source: Julie Jacobson | AP

The ninth inning is just too late for rallies. The Yankees also can't expect to just muscle the ball to win...they have to play small ball and put the ball in play.  The Yankees simply can't lose to bad teams.  They can't strand runners, they can't strike out back to back with ducks on the pond and they need to take advantage early.  I am hoping this is just a one-off and this performance doesn't become commonplace in 2019 as we saw it in 2018.  The Orioles lost 115 games last year and they are poised to lose a similar amount this year.  Let's not give them anymore wins in 2019 against the Yankees.  The Yankees simply cannot afford it.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof