The Yankees, currently in last place, have
failed to build a winner around Aaron Judge in the last six years
At 60-58, the New York Yankees are not only in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016, they are in danger of finishing with a losing record for the first time in three decades. The Yankees have not had a losing season since going 76-86 in 1992. Their 30-year winning-season streak is the second longest in MLB history behind a 39-year streak by the 1926-64 Yankees.
"Obviously, we need victories," manager Aaron Boone said after Sunday's crushing walk-off loss to the Miami Marlins (video). "... We got to rack up wins. As tough as this one is to swallow, you've got to move on from it."
The Yankees are 6-10 since Aaron Judge returned from his toe injury (he is playing on a torn ligament) and 24-33 in their last 57 games. Dating back to last season, they are 84-78 in their last 162 games, postseason included. New York's struggles are no longer a small sample size. They've been a mediocre team for a full year now and worse than mediocre lately.
The roster lacks impact players beyond Judge and Gerrit Cole. Big-name veterans like Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu have underperformed, expected difference-makers Carlos Rodón and Luis Severino have been hurt and ineffective, and too many at-bats are going to the Billy McKinneys and Ben Rortvedts of the world. Touted rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe has looked better than the numbers suggest, though the numbers are the factual record of what happened on the field, and a .674 OPS isn't good.
[
www.cbssports.com]
