The New York Yankees rolled through the first few months of the season to a 58-21 start through July 2nd. However, it’s been a bit of a rocky road since then. The Yanks have gone just 17-27 after their hot start.
While a 75-48 record still gives the Yankees an eight-game cushion in the AL East – and the fifth-best record in baseball – , their recent struggles are making some question if they’re made for the long haul.
Former MLB players Tony Gwynn Jr. and Cody Decker gave their thoughts on the Yankees on Audacy’s “Big Time Baseball” podcast.
“They are not as good as we thought. They’re too streaky, man, and that’s something that legitimately scares me for an October berth,” Decker said (19:30 in player above)
Being able to have success over a 162-game season doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be the same in a five- or seven-game series in the playoffs.
“As somebody that has played in both these things, a long season is a long season. You collect numbers. You collect a lot of things,” Decker said. “Bracket-style baseball is very much a different beast and that is not only for the people on the field but the people that are making decisions in the dugout. Snap decisions when you’re talking about pulling relievers, leaving relievers in too long. Everything is just incredibly scrutinized in that type of play. Right now, the Yankees’ recent struggles tells me they are not who we thought they were.”
The Yankees have also lost some players to injury, including Giancarlo Stanton, who could return this week.
“The Yankees’ recent struggles tell me that they’re not as good when they’re not healthy,” Gwynn Jr. said. “That’s what has bared out since you started to see the injuries mount.”
Other Yankees on the injury list include Clay Holmes, Matt Carpenter, and Harrison Bader, who they acquired at the trade deadline.
Decker also shared some of his thoughts regarding Brian Cashman’s deadline activity.
“You don’t trade away Jordan Montgomery unless you know for a fact Pablo Lopez is joining your staff. And Pablo Lopez did not join your staff and you lost Jordan Montgomery,” he said.
Montgomery threw a 99-pitch shutout on Tuesday night and has allowed just one run in 25.2 innings across four starts with the Cardinals. Meanwhile, Bader isn’t expected to return until at least September.
“Brian Cashman, you’re doing this for 35 years but it seems like the younger GMs are getting ready to out-fleece you the way you out-fleeced everyone in the ‘90s and early 2000s.”
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