The New York Yankees are experiencing a downward spiral. After a strong start with 50 wins, the team has faltered with a 5-15 record in their last 20 games, raising doubts about their championship prospects.
There are multiple avenues for assigning blame. Manager Aaron Boone’s performance has been questioned, as he has not maximized the potential of the talented roster over the past five years. General Manager Brian Cashman is also under scrutiny for his role in constructing a roster that has been plagued by injuries.
Additionally, individual players like Anthony Volpe, DJ LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres, Alex Verdugo, and Jose Trevino have come under fire for their underwhelming performances.
According to Aaron Judge’s personal hitting coach, Richard Schenck, the organization’s player development practices are to blame. Amid a disappointing homestand, Schenck publicly criticized the Yankees on Twitter, particularly in response to a tweet from the YES Network highlighting Judge’s performance in wins and losses.
Schenck argued that Judge lacks the necessary support from the lineup to drive the team’s success, suggesting a broader issue within the organization’s player development strategy.
As @RealMichaelKay said: "He hits, they win. That simple." #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/1ikUQy4XxM
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 4, 2024
Aaron Judge’s batting coach criticizing the Yankees should serve as a significant red flag
And you know what? It’s difficult to dispute that criticism. The Yankees seem to struggle in developing hitters, as illustrated by the fact that Anthony Volpe has achieved the third-highest WAR of any offensive player drafted under Brian Cashman, and he hasn’t even completed two seasons yet.
Even Volpe has experienced significant declines in performance during his first two MLB seasons. The only other players ranking above him in this aspect are Judge and Brett Gardner. Consider also the numerous disappointments in prospect development over the years, including Oswald Peraza, Clint Frazier, Tyler Wade, Miguel Andújar, Thairo Estrada, and others who never made it to the big leagues or are relatively unknown. While Gleyber Torres may be a regular major leaguer, he has regressed since his debut.
In conclusion, the Yankees are not excelling in this aspect, and an outsider associated with the face of the franchise has added his voice to the criticism. How many more warning signs do we need?
“It’s all right there in front of us.” -Aaron Boone, 2024 pic.twitter.com/Tvpvw8KLOc
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 8, 2024
When questioned about it, Boone expressed indifference, stating that everyone is entitled to their opinion. That’s a very diplomatic reaction, and we don’t anticipate much more to come from it, but… he ought to be concerned. The Yankees should be concerned.
Currently, only two players on this team are hitting well, and they happen to be two of the most talented names in the game. They are unable to surround them with another average hitter, as everyone else with at least 30 games under their belt has declined to below-average levels.
It’s a recurring pattern, now in its fifth year. What else needs to be emphasized? What additional statistics must be presented? This should serve as a warning for the front office, but it’s now being dismissed as background noise, perhaps because it’s been so long since everyone’s attention was caught.
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