WSOU

The Yankees continue to fight through their list of injuries

Date: May 24, 2019

By: Ben Harris

The Yankees’ hospital bills this year have been staggering, and all things considered, so is the number in their win column.

 

They started the springtime knowing a number of the clubs' best players would be absent. Standout shortstop Didi Gregorius would be out an extended period of time from his October Tommy John operation. All-star reliever Dellin Betances was placed onto the injured list with a bone spur.

 

Outfield help was going to be limited, as Jacoby Ellsbury has been recovering from an August hip surgery. Finally, to kick them while they were down, the 2018 squad's weakest link, the starting pitching, was to be without its number one ace Luis Severino for an extended period, after a shoulder problem.

 

Sure, they had the big bats of Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez returning, but no one was entering this season expecting them to overcome more obstacles than what they failed to overcome in 2018.

 

March 28 finally came around after an offseason of reflection and injury. To summarize and bring us up to date, the following weeks and months have seen injuries (and some recoveries) too: Judge, Stanton, newly signed Gregorious-replacement Troy Tulowitzki, Greg Bird, Miguel Andujar, Aaron Hicks, Ben Heller,  D.J. LeMahieu, Jordan Montgomery, Clint Frazier, Sanchez, C.C. Sabathia, Jonathan Loaisiga and James Paxton.

 

Now, if you are thinking that looks like a lot of injured players, you would be correct. If you are both correct and a Yankee fan, you just saw what you already unfortunately knew, placed into the world's seemingly longest list.

 

Despite all these hospital visits, the Bombers have found ways to be successful. The Yankees have been winning games with lineups full of players that many fans and even experts had never heard of on opening day. Fringe Major Leaguers like Gio Urshela, Tyler Wade, and Mike Tauchman have come up with big moments during their emergency sourced playing time.

 

With their production ranging from non-detrimental to fantastic (Urshela has 117 at-bats with a .333 AVG), the club must be pleased with the strength of their farm system. Another part of the team’s success has been the preparation and contributions these players have made, and the foresight of General Manager Brian Cashman.

 

The injuries have also allowed other players to cement their statuses within the roster. Gleyber Torres has proven that he is not only a fan favorite but a superstar in his own right. Plus, he must enjoy playing against the Baltimore Orioles, with 10 out of his 12 home runs coming against the O's. Luke Voit has relieved critics of all concerns of reliability with a fantastic 0.985 fielding percentage and is leading the team with 35 RBI.

 

The offseason's biggest disappointment for the Yankee faithful was losing the Manny Machado sweepstakes and filling that hole with the 'capable' D.J. LeMahieu. But the former Colorado Rockie has shined in his multi-position role this season and has been a great surprise to the doubters with the third highest batting average in the American League at .329. Lastly, Sanchez has returned from the injured list with a heavy bat, leading the team with 15 home runs.

 

Controversy, doubt and the looming disappointment of the 2018 season are all that surrounded this club entering this year. Then even more complications were thrown on the fire with the practically viral injury bug. However, one-fourth of this grueling, drawn-out 162-game season that we all know, and love is in the books and the Bombers are sitting at the top of the AL East with 32 in the bag and a three-game lead over Tampa Bay.

 

This team has fought through adversity like almost no other. 14 in-season injuries are an astronomical amount for any club to endure, much less power through. Emergency trades for immediate starters like Cameron Maybin and Kendrys Morales have not only been made but have worked. All credit has to be sent toward Brian Cashman, second-year Manager Aaron Boone, and the tough group of healthy impact players.

 

Who knows how far this current group of grinders can carry the club? The league needs to be aware of this Yankees team, because if they get completely healthy, the Bronx Bombers will make a lot of noise in the Bronx in October.

 

Ben Harris can be reached at benjamin.harris@student.shu.edu.

Posted in: Sports, WSOU

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