What's Wrong With the Bronx Bombers? Diagnosing the Yanks at the Halfway Mark
Published: Saturday, July 13, 2024
by Ryan Nelke
The New York Yankees' 2024 season has been tumultuous, to say the least. The Yanks were close to 30 games over .500 by the end of their Kansas City series in mid-June, but they have since gone through a horrific stretch, leaving fans wondering when, or if, this team will return to its winning ways. Let’s take a closer look at where the Bombers are struggling and what they can do to help at the deadline.
Starting Pitching
At the beginning of the season, the Yankees' starting pitching was spectacular, even without reigning Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole. However, over the past month, the pitching staff has taken a complete 180, as Carlos Rodon, Luis Gil, Marcus Stroman, and the returning Cole have not been themselves. The only consistent factor has been Nestor Cortes, who has hovered in the mid-threes ERA range.
“Nothing has been more stark than the disaster the starting rotation has turned into, going from the best in the majors to the worst, seemingly overnight.Through 72 games this season, the Yankees’ rotation had the best ERA in the sport (2.77). Over their last 20 games, they rank dead last in ERA at 6.96 and have allowed 2.23 home runs per nine innings — the highest rate in MLB.”
— Dan Martin, New York Post
The Infield
Outside of Ben Rice, who has been decent at first base, is there a single position on the Yankees' infield that fans feel comfortable with right now?
It starts at second base with Gleyber Torres. In a prove-it year for the seven-year veteran, he has posted an abysmal .224 average with only eight homers. Furthermore, his fielding and effort have been a cause for concern. His .273/.347/.453 slash line from 2023 seems long gone, and this may very well result in his last months as a Yankee.
“Torres’ struggles this season have been a disappointment for the team and for himself as he faces uncertainty about his next contract. For [General Manager Brian] Cashman and the Yankees, it clarifies that the roster has a significant need for now and into the future.”
— Peter Chawaga, Athlon Sports
Next up is second-year shortstop Anthony Volpe. After an underwhelming rookie year where he hit .209, Volpe seemed to have turned a corner early this season, hitting .324 through the first 19 games. However, he has since fallen below .250. His power has also disappeared, as he has not hit a home run since May 16.
“Volpe’s struggles are a continuation of his rookie season. He is one of 43 players to record 1,000 or more plate appearances since his debut in 2023. Volpe’s .670 OPS is the lowest among the list of players.”
— Casey Fahrer, Athlon Sports
Arguably the most glaring issue in the infield is DJ LeMahieu, once known as “The Machine.” In his first two years with New York, LeMahieu hit .327 and .364, but he has not hit above .270 since and is currently under the Mendoza line this year. Through 35 games, he has yet to hit a single home run and has only three extra-base hits. While the past two years have been rough, it is now more apparent than ever that it’s time to cut ties with the two-time batting champion.
“His contact percentage is the lowest it’s been since his rookie season. His wOBA, xwOBA, and xwOBACON, measures for how a player gets on base and the quality of his contact, are all career lows,”
— Chris Kirschner, The Athletic.
To complete the circle around the diamond, the catching duo of Jose Trevino and Austin Wells has also struggled. Both are hitting below .240 and aren’t prominent power hitters. A bigger concern with Trevino is his ability to catch runners stealing. On June 16, the Red Sox embarrassed Trevino by setting a franchise record with nine stolen bases.
“The Yankees have a catching problem. This is becoming a thing now. It’s a real thing. All of a sudden, Boston exposed this thing. Blueprint spot.”
— Boomer Esiason, WFAN
The Bullpen
When October comes around, all Yankees fans will agree that they do not want Clay Holmes to close out games. His numbers are not horrendous, as he has a sub-three ERA, but he has a 1-3 record and has blown five saves. Anytime Holmes comes in, anything could happen, making big games in October hard to win.
“Even when the Yankees’ bullpen has come through this season, there have been questions about whether the unit contains enough high-octane pitchers who can miss bats.”
— Mark W. Sanchez, New York Post
With the trade deadline quickly approaching, here are some names the Yankees should consider:
Luis Rengifo (Infielder)
Rengifo is currently in the middle of a career year with the lowly Angels, boasting a .315 average and 22 stolen bases. Rengifo would be a perfect addition to a struggling Yankees lineup and would slot right into the leadoff spot.
Cody Bellinger (Outfielder/First Baseman)
While Bellinger did just land on the injured list with a finger fracture, he can still be a piece New York looks to add at the deadline, as he can fit in both the infield and outfield. The former MVP is slashing .269/.331/.410 with nine homers and 37 RBIs this season with the Cubs.
Tanner Scott (Closing Pitcher)
A must-have for the Yankees at the deadline is Scott. He has a 1.42 ERA and has converted 13 of 15 saves this year with the Marlins. Adding Scott to the bullpen would fill the Yankees' closer role and take the pressure off Holmes by moving him to the setup slot.
Ryan Nelke can be reached at:ryan.nelke@student.shu.edu
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