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The Yankees are a mess right now, and fans are looking for someone to blame.
More often than not, at least from what this writer has seen, someone has been Aaron Boone. Perhaps this is because the manager is the most visible figure in the organization; Boone speaks to reporters twice a match day. Maybe that’s because he’s sticking to an optimistic scenario that doesn’t fit a ball club that has been streaked at best this year, pitifully sloppy at worst. Or it could be because Boone is overseeing this sloppy game; the Yankees have shown no semblance of fundamentals, frequently making costly mistakes on the court and on basic trajectories. Perhaps this is because the New York offense and a number of young players have seemed to decline so far this year; “Why isn’t Boone getting the most out of his team? Some may wonder. It’s possible that Boone, in the final year of his contract, being the easiest shooter to replace, might have had something to do with it.
And of course, there are always those who dispute his rosters, his in-game decisions and his behavior; this was the case on Sunday night when the skipper remained calm as two of his angry coaches clearly objected to a horrific three-strike call in a pivotal situation.
Burned by blatant third strike, Yankees are swept away by Red Sox
Sometimes the grievances generally summarized above are correct. Sometimes they are not. Sometimes they’re somewhere in between. The intention here is not to assert that Boone does not deserve criticism for a Yankees team that has underperformed woefully.
Rather, it is to point out that other Yankees bosses are just as deserving, if not more.
After all, it was Brian Cashman who put this list together. It was Hal Steinbrenner who imposed a de facto salary cap on him.
Despite all the talent of the Yankees, they entered the season with many potential concerns. This included, but not limited to, an offensive addiction to power, a lack of legitimate left-handed bats, an overall wood roster, and the return of a defense that led the majors into mistakes in 2020.
Now the team is watching those concerns come true.
A formation designed to hit at home barely hits, and the Yankees looked like the less athletic team while being swept away by the Red Sox at home this weekend. Unlike in years past, New York hasn’t benefited much from its depth this season, especially on the left side of the plate, and the players have held less than ideal positions all year round.
Pieces have been stuck in the puzzle, and part of that falls on the CEO. Boone can only work with what he gave, yet he was the one who had to address the team’s shortcomings.
Of course, Cashman faces his own limitations.
For all the money the Yankees spend – and they spend a ton of it – there’s no denying that the $ 210 million competitive balance tax threshold has been a hindrance to building the 2021 squad. Steinbrenner’s desire to keep the Yankees’ budget below that number – and thus avoid costly penalties – is part, if not a large part, of the reason the Yankees went in search of bargains for pitchers. and left-handed bats during the last offseason, DJ LeMahieu’s new contract announced. at six, made a lifter an effective victim of the cap by trading it with a rival, and dealt with a low-production hitter that cost nothing for the tax.
The next few weeks could be revealing as to whether Steinbrenner is more devoted to victory or to New York’s tax restraints.
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The Yankees currently have just over $ 2.3 million in tax room, according to Cot’s baseball contracts. Would the New York managing partner reluctantly accept more pay than that, thus breaking the CBT threshold, if that meant acquiring upgrades for a roster that sorely needs a few?
Because these upgrades should be available before the July 30 trade deadline. But they’ll cost Steinbrenner money and Cashman’s prospects, if he’s even allowed to pursue external improvements that don’t fit New York’s budget.
It will be interesting to see how the Yankees, who are valued at $ 5.25 billion but have reportedly lost more game day income than any other team in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, approach the deadline. Recent history suggests that Bronx devotees shouldn’t hope if the significant improvement in the roster requires crossing the CBT threshold.
If the Yankees stick to their guns in this regard – while still struggling and not adding talent – it will also be interesting to see if fans start to aim for different targets when it comes to blame.
AFTER:
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