New York Yankees fans are not the kind to keep their sentiments hidden behind their ballcaps. They’ll let you know when they’re winning, and you can bet they’ll let you know when they’re losing.
In the same spirit, Yankees supporters were directly asked why they believed the team’s offense was suffering this season. The responses varied from obvious to conspiratorial. One thing is certain: many Yankee fans believe they could do a better job than manager Aaron Boone or general manager Brian Cashman.
New York Yankees fans focused on certain topics that many have previously made public. The Yankees are retaining a handful of light-hitting veterans who are far beyond their prime, including Josh Donaldson and Aaron Hicks, at the expense of giving most of their highly-rated prospects playing time.
The Yankees’ lineup is likewise one-dimensional, focusing on home runs rather than making contact and scoring runs. While Anthony Rizzo is off to a strong start, 2022 American League MVP Aaron Judge is lagging behind with 62 home runs, 131 RBIs, and a .311 batting average.
Of course, when players fail to deliver, most of the stress is centered on leadership. Yankees fans have long wanted Cashman to be fired, and most would want to see a change on the field as well. When a 27-time World Series champion team fails to win a title after 2009, supporters tend to blame the management.
There’s certainly something to be said about the lineup not being up to par. The 2023 New York Yankees have little resemblance to the “Murderer’s Row” teams of the late 1920s, the Roger Maris/Mickey Mantle sides of the early 1960s, or Derek Jeter‘s prime at the turn of the century.
The Oakland Athletics’ legendary “Moneyball” strategies – before that franchise was stripped to the studs – aren’t often associated with the Yankees. At least one fan, though, feels New York should just “grip it and rip it” rather than making roster selections based on what the PC says.
Yankees hanging in there despite hitting woes
Despite their hitting struggles, the New York Yankees are 13-9 and in the thick of the American League East race.
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