The New York Yankees can seem to do no wrong lately. But their MLB best 31-13 record doesn’t make them infallible and above reproach. Well, it probably does, but we’re going to give it a shot anyway.
The New York Yankees have grown from Baby Bombers to world beaters right before our eyes. They score early, often, and deep into the night. And their bounce-back offense now comes with a Mongo-caliber warning: If you score on them late, it will only make them mad.
Yet problems still simmer below the surface.
The starting pitching is getting bailed out far too often, and not one member of the bullpen has earned 100% bona fides. Brett Gardner continues on his downward career track, while Aaron Hicks current numbers are only good compared to his earlier ones.
Still, though, there is that 31-13 record. And the constant infusion of young talent, as well as the Yankees overflow of MLB-ready players waiting in Scranton — guys like Clint Frazier and Brandon Drury.
Teams talk about depth; no one talks about this much.
The Yankees cup truly runneth over. All of which makes it mighty hard to approach any Yankees problem right now with any level of concern.
However, I know that there are Yankees fans and readers out there who always take a pessimistic view. And of course there are the haters; they’re having a tough year. That includes you, Mets fans.
So in order to bring some balance to Yankees universe, I am going to start this article over again and this time, take a more critical view. At least I’m gonna try.
The Yankees are letting their best pure hitter languish in Triple-A. That’s a mistake that might come back to haunt a club with but a half-game lead on arguably the best team in baseball: The Boston Red Sox.
The Yankees Greg Bird lucky number must be three.
In his last three games, he has gotten three hits, taken three walks, driven in three runs, and scored three times himself. Sadly he has hit only two home runs in that time, but the Yankees may be forced to live with that kind of limited power.
Obviously, this production has really helped the team…the team in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
While the Yanks have an okay record developing their youngsters–Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar and Luis Severino seem to be finding their way but whatever happened to Rob Refsnyder?–they are blowing it big time with Bird.
Now, I’m not sure if Greg is a streaky hitter or not because I’ve never seen him play longer than six weeks at any one time. That, by the way, is one big (and real) reason to promote him as soon as he starts hitting.
But I do know what his schedule is like when he is streaking:
8 AM: Wake up and hit a double.
8:30: Shower, shave and drive in a pair.
9:15: Check Twitter, work a walk.
10:30: Play with my super-weird hairless cat; High Paw him after my home run five seconds later.
That’s what he is doing every day right now. And the Yankees are wasting it in Triple-A. If they are serious about winning, um, well, more than 22 of their last 26, then THEY NEED TO PROMOTE BIRD NOW.
Sorry, all caps is over the top for a team that keeps doing things only other Yankees legends and World’s Series winning teams have done. And absolutely destroying good and bad teams alike.
Okay, but they have only won three games in the last seven days! They only played four games, but still.
Then They’ll Really Start Hitting Home Runs?
Anyway, the point is the same even if the circumstances are a shade less than dire. Greg Bird is one of the most talented players in the organization, and the team will be better once he is back.
Oh, darn, that is not the kind of sentence some want to read, that this team can get more talented. And more dangerous.
Again, sorry Mets fans. Go, Dominic Smith! Has anybody weighed him lately?
Fortunately, Yankees fans won’t have to wait too long. The Bombers begin blasting them out of the Bronx on Friday and Bird is likely to be batting. Then we might actually see some offense?! When he replaces the rookie leader in home runs, Tyler Austin? God, this is so hard.
Perhaps the best thing to do is turn to a media ploy evident in writings both about sports and beyond: Using facts basically out of context.
The fact is the Yankees are clinging to a half-game lead. And the facts are that Boston has the second best record in baseball (32-15) and is off to a historic start. Whoever wants to win this nose-to-nose divisional contest needs to do everything they can.
Next: Don't be Jealous about Bird
And that does not include leaving one of the team’s best hitters in the minors when he’s already on a hot streak, especially when his health might not last as long as his hitting. Besides, what the Yankees need is a consistent left-handed power bat smack dab in the middle of their order.
Then this team might get really scary. I mean, more so? Hey, I’m trying my best here. But they’re 31-13.
Oh, sorry again, Mets fans. As a side note to you, I wouldn’t come back here until at least after June 12th. And hey, seriously: Go Dom Smith!
Maybe it would help him to get a weird hairless cat? Again, I’m just trying to help.