New York Yankees: Joey Gallo getting hate for getting dressed

There are many reasons why a player may not be a fit on a team. Maybe their personality is not the correct fit for the clubhouse, or the media is too high pressure. Some players just do not thrive in larger markets. Then, in the case of New York Yankees outfielder Joey Gallo, the media looks for a reason why they don’t fit in.

In this case, the concern has nothing to do with how Gallo performs on the diamond or with his ability to get along with his teammates. Instead, it has to do with how he gets dressed. Seriously.

New York Yankees outfielder Joey Gallo critcized for getting dressed

Let’s face it – sometimes clothes just do not feel right when they are put on. Everyone has taken off articles of clothing right after getting dressed only to put them back on because they originally did not feel right. This is not an uncommon behavior.

In Gallo’s case, that is even more important. As he is being paid to crush baseballs and play Gold Glove caliber defense, the last thing he needs is to have his uniform feel off. No one needs that kind of distraction.

To extrapolate that Gallo’s desire to have his uniform feel right somehow makes him incapable of handling the New York media market is simply absurd. While some players are unable to handle the pressure – notably Carl Pavano, Eddie Whitson, and Chuck Knoblauch, amongst plenty of others – Gallo has not given any indication that he is in the same boat.

One can certainly nitpick his performance at the plate. Gallo produced a disappointing .160/.303/.404 batting line in his 228 plate appearances, hitting 13 homers and striking out 88 times. But Gallo is also a notoriously streaky hitter, one that can have ice cold slumps and then be white hot for an extended period. That time will come.

There is no question that Joey Gallo struggled for the New York Yankees. To say he cannot handle the pressure because of how he gets dressed is ridiculous.