The Yankees completed the primary half with a loss in Baltimore that Aaron Boone known as “a killer.”
It ended a month-long stretch during which the Yankees completed the primary half on an 8-18 stretch heading into the All-Star break, leaving them one sport again of the first-place Orioles within the AL East.
They resume their season Friday towards the Rays in The Bronx seeking to play higher within the second half than they did in every of the previous two seasons, after they didn’t play above .500 following the break.
In 2022, they overcame their 35-35 file after the break and made the ALCS earlier than dropping to Houston, however their 33-38 mark final season was a part of the explanation why the Yankees missed the playoffs.
Now, they’re making an attempt to keep away from the same destiny.
“It’s a dash once we get again,’’ Boone mentioned. “Present up and provides all the things you’ve bought.”
The query stays whether or not that might be sufficient.
Earlier than their first-half finale towards the Orioles, the supervisor mentioned his workforce was “in a reasonably great place going into the second half and that’s a results of how we’ve performed, for probably the most half, to place us within the place that we’re in. We’re in charge of the script now shifting ahead. The second half, we’ve bought the pen. It’s in our arms and that’s a results of how we’ve performed on this first half.”
Recently, it’s been the second half that’s been the larger situation in The Bronx — and if that occurs once more, modifications might come.
There determine to be some modifications even earlier than then.
With lower than two weeks till the July 30 commerce deadline — and coming off a season during which they missed the playoffs after which went out and traded for Juan Soto — common supervisor Brian Cashman and his employees undoubtedly will make some additions to the roster.
“We’re the Yankees,” Aaron Choose mentioned earlier than Tuesday’s All-Star Recreation in Texas. “We’re going to attempt to put ourselves in the most effective place. And the entrance workplace will exit and fill the holes the place we want them. However we’ve bought a fantastic group up to now, and we’ll take any assist we are able to get.”
Two years in the past, the Yankees acquired Andrew Benintendi, Harrison Bader, Scott Effross and Frankie Montas.
Final season, their mediocre first half didn’t compel the entrance workplace to do something vital.
How do these Yankees look going into the stretch run?
The beginning rotation, a nice shock for a lot of the primary half regardless of the absence of Gerrit Cole, was the worst in baseball over the past month and the bullpen hasn’t been nice, with the relievers being among the many Yankees’ high priorities because the deadline approaches.
Miami’s Tanner Scott is among the many choices for potential additions, as offseason pickups Victor Gonzalez and Caleb Ferguson haven’t labored out.
Nick Burdi and Scott Effross might come off the IL and contribute within the second half.
The infield has additionally been a multitude, with everybody — exterior of newcomer Ben Rice — underperforming.
Maybe Rice could be at the very least a short lived reply at first base, however Gleyber Torres has underperformed once more at second and DJ LeMahieu has been virtually unplayable offensively at third.
Anthony Volpe, following an encouraging rookie season, appeared overwhelmed on the plate for many of the first half.
A brand new bat or two within the infield wouldn’t be a shock, to go together with the anticipated return of Jon Berti, who performed simply 17 video games earlier than hitting the IL with a strained calf.
He was coming off a strong season a 12 months in the past with Miami and ought to be productive, at the very least towards lefties, whereas enjoying good protection at third base — or second, if want be.
However the Yankees determine to at the very least think about including an infielder earlier than the top of the month.
Soto and Choose have masked many deficiencies with the remainder of the roster, however the Yankees’ latest run of poor play confirmed even they want some assist from the remainder of the lineup.
Recently, it hasn’t come from Alex Verdugo, considered one of a number of members of the lineup who entered a tailspin previous to the break.
Jasson Dominguez might have offered a much-needed spark to the offense, however he stays out with an indirect damage suffered at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and isn’t anticipated again for an additional month.
After which there are the injured veteran sluggers, Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo. Stanton offered some safety for Soto and Choose and is predicted again from a strained hamstring quickly, however well being continues to be a problem.
Rizzo, in the meantime, didn’t resemble the hitter he’s been even earlier than he fractured his arm.
