THE BRONX, NY — The Yankees are on a season-worst seven-game losing streak. This is the first time since 2023 the team has lost seven or more games in a row. The common denominators in both of these stretches: Aaron Boone is the manager, and Aaron Judge is missing from the Yankees lineup. This is also the first time since 2024 the Yankees were swept in a three-game series.
The Yankees beyond their seven-game slide have lost eight of their last eleven games, and in that time their offense, defense, and pitching have all collapsed. It’s the annual summer swoon. This past offseason, owner Hal Steinbrenner said, “I don’t expect to see that every year” of the Yankees’ swoons. This is multiple seasons in a row where the Yankees have practically forgotten how to play baseball for months at a time.
My one question for Mr. Steinbrenner: What do you have to say now?
The Yovanny Cruz Conundrum
The Yankees are also not making aggressive decisions as they were early in the season. When the series against the Tigers is broken down, one of the main MVPs of the series was Yovanny Cruz.
In 4.1 innings this season, Cruz has surrendered one hit and struck out six of the 15 batters he’s faced. Cruz pitched for two innings in the middle game against the Tigers and retired all six batters he faced. Cruz looked nasty in the process. With the struggles the Yankees have had in their bullpen, Cruz could be a bright spot. Except the Yankees optioned him back to AAA Scranton after Wednesday’s game.
Lack of Urgency
Earlier this season, the Yankees were acting with a sense of urgency, optioning Anthony Volpe in favor of Josè Caballero at shortstop, sending Luis Gil to AAA, among other moves. That sense of urgency went out the window Thursday.
The Yankees had the chance to win the game Wednesday with a runner on third and one out. A sac fly would have won the game and temporarily stopped the bleeding. Instead, Yankees manager Aaron Boone elected to leave Oswaldo Cabrera, who has not had a hit this season, to bat instead of going to Paul Goldschmidt, who Boone admitted was available. Let’s make this crystal clear: one player is going to AAA on Friday, most likely; the other is going to Cooperstown. The one going to Scranton took one of the biggest at-bats of this Yankees season thus far.
The biggest thing that needs to change is the Yankees’ offense. “It fucking sucks. It’s a shitty feeling.” Cody Bellinger said of the team and his struggles. Bellinger is 1 for his last 23 during the seven-game losing streak. The Yankees are not getting on base and are not putting pressure on the opposing pitcher, which results in easy outs and pitchers dominating their lineup.
The good news for the Yankees is help is on the way. That help comes in virtue of Trent Grisham returning from his hamstring injury, Ryan McMahon returning from his various sicknesses, and the Twins coming to town, whom the Yankees always seem to punish. The Yankees need to have a big weekend against a team the Yankees should win against.
