Perspectives: The 2nd Place Yankees (and More)

by Paul Semendinger

September 4, 2024

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The Yankees are now in second place. I know many like to find excuses for the Yankees. We are told that we can't blame the owner. We're told we can't blame the general manager. We're told we can't blame to manager. When people point out that the team isn't good fundamentally, excuses are made. When the Yankees stick with veterans over rookies, things we see clearly, we're told that we aren't seeing what we're seeing. On and on.

Most of all, we're told, "The Yankees are good! Just look at their record."

That's the thing we've heard the most - "They're in first place." They must be good, or great, or whatever because, "They're in first place."

Well, as we awake this morning, the Yankees are not in first place any longer. We are now rooting for the second place Yankees.

Someone might wish to let Aaron Boone know that, for the Orioles, it is now "Right there in front of them."

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After last night's game, Aaron Boone wouldn't answer the question regarding whether or not Clay Holmes is still the closer. But, he seemed to indicate, for the first time, that a change might be coming.

Last night Clay Holmes blew his 11th save of the season.

It hasn't been a good year for ol' Clay Holmes. At all. We've all seen this. It's been very clear. And, in spite of how bad Holmes has been (eleven blown saves is not good), he still might be the best "closer" the Yankees have.

Still, at this point, to now make a change... I can just see the thinking, "Ten blown saves is okay. I have no issue with that. But eleven?! Eleven? No way, we cannot have a closer blowing eleven games. That's a bridge too far..."

It's actions like this that allow those who doubt Mr. Boone's decision-making to have plenty of fodder for their arguments. He seems indecisive. He seems to stick with a plan no matter what the results are. And, when he does make a change, there doesn't seem to be much sound reasoning behind that change - other than he was second guessed and then changed his mind because he could not defend the move.

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We saw this, exactly last week. D.J. LeMahieu batted in the last inning in a close game against a right-handed pitcher rather than having a lefty hitter pinch hit for him. LeMahieu got out. The Yankees lost.

Boone was asked about this. He was second-gussed all over the place.

The next night, in the same situation, against the same pitcher, Boone pinch-hit for LeMahieu. What changed in 24-hours? Nothing except the way Aaron Boone sees the game. ("Well, I can't do that again.")

If not pinch hitting for LeMahieu was the right move on day, it would still have been the right move the next day.

Over these last many years, we have seen many examples of this. Too many to list or count.

Bottom line - the decision-making, in so so so so so many ways, is poor.

***

In the comments, the defense question keeps coming up regarding, specifically, two Yankees: Juan Soto and Jazz Chisholm.

Let me try (again) to be very clear in my positions on this discussion:

Juan Soto is an outstanding hitter. He is an average (at best) defender. He's not an indifferent defender. I have taken to task the narrative that he doesn't give an effort there or that he needs to try or care more about defense. I don't buy any of that. And there is no proof that he does not work hard - or that he needs to work harder. In fact, his actions speak to the fact that he does try to be a better defender. Will Juan Soto become a great fielder? I doubt it. Do I care? No, not so much. I wish he was elite in every way, but most players have flaws. His offense is so great, so elite, that I can accept that it comes at the cost of having a mediocre defender in his position - whether that be left or right field. There have been plenty of championship corner outfielders who have been worse than Juan Soto defensively. For me, I'm going to enjoy watching his skills as a hitter. I'll wish he was better as a defender. But I also know he's better than he's given credit for. And I'll also know that he is such a rare hitter that I'll enjoy his amazing skills there.

Jazz Chisholm is not a great defensive third baseman. Might be get better there? Yes. My issue isn't that he's not good there. My issue isn't even that the Yankees are trying him there. My issue is that the Yankees continually try to play players in positions other than their natural positions. I see this as a bad approach - even if other teams might also try it. If every team did it, it would still be a bad approach. Also, to start to cite other players who moved is positions besides the point. To cite that Chisholm can do things offensively isn't the point. The point is not Chisholm. It's the Yankees' approach. This isn't the first time they have tried this - they have done it over and over. And, it really has not worked. If Chisholm was the only player the Yankees tried at a new position, that would be one thing. But he's not. The problem is the Yankees' approach, not the specifics of Jazz Chisholm. To cite him and what he has done, can do, might do, and etc. is missing my point entirely.

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I have some exciting news. My book 365.2: Going the Distance (A Runner's Journey) is a 2024 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards Finalist!

It is always wonderful to be recognized in this way!

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This year I am running the New York City Marathon to support the Sesame Workshop.  Unlike most runners who run for charities so that they get into the race, I am not running for the Sesame Workshop to get into the race.  I am already in.  With or without the Sesame Workshop, I’ll be running those 26.2 miles through the five boroughs of New York on the first Sunday in November.

I am running to support all the Sesame Workshop does to support education, kindness, and more. PLEASE help out with a donation by clicking the link above. (You can read more about my efforts by reading this article.

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