The New York Yankees’ 2023 season is not going to plan. Despite sporting a stellar record in 2022, the Yankees’ 2023 season fell apart quickly and left them teetering on the edge of a losing record before a late surge in September has them in a better position since.

But the blame for the Pinstripes’ loss in form has been laid at several places by different groups. While fans at large have seemed to blame the front office led by Brian Cashman and ownership for not getting in the right personnel, manager Aaron Boone has also come under fire for being unable to extract the best from his players. However, a former Yankees 2x World Champion may disagree.

Former World Series champion lays blame at feet of players

Hosted by the Yankees at the Bronx as a part of Old Timers Day, former player David Wells voiced his opinion and made it clear that neither of the parties often blamed by the media were actually responsible for the Yankees’ decline. It was instead the players themselves that needed to pick up the slack. Wells, part of the World Series-winning roster with the Yankees in 1998 and won another title in 1992.

Said Wells, “Cashman’s getting beat up. You know, I love Cash. He’s doing his job but he’s got a boss.”

Wells seemed to believe that the blame was being put to the wrong people. Said Wells, “It always seems like the GMs, the managers are getting fired and getting blamed for it – it’s the players”.

He added, “I think nowadays they coddle them too much, they baby them and they don’t let them do what they should.”

The secret formula to success for the World Series Winners

Wells seemed to believe that the current players were suffering from a lack of consequences despite below-par performances. Wells added that the large paychecks for any player should not be given any credence in such a conversation. Said Wells, “Send them to Triple A or Double A. Give them a wakeup call.”

Read More: “Don’t Know if I Have the Words” – Emotional Aaron Judge Almost Tears Up Discussing Injured $40 Million Pitcher’s Brutal Yankees Exit

Wells also harkened to the winning culture that he had always been a part of. His observations lent to his understanding that there was a lack of camaraderie among the current roster. Wells added that even amongst teammates, they called each other out for bad performances, something he saw lacking in modern clubhouses.

Despite Wells’ observations, the Yankees appear to be course-correcting. And while their chances to make it to the post-season in 2023 appear thin, manager Aaron Boone will take some confidence back from the emergence of stars such as Jasson Dominguez and Austin Wells for 2024.

WATCH THIS STORY | From Black Betsy To Wonder Boy: Baseball’s Most Iconic Bats