The New York Yankees in 2023 are a story unto themselves. With the Pinstripes’ battling a 0.500 record, their prospects for the 2023 season look bleak. So far, the Yankees are still not completely out of the race. But fans appear to have taken aim at the front office as the reason for their failures this year.
With an underperforming offense in the first half of the 2023 season and their defense not coming to the party in the second half, the Yankees know where they have to improve. According to the fans, it’s obvious where the improvements are needed. But the front office just refuses to address the roster’s glaring holes. And though some fans seem to make accusations that can’t be backed, the Yankees fans kept the receipts from a damning statistic.
The New York Yankees’ Failing Offense
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The New York Yankees’ performed below expectations in the first half of the season. Few will contend that a batting lineup boasting Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson, DJ LeMahieu, and star slugger Aaron Judge is not explosive. And yet, the Yankees’ record with all of them on the lineup was not setting the league alight.
😒 #RepBX pic.twitter.com/fDa5U9qPTN
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) August 17, 2023
In fact, in an emerging statistic, it was revealed that the three stars, excluding 2022 Home Run King Aaron Judge, had underperformed with expectations this season. The three combined for a shocking 87 WRC+ and a 0.4 WAR. All while commanding a combined $68 million of the Yankees’ payroll. Understandably, Yankees fans were not very happy with the offensive contribution of the players.
The weighted runs created statistic marks out hitters against a league average, and the wins above replacement statistics talk about how much that player is contributing compared to a replacement player at the same position. And with numbers in both disappointing, fans seemed to think there was no reason that the payroll number should be as high as $68 million. And they made it known.
Fans Frustrated at GM Brian Cashman
Brian Cashman has been at the center of attention lately. Fans have come to the conclusion that the situation would be easily correctable if he had just taken the right calls. While the players’ contribution had been lacking, the team’s performance is something that Cashman could well have corrected. Social Media saw all kinds of reactions but a few stood out.
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Now THAT'S championship caliber GMing……
— Aqualungmyfriend (@PapaD1113) August 17, 2023
Talk about bang for your Buck
— TheBleacherCreatures (@The_Bleacherss) August 17, 2023
Some fans though seemed to understand that it was the players’ fault. Being a Yankee means heavy expectations, which these three have not met.
Horrible! They need to try and sell Stanton
— Darrin (@tarbaby19) August 17, 2023
Other fans struck a more conciliatory note. They stated that it was now a matter of making sure the team performed rather than affecting the outcome any other way.
I give LeMahieu slack bc they slapped him around at every infield position the past few years. But the other two got no excuse
— Buck (@Charle_LaFlare) August 17, 2023
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Stanton was on cashmsn donaldson on cashman dj every fan wanted him back at the time
— Italian Goodfellas (@ItalianGoodfel1) August 17, 2023
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While the Yankees are surely not front-runners this post-season, you can never truly rule out the Pinstripes. And with some of the season still left, the Bronx will be hoping for a turnaround in their fortunes soon.