A gasp rippled through the crowd at Angel Stadium on Tuesday night, not for a towering home run or a spectacular catch, but for an error. Anthony Rizzo, the veteran New York Yankees first baseman with four Gold Gloves in his trophy case, had failed to field a seemingly routine grounder, breathing new life into the Los Angeles Angels in the eighth inning. That missed opportunity opened the floodgates, leading to a go-ahead double by Taylor Ward and ultimately a 4-3 loss for the Bronx Bombers.

“That play needs to be made,” a visibly disappointed Rizzo admitted after the game. “Clay [Holmes] comes in the game and gives up a hit. He should have never been in the game if I make that play. It’s a tough one.” His words hung heavy in the air, echoing the sentiments of Yankees fans everywhere.

Anthony Rizzo’s frustration was obvious. “Over the last few weeks, fairly good, but to my standards, that I hold myself to, I just need to be better; need to make that play.” This is a player taking responsibility, knowing his errors cost his team the game.

From his vantage point on the bench, Manager Aaron Boone described it as such: “Obviously, with him holding’em on there, um, you know, look like when he forgot the end of the bat a little bit, maybe just little bit of an in-betweener, and then you know, probably had a chance to get it even when he knocked it down, and just didn’t pick it up cleanly, and you know, they extended the inning.” It was a sympathetic yet honest evaluation by Boone—one that mirrored the complex emotions brought about by what had transpired.

The error—originally called a hit before being overturned—was a microcosm of Rizzo’s season. Yes, he’d been playing cleaner defense recently, but this mistake underscored something larger: he hasn’t been good enough. His 99 wRC+ and 0.1 fWAR rank him among the least productive first basemen in baseball. Once a Gold Glove-caliber defender, he’s now at -1 DRS and 0 Outs Above Average.

Now 34 years old and coming off a concussion, Rizzo has seen his Sprint Speed dip by over a foot per second since 2022. The power has evaporated too, with a meager 5.4% Barrel Rate and a 33.5% Hard Hit Rate.

Is Anthony Rizzo’s 2024 season a slump or a sign of decline?

The Yankees, a team with World Series aspirations, cannot afford to carry a liability at first base. Double-A prospect Ben Rice could be an option, but his lack of experience and defensive uncertainty are red flags. The New York Mets’ Pete Alonso is an intriguing trade option, but he’s struggled this year himself, and the Mets aren’t keen on dealing him to a crosstown rival. The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Christian Walker offers more all-around games, but prying him from a potentially resurgent team won’t be easy.

Sliding DJ LeMahieu to first base and acquiring a corner infielder is another possibility, though the current market for third basemen is thin. As the trade deadline nears, the Yankees will surely explore their options in hopes of finding a fix that can stabilize their defense and add a jolt to their lineup.

In the meantime, all they can do is hope Anthony Rizzo rediscovers his form. But, as this game demonstrated, one mistake can change everything. The clock is ticking for Rizzo, and the question lingers: Is this a slump or the beginning of the end?

The Yankees’ offense showed signs of life, with Juan Soto hitting his 15th home run of the season and Anthony Volpe extending his hitting streak to 20 games. Nestor Cortes pitched a solid game, contributing to the Yankees’ historic streak of starters pitching five or more innings while allowing two or fewer runs.

But in the end, it was Anthony Rizzo’s error that loomed largest. The Yankees will need to address their first-base situation sooner rather than later if they hope to contend for a championship. For now, the sting of this loss serves as a stark reminder of the fine margins that separate victory and defeat in baseball.