The New York Yankees had one of their worst first half offensively in franchise history. This debacle places them in fourth and second-to-last place in the American League East Division and currently excludes them from the playoff portrait.
And manager Aaron Boone is well aware that his club must play better in the second half of the campaign if they are to have any hope of participating in the autumn dance.
We haven’t been good enough. We are where we need to be to do what we need to do in the second half. All of our goals are achievable. We have to play well, we know that. We don’t need to exceed 1,000 teams in the standings. If we play well for the next two months, we will give ourselves a chance by October.
It’s one thing to say it, now we have to take action. And it starts with the skipper himself, who needs to look in the mirror and do a much better job of not costing his people victory on a regular basis.
General manager Brian Cashman will also have his say, since a gaping hole is currently in left field and it will have to be filled. It is not with Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Billy McKinney, Jake Bauers or Oswaldo Cabrera as left fielder that hopes will be reborn.
A quality starting pitcher will also need to be added if the Bronx Bombers are to have a chance in October (if they get there, of course).
And finally, the players themselves will have work to do to return to the expected standards in attack. The arrival of Sean Casey as hitting coach certainly won’t hurt.
The Yankees will get back to business after the All-Star Game break on Friday with a series at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies.
The tide must turn now.
