NEW YORK – Asked to evaluate his team’s performance heading into the All-Star break, Yankees manager Aaron Boone selected the word “incomplete.” He could have easily substituted “inconsistent.”
There will be 66 games remaining when the Yankees take the field Friday evening in Atlanta, holding the American League’s top Wild Card spot, one game ahead of the Red Sox. It’s a vastly different scenario than on the morning of May 28, when they awoke in a Newport Beach, Calif., hotel owning a seven-game lead in the AL East.
Another summer swoon followed, including a pair of six-game skids, an all-too-familiar occurrence over the past several years. Yet the Yankees experienced something similar last season, which proved to be a speed bump along the path to their first World Series appearance since 2009.
The Yankees believe they can not only repeat as pennant winners, but this time change the ending.
“There’s been a lot of good,” Boone said. “There’s obviously been two weeks where we really struggled. But we set out in Spring Training and the start of the year to get back to the playoffs and go chase after a world title. All those hopes and dreams are right there and still exist for us. … A long way to go. Still got to keep getting better. But we’re in position to do what we need to do.”
One second-half goal for the Yankees
After an offseason in which they heard barbs from several Dodgers players about a perceived reputation for sloppy baserunning and defense, the Yankees played a more airtight version of baseball during the first two months of the season.
That loosened from June into July – there were too many errors, both physical and mental, on both sides of the ball. If the Yankees are to regain control of the top spot in the AL East, sharper focus is a must. Outs are precious, and they’ve been giving too many away.
“There’s a couple of things we’ve got to clean up and we’ll be right back where we need to go,” Aaron Judge said.
Likely Trade Deadline strategy
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has a hefty shopping list heading into the Deadline. His top priority: pitching. Ideally, New York would acquire one starting pitcher and at least two relievers. Easier said than done. The Yankees already lost Gerrit Cole to Tommy John surgery, then saw Clarke Schmidt go down to the same in July.
The front office is also eyeing an infielder, seeking an upgrade over the third base tandem of Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas.
“We’re going to town,” Cashman said. “We’re going to do everything we possibly can to improve ourselves and try to match up. … Hopefully I can fix what ails us, because there’s some areas of this team that need fixing.”
Key player
There are plenty of choices, but let’s split this category between the Yankees’ two MVPs to this point – Judge and left-hander Max Fried.
Judge is well on his way to a second consecutive AL Most Valuable Player Award, blending incredible offense with terrific defense. The captain is in the lineup almost every day, either in the outfield or at DH, and his continued availability is crucial to the Yanks’ hopes.
The same is true for Fried, who stepped into the ace role when Cole went down. The Yankees need him to keep dealing, and keep any blister issues at bay.
Prospect to watch
Cam Schlittler provided a glimpse of his promise on July 9, stepping into Schmidt’s rotation spot and striking out seven batters over 5 1/3 innings in a victory over the Mariners. He allowed a couple of homers, but he also clocked the highest velocity (100 mph) thrown by a Yankee this season. He’ll have an opportunity to stick around.
Games remaining: 66 (Home, 32; Away, 34)
Remaining strength of schedule: .496, 18th in MLB, ninth in AL, fifth in AL East
Key series
July 21-23 at Toronto: The Yankees return to Toronto, where they were swept in a four-game series earlier in the month. A chance to claw back ground in the division.
Aug. 8-10 vs. Houston: The Astros come to town looking to spoil the Old-Timers’ Day festivities; always a tough matchup for the Bombers.
Sept. 9-11 vs. Detroit: Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal and the Tigers visit the Bronx for a three-game series, in what could be a potential October preview.