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The Yankees are in a great position to clinch a spot in the playoffs, but what do they need to do to guarantee themselves a spot?
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Pitching
The Yankees have been on a tear lately, winning 10 out of their last 12 games. During this streak, their pitching has been phenomenal, giving up 3 or less runs in 8 out of those 10 games. If the Yankees want to clinch the AL East title, they will need to keep up this excellent pitching.
Starting Pitching
The New York Yankees are in a good position to clinch a playoff berth, but they will need to shore up their starting pitching if they want to make a deep run in the postseason.
The Yankees rotation has been solid this season, but it has been plagued by injuries. Masahiro Tanaka and CC Sabathia have both missed significant time due to injury, and each of them has struggled upon their return. The Yankees will need Tanaka and Sabathia to be at their best if they want to make a run in the playoffs.
The Yankees have also been relying heavily on their bullpen this season. Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances, and Chad Green have all been key contributors out of the bullpen. However, the Yankees will need to get more production from their starters if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs.
The Yankees have a lot of talent on their roster, but they will need to get more production from their starting pitchers if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Relief Pitching
The New York Yankees have one of the best bullpens in baseball, but they may need to make a few changes if they want to win the World Series.
The Yankees have been relying heavily on their starters this postseason, and that strategy has worked so far. But if they want to win the World Series, they may need to make some changes to their pitching staff.
relief pitchers has been a strength of the Yankees all season, but they haven’t been used much in the playoffs. In the first two rounds of the playoffs, Yankees starters pitched at least six innings in all but one game. In the World Series, however, things have been different. In Game 1, starter Masahiro Tanaka only pitched five innings. In Game 2, starter Luis Severino only pitched four innings. And in Game 3, starter Sonny Gray only pitched three innings.
This put a lot of pressure on the Yankees’ bullpen, which responded well in Game 1 but struggled in Games 2 and 3. In Game 4, with the Yankees’ season on the line, manager Joe Girardi will likely need to use his bullpen more than he has in any other game this postseason.
The Yankees have several good options out of the bullpen, including Dellin Betances, Aroldis Chapman, and Chad Green. But it’s unclear who Girardi will turn to in crucial situations. It’s also worth noting that Betances and Chapman have struggled with control issues at times this season.
If the Yankees want to win the World Series, they’ll need their starters to pitch deeper into games and their relievers to step up when called upon.
Hitting
The New York Yankees are on the verge of clinching their spot in the playoffs. They have been relying heavily on their pitching staff, but their hitting has been inconsistent. They need to start hitting the ball if they want to make a run in the playoffs. Here are the Yankees’ hitting stats.
Top of the Order
The New York Yankees are one of the most successful franchises in baseball history, and they have a chance to clinch a berth in the playoffs this year. They have a strong lineup, but their top of the order is particularly dangerous.
Leadoff hitter Brett Gardner is having a great year, batting .261 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs. He’s also stolen 20 bases. He’s followed by Aaron Judge, who is batting .284 with 33 home runs and 74 RBIs. He’s a big reason why the Yankees have the best record in baseball.
The middle of the order is no slouch either, with catcher Gary Sanchez (.278, 25 HR, 71 RBIs) and first baseman Greg Bird (.253, 11 HR, 38 RBIs) providing some pop. The bottom of the order has been solid as well, with second baseman Starlin Castro (.300, 16 HR, 63 RBIs) and rookie shortstop Gleyber Torres (.271, 15 HR, 42 RBIs) providing some power and speed.
The Yankees have a deep lineup that can score runs in bunches. They’ll need to keep hitting if they want to make a run in the playoffs.
Middle of the Order
The Yankees have been getting great production from their top three hitters in the lineup, but they need more from the middle of the order if they want to clinch a playoff spot. Gary Sanchez, Gleyber Torres, and Miguel Andujar have been carrying the offense, but the team needs more production from players like Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius, and Luke Voit.
If the Yankees want to make a run at the playoffs, they need to find a way to get more production from their middle of the order hitters. They have the talent to do it, but they need to start putting up numbers on a consistent basis. The team is counting on them to step up and help carry the offense down the stretch.
Bottom of the Order
The Yankees have been relying heavily on their top of the order hitters this season, but they will need to get more production from the bottom of the lineup if they want to make a deep postseason run.
The bottom of the order has been a weakness for the Yankees all season long, and it was exposed again in their recent loss to the Red Sox. The Yankees need to find a way to get more production from their lower-end hitters if they want to make a serious push for a World Series title.
There are a few options that the Yankees could explore in order to try and solve this problem. They could try to acquire another bat through trade or free agency, they could shuffle their lineup around to try and jumpstart their struggling hitters, or they could just hope that their current bottom-of-the-order players start hitting better.
Whichever route the Yankees decide to go, they need to act soon. The bottom of the order is not going to magically start hitting better on its own, and the Yankees cannot afford to waste any more time trying to figure out this problem. If they want to win a World Series, they need to figure out how to get production from their entire lineup – top to bottom.
Defense
The Yankees have a great offense, but their defense has been their Achilles heel all season. They need to improve their defense if they want to make a run at the World Series. Let’s take a look at what the Yankees need to do to improve their defense.
Infield
The New York Yankees’ infield is one of the most important parts of the team. It consists of the first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, and shortstop. These positions are important because they are responsible for fielding the ball and turning double plays.
The Yankees have had great infields throughout their history. Some of the most famous infields were the “Bronx Zoo” infield of the 1970s, which consisted of first baseman Chris Chambliss, second baseman Willie Randolph, third baseman Graig Nettles, and shortstop Bucky Dent.
The current Yankees infield is very good defensively. First baseman Mark Teixeira is a gold glove winner, second baseman Robinson Cano is one of the best defensive second basemen in baseball, third baseman Alex Rodriguez is a former gold glove winner, and shortstop Derek Jeter is considered one of the best defensive shortstops of all time.
The Yankees will need their infield to be at their best if they want to win a World Series championship.
Outfield
Outfield is one of the most important parts of any baseball team, and the Yankees are no exception. They have a great outfield, with players like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. However, they need to improve their defense if they want to win the World Series.
The Yankees have a great offense, but their defense is not as good. They need to improve their fielding if they want to win the World Series. They have good outfielders, but they need to be better defenders.
Intangibles
The New York Yankees have played lights out baseball over the past few weeks and look like they are a team of destiny. They have come from behind in multiple games and shown a lot of grit and determination. However, there are a few things that they need to do to clinch a spot in the playoffs. Let’s take a look at what the Yankees need to do to clinch.
Experience
The New York Yankees have been to the World Series 27 times and have won 18 championships. That experience is invaluable come October when the Yankees will be looking to win their first championship since 2009. The Yankees have a core group of players who have been through the October grind before and know what it takes to win in the playoffs. Players like CC Sabathia, Brett Gardner, and Didi Gregorius will be counted on to provide leadership and help the younger players on the team navigate through the pressure-packed situations that arise during a pennant race and the postseason.
Leadership
One thing the Yankees have lacked this season is a true leader. With so many new faces in the clubhouse, it’s been difficult for anyone to step up and take charge. Veterans like CC Sabathia and Brett Gardner have done their best to fill the void, but it’s not the same as having a true leader in the clubhouse.
If the Yankees want to make a serious run at the World Series, they need someone to step up and be the leader of this team. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a vocal leader, but someone who can set the tone for the team and help galvanize them towards their common goal.
The Yankees have all the pieces in place to be a championship-caliber team. But without leadership, they will struggle to reach their full potential.
