The New York Yankees have one of the worst records in baseball in 2021. Why are they so bad?
Checkout this video:
Injuries
The New York Yankees have been decimated by injuries in 2021. They have already lost key players to season-ending injuries, and their star slugger, Giancarlo Stanton, is currently out with an injury. The team is also having trouble scoring runs, as their offense has been struggling.
Key players have been injured
One of the biggest reasons why the Yankees have struggled so far in 2021 is that key players have been injured.
Aaron Judge, one of the best hitters in baseball, has been out since April due to a strained oblique. He was batting .292 with four home runs and 11 RBIs before he got hurt.
Other key players who have been injured include infielders Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar, starting pitcher Luis Severino, and relief pitchers Zach Britton and Dellin Betances.
The team has also had to deal with several other players missing time due to COVID-19 protocols.
All of these injuries and absences have made it difficult for the Yankees to field a competitive team. They will need to get healthy if they want to turn things around and make a run at the playoffs.
Injuries have forced the Yankees to play below-average replacements
During the 2021 season, the New York Yankees have been hampered by injuries to key players, most notably outfielder Aaron Judge and pitcher Luis Severino.
Judge, who was limited to JUST 28 games in 2020 due to a wrist injury, has yet to play a game in 2021 as he recovers from yet another injury, a strained oblique muscle. Similarly, Severino missed ALL of 2020 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and is still working his way back.
The Yankees have also been without first baseman Luke Voit (knee), catcher Gary Sánchez (groin), and outfielders Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) and Clint Frazier (concussion) for significant stretches of time.
Overall, 13 different Yankees have spent time on the injured list in 2021, including 10 who have missed at least a month of action. As a result, the team has been forced to rely on below-average replacements for significant stretches of time.
Poor Pitching
The Yankees have had a rough start to the 2021 season. They are currently in last place in the AL East with a record of 9-17. A big reason for their struggles has been their pitching. Their team ERA is 4.82, which is the worst in the MLB. They have given up the most home runs (58) and have the second worst WHIP (1.47). In order to turn their season around, they need to figure out their pitching problems.
The Yankees’ starting pitchers have been bad
The Yankees have been one of the most successful teams in baseball over the past few years, but they have been struggling so far in 2021. A big reason for their struggles has been the performance of their starting pitchers.
Over the first month of the season, Yankees starters have a combined ERA of 5.79, which is the worst in baseball. They have also allowed the most home runs (33) and walks (79) of any team in baseball.
The Yankees’ starting pitchers were expected to be a strength of the team heading into the season, but they have been a big part of the reason why the team has struggled. If they don’t turn things around soon, it’s going to be a long season for the Bronx Bombers.
The Yankees’ relief pitchers have been bad
One of the main reasons the Yankees have been so bad in 2021 is because their relief pitchers have been awful. The Yankees bullpen has a combined ERA of 5.68, which is the second worst in baseball. They have also blown nine save opportunities, which is the most in baseball.
The Yankees’ bullpen has been so bad that they have actually cost the team games. In a recent game against the Red Sox, the Yankees had a 3-2 lead in the ninth inning but blew it thanks to some poor pitching from their relievers. If the Yankees’ bullpen can’t get its act together, it’s going to be a long season for them.
Bad Hitting
The New York Yankees are one of the most storied franchises in baseball history. They have won 27 World Series titles, 40 AL pennants, and have had some of the greatest players to ever play the game. So, why are they so bad in 2021?
The Yankees’ hitters have been strikeout-prone
One of the main reasons the Yankees have been so bad offensively in 2021 is that their hitters have been strikeout-prone. They are currently averaging 9.12 strikeouts per game, which is the second-highest figure in the majors.
One of the main reasons for this is that the Yankees have been relying heavily on home runs to score runs, and when they don’t homer, they struggle to score. Their .230 batting average with runners in scoring position is the third-worst in the majors.
Another reason for the Yankees’ high strikeout rate is that they have been facing a lot of tough pitching. Their opponents have a 3.54 ERA, which is the third-highest in the majors.
If the Yankees want to turn things around offensively, they need to start making more contact and putting the ball in play more often. They also need to start taking advantage of their opportunities with runners in scoring position.
The Yankees’ hitters have not been getting on base
One of the main reasons the Yankees are doing so poorly this season is because their hitters have not been getting on base. This stat is often overlooked, but it is a key part of baseball. If you’re not getting on base, you’re not going to score runs. And if you’re not scoring runs, you’re not going to win games.
The Yankees’ on-base percentage is just .315, which is ranked 22nd in the majors. That means that only 21 teams are worse than the Yankees at getting on base. And it’s not like they’re hitting for a high average (.255, ranked 25th in MLB). So they’re not making up for it by hitting for a high average. They’re just not getting on base period.
One of the main reasons this is happening is because the Yankees are striking out too much. They have 1026 strikeouts, which is more than any other team in baseball. That’s just unacceptable. You can’t win games if you can’t put the ball in play.
So, if the Yankees want to start winning games, they need to start getting on base more often. It’s really that simple.
Lack of Experience
One of the reasons the New York Yankees are having a down year is because they lack experience. Many of their key players are young and have not been in the league long. This lack of experience has led to them not performing as well as they could be.
The Yankees’ roster is filled with inexperienced players
In 2021, the Yankees have one of the youngest rosters in baseball. Out of their everyday position players, only two are over the age of 30 (DJ LeMahieu and Brett Gardner). And even their pitching staff is relatively young, with only three starters over the age of 30 (Gerrit Cole, Corey Kluber, and Masahiro Tanaka). So why are the Yankees so bad in 2021?
The answer lies in the inexperience of the roster. The majority of the Yankees’ position players have less than five years of service time in the majors. And out of their starting pitchers, only Cole and Kluber have more than five years of experience. This lack of experience has led to inconsistency on both offense and defense, and has resulted in some costly mistakes during crucial moments in games.
The Yankees are certainly a talented team, but their lack of experience has been a significant hindrance in 2021. If they can make some adjustments and learn from their mistakes, they should be back to contending for a World Series title in no time.
The Yankees’ coaching staff is inexperienced
The Yankees are widely considered one of the most successful sports franchises in history. But despite their storied tradition, the team has struggled in recent years, culminating in their disappointing 2020 season. Many experts have attributed the team’s struggles to a lack of experience among the coaching staff.
In 2021, the Yankees will have a new manager at the helm in Aaron Boone. While Boone has significant experience as a player, he has only been a manager for two years, and his inexperience showed at times during his first season. In addition, most of the Yankees’ coaching staff is also relatively inexperienced.
This lack of experience may have contributed to some of the team’s struggles in recent years. For example, the team has struggled with communication and making in-game adjustments. With so many young and inexperienced coaches, it’s not surprising that the team has had trouble with these aspects of the game.
The good news is that the Yankees’ coaching staff is filled with talented and promising coaches who should continue to improve with more experience. If they can learn from their mistakes and grow as a staff, there’s no reason why the Yankees can’t get back to their winning ways in 2021 and beyond.
