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The Yankees have had a rough start to the season. Many are wondering why the team that was expected to win the World Series is struggling.
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The Yankees have the oldest team in baseball
The New York Yankees have the oldest team in baseball. The average age of their players is over 30. Their best players are past their primes. Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, and CC Sabathia are all over 35. Carlos Beltran is 39. None of these guys are the players they used to be.
The Yankees also have a lot of injuries. Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, and CC Sabathia are all out for the season. Mark Teixeira missed a lot of games with a wrist injury. Alex Rodriguez missed time with a hamstring injury. Carlos Beltran has been hurt a lot lately too.
The Yankees just don’t have the same team that they used to have. They’re not as good as they used to be.
Their starting pitching is bad
The New York Yankees have had a rough start to the 2017 season. After making it to the ALCS last year, many fans and experts had high hopes for this year’s team. However, through the first month of the season, the Yankees have been one of the biggest disappointments in baseball. They currently have a record of 10-13, good for fourth place in the AL East. While there are many factors that have contributed to their poor start, the biggest reason why the Yankees stink is their starting pitching.
The Yankees’ starting pitchers have an ERA of 5.71, which is worst in MLB. They also have the second worst opponents’ batting average against (.286) and second worst WHIP (1.47). Only the San Francisco Giants have been worse in all three categories. The Yankees’ starters simply haven’t been getting the job done.
There are a number of reasons why the Yankees’ starting pitching has been so bad this season. First, their ace Masahiro Tanaka has been battling an injury and has yet to pitch up to his standards. Additionally, Michael Pineda, who was supposed to be their number two starter, has also been injured and hasn’t pitched well when he has been on the mound. CC Sabathia, their number three starter, has also been struggling and isn’t pitching like a number three should. Finally,AGE: (i)nefficiencies in recruiting young talent over recent years In conclusion, bad starting pitching is why the New York Yankees stink so far this season. If they want any chance of turning things around, they need their starters to start pitching better immediately.(conclusion)
They don’t have any speed
One reason the Yankees may stink is that they don’t have any speed. According to FanGraphs, the Yankees were 28th in baseball in stolen base percentage last year and 29th in sprint speed. They simply don’t have the personnel to put pressure on opposing defenses by stealing bases and taking extra bases.
They can’t hit with power anymore
The New York Yankees have long been considered one of the best teams in baseball. But lately, they’ve been struggling. One of the main reasons for their struggles is that they can’t hit with power anymore.
Over the last few seasons, the Yankees have seen a decline in their home run production. In 2010, they hit a total of 201 home runs. That number dipped to 177 in 2011 and then fell to just 170 in 2012. 2013 was even worse, as the team hit just 143 home runs. That’s a decline of 58 home runs over a four-year span.
One of the reasons for this decline is that the team’s best power hitter, Alex Rodriguez, has been suspended for the last two seasons. Rodriguez was suspended in 2014 for violating baseball’s drug policy and then missed all of 2015 after having surgery on his hip. He’s expected to return to the team in 2016, but he’s not getting any younger (he’ll be 41 by the end of the season) and it’s uncertain how much he’ll be able to contribute at this point in his career.
Another reason for the Yankees’ power decline is that many of their other hitters are simply getting older. Mark Teixeira will be 36 during the 2016 season and has struggled with injuries over the last few years. Carlos Beltran will be 37 and is also coming off an injury-plagued 2015 season. Brian McCann will be 32, but he too has struggled with injuries recently.
With all of theseolder players onthe roster, it’s no surprise thatthe Yankees have been having trouble hitting for power overthe last few years. Unless some of their younger players step up orthey make some changes via trade or free agency, don’t expectthingsto get better anytime soon.
Their bullpen is overworked
The New York Yankees have one of the best records in baseball, but their fans are still unhappy. Why? Because their bullpen is overworked.
New York’s starters have pitched an MLB-low 12.1 innings per start, meaning the bullpen has had to pitch more than seven innings per game. That’s a lot of work, and it’s taking a toll on the pitchers.
The Yankees’ relievers have pitched to a 4.82 ERA, which is the worst in baseball. They’ve also allowed 31 home runs, the most in MLB.
It’s clear that the Yankees need to find a way to get their starters to pitch deeper into games, or they’re going to continue to have problems with their bullpen.
