While the New York Yankees currently sit atop the American League standings and appear to be improving on last year’s performance, recent insights from MLB insider Joel Sherman reveal a worrying trend that could jeopardize their playoff ambitions.
During an appearance on the Pinstripe Post podcast, Sherman shed light on the Yankees’ struggles in extra innings – a critical area where they have been notably ineffective.
Despite their powerful lineup and record-breaking scoring throughout the season, the Yankees have faltered in one of baseball’s most essential scenarios: producing runs in extra innings.
Sherman pointed out that New York holds a disappointing 1-6 record in extra-inning games this year. More telling is their performance with runners on second base and no outs – facing 50 such opportunities, they have managed just eight hits, all singles, without a single RBI.
This inability to advance runners efficiently is especially alarming. Sherman revealed that the Yankees convert runners from second to third base only 47 percent of the time in these key moments, ranking 22nd in Major League Baseball.
Moreover, the team has recorded no extra-base hits or RBIs with runners in scoring position during these situations, highlighting a glaring weakness in executing fundamental plays.
Yankees need to improve on the fundamentals to reach the World Series again
Sherman believes the Yankees’ struggles with fundamental baseball skills have undermined their championship aspirations, including last year’s World Series defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
While their power-hitting remains a strength-leading the AL in home runs-basic situational hitting and runner advancement are areas where they lag behind.
“The Yankees did not win a World Series last year, in part because they played baseball poorly,” Sherman explained.
“This year, they’re better thanks in part to players like Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt, who excel at the fundamentals. But even they aren’t above average in this regard.”
The team’s recent 5-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, marked by defensive mistakes from Anthony Volpe, also highlighted offensive lapses in clutch moments.
For a team with stars like Aaron Judge, the failure to capitalize on scoring opportunities in critical situations stands out as a significant hurdle.
As the playoffs approach, the Yankees must focus on refining the fundamentals – especially advancing runners and executing situational hitting – to complement their power game. If they fail to do so, their impressive regular-season achievements may not translate into postseason success.
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