Perspectives: April 13, 2026

by Paul Semendinger

April 13, 2026

***

The Yankees of 2025 went through long long periods where they were a terrible baseball team. After the 2025 season, the Yankees management team decided to basically run it back with the same team for 2026. After a fast start, the last week looked like this for the Yankees:

April 5 - Loss

April 7 - Win

April 8 - Loss

April 9 - Loss

April 10 - Loss

April 11 - Loss

April 12 - Loss

That looks a lot like last year. Worse, the way the Yankees have lost is similar. Poor defense. Poor fundamentals. A lack of clutch hitting (or much hitting at all). Lots of strikeouts. Befuddling managerial decisions.

It might soon become apparent that running it back with the same cast of players and the same leadership structures was a bad idea.

The Yankees, throughout the Aaron Boone Era have under-performed. And it seems they might be doing the same again in 2026.

Sure, there is plenty of time to turn it around. Of course, but this last week didn't do anything to build anyone's confidence.

***

If the Yankees continue to play poorly in April, it will be abundantly clear that it is time for them to move on from Aaron Boone. He was never the right manager for this team. He hasn't done anything to prove otherwise.

I really cannot take the Yankees seriously until they start to take themselves seriously. And by simply doing the same thing year-after-year, it's clear that they are not serious about being a championship team.

By this time, the Yankees have to see what the fans see - Aaron Boone managing poorly, making bad decisions, seemingly always a step behind. If the Yankees can't see this - that is a problem. If the Yankees see this an retain Boone, that's also a problem.

***

Jazz Chisholm has gotten off to a horrible start in all aspects of his game.

He admitted on Saturday that he doesn't even know some fundamental baseball rules. That's a huge problem. There is no sugarcoating that fact.

***

The Jazz Chisholm situation made me think again of Juan Soto.

I know there is a lot of Juan Soto hate out there. People are angry (still) that he left the Yankees. People are angry that he gets so much money. It has been said, often, that he put up a great season just before becoming a free agent because of greed. That simply isn't accurate.

Performing well in a free agent season isn't so easy. (Performing well in any season isn't so easy.)

Before his free agent season, many (myself included) assumed Gleyber Torres would have a huge year. He didn't.

Many people speculated about the same regarding Jazz Chisholm this year. Thus far (and he has plenty of time to turn it around) Chisholm has had a disaster of a season.

Having a big year just because there is big money on the line isn't as easy as many speculate. And reaching those heights takes more than the desire to make big money. Let's be honest, if Soto didn't have a great season, he was still going to be rich beyond measure.

After having a poor free agent season, Gleyber Torres signed a contract for $15 million dollars. He is getting $22 million this year. Gleyber Torres.

People criticize Juan Soto for having a big year before becoming a free agent. You know who else did that in recent years? Aaron Judge.

Last year, with the chance to get a huge raise or secure a big contract, Trent Grisham had his greatest year.

Some were angry because Juan Soto didn't immediately express a desire to be a Yankee after the season ended. That earned him much ire. But, you know who acted in a similar manner right before his own free agency? Gerrit Cole. He wouldn't even wear his team's hat in the postgame interview.

Of note, Soto's performance last year defies the claim that he had a big year just for the money. Last year he led all of baseball in walks. He led the National League in On Base Percentage and stolen bases. He hit a career high 43 homers. He drove in 105 runs. He played in 160 games. None of that indicates a player who cashed in and took the money and ran. He got big money and also then had a big season. (In 2026, he's hitting .355 thus far. The only Yankee this year hitting better than Soto right now is Ben Rice - .356.)

***

In yesterday's game, Aaron Boone left Ryan McMahon in to bat in the bottom of the ninth with the tying run at second and the go-ahead run at first.

McMahon, who has looked terrible at the plate all year, swung at the first pitch and grounded out to end the game. He didn't even take a strike. One pitch, one swing - ballgame over.

Paul Goldschmidt, a much better hitter, was left on the bench. The pitcher facing the Yankees, Mason Englert, had given up big hits, even that inning, to right-handed hitters. And it's not like Englert is a top pitcher. He came into the game with an ERA over 9.00.

And yet, Aaron Boone felt that Ryan McMahon was a better bet to get the tying run home. He wasn't.

***

The Yankees have announced that Anthony Volpe's rehab will begin at Somerset (AA) on Tuesday. They also announced that he'll get 55 at bats before being called-up. Why 55? Is there a significance to that number? What of he goes 0-for 55? Will he still get called-up?

The Yankees make these pronouncements as if there is some science behind them, but they're nothing more than guesses. They act like there is a solid reason for what they're doing, but they just make this stuff up as they go. There is no way to speculate, before a player ever gets into a game, that 55 at bats is how many he'll need. It would make way more sense for the Yankees to announce that Volpe will get called up when he demonstrates that he's ready to be called up. He might not be.

***

There was some good baseball news yesterday - far from the Major Leagues...

I had the Opening Start for my baseball team yesterday morning. I threw five innings. I allowed one hit (it came in the fourth inning). I walked one. I struck out two. No runner even reached third base off me. My day ended after a scoreless fifth inning on the mound.

In three months, I'll be 58-years-old. This is a 35+ baseball league. Each year before I get out there I wonder if I can still throw strikes and get guys out.

For one more game, at least, I was able to do both. I hope this continues...