Yankees Basking in Plenty of Sunshine, But a Few Struggles Require Attention
By Mohsin Baldiwala
April 4, 2024
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Ah, the New York Yankees, bathed in sunlight, champagne wishes, and caviar dreams, but were not without a few hiccups along the way. As we peel back the layers of this rather happy 6-1 onion, we find that while some things smell rosy, others... not so much.
Yankees' 2023 tale began with the kind of magic that fans dream about. Aaron Judge would be a Yankee for life, standing tall in the spotlight. He didn't just hit a home run; he sent a message. The Yankees were for real. Or so we hoped.
Fast forward to 2024, and the stage was set for an encore with the Yankees' latest shiny acquisitions - Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo. But, in a disappointing plot twist, Nestor Cortes, not Gerrit Cole, took the mound on Opening Day, only to serve up a trio of runs faster than I could say, "This season is over." (Yes, I’m very guilty of throwing the white flag in way too soon.) But, because baseball is a sport of sheer stubbornness - the Yankees unexpectedly flipped the script at their house of horrors - Minute Maid Park. That wasn’t all, though. In each game, they came back from behind and won. They then carried this form to Chase Field, Arizona, where they won their 2nd consecutive series to begin the year, this time against the defending NL champions.
The Yanks’ season started against two formidable teams, and they emerged victorious 6 out of 7 times. Yet, amidst this glitter, not all that glitters is gold. Nestor Cortes, a darling from the 2022 pitching staff now evokes a lot more concern than confidence. If you ask me, I think he’s the biggest loose end in this rotation. The rest of the rotation is holding the fort with commendable gusto, Rodon's decency, Stroman's reliability, and the promise shown by Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt—Cortes, though, remains a puzzle.
Amidst the pitching quandaries, the offense has been a revelation. It's not every day I tip my hat to Brian Cashman, but as of today, I’m content. The team's approach at the plate—patience, resilience, and a knack for wearing down pitchers—has been nothing short of brilliant. Juan Soto, living up to his billing, has been a force, with other members of the lineup contributing in ways that stats alone can't capture. The team's ability to score, to advance runners, to challenge pitchers, even without the thunderous bats of Judge (not after yesterday), Verdugo (not after yesterday), and Stanton fully firing, speaks volumes.
But let's circle back to the heart of my concerns. Not Aaron Judge. The man's a beast, even if he's had a slower start this season. No, the thorn in my side is Giancarlo Stanton. Since the 2022 All-Star game, for Stanton, it's been a rollercoaster with more downs than ups. Despite showing up leaner and meaner this season, his start has been more whimper than bang. And with Stanton practically married to the DH spot, it hurts players like Judge, who will need the DH spot more often. The Yankees are going to have to address this. How they do it could tell the tale of the 2024 season.
And those double plays? If I had a dime for every time a double play made me want to throw something at the TV, I'd be rich enough to buy my own baseball team.
So, as we stand on the precipice of Opening Day at Yankee Stadium, I'm cautiously optimistic, with a healthy dose of skepticism. The Yankees, with all their flair and drama, have taught me to temper my expectations. Here's to hoping they address these concerns sooner rather than later because as much as I love a good underdog story, I'd much prefer a victory parade down the Bronx. To the Yankees, I say: Surprise me.
