NEW YORK — The sparse crowd that stayed until the final out during Sunday’s disappointing 7-1 defeat expressed their frustration with the New York Yankees through boos. Some fans even donned brown paper bags over their heads, a sign of their discontent with the team’s performance.
While the Yankees haven’t reached the same level of despair as the New York Jets, they seem to be ignoring the stark truth that has confronted them for over two months: they are playing poorly and inconsistently.
It’s puzzling. Yankees manager Aaron Boone mentioned last week that this might be his best team since taking over in 2018. Despite the evident talent on the roster, things aren’t coming together as they should.
Since May 1, the Yankees have a record of 44-43, going 27-34 since June 1, 14-20 since July 1, and a dismal 2-7 since August 1. Yet, they still occupy the third wild-card position in the American League, holding a slim half-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians.
“I truly believe we’ll turn this around and gain momentum,” Boone stated. “When that happens, confidence will build as players start to feed off each other. Right now, it’s just talk, but I’m optimistic. We must prove it on the field.”
Hoping for positive vibes alone hasn’t delivered results for the Yankees this season. Upcoming matchups against the Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, and Tampa Bay Rays, none of whom are currently contenders, may offer a chance to regroup. However, the Yankees have shown plenty of reasons for fans to doubt their ability to win what should be manageable games.
“The league has its fair share of struggling teams, but we’re positioned to be in the playoffs right now,” Boone acknowledged. “However, we haven’t performed well over the past two months. Unlike 2023, when I felt we were out of the running, we now have control over our situation. I believe in our ability to succeed; we just need to play consistent baseball.”
