The New York Yankees have been one of the worst teams in baseball since the All-Star break.
While it may not seem like it with their 10 game lead in the division, they have faltered in recent weeks.
Yankees record past 29 games: 11-18
They are 8-14 since the All-Star break pic.twitter.com/s1KsOmWQCj
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) August 14, 2022
This isn’t just a struggle over a small sample size either.
They are 15-21 since the start of July, including a dismal 2-8 record in August.
Over this period nothing has seemed to click for the team.
Their pitching has been inconsistent, and someone seems to have an off night whether it be the starter or bullpen.
Besides DJ LeMahieu and Aaron Judge, their lineup production has essentially vanished.
Now, despite their big lead in the division, the Yankees are finding themselves in a difficult position.
How can they break out of this slump?
3. Get Back To Small Ball
When the Yankees were going well early in the season, they were doing it in every way.
THE KINER-FALEFA GAME!
(via @MLBONFOX) pic.twitter.com/WRtf5ozdps
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) August 14, 2022
While they are most commonly known for the home runs, the Yankees were actually most valuable on the bases.
They rank fifth in MLB for stolen bases per game with 0.65, up from 0.39 in 2021.
In previous years, the team tended to be slowed on the base paths.
However, this year was a different story as they were athletics while running, taking extra bases when they could.
This led to more pressure on opposing defenses, extra bases, and more run-scoring opportunities.
The aggression has a negative though: more outs.
Early in the season, the Yankees were taking advantage of their base running and avoiding mistakes.
This has flipped in the second half.
The team has been making questionable plays on the bases, taking their aggressive approach and turning it bad.
It was most evident in their most recent series in Seattle, where their poor base running likely cost them a game.
This is it. This is the highlight of this account.
The Yankees have the worst baserunning night in baseball history. pic.twitter.com/sjUJklP0fd
— Runners Getting Thrown Out (@tootblans) August 10, 2022
This style of small ball will be critical if the Yankees want to make a postseason run.
They can not rely solely on the long-ball, so look for them to turn back to putting smart, aggressive pressure on defenses.
2. Call Up Oswald Peraza
Many people thought that the Yankees second ranked prospect would be in a different uniform following the trade deadline.
However, the team showed a lot of promise towards their 22-year-old minor leaguer by hanging onto him.
While many thought this would lead to Oswald Peraza being called up, he has so far been left in Triple-A.
He got all of that one!
No. 2 @Yankees prospect Oswald Peraza belted his 16th dinger of the year for the @swbrailriders. pic.twitter.com/BFTRq6Z9G9
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 13, 2022
This is despite putting up outstanding numbers, especially in the last couple of months.
The Yankees have an abundance of talent in their farm system, and it would be a mistake to leave them there.
It seems like the team could use an injection of youth and excitement in the team, something that Peraza could provide right away.
The Atlanta Braves proved it can be done by bringing up rookie Vaughn Grissom, who has responded by slugging two homers in his first three games.
Peraza is up next, and he is more than deserving for the opportunity.
1. Clean Up The Injured List
The injury bug has certainly caught up to the Yankees over the last two months.
First, standout reliever Michael King suffered a torn UCL and effectively crippled the bullpen.
Then, sluggers Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo have periodically missed time with injuries.
Aaron Boone says he’s hopeful that Giancarlo Stanton’s rehab assignment will begin next week pic.twitter.com/3PA3sXTTSB
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) August 13, 2022
Just as it seemed like it couldn’t get worse, Matt Carpenter fractured his foot on a foul ball.
Their absence was noticeably missed in the Yankees lineup.
While Rizzo’s return has been welcomed, Stanton remains on the injured list with hopes to commence a rehab stint soon.
Losing the big righty has shortened the lineup, leaving a lack of power that has put more pressure onto contributors like Gleyber Torres.
He has faltered as a result.
The good news is that it seems like players will start returning.
Stanton has just another week or two, while there is a chance Carpenter can work his way back for playoffs.
Matt Carpenter: “I’m not even going to accept the fact that this will be it for me” #RepBX pic.twitter.com/FK8k2DFzWV
— Pinstripe Strong (@PinstripeStrong) August 9, 2022
Then, pitcher Luis Severino should be healthy come September and deadline acquisition Harrison Bader may return late in the season.
Bader would be huge for the lineup, replacing the struggling bat of Aaron Hicks and adding to the best defense in MLB.
This alone could be enough to push the Yankees over the edge and out of their slump.
