A Mess of a Season: Why the 2023 New York Yankees Season Was Not Good
When fans say “Stop looking at the stats, look at the player”, it is important to consider the context of the situation. The 2023 Yankees are a far cry from the powerhouse they once were, and it is important to consider what changes need to be made to bring them back to that level. Brian Cashman deserves credit for his loyalty and bringing championships to the Yankees, but the team has been in a state of mediocrity since then, despite the talent of Aaron Judge and others. To get the team back to its winning ways, the Yankees must build a better team around their star players.
Left field has proven to be a major issue for the Yankees recently and I can’t help but feel that General Manager Brian Cashman is at least partially to blame. George Steinbrenner would be rolling in his grave if he saw the state of the team right now, as they are currently sitting in last place in the American League East. It is difficult to predict whether Everson Pereira and Jake Bauers will be the answer to the left field problem, but only time will tell. The Yankees need to address this issue soon in order to have any chance of success in the future.
Since 2008, the Yankees’ prospect pool has been abysmal. Anthony Volpe, their first-round pick in 2019, likely won’t pan out either. Despite picking in the bottom half of the first round of the MLB draft, I still expect the team to find good talent in each round. I understand why people criticize the franchise for their missteps, but ultimately, results are what matter. The Yankees have had some successes, such as Aaron Judge and Brett Gardner, but overall, their post-2008 draft picks have been largely disappointing. Cashman and the Yankees need to do better if they want to get back to their winning ways.
The 2023 Yankees have not been a successful team, even with the expensive signings they made during the offseason. I can only imagine how this team might be able to turn itself around, but the reality is that a complete overhaul of the team is necessary. Brian Cashman should be retained, but Hal Steinbrenner should strip Cashman of his GM title and hire a new GM who can build a team that can bring the Yankees back to their former glory. This season has been a waste, and the blame rests squarely on the shoulders of management. If George Steinbrenner were still alive, he would have fired Cashman immediately. But Cashman is unlikely to leave, especially if he is still tied to the legacy of what made the Yankees great.
This 2023 Yankees squad makes me feel embarrassed to be a fan of this team. I wouldn’t want to wear my Yankees hat in public after their season went down the tubes. A long way to go from being a wild card team and 18 and a half games behind Baltimore for the AL East lead, I feel like this team needs to look at the offseason and plug the left field hole that’s currently plaguing the Yankees. Owner Hal Steinbrenner may have the last name, but he needs to be like his father and start cleaning the house, but that’s just wishful thinking. I wished that Hal would have told Cashman to take a step back from day-to-day operations of running the baseball side and hire a general manager who can rebuild the team the right way. But there’s no chance that Cashman gets the boot. This franchise needs to look in the mirror and see what is wrong with this team.
But as the years since the last title win in 2009 the Yankees have gotten complacent with how they build their roster. If you look at Baltimore, that team has reloaded for a playoff push and can lock up the AL East. The Yankees on the other hand are the 7th worst team in the American League and dead in the water right now. But if you look at how the team is doing, it’s best to just get rid of Aaron Boone and replace him with someone who can develop the prospects and get the Yankees back to prominence. But that’s just wishful thinking until the end of the season.
