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The New York Yankees have entered the nightmare phase of their season, and this one doesn’t seem to be coming to an end anytime soon.
The Yankees, despite salvaging a game Wednesday, had lost five straight previously and has been one of the worst teams in baseball for two months. Their bullpen constantly implodes, their defense and baserunning are perplexing, and even their prolific offense isn’t getting the job done.
Once seven games clear in first place in the American League East, the Yankees currently trail the Toronto Blue Jays by 6 1/2 games. But more importantly, they held just a half-game lead on the Texas Rangers entering Wednesday’s series finale between the two clubs.
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Missing the playoffs this season would be an absolute gut punch, and it could facilitate major leadership changes in the Bronx. Can the Yankees avoid such an ugly fate?
Levi Weaver of The Athletic doesn’t think so. On Tuesday, Weaver predicted that the Yankees would miss out on the postseason for the second time in three years.
“I don’t think the Rangers are a better team than the Yankees on paper. Their rotation is better, but the Yankees have a better lineup, no question. Alas, the vibes in The Bronx have been utterly cursed for the last few weeks,” Weaver wrote.
“This does not look like a playoff team right now. Maybe the imminent arrival of Aaron Judge off the IL will change things?”
Though the Yankees still hold a playoff spot in the here and now, it’s hard to disagree with Weaver’s point about momentum. The brand of sloppy, lackadaisical baseball the Yankees are playing makes it hard to believe the ship will quickly be righted.
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