An 8-2 beatdown from the Los Angeles Dodgers in today’s doubleheader opener, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone is finally on record about what everyone’s been seeing: this offense is in a deep, deep hole. He laid it bare to the media, admitting, “Obviously, we have to be able to do more.” He didn’t stop there, either, driving home the point that they’ve been “saying that a lot over these last few weeks.” Ouch.
The Judge Effect: Six Weeks of Struggle
It’s been six agonizing weeks since team captain and superstar slugger Aaron Judge hit the injured list back in June, and while they might have tried to grin and bear it early on, the numbers don’t lie. Boone himself conceded that for the first “two to three weeks” after Judge went down, the offense “was getting it done.” Good for them, right? Not so fast. He then dropped the hammer: “But then we went through a stretch of 15-20 games where we were not scoring enough, not pressuring enough.” That’s the real gut punch, isn’t it? When you’re facing down “good teams with good pitching,” like those Dodgers, you absolutely have to find a way to score. And right now, they’re just not doing it.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.: The Unlit Fuse
Amidst the overall offensive woes, Boone was pressed specifically about second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., and you can tell there’s a lot riding on that kid. Boone acknowledged his flashes, saying, “He’s had some big swings and some clutch at-bats. He’s one of those guys we expect a lot of.” Yeah, we all expect a lot of difference makers. But the manager didn’t sugarcoat the reality, admitting Chisholm “hasn’t gone on that hot streak this year yet, got off to a slow start in April, and it’s been up and down for the last few months.” This is a player who “can change the game in a lot of different ways offensively,” but they just haven’t been able to unlock that consistent potential. Boone’s takeaway? “We have got to get him there.”
The Yankees have another game in this doubleheader against the Dodgers. Can they find *any* offense? Boone said they need to get Chisholm Jr. going, and honestly, the whole lineup needs a spark. The pressure is on, big time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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