The New York Yankees’ slide after a dream start to the season reached a new low on Thursday, courtesy of the Cincinnati Reds. And also Trent Grisham.
The bad times were well underway in the ninth inning, with the Reds leading 8-4 and poised to become the first team to beat the Yankees in a three-game series this season. So Grisham became an easy target for fans frustrated with New York’s struggles.
With two outs, the Reds’ third baseman hit a line drive into center field to Grisham, who casually held up his glove and swung the bouncing ball. Candelario, still in first place, saw the move and moved to second place for a double. The boos came quickly for Grisham’s low-effort play.
On the positive side, Grisham had more costly misplays on a bouncing ball in the outfield, as the current Yankees right fielder is very aware.
The error turned out to be harmless, as Spencer Steer struck out the next at bat to end the inning. Unfortunately, no comeback came for the Yankees in the bottom of the ninth, completing the sweep for the Reds.
The biggest problem for the Yankees was the three home runs allowed by starting pitcher Marcus Stroman, who allowed five earned runs in five innings of work.
Aaron Judge’s hitting coach hurts Yankees player development
With the sweep, the Yankees have lost 13 of their last 17 games, a stretch of time that has seen them go from 2.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East to 2.0 games behind. Six of those losses were by six runs or more.
This skid comes despite the Yankees employing the most unstoppable hitter on the planet, Aaron Judge, even though he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts on Thursday. Richard Schenck, the former MVP’s personal hitting coach, had something to say about this when the numbers were released on the YES Network.
They lost 13 of 18 while he hits like an MVP
The Yankees’ offensive player development is terrible.
– Richard Schenck, JFD PPP LQC TTE (@Teacherman1986) July 4, 2024
It’s been an all-around bad time for the Yankees. The next chance to turn things around will be a home series against the Boston Red Sox starting Friday, with a pre-All-Star trip against the Orioles starting to loom large.
