Yankees’ Offense Hindered by Breaking Pitches, Seeks Solutions

What’s the Yankees problem?
The New York Yankees, renowned for their all-star roster and hefty payroll, find themselves puzzled by their pitching challenges this season. Despite their powerhouse lineup, their offense has hit a puzzling roadblock, an inability to handle breaking pitches with a league-worst spin rate.

Throughout the 2023 campaign, the Yankees have been bombarded with an unprecedented number of breaking balls. The decline of fastballs and the surge in spin rates have left hitters struggling to adapt, and the Yankees seem to be the hardest hit by this perplexing trend.

How bad is the Yankees’ offense?
The statistics paint a disconcerting picture of the Yankees’ offense. They boast the worst slugging percentage against spin in the league, an abysmal .328, lagging significantly behind other teams. Their batting average against breaking pitches is equally disheartening at .194, second only to the Seattle Mariners.

Facing more spin than ever before, a staggering 32.1% of pitches, the Yankees have encountered a confounding challenge on the mount. Just a decade ago, they saw breaking pitches at a modest 21.1%, making the current increase in spin rates all the more puzzling.

Can Aaron Judge fix this?
Even the return of their star player, Aaron Judge, from injury has not provided a solution to this enigma. While his powerful swings are eagerly anticipated, his vulnerability to breaking pitches adds another layer of bewilderment to the team’s struggles.

The Yankees’ recent six-game road trip embodies their offensive issues. Opposing teams, like the Rockies and Angels, capitalized on their weakness and delivered breaking pitches at a staggering 40% rate. The result was a disappointing 1-5 record, hitting a mere .198 against spin, a startling 22 points below the league average.

How bad is the problem?
The lack of production against spin extends throughout the Yankees’ lineup. With the exception of Jose Trevino, every regular player falls below the league average when facing breaking pitches. Anthony Volpe and Josh Donaldson have particularly struggled, batting an astonishingly low .147.

The Yankees’ offensive woes are further compounded by their lineup composition, heavily favoring right-handed hitters and lacking balance. This susceptibility to breaking pitches makes their offensive predicament all the more confounding.

In the end…
With the trade deadline looming, the Yankees’ management is urgently seeking solutions to improve their offense. Their pursuit centers around finding a left-handed hitter capable of producing runs and adding balance to the lineup.