FanPost

The Basics

We often expect the unexpected from our major league players. They make fielding plays like the "Wizard". They hit mammoth home runs, like the "Mick". Pitch like "Cy Young", himself. But, the reality is: This is a rare occurrence and not the norm. The Yankees have started the year looking more like a High "A" team rather than a professional big league team. Prone to head scratching mistakes. It seems to be a disease that is contagious. It has been allover the field and on both sides of the ball, one cannot lay blame at one particular player or group.

Our starters in the early going have looked liked they belong in triple "A" rather than the show. They have been prone to giving up leads and allowing way too many extra base hits. The bullpen has been good the majority of the year. Yet the middle relievers are now faced with trying to keep the Yankees in games, till the torch can be passed to the "Big Two". The lack of experience has reared its ugly head in this group. Therefore, they are starting to press and trying to do too much. The Yankee's pitchers need to remember what brought them to the show. It is their ability to move the ball up, down, in and out. The talent to throw and place their pitches in strategic zones of the strike zone. Pitchers need to stick to the game plan. In other words get back to the basic of pitching.

Our defense has broken down fundamentality, often throwing to the wrong base or simply not hanging on to the baseball. We have looked exceptional on those hard to make plays. Yet, we are haunted by the simple plays or the ones we all take for granted. If not for the our human vacuum cleaner at first, it would be a lot worse. Practice, practice makes perfect. We all remember our coaches of our youth, stressing the fundamentals of defense. Throwing to the right base, staying down on the ball, squeezing the ball and using two hands on a catch and of course following threw on your throws. Do not forget the value of communication on the field and in the dugout. In other words get back to the basics of defense.

We have forgot the basics of hitting, which is to stay within yourself. When you press or try to do too much, you often fail. Meaning its time to move the line rather than cut the line. Take what is given to you. We have become too anxious at the plate. We need to get back to taking pitches and working pitchers to cause them to make mistakes. Sure if given that cookie let's drive it hard somewhere. This has been the Yankee way of hitting forever and it has been proven to be successful. The Yankee way of basic hitting.

We have long taken pride in our ability on the base path, taking what is given to us on the basses. Suddenly, we are trying too hard to make something happen. We have base coaches for a reason. Seek them out and consult with them for advice and help. But never forget, they are there to help on and off the field for this team to succeed. There is a time to be aggressive and a time to be passive. That decision should be made by our coaches. Get back to the basics and our base running will take care of itself.

Joe and his coaching staff need to get back to the basics and stress how important the little things are in this game, called baseball. One thing for sure Joe has proven over and over again, that he can get the Yankees to perform and contend for the American League East Pennant.

We as fans have an obligation in all of this to. We must keep the faith. This is "the Damn Yankees" and they will find a way.

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