With three key components of the 2017 New York Yankees going down, the squad could be headed toward a debilitating rough stretch.
From the initiation of the 2017 season, when Didi Gregorius and Gary Sanchez found themselves on the shelf, the New York Yankees experienced superb production from their subs.
Ronald Torreyes and Austin Romine rose to the occasion greater than the team could have possibly hoped for, as they helped spark one of the better starts in recent team history. Quite honestly, it’s extraordinary that they are still in first place in the American League East with all they had to endure. Now, however, things are starting to pile on.
As the Bombers left the Bronx for the West Coast, they were one of the hottest teams in baseball at 37-23 — despite being without shut-down closer Aroldis Chapman, centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury and first baseman Greg Bird.
Now, four days in California has resulted in three losses and four more injuries. Injuries which can lead to a debilitating stretch that may knock New York off their pedestal as AL East leaders.
On Thursday night, as the Yankees dropped a seesaw affair with the Oakland Athletics, star catcher Gary Sanchez (abductor’s muscle) and borderline All-Star center fielder Aaron Hicks (Achilles) were removed in the ninth inning. That comes one day after the red-hot CC Sabathia (0.99 ERA in six starts since May 16) was placed 10-day disabled list with a Grade 2 hamstring strain and the same night reliever Adam Warren was deemed unavailable due to a sore trap muscle in his right arm.