Yankees 2017: It’s Time To Reckon With The Inconvenient Truth

The Yankees have reached an inconvenient truth about the team that will take the field on Opening Day. And it’s probably a good idea that we all hop on board and stop the harping, at least for the 2017 season.

The Yankees trio of returning veterans Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Chase Headley have borne the brunt of much criticism, some from this writer at times, for their burgeoning contracts and blockage of “Baby Bombers” who, at another time, could easily break into the Yankees lineup.

And it’s likely that all three feel the pressure of someone sneaking up behind them and they must know that they are living on borrowed time with the Yankees.

I don’t have to like it and neither do you. But at the same time, we need to accept the inconvenient truth as reality, at least for 2017.

And each must also know that they have not played up to the expectations the team, the fans, and more than likely, themselves have set for them individually over the past two or three years.

What’s different this year, though, is that the bar for the team, especially in light of its preseason record and performance, is set higher than before and the veterans on the team are seen more as “inconvenient” pieces than as part of the Yankees future, even in 2017.

What’s also different about this year is that a legitimate argument can be made to point out that there are Baby Bombers who are as least as good, if not better, than Headley, Ellsbury, and Gardner. And if you want to throw CC Sabathia in there too, you can.

Yankees 2017: It’s Pointless To Continue The Debate

And yes, as one of my colleagues, Cory Claus, points out in a story published here earlier today, you can indeed debate a moot point, even if it’s pointless to do so.

More from Yanks Go Yard

• Should Yankees toss short-term extension at Harrison Bader before 2023?
• Yankees chose worst possible player to ring in New Year on 2023 team calendar
• Yankees State of the Farm System Review: Josh Breaux
• Yankees make upside play, sign former Rangers top prospect outfielder
• MLB insider claims favorite emerging in Bryan Reynolds rumors (not Yankees)

And that’s what I’m beginning to believe we have here. Speaking for myself, though others can repent for similar sins as well, I’m biting at the bit to see Gleyber Torres trot out to shortstop to play his first game at Yankee Stadium. And the same goes for Clint Frazier, Billy McKinney and the whole lot of them.

But the inconvenient truth is that it’s not going to happen.

At the same time, I don’t want to accept my role as the rah-rah high school cheerleader for the team either. But, there has to be a happy median that adjusts to the fact that 2017 is not going to be what you or I may want it to be.

In a story featured in Sunday’s New York Daily News, Chase Headley opened up about his grappling with the fact that he has not met even his expectations:

"“No, I haven’t lived up to my own expectations as a Yankee,” said Headley, a former Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award winner in 2012. “The first year I was atrocious defensively. And that was probably the most frustrating part of my career, because you expect some variation offensively. But defensively, I’ve always been pretty steady and take pride in not bringing my hitting to the field, so that was frustrating. And then obviously last year my start was so bad that it really contributed to digging us a big hole.”"

To state the obvious, these are professional ballplayers who, on the whole, set a pretty high bar for themselves. And it’s a minuscule percentage of players who take the money and run, not giving a damn about their performance.

Headley knows he’s let his teammates down in the past and he doesn’t need me to tell him that. The Yankees team is set for 2017, and Chase Headley is going to be the third baseman in more games than he is not. And in all likelihood, he’s going to be there through the final year of his contract in 2018.

And all the harping that you or I do is not going to change that. So, why not relax and let it be. I don’t have to like it, and neither do you. But at the same time, we need to accept the inconvenient truth as reality, at least for 2017.

Yankees: Four Reasons Why They’ll Make The Playoffs In 2017

The Yankees are showing their fans a lot during this Preseason. But there's more to come and the opportunity to play baseball is a real possibility.

And who knows, a couple of these guys just might surprise.