Yankees Lose Again, Countdown Until Sell-off Begins

Two games in from the All-Star break, and it looks like this New York Yankees club has nothing left in the tank.

Usually, when professional ball players return from the four-day day hiatus in July known as the All-Star break, with them come’s a renewed vigor and heightened sense of urgency; a certain optimism that is reclaimed from a short rest of their weary bodies, or time spent away from the ballpark with family and/or friends.

Unfortunately, these Yankees seem to have all but forgotten this as they’ve been seemingly outplayed in each of the first two games of a pivotal three-game series against the Boston Red Sox.

A night after Michael Pineda gave up three long balls, leading to five earned runs in just five innings pitched (raising his season ERA to 5.56), and an eventual 5-3 loss, CC Sabathia laid a big fat egg, allowing four earned runs on nine hits in just 5.1 innings, setting the Yanks up for a 5-2 defeat.

The offense continues to put up a pedestrian effort at best, with the likes of Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, Brett Gardner, and Chase Headley responsible for all five runs batted in so far this series.

Further complicating matters for things such as team morale and positive affirmation, came word via Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, barely a minute before Saturday afternoon’s first pitch, that the Yankees have “officially” decided they will indeed trade their upcoming free agents to be, namely Aroldis Chapman and Beltran, if things don’t turn around in a hurry.

Rosenthal’s tweet also spoke to the truth of reports that teams may be interested in dealing for some of the Yankees young, controllable-albeit inconsistent starting pitchers, ie. Nathan Eovaldi and Michael Pineda.

So whether you agree that the Yankees should indeed rebuild or not (they should), disrupting a player’s psyche moments before another important contest isn’t the absolute wisest of moves (don’t blame Rosenthal, blame the source who shared the info).

Next: Where in the World is Aroldis Chapman Headed?

Tomorrow’s series finale against the Bo’ Sox ought to be an interesting one to watch.