Yankees lose to Rays due to two Gary Sanchez mental errors

Baseball is a team sport until one player puts himself above the club. On Monday night, Gary Sanchez proved not once, but twice that it wasn’t important enough for him to hustle and earn the paycheck that the Yankees give him.

How anyone can call themselves a Yankees fan and not be bitterly disappointed in the lack of care and sheer laziness Gary Sanchez exhibited during the Yanks’ 7-6 loss on Monday night to the Rays, I’ll never know.

Now you won’t to hear me talk about trading Sanchez; however, I’m also not going to make a single excuse for something you learn to do in Little League: hustle!

Someone said to me on Twitter that El Gary only returned from the DL late last week, so that’s why he was slow to react. To that I say, then Sanchez needs more time to heal, body and brain.

The Yankees need to somehow get through to the 25-year-old that no matter how potent your bat may be for a catcher, it’s not enough to loaf after a passed ball (his 10th of the season), that allows a runner to score all the way from second base.

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I genuinely believe this first inning miscue had a lot to do with knocking Luis Severino off balance — something he was unable to recover from (5 IP, 11 H, 6 ER, 8 K). Although the initial earned run was reversed, all the world witnessed Severino giving Sanchez the business in the dugout during the half-inning, and rightfully so.

Catchers lead by example, which is something, now in his third big league season, Sanchez has yet to grasp. Interestingly enough, on Tuesday, the Yankees awarded backup catcher Austin Romine with the Heart & Hustle Award. 

Despite recently snubbed AL All-Star Giancarlo Stanton going 4-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk — and the bullpen holding the Rays to zero runs and only two hits in three innings, the Yankees fell short.

How, might you ask?

With the bases loaded and two out in the top of the ninth inning, Sanchez hit a hard grounder to the second baseman Daniel Robertson, who was shifted to the left side of the infield. Roberston, in-turn shoveled the ball to the shortstop Willy Adames, who was late to force Aaron Hicks out at second.

One would think in the course of all the action; even Greg Bird could have crossed first base safely. Maybe, but not Sanchez. Because he lollygagged out of the batter’s box, assuming that he had already made the final out, Sanchez was eventually throw out by five feet. Even Adames looked surprised to see his throw could still beat Sanchez to first.

Maybe, but not Sanchez. Because he lollygagged out of the batter’s box, assuming that he had already made the final out of the game, Sanchez was eventually thrown out by five feet. Even Adames looked surprised to see his throw would still beat Sanchez to first.

After the contest, Sanchez let his apologies fly. Per the New York Times, on his first blunder of the game.

"“I should have gotten to that ball quicker,” Sanchez said through an interpreter. “I should have done a better job.”"

Then on making the crucial final out:

"“I should have run harder,” he said. “You learn a lot in this game, and this is one of those instances where you learn and put it behind you and look forward.”"

However, has Sanchez really learned much of anything? Both his defensive metrics and bulk offensives stats are down significantly from last season, yet no one can explain why.

People criticized former manager Joe Girardi for his tough love approach with El Gary, yet as of right now, Girardi got the most out of No. 24. And for that, he was fired.

While I’m usually not one for telling people how to do their jobs, Aaron Boone needs to bench Sanchez — to show him he is in no way bigger than the team. Now six games behind the Red Sox for first place in the AL East, the Yankees are playing mediocre ball since June 22, at 13-13.

Next: Yankees scout Chris Archer

If someone doesn’t right Sanchez’s ship soon, there may come a day when even the most loyal of fans run out of excuses. After all, Sanchez wouldn’t be the first player to experience an abundant amount of success too soon and therefore take things for granted.

Hopefully, it doesn’t come to that.