Yankees: Joey Gallo’s quote on streakiness won’t satisfy fans amid horrible slide

The New York Yankees certainly went for it at the trade deadline in 2021, adding two powerful left-handed bats in Joey Gallo and Anthony Rizzo.

While the latter has cooled off a tad after a hot start, the former hasn’t really looked like the All-Star talent we saw with the Texas Rangers.

Gallo hit .223 with 25 home runs as a Ranger, and while the Yankees knew he was never going to put up a very high batting average, his play with New York has forced his average to dip below .200.

His advanced stats are suffering as a result.

Gallo has just 15 hits in 112 at-bats as a Yankee, though five of those hits have left the ballpark. He is hitting a paltry .134 with the Yankees, and while stats like OPS+ typically are kind to Gallo due to his power, his 73 OPS+ and .619 OPS would be the second-lowest marks of his career if extrapolated out to a full season.

Gallo seems to be taking these numbers in stride, calling them a byproduct of his approach at the dish. After cranking his fifth home run against the Orioles, Gallo claimed that he has “always been kind of streaky” and hopes that one good swing will kick-start a hot streak.

This isn’t the most satisfying answer, Joey. You’re basically saying “this is who I am. If you don’t like it, so be it.” Not all Yankees fans will be ok with your all-or-nothing approach to the point where you’ll go several games in a row without a hit.

Yankees outfielder Joey Gallo can be way too volatile as a hitter.

I don’t think any Yankee fan would have a problem with a sub-.200 batting average if Gallo was putting balls in the upper deck every other game. However, when stats like OPS+, which Gallo supporters have leaned on to prove his offensive value, are starting to dip, the time might be right to change some things at the plate.

You don’t have to become Rod Carew, but maybe switch things up just a bit to get that average up?

If you want a silver lining, Gallo’s power hasn’t waned one bit when he connects with the ball. Of his 15 hits, five have left the yard and a further six have been hard-hit doubles. Gallo might lead the American League in strikeouts, but he is also leading the league in walks, and he has taken 26 free passes in 32 games as a Yankee.

Gallo is capable of providing some big blasts every now and again, but the Yankees didn’t give up some quality prospects like Glenn Otto in order to have Gallo get two hits every week. They expected a game-changer on offense and high-level defender, and he needs to show that he can fill those roles with more consistency before fans start getting restless.

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