Why Yankees' loss of Sean Casey may be both a blessing and a curse

Late last month, New York Yankees hitting coach Sean Casey revealed that he would not return to the club for the 2024 season, and fans weren't exactly sure what to think,

“[Boone] and I had talked about coming back next year and what that would look like, and really before any offer could be exchanged between both of us, I just told him that I'm not going to be able to come back next year because I've got my two daughters at home," he said on his on his podcast, "The Mayor's Office with Sean Casey."

The team hit .221 and compiled a 688 OPS in 71 games with Casey as hitting coach. These are not stats worth bragging about, but it could be argued losing Casey might ultimately be both good and bad. 

On one hand, he was hired at a critical point in the year and was one of the first voices to work with young talents like Jasson Dominguez and Austin Wells at the major league level. On the other, New York, collectively, did not improve during Casey’s tenure, and, at times, seemed to need yet another fresh start collectively.

While he was not a part of the team for the entire season, Casey entered the fray just as the Yankees began to play their younger talents. “The Mayor” replaced former hitting coach Dillon Lawson in July. Wells, Dominguez and Everson Pereira made their debuts later in the summer and began their big-league careers with Casey as their hitting coach.

Why Yankees' loss of Sean Casey may be both a blessing and a curse

While it's not fully known just how much he impacted the kids, there's something to be said about the power of consistency. In a perfect world, one would prefer that this group begins their time in the Bronx alongside a stable group of coaches.

Having a regular hitting coach would be key for players attempting to make the jump from the minor leagues, and the loss of Casey means the members of the Yankees' youth movement will have to form a working relationship with a new individual.

On a positive note, the loss of Casey may also be a good thing for both the younger players and the club’s veterans while the organization attempts to regroup on multiple levels.

It's fully possible that opposing pitchers may have already found ways to beat New York’s soon-to-be sophomores. A fresh voice in the clubhouse could help them address blind spots and potentially find new strengths that were previously hidden.

Even veterans like Anthony Rizzo, DJ LeMahieu and Giancarlo Stanton could benefit from a change. Over the course of a career, it’s very easy to get stuck in one's ways and stifle improvements or changes. New eyes could help them make the right tweaks and have their careers last longer, or at least improve their current window on the Yankees.