Yankees ALDS Game 2 loss once again confirms fans' worst fears with Rodón, offense

The New York Yankees made sure their Game 1 ALDS victory over the Kansas City Royals was as excruciating as possible. They were lucky to escape with the 6-5 win given Gerrit Cole's bad performance, more ineptitude from the offense (2-for-13 with RISP and more Aaron Judge strikeouts), and some shaky defense.

So, you'd think, after getting away with one, the Yankees would come out swinging in Game 2 to dispel the notion that Saturday's contest was more of the Royals losing it than the Bombers winning it.

Yes, you'd think. But your thoughts, as outlandish or reasonable as they might be, are not reality, especially when it comes to this team. For as "wide open" as the Yankees playoff path seems to be and for as talented their roster is on paper, this franchise has had a heinous 15-year run when it comes to succeeding in the playoffs.

The same issues have persisted for years, and the Yankees don't make any effort to actually patch up the deficiencies. They just get marginally better from a talent perspective and continue to lack the necessary championship characteristics.

Take this year's team, for example. Yes, they won an American League-leading 94 games. But that was somehow achieved by hovering around .500 from June-Sept. Outside of a hot run over the season's first two months, the Yankees were largely frustrating, disappointing and underwhelming.

They don't play good defense. They choke under pressure. Their offense is boom or bust. An overwhelming majority of the roster lacks fundamental elements of the game. Those just aren't ingredients for a championship group.

More of that was on display Monday night in the Bronx. The Yankees fell to the Royals as the ALDS is now tied with the affair going to Kansas City Wednesday and Thursday. And now here come the details that will make the experience worse for you.

Carlos Rodón, Yankees offense let New York down in ALDS Game 2

Carlos Rodón started this game like a man possessed, striking out the first three Royals batters and getting through three scoreless frames with limited trouble. But then the Yankees scored a run in the top of the fourth, and there was no feasible way they'd be able to cling to that momentum for longer than three minutes.

Over his next 2/3 of an inning, Rodón allowed four hits and four earned runs. He was out of the game before the fourth inning concluded. Just like that, the Yankees trailed 4-1 and were faced with an insurmountable deficit based on how their offense has looked for weeks, and Rodón once again dug himself into a mental hole he'll have trouble getting out of.

The main concern with Rodón is that he can't give the Yankees what they need as a No. 2 starter. He has the stuff and the capability, but has largely been unable to put it all together. Whether it's his first-inning woes or blowup innings that result in quick hooks, far more questions than answers remain with the left-hander. Every time he looks like he's in the clear, he gets knocked down a few pegs and has to endure a soul-searching stretch before starting the vicious circle all over again.

For the second straight game, the Yankees burned their bullpen when they were supposed to get at least one lengthy, efficient outing from one of their two top starters. Instead, they got zero. The weight of following up a Cole dud and putting the Royals on the ropes was evidently too much for Rodón.

As for the offense? They let Royals starter Cole Ragans off the hook, much like what they did with Michael Wacha two nights ago. Ragans, who was making his 55th career start, absolutely labored through his four innings of work (87 pitches), but allowed just one earned run on three hits and four walks.

The Royals bullpen, which was terrible two nights ago and essentially handed the Yankees a win, shut New York down for the rest of the way. It was a completely uncompetitive showing from New York in what's been the least entertaining Division Series by far. Snoozefests characterized by overall poor play. Dodgers-Padres, Mets-Phillies and even Guardians-Tigers have blown this one out of the water so far.

The total damage? Two runs on seven hits and five walks. The Yankees struck out eight times, grounded into two double plays, left seven runners on base, and went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Jazz Chisholm's solo home run in the bottom of the ninth was far too late for any heroics to materialize. This team is far too reliant on the long ball and very much not equipped to handle the pressure of every at-bat and pitch counting.

Now they have to win one on the road in front of a crowd that hasn't sniffed playoff baseball since 2015. Though the Yankees are better away from home, their regular season numbers definitely don't incorporate the stress that comes under those circumstances.

Any fans confident in the Yankees winning this series aren't being honest with themselves. The Yankees are an unfavorable bounce away from this being an 0-2 deficit, and their ability to punch back is among the weakest in the league. And to that we say: prove us wrong.