Sonny Gray's explanations for Yankees failures keep getting stranger ahead of Game 2

After a decisive 9-0 drubbing where New York Yankees stars (and Massachusetts natives) Ben Rice and Cam Schlittler put an emphatic stamp on Game 1 of the ALWCS, the club's second challenge against Boston Red Sox tonight in Game 2 will come with a familiar twist. Opposing them in an effort to keep the Red Sox's hopes alive will be a familiar face in Sonny Gray.

Gray famously fell flat on his face during his time in New York and decided to antagonize both the Yankees and their fans immediately following the trade that landed him in Boston, saying that he "never wanted" to play for the Yankees. That contradicted his previous statements about loving New York after being run out of the Bronx.

During the height of the Red Sox's struggles earlier in 2026, Gray reminded everyone that when the going gets tough he looks to get going with his comments about the team scuffling.

Then, during media sessions ahead of Game 1, Gray couldn't help but continuously put his foot in his mouth while once again trying to shift the blame for his failure in pinstripes to anyone but himself. What started as relatively milquetoast commentary devolved into some truly bizarre excuse-making.

"I think maybe during my time, there was outside this, outside that. Unfamiliarity with me and my situation and my family. It took me to get away and reflect on those things," Gray said at first.

It's an annoying sentiment, but a relatively fair assessment. Playing in New York for the most storied franchise in history comes with a set of lofty expectations that the media will constantly remind you of whenever things don't go perfectly. It's not something that everyone can handle.

But then he started going off the rails. He began talking about how those outside influences can snowball, gesturing wildly and overexplaining a common phenomenon as if it were some sort of foreign concept that only he fully understands.

Of course, the truth of the matter is that when he was here, the power to stop the snowball's momentum rested entirely with him. Had he simply decided to shut out the noise and perform better, suddenly, the chatter would have stopped. He didn't do that and was rightfully criticized for not fulfilling the role of front-of-the-rotation anchor he was brought in to satisfy.

When Gray was asked what kind of reception he expected to receive when taking the mound in Yankee Stadium, he sounded like a defeated man.

"I think that it'll be a playoff energy on the road, playoff atmosphere on the road. As far as reception, this or that, you know, it'll be what it'll be. I'm not gonna sit here and try to control something that I can't control, because I ultimately have no control over that. Yeah, it'll be what it'll be, and I'll just do my part to be ready to go out there and compete and to pitch and to go win a game," Gray said.

Sonny Gray's comments prove that the Yankees are still in the Red Sox ace's head, and jumping out early is a must

Gray's right about one thing. The game is going to open with the Bleacher Creatures at their loudest and most rambunctious the moment he takes the mound. However, he's ignoring the control he has over the proceedings. In the past, we've seen opposing pitchers come in and silence the crowd by dominating New York's lineup. Once again, the agency lies with him.

Combine that with all the excuse-making, the talk about the snowball effect, and the tepid pushback that he's stronger for having taken the time to reflect on the situation, and it's clear that this is not someone who is at his most comfortable rising to the occasion in a hostile environment when the spotlight is brightest.

That provides the Yankees with an opportunity. If they can jump on Gray early, they can probably get the 36-year-old right-hander to unravel. Gray has not-so-subtly hinted that he could retire at season's end, so getting him down early could help jump-start those thoughts about life after baseball and spending time with his family.

On the other hand, if the Yankees sputter early against him, it could give him the confidence he needs to exact revenge. A hot start will be key, and the team must take this opportunity to stomp its foot down on a hated rival and send them packing.

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