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New York Post
12 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Why Brian Cashman isn't panicking about Yankees' recent slump
Access the Yankees beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees. Try it free For anyone looking for flipped tables or angry speeches about the historic slump the Yankees — during which they previously were shut out three straight games for the first time in nearly a decade and now have a season-high six-game losing streak — the team didn't provide. Instead, from the front office to the manager's office to the dugout, the message was pretty much the same — even if fans don't want to hear it. 'You've got to stay consistent with routines,' general manager Brian Cashman said while at a HOPE Week charity event Wednesday. 'Again, the storm — hopefully — will pass sooner than later. We don't take any of that for granted. I'm not gonna say this isn't a headache to deal with. It is. You want to win every game, but that's not possible. You certainly don't want to be in this bad a stretch, either. That's no fun. As of late, we've hit a rough spot. We'll fight through it.' The lineup that led in many categories for much of the season began to hit the skids a week ago, when the Yankees scored one run but still beat the Royals. That began a seven-game stretch heading in which the Yankees put up just seven runs, a lack of production not seen by the club since 1968. They did snap their scoreless in a 3-2 loss to the Angels on Wednesday, mustering three hits, two of which were solo homers — which classifies as an offensive outburst in these times. 'I get it's historic because we got shut out a few times,' Aaron Boone said before the latest defeat. 'But it's a few games out of 162. It's a snapshot, especially with as good an offense as we are. 'It's more when these things become weeks, when you struggle as an offense. Then you start to make adjustments with what's going on with different individuals. That's not the case here. This is a few days. Granted, we have not scored. We have to score.' General manager Brian Cashman said he is confident the Yankees will snap out of their recent offensive funk. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post And play fundamentally sound, which has also been an issue of late. 'When you're not scoring, those little things, you've got to be perfect with,' Boone said. 'You've got to be able to advance the runner. … Guys are in a good spot [and] in the right frame of mind. We just have to keep things small. That's been a hallmark of what we've done all year and an identity of who we are.' Cody Bellinger, who homered Wednesday, said a stretch like this one is to be expected, even for the best of teams, though this one has garnered more attention because of the numbers. Aaron Judge grimaces after flying out to deep center with two runners on in the eighth inning of the Yankees' loss to the Angels on June 18, 2025. Jason Szenes / New York Post 'Every team I've been on, we've hit a part of the season when you wonder, 'What's going on here?' ' said Bellinger, in his first season with the Yankees after a career spent with the Dodgers and Cubs. 'There are always variables in baseball. But our goal is to win the division, get to the postseason and win the World Series. We play 162 for a reason and there are going to be stretches when you say, 'What the heck is going on?' We just have to trust our guys.' Those guys are — for the most part — the same ones that led the majors in slugging percentage, homers and OPS through June 11. Since then, the Yankees entered Wednesday with the worst offense in the game, though Boone noted that their metrics showed they have continued to hit the ball hard. 'We're obviously in a tough spot right now, a tough patch,' Cashman said. 'But these guys care and they're grinding through it. We'll fight our way through it. … No one's gonna give us anything. We've got to take it.'
New York Post
16 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Ben Rice ‘pretty comfortable' in first start as catcher for Yankees
Access the Yankees beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees. Try it free Ben Rice passed his first test as a starting catcher in the majors. He came up through the minor league system primarily as a catcher before serving as a first baseman and a DH the past two seasons with the Yankees. Wednesday he made his first start behind the plate of his MLB career in a 3-2 loss to the Angels. Rice said he 'felt pretty comfortable,' and he impressed Aaron Boone and starter Ryan Yarbrough with how he caught the game, as well as throwing out Logan O'Hoppe when he tried to steal second in the second inning. 'Rice was good,'' Boone said. 'I don't think it moved too fast.' The Yankees want to use Rice more at catcher with Giancarlo Stanton back from elbow tendinitis that had sidelined him since the spring. Stanton didn't start Wednesday but pinch-hit for Rice in the bottom of the seventh and popped to left. Rice has continued to work at catcher throughout the season, and Boone said he could be in the mix, along with fellow lefty-swingers Austin Wells and J.C. Escarra. 3 Ben Rice, who made his first start at catcher for the Bombers, shares a laugh with Ryan Yarbrough during the second inning of the Yankees' 3-2 loss to the Angels on June 18, 2025. Getty Images The Red Sox might have dealt Rafael Devers to the Giants in a huge deal before most of the baseball world expected the trade market to develop, but that doesn't mean Brian Cashman believes it will still take some time for other moves to be made. Asked if the market may begin to move in the wake of the Red Sox shipping the unhappy Devers out of Boston, Cashman said, 'Not yet. Those days are coming sooner than later.' Typically, teams like to get past the amateur draft before they turn their full attention to the trade market, and the draft doesn't begin until July 13. 3 Yankees general manager Brian Cashman Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Asked for his thoughts on the Devers deal, Cashman only said it was 'huge.' 'I'm worried about us,'' Cashman said after taking part in a HOPE Week charity event Wednesday to raise funds for The Valerie Fund, which helps pediatric cancer patients, survivors and their families. When the time comes, the Yankees figure to be in the market for at least an infielder and some bullpen help. Luis Gil is expected to face hitters in live batting practice Saturday for the first time since being sidelined in the spring with a strained lat. 3 Luis Gil watches the action during a Yankees-Guardians game earlier this month. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Even without Gil, Yankees pitchers have excelled. They entered Wednesday having given up three or fewer runs in each of the team's previous eight games, with a 1.61 ERA. Marcus Stroman continued his rehab assignment with a 3 ¹/₃-inning outing with Double-A Somerset, where he allowed a pair of runs. Luke Weaver reported no issues after his live BP session on Tuesday. The closer is coming back from a strained hamstring suffered June 1. Boone said he would check in with the right-hander Wednesday and Thursday before determining a next step. Go beyond the box score with the Bombers Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters 'I'm not expecting any hiccups,'' Boone said of Weaver's recovery. With Weaver sidelined, Devin Williams has had his best stretch since joining the Yankees in the offseason. Now back in the closer role, at least until Weaver gets back, Williams has allowed just five baserunners over 5 ²/₃ innings in six appearances. He'd struck out seven and picked up four saves in as many opportunities. The Yankees will be looking for Carlos Rodón to return to form Thursday after back-to-back rough outings. After the left-hander allowed just eight earned runs over a nine-start stretch, Rodón gave up eight earned runs in just 10 innings pitched in his previous two starts.
