Hal Steinbrenner calls out veteran Yankees for lack of hitting
Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner is finally becoming more like his father, but in the best possible way. He’ll talk about his team now, but in the most tempered possible way. He’ll call out players, but only in the kindest possible way.
Frankly, after more than a decade in the top job, it’s nice to see him shedding his shell.
The younger Steinbrenner scheduled his occasionally annual talk with the Yankees’ press corps in Midtown on Tuesday, a few hours before the Subway Series started, and he made clear what’s on his mind after 67 so-so games — 38 wins, 29 losses and a third-place standing. Steinbrenner made some pointed remarks, but he stopped way short of hurling insults, and even avoided mentioning names at all, at least until prodded.
“We’ve got to start hitting,” Steinbrenner said ahead of the Yankees’ 7-6 series-opening win. “We’re putting way too much pressure on the pitchers. There are several of our veterans who need to step up, especially with [Aaron] Judge gone. Let’s just see if guys pick it up, particularly the veterans I’m talking about.”
Steinbrenner’s manner of speaking is just like his dad’s strong staccato, and straight to the point. But he tones down his words, and tends toward the positive.
Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner says veteran Yankees, such as Anthony Rizzo and DJ LeMahieu, have to start hitting, especially due to the absence of Aaron Judge. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I don’t think it’s a mental thing. I don’t think it’s in their heads,” he said of Judge’s absence. “But it’s been a two-week sample size, and it hasn’t been promising. But as you know, he’s one of the best players in the game, and we’re going to miss him.”
Steinbrenner, true to his good character, was reluctant to provide names, but he approved me trying out some guesses. Figuring it had to be the highly paid, normally high-performing guys, I take no bows for going 3-for-4. After excusing a wrong Josh Donaldson guess, Steinbrenner said, “Certainly DJ [LeMahieu], [Anthony] Rizzo and Giancarlo [Stanton], they’re struggling right now. I can’t believe that will last.” (Even after noting a negative, he balances it with hopefulness.)
There’s only one George, an ownership original with a limited editing valve and endless entertainment value. We saw recently that Mets owner Steve Cohen won’t be auditioning to be the next George Steinbrenner, either, showing amazing restraint about a team that entered Tuesday much worse (31-35), and telling our Joel Sherman that “blowing up” serves no purpose beyond creating a “one-day story.” (I don’t have a vote, of course, but I don’t mind the one-day stories.)
Hal was never going to be George, either, despite the genes. But for years it seemed he was resolved to acting out the reverse. He appeared unusually press averse (as opposed to Tuesday when he invited an extra question) and was overly cautious for a guy who owns the team and can presumably say what he pleases.
Hal Steinbrenner sits in the dugout with Brian Cashman during Yankees’ spring training. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Now it finally feels like he’s found his sweet spot. He tells it like it is, or at least how he perceives it to be. And he’s probably paying a lot closer attention than you think. The Bronx Bombers have been amazingly average — they were 16th in runs, 18th in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS, and 21st in batting average entering play. And worse without Judge.
They were averaging fewer than three runs a game since Judge went out with a toe injury after crashing into the concrete base of the wall at otherwise lovely Dodger Stadium. Since Judge went down, the quintet of LeMahieu, Stanton, Rizzo, Donaldson and Gleyber Torres were 11-for-101 (.109) with a .448 OPS as play began Tuesday. That quintet went 4-for-17 (.235) with four RBIs (including Donaldson’s pinch-hit sac fly RBI) against the Mets on Tuesday.
Steinbrenner seemed focused on the trio of LeMahieu, Stanton and Rizzo, possibly since they’re the ones with the best résumés (and highest expectations). LeMahieu, who hit a two-run homer in the Yankees’ win, is a two-time batting champion, Stanton, who also homered, a former MVP and Rizzo a hero of the 2016 World Series champion Cubs who’s been just as good since coming to New York.
“Giancarlo Stanton, he’s a bit streaky — when he turns it on, he can carry a team,” Steinbrenner said. “Rizzo did hurt his neck, but I’ve heard of zero problems with his neck. DJ is healthy, and I don’t know what to say. He hasn’t come to us with the foot or toe. It’s concerning because he’s striking out a lot which is very unlike him.”
Unlike in the old days when it was a regular occurrence and even a necessity, these Yankees aren’t used to answering questions about the owner’s comments. Rizzo and LeMahieu seemed surprised but they handled it with aplomb (Stanton was apparently working on his hitting and wasn’t reached pregame).
Said Rizzo: “Obviously, every game you want to get five hits. That’s the mentality. You just take it one day at a time.”
LeMahieu, true to form, was even more succinct. Told Steinbrenner mentioned his recent struggles, LeMahieu said, “I don’t think that’s any secret.”
The surprise here is that Steinbrenner the younger would say it aloud. But in the end, Steinbrenner concluded, “I’m banking on all them going to be good, shortly.”
If his father had said exactly that, it would be treated as a threat. When Hal said it, it sounded like what it was — a show of trust.
Source: New York Post
