Jason Burgos
A notable New York radio host and devoted New York Yankees fan believes the defending American League Champions have become soft and may lack the guts to turn the season around and get back to the World Series.
This has been a rough couple of months for the Yankees. Since June 1, they are seven games under .500. A seven-game lead in the American League East has completely evaporated and turned into a 6.5-game hole. Throughout the season, New York has played some sloppy baseball, and it has seemingly gotten worse in recent weeks.
It has put a lot of heat on manager Aaron Boone and his boss, GM Brian Cashman. As well as created a lot of speculation about what the real problem with the Yankees is right now. Is it a lack of accountability? A poorly constructed roster? Or something else entirely.
WFAN host Keith McPherson does not hide his love of the Yankees during his shows for the popular New York radio station. He adds himself to those fans and experts who also believe Boone is not holding his players accountable enough. However, he suggested in a new conversation with Sportsnaut that the roster lacking heart may be a bigger issue.
“I think it’s just bad vibes around the team. They can’t shake it and they’ve been missing Aaron Judge who’s like this superhuman stabilizing force,” McPherson says. “They go as he goes. I said they’re soft, and I’ve been saying they’re soft because I watch them, and I watch how other teams compete against them. I watch how other teams compete, and their hair is on fire.
“A guy hits a double, he’s on second base, yelling and screaming. A guy gets a big out, and he’s pumping his fist, he’s fired up, meanwhile [the Yankees] are kind of just dropping their helmets, taking their gloves off, running into outs. Going through the motions, committing errors, and just ‘whoa is me’ feeling sorry for themselves and there’s never any repercussions,” he added.
Are the New York Yankees nurturing a ‘country club’ atmosphere in their locker room?
The reason why the radio host and fan thinks the team lacks the guts to break out of their slump and play better is what he calls a “country club” atmosphere in the locker room. Where players are just happy to be a part of the franchise instead of living up to the high standard set by the legends before them.
“Nobody gets benched or gets called out in front of the cameras because just showing up is good enough. It’s a country club. We’re happy you’re here; you’re the New York Yankees; you’re living off the backs of the Yankees of the past. It is a laissez-faire country club participation era of the New York Yankees, completely.”
