The Yankees just split a road trip against two of baseball's weakest teams, and other joyful observations

The Yankees are averaging three runs per game. They rank 25th out of 30 in MLB. In other words, it's worse than you thought...

1. Clutch hits have been a rarity for so long now that I cannot remember a Yankee team known for its grit and intensity. With a game on the line, who do we want coming up?

I guess DJ LeMahieu - the 2020 model, not last year's. After that, yeesh, Anthony Rizzo? I dunno. But Judge and Giancarlo do not vault to the top of my preferred list, and therein lies a problem. 

2. If the Yankees fail to sign Aaron Judge next winter, it will be a mark against the franchise's once great tradition - but a highlight for its growing reputation of corporate frugality. Maybe Hal Steinbrenner can serve as a global beacon for fiscal responsibility, leading the nation in the fight against inflation! 

3. The guy I originally considered the key to the Gary Sanchez/Geo Urshela trade - catcher Ben Rortvedt - has been disappeared by Thanos. Damn those infinity stones. He's already missed April - a strained lat - with no word on when he'll return, and - worst - we still don't know if he's any good. 

I mention this because Kyle Higashioka has failed to follow up on his big spring training, when he belted seven. Everybody loves Higgy, but there's a lingering suspicion that he's a much better backup than a front-line catcher. Three back-ups aren't going to solve our problem. Wait, didn't someone say Kiner-Falefa can catch?

4. Yesterday, Joey K. Gallo singled in the ninth - woo hoo! - lifting his BA to .135. He's an easy target, but overall, the Yankees are hitting .220 - that's 20th among MLB teams. You know who hit .220? Wayne Tolleson. In 1987. We are a team of 1987 Wayne Tollesons.

5. Among the true outcomes, we rank 15th in HRs, 13th in walks, an 12th in strikeouts. We are on a pace to fan 1.446 times - most in team history - with Giancarlo leading the way, with 19. Last year, around now, we were squawking about the Ks. Who imagined that we'd add Josh Donaldson (17 thus far) and Gallo (16) to the whiff parade? 

6. This is a huge existential threat to the game. The Orioles are on a pace to strikeout 1,670 times - more than 10 per game. The lords of baseball are tinkering with pitch clocks and over-shift bans, but neither will solve the sport's emerging malaise. 

The game is dying because balls are not being put into play.

7. Looking for hope in the Yankee farms? Good luck with that. Miguel Andujar - remember him? - is the only Scranton Railrider hitting above .240. (he's at .278.) The infield Oswalds - Peraza and Cabrera - are hitting .179 and .158, respectively. Remember all those prospects we touted through the spring? None have broken out. But... it's early, right?