All Hands On Deck

 

Enough, already.

Enough with the utility infielder playing centerfield, and the never-was first baseman playing left.

Enough with Giancarlo Stanton in right field, or getting another day off, and Gleyber DHing, and Donaldson and DJ...I dunno what.

Enough with Harrison Bader getting a "cautionary" night off because he was hit on the wrist. What, all of a sudden the Yankees don't have access to an x-ray machine?

Your New York Yankees are currently in third place in the AL East, hanging on to the last wild card play-in spot by one skinny game over Toronto. With Boston right behind them. And the Yankees' only position player of worth out until toe-knows-when.

Next week, thanks to their incompetence and underproduction, nearly all of our lads will have a blissful, four days off. Even the two who will go to the All-Star Game, Flouncy Cole and Gleyber (Somehow; is it now the All-Meh Game?), are highly unlikely to play more than an inning or two.

To reach that golden oasis of extended rest, all the Yankees have to do is play four more games, one against a division (and wild card) rival, and three against a rebuilding Cubs team.

That's it. 

There is no reason whatsoever that the Yankees cannot play all-out for those four games.

No reason why every alleged starter cannot play every inning of every game where he will help the team most. No time for Injury-Prevention Days Off—which, as many of us have noted, never prevent injuries.)

No more sitting these hardy young men can get a full five days off instead of four, and feel "fully rested." 

No more Boone Excuses. ("Boonies"? "Swoonies"?)

Contrary to what their manager seems to believe, these Yankees have not just marched back from Moscow with Napoleon's Grand Armée. They are not about to sign up with Shackleton for a years-long jaunt around Antarctica. They don't have to clear forests, or plough the bottom forty, or pound spikes on the railroad, all the live-long day.

It's the summer time, and in return for a staggering amount of money, they are being asked to play baseball for four, consecutive days, two-three hours a day. 

Boggles the mind, I know. But I believe that they can do it.

And if they can't...so what? 

Does anyone truly believe, after all the injuries of the last six seasons, that if these Yankees get more rest over the weekend, they will run injury free for the rest of the weekend? Of course not. And frankly, the way most of the team is playing—and has, in fact, played for years now—would we miss them?

No, we would not.

The situation is dire. The hour is late. And no, I don't know what those chickens are doing in this painting. But you can bet they need less rest than the average Yankee.

No more Swoonies. The Bronx expects every man to do his duty. At least for another four days.