Slow motion disaster: The Yankees have nobody in the pipeline to replace Gleyber Torres

Gleyber's World

Last night, on the way to their latest disaster - (8 losses in 10 games) - the Yankees finally showed a smattering of spine.

They benched Gleyber Torres, this year's official Yankee pariah. 

A hallmark of modern Yankee teams is to field at least one vastly underachieving player, whose collapse defies age, physicality and logic. Last year, the candle of Yankee hopelessness was carefully manned by Josh Donaldson and Aaron Hicks. This year, it's Gleyber (though several others may be stepping up to help.) 

In benching Gleyber, Aaron Boone offered, as cover, yet another modern tradition: "tightness" in the hammy. The Yankees are a team of bailing twine, ratcheted to exhaustion and always ready to snap. 

So, what now? Who might save the Yankee infield, which currently amounts to Anthony Volpe and some reanimated corpses? Fuckiff I know. But rest assured: The SOS was not sent, the 9-1-1 call was not picked up, the cavalry is not coming... help is not on the way. 

My bet: After Gleyber spends a night or two in Boonie's penalty box, the Yankees will trot him back out there, gushing over his latest swings and praying that he finds himself. The other options conjure memories of Brian Roberts and Stephen Drew. The Yankees have floundered at 2B since 2014, when Robby Cano jogged off to Seattle. Gleyber was supposed to end our troubles and hold the position for several years. Now, he's a lame duck, almost certain to go elsewhere next winter, when his contract ends. 

Last night, they played Oswaldo Cabrera, 25, now into his third season of desperation. He went 1-for-3 with a walk, lifting his BA to .238. (He's a lifetime .228.) Fans love Oswaldo's smile, his glove, his hustle. It's just his bat that troubles us. I don't know if he even pinch hits anymore, so sad has he been from the right side. The Yankees love to tout their coaches. Well, where's the help for this guy? Has there ever been someone more in need of an overhaul? 

Then there is DJ LeMahieu, 35, who would have to move from 3B or 1B, leaving a bleak hole. This would replace Gleyber's disappointment with another disappointment. After 23 games, LeMahieu is hitting .178 and - worse - still seeks his first extra base hit of 2024. Right now, the Yankees have little choice but to keep running him out there. But where? And when does the experiment end? 

In April and May, Scranton fans were electrified by the play of tiny Caleb Durbin, a 5'6" Jose Altuve kewpie, who hit .299 and ran wild on the bases (28 SB, 2 CS.) Unfortunately, Durbin, 25, hasn't been seen since May 29, when he took a pitch off his right hand. Reports described him wearing a brace the size of a toaster. It looked bad. If Durbin, 25, returned tomorrow, he'd need about a month to reach playing shape.

Last winter, the Yankees obtained Jorbit Vivas, 23, in a roster dump from the Dodgers. At the time, he was touted as our future 2B. Vivias missed the opening weeks of the season and has been a - hmm, what's the word? umm... disappointment. Could you believe it? In 24 games, he's hitting .225 with 2 HRs. 

Wait, did I fail to mention Oswald Peraza, 24, the former future Yankee SS (of 2022), who floundered last spring and has never stopped? In 29 games at Scranton, he's hitting .180 with 1 HR. 

Wait... there is one player doing well: Jeter Downs, 25, the eternal prospect, a leftover from Boston's fabled trade of Mookie Betts. He's hitting .274 with 9 HRs and 14 stolen bases. He's a career .241 hitter in the minors. A late bloomer? Why not?

Down at Double A Somerset, there is Anthony Siegler, the 2018 first-round draft pick, then a catcher, seeking to salvage his career as an infielder. He's now 25. He's hitting .201.

So, trade for somebody? Find Gleyber a new therapist? Dunno. But the Yankees better do something. This season is slipping through their hands like a grounder to second.