3 reasons the Yankees won’t win the 2022 World Series
By Tim Boyle
2) Yankees offense is great until it suddenly goes cold
Yankees fans have seen it plenty in the past. The mighty bats of the Bronx Bombers follow the October weather and go cold. It has been one of the biggest reasons why they have failed to reach the postseason in the recent past. Nothing suggests things will be any different this year.
The 2022 Yankees can score runs and hit home runs but they do it with a relatively average batting average. What happens when they go up against only teams with elite pitching? Aaron Judge might see his massive power numbers drop.
It is indeed Judge that we can point to directly and have some fear for the Yankees. A lifetime .230/.340/.504 hitter in 160 postseason plate appearances, the last time he even batted over .250 in a playoff series was in the 2019 ALDS. Batting average isn’t everything but take into consideration how the Yankees have last three out of four series since.
Judge is hardly the only Yankees bat to be concerned about. Anthony Rizzo has become a low-average, high-power hitter this season. The same is true for Giancarlo Stanton more so than ever before.
Without the ability to score with three straight singles on a regular basis, the Yankees are limited in how they can win games. They either have to outpitch the opponent or need the balls to fly far. Because of the better competition in the postseason, it’s much tougher to do the latter.