The Yankees played their 100th game of the season last night, and without getting lost in the specific details of that disappointing loss, now seems like a good time to take a look at the broad view of the season. So here are 101 things about the Yankees’ 2025 season. As Vin Scully used to say, pull up a chair.
0
There are many amazing things about what Aaron Judge is doing this season, so this won’t be the last time he appears on this list, but this is perhaps the most amazing. He’s locked in a close race with Cal Raleigh for the league homerun title (Raleigh 38, Judge 36), which isn’t a surprise since he’s led the league in long balls two of the last three seasons. But here’s the shocker — Judge also has a comfortable lead in base hits with 128, outdistancing Bo Bichette, Trea Turner, and Bobby Witt, Jr., who are tied at 113. (One way to understand Judge’s dominance over the rest of the league is to look at the gap between Judge and second place. In this case, he’s thirteen hits ahead of second place, which is the same as the gap between second place and 26th place.) But back to my point. Judge has a chance to lead the league in home runs and hits. If that seems unusual, it’s because it is. It has happened exactly ZERO times in baseball history. This is a pretty special player we’re talking about.
1
This a franchise that always has only one goal — winning the World Series. It doesn’t matter there are people who will get their driver’s licenses this fall who weren’t alive the last time this happened, we all just accept that there is only one mission. Even if the team falls a few games short of this goal, as they did last season, a failed mission is still a failure. That view fuels desperation when there’s a three-game losing streak in May, when the bullpen blows a four-game lead in June, or when Anthony Volpe makes a throwing error in July. It would help to take a breath sometimes before grabbing the pitchforks and lighting the torches. It’s fine to have one goal, but it’s also okay to be measured in our response to the inevitable disappoints that this game with throw our way. (All that being said, I’ve bought in also. During the leadup to the World Series last October, I scoffed at all the Dodger fans I was walking around with t-shirts celebrating their National League Championship knowing that I would NEVER buy a shirt like that. I’m as guilty as the rest of you.)
2
The biggest problem that Anthony Volpe has is Derek Jeter. We were lucky enough to watch a generational player for two decades, inarguably one of the greatest shortstops of all time, and now we’ve got Volpe. Admittedly, he’s been in a funk for a couple months now, and I obviously don’t know how to fix him, but I think he only needs to be fixed a little bit. Dial back the swing in certain situations, hit behind a runner once in a while, and relax some in the field. We don’t need Derek Jeter; we just need Randy Velarde.
3
Volpe and Cody Bellinger are tied for the team lead with three triples.
4
The Yankees are four games behind the Toronto Blue Jays.
5
Giancarlo Stanton has five home runs, and I have absolutely nothing bad to say about him. Nothing.
6
The Yankees have a run differential of +109, better than every team in the American League, and just six runs behind the Chicago Cubs.
7
Aaron Judge leads all of baseball with a WAR of 6.9. (Just a tick below 7, so I’m cheating a bit here.)
8
Paul Goldschmidt and Jasson Domínguez each have 8 homeruns.
9
Infielder Jorbít Vivas has 9 hits.
10
The Yankees are ten games above .500, which kind of tells you all you need to know.
11
Max Fried has eleven wins.
12
Anthony Volpe has made 12 errors this season, leading the team and leading all major league shortstops.
13
D.J. LeMaheiu scored 13 runs before his Yankee career came to end when he was DFA’d earlier this month.
14
Jasson Domínguez leads the team with 14 stolen bases.
15
Carlos Rodón has given up 15 homeruns this season, the highest total on the team. Even so, he’s generally been great, exactly what the Yankees were hoping to get when they signed him three years ago.
16
Only 16 different Yankees have come to the plate this season, a number that seems surprisingly low.
17
Cody Bellinger has 17 homeruns, but that only tells part of the story. He’s been a huge addition to this team, and I hope he sticks around. (I mean, unless Spencer Jones turns out to be the real deal and is starting in center field next year.)
18
Cody Bellinger has 18 doubles.
19
Austin Wells has walked 19 times.
20
Yankee leadoff batters have hit twenty homeruns.
21
Austin Wells has the highest average launch angle on the team at 21 degrees. (Actually 20.9)
22
Yankee third baseman have combined for an OPS of .655, which is 22nd in baseball.
23
It isn’t difficult to imagine a world in which Don Mattingly is the next manager of the New York Yankees.
24
The Yankees have been caught stealing 24 times, tied with the Reds and Red Sox for the tenth highest total in baseball.
25
Oswaldo Cabrera struck out 25 times.
26
As a team, the Yankees have 26 saves.
27
Not including position player Pablo Reyes, the Yankees have used a preposterous 27 pitchers this season. Twenty-seven!
28
Will this be the year the Yankees with their 28th World Series? Only time will tell.
29
Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt have each walked 29 times.
30
The Yankee staff has 30 wild pitches this season, the thirteenth highest total in the game.
31
Ben Rice has 31 RBIs.
32
Fernando Cruz has appeared in 32 games.
33
Jazz Chisholm has an OPS+ of 133, meaning he’s 33% better than league average.
34
Oswaldo Cabrera played only 34 games before his injury this year, and I really miss him.
35
Tyler Matzek has faced 35 batters.
36
Aaron Judge has 36 homeruns.
37
Paul Goldschmidt has 37 RBIs, good for seventh-best on the time. Probably not what most envisioned.
38
Yankee batters have been hit by pitches 38 times, which is 17th in baseball.
39
Carlos Carrasco has given up 39 hits.
40
Jazz Chisholm has scored 40 runs.
41
Ian Hamilton has 41 strikeouts.
42
Mark Leiter, Jr., has allowed 42 hits.
43
Aaron Judge leads baseball with an OPS of 1.175, which is 181 points ahead of Shohei Ohtani in second place. There’s a similar gap between Ohtani (.993) and Junior Caminero (.812), forty-three spots lower.
44
Ben Rice has scored 44 runs.
45
The Yankees have 45 losses this season.
46
Trent Grisham has scored 46 runs.
47
Will Warren leads the staff with 47 walks.
48
Ryan Yarborough has allowed 48 hits.
49
Devin Williams has 49 strikeouts.
50
Oswaldo Cabrera had 50 at bats at home.
51
Cody Bellinger has 51 hits with the bases empty.
52
Jorbít Vivas has 52 at bats.
53
Anthony Volpe has 53 RBIs, which is fourth on the team. No matter how many times I notice this, it still blows my mind.
54
Ben Rice ranks eleventh in baseball with a 54% rate of balls hit with an exit velocity of 95MPH or higher.
55
The Yankees have 55 wins this season.
56
Cody Bellinger has scored 56 runs, the third highest total on the team.
57
Paul Goldschmidt has scored 57 runs.
58
Yankee pitchers have induced 58 ground ball double plays, which is 25th in baseball.
59
The Yankees won 59 of the first 100 games last year, just four games better than they are right now.
60
Aaron Judge has 60 RBIs when facing right-handed pitching.
61
Based on run differential, the Yankees should have 61 wins instead of 55.
62
Aaron Judge has 62 extra base hits — 24 doubles, 2 triples, and 36 homeruns.
63
Yankee designated hitters have 63 RBIs.
64
The Yankees have stolen 64 bases, tied with the White Sox for 18th in baseball.
65
The Yankees have hit into 65 standard double plays, which is right in the middle of the pack — 15th in baseball.
66
The Yankees have hit 66 homeruns against National League opponents, more than any other American League team.
67
The Yankees have hit 67 homeruns in day games, trailing on the Chicago Cubs, who have hit 70 in six more games.
68
Jazz Chisholm has 68 putouts.
69
Trent Grisham has started 69 games in center field, and he’s been great.
70
Anthony Volpe has struck out 70 times against right-handed pitching.
71
Trent Grisham has 71 hits.
72
Aaron Judge leads the team with 72 walks.
73
Clarke Schmidt struck out 73 batters before his season came to an end.
74
Max Fried has given up 74 hits to right-handed batters. (He’s also been just as good as the Yankees hoped when they signed up this off season. I can’t wait to see what this team looks like when he’s paired with a healthy Gerrit Cole.)
75
Jazz Chisholm has struck out 75 times.
76
Anthony Volpe has 76 hits.
77
Oswaldo Cabrera has fielded 77 chances.
78
Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil have combined for 78.2 innings pitched this season, and obviously that’s all from Schmidt, who won’t pitch again for a year or so. If we’re being charitable, we have to admit that it’s remarkable that a team could lose 60% of its projected starting rotation and still be in contention.
79
Max Fried has struck out 79 right-handed batters.
80
J.C. Escarra has 80 at bats. Given his backstory, I’m sure he’s cherished every single one.
81
Austin Wells has appeared in 81 games.
82
Aaron Judge has 82 RBIs.
83
Trent Grisham has appeared in 83 games.
84
J.C. Escarra has an OPS+ of 84.
85
The Yankees have hit 85 homeruns at Yankee Stadium, trailing only the Dodgers (96) for most homeruns at home.
86
Trent Grisham has 86 total bases on the road.
87
Carlos Rodón has struck out 87 batters with the bases empty.
88
Someone named Brent Headrick has appeared in eleven games and posted an ERA+ of 88. If he were sitting right next to me right now I’d never recognize him.
89
Aaron Judge has scored 89 runs, tops in the American League and just five runs behind Shohei Ohtani.
90
BaseballReference.com gives the Yankees a 90.5% chance of making the playoffs.
91
Cody Bellinger has appeared in 91 games.
92
Mark Leiter, Jr., has an ERA+ of 92, which means he’s eight percent worse than league average.
93
Yerry De Los Santos has faced 93 batters.
94
Anthony Volpe has struck out 94 times, which is a huge problem.
95
Aaron Judge has an average exit velocity of 95.2 MPH. Only O’Neill Cruz (96.2) is higher.
96
Max Fried and Will Warren have each given up 96 hits.
97
Cody Bellinger has 97 at bats against left handers, hitting a robust .361 with an OPS of 1.042.
98
Will Warren, #98, has started 21 games, tied for the most in baseball.
99
Probably the best player any of us will ever see wearing Yankee pinstripes.
100
100 games down, 62 to go. Let’s go, Yan-kees!
[Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.]
Hank, this is a monumental effort, so I will first give you kudos on this and then give only a few of my many pertinent thoughts.
1. I unfortunately don’t think Volpe is an adjustment or two away, nor do the Yanks need him to be only Randy Velarde, given holes elsewhere in the lineup. Boone continues to cover for him, and he has shown a lack of urgency to improve. The fact that he has played basically the most games in baseball since his rookie season while also being amongst the worst SS statistically is mind boggling. Sending him down obviously might break him permanently but there’s nothing wrong with giving a youngster a few days off now and again to reset the old cabeza.
2. Hard to believe Rice only has 31 RBI after 100 games given how he started the year.
3. I’ll take heat for this but I would be fine with the Yankees missing the playoffs this year if it gets Mattingly into the skippers seat. He’s not a neophyte manager where you’d worry about his Yankee player legacy being tarnished if he stumbled. He’s done the work and succeeded elsewhere and I think could bring the right mix of Boone’s support for the players as well as holding people accountable.
Thanks to the crew for keeping the lights on here.
Thanks, Knuckles. And I don’t necessarily disagree with you about Volpe. Something has to be done.
Such a big win — thanks to Rice and no thanks to Volpe. There’s hope! (And man, do I despise the Jays.)
I don’t watch all the teams, but I can’t imagine any good team is as good at finding new ways to lose. It’s amazing.
Four of these Toronto runs shouldn’t have scored. The Bellinger play happens from time to time, but again — finding ways to lose. We haven’t seen this particular version before.
This is essentially a little league game right now.
I elected to not watch tonight, in favor of ~tripling my evening dog walks ahead of a couple days travel. And based on following on the phone app…It was a good idea.
Saved by the strikeout of that would’ve been five errors.
I didn’t use to like Joel Sherman, but he’s grown on me over the years. I heard him make a good point the other day. This is the third year in a row that the Yankees have tanked in midseason. He suggested this could be because Boone and the organization just doesn’t keep the team sharp with drills and workouts during the season so there’s no urgency or expectation for pitchers to cover first, for infielders to throw to the right base, all that. It makes a whole lot of sense.
It will be interesting to see how this game sits. Is it okay? Or does someone actually say something? Because damn.
Welp, there's a new third baseman on the way, but his name isn't Eugenio Suarez. No major chips dealt, and the contract runs through 2027. Decent left-handed power (16 home runs this season), but he averaged 172 strikeouts per season from 2021-24 and currently leads the National League with 127, on pace to exceed that average. Want more bad news? Those homerun numbers are inflated by Coors Field (shocker). He has 11 at home and just 5 on the road. His OPS+? 138 in Colorado, 65 at sea level.
What about defense? The picture is better. According to ESPN, he leads all major league third basemen in range factor. According to Baseball Savant, he's fifth in Outs Above Average, with 6. (For comparison's sake, Ke'Bryan Hayes is far and away the leader in this stat with 14; Eugenio Suarez would be a defensive liability at -6, 38th out of 40 third basemen ranked. Oh, by the way, Anthony Volpe ranks 31st out of 35 rated shortstops in this category at -4, so it's possible that the decision to pass on Suarez is an acknowledgement from the front office that they know Volpe's defense is a problem and they couldn't afford to have the worst left-side infield defense in baseball.)
Anyway, if we assume that this need has been plugged, it means the Yankees still have all their big trading chips available to pursue their other two needs -- a starting pitcher and a reliever. Stay tuned.
Amazing use of numbers, Hank. Kudos to you. I was watching a LLWS softball game and saw the ticker about the new 3rd baseman. Hopefully he's one of those guys who puts on the pinstripes and finds a new level to his game. Something had to be done so I have no complaints. Those strikeout totals are not encouraging, however.
Sounds like a meh deal.
[11] It seems to be getting generally positive reviews out there. Suarez would've been a big upgrade, but a rental. And I don't think offense is this team's problem.
Oh, goodie. An error instead of a double play.
It’s shocking how bad the defense is.
I’ve had the game on for about three minutes and the Phillies have scored four runs.
Brutal.
Wow pitching sucks today.
Elbow issues for Judge?!
Potentially devastating.
Honestly, my biggest concern is not for the team or for the season. It’s not like this team has looked like a World Series contender. Watching Judge play has been a privilege, and his at bats are obviously the ones I wait for. Also, I worry about the historical significance of a long term injury, whether it’s a 15-day IL stint or twelve months for Tommy John. Nothing else about this team really matters to me right now. McMahon? Don’t care. Bullpen issues? Don’t care. Just give me good news about Judge.
The rest of the team needs to step up.
And this isn’t it.
I need to pick up my mom’s prescription
Mediocre pitching, little offense, but at least the defense is crappy
It’s what 8 months for position player TJS? So Judge could be back by May. But Stanton is the DH.
That looks like a catch
Phew, only a flexor strain. 10 DL
The best news ever.
[28] This side of Hal selling the team to someone who wants championships, not a cash cow.
Nice to have some runs. I don't like wasting a lead off triple though it was a very nice play by the outfielder.
Chew on this stat:
The Yankees are 42-22 when they don’t make an error, but 15-26 when they do.
Why isn't Rice playing again? RH on the mound again. What am I missing?
Should have walked him.
Oops, I guess Stanton is sitting and Rice is DHing. Still think they should sit Goldie against most RHP.
Cody!!
Nothing easy, apparently.
Have you noticed this about McMahon? Every throw across the diamond hits the first baseman in the chest. Every time. It seems like every other Yankee infielder bounces it across. It’s maddening. Hope that one doesn’t cost them.
Phew.
Can't believe that is only his second blown save. Seems like he had more trouble than that.
Did Volpe figure out something? He has been hitting better since the all star break. Yes, I know about his fielding.
This team is so fucking stupid.
Austin Wells. Just unbelievable.
This is like a slow death.
Boone must go. There’s been zero accountability on this team all year (and for years before that).
Clay!
A slow death, I tell you.
[46] Sure looks that way. Stanton wasn't even close on those change-ups. Should have kept the bat on his shoulders.
Turned out to be a nice win, but damn this is a maddening team.
Nice.
Good start today!
[51] For the offense.
Hope they can maintain this lead, and manage to land an impact player or two before dinnertime rolls around...
Shoot. Slater did not impress me.
Stroman cut.
So nothing flashy about the Yankees’ deadline acquisitions, but people seem pretty excited about the bullpen depth. Mainly I’m glad they didn’t deal away their top prospects. Intellectually I accept the idea that you’re better off trading prospects for established stars, but my favorite Yankees have always been the ones who I’ve watched come up through the minors.
Nice catch, Martian
New bullpen is already paying dividends.
For the other teams that is.
Man. That was fast.
Well, tonight’s new way to lose:
Build a lockdown bullpen that some people were calling one of the best in the game, then watch them implode.
Unbelievable that that ball to Volpe was scored a base hit.
Who is this Volpe guy that they got after the all star break?
[61] Could have been a close play.
Volpe is truly maddening.
Why would you leave Bednar in there? I don't think I like this.
[65] What do I know?
What happened???
So all four new Yankees combined to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Simply amazing.
Literally Unbelievable!!!
How could they possibly be this bad?
I was thinking at least Caballero didn't do anything wrong. Spoke too soon.
I was texting with a friend while watching the game, and he asked, “How are Yankee fans doing? I hear there’s some panicking going on.” We talked about this for a while. Here’s my final text to him:
So here's why the Yankee fan base is so psychotic. I still write about the Yankees a fair amount, and even though I hate when analysts say this, here's how I've described this team -- they somehow manage to find new ways to lose all the time. Like tonight.
They went up 12-10 in the ninth, then coughed it up and lost 13-12. They acquired four players yesterday, and ALL FOUR contributed mightily to this loss. The two relievers I mentioned earlier, then a third reliever who pitched the ninth and gave up the lead. Then an outfielder from Tampa Bay (who had pinch run in the ninth, stole a base, and scored what should've been the winning run) fielded a base hit to right field with runners on first and second in the bottom of the ninth. But he let the ball go under his glove and to the wall. Both runners scored to tie it, and the batter ended up on third. Three pitches later he scored on a dribbler that went about ten feet. The creativity of this team is admirable. But think of it -- four new players introduced themselves to the most dysfunctional fan base in sports by sabotaging a game the Yankees led 6-0, 9-4, and 12-10 in the ninth. Welcome to New York, motherfuckers.
Sure, Paul. Take a chance. Even when everyone watching knows Grisham is going to be out by 30 feet. Yeesh.
Nice job, Jazz. Wtf is going on?
Boone ball
Is this team just gaslighting us now? Trying to spin getting doubled off first to end an inning as four dimensional chess is beyond galling.
A day after our three new relievers cough up nine runs in two plus innings.
I know the latter isn’t on the manager, but just fire Boone already. Geez. The sloppiness is a feature not a bug at this stage.
When is Judge eligible to play again?
[75] I would say yes and no that it is/is not Boone's fault. I think he sets a standard that is far below what a contending MLB team should be doing. The fact that stuff like this keeps happening is definitely a point against Boone. Players should be able to fix a lot of these problems on their own by focusing better.
I think they should replace him, but know that they are likely not to. I think it would be an interesting experiment that could break either way.
And now they’re showing Jorge Posada highlights, as if to remind us what it was like to have a real red-ass on the field, who just got shit done.
I think Marsee is going to be a star. Probably for another team though.
[78] I would not mind seeing him as the next Yankee Manager.
Maybe tomorrow for Judge.
Why is Weaver not our closer? I haven't trusted Williams at all with a one run lead. Apparently this is only his third blown save, but it doesn't feel like it.
Can’t believe it’s only his third blown save either.
And I’m right there with you. I can’t bring myself to trust Williams either.
Good thing they walked the previous batter.
For the first time in Boone’s tenure I’m beginning to think they might fire him. At a certain point someone is going to think that something has to be done. I’m not necessarily rooting for it, but for the first time I can say I wouldn’t be opposed to it. Because this is a trainwreck.