NEW YORK — Just minutes after the Yankees wrapped up their first half of the season, general manager Brian Cashman fired hitting coach Dillon Lawson. The Yankees’ offense was disappointing in almost every way imaginable – from team philosophy to underperforming key veterans. A change was needed. But it will be crucial whether there are actual differences on the pitch or not.
“Our offense had a lot of problems, more than I can remember,” Cashman told reporters on Sunday. “The team we have – to be fair to Dillon – has undoubtedly had some injuries. We really had problems together. I think it’s best if we change something in the second half. Of course, once the second half starts we only have a short period of time in which to try to regain our full potential, including our health. I feel like finding someone else to take the top spot on offense will be in our best interests as I solve the problems of our entire organization.”
The Yankees’ next hitting coach, Cashman said, will come from outside the organization and ideally already be employed by the time the Yankees play Colorado next weekend. Assistant coaches Casey Dykes and Brad Wilkerson will remain on during the transition.
“I am thankful for the last 5 years. I wish the Yankees nothing but the best,” Lawson replied when The Athletic texted him late Sunday night.
Lawson’s firing now raises more questions for the Yankees. Heading into the All-Star break, they lie fourth in the American League East. They are currently not among the three wildcard teams and are just a game ahead of last-placed Boston in the division.
Above all, this step sends the message that more urgency is needed. Here are some questions and analysis for what’s next for the Yankees.
How concerned should Aaron Boone be about his own job security?
Boone needs to be careful. Sure, the three-year deal the Yankees gave him runs through next season and includes a team option for 2025. But what now? Lawson’s sacking was a drastic measure and the heat in the Bronx has intensified tremendously. Boone knows all eyes are on him to turn things around. The next coach to get the job will start with a deficit. He will not have offseason and spring training to prepare. It’s up to Boone not only to make sure players are comfortable with the newcomer’s message, but also to make sure players maintain confidence in the front office. The players will be looking for a leader and the leadership has decided that one of their own must go. The Yankees will project an image of stability, but there will be players who question those making the decisions. Boone needs to show he can handle all of this while also creating a turnaround that heavily relies on his batsmen pulling it off. — Kuty
Boone should be very concerned. Owner Hal Steinbrenner recently said he’d have tough questions to ask if the team either misses the postseason or fails in the playoffs. Should that happen, the heat on Boone will be intense and perhaps too hot to do nothing about. Lawson’s firing likely won’t be the only power shift the organization is making after another dud in October. Her next batting coach will be her sixth in the last 10 years. At some point, Steinbrenner might realize that going without coaches will not help the Yankees reach the World Series and that more drastic measures are needed, including finding a new manager. – Kirschner
Is this a panic attack?
When you drizzle “Desperation” on a cologne bottle, it smells like you’re firing the attacking trainer. The Yankees don’t know how to fix DJ LeMahieu or they would have done it long ago. They don’t know if Giancarlo Stanton’s recent improved results mean he’s back or if it’s just a mirage. Like everyone else, they’re waiting for Anthony Rizzo to hit his first home run since May 20, for Josh Donaldson to look like Josh Donaldson, and for Gleyber Torres to stop making mental mistakes. The lineup was a mess. As recently as two years ago, the Yankees credited Lawson with the stellar seasons of several of their brightest hit talents. Now is he the problem? Maybe he is. Or maybe the Yankees didn’t know what else to do, so they found a scapegoat. Cashman said he doesn’t know if the team’s hitting philosophy will change. Why fire Lawson when the next coach might pick up where he left off? — Kuty
Well, when we call this cologne “Desperation,” we spritz it all over like it’s Ax Body Spray in a high school locker room. That smacks of a scapegoat because the other issues – most notably rostering, which we’ll get to later – can’t be addressed this second. Batting coaches generally have very little job security because they can easily be blamed for failures on the field, which the Yankees are committing here. Could the Yankees take a different offensive approach? Absolutely. But no matter who they field next, if Stanton, Rizzo, Torres, LeMahieu and Donaldson continue to underperform, does it matter who is in charge of offense? So for me, this decision is more like a few spritzes of this fictional cologne to cover up the real issue — the offense overall is stinky. – Kirschner
What do the Yankees need as their next batting coach?
That’s a tough one for me to answer because I feel like whoever it ends up being in some way at the mercy of the batsmen in the lineup on any given day. And as we mentioned earlier, the veterans in particular didn’t do their part. Cashman thinks a new voice will help. He used the analogy of a golfer using various swing trainers until one of them says something that lights the lightbulb. Perhaps the next coach is a former MLB player who better understands the ups and downs on the field. Lawson wasn’t a former major league player, so maybe they want someone who can understand things better and explain things in a straightforward way because his messages – from the veterans to Anthony Volpe – obviously didn’t work. – Kirschner
Raúl Ibañez played for the Yankees in 2012. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
It has to be someone who brings instant legitimacy, someone whose name players know and want to listen to right from the start. Could it be Chili Davis, who is unemployed and has plenty of experience as a batting coach? What if it was Raúl Ibañez currently working for MLB? You need Mets permission to interview Carlos Beltrán, who works in Steve Cohen’s front office. I’m just speculating on those names, but the point remains: it just feels like the next coach needs a name. And, Chris, you’re right. Will it really matter who comes next? The Yankees seem to think so, otherwise they wouldn’t have made the move. Here’s what we do know: A person with knowledge of the Yankees’ hiring decisions told The Athletic that the team narrowed its search to two people as of Sunday afternoon. — Kuty
Ultimately, is this an expression of a bad lineup of the lineup?
The simple answer is yes. The longer answer is that it’s a combination of poor roster construction and a poor team-wide approach, which is pathetic. They don’t engage pitchers deep in the count. They rank 20th in walking rate. They are knocked out by opposing starting pitchers; An opposing starter has gone at least seven innings and conceded two or fewer earned runs 21 times. It’s bad all around. A lot of blame must also be given to the construction of the lineup. Throughout the offseason, it seemed like everyone was clamoring for changes to be made after the devastating exploitation of that offense. Instead, they went back and trusted their process. What we are seeing now is the result of a non-working process. It’s almost like starting the season with two catchers on defense, an aging first baseman, a rookie shortstop, a third baseman who had a bad toe injury, a third baseman who had a strong one last season decline, a hole in left field, a midfielder who is often injured, a designated hitter who is often injured and a utility player who poses no threat offensively weren’t the smartest of plans. That being said, Ms. Lincoln, did you enjoy the play? – Kirschner
While I agree with much of what you say, I don’t think those clamoring for change expected things to get this bad. However, it is the job of the front office to know better than anyone else. Look, the injuries hurt – no pun intended. A terrible example: The Yankees cut off Aaron Hicks, then trade him for Greg Allen and watch as he gets injured almost immediately. (It doesn’t help that Hicks played a lot better with the Orioles than he did with the Yankees under Lawson’s leadership.) The loss of Aaron Judge since their inception has also been an issue not to be underestimated. But they expected Donaldson to recover, which didn’t happen. They thought Oswaldo Cabrera could handle the starting job, but he couldn’t. It took months for Volpe to gain a foothold. This offense should be better. It was bad and the finger is pointed at those who put the lineup together. — Kuty
What can be done to improve the line-up externally?
Great question. I think another reason the Yankees fired Lawson is because they don’t think it will be easy or even possible to make major offensive improvements at the close. With six teams making the playoffs instead of four these days, teams will be even more reluctant to declare themselves sellers and ditch big chunks. Additionally, teams willing to shed significant players will see prices skyrocket due to the scarcity of available talent. That said, I don’t think the Yankees will do much to externally upgrade the offense. Yes, there are interesting names out there. But how many of them are better than the players who are already in the Yankees’ lineup and are just playing better than they are now? — Kuty
I know the question is “external,” but an internal move they might look at would be putting Donaldson on assignment and eating up the rest of his contract. It’s not going the way the front office expected and it probably won’t be for the rest of the season either. It would also buy some goodwill from the fan base. The DFA’s insertion of Donaldson would allow Oswald Peraza to be called up and potentially be a second-half spark. Outwardly, I agree with you, Brendan. There are so many teams left in the playoff mix, making it difficult to buy. If the Cubs decide to sell, the Yankees should bet on outfielder Cody Bellinger. Washington’s Lane Thomas makes sense. If the Cardinals sell, any of their outfielders could look good in pinstripes depending on the price. But the trading market has yet to fully form for three weeks. – Kirschner
(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)