5 Reasons The Yankees’ Drought Has Reached 16 Seasons

Hal Steinbrenner's Complacency

Hal Steinbrenner has now been the full-time owner of the Yankees for 15 years, following the passing of his legendary father, George, in 2010. In that timeframe, Hal has not made a single change in the front office and essentially handed the keys of the franchise to GM Brian Cashman. His lack of urgency and accountability when it comes to the executives in the front office is the main reason this team has gone 16 years without a World Series ring. Unfortunately for Hal, that 'championship or bust' expectation seems to have passed on to his father.

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Stubbornness Around Certain Players

The Yankees put all their eggs in the Anthony Volpe basket when they passed on several big-time shortstops in free agency to keep the path clear for Volpe to step in as the future shortstop. Three years in, Volpe is one of the worst qualified hitters in the sport. His defense also took a turn for the worse this season, as it was eventually reported that he was dealing with a partially torn labrum. By the end of the season, it was clear that Jose Caballero gave the team a better chance to win as the everyday shortstop over Volpe. Still, the team stuck to their guns, and Volpe rewarded them with one of the worst showings in a division series we've ever seen. Their stubbornness when it comes to certain players has continued to cost them.

Aaron Boone's Ineptitude

Most people would tell you Aaron Boone is being controlled by the front office and all his in-game moves have already been preplanned. While I certainly believe Boone and the front office have discussions before the game on certain matchups and situations, he is still the manager at the end of the day, and the front office cannot be an excuse for his ineptitude. The bullpen management, including calls for a pinch hitter or pinch runner, is still within the manager's control during the game. For someone whose family has been ingrained in baseball, Boone's lack of feel in many situations remains shocking.

Approach to Analytics

The emphasis the Yankees place on analytics can be debated for days. Still, the fact of the matter is that this is the new modern age of baseball, where even teams with the highest payrolls rely heavily on underlying metrics and matchup analysis. The Yankees have consistently struggled to adapt their approach to games. Constructing a lineup full of players who consistently strike out unless they hit a home run has haunted them for 16 seasons now.

Hal Steinbrenner's Complacency

Hal Steinbrenner has now been the full-time owner of the Yankees for 15 years, following the passing of his legendary father, George, in 2010. In that timeframe, Hal has not made a single change in the front office and essentially handed the keys of the franchise to GM Brian Cashman. His lack of urgency and accountability when it comes to the executives in the front office is the main reason this team has gone 16 years without a World Series ring. Unfortunately for Hal, that 'championship or bust' expectation seems to have passed on to his father.

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