Yankees Breakdown: The Bronx is Berning

Another five games, and another winless week of baseball in the Bronx. While the New York Yankees opened up the 2015 campaign with a staggering 3-6 start to then a rapid 17 wins in 23 games, it seemed evident that New York had found its identity- a sense of chemistry that has not existed in the Bronx since the championship run of 2009.  After a disappointing stretch of games in Tampa Bay and Kansas City, the Yankees put an end to the rally mustache, but as of late, they have been incapable of returning to the winning ways of old.  New York took on Washington and Texas in five days this past week, and despite two helpful off days to reevaluate the team mold and clubhouse mentality, the hitting woes and pitching blunders continued, as the Yankees slipped down to second place in the American League East with a record of 22-22, riding off of one measly win in the last eleven tries. This Memorial Day, the Yankees welcome in the Royals, a team that owns the best record in the American League at 28-15. It will be New York's second series against Kansas City in the last ten days, and fortunately, the final series among the two teams this season. The Yankees will then travel to Oakland and Seattle for their first west coast road trip of the year, until returning home to host the Angels in the first week of June. 

Here's a breakdown of the last week of games:

Ellsbury Banged Up

In last Tuesday night's extra inning loss to the Nationals, Jacoby Ellsbury left the game early with what was later confirmed to be a right knee sprain, after awkwardly sliding into second base during the fourth inning. Ellsbury was placed on the 15-day disabled list the next day, but the timetable of the injury was of paramount concern, especially without receiving a definitive prognosis of the injury from team doctors until that weekend. Ellsbury has arguably been the Yankees' best player this season, as he currently leads the team in batting average (.324), on-base percentage (.412), and hits (48). With Brett Gardner now forced in a lead-off slot that he has admitted to not be fond of, the bats will need to wake up from their slumber, and offensive production from Brian McCann and Alex Rodriguez must return to the middle of the lineup.  

West Coast Trips Conclude in June

New York ends a quick six-game home stand this Wednesday and begins a six-game road trip this Thursday that starts in Oakland and concludes in Seattle. Since the Houston Astros' switch to the American League in 2013, interleague play has eliminated the long west coast trips, and thankfully for the Yankees, they will not visit California again until late June, as that will conclude New York's west coast travels for the remainder of the season. In the first month of games, the Yankees owned a better record on the road than at home, but as of late, New York is currently 13-12 in the road grays, and has played the most road games in the entire league. With lengthy road trips comes lengthy home stands, and the Yankees must take advantage of home field in order to compete in a mediocre division and competitive American League.  

Monument Park Has Berned

It was nearly nine years in the making, but veteran centerfielder Bernie Williams finally handed in his retirement papers, and was honored by the Yankees with his No. 51 retired in Monument Park this past Sunday. Yankee Stadium is located on River Avenue and 161st Street, but the front office has always welcomed a trip down Memory Lane, and although Williams was a catalyst to New York's illustrious championship run in the late 1990's, the Yankee brass is gradually cheapening the concept of Monument Park. With ceremonies scheduled this summer for Willie Randolph, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte, the delusional front office wants the fan base to escape reality, and return to the nostalgic years of the past. The aforementioned Yankee players rightfully deserve a simple night to thank the loyal fans, but not an exaggerated ceremony in remembrance to their "illustrious" careers. The commemorative patches and memorabilia created for these events have become excessive, and the true legends of Ruth, Mantle, and DiMaggio are most definitely rolling around in their graves. The gimmicks will never end, nor will the effort to make a quick dollar, but Monument Park's storied aura has been diminished, and the Yankees have made a mockery of the past, no longer placing the true baseball legends in a brighter spotlight. 

Photos By: 

Al Bello/ Getty Images

Evan Habeeb/ USA TODAY

Major League Baseball