Panic time

A few weeks ago, the New York Yankees shrugged off criticism for their rocky start, claiming it was too early to panic. But after suffering a home sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Bronx Bombers reside in fourth place in the AL East and show no signs of improving.

New York, we have a problem.

The boo-birds that rained down on manager Joe Torre at Yankee Stadium Sunday are representative of how poorly the Yanks have performed thus far. In New York, the four-time World Series champion Torre is revered as a hero, placed on par with former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and the NYPD. Booing Torre in the Big Apple is like voicing displeasure with the Pope in Rome, a clear wake-up call for owner George Steinbrenner and Co.

But, Torre falling out of favor with the Yankee faithful is not Steinbrenner’s greatest concern, it’s the cause of the boos he should be mulling over instead.

As of May 28, the Yankees are 21-27, and 12.5 games behind rival Boston for first place in the competitive AL East. The Red Sox’ lead is the largest since September 1995, the last time Boston captured the AL East crown and New York slipped into the playoffs as a wildcard.

The Yankees’ slip is a huge surprise seeing as they own the largest MLB payroll at $195,229,045, field arguably the best player in Alex Rodriguez, are the major league leader with 19 homers and have a history of winning with 26 World Championships.

Many will point at the pitching staff or a slow start for several prominent sluggers, but the truth is the Yankees are an all-around awful squad. In all three facets of the game-at the plate, on the mound, in the field-New York is struggling mightily.

At the dish, the Yankees have 10 players with an excess of 25 at-bats hitting below .300, and only two, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada, with an average above the mark. Jason Giambi and Rodriguez, who are earning a combined $51 million this season, are both hitting under .300 and have compiled over 33 strikeouts each.

And, to top it off, Bobby Abreu and Hideki Matsui, two of the Yankees’ best sluggers, have been ice cold nearly the entire season. Milwaukee shortstop J.J. Hardy’s numbers eclipse the combined production of the two outfielders’ six home runs and 43 RBIs.

On the mound, New York has started 11 different pitchers in 48 starts, including five youngsters making their major league debut, the most ever for New York. In every statistical category, the Yanks have been absolutely horrendous. They rank 24th in ERA, at 3.62, and dead last in strikeouts, only punching out 244 batters on the year.

Relief pitching is another point of contention, as New York has only mustered three saves even with Mariano Rivera, heralded as the best closer of all time, in the bullpen. With this staff in shambles, Yankee fans better hope Roger Clemens can pitch every day.

The importance of a solid defense is often overlooked among baseball fanatics, but fielding miscues frequently alter a game’s outcome. Like hitting and pitching, the Yankees have struggled in the field. They’re in the middle of the pack with a .984 fielding percentage, which should be much greater with high-priced talent plastered around the infield.

Is fourth place in the AL East, a home-sweep by the Angels, a 12.5 game deficit to fierce rival Boston and significant voids in every facet of the game enough to panic?

Well, that’s the daunting question facing Stienbrenner and the Yankee brass. A question Yankee fans already answered with the boos and jeers that filled The House That Ruth Built on Sunday.