The New York Yankees’ recent downfall has not just been about poor results; it has been about bad decisions. With Gerrit Cole sidelined and Clarke Schmidt lost to Tommy John surgery, the pressure has increased on Carlos Rodón to anchor a shaky rotation. But instead of rising to the occasion, Rodón has unraveled, with his latest meltdown against the Mets showing up the heat on more than just his ERA.
While the seven-run outing was brutal on paper, the root cause may lie behind the plate. The Yankees’ decision to keep pairing Rodón with 25-year-old catcher Austin Wells is sketching fire from the fanbase and analysts alike. The stats do not lie. Rodón’s ERA balloons to over 4.5 when working with Wells, compared to sub-3.00 marks when José Treviño or JC Escarra catch him. What’s worse, this is not a one-off; it is a repeated oversight that is costing the Yankees dearly.
This is also being reechoed by insiders like Hector Beauchamp. “That’s what frustrates me desperately,” Beauchamp said while discussing Rodón’s split performances. “When Austin Wells is there, the ERA balloons. When Escarra’s behind the plate, Rodón’s ERA dips below three.” Yet, the Yankees continue to depend on Wells. The team that boasts about its elite analytics department is somehow ignoring the most basic trend sitting in plain sight. It is not just bad luck, it is bad pairing. And in a season on the brink, that is totally unacceptable.
However, the issue runs deeper than just catcher chemistry. Transitioning from that frustration, the Yankees’ decision-making has been largely analytics-driven, to a fault. Beauchamp called it out directly: “You’re just wanting to prove everybody that you’re smarter when the analytics and the stats show you something different.” Such a stubborn reliance on flawed data interpretation is not just hurting Rodón, it is sinking the entire rotation. Instead of adjusting on the basis of real-time performance trends, the team looked locked in a data tunnel, missing the glaring warning signs.
Rodón himself did not shy away from the blame after the Mets loss. “I just wasn’t good enough,” the star admitted. However, that admission does not erase the context: sloppy defense, poor catcher synergy and management unwilling to pivot. When one poor decision spirals into six straight losses, something has to give and currently, it is the fans’ patience.
MLB, Baseball Herren, USA Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees Jun 8, 2025 Bronx, New York, USA New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon 55 reacts during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Bronx Yankee Stadium New York USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJohnxJonesx 20250608_jhp_ja1_1001
So Carlos Rodón‘s battle beside Austin Wells raises concerns related to how the Yankees interpret their data. And, the chaos behind the plate was only part of a larger meltdown. Across town, the team was outclassed on the field in just about every way.
Mets are sluggish because of the pile on as the Yankees try to regroup with a minor shakeup
The second Subway Series clash was nothing short of a nightmare for the Yankees and Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo made sure of that. With the game still settling in, Nimmo cracked a grand slam off Carlos Rodón in the very first inning, which was an emphatic beginning that sent Citi Field into a frenzy. Alonso followed suit with a two-run bomb in the fifth, then later provided the knockout blow: a three-run homer in the seventh to crush any Yankee hopes of a comeback. They combined for nine RBIs and etched their names into team history, becoming just the second Mets pair to each record more than 4 RBIs against the Yankees in a single game.
In response to the heightened discontent, the Yankees ultimately made a move, though it was not exactly a blockbuster. The bullpen announced that catcher Alex Jackson had been traded to the Orioles in exchange for international signing bonus pool money and either an athlete to be named later or cash considerations. While not earth-shattering, the move signals a front office that is at least aware the ship is sinking. Whether the intent was to free up roster space or inject some new motivation, the Yankees now face a harsh reality: no minor shakeup can mask the major holes exposed by their crosstown rivals.
MLB, Baseball Herren, USA New York Yankees Vs. New York Mets New York Mets players celebrate the team s 12-6 victory in the baseball game against the New York Yankees at Citi Field in Corona, N.Y., on July 5, 2025. New York City N.Y. United States PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xGordonxDonovanx originalFilename:donovan-newyorky250705_npd19.jpg
As the Yankees twirl through a stormy stretch, both on the mound and across the roster, it is clear that the issues run deeper than just injuries or slumps. From analytics misfires to rushed roster shuffles, the cracks are already showing. If the front office does not start listening to what the numbers and the fans are saying, this season could slip away fast. Stay tuned, because the Bronx might just be heading for its most pivotal trade deadline in years.
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