The New York Yankees are in the midst of a playoff push, still dreaming about taking the American League East division or ending up with one of the two Wild Card spots.
They have had to deal with lots of enemies in what has been a weird year, to put it lightly.
These enemies have been injuries, underperforming stars, and three excellent teams in the division: the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays.
However, there is another enemy that has threatened to complicate things for the Yankees in 2021, and led another charge recently: COVID-19.
Last week, it was announced that two of the best and most consistent starters in the staff, Gerrit Cole and Jordan Montgomery, tested positive for the virus and would be placed on the COVID-19 list.
Several COVID-19 Outbreaks
Sadly, it’s far from the first COVID-19 outbreak for the Yankees this season.
I would guess this isn’t the last positive covid case the Yankees have within the next week or so. The new delta strain is very contagious. Even with the vaccine you will get it rather easily. Were you even a Yankee in 2021 if you didn’t get covid?
— chester (@thebigchester69) August 8, 2021
Stars such as Gio Urshela, Gleyber Torres, Jonathan Loaisiga, Aaron Judge, and others have also been out on the COVID-19 list at different points of the season.
The Yankees just lost Anthony Rizzo to the COVID-19 list, which raises some level of concern because the first baseman is a cancer survivor.
Anthony Rizzo has tested positive for COVID-19, Aaron Boone says.
— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) August 8, 2021
Starting catcher Gary Sanchez also tested positive for the virus four days ago.
The Yankees, as a result, haven’t been able to field their best active roster for long stretches of time this year.
In some cases, COVID-19 is asymptomatic and doesn’t affect performance at all.
However, several players reported mild symptoms while dealing with the virus, and it often takes a while to return and play sports to the top of one’s abilities after having such a problematic virus.
One of the worst cases in the Yankees was third base coach Phil Nevin, who lost several weeks and found himself in pretty bad shape at one point, struggling at the hospital.
The most disconcerting thing is that the Yankees are one of the teams that surpassed the 85 percent vaccination threshold.
Unfortunately, they have had to endure multiple COVID-19 outbreaks.
How Much Have The Absences Affected The Yankees’ Season?
While it is impossible to measure in wins and losses how impactful COVID-19 has been on the Yankees’ performance this season, it has greatly affected their depth at times.
At one point, they lost six players to the disease at the same time: Judge, Urshela, relievers Wandy Peralta and Loaisiga, starter Nestor Cortes Jr., and backup catcher Kyle Higashioka.
That obviously affects the game, forcing the manager to overtax certain relievers and decreasing rest days for the position players, for example, not to mention the obvious disadvantages of fielding a lineup without your best hitter and your starting third baseman.
Cole and Montgomery should be about to return, but the Yankees can’t afford any additional outbreaks because they are truly in the middle of a race to make the playoffs at this point.
Every win counts, and every game is awfully important.
The Bombers made a significant investment at the trade deadline to improve the overall depth and power in the lineup, while also bringing two relievers and a starter.
They hope not to use the likes of Greg Allen and Ryan LaMarre regularly.
COVID-19, however, will have the last word.
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