Plenty To Go Around

There’s a standard rule in sports: Players play, coaches coach and owners own.

That has always been a bit twisted in the New York Yankees’ world, ever since George Steinbrenner’s heyday.

His son Hal has run the team since 2008 and he has been less visible and voluble than his father. But he had plenty to say on Wednesday, with the Yankees floundering in last place in the American League East.

Steinbrenner backed manager Joe Girardi and his staff (not always a trait of daddy dearest’s) but he pointed directly at the players for the team’s miserable start.

“Needless to say, the first five weeks were disappointing, frustrating, particularly looking at the offense,” he said. “Clearly not living up to their potential.”

He wants more production from first baseman Mark Texeira, hitting a limp .211 going into Wednesday night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He’s unhappy with injured pitcher Luis Severino (0-6, 7.46 ERA) and Michael Pineda (1-6, 6.60 ERA). The simple math says the Yankees are 1-12 when those two start. The Yankees are 17-22 after beating the Diamondbacks 4-2, but they are only 5-12 on the road.

What he didn’t talk about was losing the battle for New York’s fans, though he mentioned that Yankees’ attendance remains strong. The Mets went to the World Series last season and have a young, strong pitching staff. They’re captivating when they play. Though they’re in third place in the National League East, they’re only 1 ½ games behind the Washington Nationals. The Yankees made the playoffs last year only to lose to the Houston Astros in the wild-card play-in.

This Steinbrenner didn’t rage or threaten to fire anyone. He pointed out the obvious. But players play, and these players aren’t playing well. Coaches coach, and he supports Girardi. Maybe it’s how the owner owns?

Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman