BALTIMORE (AP) – Sounding much like his late father, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said his team’s offense has to snap out of its funk and he’s optimistic New York will return to the playoffs after a one-year absence.
Steinbrenner spoke at Major League Baseball’s owners meetings before the Yankees played the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, a few blocks away. New York began the night third in the AL East, seven games back of the first-place Orioles, and 2½ games behind in the race for the American League’s second wild card.
He was especially disappointed with New York’s batters.
“They’ve got to step it up and they know it,” Steinbrenner said.
New York began the night tied for 19th with 471 runs, a disappointment given the offseason additions of Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran. Steinbrenner said the inconsistency “needs to change.”