Part 5/12:
Diving deeper, it's clear that this collapse was not solely due to the pitching staff. The Yankees' hitting was equally culpable. Outside of Aaron Judge, players like Trent Gresham, Carlos Stanton, Ben Rortvedt, and others underperformed in crucial moments. Stanton, a regular-season star, hit below .200, and similarly, Gresham and others posted subpar numbers. The narrative shifts from just poor pitching to a broader organizational failure involving both hitting and fielding.
In particular, the lasting image of the series for many was the Yankees' offense evaporating when facing subpar pitching, rather than strong or elite pitching by their opponents. This pattern reflects a vulnerability—an inability to rise to the occasion when facing less intimidating pitching staffs.