Ben Rice may only be in his second season with the team, but he already has a strong understanding of the New York Yankees organization—and given the team’s current struggles, he has every right to speak up.
During his August 3 comments, Rice didn’t hold back: “I wouldn’t say there’s concern, but I think a little sense of urgency would be good for us going forward,”—a subtle but pointed message directed at his teammates. According to him, most players are already aware of the need to step things up.
The Yankees aren’t completely out of the postseason picture, but Rice and others know something needs to change—especially when it comes to fundamentals, where sloppy play has drawn criticism from former players like Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.
Rice also acknowledged that the team just hasn’t been the same.
He pointed out how the Yankees were playing at a higher level earlier in the year—closing March with an 18-13 record and turning in their best month in May with a 17-9 mark. For Rice, getting back to that form would be a step in the right direction.
“Early in the year, I feel like the hitting and the pitching was always syncing up well. It was leading to a lot of wins. I feel like we just have to find that again,” Rice said, pointing to recent issues at the plate.
Individually, Rice is batting .233 this season. Over his last five games, he’s recorded three hits—all coming in back-to-back-to-back games between July 30 and August 1. He appeared in just one game against the Marlins, with a single plate appearance.
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