Yankees Sluggers Need to Stop Swinging for the Fences With Runners in Scoring Position

Remember after Game 2 of the American League Championship Series when the New York Yankees said their goal was to take one game in Houston against the Astros in order to have home field advantage for Games 3-5?

That dream remained just that...a dream.

The Yankees have had countless runners in scoring position throughout the series, and yet, they've left them stranded at an alarming rate. Why's that? Because every batter is trying to swing for the fences instead of hitting for contact. As a result, Yankee batters whiff at the plate and are leaving ducks on the pond.

At one point in Game 4, the Yankees were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, bringing them to a total of 4-for-25 in the ALCS, and leaving 30 base runners stranded.

Not the kind of numbers that'll put you ahead in a close game.

Gleyber Torres emerged as the Yankees' hottest hitter in the ALCS, yet he was silenced at the plate, going hitless in four at-bats (including two strikeouts). Edwin Encarnacion, Gio Urshela, and even Aaron Judge failed to record a hit on Thursday night.

Gary Sanchez also struck out in a key spot in the first inning on three straight pitches to help Zack Greinke get out of a jam.

The Yankees' strategy throughout the season has been to "out-slug" the opposition. That master plan has yet to see the light of day in the ALCS, apart from the 7-1 victory in Game 1.

With the New York Yankees facing a win or go home situation on Friday night, the lineup has to lock in and stop trying to be the hero. With the bases loaded, the goal shouldn't be to park a ball in the seats. Instead, the Yankees need to focus on putting the ball in play and getting runners across the plate.

It's time to stop swinging for the fences, and start playing smaller baseball, focusing on one hit at a time.