Deadspin predicts: Teams that will improve, or regress, in the second half

Baseball scholars, statisticians, and analytics machines have been baffled at the Yankees’ struggles so far this season. New York is in arguably the toughest division in baseball, and despite all the talent they’ve put in pinstripes, they’ve underperformed on offense — averaging just 4.2 runs per game (19th in MLB). Now, you’d think that a team with struggling bats would have a clear indicator as to why: striking out too often, weak contact, not enough plate discipline, but the Yankees aren’t actually too poor in any of those categories.

Where the Yankees have been atrocious though, is baserunning. The Yankees have been thrown out a staggering 35 times on the basepaths — the second most in Major League Baseball. Now, that probably makes you think, “Oh, so they’re just a really aggressive team on the bases?”, but no, they’re actually the least aggressive team on the basepaths.

The Yankees have taken the extra base (meaning a runner goes from 1st to 3rd on a single, 2nd to home on a single, 1st to home on a double, etc.) just 33 percent of the time — the lowest mark in MLB. Even the Baltimore Orioles, the last-place team in the AL East, take the extra base 38 percent of the time. Come on New York! You guys have one of the fastest baserunners in the game, Tim Locastro! Let him help you out! The guy’s played in just seven games this season. At least throw him in as a pinch-runner.

There’s a lot of reason to believe the Yanks will improve in the second half. Struggling players like Gleyber Torres and DJ Lemahieu have seen huge drop-offs in BABIP while maintaining low weak-hit percentages, indicating horrible luck. Things will turn around.