Yankees GM bashed for strange excuse for slow start

The Yankees enter Thursday in last place in the AL East with a 17-15 record, despite winning their last two games. The last couple of victories have gotten them back over .500 and they now have a plus-four run differential, which also is the worst in the division.

In defense of the Bronx Bombers, they're playing in the only division in baseball where all five teams have a winning record and all of the squads have a positive run differential, and where the MLB-best Tampa Bay Rays (25-6) reside. If Cashman's crew was in the AL Central, they'd be just a half-game behind the Minnesota Twins (17-14) for first place.

Still, with the storied history, annual high expectations and monster payroll, Cashman's words aren't going over well with Yankees die-hards and are making rival fans chuckle.

Following Thursday's off day, New York will take on the Rays for the first time this season, with a three-game series in Tampa Bay starting on Friday night.

Though speedster and former Gold Glove Award winner Harrison Bader recently returned from injury, the Yankees are still missing a host of players due to various ailments. Many of them are big names too, including Aaron Judge (hip), Carlos Rodón (back), Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) and Luis Severino (strained lat), all of whom are on the injured list.

While New York still has over 100 games left in the season, the other AL East teams are showing that the Yankees may have to go through a gauntlet this summer if they want to make the playoffs for the seventh year in a row.