![\"Aaron](\"https:\/\/image-cdn.essentiallysports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Aaron-Boone-with-Aaron-Judge.jpg\")
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The New York Yankees recorded their third win in a row on Thursday, besting the division rival Baltimore Orioles as they face a relatively easy schedule to wrap up the regular season.<\/p>\n
Despite some disappointments this year, it looks like the Yankees are headed toward a playoff berth for the eighth time in the last 10 years. But their run might be a short one if manager Aaron Boone can’t find a way around a clear team weakness.<\/p>\n
“Here’s the next-level agita that keeps Boone up at night: What if the Yankees can’t blast those signature home runs in an elimination game?” NJ.com’s Bob Klapisch noted.<\/p>\n
The Yankees are Major League Baseball’s home run leaders as a team this year, but they aren’t even in the top 10 for total hits or batting average. When they face a team’s ace in a high-stakes playoff matchup, their dependence on long balls might let them down.<\/p>\n
That’s a serious concern for Yankees legend Ron Guidry. The pitcher, who earned four All-Star nods, a Cy Young Award and two World Series championships in a 14-year career with the Yankees, sent a warning to Boone about that playoff weakness for his squad.<\/p>\n
“Let’s say you’re facing (Tarik Skubal), he’s not going to give up five home runs,” Guidry told Klapisch. “That’s when you have to learn how to capitalize on a leadoff double, or a walk and a steal, because one or two runs is all you’re going to get.”<\/p>\n
Despite a fairly successful regular season behind a notably powerful offense, the Yankees haven’t shown that they’ll be able to adjust offensive strategies if needed in the postseason.<\/p>\n
“That’s when you have to manufacture runs,” Guidry added. “And let’s face it, they’re not the best team at doing that.”<\/p>\n
For a Yankees team built around the likes of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, home runs will be a central part of the identity, even in the playoffs. But Boone and company might have to figure out a way to adjust as they head into the playoffs.<\/p>\n
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