There's no sugar-coating it.......

The Yankees are flat-out bad.

Everyone knows that they won't stay 4 games under .500 forever. But the way they're playing, the way they look on the field, on the basepaths, on the mound, and in the box.........it's as if the Yankees collectively decided to stop coming to play.

It's easy to point fingers at people who are struggling (Andy Pettitte, Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, Johnny Damon), but this really is a collective failure. Look no further than their horrendous numbers with runners in scoring position. If you watch YES daily like I do, you would be reminded of this fact until your ears fall off.

Personally, I'm most disappointed with Morgan Ensberg. I know he hasn't done much since his All-Star season in 2005, but the numbers he has put up have been absolutely pitiful. A .214/.276/.257 line with a grand total of one...that's right, one...extra-base hit, a home run in early April. The guy has no doubles and 20 strikeouts in 70 at-bats. The fact that Jose Molina has 9 doubles in 82 at-bats should make Ensberg embarrassed to consider himself a starting 3rd baseman. Alberto Gonzalez (2 doubles in 38 AB) has gotten the bulk of the playing time at third base ever since Joe Girardi realized that Ensberg can't hit. Considering Gonzalez is your prototypical utility guy - great defense, but any offense should be considered a bonus - Ensberg should, once again, be embarrassed.

A-Rod is coming back on Tuesday, so Ensberg missed his chance to bump up his trade value and perhaps get a shot with some other team looking for a quality bat at the corner. The team needs to cut him loose. The team is far more willing to give a guy like Shelley Duncan, who can crush the ball into left field, a chance to prove himself. We have our utility infielder in Alberto Gonzalez, who has shown that he can hold his own at any infield spot. There simply is no reason to have Ensberg on the team anymore. Of course, I would question his presence on the team in the first place, but that's not the issue here!

Something's got to give. Of course, last year we were down 20-29 before making that improbable run to the playoffs, but we can't rely on a monster season from A-Rod and the best second half in recent memory from Robinson Cano once again. Every member of the team has to pick each other up. Only then will this Yankees team reclaim its rightful place at the top of the AL East.