When expectations are not met by reality, disappointment results. That may be the consequence of low reality, but it can also be the product of too high aspirations. You will likely feel disappointed if an album or movie that you have been anticipating turns out to be only mediocre despite your preconceived notions that it is the best of all time. This is all set up to raise the following query: What if Gary Sanchez isn’t so bad after all?
There was a time when Sánchez had such high aspirations. He broke out in 2016, hitting 20 home runs in just 53 games, and was rated as one of the Yankees’ top 100 prospects as he worked his way up the minor league ladder. In 2017, he rebounded with 33 home runs in his first full season, hitting.278/.345/.531 with a wRC+ of 131. At that point, he was still not eligible for arbitration, which gave the Yanks years of cheap club control and earned the young catcher the moniker “The Sanchize” from many.
However, he hasn’t performed to that degree subsequently, which is why many people now consider him to be a bust or a letdown. Due to injury, he only played in 89 games in 2018 and hit below the Mendoza line. 2019 saw him recover with a 34-home run season, but it was also known as the “juiced ball” season, since his defence, on-base percentage, and batting average were all lower than they were in 2017. FanGraphs’ estimate of his wins above replacement of 2.4 was hardly half of his 2017 fWAR of 4.3.
Sánchez blasted ten more home runs in 2020 despite the season being cut short, but his.147 BA and.253 OBP were clearly low. In 36 percent of his plate appearances, he struck out. Rumour had it that the Yankees were thinking about taking him on a non-tender instead of raising his $5 million compensation. Just 36.42% of respondents to an offseason MLBTR reader survey said the team should start Sánchez again in 2021, while 41.04% recommended a trade or non-tender and another 22.53% said Sánchez should be placed in a backup role.
