Three weeks after making headlines for a viral on-air incident, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal has shifted the spotlight back to someone else—the New York Yankees. In his latest column for The Athletic, Rosenthal dissected the Yankees’ rough start in the ALDS against Toronto, writing that the team “couldn’t get the stench off soon enough.”
The words hit hard, even by postseason standards. Rosenthal portrayed the Yankees as a team running out of time, questioning how long they can “maximize peak Aaron Judge” as the slugger nears 34 and fights through an elbow injury that limits his throwing. His piece described a franchise that looks like a perennial contender on paper but keeps failing when the stage grows brightest.
Rosenthal’s analysis relies on facts—the Yankees have allowed 22 of the first 23 runs in the series—but his tone carried extra weight. It sounded like a journalist eager to reassert his authority after spending weeks explaining his own misstep on national television.
From Controversy to Bronx Critique
Just weeks ago, Rosenthal faced intense scrutiny after a viral clip showed him colliding with a Brewers team photographer during a postgame interview. The video spread fast, capturing Rosenthal glaring at the staffer before walking away without helping. His reaction afterward only deepened the criticism.
During an appearance on Foul Territory, Rosenthal admitted he felt “stunned” by how angry he looked and blamed the moment on the pressure of being live on TV. The explanation didn’t settle much. Many believed it sounded more like deflection than accountability, with Barstool Sports calling his follow-up statement a “terrible apology.”
Now that the controversy has faded, Rosenthal has refocused on baseball—and on the Yankees’ postseason collapse. His column reminded readers why he stands among the most recognizable voices in the sport: direct, unflinching, and unafraid to challenge powerful teams. But his words also showed how scrutiny moves in both directions.
Rosenthal argued that the Yankees’ struggles “can’t be pinned on Aaron Boone or the front office,” pointing instead to Toronto’s superior pitching and execution. Still, he warned that the franchise faces an existential countdown—Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole won’t stay in their primes forever. The Yankees’ window for contention hasn’t closed yet, but the hinges are starting to creak.
From Apology to Accusation
The observation felt fair, yet the timing added a layer of irony. After facing criticism for professionalism, Rosenthal once again spotlighted others’ failures under pressure. The piece read as both sharp analysis and subtle self-redemption.
For the Yankees, his assessment hurts because it highlights a truth they can’t escape: talent alone doesn’t deliver championships. For Rosenthal, the column works as a quiet reclamation of control—a reminder that despite his recent stumble, he still commands respect as one of baseball’s most formidable analysts.
Rosenthal thrives in tension, and his latest column proves it. Whether he’s defending himself or dissecting others, he stays part of the conversation. The Yankees may still be fighting to extend their season, but Rosenthal has already found a way to dominate the postseason discourse once again.
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