New York Baseball is in Crisis, New Stars in Baseball, ABS System Talk, and more

Two weeks into the 2026 MLB season and it is already completely unhinged. Both New York teams are simultaneously on five-game losing streaks — a first in MLB history — and somehow that’s not even the wildest part of the week. The Yankees started 8-2 and looked like the class of the AL East. Then the bats went completely silent — a .199 team average, 29th in baseball — and five straight losses followed. The rotation has been elite, but the offense can’t cash in. And then Jazz Chisholm Jr., in a contract year where he’s demanding $35 million annually, blamed the cold weather for his slow start and then cost his team an extra-innings game by admitting he didn’t know the force out rule. His manager’s defense? “That’s just what he says to reporters.” Which is somehow worse. The Mets aren’t in much better shape. Juan Soto is on the IL with a calf strain and not close to being cleared to run. Francisco Lindor — two-time Gold Glover, $341 million man — has been making mental errors his own manager says he’s “never seen.” Forgotten outs. Getting picked off adjusting his batting gloves. Leaving second base completely uncovered. Four straight losses and an offense that can’t hit with runners in scoring position. Meanwhile in Pittsburgh, Konnor Griffin debuted at 19 years old, played six games, and signed a $140M extension — the richest rookie deal in MLB history, locking him in alongside Cy Young winner Paul Skenes through 2034. José Ramírez hit a home run against his 29th different team AND broke a franchise games-played record that had stood since 1918 — in the same week. Mason Miller still hasn’t allowed a run since last season. And Drake Baldwin is leading the league in RBIs through two weeks. Two weeks in. We’re already losing our minds. Tap into Episode 721 of the Productive Conversations Podcast—available now on all podcast platforms and YouTube Yankees (4:40) Jazz Chisholm (13:52) Mets (25:19) Konnor Griffin (32:37) Stats of the Week (40:15) Early Standing Surprises (50:30) ABS System thoughts (58:23) --------------- Best way to contact our host is by emailing him at productiveconversationspodcast@gmail.com or mbrown3212@gmail.com Apple Podcast: Spotify: YouTube: @Productive_Conversations Linktree:

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New York Baseball is in Crisis, New Stars in Baseball, ABS System Talk, and more is an episode from Productive Conversations with Matt Brown by Matt Brown.

This episode is 66:23 long.

This episode was published on Apr 13, 2026.

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