The Dodgers examined the Yankees' defensive and baserunning deficiencies that led to a crushing World Series loss: report

The top of the fifth inning on Wednesday night was an absolute nightmare for the New York Yankees.

In an alternate universe, the Yankees hold a 3-2 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the World Series on Friday.

However, the Yankees had one of the worst defensive innings of all time in Game 5, just days after a few errors in Game 1.

Both games were Dodger victories.

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New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto (right) reacts with outfielder Aaron Judge after Judge dropped a fly ball in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 5 of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium. (James Lang/Imagn Images)

On Wednesday night, the Yankees were on pace to become the first team to force a Game 6 in the Fall Classic after trailing 3-0 in the series and taking a 5-0 lead. Then the sky fell.

In the fifth inning, Aaron Judge dropped a routine fly ball to put runners on first and second with no outs. Then Jazz Chisholm couldn't handle a short throw to third, loading the bases. Gerrit Cole had two big outs, but he couldn't cover first base on the third, which kept the inning going.

The Dodgers saw their opportunity and pounced on it. Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez drove in two runs each to tie the game at five.

None of this was a coincidence for the Dodgers.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge makes a fielding error in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)

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The New York Post reports that the Dodgers have emphasized in team meetings that the Yankees are a “talent over fundamentals” team.

“That the Yankees are damaging themselves by running the bases deliberately and aggressively. … That putting the ball in play was very important for the Yankees to execute,” the Post reported, noting that the Yankees were the worst baserunning team in the MLB “by any measure.”

“They were excited about how short the Yankee lead was at first base to potentially be less dangerous on pivots at second base, where Gavin Lux isn't excelling,” the Post added.

It was also reported that the Yankees' outfield was poorly positioned. Alex Verdugo and Juan Soto may be Gold Glove finalists this year, but the eye test will show you that Soto is a liability in the right area. (The Yankees prefer him in right over left.) And Judge's skills in center field don't come close to what he can do in his normal position in right field.

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers is struck out by New York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres on a steal attempt during the seventh inning in Game 2 of the World Series on Oct. 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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The Dodgers also noticed that the infielders were losing position on balls hit into the outfield. That was the case when Shohei Ohtani reached third with a double after a ball got away from Gleyber Torres and there was no one there to pick it up.

From April through September, the Yankees outperformed their weak fundamentals. They even managed to do this against the Royals and Guardians in the ALDS and ALCS, but the elite teams obviously notice this and take advantage of it.

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