What Has Happened To J.A. Happ?
When J.A. Happ first arrived to the Bronx last season via trade from Toronto the veteran left-hander was dominant.
How dominant you ask? After coming over from Toronto who like New York is a member of the American League East J.A. Happ had a record of 7-0 with a 2.69 earn run average. “according to https://www.mlb.com/player/j-a-happ-457918
During the postseason is when he suffered his first loss in the American League Division to New York’s rival Boston who would eventually go on to win the world series.
This season however is a different story. Instead of having success the thirty six year old veteran left-hander is struggling. J.A. Happ has a record of 1-3 with a 4.93 earn run average.
In his most recent start he suffered a loss as he allowed four runs over 5 2/3 innings in the Yankees' 7-3 loss to Minnesota. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-struggles-at-home-vs-twins
Obviously, I wanted better results," Happ said. "I felt about as good as I've felt so far this year. I started out strong. I missed a couple of times and they made me pay. Overall, I feel like I made a lot of good pitches but you've got to live with it and try to move on." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-struggles-at-home-vs-twins
Acquired from the Blue Jays last summer, Happ provided everything the Yankees could have hoped for down the stretch, helping the club secure a postseason berth. But it has been a different story in 2019, especially in the Bronx, where Happ has allowed 17 runs and seven homers in 20 innings (7.65 ERA) across four starts.
Happ owns a 1.96 ERA in three road starts, and was 4-0 with a 2.72 ERA in seven Yankee Stadium starts last season. Yankees manager Aaron Boone noted that Happ set the side down in order efficiently in the first inning, and couldn't kick himself too much over Garver's third-inning poke to the short porch in right field.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-struggles-at-home-vs-twins
Will he improve at some point this season and return to his 2018 form when he arrived in the Bronx from Toronto? Only time will tell.