New York Yankees vs Detroit Tigers: 3 mistakes and a masterstroke by the Bronx Bombers in 5-3 loss

The 2022 season placed the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers at the opposite ends of the AL standings. The 99-win New York Yankees were the most offensive team in action, while the Tigers combined to score a league-worst 557 runs.

But things did not look as they did last year on March 3 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. Despite trotting out some of their big runs, the Yankees fell to the Detroit Tigers by a score of 5-3.

Here are three mistakes and a masterstroke that summarize the New York Yankees' loss to the Tigers.

Three mistakes and a masterstroke from the New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers game

First Mistake

Yankees manager Aaron Boone seems to like DJ LeMahieu in the leadoff spot. At his age, it seems better to reserve LeMathieu for the regular season. LeMahieu is a strong player and a winner of four Gold Gloves dating back to his days with the Colorado Rockies.

"Jameson Taillon, Anthony Rizzo, Jose Trevino, Andrew Benintendi and DJ LeMahieu have been named Gold Glove Award finalists!" - @ Talkin' Yanks

LeMathieu was 0-3 in the game. To save LeMathieu for later and allow young stars like Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza in midfield would win over a fair few fans.

Second Mistake

Gerrit Cole will make somewhere in the realm of $36 million this year. Although the former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher needs his rest, the Yankees only played him 3 innings in this game. Cole, who had four strikeouts and no hits allowed at the time of his exit, could have kept the Tigers' offense at bay a bit longer and taken the pressure off of the bullpen.

Third Mistake

Josh Donaldson got a lot of heat from New York Yankees fans entering spring training for hitting .222 last season, posting the worst numbers of his career. DJ LeMathieu started the game at third base, meaning that Aaron Boone might be heeding fans' armchair recommendations.

Although Donaldson needs to get better, he is the team's third baseman and they need to work with him to get back to where he needs to be. Donaldson is a former MVP, winning the honor as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015.

One Masterstroke

The game wasn't exactly a showcase of the firepower invested in the New York Yankees. Their three runs came by virtue of a sac groundout, a walk, and a sac-fly, respectively. However, there is one pitcher who did show himself to be ready for a big season.

"Michael King back in action at #Yankees #SpringTraining" - @ Bryan Hoch

Pitcher Michael King struck out 4 of the 6 batters he faced in relief of Gerrit Cole. The 27-year old New York State native posted career numbers as a reliever for the Yankees last year, compiling an ERA of 2.29 and facing 66 batters. Like Gerrit Cole, King was brilliant in this game and could have stayed in longer.