Indefensible.

For one thing, fans never need to relax.

Fans are fanatical and pro athletes should get down on their knees and thank the Lord we have an illogical passion for this stuff.

Furthermore, Sabathia's analysis is just provably incorrect:

" It’s hard to develop young talent here. Just because of the demand, right? We’re trying to win the World Series every year. You don’t have time for guys to go through growing pains.' "

Three full seasons is approaching veteran status. It isn't just growing pains.

 

"' If we were able to, as a fan base, as a city, let these kids go through whatever they’re going to go through.' " 

Players are judged by their performance on the field.

More than any other young player can remember, Volpe has been given a chance to prove himself.

 

" 'The game’s hard to play, man. It’s very difficult.' "

Correct. Playing professional baseball is difficult. Anthony Volpe has met his match.

He is unable to perform this particularly difficult task to the level of highly-paid professionals who are competing against him every game.

 

"Sabathia said that phenomenon — and the fact that it's impossible for Yankees shortstops to escape comparisons to Jeter — is what has fueled the negativity surrounding Volpe."

Nobody said it was easy to be a shortstop in the major leagues. The comparisons to HOFer Derek Jeter are foolish indeed. You may as well compare Greg Bird to Lou Gehrig.

As for the post-Jeter Yankee shortstops, that's also a cop out. It isn't the fan's fault. If you can't do it, then you can't do it.