Saturday, July 6, 2019

Winning Yankees Baseball is the Best...

Photo Credit: Steve Nesius, AP
Yanks win 3rd Straight…

For most of the season, I’d describe the Yankees as a Romantic Comedy. We love this team through the highs and lows although there has been more emphasis on the former while we do nothing more than laugh off the numerous injuries that have afflicted the team. Yet, the last couple of games have truly been Thrillers. Two extra inning affairs that led to final innings of bludgeoning by the Yankees bats, followed by roller coaster rides in the bottom of the final frames while the Yankees closed out the wins. This is clearly the best show in town right now.   

Photo Credit: Noah K Murray, USA TODAY Sports
The Tampa Bay Rays, despite two consecutive 8-4 losses, were in position for walk-off wins in both games so the final scores were deceiving if you weren’t watching the games. The Yankees increased their lead in the AL East to 8 1/2 games so even if they lose the next two games, they’ll be at least 6 1/2 games up heading into the All-Star Break. If the Yankees keep winning, they could potentially have a double-digit lead to open the second half. Incredible. But as they say, there is long way to go and so much can happen between now and the end of September, but all things considered, I like where the Yankees are.  

If the Yankees win today, the Rays (50-39) will reach 40 losses before the Yankees  (57-29) suffer 30. FanGraphs projects the Yankees with 91.8% chance of winning the AL East. Although the Los Angeles Dodgers (60-30) have the best record in MLB, the Yankees have the fewest losses and the best record in the American League. This is a fun and exciting team despite the many injury challenges more severe than any year I can recall in my Yankees fandom.  

I keep writing off Brett Gardner and he keeps proving me wrong. I still think he should be no more than the team’s fourth outfielder yet there’s no denying his  three-run home run in last night’s game was much-needed insurance after Aaron Judge had given the Yankees a one-run lead in the top of eleventh inning with his second dinger of the game. I think when Aroldis Chapman walked Travis d’Arnaud in the bottom of the 11th to load the bases, Tommy Pham may have taken a different approach at the plate needing only a run to tie it instead of trying to crush the ball which led to the liner directly at first baseman D.J. LeMahieu to end the game. Needing only a run to tie it versus trying to erase a four-run deficit with two outs are two entirely different approaches (obviously). Gardy is putting himself in position for another one-year contract this coming November. I just hope that it doesn’t prevent the team from upgrading left field next season, assuming Giancarlo Stanton slides back over to DH. I’d like it to be Clint Frazier, but let’s see if Frazier is still a Yankee after the end of this month. He was 0-for-3 in the first game of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s double-header with Ronald Torreyes and the Rochester Red Wings, striking out twice in the 4-2 loss.  He didn’t play the second game which the RailRiders won, 7-6. Two games does not a career (or season) make, but unless Frazier makes substantial defensive improvement, I don’t see him as part of the team’s future. I am really hoping that he plays well enough for me to eat those words.  

Photo Credit: Christopher Nolan, Scranton Times Tribune
I am glad that Gleyber Torres was named to the AL All-Star Team after Tampa Bay’s Brandon Lowe had to withdraw following an injury that led to his placement on the 10-Day IL. But, seriously, I was okay with Torres not making the team and didn’t quite understand the uproar prior to his selection. Torres is a great player, and will perhaps soon be the Yankees’ best player, but I view the All-Star Break as a few days off and much-deserved rest for the players not scheduled to travel to Cleveland. I was perfectly fine with Gleyber re-energizing for the second half. We know how valuable he is and that’s all that matters. Still, he deserves his spot among baseball’s finest and I will enjoy watching him at the All-Star Game. 

Speaking of the All-Star Game, I was excited to hear yesterday that Major League Baseball has invited CC Sabathia for special recognition at the game.  He is not part of the AL Roster but he’ll be honored at the site of his original team for “his contributions to the game and his longtime service to the community prior to the 90th Midsummer Classic” (according to the Commissioner’s release). Sabathia is such a great ambassador for Baseball and he’s certainly had a Hall of Fame career. I think the recognition is very fitting. I really hope the Yankees can find a spot in the organization for Sabathia once the season is over. He should be a Yankee for life.  

Photo Credit: Scott Audette, AP
There’s been so much talk about the starters the Yankees should acquire but I am fearful of the guys that the Houston Astros could potentially acquire. The Yankees have yet to prove they can win in Houston and I’d really hate to see Madison Bumgarner or Marcus Stroman joining Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole for an October run. As strongly as I believe the Yankees will upgrade their starting rotation this month, there’s no question the Astros will do the same. The only question will be which team gets the better upgrade. It could prove to be the difference when all the chips are on the line.

The Boston Red Sox may be 11 games behind the Yankees but they are far from done. I fully expect the Sox to finally land a true closer this month. Who knows, it could be former Yankee Shane Greene but I think they’ll land someone who will help stabilize the sieve known as the Red Sox bullpen. I know the Red Sox, and primarily Dave Dombrowski, have been ignoring the pen since the end of the World Series last year, but this has to be the month they finally do something…I think. The magic seems to be off the Red Sox this year, but honestly it is nothing a ten-game winning streak couldn’t cure. I refuse to believe Boston is out until the fat lady sings. But despite their troubles, they are only two games out in the AL Wild Card hunt and I feel they are a better team than any of the three teams ahead of them (Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Indians, and Oakland A’s). The Texas Rangers may be hanging with Boston, but the separation will begin in the second half. If the Red Sox capture the Wild Card and win the single-game elimination, they’ll be a significant threat in October regardless of how many wins separate the Yankees and Red Sox in the regular season.  

Congratulations to the Yankees for signing top international prospect Jasson Dominguez, a 16-year-old from the Dominican Republic. I hate to see the comparisons to Mickey Mantle and Mike Trout but you certainly like to see the tremendous and perhaps even unprecedented potential of the talented outfielder. I am not going to get too hyped up (maybe) about a kid born the year Aaron Boone hit is dramatic home run to beat the Red Sox in the ALCS. Too many factors outside the player’s control can derail progress. But, if he fulfills his lofty promise, he’ll be a great addition to the Yankee outfield in a few years. Granted, he won’t start his minor league career until next year but it wouldn’t surprise me if he breaks into the Majors by the time he is 20. According to Donny Rowland, the Yankees’ director of international scouting, while commenting on the Yankees signing as many as 50 international players every year but opting to go mostly all-in on one player this year, said “…but in this case, every now and then, the right player comes along, this one was worth it. To a man, everyone on my staff agreed.” Here’s hoping tremendous success for Jasson as he begins his Pinstriped journey.


Lost amid the signing of Dominguez is the signing of outfielder Jhon Diaz, the eighteenth-ranked international prospect according to MLB.com. The left-handed 16-year old, also from the Dominican Republic, also has the potential to be something special.  Diaz is only 5’11” (an inch taller than Dominguez) but according to MLB.com“Don’t be fooled by Diaz’s stature, this teen can play, and he has power now with the potential for more in the future. Among his biggest assets are his approach at the plate and his good bat speed through the strike zone. He consistently makes hard contact and drives the ball to all fields. Scouts praise his smooth swing and hitting mechanics.” Sounds like he’ll fit into Yankee Stadium nicely one day.

The Yankees also signed (in no particular order except for age):

    • CF Felixander Severino, 19, Dominican Republic
    • RHP Gerardo Abrego, 18, Panama
    • RHP Angel Sanchez, 18, Venezuela
    • RHP Geralmi Santana, 18, Dominican Republic
    • 2B Jeison Anillo, 17, Colombia
    • RHP Jose Bernabe, 17, Dominican Republic
    • C Jesus Bravo, 17, Colombia
    • LHP Miguel Pozo, 17, Dominican Republic
    • RHP Yordi Pichardo, 16, Dominican Republic
    • LHP Luis Urbano, 16, Venezuela

As Daniel Burch of The Greedy Pinstripes would say, WELCOME TO THE YANKEES FAMILY!

With an estimated $5.1 million of the $5.4 million allotment for the Yankees going to Dominguez, nicknamed “El Marciano” or “The Martian” since he is ‘out of this world’, they’ll need to acquire more international bonus pool money to make room for the signing. Diaz, alone, signed for $1.2 million, pushing the Yankees past the allotment so we will be seeing some trades soon. The only downside the Yankees have to acquire additional pool money which gives other teams leverage. In Cashman We Trust…

MLB Trade Rumors reported this morning that Cleveland Indians ace pitcher Carlos Carrasco has been diagnosed with leukemia. Carrasco, currently on the Injured List for the past month, hopes to return to pitch again this season. I wish him the very best for his recovery and the road back to full and complete health. I look forward to the day when he is back on a Major League mound, ready to throw his next pitch. He has beaten many odds in his life and I hope leukemia is another one that goes down in defeat. Our thoughts and prayers are with Carlos and his family.  

One last thought. I take offense at the Yankee fans who attack Aroldis Chapman and long for the days of Mariano Rivera. Sure, I get it, Rivera is a legendary player who became Baseball’s first unanimous Hall of Famer this year and is the all-time leader in saves. He was my favorite Yankee during his playing days (sorry Derek Jeter fans) but people act like he was perfect. He may have been the perfect closer for the Yankees but he was not immune from blown saves. I am very glad that Aroldis Chapman is the current closer for the New York Yankees. He has my support despite some recent struggles. I do not long for players of the past. Chapman is certainly not the only closer encountering bumps in the road this season. Last year, Blake Treinen and Edwin Diaz were hailed as the AL Elite, yet both are on the verge of losing their closing jobs this season with the Oakland A’s and New York Mets, respectively. Of all the closers in Major League Baseball, I am perfectly content with Chapman.  

Best wishes for speedy recoveries for the TV and Radio voices of the Yankees, Michael Kay and John Sterling. The YES Network broadcast booth, despite the fine job by Ken Singleton and others, is just not the same without Michael, and same with the radio booth although Ryan Ruocco has done excellent work. Kay will be out at least a month after vocal cord surgery which is scheduled for the upcoming week. Sterling, who ended a streak of 5,060 consecutive games earlier this week, will only be away for a few games. I am hopeful that Sterling’s WFAN career continues for years to come so actually breaking the streak may be a good thing in the long run for the 81-year-old. The man has earned the right to take some rest  now and then without  the pressure to extend the streak. Ruocco is expected to sub for Kay on the YES Network telecasts after Sterling returns to the radio booth with Suzyn Waldman. Ryan is the next man up, and like so many Yankee players this season, he’ll do an outstanding job.    

As always, Go Yankees!  

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