May the Yankees Find Their Way...

   

Carlos Rodon (Photo Credit: Corey Sipkin/NY Daily News)

Making the moves to retain control of the AL East...

I should go on record for saying that I like Giancarlo Stanton, but with the passage of time, I prefer younger players. I would hate to see Ben Rice lose his place when/if Stanton returns. For the benefit of the player and the team, it would be best for the Yankees to find a new home for Stanton when he is ready to play. I would have liked to have seen Stanton put a Yankees World Series Championship ring on his finger, and I appreciate the time he gave us. He was never really the World Crusher that he was in Miami during his MVP year, but he earned his pinstripes. It is a shame that so much time has been spent on the injured list during his time in New York. Moving Stanton would help the Yankees improve in other areas, like third base. 

As far as the AL East goes, I love the Yankees in first place, but I am amazed at the collapse of the Baltimore Orioles. The team has a pipeline of talent ready to be infused at the game’s highest level, but the front office’s decision to stay clear of premium pitching talent has thrown a monkey wrench into the machine. I thought the new Orioles ownership would be effective, but it has not. At the end of the day, the best AL East rivalry is the Yankees versus the Boston Red Sox. I may be a bit biased, but those tend to be the best games in the division.

Max Fried is a god. When Gerrit Cole went down for the season, losing the team’s ace seemed devastating. Yet, Fried promptly stepped into the top role and has delivered. Fried represents one of the greatest Yankees free agent signings of all time. It also rates highly as one I did not see coming. I am grateful for Max Fried and glad he is a Yankee.

Jonathan Loaisiga is back in the Bronx. I love Johnny Lasagna, but the injuries are inevitable. I am glad he is back, but it is hard not to wonder when the next trip to the IL awaits. I wish him good health, and I know the Yankees need him in the pen. I would love it if we could put the injuries in the rear-view mirror. I am glad he re-signed with the Yankees in the offseason, but staying healthy is on him. I wish him the best for good health as we move forward. I feel bad for Tyler Matzek, who was designated for assignment. But I would rather have a healthy Loaisiga on the roster than Matzek. I wish him the best for the future, whether he is selected by another team on waivers or if he is outrighted to Triple-A.

Luke Weaver, Closer. In retrospect, the Yankees should have stood pat with Weaver as their closer in the offseason. Devin Williams has been a disappointment, and so far, he has shown that he is not cut out for the Bronx. The fact that Nestor Cortes Jr has underwhelmed Milwaukee is of little comfort. I hope Williams can shake the Carl Pavano jitters and become a solid force in Pinstripes. If not, I would prefer the Yankees ship him elsewhere by the Trade Deadline. Send him to the Cubs to spice up the Cubs-Brewers rivalry as if it needs more spicing. I am disappointed Williams has become the latest Ed Whitson/Carl Pavano, but he has time to right the ship. I am hopeful the Airbender becomes a thing in the Bronx rather than just another failed acquisition shipped elsewhere. Meanwhile, I have no qualms about Weaver as the backend guy. 

Juan Soto, Luke Weaver, and Austin Wells (Photo Credit: Corey Sipkin/NY Daily News)

I was shocked to hear that Pete Rose and other deceased players like Shoeless Joe Jackson were freed from their lifetime suspensions. I saw Rose play, and there is no doubt he was an All-Star talent on the field. Yet, Rose, the man, was a sorry excuse for a human being. I wish he had admitted his guilt for betting on baseball games while he played. I had always said that it was okay for Rose to make the Hall of Fame after he died, and I continue to hold the opinion. Pete Rose, the player, is a Hall of Famer. Pete Rose, the guy? I could not care less. I do not find fault with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred’s decision to free the deceased. Ultimately, they should be judged for their performance on a baseball field, not what they represented in everyday life. But if Rose does make the Hall of Fame, I think Barry Bonds, while living, should be there too. The cases are not related, but they both crossed ethical lines. Not saying that everybody who crossed an ethical line should be admitted, but I feel Bonds, without steroids, would have been a Hall of Famer. He was a talented baseball player with tremendous hand/eye coordination. The steroids may have boosted the bulk and the power, but not the ability to hit a baseball. You can get into more reasons why Bonds’ crimes are less severe than Rose’s indiscretions, but suffice it to say, I think Bonds should be in the HOF before Rose.

Barry Bonds

This post is not long, but I have experienced “life happens.” I moved from sunny Southern California, which I loved, to New Mexico. No doubt New Mexico would have never been at the top of my list of places to move to (if not for family), but I love my new home in Albuquerque. This past Wednesday, I became a grandfather for the first time, and the opportunity to live ten miles from him is exciting. The little guy is beautiful. I have found most babies to be ugly, but my grandson avoided that tag. Love the little man. He is quiet, except when he is hungry (hey, he took after me!), and my son is beyond proud of his son. It is great to see the continuation of the family lineage.

Sadly, there are no Major League sports in Albuquerque. The best sporting events are the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, the top farm club of the Colorado Rockies. I wish the Dodgers and their former farm club, the Albuquerque Dukes, were still here, but they are not. The second sports venue is the University of New Mexico basketball team. Go Lobos. I intend to check out some of the games. My daughter-in-law, the mother of my grandson, is a Lobo. My children are Arizona Sun Devils, but I will try to embrace the local Lobos.

Albuquerque will get a hockey team in 2026 when the ECHL expands. It is not the NHL, but it is the next level. I will certainly be supportive of the local hockey team.

Yesterday, I saw the Yankees traded minor league pitcher Rob Zastryzny back to his former team, the Milwaukee Brewers, for cash considerations. I have not been following him, and I know he is in the later stages of his career, but I am sorry it did not work out for him with the Yankees. Hopefully, he finds late career success in the Beer Capital. The Yankees also took a minor league flyer on former Giants/Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani. I am not expecting much from the acquisition. The veteran right-hander is now thirty-five, and he last pitched in the Majors in 2023 for San Francisco.

I look forward to making some meaningful trades to help the team in the weeks and months before the trade deadline.

Unfortunately, the Yankees have lost Oswaldo Cabrera for an extended period due to his broken ankle and subsequent surgery. I wish him the best with his recovery and triumphant return to the Majors when he is ready. Even if he had not been injured, the Yankees would need an upgrade at third base. DJ LeMahieu is not the answer, and I always prefer to keep Cabrera in his utility role to play multiple positions. 

Oswaldo Cabrera (Photo Credit: AP)

I hope to write more in the coming months, but the move has occupied my time. This has been one of my most complicated moves despite moving from multiple cities over the past decade. I look forward to a prolonged stay in the Land of Enchantment with my young grandson. I plan to take him to a few baseball games and introduce him to America’s greatest sport.

As always, Go Yankees!