And First Base is Covered...

 

Paul Goldschmidt (Photo Credit: Jeff Roberson/AP)

Yanks agree to a one-year deal with Paul Goldschmidt…

I was underwhelmed when I heard that the New York Yankees had signed free-agent first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. No offense to Goldy, but I hoped for a more youthful approach to the position. Now that I have had a day to think about it, a one-year, $12.5 Million deal is a solid investment to solidify the position for next season. Worry about first base after the 2025 season; it is not a concern now.

When Christian Walker signed with the Houston Astros, or when the Arizona Diamondbacks traded for Josh Naylor, or when the Cleveland Guardians signed Carlos Santana, or even today's trade of Nathaniel Lowe from the Texas Rangers to the Washington Nationals, Yankees fans on social media bemoaned those were prices the Yankees could have/should have paid. Regardless of how the Yankees landed on Goldschmidt, I am confident they examined every known possibility and looked at some that were not discussed. I hoped for a comparable Tino Martinez after Don Mattingly retired type of acquisition, but that move will wait another day. If the Yankees feel that Paul Goldschmidt is the best solution for the 2025 season, I will give them the benefit of the doubt. I am hopeful Goldy can rebound from his down year in 2024, but at age 37, he will not see his ceiling (NL MVP) again. That would be good enough for me if he could call himself a World Champion Yankee after the 2025 season.

I am sad to see the end of the Anthony Rizzo era in New York. He was quickly a favorite, even if injuries curtailed the last couple of seasons. He is a good guy, and he was once a valuable player. I only regret that we did not see Prime Rizzo in Pinstripes. Nevertheless, I am glad he was a Yankee and appreciated his time on the team. While I liked Luke Voit and his personality, not to mention his ability to go yard, his iron glove at first base was painful. Rizzo's glovework was a welcome relief, and even if Rizzo did not hit like he once did, his defense positively impacted him. While corner infielders should be strong run producers, bringing elite defense to first base is vast, given how active the position is during a game. Goldy is a good gloveman, so there should be no drop-off from Rizzo, or at least when Rizzo was on the field.

Anthony Rizzo (Photo Credit: Robert Sabo/NY Post)

I hope Rizzo stays in the game in some capacity. He is at the end of the road for his playing days. It will not be a long-term relationship, even if he signs on somewhere for next season. When Rizzo transitions to his post-playing career, I hope he stays as a coach. He is undoubtedly a Chicago Cub, and the Cubs may give him a coaching opportunity in their organization. If not, I hope the Yankees do.

As a person, I like Anthony Rizzo better than Paul Goldschmidt, but Goldy is the better player for 2025. Goldy seems like a great family who loves to play the game of baseball. He will have every opportunity to endear himself to the fan base, and I have no reason to believe he will not be successful. He is not a long-term option for the Yankees, but we can have a good run together. At the end of Goldy's run, we will be as grateful for him as we are for Rizzo.

Anthony Rizzo, thank you. The lost time was unfortunate, but you proved worthy of the Pinstripes. You wore them proudly, and we are thankful for your time. Our acceptance and embrace of Paul Goldschmidt as the new Yankees first baseman have nothing to do with your character's quality and desire to win. Sports is a continual changing of the guard. Father Time is undefeated.

When I think of his strength of character, Oscar Gamble will always stand out to me, given that I had the opportunity to meet him during his playing days with the Yankees. He is not a reason the Yankees won the World Series, and he was never the best player on his teams, but the quality of the man was elite. Rizzo passes the Gamble test, and I am hopeful Goldschmidt can, too.

We need to give Paul Goldschmidt a chance. Ben Rice has a good opportunity to back up first base and catcher while learning first base from one of the game's best players over the last decade. I hope Rice can use this time to elevate his game. If Goldy is injured, Cody Bellinger is fully capable of everyday work at first base. The Yankees have the most substantial safety net at first base that we have seen in a few years.

Now that the first base vacancy is solved, the next question is the third/second base. As much as I like Jazz Chisholm, Jr, I prefer him to return to second base. While I would like to see the Yankees re-sign current second baseman Gleyber Torres, Chisholm is the next best option if the Yankees move on from Torres, which is how the tea leaves currently read. I want strong defense at third base, especially after the massive investment in starter Max Fried. DJ LeMahieu can still provide good defense, but it is foolish to count on him as a starter, given his struggles with injuries the past couple of years. Jazz tries, but he is not a trained, experienced third baseman. I value experience and performance in the position. I am not opposed to acquiring St Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado. He is not the player he once was in Colorado, but he will not hurt you at third base. I prefer him over Oswaldo Cabrera, whom I view more as a role/bench player, or Oswald Peraza, a player I think will have a challenging time making the Opening Day roster.

I could accept Alex Bregman just to keep him away from Boston or from returning to Houston. I know some can never take the Houston cheaters, and while I will never forgive Bregman for his role in it, I can appreciate a current commitment to help the Yankees win. We have seen other villains put on the Pinstripes, and we have accepted them. Although you cannot get more villainous than Bregman and Jose Altuve, I believe in second chances. When players put on pinstripes, they value and appreciate it the most. It may not have been the case with Juan Soto, who valued the dollar above all else, but I sincerely believe that Alex Bregman would want to help the Yankees to win if he signed here, just like he will fight to be successful in Boston if he goes there. 

I prefer Arenado over Bregman, but then again, I lived in Denver during Arenado's prime and know what he meant to that city and his teams. Neither player is the player they once were, but who they are now can still help the New York Yankees win the World Series.

At the end of the day, I have no idea who will take third base on Opening Day. Regardless of the man who runs to the bag in the season's first game, I will know it was a decision that was carefully considered by the organization and a decision made in the best interest of changing the outcome of the most recent World Series. I know I have been critical of GM Brian Cashman, but only a fool would say that they do not understand the game of Major League Baseball. They have proven an ability to turn weaknesses into strengths. I will give them the benefit of the doubt on this one.

The best outcome for the Winter would have been to re-sign Juan Soto, but it did not happen. The alternative may not be as good, but it can be just as effective. I never dreamed that Max Fried would be in the starting rotation, yet there he is, right behind ace Gerrit Cole. We should head into the season with Luke Weaver as the team's closer (a role I accepted), but we will have The Airbender instead. If these are Brian Cashman's last years as the Yankees General Manager, he is focused on going out with a bang. I will never underestimate him.

The days ahead should be interesting. Some moves still need to be made, and I do not see the Yankees waiting until Spring Training to address the final holes. Multiple teams' rapid succession of moves quickly closed the first base window this week. The same situation could happen with the other current holes on the Yankees roster. Strike now while there is opportunity.

Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is a team capable of beating all teams for the World Series in 2025. Please, make it happen.

As always, Go Yankees!

Congratulations to the First-Place New York Yankees...

 

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: New York Daily News)

Yankees win AL East; what’s next? ….

The New York Yankees won the American League Eastern Division Championship in a year that many had expected the Baltimore Orioles to win the division. After the division clincher, I saw a few Yankee fans on social media trying to collect receipts from fans who did not think the Yankees would win this season. I thought the Yankees would finish second to the Orioles before the season started. I am happy the Yankees proved me wrong, but I still think the O’s might have emerged victorious if their pitching had remained healthy. Sure, they had Corbin Burnes, one of the game’s best, but it was not enough. They also lost one of the game’s finest closers, Felix Bautista (Tommy John surgery in September 2023), and tried to replace him this season with the since-released Craig Kimbrel. I am not trying to deflate the Yankees’ success, and I know they also dealt with their share of injuries. I just realized the Orioles could not play with the whole deck, and the Yankees could take advantage of it. Baltimore will be back strong in 2025, regardless of how this season plays out.

But today is 2024, and the New York Yankees, possessing the best record in the American League, are your AL East Champions, with a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the American League Championship Series (assuming they make it that far). If there was ever a year to kick the Houston Astros to the curb, this is it, and I hope the Yankees do it. Beating the Royals, Guardians, Tigers, or Orioles will be enjoyable, but beating Houston would be fantastic. I would savor every moment of it.

I am pleased the Yankees took care of business after the long stretch this summer when they played like the league’s worst. Indeed, there is no underestimating the power of the Juan Soto/Aaron Judge tandem in the lineup. Soto made everyone around him better. Jazz Chisholm, Jr changed the clubhouse's vibe and attitude upon his arrival. After whispers pre-trade that he was a lousy clubhouse influence, the exact opposite turned out to be true. Those are critical differences as to why the Yankees won this season.

Juan Soto (Photo Credit: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Anthony Volpe stepped back, but I remain committed to him as the team’s starting shortstop. I am hopeful and optimistic about his improved performance next season. If it does not happen next season, it will be time to find Plan B, but that is the least of our concerns in October 2024. It is not like a reincarnated 21-year-old Derek Jeter, possessing all the vast knowledge and experience of the original version, will show up in Aaron Boone’s office, ready to take the field.

Gleyber Torres, for as much hate as he took early in the season, found a home atop the batting order, and his detractors were hard to find late in the season. I have never said I am anxious to see the Yankees replace Torres, eligible for free agency after the season. I know the Yankees need to drain the vault for Juan Soto, but I hope they can find a little extra to bring Torres back. I am not ready to turn the page with him. It is easy to point out his faults, but sadly, perfect ballplayers are rare. If Gleyber leaves, somebody else with “warts” will take his place.

Clay Holmes, thanks for the All-Star nomination and closing out the 2024 regular season with an easy save, but I wish you well in free agency, and I hope the Yankees close the door behind you. Luke Weaver showed enough to prove that he can become the next Yankees closer. Maybe the Yankees try to make a splash in the offseason (not sure who…signing an aged Kenley Jansen does not exactly excite me, regardless of the respect I have held for Kenley over the years). Still, Weaver can be the guy if given the opportunity. In recent years, the Yankees have proven they can grow talented pitchers in the farm system, and maybe the next great closer is just a call-up away. Who knows. Yankees VP Michael Fishman probably knows since he clearly knows everything (there is no air of seriousness in that sentence, I can assure you). The Yankees have proven a solid ability to build a good bullpen, so it should be the least of anyone’s concerns in building their offseason plans.

I have enjoyed Anthony Rizzo’s time as a New York Yankee. He may not have given us the years or the memories like some of the great Yankees first basemen who preceded him, but Rizzo saved us from Luke Voit’s iron glove at first base, and I will be forever grateful. His worth extended well beyond his glove. He has been a great teammate and a tremendous Yankee. I am glad he spent a few years in the Bronx, even if he will forever be remembered as a Chicago Cub. The fractures he suffered in his hand this weekend could spell the end of his Yankees career. The Yankees kept the door open by not placing Rizzo on the Injured List when they called up Ben Rice to replace him at first base for Sunday’s season finale. No word if Rizzo will be able to play in the ALDS, but fortunately, the team has a few days before any decisions must be made. If it is genuinely a ‘pain tolerance thing’ as we have heard, then maybe Rizzo plays and gives us one of those iconic victories despite injury performances like Kirk Gibson once did for the Los Angeles Dodgers. If not, thank you for your time in Pinstripes. While the Yankees will not pick up Rizzo’s option, the $6 million buyout is enough that the Yankees could negotiate a one-year deal for Rizzo to return next season. I am okay with whatever happens. If he leaves, he has been great. If he stays, wonderful…let’s try to get him a ring in Pinstripes if that does not happen this year.

Anthony Rizzo (Photo Credit: USATSI)

Like Clay Holmes, Alex Verdugo finished the last regular season game strong with a bases-loaded two-run single that gave the Yankees a 6-4 lead and an eventual win on Sunday over the Pittsburgh Pirates, which allowed the Yankees to finish 94-68, three games up on the Baltimore Orioles, 91-71. Sorry for the long run-on sentence, but one season of Alex Verdugo is enough. I liked him better than I thought when the Yankees first acquired him from the archrival Red Sox last offseason, but the Yankees can do better. Jasson Dominguez needs to work on his left-field defense this winter, but I prefer a matured Dominguez bat in left next season over a return engagement for Verdugo. Watch Verdugo become a major postseason star for the Yankees, making it impossible for them to part ways. Okay, I do not believe it would happen, but if it did, it would mean good things for the playoffs. Note to Hal Steinbrenner, please keep your money aimed at Juan Soto.

I think Trent Grisham can help teams win, but the Yankees needed to play him more for us to find out. For Grisham’s sake, he would get more playing time elsewhere. He remains arbitration-eligible in 2025, but the Yankees should do him a favor and move him to a team that needs him. I am unsure when Everson Pereira will be ready following UCL surgery earlier this year, but he should be making noise for Major League playing time when he is healthy again (or at least I hope he is).

The Yankees will have decisions to make regarding their starting rotation next season. I am sure any offseason plan for the Yankees (at least those by Yankee fans) will include a starting pitcher capable of shouldering the load behind Gerrit Cole. I do not believe Cole will opt out. The Yankees would be foolish not to extend his deal by one year. The Yankees need to build around Cole, not build toward replacing him. Clarke Schmidt and Carlos Rodón will be there, and Luis Gil showed much growth. Nestor Cortes, Jr seems like a wild card. He could stay. He could go. The over/under seems to favor his departure, even if he was the most consistent starting pitcher this season. There will be offseason pressure on the Yankees to upgrade the rotation despite their massive attention on Juan Soto’s impending free agency. Need to find the next Tarik Skubal or Paul Skenes if they can be seen without becoming the worst team in baseball to get the best draft position.

Like it or not, Aaron Boone will return next season regardless of how October plays out. I do not dislike the guy. I get frustrated with his decisions sometimes, but there seemed to be fewer of those occurrences as the season wore on. Maybe he is starting to get it. I had thought before the season that having an experienced bench coach in Brad Ausmus would help him, and I think it has. Granted, his former bench coach has done well as the manager for the New York Mets. My issue with Carlos Mendoza was never about his knowledge, experience, or ability to relate to players on their level. I had always thought he was too much like Boone to effectively help Boone.

It is a little early to discuss the offseason. Sorry. The current focus is the American League Divisional Series and determining who the Yankees will play next. The Yankees are well positioned for a deep run, and if the team gets hot, they can put the memories of ‘they have not won since 2009’ to rest. No team stands out as the prohibitive favorite. It is as simple as playing the best and being the best. The field is open.

On a side thought, I did not like the post-game celebration for just making the playoffs. I know the team missed the playoffs in 2023, and it is an honor to make the dance. Yet, the celebration of participating in the Wild Card series seems premature to me. Winning the division championship was an accomplishment, even better when the Yankees secured home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs. It was bad enough the Yankees played one game with a champagne hangover, but they did it twice in September. Two games they played at less than their best. It could have cost them home-field advantage. Thankfully, it did not, but I will never understand why you celebrate playing a Wild Card game. Win the short three-game series and then celebrate. The ALDS/NLDS are rounds more worthy of celebration…in my humble opinion.

The season has thankfully ended for the Chicago White Sox and their historically bad 121-loss season. I could not help but think what it must be like for Andrew Benintendi. Not that I want Benintendi today, but at the time of his free agency, I had hoped for his return to the Yankees despite the flaws in his game. But he desired a Midwest location and signed a contract that surprisingly was one of the largest ever handed out by the Chicago White Sox (if not the largest, if memory serves correctly). I hope the money was worth it for Benintendi while he watched those losses mount this season. I am sure the White Sox’s offseason plan will start with how to unload Benintendi and his contract. I do not pine for a return to the Yankees, regardless of what the Yankees do with Alex Verdugo, Jasson Dominguez, and left field.

Craig Counsell is a good manager, but it must have been tough to finish ten games behind his old club. Congratulations to the Milwaukee Brewers on their division championship, which leaves Counsell and the Chicago Cubs in the dust.

The San Diego Padres impressed me down the stretch, and so did the Detroit Tigers. Both teams can make some noise in October. I feel bad for the fans of the Minnesota Twins because of their team’s late-season collapse. As a Vikings fan, I know how much they have suffered with the NFL. While the Twins have at least won some championships in their history, late-season collapses are never fun. I am sure Yankee fans hated to see the Twins miss the playoffs, given the Yankees' success over the Twins through the years.

The season was filled with so much more than what I have covered with this random post. These were just a few thoughts at the end of another MLB regular season. February always brings so much excitement for the upcoming season, and the season, from the view of February, seems so long, yet quickly, we are at the end. It has been a fun season, even if it has been frustrating. I feel good about the 2024 Yankees despite their weaknesses. The team is cohesive, and they strive to pick each other up. They may not win it all this season, but I am confident they will give it their all.

As always, Go Yankees! 

The Yankees: Glass is Half-Empty...

 

Aaron Judge and Juan Soto (Photo Credit: The New York Daily News)

Yankees can win it all, but will they?...

The off-season move to acquire one season of Juan Soto was a huge move by the Yankees, but if the team had listened to its fanbase’s additional demands for a strong starting pitcher, it may have been the decision maker between parity and greatness. I know, the Yankees are leading their division, but they certainly do not feel like a team of destiny. The combo of Juan Soto-Aaron Judge is unmatched in baseball, and it could all go for a naught. 

The Yankees lead the American League East Division and will roll into September with at least a half-game lead if the Baltimore Orioles win their Saturday night contest in the Mile High City against the Colorado Rockies. The Yankees are lucky the Orioles have never been able to find their stride, given the strong young talent on their roster. Being the division leader this late in the season is great, but there is much baseball to be played before the final standings are confirmed.  Magic numbers are a few weeks away from media magnification.  The Orioles could still run away with the division if they managed to hit their machine into gear although they do not quite have the starting pitching to do it.

Cashman’s decisions (or lack thereof) are the deciding factors in this year’s pennant chase. The opportunity to build an elite contender was there, but they settled for ‘not quite enough’ under the perceived theory that October baseball is just a crapshoot. 

After Saturday’s game, the Yankees announced that 1B/C Ben Rice had been optioned to Triple-A, along with Saturday’s starter (and loser) RHP Will Warren.  This means the likely return of Anthony Rizzo. Everybody likes to speculate that the lane is opening for the callup of outfielder Jasson Dominguez, but the club continues to send out signals that we probably will not see The Martian roaming the Yankee Stadium outfield in September. I like Will Warren, but he is not ready for Major League Baseball. I had hoped this would be the year for Clayton Beeter to make his ascension to the Major Leagues, but injuries had other ideas. Warren had his opportunities, but he is not an answer for the final weeks of 2024. 

In the offseason, I had wanted the Yankees to sign Jordan Montgomery. In retrospect, that move would have been a disaster as demonstrated by his dismal performance in the Sonoran Desert for the Snakes that led to his recent demotion to the bullpen. But I also pitched for Blake Snell. “Second-half” Snell would have looked fantastic in Pinstripes. 

At this point, the cavalry rescue for the starting rotation will be the return of Clarke Schmidt which is looming. Otherwise, the Yankees need to focus on the bullpen. I am extremely disappointed in deadline acquisition Mark Leiter, Jr. I had high hopes for the return of a Leiter to Pinstripes, and I had hoped it would be a successful union between player and club.  He has only proven that Jazz Chisholm, Jr was the sole successful deadline acquisition. While I do not expect the Yankees to DFA Leiter, it would not surprise me if they did. The Yankees already jettisoned the other reliever acquired at the deadline (Enyel De Los Santos) so they may as well make it a deuce. The only hope is that at least one (or more) of the relievers on the Injured List can step up in a hurry and contribute in a big way. Back spasms recently derailed Ian Hamilton (at least temporarily). Hopefully, the other have better success working their way back.

I do believe the Yankees should take a mix-and-match approach with their bullpen rather than rolling with Clay Holmes as the designated ninth inning closer.  Forget about who accumulates the saves. Worry about who protects the wins. Look for the right matchups that favor the pitcher regardless of who is on the mound.  If I had greater faith in Holmes, I would feel differently, but given the makeup of the bullpen, the Yankees cannot afford the volatile Holmes to close out close games when every game matters.    

Austin Wells has made me a believer that he is the team’s starting catcher and deserves the lion’s share of starts behind the plate. This is not intended to disrespect Jose Trevino who has performed admirably as a Yankee. Wells can be a key player in the lineup, and he obviously needs to play to excel. Let Trevino be Gerrit Cole’s personal caddy.  It is nice to see Wells perform like we expected when the Yankees drafted him. So many of those high draft picks fade into oblivion. Well, unless your name is Aaron Judge. Wells brings the strength to the catching position that has been missing since Jorga Posada retired. 

Austin Wells (Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

The Yankees should designate Alex Verdugo for assignment. I am not worried about a competitor picking him up. He is not going to help anyone win in October. He might be a great defensive replacement for somebody, but his bat will scare no one. The Yankees will not re-sign him in the offseason, so he is not part of the future, and he is not helping the present. I would rather see Jasson Dominguez in left field. Dominguez can help now and in the future. This left field upgrade does not seem like rocket science to me. 

I have always been a fan of DJ LeMahieu, and I was happy when the Yankees re-signed him several years ago even if the contract was a little too long. But his performance this season continually raises the question “what have you done for us lately?”. The answer is nada. If a player is not helping, move him out of the way for someone who can. I would be surprised if the Yankees cut LeMahieu and I would love to see him rediscover the fountain of youth (and hitting). I just cannot say that I am optimistic he will. Loved Brett Gardner, but there is a time for everybody to go.  The time has arrived for LeMahieu. The Yankees should be preparing their exit strategy for LeMahieu rather than continually giving him at-bats. I would so love to see LeMahieu make a huge contribution in September to help the Yankees win and rub it in my face. As Sabrina Carpenter says, Please, Please, Please.

For a team that leads its division, I should be more optimistic. Sadly, I am not feeling it with the team as currently constructed. They have the potential of winning (every team this year is flawed), but I think the team’s weaknesses will be magnified and exposed in a short series playoff format. Another historic Aaron Judge season that will potentially end in failure.   

What coulda, shoulda been…if the Yankees fail, the blood will be on Brian Cashman’s hands.

Brian Cashman

For the record, I hope this is not the only season in Pinstripes for Juan Soto. His presence on the team has been a joy this year, even during his slumps. He makes those around him better, and the Yankees will be stronger with him on its 2025 roster. He never needed that magical moment when he truly became a Yankee. He made it happen on the first day he pulled the jersey on. In all my years as a Yankee fan, I do not think I have ever seen a superstar player transition so smoothly to the team from the day of his arrival.

Juan Soto, New York Yankees

I hope Hal Steinbrenner pulls out all stops to make Soto a Yankee for life. Juan Soto and Aaron Judge can win together. It may not happen this year, but if given the chance, it will happen in the future. I am confident. Maybe changes need to happen in the front office, and/or on the bench, but those two players are the cornerstone for greatness. Hal Steinbrenner has the money and the influence to find the right people to make it happen.

As always, Go Yankees!

Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones...

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Or baseballs, bats, and opposing players…

Although this season has been fun, the harsh reality of injuries threatens to disrupt the feeling of utopia among the Yankees Universe. Before we get into broken bones, I am glad Aaron Judge is not among them. Losing Judge for a considerable time would have been a showstopper, particularly with Jasson Dominguez (oblique strain) riding the Injured List in Triple-A. Watching Judge exit the game on Tuesday night, thoughts of worst-case scenarios swam through the heads of Yankees fans everywhere. Thankfully, the medical results showed no fractures, so Judge should be back within days rather than weeks or months if he had fractures.

The frustration was evident on Judge's face when an inside pitch struck his hand. It's unlikely that Baltimore Orioles right-handed starter Albert Suarez had any ill intentions, but his lack of control on an inside pitch was a stark reminder of the game's risks.  The Yankees' success this season is intricately linked to Judge's performance, and his absence would undoubtedly be a setback to the team’s positive momentum. Reflecting on the recent loss of Mookie Betts from the Los Angeles Dodgers for six to eight weeks due to a left-hand fracture, I am relieved that the Yankees did not face a similar fate with their star player.

The broken bones belong to Anthony Rizzo, who fractured his right forearm in a collision on Sunday against the Boston Red Sox. Rizzo will be out for at least eight weeks. When the Yankees made a flurry of roster moves on Tuesday with a 40-man spot still needed to activate Gerrit Cole on Wednesday, I thought Rizzo might be a candidate for the 60-day IL, so I am not reading too much into his placement on the 60-day list today. I will start by saying I never want to see anyone hurt, but admittedly, while I am disappointed about the loss of Rizzo, there is some relief, too, given how pathetic he has been at the plate this season—something needed to change.

Anthony Rizzo (Photo Credit: Eric Canha/USA TODAY Sports)

Rizzo is batting .223/.289/.341 with 84 WRC+ this season, good for an fWAR of -0.4. He is thirty-five and no longer the player he was as recently as 2022. Rizzo signed a two-year contract with the Yankees on November 15, 2022, including a club option for 2025. Based on Rizzo’s performance and injury struggles over the last two years, it seems unlikely the club will exercise its option to retain him. So, when Rizzo returns mid to late August, he will play his final weeks in Pinstripes. It is hard to envision him returning with a hot bat. It will most likely be ‘more of the same,’ which will lead to the closure of his Yankees career upon season’s end.

If the Yankees go after an experienced first baseman at the trade deadline, they can hardly be faulted. Rizzo was a skillful player and, by all accounts, a great teammate, but age does not wait for anyone. It happens. It is always better to part ways with a player too soon rather than too late. I do not foresee any realistic scenario that cements Rizzo as a 2025 Yankee. Thanks, buddy. Next.

Yankees prospect Ben Rice, a catcher who added a first baseman’s glove to his repertoire in recent seasons, gets the first shot at replacing Rizzo. As much as I want Rice to succeed, if he is treading water (or worse) into July, the Yankees must go after a more proven resource to man first base. Some fans felt the Yankees should have promoted first base prospect TJ Rumfield. While I would have supported Rice or Rumfield, I cannot see the Yankees burning another 40-man roster spot in-season for Rumfield after making room for Rice. Rumfield seems like one of those November decisions. If the Yankees create more space on the 40-man, they will want someone they know will pay immediate dividends for the team.

I am not expecting the St. Louis Cardinals to trade first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (as nice as it would be for us), so the Yankees will have to find less obvious solutions that can produce. With the uncertainty at first base, the Yankees will unlikely trade Gleyber Torres in July. The best defensive second baseman on the roster is too busy playing the corner bases to take over as the full-time starter at second base. Plus, DJ LeMahieu has his own age-related performance deterioration issues.

So far, 2024 has been a terrific season for General Manager Brian Cashman and the cast of nerds. It will be interesting to see if their magical touch can extend to the current first-base predicament.

Hopefully, Ben Rice grabs the job and does not let go.

Ben Rice (Photo Credit: AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

So long to The Say Hey Kid…

Given that Willie Mays was ninety-three, it was inevitable that his end would be near. He lived a long and productive life and will be remembered as one of the greatest baseball players ever.

Willie Mays (Photo Credit: AP Photo/RDS)

Willie Howard Mays Jr. died of heart failure on June 18, 2024, at a care facility in Palo Alto, CA. Mays had been scheduled to attend a Major League game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, on Thursday between the San Francisco Giants and St Louis Cardinals. He had informed the parties earlier in the week that he could not attend. Unfortunately, his health decline and subsequent death preceded what should have been a joyous day of celebration in Birmingham on June 20. A mural of Mays, which had been in the works before Mays’ death, was unveiled after the news of his passing.

Willie Mays Mural, Rickwood Field, Birmingham, AL (Photo Credit: ESPN)

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred released the following statement on Tuesday: “All of Major League Baseball is mourning today as we are gathered at the very ballpark where a career and legacy like no other began. Willie Mays took his all-around brilliance from the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League to the historic Giants franchise. From coast to coast in New York and San Francisco, Willie inspired generations of players and fans as the game grew and truly earned its place as our National Pastime.”

Willie, thank you for your incredible accomplishments in life. You leave memories of a legend that can never be erased. Thank you for the man you always were, from beginning to end. You lived a life that cannot be replicated. We are better because you were here. Farewell to you, and may you rest in peace.

Willie Mays (Photo Credit: Scott Strazzante/The San Francisco Chronicle)

As always, Go Yankees!

The End of the Season is Near...

 

Oswaldo Cabrera, Greg Weissert, DJ LeMahieu & Austin Wells (Photo Credit: Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

The Yankees conclude the season in KC…

As I type this post, the Yankees have begun playing on Friday night against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Not much point in waiting until the end of the game to start writing this week’s entry. The Yankees, by taking two of three from the Toronto Blue Jays this week, assured themselves of not less than a .500 season. By winning at least one game in the next three from the 105-loss Royals, the Yankees will keep the winning season streak alive even if you cannot exactly call this a “winning” season. 

Boston’s tailspin this week (they have lost five consecutive games entering play this evening) clinched the AL East Cellar for the Red Sox. Not much to shoot for goals this season, but finishing ahead of Boston was one. Small wins. We need something to keep us warm over a long winter. Finishing with more wins than losses is another yet-to-be-achieved goal. The Yankees were 81-78 after concluding their trip to Toronto, Canada. They can finish anywhere from 81-81 to 84-78. If I can dissect a goal from the possibilities, it would be to avoid 80 losses. If the Yankees can take 2 of 3 from the Royals like they did the Blue Jays, they will finish 83-79. Sounds better than 82-80 or 81-81.   

I am ready for the season to end. The downside is that we must wait until the playoffs are over before there will be any meaningful activity for the Yankees in their efforts to bounce back next season. There are reports the outside company brought for an audit of team processes throughout the organization will start in October. Well, the halls of Yankee Stadium will be empty next week. No time to start like the present.

The managerial firings began today when the San Francisco Giants announced they had parted ways with Manager Gabe Kapler who won 107 games and the NL West Division crown in 2021. I have no interest in Kapler as Yankees manager although I have already seen numerous social media posts to that effect. I would rather have Joe Girardi as the manager than Kapler, and believe me, I have no desire to see Girardi return to Pinstripes. He had his time. I am sure it was a hard decision for Farhan Zaidi, the Giants’ President of Baseball Operations, but like the Yankees, I think the Giants front office holds more responsibility for 2023 on-the-field disappointment than the manager. Zaidi is probably seeing his own mortality as a team executive, and he was not going to fire himself. Does Yankees GM Brian Cashman serve up Aaron Boone as the sacrificial lamb?  At the end of the day, the buck stops with Zaidi and Cashman. They are responsible for the men in the clubhouse and the players on the field.   

My speculation is the Yankees retain both Cashman and Boone. Another GM was promoted to President of Baseball Operations today (Nick Krall of the Cincinnati Reds). With so many GMs making this transition, it seems inevitable the Yankees will do the same for Cashman one day or at least they should if they are not going to fire him. It is time for a new Yankees GM regardless of how Cashman is moved out of the position (firing or promotion). Promoting a failure seems counterproductive, but I will not believe that Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner has the stones to fire Cashman unless he ACTUALLY does it. 

Hal Steinbrenner (Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports)

The Yankees game went from 0-0 first pitch to 8-0 Royals in the bottom of the first inning with no outs and Carlos Rodón already out of the game. As David Cone just said, when it rains, it pours. You would think the Yankees would enter the season’s final series with some pride, and at least have some success against one of baseball’s worst teams. Yet, the Yankees are getting bludgeoned to death. It seems par for the course this season. The first inning ended 9-0 in favor of the Royals. One of the worst innings I have ever seen in my life. Well, my little league team, George’s Pizza, did have a few bad ones if memory serves correctly. But the Yankees made it professionally bad. 

Frankie Montas is expected to pitch a few innings this weekend. There seems to be some interest on both sides for a reunion next season. The Yankees should only do it on a short-term, “make-good” contract to see if they can discover the pitcher that they thought they were getting from the Oakland A’s.  If another team wants to offer Montas a three- or four-year deal, call it a sunk loss and move on. 

I doubt the Yankees can eliminate Giancarlo Stanton or DJ LeMahieu this offseason, but the team would be better in the long run if they could. Even if they must pay the bulk of the contract, the Yankees should try to find a way to move Stanton. Of course, any move would take Stanton’s blessing, but a change of scenery could be good for him, as he might find greater success elsewhere. The Giants or the Dodgers seem like the most logical landing spots if either team is interested in Stanton at a discounted price. I like LeMahieu, but his best days are behind him and, sadly, they are not coming back. 

I have already accepted that Kyle Higashioka will not be part of the 2024 Yankees. Austin Wells has proven he belongs, and he will be half of the catching tandem with Jose Trevino, if not more. Ben Rortvedt in reserve, with promising young catchers on the way. There is simply no room for Higgy. He is a good clubhouse guy aside from his defensive prowess and occasional pop, but it has become a numbers game for him and there is simply no room for moving forward.

I am hopeful and optimistic that first baseman Anthony Rizzo will have a bounce-back year next season, but the Yankees need to ensure that they have strong first base support. I know many people do not want the Cubs’ Cody Bellinger, but he makes too much sense to me. He would give us a strong outfielder who can play first base if needed (and play it well). He can play center for most of next season, and then possibly move to left, if/when Jasson Dominguez is ready to return. 

Cody Bellinger (Photo Credit: MLB Photos via Getty Images)

If not Bellinger, it needs to be someone capable of multiple positions in addition to first base. It would be nice if LeMahieu could be that guy, but I am fearful that Father Time is no longer his friend. We become more injury-prone as we get older, and LeMahieu is trending in the wrong direction.

I have no desire to trade Gleyber Torres, but I do believe the Yankees would be stronger with Anthony Volpe at second base and Oswald Peraza at shortstop. I felt that way before Volpe made the Major League club in Spring Training, and I continue to feel that way. Keeping Volpe at shortstop just because that is the position that he grabbed in Spring Training does not make sense if the team is better defensively with Volpe at second and Peraza at short. But of course, if Volpe is the second baseman, where does Gleyber Torres play? Under that scenario, it might be necessary to trade one of the team’s best hitters. Or trade Peraza if it helps to acquire a starting pitcher capable of performing well under pressure. So, I will say that I prefer to keep Torres, but I am not opposed to moving him if it helps make the team better. 

If Peraza is at short or is traded, the question then becomes who is the third baseman? I would have liked to have seen Andrés Chaparro in the Bronx in September but there was no room for him. He will have a chance to make his case for third base next season, along with prospect Tyler Hardman. It will be interesting to see if the Yankees address third base from within or if they go externally through free agency or trade. With so many other pressing needs, it kind of feels like third base will get lost in the shuffle.  Peraza is capable of being the third baseman which would allow the Yankees to keep Torres, but it seems like Peraza’s highest and best value is either shortstop or second base. The Yankees need to figure this out.

I have liked Everson Pereira, the prospect, but as a Major Leaguer, I am not sure he is the answer for left field. He will continue to grow; however, I am not sure if he can fix the ‘swing and miss’.  Unlike this season, the Yankees need to ensure they have a strong left-field solution entering Opening Day 2024. As much as I want to see Pereira succeed, I think they can do better.

As for center field, I am not sure what the Yankees will do if they are not successful in acquiring a guy like Cody Bellinger. Estevan Florial deserves more time, but honestly, the Yankees can ill afford both Florial and Pereira in the same lineup.  One or the other. If Pereira is included in a trade, then take the chance on Florial in center at least until Dominguez is ready. Doing this, the Yankees cannot take any chances in the other areas of need. They need certainty…they need consistency…they need players who can play to the back of their baseball cards. 

I have not dived into pitching. There is Gerrit Cole, the soon-to-be AL Cy Young Award Winner, and then there is everybody else. I did mention Montas earlier, but the one guy who must find it this offseason is Carlos Rodón. His final 2023 start, with an inability to record an out after 35 pitches, allowing six hits, eight earned runs, and two walks, will leave a bad taste in the fanbase. Well, it puts an exclamation point on his horrific season. Rodón enters 2024 as the player with the most to prove on a team with a bunch of guys needing to prove themselves again. After this season’s pathetic performance (aside from his extended time on the Injury List), I am not sure that you can automatically pencil in Rodón’s name for next year’s starting rotation. For the money and years that the Yankees owe him, it seems inevitable he will be, but with all honesty, he should not be given anything. He needs to earn it.  My guess is the Yankees will move on from Luis Severino given so much other uncertainty in the rotation. They cannot afford for Rodón to crap the bed again.

Michael King, as of this writing, is the Yankees’ second-best starter and he spent most of the season as a reliever, albeit a very good one. I am in favor of retaining King in the rotation. I would like to see the Yankees sign Japanese starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He seems like a special player, and if the Yankees are truly in the running for him, they need to pull out all the stops to get him. The Yankees have strong starting pitching coming up through the farm system. Drew Thorpe seems to be on the fast track, and he has already proven he is the best young arm in the organization. With Rodón’s uncertainty, the Yankees cannot take too many chances with the other starting spots. They need to be RIGHT about the pitchers they choose, not something that has been a good front-office attribute in recent years. 

There are plenty of strong arms for relief in the bullpen and in the farm system. I am not too worried about the Yankees’ ability to rebuild the pen. However, they do need a legitimate closer. Clay Holmes is not that guy.  Holmes is good for the pen, just not at the back end of meaningful games. I hope the Yankees can figure this one out over the coming months. I have no idea who the Yankees could or should get, but I trust they can find an elite arm. They have the resources. 

The Yankees desperately need to rebuild the Analytics division, starting with the ouster of Assistant GM Michael Fishman. I recognize that wanting Cashman and Boone fired does not mean they will be, but clearly, the Yankees must see the poor decisions that have been formed on information provided by the Analytics team, led by Fishman. If the Yankees do nothing else with the Front Office this offseason, getting newer, smarter nerds is an absolute must. 

I am hopeful this is finally the offseason of change with the infusion of hope. I have literally waited years for Hal Steinbrenner to excite the fan base. Is this finally the year he acts like a true Steinbrenner? If not now, he probably never will. This is his moment to put his stamp on the New York Yankees. Hal was in charge when the Yankees won in 2009, however, his father, in health decline, was still in the background. Will history remember Hal as an owner committed to winning like his father, or is he just another also-ran in it for the profit? He needs to make his mark as the stand-alone ownership leader of the Yankees, no longer in the shadows of his legendary larger-than-life father or opinionated late brother. The Yankees organization created the culture of winning in the 1920s. Hal has a chance to redefine success one hundred years later. Is he up for the challenge? We shall soon see.

As always, Go Yankees!

Listen to the Fans: Fire Cashman Night...

 

Fire Cashman Night, 9/22/2023 (Photo Credit: Robert Sabo/NY Post)

Fans show up in support of Cashman’s dismissal…

Friday night was “Fire Cashman Night” and of course, the Yankees won with a reclamation project off the scrap heap (Luke Weaver), a common and consistent Cashman attempt to find ‘lightning in a bottle’. To Cashman’s credit, Weaver was once a promising young pitcher for the Cardinals and Diamondbacks, and perhaps the Yankees see something they can fix. Yet, it was funny that a Cashman ploy succeeded on a night when fans were calling for his ouster. Weaver was backed by Aaron Judge’s second three-homer game of the season, but the first home run, a three-run shot in the third inning would have been sufficient to back the tremendous outings by Weaver and reliever Jhony Brito. Gerrit Cole, not Matt Blake, is growing a reputation as the team’s Pitching Whisperer.

Gerrit Cole (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Despite Aaron Judge’s words after the game saying the players take the most responsibility for this season’s failure, the primary problem was the players who were on the field and that buck stops with Cashman. 

The Yankees (78-76) won Friday night’s game, 7-1 over the Arizona Diamondbacks, the opening game of a three-game weekend series. The Yankees have eight games remaining. The series in Toronto next week will be tough but hopefully, the Yankees can win the series against Arizona this weekend with victories today and/or tomorrow and take next weekend’s series in Kansas City to ensure a winning season and help to stay a step ahead of the Boston Red Sox to avoid being the AL East Cellar Dweller. 

While I get the players need to perform better on the field, I do not feel that Brian Cashman should continue his role as the team’s general manager. It is TIME for a new voice and vision. Cashman’s years of complacency, the failures to make necessary supportive moves to help the huge free agent signings of Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge (signings driven by Hal Steinbrenner and not Cashma), and the disastrous trades and bypass of young generational free agent talent (most notably, Bryce Harper) over the past few seasons have helped the Yankees become the “mid” team they currently are. The Yankees spend money, it is the allocation of those dollars that has been the problem. Whether it is Giancarlo Stanton’s contract that grows uglier with each passing year or taking on the money owed to Josh Donaldson that largely helped the Minnesota Twins win this year’s AL Central crown, those are dollars that could have gone to elite players. As wide open as the American League is this year, it is too bad the Yankees were not prepared to participate. THAT is on Cashman. 

For every bad trade, people like to say the Yankees acquired Anthony Rizzo. The truth is the Yankees went for Rizzo when they could have had Matt Olson. Olson currently has 53 home runs and 132 RBIs and is batting .278/.386/.605 with .991 OPS. Maybe the Yankees never could have matched the package that the Atlanta Braves gave the Oakland A’s to get Olson but there is no real evidence they ever tried. Fans like Anthony Rizzo. He has a fun personality, is supportive of his t,eammates and is one of Aaron Judge’s best friends, he has a cute dog, and his defense at first base is light years ahead of the metal glove that preceded him (Luke Voit). In reality, Rizzo is an aging ballplayer with a bad back. Don Mattingly showed that a bad back can prematurely end a first baseman’s great career.  Sorry, I will not give Cashman credit for Rizzo even if I like the player. The Yankees could have and should have done better.   

Brian Cashman was the right man at the right time when he was promoted to succeed Bob Watson as the Yankees’ General Manager in 1998. He will always be associated with the 1990s Dynasty Years even though he was not the chief architect, and he has 2009 when he expertly used Hal Steinbrenner’s money to supplement a talented roster, bringing the championship back home. Cashman is a legitimate future Hall of Famer, however, his days as the Yankees general manager have reached the end of their useful life.

It is time to fire Brian Cashman.

Sadly, with each passing day as we near season’s end, the probability of Cashman’s firing lMostnce most teams, like Boston did in firing GM Chaim Bloom this month, make changes in August or September to ensure the new GM is in place before the start of the critical offseason. So, I guess I continue to hope Steinbrenner promotes Cashman to President of Baseball Operations (or a similar title) and makes room for a new showrunner. 

Regardless of what happens, the fans of the New York Yankees are united in the belief that Cashman must go (as general manager).

Wake up, Hal Steinbrenner, and listen to the fans. 

Thank you, Wandy Peralta

Wandy Peralta, one of the few successful trades in recent memory, has been a good Yankee. He pitched in 63 games this year, which spanned 54 innings. He has a 2.83 ERA with four saves. Yesterday, a right triceps strain caused the Yankees to place Peralta on the 15-day Injured List which ended his 2023 season and most likely his Yankees career. Peralta, a free agent after the season, is not expected to return.

Wandy Peralta (Photo Credit: @Yankees via X)

I am proud of the effort Peralta delivered for the Yankees during his time in Pinstripes.  He was not always successful, but he was certainly trying to succeed every time he took the mound. Not to say other players do not try, but Peralta always seemed unflappable in any situation. The Yankees could re-sign Peralta in the offseason, but I feel the odds are against it. With so many talented young pitchers moving up in the farm system, the Yankees have younger, cheaper options on the immediate horizon. Another team will most likely offer Peralta a multi-year deal that would be foolish for the Yankees to match. 

It sucks when a good Yankee leaves. I understand it, but it still carries a sense of loss. We appreciate your time in Pinstripes, Wandy. The team would have been better with more guys like you. Good luck with your continued MLB journey. 

To replace Peralta, the Yankees promoted pitching prospect Yoendrys Gómez. I am happy for Gómez. He gets a chance to prove if he can help in 2024 or at the very least, he can showcase his talents for other teams in the event he is traded in the offseason. I had expected Gómez to make his Major League debut last night, particularly when the Yanks had a pulled away from the D-Backs (although Clay Holmes tried his best to make it close), but it did not happen. Maybe today will be the start of his successful Major League career. 

Final Words

Michael King has made me a believer. He should be in the Yankees’ starting rotation next season. His early success in the rotation frees the Yankees to consider moving Clarke Schmidt in the offseason to help improve other areas of the roster.  I like Schmidt, but I like King better. As for pitching, I know many fans would like to move on from Frankie Montas, but I would like to see the Yankees bring him back on a short-term deal to prove himself. For as much as the Yankees paid for him and as talented as we thought he was at the time, it would be disappointing to get absolutely nothing from him in his Yankees career. As such, I am supportive of a one-year ‘prove it’ type of deal for his return. We have never seen Montas pitch when healthy and I would like for him to show Yankees fans why he was originally acquired. 

Frankie Montas (Photo Credit: AP)

I have mixed feelings about the potential interest in centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier. His tremendous glove was on display at Yankee Stadium this week when the Blue Jays were in town and he would be a nice “stopgap” for centerfield until Jasson Dominguez can return late next season, but the days of signing older players past their prime should be over if the team seriously wants to contend sooner than later. Maybe Kiermaier can prove otherwise if signed. I would not be disappointed if he showed up at Yankee Stadium this winter, pulling a Yankees jersey over his dress shirt, but conversely, I would not be disappointed if the Yankees simply passed. I am hoping Estevan Florial proves he can be a temporary solution in center next season despite the flaws in his bat. I am not convinced he can be, but he has time to prove it. Maybe not this year, but next Spring at the latest. 

Gerrit Cole should easily be the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner, beating out former Yankees starter Sonny Gray. Cole is 14-4 with a 2.75 ERA. He has started 32 games, with one to go. He has pitched 200 innings and has 217 strikeouts. The gap between Cole and Gray is substantial enough that it does not matter what happens in the final starts for either pitcher. Cole is the AL’s best.  It is too bad the Yankees (i.e., Brian Cashman) did not give him a better-supporting cast for his greatest year in Pinstripes.

As always, Go Yankees!

Non-Commitment to Winning...

 

Luis Severino, Kyle Higashioka, and Aaron Boone (Photo Credit: Frank Franklin II/AP)

The Yankees continue to make baffling moves…

Where do we go from here?

We, as fans of baseball’s most-storied franchise, want the team to make the playoffs. It is our annual rite of passage. Dreams of a division championship have evaporated but grabbing at least the final Wild Card slot seemingly is within the realm of possibility. Yet, the Yankees’ front office continues to make the moves that thwart those plans. 

Friday night’s game felt like a loss before it happened. With Luis Severino as the scheduled starter, it was obvious the Houston Astros would score runs. A three-run homer in the first inning by Houston’s Yainer Diaz gave the immediate “here we go again” feeling. Despite three home runs, the Yankees could not overcome the deficit Sevy created. Home runs by Jake Bauers, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Giancarlo Stanton were nice, but solo home runs suck. Much better when a man or two or three are on base. The Astros won the game, 7-3, halting the Yankees’ brief two-game win streak. I am starting to feel a little better about the team’s bats, but Sevy is a reminder that you need good pitching too. I hope his latest clunker does not derail the momentum of the team’s recent offensive improvement. 

Luis Severino has been given enough chances. The results are in. He is not good. Maybe he is simply not healthy, whether it is mental or physical. It is time to pull the plug. I am not sure that I trust him even as a bullpen piece. The Yankees already have Albert Abreu for the garbage innings, and that is probably the only role that makes sense for Sevy.

For the season, Sevy is 2-6. He has started thirteen games and has pitched 61 2/3 innings. His ERA is a very bloated 7.74, and he has the lowest K/9 rate of his career (7.88). His fWAR is -0.6. He has given up at least five runs in six of his games, and he has allowed thirty-two runs, which includes nine home runs, in his last six games. 

I like Luis Severino and when he was right, he was one of my favorite players. I am convinced his 2023 season is done. He is not going to suddenly become an effective and reliable starter again. He needs to work on making himself better for 2024. As a pending free agent, it seems unlikely he will return to the Yankees. It makes me sad. But if his roster spot is decided between him and pitching prospect Clayton Beeter, who becomes Rule 5 eligible after the season, the future is with Beeter. Whether it is Beeter or another prospect that needs to be added to the roster, the 2024 Yankees have no room for Luis Severino. I truly hope he can find Major League success again, but it appears it will be in a different uniform. Shut Sevy down and let him work toward a better future. I wish him luck. 

The Yankees (57-53) have fallen eleven games behind the surprising AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles. They remain in last place, a half-game behind the putrid Boston Red Sox. They are three and a half games out of the Wild Card chase and trail Wild Card outsiders Seattle and Boston. The Mariners have won eight of their last ten games and have a three-game win streak. The Wild Card slots are currently held by Tampa Bay, Houston, and Toronto. If those three teams continue to play to their abilities, there is no way the Yankees can catch them. Poor decisions by the Yankees’ front office have ensured 2023 disappointment.  It is kind of funny that if the Yankees were in the AL Central, they would be the division leaders by percentage points.

Barring a miracle, the Yankees’ season will end on Sunday, October 1^st in Kansas City after the regular season finale against the Royals. 

Post-Deadline Losses

The trade deadline passed with barely a whimper from the Yankees and no upgrades for the pitching staff or positions in areas of need. The ineptitude to bring in reinforcements has been magnified by the losses of Domingo German and Anthony Rizzo.

In both situations, the warning signs were evident before the deadline. German was placed on the restricted list after a clubhouse incident involving alcohol went out of control. I am sorry for German, and I hope he finds the help he needs, but I have a difficult time believing the Yankees did not know his continued struggles with alcohol after the domestic violence involving his now-wife a few years ago. He seemed like a powder keg waiting to explode, and, of course, it happens at the most inopportune time of the season. 

Anthony Rizzo was placed on the 10-day Injured List with post-concussion syndrome which dates to his collision with San Diego’s Fernando Tatis, Jr over Memorial Day Weekend. Rizzo has looked lost at the plate all summer, and it is difficult to understand why it took the Yankees so long to determine there was a medical problem with Rizzo’s struggles. As a time with a conservative reputation when it comes to injuries, Rizzo shows they might have liberal incompetence to go with conservatism in their evaluation of player injuries. If Rizzo is struggling with a May head injury in August, I cannot envision his successful return to the field this year. Long, extended rest will be the only cure. I want a healthy Rizzo for next season so if that means shutting him down this year, so be it.  It is not like the team is trending in the right direction anyway.

Anthony Rizzo (Photo Credit: Robert Sabo/NY Post)

The Yankees could have brought in reinforcements that could have helped ease the losses of German and Rizzo. The company line will be they were not aware of the losses until the deadline had passed, but the warning signs, with both players, were evident long before the deadline passed. Not sure why Yankees management does not want to win as badly as we do. 

The roster construction dysfunction is the responsibility of a single man, General Manager Brian Cashman. I know potential moves that might have helped could have been thrashed by Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner for financial reasons. Regardless of the constraints, Cashman may have faced, the demise of the team is his fault. Sure, the players need to be held accountable, but in the world of Major League Baseball, the buck ultimately stops with the man (or woman) who places those players on the field. 

I fall back to my longstanding belief…promote Brian Cashman to President of Baseball Operations and hire a new general manager from outside the organization. Look hard at the teams who are successful in combining analytics with old-school baseball, and pluck one of the best and brightest minds. The Baltimore Orioles were a pathetic organization under former general manager Dan Duquette. His contract was not renewed after the 2018 season, and the Orioles made the tremendous decision to pluck executive Mike Elias from the Astros organization. Elias has revitalized the Orioles as a winning organization. You can say they are the product of tanking and high draft choices, but having high draft choices does not guarantee success. You must choose the right players, which Elias has done. He has also embraced the international free agent market, something his predecessor failed to do. The Yankees need a visionary hire like the Orioles saw in Elias.  As an aside, I never want the Yankees to “tank”, but a stronger general manager with the Steinbrenner Family’s money can ensure it never happens.  Steinbrenner’s money has helped to make Cashman look better than he is. Imagine if they had the right man on the job. 

You can certainly make the argument that bright analytic minds do not always equate to Major League success. Chaim Bloom has not exactly set the World on fire in Boston. The Yankees need to reevaluate their current cadre of nerds. The first move should be the dismissal of Vice President, Assistant General Manager Michael Fishman. Enough is enough. Let the Yankees’ prospective new general manager bring in his own talented nerd to head the analytics department. 

Healthy Returns

The Yankees' pitching staff will get some immediate help in the coming days. Nestor Cortes, Jr will be activated today to make the start against the Houston Astros which will feature the Astros debut of their former ace, Justin Verlander. I am always skeptical when pitchers first return after an injury layoff and Nestor is no different. He has pitched in minor league rehabilitation games, so it is not like he just rolled out of the hospital bed to take the mound against the ‘Stros. Yet, minor league hitters are not major league hitters. At least not yet anyway. I am excited about the return of Nasty Nestor and although I am optimistic about his help for the duration of the season, I am a little more pessimistic about today.

Nick Ramirez was optioned to Triple-A after last night’s game to make room for Nestor.

The bullpen gets a huge pickup from the return of Jonathan Loáisiga who is expected to be activated by Monday. Clay Holmes has restored my confidence in his closing ability, and a healthy Loáisiga helps make Holmes that much better. I am excited about the bullpen. Keynan Middleton showed he might be able to help too with two strikeouts in a hitless inning of work last night for his Yankees debut.

Welcome back, Nestor and Jo-Lo!

Pereira for Left Field

Now that the Yankees have exhausted outside options for the problematic hole in left field, I am all-in for the promotion of outfield prospect Everson Pereira. Pereira is already on the 40-man roster and has continued to hit following his promotion from Double-A Somerset to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. For the RailRiders, Pereira has hit 5 home runs and has driven in 25 runs in twenty-two games. He is hitting .347/.376/.579 with .955 OPS. The results were good in Double-A, but they have been better in Triple-A.  Pereira may not be the left-handed hitter the Yankees need, but he can play. I am convinced he is better than the stable of Quad-A players the Yankees are currently using in left field. 

Everson Pereira (Photo Credit: Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Brian Cashman has failed to find a solution for left field for so long that we finally have an in-house option. Let the kid play. Time to promote Everson Pereira to the Major Leagues. Pinstripes are waiting.

As always, Go Yankees!