Standing Pat is Doing Well...

 

The Yankees have succeeded early despite not making big offseason moves…

It is early and much can change, but I like living in a World where the Yankees are succeeding, and the Mets are not. At the end of the day, I do not really care what the Mets do. The great revelation is that Uncle Steve’s money is not the sole cure for the New York Mess of Queens. GM David Stearns seems to be in everybody’s crosshairs, so we shall see if the owner believes Stearns is the problem. Regardless of the outcome, Manager Carlos Mendoza seems like a likely casualty. It would not surprise me to see Alex Cora as the next manager of the Mets. 

Early on, GM Brian Cashman showed that ‘standing pat’ was the right choice. I wish he had put more effort into the bullpen, but the starting pitching has been great. It will only get better with the return of Carlos Rodón, and hopefully soon, Gerrit Cole.  It will be a great time when the Yankees have difficulty deciding who comes out of the rotation. Hard decisions to be made, but it is better than pitching Carlos Carrasco or some other scrub arm until the big guns can return. The Yankees’ focus on minor-league pitching in recent years is starting to bear fruit. I would love to see old names like Chase Hampton succeed, but it is fun watching the younger guys step up.

Cam Schlittler is the ace I never knew I needed. That is more about me not knowing much about Schlittler on his way up, but I am glad he came to The Show on a mission. I am glad he is a Yankee. We need more like him.

Cam Schlittler (Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)

It remains hard to believe that last offseason, there was some doubt if the Yankees would re-sign Cody Bellinger. It felt like the two were made for each other, but until Cody’s signature was on the dotted line, there was doubt. In retrospect, he was a must-sign given how well he has performed this year. Aaron Judge is awesome, but he needs protection. Thankfully, Cody Bellinger returned to provide the necessary protection.

I am glad the Yankees optioned Anthony Volpe to Triple-A after he completed his rehab assignment. While I do not think Jose Caballero is the long-term answer, he is the better short-term option. He has seamlessly meshed with the Yankees lineup to make short a strength. I prefer his play over Volpe’s. I feel bad for Volpe. A local (New Jersey) product with many local fans. It would have been fantastic for him to grab the position and make it his own. Sadly, it did not happen, and it will not. I am not opposed to Volpe as next year’s second baseman in place of pending free agent Jazz Chisholm, Jr. I like Jazz, but I do not think he is coming back. The tea leaves have been strong. George Lombard, Jr., has emerged as the next great Yankees shortstop. In no universe should he be forced to play third base because Volpe is the starting shortstop. I am attending a Yankees game in July. It would not surprise me if Lombard, Jr. is the starting shortstop for that game. He is close. If not this year, then 2027. George Lombard, Jr is to George Lombard, Sr, what Ken Griffey, Jr is to Ken Griffey, Sr. The sons are better than their Major League Baseball fathers. Better to be Ken Griffey, Jr than Pete Rose, Jr. Bottom line, the Yankees shortstop hand-off should be Caballero to Lombard, Jr (while Volpe continues to enjoy the surroundings of Eastern Pennsylvania).  If the Yankees find a trade they like involving Volpe, so be it. I am done with Volpe as the Yankees’ shortstop.

I love that the Yankees are playing with a greater sense of urgency this season. Nobody is rolling over to hand the championship to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The hardware is for the best team at the end of October. This is the strongest I have felt about the Yankees in a few years. I wish they had a better manager than Aaron Boone, but if the guys on the field are getting the job done, the manager is of less importance. Addressing the bullpen remains a high priority, and it will mean the difference in October.

The Philadelphia Phillies’ decision to fire manager Rob Thomson and replace him with Don Mattingly brought mixed feelings. I feel bad for Thomson, the long-time Yankees coach. I thought he did a great job in relief of former Yankees’ and Phillies’ manager Joe Girardi. It would be nice if the Yankees could find a way to bring Thomson back into the organization. Fire Brad Ausmus and hire Thomson to replace him. Sure. It works for me. Glad to see Don Mattingly get another managerial opportunity. Despite his son Preston’s presence as the team’s GM, it seems like this is a one-and-done role for Donnie Baseball. If he does well enough to earn the job long-term, it is good for him, but it is always tough to see Mattingly wearing anything other than Yankees pinstripes. Given that Managers are hired to be fired, it is probably a good thing that Mattingly has never gotten a managerial chance with the Yankees.

Don Mattingly (Photo Credit: Derik Hamilton/AP)

The Los Angeles Angels should trade Mike Trout to the Phillies. They missed an excellent opportunity to trade Shohei Ohtani before his contract expired. With Trout having a great year, they need to cash in, and the Phillies would be the best place to send Trout because it would be sending him home. 

Given the Yankees are a winning team with needs, they seem like strong buyers at the deadline. It is tough. They will part with quality young talent in the farm system. Hopefully, they will choose the right ones to trade and keep the right ones for the organization. George Lombard, Jr., should not be part of any discussion.

I apologize for the brevity of the post. I lost a family member this week to mental disease. She made a decision that has adversely affected close family and friends. Mother’s Day will be a void, and my grandson will miss his mother, a key family member, for his first birthday next week. Never underestimate the burdens others carry. Be the helping hand. The listening ear. The hug provider. Life is short enough. Sometimes, a few of us need assistance to get through it.

As always, Go Yankees!

The House of Crickets...

 

Yankee Stadium (Photo Credit: Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News)

Are the Yankees lurking, working, or jerking? …

This has been a strange offseason for the New York Yankees. The organization has been oddly quiet while other teams reload to end the current stranglehold on Major League Baseball by the gluttonous Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Yankees would have at least one big move out of the way by now, so the team could focus on the other areas of need. Yet here we are, less than a week before Christmas, and the most significant moves have been outfielder Trent Grisham’s acceptance of the qualifying offer and the re-signing of free agent LHP Ryan Yarbrough. Their returns occurred in November. The December transactions include Rule 5 activity and minor-league free-agent signings. No proven Major League commodity has been added this month. I hope the first Rule 5 pick since 2011 pans out to be a strong bullpen option (Cade Winquest), but we will table that for now. He has much to prove that he is worthy of a roster spot for 162 games. It would be a fantastic story if Winquest finds success in the Bronx. Otherwise, he will need to ensure that his ticket has a return to St Louis.

Cade Winquest (Photo Credit: Ashley Monjaras/Getty Images)

Ken Rosenthal reported on Saturday that the Yankees are lurking. I take his report with a grain of salt. I will believe it when I see it. Profitability is the foremost goal of Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner. If given the choice of a championship or the almighty dollar, Hal will choose the latter. I know he is paying big money to the team’s best pitcher and its best player, but he is not doing enough to put those two superstars in the best position to win. Hal is a small market owner who happens to hold the most historic franchise in Major League history. I wish the Steinbrenner Family would decide to sell the team and walk away with literally billions of dollars.

The odds of Steinbrenner selling are about as good as the chances the Yankees will fire GM Brian Cashman and Manager Aaron Boone this offseason. Sadly, we are stuck with the Three Stooges for the near future.

Enough about my frustration with the team’s ownership and leadership.

The Cody Bellinger waiting game continues. There have been outrageous numbers and years thrown about through speculation (seven years, $200 million), but no team has signed off on that level of financial demand. If Bellinger ends up getting $200 million (I don't think he will, but saying if he did), I would want the Yankees to be the losers in the contract sweepstakes. This is despite my desire to see Bellinger return to the Yankees. This is a point where enough is enough. If it is not, turn the page and move on. I would love it if the Yankees turned to outfielder Kyle Tucker, either as Plan A or B. Sadly, I do not think the Yankees will sign Tucker even if Bellinger leaves. We will end up with a Michael Conforto-type to fill the left-field hole. I am sure the Chicago White Sox would gladly throw Andrew Benintendi the Yankees’ way. No thanks. I am prepared to be disappointed with left field. It is not an unfamiliar feeling, even if we had no worries in 2025.

I was sad to see Luke Weaver go. I know he was unplayable by the end of last season, but I was hopeful it was simply an off-year and that he would return to 2024 form in 2026. I got the Yankees’ decision to pass and let the crosstown Mets pay the big money on that bet. I will miss his personality and his best performances. If he succeeds in Queens, good for him. I do not feel the Yankees were wrong with this decision.

Devin Williams? Good riddance. I know that he eventually carved out a valuable role, but he was a huge reason (albeit not the only reason) the Yankees lost the AL East to the Toronto Blue Jays. His reaction to Yankees fans on social media after signing with the Mets only reinforced that the guy is mentally weak and unprepared for New York. I am sure the crowds at Citi Field will be far more forgiving. Yes, maybe not. With the departure of closer Edwin Diaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Mets will look to Williams to pick up the baton. For his sake, I hope Year 2 in New York is better than Year 1. Otherwise, it is not going to be pretty.

I will gladly take David Bednar as the Yankees' closer over Williams. I appreciate that they made the deadline deal to acquire Bednar from the Pirates. Bednar is the Yankees closer until he is not. I am sure the Yankees are working on Plan B, or I hope so. Relievers can be so volatile from year to year. I wish Williams had been a success in the Bronx, and the Yankees paid him handsomely to return. But it was not meant to be. C’est la vie. We move on.

I am not sure what I think about the Jazz Chisholm, Jr trade rumors. If he were to bring a strong starting pitcher to the Yankees, the team would make a free agent signing of Bo Bichette to replace him at second base. I could buy it. I would only be open to his trade if he brought strength to the team, and the team could backfill his position with a commensurate player. The last thing I want to see next year is a hole at second base if he is traded, with no capable replacements.

Although George Steinbrenner would have signed Pete Alonso for first base to keep him away from AL East competitors, I look forward to a defined role for Ben Rice. He has proven his worth, and he will continue to grow knowing where he will be positioned.

Ben Rice (Photo Credit: New York Yankees/Getty Images)

Although I was saddened to see RHP Michael King re-sign with the San Diego Padres, I did not think the Yankees would be aggressive in trying to sign him with draft-pick compensation attached because of the qualifying offer he received from the Padres. I am glad he did not go to an AL East competitor. The Boston Red Sox had been mentioned as a possible suitor.

I was pleased to see Don Mattingly’s resignation as Bench Coach of the Toronto Blue Jays. I love Donnie Baseball, but it was tough to watch him with a not-so-liked AL East competitor. I am not sure what his next move will be. Philadelphia is a likely landing spot for the bench coach position, with an old friend, Rob Thomson. The Phillies’ GM, Preston Mattingly, is also said to be familiar with the Yankees' great. While I do not have a great love for the Phillies, I would prefer to see Mattingly coach in Philly over in Toronto. I hope Mattingly gets another managerial opportunity, and selfishly, I would love to see him return to the Yankees. The only downside is that managers and coaches are inevitably fired. I would not want to see the Yankees fire Mattingly, so he should remain in the game, away from the AL East… and Houston. Sorry about the failed attempt at the Hall of Fame, Hit Man. I remain hopeful the Hall will open its doors for you one day. We, who saw you play, knew you were an elite player.

I continue to see fans speculate about who the Yankees should sign or trade for, but I feel apathetic this offseason. I blame Hal Steinbrenner. He has given us no reason to believe we are ready to cut the distance to the Los Angeles Dodgers and the game’s elite teams. Even the Pittsburgh Pirates have been more aggressive in improving their roster than the Yankees.

The New York Yankees have become the New York Run-it-backs. Minus a few players.

Hal, please give us a reason to believe in you and the team. Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge cannot do it alone.

As always, Go Yankees!

Yankees: Incomplete Finish is the Product of an Incomplete Start...

  

Photo Credit: Ishika Samant/Getty Images

Not addressing the team’s needs last offseason led to disappointing results…

The New York Yankees ended their season nearly three weeks ago, and the time has not done much to heal the wounds of a disappointing season.

The early exit at the hands of the current World Series participant, the Toronto Blue Jays, stung because the Yankees seemingly had the better team on paper. Of course, the best team on paper plus a dime will only get you ten cents. This year’s disappointment began last offseason when the Yankees failed to address third base and went into the season as a flawed team. Just when it looked like the Yankees had learned how to build a dominant bullpen in recent years, 2025 was a mess. Devin Williams looked better late in the year, but he shares significant blame for why the Yankees failed to repeat as the AL East champions. Luke Weaver, who most likely departs the team this offseason as a free agent in search of a starting gig, regressed, going from a lockdown reliever to another replaceable arm. His personality will be missed. David Bednar was the most crucial deadline acquisition, but he could not do it alone.

Photo Credit: Tim Heitman/Imagn Images

The Yankees have a large offseason needs list. They will soon meet to identify their offseason priorities, yet I fear it will be another Winter of ‘stopping short.’ Or worse, they try to run it back with the current roster, albeit with some minor adjustments.

Ryan McMahon was a needed acquisition at the deadline, and his glove helped to bring stability to the position, but the bat, with only occasional pop, is underwhelming. The Yankees should have tried harder to get a stronger overall player for the position last Winter. McMahon will be the third baseman for the near future, which is okay only if the Yankees are fully engaged in the coming weeks to build the best possible roster. McMahon is not the reason the Yankees got bounced early, and he will be a Yankee until 2027 unless the team finds a better option between now and then. I like his glove at third base so long as we do not need to rely on his bat. The phrase ‘offensive production’ can be taken several ways with him, yet he is what he is, and he was an upgrade over the departed DJ LeMahieu or trying to play Jazz Chisholm, Jr. out of position.    

The Yankees need to address their starting rotation. Gerrit Cole’s recovery from Tommy John surgery puts him as a mid-season option. Yet, it takes time to regain full form after Tommy John surgery. Immediate success may not come. We may not see Cole at his best until 2027. Carlos Rodón will not be ready for Opening Day after his recent surgery to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur in his left elbow. Clarke Schmidt is recovering from Tommy John surgery and will not be an early 2026 option. There has been some speculation that he will be non-tendered. The decision reminds me of the Yankees’ decision to cut Nathan Eovaldi in a comparable situation and how Eovaldi has been a much better pitcher since. For Opening Day 2026, the Yankees have Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, and Will Warren. Luis Gil will also be available, but in the long term, he seems better suited for the bullpen despite his starting success in 2024. Warren is “just that dude” at the back end of the rotation. Not expecting much from him other than to keep the Yankees in games.

We can dream about Detroit’s Tarik Skubal, but the Dodgers or the Mets seem like a more probable destination if the Tigers decide to trade away their ace. The Yankees should focus on other starters while the Dodgers and Mets are focused on Skubal. Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta seems like a good trade target if the rumors are true about Peralta’s availability. There will be competition for his services, but the Yankees can assemble an aggressive package to make it happen. Although the trades are unrelated, Milwaukee, by winning the Devin Williams trade, at least has some good feelings about trading with the Yankees. Former Yankee and current San Diego Padre Michael King is expected to opt out of the final year of his contract to become a free agent, and he looms as a possibility. I would enjoy a reunion with King. It was tough to give him up for what turned out to be only one year of Juan Soto. This year, he was powerful for the Padres, going 13-7 with fourteen quality starts, a 2.85 ERA, and 201 strikeouts.

Photo Credit: K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune

The bullpen needs offseason attention. David Bednar showed that he is the man for the ninth inning, but he needs a better supporting cast. Hopefully, last season was an aberration, and the Yankees can resume their prowess at picking relief arms. It would help to have a manager who does not routinely make bonehead decisions late in games, but it is what it is. Manager Aaron Boone is not going anywhere, whether you love or hate him. In Boone’s years as manager, I hoped for continued growth and evolution, but he is reaching the ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ stage.

Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner has the money to hire the best talent for the front office and the coaching staff. Yet, he is content with winning seasons that line his family’s pockets with wealth over his late father's ‘going for it’ style. General Manager Brian Cashman may be one of the better GMs in the game, but with no championships since 2009, it is time for new voices in the room. The game has evolved since Cashman became the team’s GM in 1998. I say it every year, and nothing happens. Still, the Yankees should move Randy Levine, the Team’s President, to the business side and appoint Cashman as the President of Baseball Operations, allowing the team to hire a new general manager. Granted, Cashman could overrule a new hire’s decisions, but bestowing power and authority in a younger, brighter mind would help.

Going down the ‘Fire Aaron Boone’ rabbit hole is senseless since Hal will not make a change.

First base is or is not a position of need. Granted, Paul Goldschmidt departs through free agency after one season. Yet, the Yankees need Ben Rice in the everyday lineup. If he is not catching, and Giancarlo Stanton continues to occupy the DH spot, first base is the best spot to plant Rice. I have seen some express interest in free agent first baseman Pete Alonso. I would rather focus on the outfield, pursuing free agent Kyle Tucker, despite his “Yankee-like” performance (i.e., unproductive October bat) in the Cubs’ losing playoff effort against the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this month. If the Yankees cannot sign Tucker (who seems like a future Dodger), they must re-sign Cody Bellinger, who will opt out of his contract next month after a productive first year in Pinstripes. I am not saying Bellinger is better than Tucker (he is not); nevertheless, I enjoy Belli’s versatility, and he provides an easy alternative to pair with Rice at first base when he is not playing in left field. If the Yankees cannot get at least one of Tucker or Bellinger, the offseason will be disappointing, regardless of how much you believe Spencer Jones can be the answer.

I am among many Yankee fans ready to move on from shortstop Anthony Volpe. Yet, he seems as entrenched at shortstop as Boone does as the Yankees manager. The projected ETA for top prospect George Lombard, Jr. is 2027, which means we must endure at least one more season of Volpe at short unless the Yankees make other moves at shortstop (unlikely). A full season of the speedy Jose Caballero provides backup support while we wait on young Lombard, Jr. That is better than Volpe and nothing that was featured before the trade deadline this year.

Trent Grisham will not return. He was the surprise of the season and earned the right to get paid. The Yankees have too many other needs to invest more bank in Grisham. They need to fully commit to Jasson Dominguez as the everyday centerfielder or make a trade for a younger (or, as Hal would say, cheaper) option to place between Aaron Judge and Tucker/Bellinger/Mystery Player in the outfield from right to left. There is a chance Grisham stays if the Yankees put a qualifying offer on him and he accepts it. I think he will be looking for a lucrative long-term deal to cash in on what might be his career year when it is all said and done and will reject the QO if given. Whether another team wants to give up a draft pick to sign him remains to be seen. Every offseason of free agency is different.

The coaching staff will feature new faces, while Aaron Boone continues to blow bubbles in the dugout. The Yankees have already parted ways with First Base/Infield Coach Travis Chapman and Bullpen Coach Mike Harkey. They also removed respected Assistant Hitting Coach Pat Roessler, with some speculation that he will be offered another role in the organization. Hitting Coach James Rowson remains a finalist in the Minnesota Twins’ search for a new manager to replace the fired Rocco Baldelli, so he may depart. There was early talk about Luis Rojas in managerial searches, but there is a better chance he returns as the Yankees’ Third Base Coach. To replace Roessler, the Yankees promoted minor league hitting coordinator Jake Hirst. If Hirst had not been promoted, he most likely would have left the organization for better opportunities, so Roessler appears to be the sacrificial lamb to retain the younger, talented Hirst. The poor bullpen performance is not Mike Harkey’s fault, but neither Michael Fishman nor Brian Cashman will fire themselves for assembling a leaky pen.

I look forward to the end of the World Series so the offseason rebuilding can begin. I know it will set us up for disappointment when Spring Training rolls around, but there is always HOPE the Yankees will make the right moves, even if history shows they never quite do enough to field the best possible team. Thinking about the possibilities (such as Tucker or Peralta) is exciting until they are off the board. Maybe Cashman pulls off another trade that shocks us all. The offseason is like Christmas…the anticipation of the gifts that await us.

I am glad to see Don Mattingly experience a World Series, yet I wish it had been with a team other than a hated division rival (or Houston). Dave Winfield, who battled Mattingly for the batting title in 1984, which Mattingly won on the season’s final day, won his only World Series with the 1992 Toronto Blue Jays. If the Blue Jays defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers, he will be another former Yankee great who had to go north of the Border to find the game’s most fantastic prize. Although I have been a long-time Mattingly fan, I am pulling for the Dodgers to win the World Series. While I am not crazy about the Dodgers winning back-to-back titles, it is a better alternative than the Blue Jays as the World Series Champions. Ironically, Mattingly’s path to the World Series this year meant facing two of his former teams (he was the Dodgers manager before Dave Roberts).

Photo Credit: Hunter Martin/Getty Images

I was surprised when the Blue Jays crushed the Dodgers, 11-4, in the first game of the current World Series, but Yoshinobu Yamamoto's dominant complete-game pitching performance in Game Two last night, leading the Dodgers to a 5-1 win, sent the Series to Dodger Stadium with strong momentum for Game Three on Monday. The Dodgers’ starting pitchers will be the difference-maker in the Series despite Blake Snell’s clunker in the opener.

I cannot wait for the World Series to end and the Hot Stove League to open.

As always, Go Yankees!

The Hairy Long Overdue Policy Change...

 

Thurman Munson (Photo Credit: New York Post)

Hal Steinbrenner shocks the baseball world w/hairy announcement…

I have been saying that neatly groomed beards and goatees on Yankee players would be fine for years. I never fully understood the traditionalists who felt the facial hair restrictions should remain to support team professionalism, tradition, and integrity. No sooner than Hal Steinbrenner had made the announcement on Friday morning about the relaxed policy, fans on social media were screaming that there would quickly be names on the back of jerseys and Yankee Stadium would be renamed after a commercial entity. Those comments are absurd (and unrelated to a facial hair policy).

Here is Hal’s announcement:

Some guys just do not look right with clean-shaven faces. I had felt closer Devin Williams looked more intimidating with a beard than his reluctantly shaved face. Carlos Rodón is another player who looks more menacing with a beard. Gleyber Torres has completely changed his appearance with his beard at the Detroit Tigers spring training facility. You can go down the list with the names of players who will benefit from the allowance for facial hair. For those who remain clean-shaven, fine. The new policy is not a mandate that one must trash his razor.

Devin Williams (Photo Credit: Elsa/Getty Images)

The only weird thing about the policy change is its timing. All beards had to be removed before players reported to camp. If the topic was under consideration for change, the Yankees should have told the players that there was a temporary stay to allow neatly groomed beards until a final decision had been made. It would have allowed Williams to retain a beard he had groomed for six years. I am sure it will be back in game-ready shape by Opening Day.

With the policy change, Hal Steinbrenner successfully distracts the fan base from its discontent about the current state of third base. At this point, the Yankees may see if Oswald Peraza can take the position. I have no hope DJ LeMahieu can stay healthy enough to hold down the position throughout a long season. Oswaldo Cabrera is a better super-sub than a regular player. That leaves Peraza as the last hope until the Yankees go outside the organization to find help. Unlike LeMahieu, Peraza at least has some pop in his bat. If the rumors are true that LeMahieu was under DFA consideration last year, the Yankees probably feel the same way about him that we do. The only difference is they are contractually liable for him and cannot publicly state true feelings if they run counter to the player. Well, they could, but the damage would be hard to unwind, and it would devalue the player in the trade market (as if LeMahieu has not done a good enough job devaluing himself). So, I am on Team Peraza until further notice.

Oswald Peraza

Given how much team hacks like Jack Curry have indicated the Yankees have no interest in St Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, there is still a small part of me that hopes the Cards decide to peddle him by paying down his contract to entice the Yankees. I get that he is on the decline, but he can still be a productive player for a few more seasons. Nolan will only be 34 in April. Give him a couple of years, and groom his replacement (someone like George Lombard, Jr, who will have to move off shortstop if Anthony Volpe stays there). I like Nolan, and his defense would be tremendous for the infield and pitching staff. He is still capable of productive at-bats. I know he makes too much money, but ultimately, we, the fanbase, are not paying salaries unless you count ticket sales and chicken buckets.

Nevertheless, there are no indications the Yankees are waiting on Nolan, so I will let it go. Hopefully, Oswald Peraza can take the position, run (and hit…and catch…and throw).

I am always disappointed when the Yankees make good moves in the off-season, only to fall short of doing a complete job. They always seem to leave a gaping hole somewhere in the roster. I get that you need young, cost-controlled players to step up, but tough decisions must be made to put the best product on the field when that talent potential is not readily apparent. You hear the position will be re-evaluated at the trade deadline, but July continues without action. I'm not trying to diss guys like Anthony Rizzo, but for the most part, the moves are Joey Gallo-like. Acquire the player…watch the player crash and burn. New York is not an easy place to play. I think guys who have the benefit of Spring Training have the edge of putting on pinstripes over guys trying to pull them on during the dog days of the summer when teams are jockeying for position.

I am glad Hal Steinbrenner was willing to revisit his father’s facial hair policy. I thought it would take an ownership change to make it happen. Times change, and I believe George Steinbrenner’s views may have changed. George wanted to win more than anything else, and attitudes and philosophies about facial hair have changed since 1976. Hal needs to continue making decisions that are in the best interest of the New York Yankees and not based on what he feels his father would have wanted. This is Hal’s team. George left us nearly fifteen years ago.

On another note, I have no problem with the Yankees’ decision to extend Manager Aaron Boone. It is only a two-year extension, so no long-term commitment is required. I value Boone’s ability to connect with his players. We may get frustrated with some of his in-game decisions, but the talent pool of available managers who are better than Boone is limited. I do not want to see Brad Ausmus elevated to manager or as much as I hate to say it, Don Mattingly, an all-time favorite of mine, did not prove anything in Los Angeles or Miami to indicate that he could do a better job than Boone. Would I love to see Mattingly as manager? Sure. But realistically, he does not offer more than Boone besides his name value in the organization. I like Buck Showalter, but he never won a World Series last time I checked. Joe Girardi? I think he is doing a superb job in the TV booth.

It may be time to make a change in two years. So be it. I will not complain about Boone in the interim, even if there is frustration. I might say ‘fire him,’ but realistically, I do not feel that “better” is out there. There are better Major League managers, but they are employed. A good manager has good coaches and players around him. The Yankees need to make sure they give Boone the best possible hand.

I would rather see Boone go to war armed with financial security than sit as a lame-duck manager. Is he going to bring us a World Series championship? Time will tell, as it often does. Ultimately, this lands on the Yankees’ Front Office and Ownership. “Do Better.”

Lastly, congratulations on the Yankees for making the long-overdue decision to move prospect Clayton Beeter to the bullpen. I know, calling a 26-year-old pitcher a “prospect” is a bit of a stretch, but it has long been cited that Beeter would need to move to the pen for his most significant effectiveness. I want to see him succeed, and I hope the new role will fast-track his path to the Major Leagues after spending years in the minors.

Clayton Beeter (Photo Credit: AP)

I am glad baseball is back. Today’s Spring Opener, a 4-0 victory over the soon-to-be Steinbrenner Field home participants, the Tampa Bay Rays, was an encouraging, albeit meaningless, start. Prop up Marcus Stroman’s trade value. I think that was the primary objective of today’s game. Mission successful. Now, we await the trade. Okay, it might not be that easy, but one can hope.

As always, Go Yankees!

Old Friends Reunited: The Yankees & the ALCS…

 

The Yankees celebrating ALDS Success (Photo Credit: NY Daily News)

Yankees Advance to Next Round by Royally Winning…

The Yankees are back where they belong…the American League Championship Series. The Yankees have made more ALCS appearances than any other American League club. Their total of nineteen appearances leads the Boston Red Sox, the team with the second most, by seven. The team is 11-7 in the eighteen completed championship series. They have won fifty total ALCS games, leading Boston by eighteen wins. Unfortunately, the Yankees have not won the ALCS since 2009 despite appearances in 2010, 2012, 2017, 2019, and 2022. The sixth time is a charm!

Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, & Jazz Chisholm, Jr (Photo Credit: NY Post/Charles Wenzelberg)

The Yankees now await the winner of the deadlocked ALDS battle between the Cleveland Guardians and the Detroit Tigers. On Saturday, they will play their winner-take-all ALDS Game 5 finale in Cleveland, Ohio. If the Tigers advance (likely…considering Tarik Skubal will be on the mound), the Yankees will get a chance to avenge the ALCS sweep by the Tigers in 2012. Cleveland last advanced to the World Series in 2016 before they made Anthony Rizzo and his then-Cubs teammates immortal in Chicago for the rest of their lives.

I do not care who the Yankees face. To be the best, you beat the best, so let the best team emerge from the final ALDS, whichever team that may be. Not that facing an awakening Jose Ramirez would be fun, but trust the men in Pinstripes. If the Yankees are the best team, they will beat whoever shows up for Game 1 of the ALCS in the Bronx.

With no disrespect to Captain Aaron Judge, the Yankees are in the ALCS, thanks primarily to Giancarlo Stanton, Gerrit Cole, Gleyber Torres, Luke Weaver, and Jon Berti. Berti’s name looks like an outcast in this group, but he stepped in and did an admirable job at first base for a non-first baseman. He could have quickly (and excusably, without experience) butchered the position. Clay Holmes was dominant in his new bullpen role. I am happy that he has rediscovered magic, but it does not mean that I would want him to reclaim his old job as the closer. I am 100% behind Luke Weaver and his quirky personality, zany sense of humor, and electric arm as the team’s designated closer. I was a little surprised in the offseason when the Yankees re-signed Weaver. I had no complaints about his work last year, but I thought the pitcher and the team would part ways in the offseason. There was nothing special about his 2023 performance, at least not what stood out to make him a “must sign” player. Yet, he stepped up to fill a tremendous void in the bullpen, first through setup and, lastly, through the back end of games. People say the Yankees should sign Kenley Jansen this winter through free agency. I like Kenley, even if he has many miles on his arm, but Weaver should be the man until he proves he cannot sustain the position. In other words, I would rather have Weaver over Jansen or virtually any other potential replacement. If the Yankees had a chance for an elite closer, Weaver should not stand in their way, but I do not believe the current Yankees regime will pay top dollar for the bullpen like they once did. So, the combination of the team’s current fiscal conservatism in the bullpen and Weaver’s emergence led me to believe Weaver was the right man at the right time.

Oswaldo Cabrera & Luke Weaver (Photo Credit: AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

It is too early to talk about next season, but I hope the Yankees can find it in their budget to sign Gleyber Torres to a new contract. He took so much heat early in the season, and a poll of Yankees fans would have favored letting him go in free agency. But his placement atop the batting order later in the regular season coincided with a resurgence that has made him a vital player for October. He will always botch a routine play now and again, but even the great and legendary Derek Jeter was not immune from making those. The hustle concerns are correctable, and he has shown improvement. Players like Aaron Judge help to elevate Gleyber’s play and performance. The body of work, at least what Gleyber showed over the second half of the season, warrants his return.

Gleyber Torres (Photo Credit: Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

Caleb Durbin may be an All-Star second baseman one day. Good for him. He has yet to prove it at the Major League level. Gleyber is playing like he wants to be the team’s starting second baseman today, tomorrow, and next year. Let him. If he suddenly becomes Daniel Jones after he gets the big money, that is the risk you face with anybody. If it happens, the team will have to deal with it at that time, but it should not stop the team from bringing him back based on what he currently means to the organization and the players he has gone to war with. Juan Soto will be a Yankee next season if the team pays him the most money in free agency, yet I think how they treat other players, like Gleyber, in the offseason will draw Soto’s attention. If Gleyber is treated poorly, it could be a deciding factor if, for example, the Yankees and Mets offered the same amount of money, causing Soto to jump to Queens. That might be an unlikely scenario, but Soto cares about his friends.

There were times this season when Gerrit Cole disappointed me. His late start out of the gate for health reasons (not his fault) was the primary cause. He certainly was not the ace he was in 2023 when he won the AL Cy Young Award, but he showed up for the series clincher against the Kansas City Royals. That is why he is paid big bucks. I always fear a Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde performance by any pitcher, ala Carlos Rodón, but Cole brought his “A” game (despite tiring late) when it mattered most. I am sure I will have anxiety in his upcoming starts, but he did what he needed to do against the Royals. I hope it continues when he faces either the Guardians or the Tigers.

I hope we get the best of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto for the ALCS. I am happy when the team wins, regardless of who makes the necessary hits, plays, and pitches, but the world is a better place when Aaron Judge and Juan Soto are the Kings of the World. For Judge’s Yankees legacy, I want to see him come up huge in the postseason. Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera will forever be remembered for what they did in October. Judge will never match their number of rings, although I certainly would not complain if he did, but he can make a name for himself in the franchise’s long history of postseason success.  He is in a position that the great Don Mattingly could never reach. I loved Mattingly as a Yankee and feel the same about Judge. I do not want to see Judge come up short and never experience the feeling of being a World Champion in Pinstripes.

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: NY Daily News)

Is this the year we can quit talking about 2009? I hope so. Keep it going, guys. Eight more wins to your destiny.

As always, Go Yankees!

Is the World Series Over Yet? ...

 

Gerrit Cole (Photo Credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Ready for the Hot Stove League…

Hopefully, the Texas Rangers eliminate the Arizona Diamondbacks in four games so that we can get on to more important matters like the 2023-24 Hot Stove League. As much as I want to see the D-Backs lose, it is hard to get motivated to watch this year’s World Series even if there are a few ex-Yankees on the Rangers roster. Give one of the teams the trophy and let’s move on. I am ready for the start of free agency, finalization of the 40-man rosters in advance of December’s Rule 5 Draft, preparation for the Winter Meetings, etc. The only headlines I want to see are “Yankees acquire…”, “Yankees to sign…”, or “Yankees fire…”. 

I am assuming this will be the Winter of Discontent as Yankees fans will heighten their expectations for a Juan Soto trade in the coming days and weeks (as if they have not already been elevated to unrealistic proportions), only to have the hopes dashed when the San Diego Padres either decide to retain Soto or trade him to a Yankees rival. I will add the usual caveat that I hope the Yankees prove me wrong and grab one of baseball’s brightest talents. Nevertheless, I must take the ‘see it to believe it’ approach with Juan Soto and the Yankees. I refuse to go down that path of disappointment.

Juan Soto (Credit: ClutchPoints)

With speculation that the Yankees will have to trade Kyle Higashioka or Ben Rortvedt now that Austin Wells has proven he is Major League-ready, I do wonder about Jose Trevino. While Trevi was outstanding in 2022, his 2023 season was forgettable. Sure, he played hurt, but so far, he is just a one-season wonder. I am not so sure the decision of whether to keep Trevi or Higashioka should be an easy one. There is an argument to make that Higgy should stay. Rortvedt, even without the hit tool, earned raves for his work with Gerrit Cole.  I think Higgy will be the one to go, either through trade in November or he will be non-tendered, but if the Yankees offloaded Trevino instead, it should not catch anyone by surprise. I have greater hopes and expectations for Wells as the everyday catcher. The Yankees have a strong history of great offensive catchers, and Wells did nothing to show that he is Gary Sanchez behind the plate. In other words, he surprised people with his defensive play (better than expected). The remaining catcher that serves as backup should be the player most capable of being a backup.  As simplistic as it sounds, if Trevino believes he should be the starting catcher, does he let it affect his attitude or does he fully embrace his reduced role, recognizing Wells is the better offensive player? The best place for Trevino could end up being elsewhere depending on how this turns out. Trevi does not strike me as an egotistical player, but the decision of who to keep should not be considered lightly. 

Hopefully, the catching tandem will be decided in short order so that the Yankees can move on to the bigger issues and challenges confronting the team.

Help Wanted: Hitting Coach

I was disappointed to hear the news that Yankees hitting coach Sean Casey has decided he will not return in 2024. I liked his work with the veteran players and thought he brought great energy to the dugout. I totally respect his reasons for leaving. He has two teenage daughters in Pittsburgh and holds joint custody with his ex-wife. He did not want to be away from his girls for eight months out of the year. Casey is not the first, nor will he be the last player or coach to decide family is more important. I respect his work in replacing the fired Dillon Lawson, and I hope the Yankees can find someone who is as passionate about hitting as Casey is. 

Sean Casey (Photo Credit: USATSI)

I have seen some fans suggest Tino Martinez. I like Tino and he was one of my favorite players when he played, but I have mixed feelings about his return as a coach. He resigned as the hitting coach for the Miami Marlins in 2013 after rumors of physical and verbal abuse of players and coaches. I have no idea if there is truth to those rumors, and at this point, I do not really care, but Tino has not received a Major League job since his departure from the Marlins. I would rather see someone who has been consistently connected with the game at the big-league level in the recent past, given how much the game has changed over the last decade. I hope the Yankees do not take the easy road and promote one of the hitting coach assistants, Casey Dykes, or Brad Wilkerson. I would prefer an outsider. Like Casey, the new hitting coach does not need to have ties with the Yankees. I want anyone who can get the MOST out of Giancarlo Stanton and the other Yankees hitters. While 2023 proved that you cannot be solely dependent upon analytics, it does remain an important skill along with the re-discovered old-school baseball acumen. 

I often see fans wanting former Yankees greats as the new hitting coach, like Paul O’Neill. Being a great player does not automatically equate to greatness as a coach. I want a great coach without regard to how successful his playing career was. The Yankees need someone who can effectively communicate with the young players as well as the veterans. Someone who can marry analytics into strong professional baseball knowledge, and help the players be the best they can be. I truly hope the Yankees take a patient approach to find the best option for the role. The Yankees cannot afford another season of hitting like the Oakland Athletics. 

We are literally wasting the best years of Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge.

I would like to see Don Mattingly come back, but I doubt he would give up his gig as the bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays. After managing the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Miami Marlins, hitting coach seems like too much of a step back. I know he is a beloved Yankee, and you would think the Pinstripes would hold special appeal for him, but it would have to be the right job for his return. I do not feel hitting coach, as much as I would like to see him do it, is the right job for him at this stage of his career. There is also the concern in the back of my mind, justified or not, that I do not want to see a Yankee legend fail in a coaching role. Even though he never won a World Series, I have great memories of Mattingly’s time as a Yankee. I never want those fond memories to fade. 

Don Mattingly

General Manager Brian Cashman and his suspect Front Office have tough decisions ahead. Time to drop the ‘smartest guy in the room’ approach and roll up the sleeves. Winning should be the theme of the 2023-24 offseason. Building a winning team for 2024 AND winning back the alienated Yankees fan base. Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner needs to stand up, take his lumps, and tell us how he is going to improve the New York Yankees. Every move this offseason will be under a microscope. As much as the Yankees like to control the narrative, it is going to write itself based on what the Yankees do or do not accomplish this offseason.

Grab some popcorn.

As always, Go Yankees! 

Reminder: Please Bring Your Bats...

 

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Robert Sabo/NY Post)

Yankees fall to Blue Jays as offense goes silent…

Inevitably, the New York Yankees will lose their first regular season series. I only hope it is not against the Toronto Blue Jays. The team I perceive as the greatest threat in the American League East to derail the Yankees’ drive to repeat as division champions were in the Bronx on Friday night, and sadly, thanks to an off night by the team’s bats, the Blue Jays took the first game, 6-1. 

The odds were seemingly against the Yankees when the controversial Domingo German took the mound. Starting the first game of a season series with a bitter rival with German is not exactly leading with your best foot forward. German had the Yankees in a hole they were never able to escape when he gave up a first-inning, two-run bomb to fan-not-so-favorite Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. 

Domingo German (Photo Credit: Corey Sipkin/NY Post)

Aside from Oswaldo Cabrera’s solo shot to the right field porch in the second inning that made it a one-run game, the Yankees were unable to record any extra-base hits, settling for four singles to go with the ‘Where’s Oswaldo?’ home run. Several inning-ending double plays removed any potential for rallies, including the game-ending DP by Gleyber Torres. 

Glad to see Oswaldo go yard, but I thought the Yankees would do better against Toronto’s Yusei Kikuchi. Oh well, on to the next game. The Yankees seemingly like to lose the opening game of a series before rising to the challenge.

With the loss, the Yankees and Blue Jays (both 12-8) are tied for third place in the AL East. They trail the Tampa Bay Rays by five games and are a half-game behind the Baltimore Orioles. It is still way too early to draw any conclusions about the division race, but it is always preferable to have more wins than your opponents at any given time.  The dreadful Boston Red Sox are only a game and a half behind the Yankees. 

The Yankees feature their best in today’s game at 1:05 pm ET when Gerrit Cole (4-0, 0.95 ERA) takes the hill. He will be opposed by Toronto’s Alek Manoah (1-1, 6.98 ERA) who has not gotten off to a strong start.  Of course, it probably means Manoah throws a no-hitter and Cole loses his first game of the year despite giving up only one run. Hopefully, Coles continues to shove like he has all season, and the Yankees bring their bats to play.  Inflating Manoah’s bloated ERA would be a wonderful way to spend the day.

Credit: @Yankees, via Twitter

Josh Donaldson Delayed

The Yankees had expected to activate Josh Donaldson this week, however, he suffered a setback when the tightness in his right hamstring resumed. He was diagnosed with a Grade 1-plus strain and is going to miss the next couple of weeks. Oswald Peraza probably would have been sent down if Donaldson had been activated this week, so Donaldson’s re-injury buys young Peraza more time to show his skills at the Major League level.

Oswald Peraza (Photo Credit: Mary Altaffer/AP)

If there was a current player I would love to see “Wally Pipped”, it would be Donaldson. I am ready to move on from the expensive, aging vet even if his glove continues to play at an elite level. He is no longer a feared hitter, and he is not going to miraculously find rejuvenation. The Yankees had Oswald Peraza at third base on Friday night. Despite his 0-for-3 performance, it would be tremendous for him to have more opportunities to play third.  Peraza has a far greater upside than Donaldson, at this stage of Donaldson’s career. Donaldson was once an elite performer and League MVP, but he is not that guy anymore. It is time to move on. If the Arizona Diamondbacks can swallow the remainder of Madison Bumgarner’s contract, the Yankees can easily do the same with Donaldson’s contract. 

Peraza has nothing left to prove in the Minor Leagues and should be on the big-league roster for the duration of the season. It would be fantastic if he could have a breakout game that propels him as a force in the lineup and makes it impossible for the Yankees to demote him. His energy and defensive prowess are already on display. A few dramatic home runs or timely run-scoring hits and we are off to the races. 

A Roll of the Dice

The Yankees have signed former Angels, Diamondbacks, and Rangers outfielder Kole Calhoun to a minor league contract. Calhoun, 35, was once a solid contributor for the Angels, but, like Donaldson, his best days are behind him. 

Kole Calhoun (Photo Credit: Alex Gallardo/AP)

Last year for Texas, he hit .196/.257/.330 (67 OPS+) with 12 home runs and 49 RBIs in 125 games. He was a free agent after a failed attempt to make the Seattle Mariners’ roster in Spring Training.

I am not expecting anything from this signing. I doubt he will make it to the Bronx. He seems more like a depth signing for Triple-A who will eventually seek an opt-out. I guess everyone thinks they can be the next Matt Carpenter. To their credit, they would not be professional baseball players without that mindset but there is no magic here.  I wish Calhoun the best but honestly hope the Yankees never need him. 

Rehab Assignments

The Yankees sent two notable players on rehab assignments on Friday.

Harrison Bader was assigned to the Somerset Patriots (Double-A) and is expected to be activated early next month. Bader is much needed, and it will be tremendous for the team to get Aaron Judge back in right field where he belongs. Hopefully, Bader can pick up where he left off last October. His dynamic personality, mixed with the energy and enthusiasm of the team’s younger players, brings a breath of fresh air to the Yankees. Being a gifted ballplayer certainly helps. 

The Invisible Man, a/k/a Ben Rortvedt, was assigned to the Tampa Tarpons (Single-A). Rortvedt will eventually head for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and take his place as the next man up should anything happen to either Jose Trevino or Kyle Higashioka. Hard to believe but we may see Rortvedt play in Yankee Stadium this season. It will be nice to have actual proof he plays instead of photos standing outside of batting cages. 

Don Mattingly the Blue Jay

It is hard to see Don Mattingly wearing enemy colors. He was my favorite player throughout his Yankees career, and I respectfully followed his managerial career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins.  Seeing him at Yankee Stadium with a bitter rival is understandably more difficult to accept.

I wish the Yankees had done more to bring him back into the organization. I would have moved Carlos Mendoza to a different coaching position and made Donnie Baseball the bench coach for Manager Aaron Boone. However, I realize there may be some animosity between Mattingly and the Front Office which worked against Mattingly and the belief that he does not embrace analytics. I think the latter point is overrated. Any coach who is not buying into today’s analytics is not long for this profession. I think Mattingly understands it, and the coaches who can balance old-school baseball with analytic insight are the best for the game. 

I hope Mattingly can find his way back to the Yankees one day. Maybe it will not happen until General Manager Brian Cashman decides to hang up his saddle. Regardless, Mattingly will always be a Yankee, and I hope he comes home before he decides to shutter his baseball career. 

Miguel Ramirez, Chef Extraordinaire

The Los Angeles Times had a great article this week about Yankee Stadium clubhouse food for visiting teams. The Los Angeles Angels were in town to face the Yankees, and the players were raving about the food offerings in the clubhouse. 

Miguel Ramirez (Photo Credit: LA Times, courtesy of the New York Yankees)

Miguel Ramirez has been a clubhouse chef for the Yankees since 2011, and the 44-year-old Dominican brings Latino food to the forefront. In the article, Angels infielder Luis Rengifo is quoted saying, “They just have a lot. They have Dominican food, like rice and beans, Concón (the crust of crispy rice formed at the bottom of the pot).” About Ramirez, Rengifo went on to say, “The guy who makes it is amazing.”

Ramirez drew praise from former Yankees infielder Gio Urshela and Red Sox manager Alex Cora. Cora referred to him as the best in the business. 

Ramirez takes requests from visiting teams and specializes in multiple types of food beyond his Dominican roots such as Italian, Japanese, and Mexican cuisines. Before he started working for the Yankees, Ramirez was a chef in Mariano Rivera’s former steakhouse, Mo’s New York Grill. 

It was fun to read about a hero of Yankee Stadium in an opposing city’s newspaper. I did not know about Miguel Ramirez, but the recognition from visiting teams is beautiful and I am glad The Los Angeles Times brought light to his accomplishments.

As always, Go Yankees!