The Deflating Optimism...

  

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Sam Hodde/AP)

The Yankees have become a rudderless ship…

Several months ago, there was so much promise for the 2023 New York Yankees. After signing free agent starting pitcher Carlos Rodón, they appeared to have one of the best rotations in Major League Baseball. They had re-signed the face of the franchise, Aaron Judge, and had anointed him the latest Captain of the team. They overlooked finding help in left field, but regardless, the team appeared strong with the return of Anthony Rizzo and the shortstop competition entering Spring Training featured two talented, top-ranked prospects, Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe which was ultimately won by the latter. As the saying goes, the future is (was) so bright, you gotta wear shades!

Then, the injuries…

The starting rotation went from wondering if one of Domingo German and Clarke Schmidt would be the fifth starter to both men in the rotation along with a rookie pitcher, Jhony Brito. I thought 2023 would be a breakout year for Schmidt, but after a month’s worth of starts, it was false hope.  German is who he is, and Brito, despite some good moments, is a young pitcher who will get hit hard from time to time.  Saturday’s loss was not on Brito. He was failed by an anemic offense. The Yankees cannot win with only one certainty…two tops with Nestor…in the starting rotation. 

Aggressiveness on the base paths is fine for a young player like Anthony Volpe when speed is one of your strongest attributes, armed with the ability to disrupt the game plans of opposing pitchers, but not for your primary offensive superstar like Aaron Judge. When he attempted the stolen base recently, it felt wrong when it happened. I got visions of Derek Jeter’s collision at third base on Opening Day 2003 when he separated his shoulder. Slides are always potential for injury, so it was a needless risk by Judge. I get trying to win, but the Yankees were ahead in the game.  At first, we thought he had a hand injury, and felt some relief when it did not turn out to be serious, but subsequently, the sore hip materialized. The mild hip strain…because of the slide…has taken Judge out of the lineup, and questions linger if he will need to spend time on the Injured List. 

Aaron Judge's Slide (Photo Credit: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters)

Without Judge, when nobody else on the team is hitting, the Yankees are pushovers for pitchers with some degree of talent. Saturday’s game featured a dominant complete game shutout by a former Yankee, Nathan Eovaldi, the victory powered by the strength of a two-run homer by a former Yankee prospect, Ezequiel Duran.

April is not over yet, and the Yankees are eight games behind the AL East leaders, the Tampa Bay Rays. The Toronto Blue Jays, winners of six consecutive games, have caught fire and are tied for second place with the Baltimore Orioles. They are three and a half games up on the Yankees. The Yankees, with the worst record among division teams in the last ten days, 4-6, are a game above the division cellar. Boston Red Sox fans probably love having the Yankees share in their misery.  The argument that the season is early and there is so much baseball yet to be played is losing steam when every lineup features a batch of guys who cannot hit. 

An offensive surge and stellar pitching triggering a ten-game win streak would certainly change one’s perspective, but any optimism is fading. 

The Injured List is depressing.

60-Day Injured List

Scott Effross

Luis Gil

Tommy Kahnle

Frankie Montas

Lou Trivino

 

15-Day Injured List

Jonathan Loáisiga

Carlos Rodón

Luis Severino

 

10-Day Injured List

Ben Rortvedt

Josh Donaldson

Harrison Bader

Giancarlo Stanton

 

Active but Not Playing

Aaron Judge

Jake Bauers

The Yankees will presumably make a roster move today with both Judge and Bauers out of action. Bauers, making his Yankees debut, has a swollen knee after making a sliding catch into the left field wall during yesterday’s game. Unclear how much time he will miss, but it seems improbable the Yankees will carry both Bauers and Judge on the active roster if they cannot play. I expect a roster move before game time today (2:35 pm ET). 

A lineup that features regular starts by Aaron Hicks and Willie Calhoun will not be October-bound. 

Of all the injured players, only Harrison Bader appears to be ready to be activated soon. Ben Rortvedt will head to Triple-A when he finishes his rehab assignment to await a call-up if/when something happens to either Jose Trevino or Kyle Higashioka. When on the IL, Stanton’s status always becomes shrouded in mystery. 

It is too early to give up on the season. However, I find myself wondering if the Yankees would be better served eliminating the useless veterans (a group headed by Aaron Hicks) and playing the kids.  There is no great pitching prospect to rescue the starting rotation. The uncertainty behind Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortes, Jr. will continue until Sevy and Rodón can return. Neither pitcher appears to be ready anytime soon. 

It is the end of April and I have absolutely no idea where the Yankees are going. We are at the crossroads of a resurgent team making a run in the division or a lost season. One would think the Yankees should at least lay claim to one of the Wild Card spots (forget about the division crown if the Rays continue to find ways to win every night). Yet, nothing can be taken for granted. The possibility the Yankees could find themselves on the outside looking in is real.  I hope that is not the case and good health finds its way to the Yankees. When healthy, the Yankees can certainly compete with baseball’s best teams. 

Hopefully, I can look back at these April fears and laugh. 

Today is a good day for a win.

As always, Go Yankees!

 

Death, Taxes, & Stanton to the IL...

 

Giancarlo Stanton & Nasty Nestor Cortes, Jr (Photo Credit: @Giancarlo818, via Instagram)

Giancarlo Stanton heads to the Injured List again...   

When the Yankees lineup for Sunday’s game was posted early in the morning, social media was abuzz about Giancarlo Stanton’s absence from the lineup a day before a scheduled day off. Shortly thereafter, before game-time, Manager Aaron Boone announced that Stanton had been placed on the 10-day Injured List which accounted for why he was not in the lineup.

Here we go again. Every year, it is something. I remember the excitement of the evening of December 11, 2017, when it was announced the Yankees had acquired Stanton for Starlin Castro, José Devers, and Jorge Guzmán. When the Marlins-Stanton trade rumors had started swirling, the destinations appeared to be, first, San Francisco, and then, St. Louis. Yet, GM Brian Cashman was able to swoop in and land the talented reigning NL Most Valuable Player for a pittance. It looked like a steal. In retrospect, I wish the Giants or Cardinals had been more aggressive in their pursuits.

I like Giancarlo Stanton, and when he is healthy, he is a major threat in the batting order. This is not an Aaron Hicks situation where I believe the player has worn out his welcome, but I do think the Yankees would have been better off by passing on Stanton. His presence, or more notably, his contract, has caused the Yankees to pass on major free agents in recent years. Well, excluding those not named Gerrit Cole.

Stanton’s first season, 2018, was fine. He played 158 games, only one less than he had played during his preceding MVP campaign. 38 home runs and 100 RBIs, while hitting .266/.343/.509 (.852 OPS). Not quite his MVP numbers, but respectable. Then the injuries arose. He played 18 games in 2019 and 23 games in the pandemic-stricken year of 2020. He rebounded for 139 games in 2021, dropped to 110 games last year, and is now 13 games into the new season…Poof! 

When I initially heard about Stanton’s latest trip to the IL, my first thought was he would find a way to extend his stay beyond the prerequisite ten days with some mysterious ailment. The Yankees are generally not very transparent when it comes to Stanton’s health. Stanton had injured his hamstring while slowing down after hitting a double in Saturday’s game against the Twins. An MRI revealed it is a Grade 2 Hamstring Strain (left leg). Initial reports show he will be out for 4-6 weeks. When it comes to Stanton and games missed for injury, always take the Over.

I am disappointed. This is a losing proposition for the Yankees. They certainly are not going to cut him. When healthy, Stanton remains a force. If they trade him, the return might be even less than the paltry sum the Yankees paid the Marlins plus they would have to back up the Brinks trucks to help his new team pay his contract. All things considered; the Yankees are better just riding this thing out. I had hoped the overhaul of the team’s training staff a few years ago, including the addition of Eric Cressey, the Director of Player Health and Performance, would improve the Yankees’ performance with injury avoidance. C’est la vie. Hoping a player’s health improves as he ages is like hoping for the winning Powerball numbers in the latest lottery.   

Stanton is 33 and under contract through 2027. The Yankees hold an option for 2028 but it seems unlikely it will be exercised. So, buckle up for five more years. Hopefully, this does not become as painful as the final years of the Jacoby Ellsbury contract. 

The Yankees recalled infielder Oswald Peraza to fill Stanton’s roster spot. Peraza, the loser of the shortstop competition with Anthony Volpe during Spring Training, is only expected to be with the big-league club for a few days. Third baseman Josh Donaldson is expected to be activated later this week (or was, latest reports indicate a setback) and it is assumed Peraza will grab a bus headed for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA. I would be surprised if Donaldson remains a Yankee the entire year. If he continues to underperform with the bat, it will hasten his departure, but I doubt the Yankees are ready to pull the trigger yet even if the team is stronger with DJ LeMahieu at third base, and Peraza at second base and Gleyber Torres at DH. I would play Peraza at short and move Volpe to second, but that ship has passed. 

I think the Yankees will be fine without Stanton for the six…cough, cough…eight to ten…cough, cough…weeks. Harrison Bader, another frequent contributor to the IL, should be back soon. Pitching reinforcements will arrive next month with Carlos Rodón and Luis Severino. I doubt the hot start by the “Franchyse”, Franchy Cordero, is sustainable, but it is fun while it lasts. Stanton’s absence also creates opportunities for guys like Peraza to show they belong in the Bronx. 

It has been a slow start, despite the stolen bases, for Anthony Volpe, but I do believe the game is starting to slow down for him at the Major League level. He will make the necessary adjustments to become a force in the lineup in the not-so-distant future. Keeping DJ LeMahieu healthy is a must. Aaron Judge will help power everyone in the batting order as he always does. The Yankees are better with a healthy Stanton, but they remain a very strong team without him. 

So, hold off handing the AL East to the Tampa Bay Rays or the Toronto Blue Jays. A World Series has never been won in April. The Yankees have time to get healthy. Giancarlo Stanton will be back crushing the life out of baseballs in a month or two. The summer in the Bronx figures to be incredibly bright.

Get healthy, G.   

Placing My Feelings on the Injured List...

The shortened season’s “bump in the road”…

I always found it difficult to face an off day after the Yankees are swept. The sting of the losses continue to resonate until the Yankees can snap the losing streak. The fact they were beaten in three consecutive games by their strongest AL East challenger, at home, and have had a weekend off for coronavirus avoidance makes it worse. I am not feeling good about the team at the moment but then again, it’s the normal roller coaster ride of a regular season. I guess the ebbs and flows are a little harder to handle when you know there are such few games compared to a normal season. Although outwardly I maintain a sense of calm and confidence, I am taking those highs and lows with reckless abandon on the inside, I can assure you.  

Photo Credit: The Simpsons/FOX

It is painfully obvious the Yankees need to figure out how to beat the Tampa Bay Rays if they plan to advance very far into October.  Unfortunately, a rash of injuries has developed which has deprived the Yankees of some of their best players…for at least the short term. It is ironic the injuries have continued despite the overhaul of the team’s physical conditioning unit last off-season. I know, this is not Eric Cressey’s fault. The modified season itself and the shortened second training camp hold much of the blame. I get it but I had optimistically hoped the Yankees could stay healthy this year with the new crew to maximize their fullest potential. Nope, it remains ‘Next Man Up’ and we continue to hold faith and trust for GM Brian Cashman and his team to deliver the next Gio Urshela. For the record, I do believe they will.

The first outsider, now part of the organization, to get a chance to return to the Major Leagues is former Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jordy Mercer. Most recently, the 33-year-old Oklahoman was playing for the Detroit Tigers but opted to become a free agent earlier this month when he refused an outright assignment to the Tigers’ alternate training site after clearing waivers. The one-time starting shortstop for the Pirates, a career .257/.315/.387 hitter, will get a chance help at second base, if the Yankees make room for him on the active roster, with the injuries to D.J. LeMahieu and Gleyber Torres. His glove has been scary at short but hopefully it plays better at second (at least it has over the small sample size in his Pirates-Tigers career).  

Photo Credit: Elsa, Getty Images

Mercer only played in three games for Detroit this year and doesn’t offer much upside but maybe he can help ‘hold the door’ while the other healthy players deliver the winning results. I’ve seen a few people say the Yankees should sign former Red Sox infielder Brock Holt, recently cut loose by the Milwaukee Brewers, but I think Mercer is the better player. It’s not like the Yankees are going to find high quality free agents on the open market at this time of year. It will be interesting to see what the Yankees do in the next week as we approach the trading deadline which is just a week from Monday.  

Speaking of trades, the Yankees did make one this week. After designating David Hale for assignment, they traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies to allow Hale to join their Yankees alumni association. With no intended knock against Hale, who has generally done a good job when asked, I was a little surprised the Yankees got anything for him. Addison Russ, a 25-year-old right-handed reliever is not exactly what you’d call a prospect but he has dominated the minor leagues with 200 strikeouts in nearly 153 career innings. I’ll be interested in seeing what the Yankees can do with Russ. Perhaps it is another gold nugget uncovered by Cashman. Then again, maybe he never sees the light of day at Yankee Stadium. I’ll hope for the former, but as the saying goes, “nothing ventured, nothing gained” so, with that  being said, I am glad Russ is in the organization regardless of how this plays out. If he plays somewhere in the middle of my lofty unsubstantiated hopes for success and being a future DFA player, this trade will have turned out very, very well for the Yankees. Odds are we haven’t seen the last of Hale but at least he gave us something to work with in his latest departure.   

Photo Credit: Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos, via Getty Images

With thirty-five regular season games left to play, the Yankees will be without shortstop Gleyber Torres following his placement on the Injured List with Grade 1 strains of his left hamstring and quad. Manager Aaron Boone is on record saying Torres will be out in the “two to three week range” under their current thinking. My hope is the rest and recovery allows Torres to play more like the 2019 version of himself. At any rate, I’ll hold out optimism for his quick return to full health and when he does come back, he is accompanied by a very productive bat.  

The Yankees also lost James Paxton and Zack Britton to the Injured List. 

Regarding Paxton, I really thought it was the end as I expected an announcement he would need Tommy John surgery. Fortunately, and thankfully, I am not a doctor, and the diagnosis was just a strained left forearm (Grade 1 flexor strain). Yeah, the word “just” is a little ridiculous but it’s better than Stephen Strasburg’s fate. Paxton blames it on the shortened summer training, “I think it’s pretty simple. We didn’t get enough time going at a lower speed to kind of build up.” Regardless, I think Paxton’s days as a Yankee are numbered. I had previously thought it was unlikely the Yankees would re-sign him when he hits the open market after the season, but this year’s performance and the continuation of injuries is pretty much the nail in the coffin.  Oh well, it bodes well for the Clarke Schmidt 2021 campaign. After a couple of weeks rest, Paxton will get some time in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to rebuild his arm strength. Hopefully there’s enough time for him to make his mark on this season. He certainly has the talent if he can maintain his health after the most recent setback.  

As for Schmidt, we may get an early preview of the potential 2021 starter as soon as this week. I am ready for his time to start even if the Yankees aren’t quite ready to begin his service time clock. I’d really like to see Schmidt grow and develop as a Major League pitcher and there’s only one place to learn (clue: it’s not the alternate training site). The downside of a Schmidt move is the elimination of a seat holder on the current 40-man roster as a precursor to his elevation to active status on the Major League roster. While I’ve always liked Ben Heller, I know it is inevitable he’ll eventually get the tap on the shoulder that it’s time to go. I just hope it is for something of value and not just a trip down the DFA highway without a net. 

Britton feels he’ll be ready to go after 10 days following his trip to the Injured List for a strained left hamstring. Britton, the team’s closer for much of the season until the recent return of Aroldis Chapman, is such a huge part of the Yankees bullpen so we certainly need him back sooner than later but, as with any injuries, never too soon. I fully expect superior physical therapy management from Eric Cressey and his team. 

The Yankees also lost reliever Luis Avilan, a mild surprise this season, to the IL on Friday with Torres and Paxton. He was diagnosed with shoulder inflammation.

Of the current players already on the IL, there is strong optimism we’ll see Aaron Judge this week when the Yankees return to play. LeMahieu, already taking dry swings, should not be too far behind. It will be fantastic to get both of those guys back. I haven’t really heard any updates on Giancarlo Stanton but that’s what I’ve grown to expect. A mystery when he’ll be able to play and total pessimism of his ability to stay healthy when he is. As the current White House occupant would say, “it is what it is”.  Thankfully, it’s Hal Steinbrenner’s money and not mine.

Hopefully the Yankees are back soon. I am ready to put the recent slump aside and move back up the AL East standings. They’ll play two in Atlanta starting Tuesday night. The Mets, their planned opponent for the cancelled series this weekend, will come to Yankee Stadium (hopefully) next weekend. After the Braves and the Mets, a rematch with the Rays looms in the Bronx for their final three-game head-to-head match-up before the fun of October begins. Not trying to look too far ahead but anything less than taking at least two of three will be unacceptable. There’s a day off after the series, Thursday, September 3rd, and I want that to be a GOOD day. Make it happen, Pinstripers!

As always, Go Yankees!

Despite Win, Yankees Lose...

Photo Credit: Julio Cortez/AP

Aaron Judge becomes latest Casualty…

There was immediate concern when Aaron Judge arrived at first base after his single in the bottom of the sixth and you could tell he was in pain. Even as Head Trainer Steve Donahue came out and they removed Judge from the game, there was hope it was only a precautionary move with a fairly comfortable lead over the Kansas City Royals. But when Judge dropped the F bomb as he walked through the dugout, it signaled this was worst case scenario. Although no timetables have been given, the left oblique injury will keep Judge away for awhile.  

Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Of all the injuries the Yankees have suffered this year, I had felt that Aaron Judge was the guy the team could least afford to lose. Gleyber Torres probably runs a close second, but Judge is the ideal right fielder for this team and its heart and soul. It was no fun last summer when we lost Judge for an extended period as a result of the fractured wrist, courtesy of a Jakob Junis pitch.  But at time, at least the team had Giancarlo Stanton to step into right. As the team prepares to play today, there are only three outfielders on the team. Brett Gardner, Mike Tauchman, and Clint Frazier. The role of the fourth outfielder will be filled by infielder Tyler Wade, who has not exactly set the World on fire with his bat this season.  

With the placement of Judge on the Injured List today, there will be an unlucky 13 players on the list. Fortunately, Gary Sanchez will back soon. He is expected to play a minor league rehab game on Monday before being activated on Wednesday. The Yankees head for Anaheim, California to begin a four-game set with the Los Angeles Angels tomorrow so Sanchez should be ready by the third game. Giancarlo Stanton is expected to return sometime during the upcoming road trip but he’s a little further out than Sanchez. The road trip concludes in Phoenix, Arizona on May 1st. The sooner, the better but we need to make sure that Stanton is 100% ready to go to avoid any setbacks.  

The Yankees have very limited outfield depth in the system. Everyone knows that top prospect Estevan Florial fractured his wrist in Spring Training and is still recovering so he’s not even a thought (not that he should have been…yet…anyway). The five outfielders listed on the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre roster are Trey Amburgey, Billy Burns, Omar Carrizales (who?), Matt Lipka, and Zack Zehner. Available free agents include Jose Bautista, Matt Holliday, Austin Jackson, Denard Span, Danny Valencia and Chris Young. In other words, there is no help on the horizon other than the return to good health for those on the IL. The only other option is trade, but most teams are reluctant to trade this early in the season. I keep hearing Justin Smoak’s name. No doubt he’d provide a productive bat to pair with Luke Voit at first base and DH, but the Toronto Blue Jays are only a game behind the Yankees and they certainly smell the blood in the water. Not that the Jays have World Series aspirations this year and they’ve already parted with Kevin Pillar (traded to San Francisco on April 2nd) but I don’t think they’d actively help the Yankees at this point even if the teams have been receptive to inter-division trades in the past. 

I am not sure what to think at this point. You can only hope the team treads water until the injured stars begin their return to the active roster. It’s hard to look at the current roster and say, ‘Oh yeah, this team is winning the World Series this year’. I am glad that Clint Frazier and recently Mike Tauchman have stepped up but it’s going to take more from the other replacement players. I can’t say that I am overly optimistic. The Yankees can simply not afford to lose any more players at this point. They are stretched as far as they can without outside help. It is imperative that the injured players come back soon but the risk is rushing them back too soon. I guess these are the times that GM Brian Cashman and his staff truly earn their paychecks. With so much bad news lately, I could really use some good news about now. At least we have the NFL Draft later in the week.

With Judge’s injury, yesterday’s 9-2 win over the Royals actually felt like a loss.  There was certainly no joy after the game. I was glad the team evened its record at 10-10 but sadly the future, at this moment in time, seems hazy. The Boston Red Sox elevated themselves out of the AL East Cellar yesterday with their second consecutive victory over the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays. With such uncertainty surrounding the Yankees, I’d hate to see the Red Sox go on a roll. There’s no doubt the rash of injuries should make for a reliable battle-tested bench later in the season but that’s hardly any consolation on the 21st day of April. The coming days and weeks will go a long way toward determining how this season will play out. If there was ever a time for the team to unite and persevere through adversity, this is it. At the moment, Yankee Stadium feels a little like Winterfell as the Night King and his Army of the Dead close in for the kill.    

To talk a moment about Saturday’s game, it is unfortunate that a Yankee fan interfered with the fly ball to left by Gleyber Torres in the bottom of the third inning. Initially ruled a home run, the call was overturned upon review and Torres was ruled out due to the interference. I agree the fan leaned over the wall so clearly by definition it was interference, but I honestly do not feel Royals outfielder Alex Gordon would have caught the ball. Replay seemed to show the ball just an inch or two beyond his reach. Fortunately, the Yankees didn’t need the three-run homer but I feel bad for Gleyber in losing a home run courtesy of a fan. On the other hand, the fan probably didn’t appreciate the free escort out of the stadium by Security. Tough situation since I feel I probably would have reached for the ball without thinking, like most of us, in that  situation too. Aaron Judge hit his fifth home run before he was lost to us. The Yankees also got homers from Clint Frazier, Mike Tauchman, and with his first as a Yankee, DJ LeMahieu. It was a great bounce-back game for Masahiro Tanaka who lost on a grand slam last Sunday. Tanaka went seven innings, giving up only four hits and a run. He walked three and struck out seven to improve his record to 2-1. I thought his ability to leave the lightning quick Billy Hamilton stranded at third after Hamilton’s lead off triple in the top of the third inning (a ball that went under the glove of the defensively-challenged Luke Voit at first) was huge.

The Yankees conclude their four-game series with the Royals today. They’ll send James Paxton (2-2, 3.91 ERA) to the mound. He’ll be opposed by Jorge Lopez (0-2, 4.30 ERA). The Yankees could really use a series win as they embark on the nine-game West Coast trip to Anaheim, San Francisco and Phoenix. Hopefully the remaining healthy players can provide Paxton with the necessary support for his third win of the season.  

As expected, Gio Gonzalez exercised the opt-out in his minor league contract. The Yankees have until tomorrow to either elect to promote Gonzalez to the Major League roster or let him go. I fully expect the latter. No doubt he’ll get a big league job soon but it won’t be in the Bronx. Too bad he can’t play the outfield.   

As always, Go Yankees! And please, stay healthy.

The Yankees Deserve Your Patience...

Photo Credit: Frank Franklin II/AP

Injury-riddled start does not end World Series aspirations…

The Yankees are 2-4 entering play today. The season-opening homestand against two of the AL’s worst teams didn’t exactly go according to plan.  The only saving grace is the Boston Red Sox have one more loss than the Yankees.  It’s disappointing but what are you going to do?  This ship will right itself.  I am certainly not going to declare this a lost season the first week in April.

I’ve said it before but I hate losing winnable games and that’s exactly what every one of those four losses have felt like. I don’t think anybody could have foreseen the rash of injuries that have hit the Yankees. I am certainly not going to join the ‘I wish we had signed Machado or Harper’ crowd or those who are still pining for Joe Girardi to return as Yankees manager. If the Yankees had signed Machado or Harper, who knows, they could have been hurt wearing the famed Pinstripes. I don’t think Girardi wins you more games than Aaron Boone. The Yankees turned that page and we’re not going back to Girardi regardless of what happens. There’s no doubt the Injured List is overflowing but this would have been impossible to predict regardless of any moves made by the Yankees Front Office during the past off-season.

Now is the time for the guys given opportunities to step up. Greg Bird, Clint Frazier, Tyler Wade, Mike Tauchman, and, later today, Thairo Estrada, your time is now. Not tomorrow, not next week. Now. If a few of these guys can play up to potential, the Yankees will be alright. I am comfortable with D.J. LeMahieu and his glove at third base. He was a minor league third baseman and in his limited sample size in the Bronx, he’s looked like a veteran at the position. With the unexpected injury to Troy Tulowitzki…I take that back, no injury with Tulo is unexpected…the inevitable injury, shortstop is in good hands with Gleyber Torres. The pressure is on Tyler Wade to perform at second. 

I am sure the Yankees see Luke Voit potential in Mike Tauchman but so far, the former Colorado Rockie looks like a 4A player. He may be great at Triple A but so far, like Tyler Wade, he has yet to prove it at the Major League level. Time to kick off the training wheels and let ‘er rip. They can establish their Major League careers right here, right now.  The dreams they’ve held since childhood are within their control. 

I have my thoughts about the ability of some of these guys to live up to the hype but it’s up to them to prove they belong here. There’s a reason most were touted as top prospects at one time or another. 

After one run through the starting rotation, and Masahiro Tanaka’s second start, I’ve been pleased with the quality of the starting pitching. Domingo German was great and Jonathan Loaisiga did a fine job yesterday in a limited appearance. The only forgettable performance was J.A. Happ but he’ll rebound.  We’re a couple of weeks away from the return of CC Sabathia and I am anxious to see how he performs but all in all, I like what we’re seeing from the rotation. It would be better with Luis Severino, but for now, the starting rotation is not the weak link. Sadly, I see no fit for Gio Gonzalez and fully expect him to either opt out on April 20^th or decide to stay in Triple A to keep his arm fresh until somebody calls. It’s a little disappointing that a few of the losses have been bullpen failures but they haven’t exactly been given high run support.  Watching David Robertson blow a game yesterday for the Philadelphia Phillies against the Washington Nationals by walking in the winning run with the bases loaded shows things could be worse. I’d rather get beat throwing a hard fastball over the middle of the plate than letting the other team win on walks. I’ll gladly take my chances with Adam Ottavino in the fireman role previously held by D-Rob. 

Once the healthy regulars start hitting, the Yankees can and should get on a roll. I never really dreamed that New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom would have a home run this season before Aaron Judge. Let’s have hope the guys will hit because they will. Death, taxes, and monstrous Aaron Judge bombs.  You can count on it.    

Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

I am not sure what I think about Miguel Andujar’s desire to return this season. If he avoids surgery and attempts to return, he may be limited to DH duties since it is harder to throw than it is to bat. He was already a defensive liability without the labrum tear.  I’d hate to see him try to play this year, need surgery in the off-season and potentially impact his availability in 2020. I’d almost prefer the surgery now to resolve the problem so that we know he’ll be at full speed for next season. Although it’s not great to play Giancarlo Stanton in the field and risk potential injury, the best use of the DH role is an open rotation to keep guys fresh. 

To replace Troy Tulowitzki, I thought the Yankees would call up Gio Urshela to provide third base support for D.J. LeMahieu. The downside is Urshela is not on the 40-man roster so the Yankees would have needed to make room (either by moving someone to the 60-day Injured List or going the DFA route).  Instead, the Yankees will call up Thairo Estrada who is on the 40-man.  Estrada, 23, had been the starting shortstop for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders although his Triple A experience is extremely limited.  Personally, I’d love to see Estrada outperform Tyler Wade.  Well, I’d like to see Wade prove he belongs in the Big Leagues but I am not holding my breath. I’ve seen people suggesting the Yankees should make a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays to acquire Freddy Galvis or Brandon Drury. I wouldn’t be opposed to either player.  Galvis probably makes the most sense, but I liked Drury, despite the health issues, when he was here. I’ve even seen Ian Happ’s name mentioned. Happ is currently assigned to the Cubs’ top farm team in Iowa and can play multiple positions. I guess you can never have too many Happs on your team. But for now, let’s see what Estrada and Wade can do.  They might surprise a few people.    

Photo Credit: Jake Danna Stevens/The Citizens Voice

The Yankees hit the road today to face the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards in downtown Baltimore for the O’s Home Opener. After losing their first two series of the season, the Yankees need to take these three games at Inner Harbor or at least win two of three. The road doesn’t get any easier next week when the Yankees travel to South Texas to play the Houston Astros. They really need to build some momentum against the Orioles before playing a team they will face in October if all goes according to plan. James Paxton takes the ball today in the Road Grays. He’ll be opposed by Baltimore’s Alex Cobb who was supposed to get the Opening Day start at Yankee Stadium last week before getting pushed back.  Hopefully today is the day the Big Maple picks up the first of many Yankee wins. The Yankees will have a rare Friday off before resuming the series on Saturday and Sunday.

I am not ready to throw in the towel. Let’s give these Yankees a chance to overcome the early season injury woes. At least one of the replacement players will step up in a huge way, I am sure. This is still a very good team. Once we get into May and guys like Luis Severino, Dellin Betances, Aaron Hicks and Giancarlo Stanton are back, things will look much better. No reason to panic. Play today, win today. We’ll worry about Saturday on Saturday and there’s plenty of time to think about Houston after Sunday’s game.

As always, Go Yankees!