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!

What Goes Up, Must Go Down...

 

Luis Gil (Photo Credit: New York Daily News)

Optimism of Trade Deadline Lands Flat in Miami…

When the Trade Deadline ended, I felt good about the New York Yankees’ acquisitions despite their inability to snag another mid-level rotation starter. I envisioned writing a post about the positive additions, but we, as Yankees fans, are not meant for nice things. Armed with the roster enhancements, the Yankees had their butts kicked in Miami, as they were swept in the weekend’s three-game series. Hoping for momentum with the new hires, we can only hope they find the bilge water distasteful and rebound before it's too late.

The Yankees ended the weekend at 60-52 and find themselves in third place in the American League East. They are 4 ½ games behind the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays and 1 ½ games behind an inferior Boston Red Sox squad. They remain in the play-off hunt, currently holding the second Wild Card, a half-game up on the Seattle Mariners. Realistically, a handful of teams could bypass the Yankees before the season’s end, including the Mariners, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Guardians, Kansas City Royals, and Tampa Bay Rays. 

I was willing to give Manager Aaron Boone a chance during his first few years as the team’s skipper. As a first-time manager, you knew there would be some bumps and bruises along the way. For the longest time, I was amazed the Yankees did not have an experienced manager on the staff to serve as Boone’s bench coach and right-hand man. Then, the Yankees hired ex-Tigers/Angels manager Brad Ausmus. I should have been more specific with my request for a bench coach because Ausmus has not made a difference.

If the Yankees fired Boone in-season, the most likely scenario is that Ausmus would step into the role on an interim basis. As a manager, he is 386-422 (.478 winning percentage). Third base coach Luis Rojas also has managerial experience from his time leading the crosstown New York Mets. He was 103-119, with a slightly lower winning percentage (.464%). Ausmus would get the call based on the deeper managerial resume. Buck Showalter comes to mind, but I doubt Showalter would take a temporary gig, and I do not see him as a long-term candidate. Joe Girardi is available and would bring accountability back into the clubhouse. He could get someone to stand for him during the post-game interviews.

Joe Girardi

I saw a random X post that said the Yankees should hire Detroit Tigers bench coach George Lombard, Sr. as their manager. He would not be an in-season option, but he will be a popular managerial candidate in the off-season, considering Detroit’s strong season. Lombard knows baseball and is the father of the Yankees’ top prospect (the latter point is not a job qualification, but it would be a nice bit of irony).  I would be interested in Lombard despite the lack of managerial experience. Still, on the same token, if I endorse a candidate without the expertise, Jorge Posada is the name that immediately jumps to the forefront. Jorge’s no-nonsense approach is exactly what the Yankees need. He is focused, and he is a fighter. The Yankees would be better under that approach. 

I have also seen Kevin Cash’s name mentioned. The Yankees would be better with Cash. I remember when he was announced as the Rays manager to replace the popular Joe Maddon. Cash was a coach in Cleveland and had no prior managerial experience. He has excelled. Cash would be an immediate upgrade given the Yankees’ vast resources and the success Cash has had with limited financial resources.

The Yankees have many choices to do better than Aaron Boone. My God, please, please do it. Send Boone back to broadcasting, where he had a mildly successful career, or let him go manage in a city where wins do not matter.

Usually, I would prefer to see a managerial change in the offseason, but Boone has run out the clock. I am tired of his poor in-game decisions, and the team does not need a manager who wants to be everybody’s buddy.  When Girardi was fired, I moved on and tried not to look back. Girardi’s subsequent “miss” in Philadelphia lent some credence that GM Brian Cashman made the right call in not bringing back Girardi. Yet, after years of futility under Boone, I legitimately wonder if the Yankees could have won a World Series under Girardi since 2018 (when Boone took over).

Aaron Boone needs to go, and he needs to go now. Will the Yankees flush another year by standing pat with Boone, or will they light a fire and bring in a manager who can motivate the players to play to their abilities? We know Aaron Judge is a future Hall of Famer, but under Boone, Judge will be destined to match Don Mattingly’s ringless tenure as a Yankee. Aaron Judge deserves better, and so do we.

When I look at my favorite NFL team, the Minnesota Vikings, I am excited about their head coach, Kevin O’Connell. I was behind O’Connell’s hire when it happened, and despite my support, he has exceeded my expectations. No championships for the Vikings under O’Connell (or ever), but the future is bright. I wish I felt as excited about the Yankees manager as I do O’Connell.

The Yankees wasted no time after the trade deadline releasing starter Marcus Stroman. Stroman, like Boone, underperformed and ultimately paid the price for it. Hold Boone to the same standard.

Boone is 100% Brian Cashman’s responsibility, and he must be held accountable. The longer Boone can mislead Baseball’s most fantastic franchise, the harder Hal Steinbrenner must consider cleaning the house. After years of the Boone Clown Show, I would not oppose a total purge of the front office.

The Yankees have gotten better at drafting, and they will hit on more than just a random Aaron Judge in future years. There might be some valuable talent to retain in the organization, but Brian Cashman, Michael Fishman, and Aaron Boone must exit Baseball’s most significant stage. 

So, suffice it to say that I am not a fan of Aaron Boone and am ready for a change. If social media is any indication, I am not alone. 

Yankees, please. Do Better. Be Better. The team is stronger than the clubs in front of it, and they need someone who can pull the best out of the best to leapfrog the pretenders. Boone is not that guy. 

Final Word: Fire Boone!

As for the acquisitions, I thought the Yankees would acquire a starter. I did not expect a frontline ace or former ace with potential to return to elite status like Sandy Alcantara, but I was surprised they did not add at least one mid-rotation starter. Aside from the inability to land a starter, the Tradeline deadline was successful for the Yankees. They seemingly filled holes, even if the Miami series begged to say otherwise.

The acquisition of Ryan McMahon addressed a significant need. An experienced third baseman. It continues to blow my mind that the Yankees disregarded the position in the offseason. It was clear their backup plan would fail, which, as expected, it did. I wish Nolan Arenado were not on the backside of his career, on the descent. I loved the guy when I lived in Colorado and went to Rockies games. Yet, Ryan McMahon is as gifted with the glove as Arenado is/was, even if Ryan does not have the bat. The Yankees needed elite defense at third more than they needed another bat (the latter point might be questionable after the last few games), and McMahon has proven his worth.  I am glad he is a Yankee and will not play what could have been with Eugenio Suarez. I like McMahon, and he fits the Yankees. Choosing the number Aaron Boone wore as a player with the Yankees is not the best decision, but I will forgive him. Maybe it is a nod to the great Dave “Rags” Righetti or Masahiro Tanaka. 

Ryan McMahon (Photo Credit: Ishika Semanta/Getty Images)

When the Yankees traded Carlos Carrasco to the Atlanta Braves, it was the setup for acquiring another starter. It did not happen, and I did not see Carrasco as a great option, so c’est la vie. Enjoy Atlanta. I wish the Yankees could have gotten their hands on Carrasco when he was a little younger.

The next trade after McMahon was the acquisition of former Mets/Dodgers infielder Amed Rosario from the Washington Nationals. A good move. Oswald Pereza, who was subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Angels, was not offering any help in a utility role. The Yankees sorely miss the versatility of Oswaldo Cabrera. Despite sometimes hitting well at Triple-A, Pereza was not a reliable Major League resource. He could flip the script in Anaheim. For him, I hope so. But for the Yankees, they are better with Rosario.

The acquisition of outfielder Austin Slater from the Chicago White Sox felt so random. I get the need. With Aaron Judge’s injury, reliance on Trent Grisham is greater. The Yankees showed they did not feel Everson Pereira could be that option since they traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays for shortstop Jose Caballero and future considerations. I like Yankees prospect Spencer Jones despite the strikeouts, but he is not ready for the show yet so the trade for Slater made sense. It does not seem like a long-term move, but Slater can determine the outcome.

I liked the Yankees' acquisition of Caballero. The Yankees did not have great depth behind shortstop Anthony Volpe. Caballero provides an option, and he is a burner on the base paths. After a few years of not liking the guy, I look forward to seeing his energy on the team. Volpe is hitting better, so I am not ready to say flush Volpe, but at least Caballero offers an alternative. 

Jose Caballero (Photo Credit: Robert Sabo/New York Post)

The Yankees' trade for Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar seemed inevitable. We have heard his name mentioned so routinely in recent years. His slump last year was noticeable, yet he pitched better this year (at least until his debut with the Yankees). He will be a valuable arm in the long term. I do not feel the Yankees should re-sign Devin Williams, so it would make Bednar the favorite for next year’s closer role. Maybe he captures it this year. I want both guys to pitch well this season, so I am okay; however, this plays out.

The trade for Rockies reliever Jake Bird was odd. The Yankees may have seen something they could improve. The price seemed high (second base prospect Roc Riggio and LHP Ben Shields), but I will give the Yankees the benefit of the doubt. Bird may become the latest iteration of Clay Holmes.

The subsequent acquisition of Camilo Doval was a surprise, and he will provide great setup for Williams, Bednar, or Luke Weaver, whoever is closing games for the Yankees, even if Doval was the San Francisco Giants' closer. I think Doval’s highest and best use is setup. He is a key eighth-inning guy and one of the best. 

Adding two closers (Bednar and Doval) was huge. The plus is that both guys seem selfless and want to do what’s best for the Yankees. Only a manager like Aaron Boone could screw this up.

I will not dissect performance against the Miami Marlins, I think the newcomers will help the Yankees. Once the Pinstripes become lighter, they’ll adjust and play to the best of their abilities.

The fact that the Yankees could make effective trades without losing their elite prospects was huge. I would have loved to have seen the Yankees grab A’s closer Mason Miller before the San Diego Padres did, but I understand the value of not giving up your third-ranked prospect. I went into this deadline expecting to lose Spencer Jones or Roderick Arias. In retrospect, I am glad they held onto those guys. It does not mean they will not be traded in the offseason, but they live for another day.

Today, the Yankees are not automatically in the playoffs. They would be if the season ended today, but there is still much baseball to be played. Getting swept by the Miami Marlins is not a good sign. Not trying to dismiss the Marlins, but the Yankees should have won at least one of those games. They continue to make foolish mistakes and seem to find more ways to beat themselves. If this trend continues, the Yankees will be on the outside looking in. Changes were made to the deadline, but more changes need to be made. Does GM Brian Cashman have the stones to make the right call? Time will tell.

As always, Go Yankees!