A Grand Yankees Opening and Debut...

 

Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post)

Yankees win in Volpe’s debut…

Opening Day 2023 was about as perfect as the day could be. Gerrit Cole, in a dominating performance after the opening walk on four pitches, led the Yankees to a 5-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants. He struck out eleven Giants in six innings of work. The first Yankees home run of the season was courtesy of the 2022 AL Most Valuable Player, and the game featured the exciting debut of an extremely talented 21-year-old shortstop.

A good start. Now rinse and repeat for one hundred sixty-one more games. I wish all games could be as non-stressful as the first of the new season.

The next two games against the Giants will prove to be more challenging if for no other reason than Cole is not starting. With no disrespect to Clarke Schmidt and Jhony Brito, the scheduled weekend starters, they are not Cole, a potential Cy Young Award winner if he can continue to shove all season. I have been hoping 2023 proves to be Schmidt’s breakout year and hopefully, it begins today when he takes the Yankee Stadium mound. I am not denying Brito is an exciting young talent, but as the team’s Triple-A emergency starter, I would have preferred the emergency was not the first series of the season. Losing three starting pitchers before the season started is difficult, but in difficulty, there is an opportunity to shine.  Schmidt and Brito can make statements with their performances and prove they can be useful rotation pieces in the years ahead.  Not that one game will define anyone, but you must start somewhere.

I liked Anthony Volpe’s decision to go with number 11 for his Yankees career. It was a classy touch that he sought permission from Brett Gardner, who wore the number proudly from 2008 through 2021. Even better that Gardy gave his blessing. I had no problem with 77 had Volpe chosen to stay with his Spring Training number. Mickey Mantle is one of the greatest legends in franchise history, and seeing his number twice on the back of a jersey was kind of cool. But now that Volpe has taken 11, I like his choice.

1st Major League At-Bat for Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Andrew Mills/NJ Advance Media)

I thought it was funny as soon as Volpe relinquished 77, it was snapped up by pitching coach Matt Blake. Manager Aaron Boone, with his Reds number of 17, is the only coach with a number below 60. It is kind of funny there is a movement for managers and coaches to not wear numbers due to the shortage. The Yankees have retired twenty-two numbers, the most in MLB. I feel for future generations who may see triple digits on jerseys. I would go with alpha-numeric characters before adding a third digit.  Give the manager “M1”. His bench coach could be “C1”.  Seriously, I wish the Yankees held the criteria for retiring numbers much higher than they do. Reggie Jackson had a nice five-year run with the Yankees, but it was only five years. Sure, he helped win two World Series, and his three-home run game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1977 World Series stands out as his greatest performance, but many guys have helped the Yankees win with much longer tenures of success. 

I am not a fan of Alex Rodriguez, but he helped the Yankees win a World Series and had a long Yankees career. Yet, his number is still in circulation, most recently worn by former Yankee Joey Gallo. No doubt his history with PEDs contributed to the decision not to retire the number, but still, he was a good baseball player, every bit as good if not better than Jackson. Mike Mussina pitched eight great years with the Yankees and won twenty games in his final season, yet his number 35 immediately went back into circulation and is currently worn by reliever Clay Holmes. Mussina’s sin is never winning a World Series, but it did not stop the Yankees from retiring Don Mattingly’s number. The Yankees have not re-issued CC Sabathia’s number 52 (or Masahiro Tanaka’s 19 for that matter). I guess the lack of numbers is a problem for the 2173 Yankees which should not be our concern.

New Acquisitions

I had expected Rafael Ortega to make the Yankees’ Opening Day Roster, so I was slightly surprised when he opted out of his minor league contract after the Yankees made the decision not to promote him. The Yankees had their eye on former Boston Red Sox outfielder/first baseman Franchy Cordero who was cut by the Baltimore Orioles after a strong Spring performance. They signed Cordero and he was in uniform on Opening Day.

It is rather humorous that the Yankees could not re-sign Andrew Benintendi, so they signed the guy he was once traded for. Not expecting much with Cordero but it would be nice if the Yankees could tap into some of the potential he once held. He has prestigious power if he could ever learn to hit consistently. Cordero stands out in my mind for a misplayed popup when he was the first baseman for the Red Sox in a game against the Yankees last July. The dropped ball allowed Aaron Hicks to score in a game eventually won by the Yankees, 6-5.

Franchy Cordero (Photo Credit: Mary Schwalm/AP)

Cordero signed with the Orioles through free agency last December. He had a surprisingly strong Spring, slashing .413/.426/.674 (1.100 OPS) in eighteen games, but it was not enough to make the Orioles’ Opening Day Roster. He was released by the Orioles on March 27^th and signed with the Yankees three days later. 

Regardless of past miscues and failed potential, it is a new beginning for Cordero. Maybe the Pinstripes are magical for him. Maybe not. There is only one way to find out.

The other new acquisition is reliever Colton Brewer. Brewer, who spent time with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in 2017, is another former Red Sock.  He was in camp with the Tampa Bay Rays this Spring after spending 2022 playing for Kansas City’s Triple-A club, and when he failed to make the Rays’ Opening Day roster, the Yankees acquired him for cash considerations. Brewer has subsequently been assigned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. When he was first acquired, it appeared that it would be for a Major League spot which I did not see as a fit. It seemed like the Yankees would have had to end their love affair with Albert Abreu to make room (or move on from outfielder Estevan Florial). Brewer seems to be a depth/insurance piece to be stashed in Triple-A until if/when the need arises. 

I thought the Yankees would be more aggressive in bringing in a veteran pitcher given the injuries to the pitching staff. Not sure why Aaron Boone said the other day the Yankees were working on a potential deal to add a pitcher to the staff. If Brewer was the pitcher he was talking about, it probably was not worth the mention. Perhaps the potential deal fell apart. Sometimes it is best to say nothing until it happens.

Oswald Peraza, RailRider

I feel bad for Oswald Peraza. I felt like he was ready for the Major Leagues, and at the start of Spring Training, I had thought he would be the starting shortstop for the Yankees. I am not disappointed Anthony Volpe has the job, but I am saddened it cost Peraza a spot on the Major League roster. Peraza started at short on Friday night for the RailRiders in their 2-1 win over the Buffalo Bisons. He was 1-for-4, striking out three times. He had an eighth-inning single and a stolen base. Not a great night for him, but hopefully he stays positive and productive until he gets the call to the Show. 

Oswald Peraza (Photo Credit: Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Granted, with Volpe making the roster, there was no room for Peraza. I seriously thought Peraza would be the shortstop based on the stronger throwing arm, with Volpe representing the future at second base. Volpe carved his own future to take shortstop, and good for him. So now what happens? I am not ready to part ways with Gleyber Torres, even if I recognize he seems to be the most tradeable asset. If the Yankees are willing to commit to Torres long-term, I would not have an issue with trading Peraza to give him an opportunity elsewhere. If there is no intent to extend Torres, then the Yankees should pull the trigger on a trade when a reasonable offer presents itself to open the door for Peraza. 

Peraza spending the summer in Triple-A proves nothing. His development needs to continue in the Major Leagues. I hope the Yankees can figure this one out without harming the player’s future.

Gary Sanchez to the Giants

Great for Gary Sanchez to get an opportunity with the San Francisco Giants. A minor league deal, with a 30-day opt-out, but it is a chance for him to start anew. Despite the shortage of catching in the Yankees’ system, I did not want a reunion with Sanchez. However, I equally did not want to see him show up in Boston, Toronto, or Tampa Bay. Going to a National League club on the West Coast is best case scenario.

The Kraken (Photo Credit: Dan Fappiano)

I hope he is successful in reclaiming a Major League job. I wanted him to succeed as a Yankee and held my support for him longer than most fans. When the Yankees parted ways, it was time. So even though I do not wish to see his return to New York, I would like to see him find happiness and success so long as it is not with a Yankees rival. 

Speaking of ex-Yankees, Luke Voit signed a one-year deal with a club option for 2024 with the Milwaukee Brewers. I am glad to see him land a Major League job. It has been a tough road for him since leaving the Yankees. San Diego, Washington, and now Milwaukee. Although never a fan of Voit’s glove, I liked the guy’s bat and his personality in general. Armed with the mentality of an NFL linebacker, his home runs were a joy to watch.  Cheers to Luke in Brew City!

He may not have played for the Yankees at the big-league level, but former Yankees prospect outfielder/second baseman Nick Solak was acquired on Friday by the Seattle Mariners. He had been designated for assignment by the Cincinnati Reds. Solak went to the Tampa Bay Rays a few years ago in the deal that brought Brandon Drury to New York from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Solak found some later success with the Texas Rangers. Once a touted prospect, his journeyman status proves GM Brian Cashman was right to include him in a trade. I am always worried that the prospects traded away turn out to be Hall of Famers like Fred “Crime Dog” McGriff.  An unfounded fear, for the most part.

As always, Go Yankees!

Aaron Judge is a Yankee...

 

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Team’s best player chooses to remain in Pinstripes…

Yankees to Sign Aaron Judge

As totally and completely expected, Aaron Judge signed a new contract to play for America’s greatest baseball team. Yeah right. Although I believe there are those of you who never wavered in your confidence he would re-sign, I suspect more people were like me who had our moments of doubt.

Credit Judge for playing his free agency as great as a man who hit the American League single season home run record.  Clearly, at his age (nearly 31), Judge was at a disadvantage compared to guys like Bryce Harper and Manny Machado who cashed in while still in their late 20s. I remember reading an article a few years ago that said Judge would never get the ‘big money’ because of his age. Nine years and $360 million later, I say Judge is doing alright. He has the highest annual average value ($40 million) for a position player, helping to set a precedent for future players to achieve and exceed. No doubt the New York Department of Taxation and Finance loves that Judge, AAV leaders Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, plus Gerrit Cole, work in New York State. 

I was watching Twitter for news on Tuesday afternoon when MLB Insider Jon Heyman posted the now infamous “Arson Judge appears head to Giants” tweet.

My heart sunk. I literally saw life without Judge as a Yankee, and it was a gloomy thought. I think the release earlier in the day by Time Magazine naming Judge as the 2022 Athlete of the Year set us up for the harder fall. In the magazine article, Judge had predicted his future when he recalled a statement he had made in 2010, “I said, in 10 years, I’ll be married to Sam and playing for the San Francisco Giants.” Congrats to Judge for the recognition as Athlete of the Year, but the words in the magazine certainly detracted from the joy of the award.

Although Heyman’s tweet was retracted within minutes, Susan Slusser, the noted Giants beat reporter, continued to tweet that word on the street through insiders and team executives that Judge was, in fact, likely to sign with the Giants.

Later in the day, with reports that Judge was flying to San Diego, GM Brian Cashman claimed no knowledge of Judge’s trip during an interview on the YES Network. It struck me as odd at the time. In retrospect, Cash was telling the truth. Judge was traveling to Hawaii but had chosen to stop in San Diego to meet with the San Diego Padres for a few hours before resuming his flight to Hawaii to celebrate his first wedding anniversary with his lovely wife, Samantha.

Going to bed Tuesday night, I was very pessimistic about the Yankees’ chances to retain Judge. 

I never tried to look at Judge’s free agency as I would have in his shoes. A homegrown superstar with records as good or better than the legends of the organization, a fanbase that truly loves him, the chance to play his entire career for the most storied franchise in baseball history, the possible captaincy of the team, and so on. There are so many countless reasons to stay. But I do not know Judge personally. I do not know his personal ambitions and motivations. We know his professional ambitions…to be the best, a champion, and a tremendous supporter of his teammates. Yet personally, Judge holds everything close to the vest. We did not know how strong the pull to return home to California would be.

If you have ever been to San Francisco, it is a wonderful city with a beautiful ballpark. The city has a charm that few cities can match. The team has history with some of the greatest names to have ever played baseball. Hey, I love New York but I live in California. I get the attraction to the Golden State.  I believed it was possible that Judge could decide to play for his childhood team despite the overwhelming reasons to stay in New York.

When word had surfaced the Giants were offering nine years at $360 million while the Yankees were allegedly holding at eight years, there were rumors the Giants were prepared to go higher. The Giants were motivated to make Judge the centerpiece for their franchise, despite an earlier signing of former Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger, another Northern Californian coming home.  True or not, the Padres were prepared to offer as much as $400 million over fourteen years.  There is some believability in what the Padres would offer given their pivot to lure free agent shortstop Xander Bogaerts from Boston for 11 years and $280 million. 

To Judge’s credit, and probably with a huge assist by Manager Aaron Boone who had called Judge on Tuesday night to let him know what he meant personally and professionally for Boone and the team, he called Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner, who was vacationing in Italy. Not-so-shallow Hal asked Judge if he wanted to be a Yankee and what it would take. Judge conveyed his desire to remain in Pinstripes but needed the ninth year to match the Giants offer. Hal agreed, and Judge accepted. Despite being on the West Coast, I was awake early Wednesday morning when I saw Ken Rosenthal tweet that Judge had decided to stay with the Yankees. Huge relief!

Hold right there. At that point, Aaron Judge could have turned around and called the Giants and Padres and they would have sweetened their offers. He did not and this is where I have the most respect for Judge in how he handled these negotiations. People scream about the money but if the Yankees did not pay it, another team would have. Judge could have used the Yankees to leverage the other teams to commit to even greater dollars. I do not feel that Judge used the Giants or the Padres. I believe he and his wife legitimately listened to the conversations with the other organizations to gather as much information as they could in making the most critical financial decision/commitment of their lives. Once the Yankees met what he was seeking, Judge was satisfied and the decision to stay with the Yankees was made.

We routinely knock Hal Steinbrenner but without his personal involvement, I am not entirely sure we would have reached a favorable outcome. The Yankees cannot stop here, however, bringing back Judge was the biggest move the team had to make this year and they did it. I am confident the Yankees will find another starting pitcher, a left fielder and perhaps another bullpen arm. Today, I am happy and relieved Aaron Judge will be playing for the New York Yankees on Opening Day 2023 when they play the San Francisco Giants. I really did not want to see Judge trot out to right field in the bottom, rather than top, of the first inning. 

Welcome back, Aaron! All rise and celebrate!

Aaron Judge (Artwork by noted and brilliant American painter/illustrator Graig Kreindler)

Hot Stove continues to boil

It seemed like all the talking head insiders were touting Carlos Rodon to the Yankees this week. Nothing has materialized…yet…but I am hopeful the Yankees make this level of commitment. The years scare me (seven, if true). Rodon is only 30 so it is possible he can still be an effective pitcher at the end of his contract, health-permitting. As the best starting pitcher on the open market, he makes the most sense.

Carlos Rodon (Photo Credit: Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Last offseason, the fan base was focused on Luis Castillo, Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea. Granted, the Yankees got Montas at the trade deadline, but he was hurt and the drop-off from Castillo was huge. I really do not want to settle for the second, third or fourth options available. I want to see the Yankees sign the best free agent starting pitcher which is Rodon. The Miami Marlins are not trading NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, and their other pitchers are not as good as Rodon. The other free agent options, like Nathan Eovaldi, Chris Bassitt, and Sean Manaea are not as appealing either. I have even heard the names of Noah Syndergaard and Drew Smyly. No thank you.  Rodon or bust.

For some reason, the Carlos Correa rumors linking him to the Yankees have re-surfaced. I am not convinced the Yankees would add another $300+ million contract so Correa seems unlikely. I have not forgiven him for his role in the cheating scandal, but I would not be opposed to having him on the Yankees. He is a good player and I do believe everyone deserves a second chance. Correa has not committed any sins (that I am aware of) since the trash cans were drummed.  I think the major appeal of adding Correa or Dansby Swanson is to free up Oswald Peraza and/or Anthony Volpe for a trade to Pittsburgh as part of a deal to snag outfielder Brian Reynolds. Although I continue to believe Volpe needs more time in Triple A, he will be the Yankees’ second baseman by next summer if he is not traded. I am happy and content with the thought of Volpe at second and Peraza at shortstop if the Yankees can get the right guy for left field. Andrew Benintendi or Michael Conforto can be added without giving up prospects. They may not be as good as Reynolds, but they are better than your average outfielders. There is also an abundance of young outfielders in Arizona (the names of lefties Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy being the most frequently mentioned) available through trade.   

Brian Cashman must find a way to eliminate Josh Donaldson, Aaron Hicks and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. I think their departures are key to improving other areas of need. Not that they would bring anything in return, but the elimination of their contracts or at least most of the dollars involved would be huge.

It does seem like the longer rumors of the Carlos’s to the Yankees persist, the less likely they will happen.

If I had my preferences, sign Rodon and Benintendi, keep Volpe and Peraza, and eliminate Donaldson, Hicks, and IKF. There would still be room for other tweaks, but I would be content for Spring Training 2023 to open with the improved roster. Granted, this is probably not the outcome, but I am hopeful Team Cashman makes the right moves to take advantage of the best years of Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole. 

Tommy Tightpants

I was pleased to see the free agent signing of former Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle. Kahnle has long been one of my favorite players. I liked him as a prospect, was saddened when he was taken by the Colorado Rockies in the 2013 Rule 5 draft, and excited when he was re-acquired in the 2017 trading deadline deal with the Chicago White Sox that brought him back to New York along with Todd Frazier and David Robertson. I understood it when the Yankees did not re-sign him after the 2020 season because of the Tommy John surgery. It was difficult to watch him pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season when he made his return from rehab. I did not think the Yankees would pursue him when he became a free agent after the season, but it was a delight when I saw that he had signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract with the team. 

Tommy Kahnle (Photo Credit: SI.com)

I briefly thought it might be cool to also bring back David Robertson, but he signed with the crosstown Mets. Whatever happened between Robertson and the Yankees a few years ago with D-Rob’s role in cutting out certain guys from playoff shares, it seems like their differences are irreconcilable. Adam Ottavino anyone? I did not think so. 

It will be fun watching Tommy run around the bullpen again, in addition to his solid work on the mound, but I am hopeful the Yankees bring in at least one more solid reliever to match with the current crew. I am grateful Aroldis Chapman is no longer a Yankee. 

The Rule 5 Draft

Speaking of the Rule 5 Draft, it is always the worst moment of the Winter Meetings for me. The Yankees routinely get poached every year. Too much talent in the organization…a nice problem to have. The Red Sox seem to grab a Yankee every year. I guess they believe more in the Yankees farm system than their own.

In the Major League phase, the Yankees were not hit as hard as I thought they might be. The Cardinals selected 32-year-old RHP Wilking Rodriguez with the 25^th selection in the first round, and the Mets took RHP Zack Greene. Both players, selected for $100,000, must stick on the Major League rosters for the entire season or be offered back to the Yankees for $50,000.

The Minor League phase is more painful. Players chosen are lost forever. The Minor League phase is anyone not protected on the big league or Triple A roster. The Yankees lost the following players:

• Orioles (Rd 1): RHP Alfred Vega
• Dodgers (Rd 1): RHP Yon Castro
• D-Backs (Rd 2): RHP Denny Larrondo
• Red Sox (Rd 2): RHP Ryan Miller
• Rays (Rd 3): RHP Nelson Alvarez
• Phillies (Rd 7): 2B Oliver Dunn

In Round 1 of the Minor League draft, the Yankees chose LHP Pablo Mujica from the Kansas City Royals. He was the Yankees’ only selection of the day. 

I do not know what their futures hold, but I was glad to see the Yankees retain C Josh Breaux, LHP Edgar Barclay, 3B Andres Chaparro, C Antonio Gomez, OF Ryder Green, RHP Matt Sauer, C Anthony Seigler, and SS Alexander Vargas. Who knows if any of these guys ever make it to the Majors, but I hope a few of them do.

As always, Go Yankees! 

The Year of "Next Man Up"...

Photo Credit: Daniel Shirey/Getty Images

Yankees win again in the City by the Bay…

I’ve tempered my expectations for the 2019 Yankees given the savage rash of injuries that have afflicted the team, but you have to love this ‘next man up’ attitude of the replacement Yankees. No doubt if they can continue to drive the team to sustained success, the October prospects for the eventual healthy Yankees appear to be very grand.

Every year, there’s a team that somehow has the ‘it’ quality in their chase for the pennant. Last year, there is no question the Boston Red Sox had it when they busted out of the gate quickly and seemingly found a way to win every night on their way to 108 regular season wins and, eventually, the World Series championship. The 2019 Yankees have had every reason to fold up their tent and hope for next year, except they haven’t. As each new guy shows up, someone comes up big and they move on to the next game, win after win.  

The Yankees will have hard decisions to make when guys start to come back from the Injured List. I’d hate to be Aaron Boone having the conversations with the replacement Yankees that their spots on the MLB roster have been eliminated, whether it is through demotion to Triple A or designation for assignment. Giovanny Urshela is one of those guys. We knew he had a superior glove in Spring Training, but despite his ‘all glove/no bat’ reputation, he has come through in clutch situations this year with the lumber to help the team score runs. Honestly, I prefer Urshela over Troy Tulowitzki. I know they play different positions but if I could only choose one for the active roster, it would have to be Gio. I don’t trust Tulo to stay healthy and right now, with his stint on the Injured List, he is proving me right. For the record, I like to be proven wrong when I have a negative perception of a certain player. But that’s on Tulo, not me.

I was a little disappointed with the series finale in Anaheim on Thursday when Masahiro Tanaka gave up a couple of two-run homers to let the LA Angels tie the game, and then Boone went to the weaker arms in the pen to allow the Angels to blow the game open. However, winning three of four games, especially in Anaheim…a place that was once a House of Horrors for the Yanks, is tremendous.  I’d gladly settle for three of four or two of three every series.  

The Yankees continued their winning ways last night with a 7-3 victory in the Bay Area opener against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park Oracle Park. It was weird seeing Tyler Austin wearing orange and black and playing this game as a foe. He had San Francisco’s first hit when he singled to right off James Paxton in the bottom of the first inning. He scored the Giants’ first run on a sac fly after Brandon Belt had doubled to move him to third. But with no offense to Austin, the game’s best first baseman was Luke Voit. Louis Linwood Voit III was 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs, and two runs scored.  

Paxton was unable to make a “quality” start by definition (an out away from completing six full innings when the Giants made it a two-run game in the bottom of the sixth) but he was very effective nonetheless. He finished with eight strikeouts to improve his record to 3-2. 

Photo Credit: Getty Images

I shudder to think of where the Yankees would be without the Big Maple. No question he is the team’s ace while Luis Severino is away. Unlike that last game in Anaheim, Aaron Boone made the right bullpen moves this game. Well, almost. I was disappointed with the three consecutive two-out walks by Zack Britton in the bottom of the seventh to load the bases, but all’s well that ends well. Adam Ottavino came in to strike out Buster Posey, his former NL West rival, to end the threat. So, despite those walks by Britton, the bullpen did not give up any hits or runs to the Giants to preserve the win for Paxton. I continue to stand by Britton but I know there are plenty of Yankee fans who would have preferred the return of David Robertson over Britton. Robertson is currently on the Injured List for the Philadelphia Phillies as he continues to recover from a Grade 1 flexor strain in his throwing arm. I guess D-Rob would have fit well on this year’s Yankees squad. 

For everyone hoping the Yankees try to acquire Giants ace Madison Bumgarner at the trading deadline, this was not a good showcase for the one-time World Series hero. The lefty surrendered 11 hits and 5 runs in 5 2/3 innings to the team some call the New York RailRiders. He is 1-4 for the season with a 4.30 ERA.  I guess he knows how Chris Sale feels this season. Pitchers are fragile creatures unless your name is Mariano Rivera.

Photo Credit: Ben Margot/AP

One-time Yankee prospect Mark Melancon, who has struggled with injuries in recent years, surrendered a two-run homer in the ninth inning to Luke Voit. Another former Yank, catcher Erik Kratz, struck out swinging in a pinch-hitting appearance against closer Aroldis Chapman to end the game.  

With the win, the Yankees (15-11) picked up a 1/2 game on the idle division-leading Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays game in Boston was rained out and won’t be made up until June. Yankees currently trail the Rays by only 1 1/2 games as the Rays have started to come back to Earth after their torrid start. Again, the replacement Yankees get so much credit for helping this team stay afloat until the big guns are back. Actually, ‘stay afloat’ is a poor choice of words because they are doing so much better. My expectation or hope was they’d stay afloat to weather this storm but, clearly, they’ve done much more.

I’ll certainly cheer on Cameron Maybin as the newest of the replacement Yankees but admittedly I was a bit underwhelmed when I heard that he had been acquired for Cash (loved the references by people on Twitter that GM Brian Cashman had sacrificed himself for Maybin). But it was the green stuff that went to Cleveland for Maybin and not the Yankees’ long-time GM. Maybin, toiling for Cleveland’s Triple A team, was no doubt excited just to get another big league opportunity. He spent Spring Training with the team he is presently facing (the Giants). Early on, it looked like Maybin was going to make the Giants’ roster but a DUI in mid-March contributed, in part, to his release on March 22nd.  To Maybin’s defense, he seems like a good guy and appreciative of his latest opportunity. I am certainly not expecting much from him and it’s more than likely his Yankees career will be brief, but hopefully he can make a contribution as the next man up.

Photo Credit: Ben Margot/AP

I had hoped that we would soon see the return of Giancarlo Stanton to man right field until Aaron Judge returns, but it sounds like we won’t see him on this road trip due to a temporary setback. Hopefully it is just a minor thing and we’ll see him when the Yankees return to the Bronx early next month. Once fearing that he’d be lost for the season with the partially torn right labrum, it now appears Miguel Andujar could return before Stanton does. I have absolutely no idea if Andujar can make the necessary throws at third with his injury, but he deserves the chance to show he can play the position despite Urshela’s solid role in holding down third base with the help of DJ LeMahieu. If not, I agree with those who say Andujar should be moved to first base and DH to share time with Luke Voit in alternating roles. Mike Ford should be the odd man out (not Urshela) but that’s alright. Andujar is far more important to this team than Ford is.  

Photo Credit: Julie Jacobson/AP

This has been a tough week with the Yankees playing the Pacific Time Zone. For those of you in the Eastern Time Zone, my hat’s off to you if you’ve stayed up to watch the games. All I can say is thank God for DVR. At least there is only one more late night game (Tuesday night in Phoenix) before the Yankees return to New York. This weekend’s games are afternoon affairs. Same with Wednesday’s getaway game in Arizona to conclude the short two-game series with the Diamondbacks.  

It’s a new day and another opportunity for a replacement Yank to step up. With J.A. Happ on the mound, they’ll need a few of the bats to come alive. Somehow, I suspect they’ll do it. They generally do.  

As always, Go Yankees! 

N'Otani for the Yankees...

Yanks fail to make the cut…

I have to admit that I was feeling a bit disappointed when it was announced that the New York Yankees did not make Shohei Otani’s weekend cut. The Yankees had been viewed, by the industry, as the favorites to sign the two-way Japanese superstar. But as word leaked in recent days that perhaps Otani preferred a smaller West Coast market and one without a current Japanese superstar, it started to seem as though the likelihood of Otani wearing pinstripes was slipping away.

GM Brian Cashman confirmed it last evening when the Yankees, the Red Sox and other prominent East Coast teams were axed without the benefit of a face-to-face meeting. It’s unfortunate but the process has clearly shown that Otani is not driven by money. If he was, he would have waited two years before coming to the United States when he would be free to test the open market. Instead, he’s willing to leave millions on the table to take a minimum compensation deal. While I think Otani would have been a great fit with the Baby Bombers, the last thing you want on your team is a guy who doesn’t want to be there. So, I bid Otani farewell and wish him luck as he embarks on his MLB career.

In many ways, it’s probably best for the Yankees to be eliminated early in the process. It frees them up to explore other options and hopefully it leads to re-signing team leader CC Sabathia. If the Yankees had stayed in the negotiations process with Otani, their primary focus would not have been on finding other ways to improve the team as we head into the most crucial week of the MLB offseason (next week with the Baseball Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida). They could have been distracted during this critical time, only to find out later that Otani didn’t really want to play in New York City or on the East Coast. 

A few weeks back, The Greedy Pinstripes’ Daniel Burch wrote a piece about the potential pitfalls with an Otani signing and the challenges that would await a team trying to accommodate his wishes to pitch and bat. As we await the official announcement of the new Yankees manager, a guy who has never coached or managed, it’s probably best for him that he wasn’t placed into the difficult position of having to accommodate the wishes of an individual over the good of the team.

So, all things considered, after feeling some initial disappointment, I am glad that Shohei Otani will not be coming to the Bronx.  He has the right to choose where he wants to play. I want to see 25 men who want to be New York Yankees. 

Giancarlo and the City by the Bay…

If Giancarlo Stanton’s choices are down to the San Francisco Giants and the St Louis Cardinals, it is my belief that he’ll choose San Francisco. Given that he grew up as a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, I guess that’s sort of like growing up in the Bronx to become a Red Sock. But still, with no offense a great organization with a steep history in baseball tradition, I think it would be better to play in San Francisco than St Louis. Of course, there are cons with playing there. One of my favorite quotes is ‘the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco’, a witticism credited to Mark Twain. If you've been to San Francisco in August, you'll know what I mean.

I kept expecting the Los Angeles Dodgers to enter the fray for Stanton, but they, like the Yankees, are trying to reduce payroll to reset the luxury tax penalties. So, unless the Dodgers can eliminate a few bloated contracts (such as Adrian Gonzalez), Stanton will not be bleeding Dodger Blue.

It’s very possible that the Stanton trade could be consummated this week. I feel sorry for Miami Marlins COO Derek Jeter. For budgetary reasons, he’s being forced to break out what may be Baseball’s best outfield and perhaps setting the team back at least five years from being a legitimate contender. Jeter is finding that it is not so easy sitting on the other side of the table. 

Yankee Stadium, Home of My Favorite Team…

Yes, of course it is. I wouldn’t be a Yankees blog writer covering the Yankees if they weren’t my favorite team.  But I am talking about another team. As a native Iowan, I have been a fan of the football program at the University of Iowa for as long as I can remember. I’ve always loved the Hawkeyes even if they have historically disappointed me most every year.

The Hawkeyes are coming to Yankee Stadium. 

It was announced this weekend that the Iowa Hawkeyes (7-5) will play Boston College (7-5) in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on December 27^th. My favorite team playing against Boston at Yankee Stadium. Yeah, I think that’s something I can easily support and have significant experience with even if the Hawkeyes have never played a bowl game in New York before.

Go Hawks!

But back to Baseball and more importantly, Go Yankees!