For Those Fans Who Say Joe Girardi > Aaron Boone

We’re back, and we are as controversial as ever as we continue to right wrongs and correct a lot of misinformation that gets passed around via Yankees fans and Yankees “fans” alike. Last week we analyzed the reason and history behind the luxury tax threshold in Major League Baseball and used our findings to determine whether the Yankees would be better off, worse off, or about the same today if George Steinbrenner were running the team as opposed to having Hal Steinbrenner run the team, and we are going to look to do something similar today with first year rookie manager Aaron Boone and his predecessor, Joe Girardi. Would the 2018 Yankees, a team on pace to win 100 games, be better off, worse off, or about the same with Joe Girardi at the helm this season? Let’s analyze.

We have to remember that Aaron Boone is a rookie manager with no managerial or coaching experience anywhere within baseball before taking the job with the New York Yankees. If that is a problem to some, it is not a problem with me to be honest, then that blame should be on Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner as well as the coaching staff that they approved and assembled around Boone, and the blame should not be on Boone himself. Anyway, Girardi was not a rookie manager in his first year in the Bronx and was not foreign to the idea of playing under the watchful eyes of Yankees fans and the media in New York, he played here and won World Series championships here in New York, but even with that experience under his belt his first season, 2008, did not go exactly according to plan.

In 2008 the Yankees missed the postseason for the first time since the 1993 season with Joe Girardi at the helm, and to add salt in the wound it was the final season of the old Yankee Stadium as well. Now, one could argue that Boone has a much better roster than Girardi had at his disposal in 2008, but I cannot say I fully agree with it. Does Boone have a younger team? Sure. A more versatile team? Probably. A better team though? That’s questionable, given and assuming health and all that. Girardi had Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Jason Giambi, Robinson Cano, Bobby Abreu, Johnny Damon, Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui, Brett Gardner, 20-game winner Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, a good version of Joba Chamberlain, David Robertson, Phil Coke, and a slew of other players that were at-minimum serviceable MLB-caliber players. Sure, the Yankees had a lot of injuries that season, but if that isn’t an excuse for Boone than it isn’t an excuse for Girardi either. Also, sure, Boone does himself no favors with his pitching and in-game decisions, but does anyone remember Joe Girardi’s binder and the subsequent memes and Twitter accounts that have popped up since making such a mockery of the same problem that Girardi had as well?

Want to know a difference? While Boone is on pace to win right at 100 games this season in his rookie season and make the postseason in the American League, Joe Girardi led the Yankees to an 89-73 record, a third-place finish, and to a nice place on their couches during October for the first time of Derek Jeter’s illustrious career. Of course, Girardi got better as the years went on, but then again so did his teams, so I find it truly remarkable and irresponsible to say that this current team would be better under Girardi than they are under Boone. Boone didn’t injure the players and he damn sure didn’t make many of them underperform. Now should Boone ever bring AJ Cole into a game ever again? No. But did Girardi have his favorites and do the same damn thing? Absolutely, and probably more so than Boone. And let’s be real, Brian Cashman and Larry Rothschild are calling more of these pitching change calls than we will ever admit or want to think about.

The team is fine, and Aaron Boone is a fine manager. Joe Girardi was a fine manager. They both had great things about them and they both had things that made me want to break any screen that I watched the game on. That’s baseball, and that’s especially baseball in New York. Deal with it.

Justus Sheffield is Coming…

The New York Yankees made a big move down in Triple-A this week that all but signals one important fact for the team and one of its prospects. The Yankees shifted their top pitching prospect and top prospect overall Justus Sheffield to the bullpen down in Scranton, all but signaling the fact that the Yankees plan to use the left-hander out of their Major League bullpen here sometime in 2018.

Tuesday night Sheffield made his first bullpen appearance for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and allowed just two hits with no walks and two strikeouts over two innings pitched. Aaron Boone was quoted as saying “He’ll get a couple outings under his belt down there and play a part with us in our pen (in September).”

In 2018 Sheffield has posted a combined 6-6 record with a 2.52 ERA in 22 games, 20 starts, at both Double-A Trenton and at Triple-A with the RailRiders. Sheffield has struck out 118 batters to just 50 walks surrendered in 110.2 combined innings pitched. While at Triple-A this season Sheffield has limited left-handed batters to just a .160 batting average against, which could signal how the Yankees plan to use him next month in the bullpen.  

With Aroldis Chapman now on the disabled list with knee tendinitis the time is now for Justus Sheffield. Your move, Brian Cashman.

ICYMI: 2019 Schedule

In case you missed it, the 2019 MLB schedule has been released, so it is officially time to start making your Yankees plans for next season! Below I will list the entire Yankees schedule, but I will also hit some of the high points and notable dates on the schedule as well.

March 28, 30-31 vs. Orioles

Opening Day baseball in the Bronx with the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles. I wonder who will be starting these three games for the Yankees. Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, and maybe Patrick Corbin?

April 1-3 vs. Tigers
April 4-7 at Orioles
April 8-10 at Astros
April 12-14 vs. White Sox
April 16-17 vs. Red Sox
April 18-21 vs. Royals
April 22-25 at Angels
April 26-28 at Giants
April 30-May 1 at Diamondbacks

Interleague play will happen with the National League West this season. The Yankees will make the trip to Dodger Stadium again, which is always fun.

May 3-5 vs. Twins
May 6-9 vs. Mariners
May 10-12 at Rays
May 13-15 vs. Orioles
May 17-19 vs. Rays
May 20-23 at Orioles
May 24-26 at Royals
May 27-29 vs. Padres
May 30-June 2 vs. Red Sox

First five times the rivalry is renewed it is inside Yankee Stadium? Huh.

June 4-6 at Blue Jays
June 7-9 at Indians
June 10-11 vs. Mets

Subway Series Part 1

June 13-16 at White Sox
June 17-19 vs. Rays
June 20-23 vs. Astros
June 24 vs Blue Jays
June 29 Red Sox at London
June 30 Red Sox at London

Rivalry renewed, over crumpets and tea?

July 2-3 at Mets

Subway Series Part 2

July 4-7 at Rays
July 12-14 vs. Blue Jays
July 15-18 vs. Rays
July 19-21 vs. Rockies
July 22-24 at Twins
July 25-28 at Red Sox
July 30-31 vs. Diamondbacks
Aug. 2-4 vs. Red Sox
Aug. 5-7 at Orioles
Aug. 8-11 at Blue Jays
Aug. 12-14 vs. Orioles
Aug. 15-18 vs. Indians
Aug. 20-22 at Athletics
Aug. 23-25 at Dodgers
Aug. 26-28 at Mariners
Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at Athletics

Man, the last West Coast road trip of the season comes at the end of August and into September? That is rough for the Bombers.

Sept. 2-4 vs. Rangers
Sept. 6-9 at Red Sox
Sept. 10-12 at Tigers
Sept. 13-15 at Blue Jays
Sept. 17-19 vs. Angels
Sept. 20-22 vs. Blue Jays
Sept. 24-25 at Rays
Sept. 27-29 at Rangers

The final three games of the season, hopefully the Yankees have already locked up the division crown and are resting regulars by this point… stay tuned.

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Baltimore Orioles 8/24

The New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles will begin a three-game weekend set tonight in Baltimore with a matchup of two veteran arms for each respective team. In the start tonight the Yankees will welcome back CC Sabathia to the mound to face off with Alex Cobb, the long time Tampa Bay Rays pitcher, for the Orioles. Let’s get to it here inside Camden Yards.

Sabathia will be activated off the disabled list to make the start tonight in Baltimore after missing the last two starts due to right knee inflammation. CC pitched well before heading to the disabled list on August 12, pitching six scoreless innings while allowing just one hit against the Texas Rangers. Didn’t seem like the knee was bothering him then, huh? #ConspiracyTheory

Cobb has pitched well lately for Baltimore posting a 1.55 ERA over his last four starts. Cobb has also been good against the Yankees this season allowing just one run over six innings of work in his only start against the Bronx Bombers on August 1^st.

The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Oriole Park and Camden Yards and can be seen on the YES Network locally and on MASN if you are in the Baltimore area. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat app, and by tuning into the Yankees radio broadcast on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.

Enjoy the game, for the love of God please beat the worst team in the American League and go Yankees!!

Hello… Maybe Pedro Martinez Was Right?

Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. You know, maybe Pedro Martinez was right. If you don’t know what I am talking about, Pedro Martinez was quoted recently as saying, to paraphrase, that the Yankees cannot use the injury bug as an excuse for their play lately and their free fall in the standings. Pedro went on to say that there was no hustle and energy with this team, and you know what? He hit the nail on the head, and he is absolutely correct.

Attitude reflects leadership. If the team is lackadaisical that is on them, but if they are lackadaisical and get away with it… well that is on Aaron Boone. And if the team is lackadaisical and gets away with it and nothing is said to Aaron Boone, well then that’s on Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner. I can keep going, but the bottom line is this. August 24, 2018… someone needs to wake “tf” up. That is all.

Hey you, I love you. I woke up next to you, so today will be a good day.

This Day In New York Yankees History 8/24: Yankees Hats Start a Gang War

Unknown to the New York Yankees their hats may have contributed to an uptick in gang violence in East Harlem, New York. On this day in 2007, a day after protests concerning the gang related items, New Era announced that it will remove the "offensive" hats that bears the colors and symbols of the rival gangs the Bloods, the Crips, and the Latin Kings. Two white hats had been wrapped in red and blue bandannas made by New Era and appeared to represent the Bloods and the Crips. A black Yankees hat with the interlocking NY also had a crown symbolic of the Latin Kings.

Also on this day in 1985 Don Baylor ties a major league record in a Yankees uniform when he is hit by a pitch for the 189th time in his career.

Finally on this day in 1951 Mickey Mantle was recalled from the minor leagues and for the first time in his career wore his #7 jersey. The Yankees would win the game and Mantle would go 1-4 in the 2-0 victory over the Indians. Mantle had previously wore #6 before being demoted six weeks ago and his jersey was given to infielder Bobby Brown.

The New York Yankees and $4 Million to Play With

The August 31^st trading deadline is a shade over a week away and the New York Yankees have roughly $4 million to play with while still staying under the luxury tax threshold of $197 million.

Andrew McCutchen has been placed on revocable waivers and, at the time of this writing anyway, he had yet to clear waivers. Assuming he does, and with his salary he should, the San Francisco Giants outfielder could come to New York along with his roughly $3.23 million left on his deal for the 2018 season. McCutchen would be a true rental meaning the Yankees wouldn’t give up anything of significance for the veteran outfielder. Personally, I’d love McCutchen in pinstripes and he would be my top trade target since Aaron Judge won’t be back any time soon.

Curtis Granderson is in a similar situation but has already cleared waivers and would eat up less of the Yankees available cap room with his $1.1 million in salary still to be paid. Acquiring Granderson instead of McCutchen would give the Yankees some wiggle room to add a relief pitcher if they deemed it possible.

If the Yankees decided to get Granderson instead of McCutchen the team could conceivably also acquire Kelvin Herrera of the Washington Nationals, who are now selling off veteran rental pieces. Herrera is a free agent at season’s end and is owed roughly $1.7 million for the remainder of the season. Herrera has not pitched well for the Nationals since the Kansas City Royals traded him to Washington this June, but he has a proven veteran track record that signals that he is more than likely to turn it around. He has to be better than AJ Cole, right?

Oh, and by the way I wanted to address something that really bothers me. To all the fans who say the Yankees are “cheap” and not committed to winning. Go root for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the New York Mets, the Miami Marlins, the Tampa Bay Rays or even a team like the Oakland Athletics who may have a good season or two of competing, but then see all their players leave via trades or free agency because their owners and organizations won’t spent $197 million and are too cheap to hold onto their good, young talent. Rant over.

Hello… Off Day

Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. Throughout the grind that is the 162-game Major League Baseball season an off day is always a welcomed sight, but these off days this week are especially useful for the New York Yankees. With two off days this week the Yankees are able to not only rest up, the team can also heal up as well. Gary Sanchez becomes a day closer to returning and so does Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius, CC Sabathia, Aroldis Chapman and others, all without missing a game on the schedule. It also gives Giancarlo Stanton and his bad hamstring an extra day or two to mend, which is never a bad thing. Enjoy the off days now, because the stretch run is coming.

Hey you, I love you.

Greg Bird A Deeper Look

              Lately there has been a lot of talk about the Yankees needing to upgrade 1st Base, I’m not sold yet. While Greg Bird has had a ton of injuries, and has missed a lot of time he is not as bad as most think. Yes he needs to put it together over a course of 1 season, but looking at his numbers they tell the tale of why the Yankees are so high on him.  In 165 games played Mr. Bird has hit a lowly average of .218 which I’ll admit is on the low side. However the rest of his numbers are ones I’d take on a yearly basis. 37 HRs, 29 doubles, 1 Triple, 66 Walks, 94 RBIs, and 68 Runs Scored. Those numbers would be in line with some of the best 1st baseman in the game today. The AVG and the OBP needs a little work but I’d take the 94 RBIs with 37 bombs every year. Where do I sign?              Some Yankees Fans may disagree with me, some will agree. Greg Bird is not as bad as it looks on the surface give this guy a little more time and I’m sure he will prove himself to be a solid Yankee for a long time. The talent and the tools are there. Defensively he is a very good 1st baseman, offensively just needs to put it all together over the course of a full season. Don’t forget he has also been clutch in some big games. Yes he popped out on the 1st pitch the other night late in a game with the bases loaded, but he did hit some big shots for us in the playoffs last year. Bird gives his all every game, and he is just as frustrated as most fans are but please be patient I’m sure he will get this figured out. The numbers are actually there to back it up. Mr. Bird just needs to be put together over a course of 1 season not 3.   

James C Palma Email: JamesCPalma@Yahoo.Com                   Twitter: @JamesCPalma

A Win is a Win...

Photo Credit: Miami Herald (David Santiago)

Yankees Survive the Marlins in Extra Innings…

Beat the teams you are supposed to beat. It does get frustrating when the Yankees struggle against Major League Baseball’s worst teams. I thought it was game over twice last night when the Miami Marlins loaded the bases with no outs in the bottoms of the ninth and eleventh innings against Chad Green and A.J. Cole, respectively. Somehow, the Yankees miraculously survived both innings and finally punched across the winning run in the top of the twelfth, thanks to a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by everybody’s Rookie of the Year, Miguel Andujar. 

Photo Credit: AP (Lynne Sladky)

I guess it does not really matter how you win so long as you do win.

On a night the Boston Red Sox were losing…again…it was nice to pick up a game in the standings. With the 2-1 win over the Marlins, the Yankees now trail Boston by eight games (seven in the loss column) in the AL East. The Sox dropped their second straight game to the AL Central leading Cleveland Indians, 6-3. It was Boston’s third consecutive loss overall.  Bummer, I feel so sad when that happens. Um, not really.

I’ve always felt that as long as you are within six games on September 1^st, you have a chance to win the division. Mathematically, you can obviously be further out and still take the division crown but I’ve seen many six game leads erased over the years, the number has stuck in my head as the benchmark to ensure that you trail by no more than six when the calendar page rips to the ninth month of the year. Now, I don’t really expect the Red Sox to crater despite their current losing streak but it is fun to see the Yankees cut into their large lead.  Boston’s losing pitcher last night was Nathan Eovaldi. Nasty Nate hasn’t pitched a quality start for the Red Sox since they beat the Yankees on August 4^th. For all those Yankee fans who wanted Eovaldi over J.A. Happ, be glad that your dreams did not come true. 

I am worried about Aroldis Chapman. Brought in to close out last night’s win, he was unable to find the strike zone, walking the leadoff hitter in the twelfth inning. After six pitches, he signaled for the dugout and the decision was made to pull him due to his troublesome left knee. While Chapman has been trying to play through the knee tendonitis, this is the worst it has been so far. The Yankees plan further tests today to determine if something else is going on. 

Photo Credit: AP (Lynne Sladky)

Either way, it does not look good for the Yankees closer. David Robertson has missed a few games with minor soreness in the shoulder, so, to me, Zach Britton looks like the best option to close. I wouldn’t want to mess with Dellin Betances. He is much better in a setup role. Chad Green hasn’t been as reliable this year as he was in 2017. Britton, if he is right, is the best man for the job. He knows and understands the pressure of the ninth inning and he has proven in the past he is among the league’s elite. I know he’s had his share of struggles in Pinstripes, but he would be my first option to replace Chapman if Chappy is forced to miss any time. Work and knowing his role would help Britton elevate his game to previous levels of dominance.

Tommy Kahnle picked up his first save of the season in relief of Chapman but he is not a closing option for an extended period of time. The Yankees have been concerned about his drop in velocity and he is fortunate that the team he faced last night was the Marlins and not a stronger team like the Oakland A’s, a team we will see in early September. Khris Davis or Matt Olson would feast on Kahnle’s offerings. 

As expected, Didi Gregorius landed on the disabled list prior to yesterday’s game due to his injured heel.  Hopefully, he’ll only miss the minimum amount of time (ten days). It’s fortunate the Yankees have a true shortstop in Gleyber Torres to slide him over to cover for Didi and hand the second base job to a proven second baseman in Neil Walker. It hurts to lose Didi but on paper, he is an easier guy to replace than Aaron Judge. I guess it is good and bad with Walker at second, considering that it opens more potential playing time for Shane Robinson in right field. Yuck!

It hurts me to look at the list of Yankees that have hit the disabled list this year. You could nearly field a playoff contender with the DL guys alone.  Baseball is about opportunity. When one goes down, another has to step up. Credit to those Yankees who have performed when asked. Hopefully the team can withstand the latest run of injuries to put the team in good position for the final weeks of the season and when some of the injured guys like Judge and Gary Sanchez can rejoin the active roster. 

I am really surprised GM Brian Cashman has done nothing about right field. There’s no question I am not a fan of Shane Robinson. I know the Yankees are trying to navigate the treacherous waters beneath the luxury tax threshold, but there are too many other better outfield options available for the Yankees. I would have preferred the Yankees recalled Tyler Wade yesterday instead of first baseman Luke Voit. Manager Aaron Boone wanted Voit’s bat since they are playing a couple of games in a National League park, but despite whatever hitting success Voit has enjoyed at Triple A, it has yet to translate to the MLB level. Wade is capable of playing some corner outfield. Or make a spot on the 40-man roster for first baseman Ryan McBroom. McBroom is also capable of playing in the outfield and has had a very good year between Double and Triple A. I certainly like McBroom or Wade over Robinson. 

Tyler Austin’s dad, Chris, has taken much heat for his tweets which basically trashed Greg Bird while promoting his son’s success with the Minnesota Twins. Personally, I don’t have a problem with Chris. My father passed away when I was a small child. Man, I wish I had a dad that loved me as passionately as Chris does Tyler. It’s wonderful that Tyler is enjoying success with the Twins. He deserves it. It is unfortunate Greg Bird took the unfair criticism but Bird has it within his power to change the results. If Tyler had been the first baseman the Yankees kept and Bird was the guy traded to Minneapolis, I am sure Yankee fans would not have minded Chris’s tweets promoting his son over Bird. Tyler, for the record, was embarrassed by his father’s tweets and asked him to take them down. He apologized for his father's actions and expressed the intent to reach out to Bird.  I think the whole situation was overblown. I didn’t take offense when I first saw Chris’s tweet and figured it was his right as a father. In retrospect, it probably should not have come at Greg Bird’s expense but again Bird can change the results. I hope Tyler prospers and thrives as a member of the Twins and Greg Bird goes on to have a very good Yankees career. 

I really hope that Giancarlo Stanton can get his 300^th career home run tonight at Marlins Park in Miami.  It seems so appropriate for the long-time Marlin to snag the milestone homer in what was once his home ballpark. Hitting number 300 at Camden Yards in Baltimore does not have the same honor or prestige for the Marlins’ all-time leading home run hitter. The positive reaction the crowd gave Stanton last night was very moving as was his gesture that they had his heart. A sweet, tender moment with the Marlins fans. Now, crush their hearts with a long, dramatic home run for #300.

Photo Credit: AP (Lynne Sladky)

The Washington Nationals were busy yesterday. They traded a Daniel Burch-favorite, second baseman Daniel Murphy, to the Chicago Cubs and let first baseman Matt Adams go on waivers to the St Louis Cardinals. Outfielder Bryce Harper was apparently claimed by the Los Angeles Dodgers but the Nats pulled him back off revocable waivers ensuring that he’ll end the season with Washington in what could be his final days as a Nat. As much as I would like for Bryce to play for the Yankees next year, I think the Philadelphia Phillies are the most likely destination for the free agent-to-be. With slightly more than a week left before the waiver trading deadline, teams will probably start making moves like we saw yesterday. Hopefully Brian Cashman can snag some help to offset the rash of injuries. Aside from the return to health for the key guys on the DL, the biggest September move might be the promotion of Justus Sheffield to serve in the Yankees bullpen. Regardless of how he gets to the Bronx, I am anxious to see the Yankees best pitching prospect finally get his opportunity. Top Sheff, it’s nearly your time.

Today is a good day for a win and a great day for a Stanton home run. Let’s Go Yankees! Please feel free to shave another game off Boston’s lead. We certainly do not mind.