The Rise of Champions...

 

Giancarlo Stanton & Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: John Minchillo/AP)

Can the Yankees overcome the challenges ahead?...

The ALCS continues today in New York with the Yankees searching for answers. The Houston Astros hold the game…and psychological…advantage over the Yankees, up two games to none. Manager Aaron Boone may not believe Game 3 is a “must-win” game, but it is. Even if the Yankees win two of three at Yankee Stadium, the Astros will return home for Game 6, a game away from a World Series berth, and into an environment the Yankees have not been able to conquer. If the Yankees can win all three at home, and take the advantage into Houston, it could be the accelerant for vanquishing the demons in Minute Maid Park.

Although it is never over until it is, I do not believe the Yankees can overcome a ‘three games to none’ disadvantage. These are not the 2004 Boston Red Sox. Thirty strikeouts in two games are a sign of excellent Astros pitching, poor Yankees hitting, or a combination of both. If the Yankees cannot hit, they cannot win.

I keep seeing fans plea for the firings of Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman. In the middle of the American League Championship Series? The time for any evaluations of leadership and coaching is after the season, not amid a heated playoff battle. I am not trying to defend Boone or Cashman, but now is not the time to call for their heads. Boone needs our support. Anything else is counterproductive. Yankee fans everywhere should be united in our support of the team.

Although I expect to see Isiah Kiner-Falefa as today’s starting shortstop, I personally would stay with Oswald Peraza and his superior glove. I wish Boone had played Peraza more in the waning days of the regular season to help build his confidence at the Major League level. The talent is there, he just needs to experience success to build the mental aspect of his game. Repeatedly, Peraza produced big hits in Triple A. No doubt his bat will reach that level in The Show, but it takes time. There may not be sufficient time in the remaining ALCS games, but his glove is championship-quality. In a series differentiated by so few runs (Astros have only scored three combined runs more than the Yankees in two games), every error weighs heavily. If there is no time for Peraza’s bat to come around, there is even less time or tolerance for IKF blunders in the field. Peraza’s bat has greater potential than IKF so there is always a chance he comes through in key situations.

Oswald Peraza (Photo Credit: Eric Gay/AP)

I was afraid that Matt Carpenter would have too much rust after his long layoff with the broken foot. He is 0-for-5 with 5 strikeouts, yet fans continue to call for his placement in the starting lineup based on his regular season success. I am doubtful he can recapture the Matty Moustache Magic, and he should not be starting. If he can get a few pinch hits, then reevaluate. Until then, he should be on the bench.

For all the great moves GM Brian Cashman has made, Josh Donaldson will forever be a major faux pas. His ability to play solid defense at third has been Donaldson’s only redeeming quality. He is an unlikeable guy that can no longer hit and is a major liability at the plate. Owed $21 million for next year, with an $8 million buyout in 2024, it will be a near impossibility for Cashman to offload his mistake without parting with other young valuable prospects to make it happen. I have said all season that Gary Sanchez was addition by subtraction, but the cost to take Donaldson in a trade was not worth it. The Yankees should have simply non-tendered Sanchez and sent him on his merry way. They would still have Gio Urshela, who is good defensively (albeit not as good as Donaldson). At the end of the season with the Twins, Urshela was continuing his reputation as a timely hitter…something the Yankees could certainly use. Minnesota, after watching Sanchez play in his walk year, reportedly have no plans to re-sign him. The Yankees should have similarly just walked away from him. I know the Yankees expected more from catcher Ben Rortvedt, but again, not worth the cost of taking on Donaldson’s contract. Cashman gambled that Donaldson was not washed up, and he lost. Win some, lose some. Not one of Cashman’s finer moves, but hopefully he will find a way to eliminate Donaldson from the roster in the upcoming offseason. Until then, we can only hope Donaldson finds a way to be effective. Dude, time is not for your friend. A contribution to a win today would be much appreciated.

Josh Donaldson (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

I was listening to The Michael Kay Show on Friday and a fan suggested the Yankees play IKF at third base over Donaldson (admittedly, something I have considered), but Michael tore the caller apart. I get Michael’s position. Donaldson is a former MVP and right or wrong, the Yankees have entrusted third base to him this year. Aaron Boone continues to defend the player, and they believe he has value. IKF is not a starter, he is a guy who should be playing an infield super-utility role. The truth is the Yankees do not have a third base option better than Donaldson. That would have only been possible had DJ LeMahieu been healthy and on the active ALCS roster.

If the Yankees lose the ALCS, ultimately the biggest factor will be the injuries. The team would have looked so much better with Andrew Benintendi in left field, DJ LeMahieu roving around the infield, Michael King representing the best stopper the Yankees have had in years, and a bullpen with the likes of Ron Marinaccio, Scott Effross, and Zack Britton. Chad Green seems like such a long-ago memory, but if not for his injury and Tommy John surgery, he could have helped even if his production had been trending in the wrong direction over the last few seasons. But in the end, the sole cause for loss cannot be placed on the injuries. Those are the times for others to stand up. Houston has deftly filled the void of losing one of their better outfielders, Michael Brantley. This is not about the need for Aaron Boone to manage better, it is more about the players simply playing better.

Not giving up hope. If the Yankees win today, they can win tomorrow. One game at a time. As Yogi Berra says, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”

The Texas Rangers failed with their attempt to spend a half-billion dollars in shore up their middle infield in 2022 with the free agent signings of Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. Credit to them for the stunning announcement yesterday that they have hired proven World Series manager Bruce Bochy to a three-year contract. I thought San Diego’s acquisition of Bob Melvin as their manager last offseason was the best managerial move, and Bochy stands as this offseason’s best even if the offseason has not even started yet. A good hire by the Rangers.

Bruce Bochy (Photo Credit: Jeff Chiu/AP)

A little strange to see a former Dodgers great managed by a Giants great but no doubt Seager is feeling a sense of excitement about his team’s future. I wonder if this will be the offseason that Dallas native Clayton Kershaw finally decides to come home to play. I have always felt he should be a Dodger to the end, but Kersh’s powerful sense of family and his North Texas home set the stage for his triumphant Lone Star State return.

Clayton Kershaw (Photo Credit: Harry How/Getty Images)

If the Rangers sign Kershaw and trade for Arizona’s Madison Bumgarner (who has Bochy’s trust), it would be truly wild to see those guys on the same team.

The Braves-less and Dodgers-less NLCS is now advantage Philadelphia. After last night’s 4-2 win over the San Diego Padres, the Phillies are up two games to one. They play Game 4 tonight in Citizens Bank Park with a chance to take a commanding series lead. Although I have never been a fan of the Phillies, I am enjoying the success of Manager Rob Thomson. After years in the Yankees organization, Thomson should have been given greater consideration when Joe Girardi was not rehired. The Yankees, as we know, chose Aaron Boone since, in Cashman’s words at the time, he checked all the boxes. I think Thomson has shown he is more than just checked boxes. Unlike the Yankees, the Phillies made the right call to replace Girardi with Thomson. It helps to have a superstar like Bryce Harper on your team, but I am pulling for the Phillies to win the NLCS and advance to the World Series. If they play the Astros, I will be pulling for Philadelphia to capture its first World Series championship since 2008.

If Joe Girardi wants to manage another team, the Phillies’ success after he was fired cannot be good for one’s resume.

The Toronto Blue Jays removed the “interim” tag from Manager John Schneider’s title with a new three-year contract. Good for him. He did help the Blue Jays after the firing of former Manager Charlie Montoyo even if they faltered at the end (the memories of Vladdy Jr’s failed ‘This is our house!’ mantra still fresh on my mind). The Blue Jays have a strong, young core, and they will enter the 2023 season as a strong contender. Schneider joins Rob Thomson and Phil Nevin as interim managers who successfully auditioned for permanent roles with their respective teams. I think Nevin’s choice had more to do with the potential sale of the Los Angeles Angels than the Angels’ long-term desire to have Nevin lead them, but he will be the field general next season for the Halos.

Former Yankees and current Astros coach Joe Espada continues to interview for managerial openings. I do not know if it is true, but it feels like he has interviewed for more managerial jobs than anyone over the last several years. He deserves the opportunity. I saw that he had interviewed for the job with the Chicago White Sox, who are also reportedly considering former Manager Ozzie Guillen to replace the retired Tony LaRussa. I think the White Sox would be wise to choose Espada over Guillen. Espada has also talked with GM Kim Ng and the Miami Marlins, another good fit. I really hope he lands either the Chicago or Miami job. It seems like the White Sox roster has the greater potential. Either way, it is his time to lead.

As always, Go Yankees!

Headed to Cleveland in Search of Wins...

 

Aaron Boone / Photo Credit: Seth Wenig, AP

Momentum favors the Game 3 Winner…

And then they were tied… So much for home field advantage. The New York Yankees lost ALDS Game 2, disappointingly and with way too many men left on base (eleven), as the Cleveland Guardians tied the series at one game apiece with the 4-2 victory.

Whether you believe bringing Jameson Taillon into the game in the tenth inning was right or wrong, he was not the reason the Yankees lost the game. I really thought the stage was set in the eighth inning when Giancarlo Stanton walked, and the Yankees inserted Tim Locastro to run for Stanton. A stolen base by Locastro, and subsequent walks of Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa sandwiched around a strikeout by Oswaldo Cabrera had the bases loaded with two outs. Kyle Higashioka had the opportunity to be the star of the show (really wanted Spring Training Higgy in that moment), but he lined out to end the threat.

I get the decision to pull Stanton for the speedy Locastro in that situation, but Manager Aaron Boone’s decision to allow Locastro to bat against Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase in the bottom of the tenth, trailing by two runs, was a bonehead move. As much as I have been down on Aaron Hicks, this was the time I would have preferred Hicks to take the swings against Clase. Not one of Boone’s finer moments. It felt like a ‘tossing in the towel’ moment.

Oh well, the Yankees need to regroup quickly for Game 3 in Cleveland later today. The Yankees need to win at least one of the two games in Cleveland to get the series back to Yankee Stadium for a potential Game 5, but I would prefer a sweep in Cleveland to end it there. A sweep by the Yankees, not the Guardians, as if I needed to say that.

Friday was not a good day for any of the favorites. Both NL’s remaining 100+ win teams lost. The defending champions, the Atlanta Braves, were hammered by newly named permanent manager Rob Thomson’s Philadelphia Phillies, 9-1, and the Los Angeles Dodgers (who won 110 games in the regular season) lost a close one to the San Diego Padres, 2-1. Their circumstances are more dire than the Yankees as both of those teams trail their respective series, two games to one. The Phillies and Padres could advance to the NLCS today with victories. For the Dodgers, it would be 110 wins and all they got was this lousy t-shirt.

Hopefully, the Yankees can win today so they do not have their proverbial backs to the wall. Luis Severino is on the mound, but he will face Cleveland’s outstanding young Triston McKenzie. It does not seem like there will be very many runs scored today. If the Yankees can cross the plate more times than the Guardians, all will be good in the Yankees Universe. A loss will most certainly send anxiety through the fanbase.

The booing of Aaron Judge does not help. I realize some fans may be frustrated with Aaron Judge. Seven strikeouts in eight plate appearances can lead to nicknames like Mr. May, but after Judge’s season, he deserves the benefit of the doubt. I would rather take my chances with than without Judge. If anything, Judge needs our support and our belief that he can produce when the stakes are the highest. The boos at Yankee Stadium and the rips on social media serve no purpose. If you want to create an environment where Judge feels he might be better appreciated in other markets and fan bases, keep it up. We need Judge today, tomorrow, and next year.

Aaron Judge / Photo Credit: Frank Franklin II, AP

As for Judge’s pending free agency, Jon Heyman of The New York Post polled four agents this week, and they predicted Judge’s next contract will be:

• $350 million, $400 million maximum.
• $315 million to $360 million.
• Eight x $37.5 million for $300 million.
• $300 million ($277 million with deferrals).

I do think the contract will be north of $300 million but the question will be how high the Yankees will go. I cannot say I am overly confident the Yankees will retain Judge. They need him, he needs the Yankees, and I do believe that his legacy would be the strongest by staying in Pinstripes. Somehow, the thought of Judge playing in San Francisco with games playing when most of the East Coast is headed for bed will leave him as an afterthought in the minds of many. Judge’s value to the Yankees cannot be underestimated. I hope the Yankees ensure he remains a Yankee and he becomes the next Captain. The NFL has the franchise tag they can place on pending free agent superstars. The MLB may not have one, but it is clear Aaron Judge is the franchise player for the current New York Yankees and deserves to be paid like it. I am excited about the Yankees playing October baseball, but it is hard to deny the sickening feeling that these may be Judge’s final days wearing baseball’s greatest uniform.

Hal, pay the man.

Better news on the injured front. It is premature to think about the ALCS since the Yankees need to win the ALDS first, but it was promising to hear Aaron Boone say Andrew Benintendi, Frankie Montas and Ron Marinaccio will be working out in Tampa under live game conditions to prepare their potential readiness for the next round.

A healthy, producing Benintendi may have been the difference-maker in yesterday’s game. Watching Matt Carpenter strike out in his pinch-hit appearance yesterday shows that return does not always result in immediate success, but I am hopeful Benny can help next round if the Yankees make it. I know Oswaldo Cabrera has done a superb job, but I would rather see the Yankees re-sign Benintendi to play left field next season and use Cabrera in the super-utility role. But I digress, I think Benny can help this year if he is given the opportunity.

Andrew Benintendi / Photo Credit: Sarah Stier, Getty Images

I am indifferent about Montas. He will not start, and I am not certain how effective he can be as a reliever. He seems like a ‘better luck next year’ candidate.

The Yankees need a healthy Marinaccio. Using starters in unfamiliar relief roles underscores the current state of the Yankees pen. Getting back one of their best relievers would be huge for the Yankees in the next round…if they make it.

Hall of Fame Closer passes away. I was saddened to hear the news of Bruce Sutter’s passing yesterday, While Sutter, 69, is probably best remembered for helping the St Louis Cardinals win the World Series forty years ago, I will always think of him as a Chicago Cub. Growing up in the Midwest in the 70’s meant watching a lot of Cubs games on TV, and Sutter stood out with his split-fingered fastballs.

Bruce Sutter

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred issued the following statement: “I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Bruce Sutter, whose career was an incredible baseball success story. Bruce ascended from being a nondrafted free agent to the heights of baseball by pioneering the split-fingered fastball. The pitch not only led him to the Major Leagues, but also made him a Cy Young Award winner with the Cubs and a World Series champion with the 1982 Cardinals. …Bruce will be remembered as one of the best pitchers in the histories of two of our most historic franchises. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my condolences to Bruce’s family, his friends and his fans in Chicago, St. Louis, and Atlanta and throughout our game.”

Sutter always makes me think of the late Bobby Murcer since both were my favorite Cubs on those late 1970s teams. Not sure why I was never a Cubs or Cardinals fan, but the pull of the Yankee Pinstripes was too strong. Nevertheless, Sutter’s loss hurts. May he rest in peace.

The end of Aroldis Chapman’s Yankees career. Good riddance. I cannot say that I have ever seen a player bail on his teammates like Chapman did when he missed a mandatory workout prior to the start of the ALDS and the announcement of the team’s roster for the series. I was ready for the Yankees to designate Chapman for assignment in September as I had lost any trust or confidence in him despite some sporadic success. However, his behavior prior to the ALDS was inexcusable and unacceptable. Just when you thought Chapman could not set the bar lower, he does.

Aroldis Chapman

The Yankees took a chance on Chapman when other teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, would not. Despite their efforts, Chapman bailed on the Yankees because his feelings were hurt over the possibility of being left off the ALDS roster. In a way, I am glad Chapman made the decision easy for the Yankees. While there is a chance that he could be activated for the ALCS…if they make it…I hope not. I am done with Chapman and look forward to the end of his Yankees contract soon.

Scott Effross, we hardly knew ye. Unlike Chapman, I was saddened to learn Scott Effross would not make the ALDS roster but was stunned by the further news he needs Tommy John surgery. A torn ulnar collateral ligament most likely means that we will not see Effross on the mound again until 2024. He is under Yankees control until 2028 so it is not like we will never see him in Pinstripes again, but this is a sad way to lose Effross for the near future. Here is hoping for a quick and successful return to good health for Effross and his arm.

Scott Effross

I wonder if this means the end for Chad Green. He is scheduled to become a free agent at the end of the year. The Yankees historically do not wait around for Tommy John recipients on expiring contracts. Nathan Eovaldi and Michael Pineda stand out as recent examples. Someone will sign Green to a two-year minor league contract to allow time for recovery. Maybe it is the Yankees, maybe it is not. The Yankees cannot tie up multiple 40-man roster spots for guys out for extended periods.

As always, Go Yankees!

 

“We play today, we win today, das it…”

--Former Yankees second baseman Mariano Duncan

Aaron Judge, MVP...

 

Aaron Judge / Photo Credit: LM Otero, AP

Judge homers his way to the record books…

It has been a few days, but I would like to express my gratitude that Aaron Judge was able to hit his 62^nd home run in the regular season’s final series in Texas. Admittedly, I had begun to have thoughts Judge would conclude the 2022 season in a tie with Roger Maris for the American League and Yankees franchise home run record. It has been an incredible season for Judge, and the ultimate ‘betting on yourself’ event we have witnessed in Sports in recent memory.

There is sadness Judge will be free to sign with any team in a few weeks. Like Derek Jeter, Judge’s best legacy is to remain in Pinstripes as the team’s next Captain. The thought of him in Boston, Queens or San Francisco is horrific. Hopefully, the Yankees can reach an agreement on a contract with Judge shortly after the season and bring back the team’s best player for the 2023 season and beyond.

I do not understand those who bash Judge and try to belittle his accomplishments by trying to empathize that his home run total fell short of the MLB mark by eleven home runs. I personally never took the approach that Judge’s total represented MLB’s best. I recognize Barry Bonds as the MLB single season record holder with 73 home runs. Or that Mark McGwire held the mark before him, and Sammy Sosa had a few dinger seasons in the sixties. The difference and great distinction about Judge’s accomplishments is that he did it cleanly, without the assistance of performance-enhancing drugs. The home runs by Bonds, McGwire, and Sosa will always be tainted by their involvement with steroids. I would have liked to have seen what Bonds could have accomplished without the drug-induced assistance. In his younger days, I always marveled at his tremendous hand/eye coordination, and I believe he would have/could have been great without the PEDs. Sadly, we will never know. Nevertheless, Bonds holds the MLB record so we can only look suspiciously at his numbers.

Setting everything aside, celebrate Aaron Judge for having one of the most historic seasons in Yankees history. To walk among Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Roger Maris, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, and others is truly special and assures Judge will always be remembered for his Pinstriped accomplishments regardless of what the future may hold.

For everyone who believes that Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels should be the AL MVP, there is no denying he is a special talent. His elite performance as both a pitcher and hitter is unlike anything we have ever seen. But despite his greatness, the Angels finished third place in the AL West, thirty-three games behind the division champion Houston Astros. They were thirteen games behind the last Wild Card team, the Tampa Bay Rays. Judge’s performance lifted his team to the AL East championship, and a bye for the first round of the playoffs. It was an incredible year for Judge who was the most valuable in leading his team. Maybe they should create a new award for two-way guys like Ohtani to recognize his greatness, but this season belongs to Aaron Judge.

Cheers to the apparent 2022 AL Most Valuable Player!

Aaron Judge and wife, Samantha Bracksieck / Photo Credit: Getty/Gotham

The Yankees will soon announce (or set) the 2022 ALDS roster. I have never really found the need to predict a roster. Those decisions will be made by Yankees leadership, and they have far greater insight than any of us. Therefore, I will roll out the projected roster presented by Yankees beat writer Kristie Ackert in this morning’s New York Daily News (for no other reason than it is a reasonable representation of what to expect).

CATCHERS

Jose Trevino, Kyle Higashioka

No surprises here.

INFIELDERS

Anthony Rizzo, Gleyber Torres, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Josh Donaldson, DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza

LeMahieu scares me. If his toe is still bothering him, he is a liability on the roster. Hopefully, he is better even if he was uninspiring during his late season return. I would be happy to see the young Peraza make the roster. We know IKF’s yips can be damaging at times, and there are situations I would feel much better with the steady glove of Peraza at short. Assuming he is not traded in the offseason, Peraza will fill a much larger role for the Yankees next season, and the experience he is gaining this October is invaluable.

OUTFIELDERS

Aaron Judge, Harrison Bader, Oswaldo Cabrera, Tim Locastro

It is funny how a player who was in the minor leagues (and more notably “not” an outfielder) when the season began is now a huge part of the outfield crew. Testament to the athleticism, energy, and commitment to excellence demonstrated by Cabrera who has made himself indispensable to this team. He has been a revelation and has forced the Yankees to make room for him on the big-league roster for the years to come. The surprise here is clearly the omission of the much-maligned Aaron Hicks. The Yankees need speed which makes Locastro the better option, and of course with Bader and Cabrera, there is no longer a starting role for Hicks. I hope the Yankees have the same vision as Kristie with the outfield.

DESIGNATED HITTER

Giancarlo Stanton, Matt Carpenter

I am happy to see the return of Matty Mustache, but the challenge will be to find playing time for both him and Stanton in the same lineup. Stanton was starting to heat up as the regular season winded down, and he is capable to carrying the team to greater heights so he must play. Carpenter’s continued recovery from the fractured foot makes him an unlikely prospect for the outfield. So, it seems he will be the pinch hitter extraordinaire. Maybe he can have one (or more) of those Kirk Gibson-like moments.

STARTERS

Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, Luis Severino, James Taillon

Although Cole goes into the ALDS as the likely Game 1 starter, there is no question (in my mind) that Nestor Cortes, Jr is the best starter on the staff. Those are words I never thought I would type. Yet here we are. On the bright side, if Cole falters in Game 1 like Max Scherzer of the Mets did last night, Cortes is ready to pick him up in Game 2. Funny that I have greater trust and confidence in the Game 2 and 3 starters (Cortes and Luis Severino). Maybe Cole can finally have his Yankees signature moment to propel himself to October success. I hope so. Masahiro Tanaka always seemed to elevate his play when the stakes were higher. For the record, I wanted the Yankees to trade for Frankie Montas at the trading deadline after they lost out on Luis Castillo over someone like Jose Quintana, however, watching Quintana shove yesterday showed that, at least for this season, Quintana would have been the better (and cheaper) option. As the saying goes, Hindsight is 20/20.

BULLPEN

Domingo German, Clarke Schmidt, Lou Trivino, Scott Effross, Jonathan Loaisiga, Clay Holmes, Wandy Peralta, Lucas Luetge

I support a decision to exclude Aroldis Chapman. He was my favorite DFA candidate toward the end of the regular season. He has served his time in Pinstripes and the end is near. There is no way the Yankees re-sign him when he hits free agency in a few weeks. It was a rapid fall from one of the best closers in the game to an in-game liability. There is no trust with Chapman, and his presence on the roster would only reinforce the possibility of a meltdown like one experienced by Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley in yesterday’s loss to the Phillies when he gave up four runs to blow a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning. I wish I had greater confidence in Holmes, but I do not. I miss first-half Holmes. The Guardians showed the value of a lockdown closer yesterday with Emmanuel Clase saving the impressive performance by Shane Bieber to beat the Rays by one run. There is not one pitcher in the Yankees bullpen that one can say is “lockdown.” There is potential with a couple of them, but there is also the potential for disaster. I hope the pen does not become the team’s Achilles Heel in the days ahead.

MANAGER

Aaron Boone

Dammit! Okay, I am just kidding on this last one. Boonie has a chance to change perceptions in the coming days…or not. His moves will be openly criticized by the fan base. If he is right, he will be legend. If he is wrong, he will hear boos that have not been heard since Joey Gallo. With the Yankees fan base, there is nothing in between. Total success or into the depths of hell with defeat. No pressure, Boonie. There may be days I have felt the Yankees would be better under the leadership of a different manager, but not right here, right now. Boone has the respect of his clubhouse, and he has a chance to lead his team beyond the ALDS. He needs our support. We can reevaluate after the season.

Aarons Boone and Judge / Photo Credit: Jason Getz, USA TODAY Sports

I am hopeful that Andrew Benintendi will be ready for the ALCS if the Yankees make it, but first things first. The Guardians can book their travel for New York if they beat the Rays today. Triston McKenzie gets the call for the Guardians and will be opposed by Tyler Glasnow. It should be another great pitching performance by both sides like yesterday’s 2-1 game. Whether it is the Guardians or Rays, the Yankees will have a challenge in the ALDS. Can they succeed? They have the talent, and I am certainly hopeful, but the games must be played on the field so time will tell. For now, we wait.

Tired of Wading. Tyler Wade left the Yankees organization again but this time without a whimper. He did not make any appearances on the active big-league roster for his second go-around in the organization. I believe he may have traveled with the team once as an emergency player but was never activated. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders announced Thursday that Wade elected free agency.

I bet he watched Oswaldo Cabrera thrive in the Bronx and wondered what could have been for him if he had been able to succeed with his limited opportunities. Oh well, I wish him the best for his next destination and hope it proves more fruitful for him than his time this season with his hometown Angels and the reunion with the Yankees’ farm system.

Tyler Wade / Photo Credit: Christopher Dolan, The Citizen's Voice

As always, Go Yankees! 

61 And Holding...

 

Aaron Judge / Photo Credit: Getty Images

Aaron Judge ties Roger Maris for 61 home runs…

It took eight days, but the apparent 2022 American League MVP, Aaron Judge, hit his sixty-first home run on Wednesday, September 28^th at Rogers Centre in Toronto off pitcher Tim Mayza. Roger Maris took much criticism when he set the American League single season home run record because he could not do it within 154 games like Babe Ruth did when he hit 60 in 1927. Judge hit his sixtieth within 154 games, but the sixty-first did not arrive until Game 155. It certainly does not diminish Judge’s performance this season. He has been tremendous, at a historic level.

Here is a listing of Judge’s 2022 home runs:

Roger Maris hit his record sixty-first home run on October 1, 1961. Assuming the Yankees play today (weather-permitting), and Judge is in the lineup, it feels like destiny for him to break the Maris record exactly sixty-one years later.

Roger Maris / Photo Credit: AP

I have never condoned steroid use, and the home run records by Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa will forever be tainted, but for as long as MLB recognizes their stats, I agree that Bonds is the single season home run champion with seventy-three home runs. But regardless of what the PED-inspired stats were, sixty-one home runs is the American League and Yankees’ franchise record. As such, we should take pride in Judge’s accomplishments. The additional bonus is he did it cleanly. Even greater if he brings home the Triple Crown as he continues to flirt at the top in league batting average.

I am enormously proud of Aaron Judge, and I am glad he is a Yankee. I am saddened that he will be free for any team to sign later this Fall, but for now, he is ours. I cannot fathom Judge leaving the Yankees and I hope he does not. This may be one of the biggest decisions ever made by Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner. It has been tough to see certain Yankees leave for other teams over the years, but I am unable to think of any that would be as devastating as Judge’s departure. In terms of legacy, there is no question Judge stands to gain the most by staying in Pinstripes. Retiring as a Yankee will forever brand him among the legends of the game and he will always stand among the Yankee greats. His day for immortalization in Monument Park after the end of his career would be assured. Judge means so much to the Yankees organization, and his contributions and value to the franchise and the city of New York far exceed his play on the field. It is simple, Hal, pay the man.

Unwelcome news on the relief front. Zack Britton may have pitched his last game for the Yankees. In making his third appearance of the season after returning to the team on September 24^th following his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Britton left the game after his bases-loaded wild pitch allowed the Baltimore Orioles to take a 2-1 lead over the Yankees last night (which proved to be the final score). Britton had failed to cover home plate on the wild pitch, and it was clear he was in pain. After the game, left arm fatigue was cited as the cause. Regardless, even if Britton can make it back for the few remaining days in the regular season, there is virtually no chance he will be on the post-season roster. He no longer has the time to prove he deserves a spot.

Zack Britton / Photo Credit: Adam Hunger, AP

If last night was Britton’s final game as a Yankee (he is a free agent after the season), it is sad that his final performances were less than stellar. I have enjoyed Britton’s time as a Yankee. I was excited when the Yankees acquired him on July 24, 2018, for Cody Carroll, Josh Rogers, and Dillon Tate, and I was happy when they re-signed him in January 2019. He has had his share of injuries, but when healthy, he has been a tremendous force in the bullpen. If this is the end, I wish him the best. I enjoyed our time together. Once a hated Oriole, he has proved he is a Yankee and will always be.

Word spread last evening that closer(?) Clay Holmes will not pitch again in the regular season. He is dealing with rotator cuff tendonitis, and received a cortisone shot on Thursday. Holmes remains optimistic that he will be ready for the AL Division Series which begins on October 11, 2022. This is disturbing news, and there is uncertainty what we will see if Holmes is able to recover in time. Can he be the dominant early season reliever with some rest, or will he continue to struggle? We simply do not know. This places more pressure on Scott Effross, Ron Marinaccio, and even Aroldis Chapman to step up for the back end of games. Chapman has looked better of late, but I cannot say he has my trust. Lou Trivino may be the best option, but like the Los Angeles Dodgers (who flushed Craig Kimbrel as their “designated closer”), I suspect the Yankees will continue to employ a closer-by-committee. I am worried about the state of the pen heading into October. I miss Michael King now more than ever before.

Giancarlo Stanton, wherefore art thou? Stanton looked pathetic at the plate last night. No hits in four plate appearances including two strikeouts. Excluding his injury-shortened 2019 and 2020 seasons, this has easily been Stanton’s worst season in the Major Leagues. His fWAR of 0.7 is the lowest of any season he has played at least one hundred games. While he has twenty-eight home runs and seventy-five RBIs, his batting line is an abysmal .206/.289/.440, with .315 wOBA, and 106 wRC+. For the month of September, his batting average was .143 (four home runs and eleven RBIs).

Giancarlo Stanton / Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg, NY Post

He has become an average player paid at superstar level. I have seen many on Social Media question whether Stanton should be on the post-season roster. Of course, he should, there is always a chance he rediscovers his stroke. When he does, he can carry the team on his back. There are few people who can do that. Stanton is one of the keys to October success, so it is discouraging he has continued to underperform in recent weeks. I hope he can find the magic soon. When he is right, nobody can crush baseballs like he can.

So long, Héctor López. The 1961 World Champion Yankees lost another member when Héctor López passed away in Florida on Thursday due to complications from lung cancer. The Panamanian-born López was 93.

Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, & Hector Lopez / Photo Credit: Bettman/Getty Images

He played for the Yankees from 1959 to 1966, after starting his career in 1955 with the Kansas City Athletics. López, a utility man, was better known for his hitting than his fielding. He made seventeen errors in his first year with the Yankees (in seventy-six games at third base and three in the outfield). His combined RBI total in 1959 with the Royals and Yankees was 93. It led Yankees manager Casey Stengel to say, “If I bench him, I bench 93 runs, but I would like better fieldin’ outta my 93 runs.” 

In the 1961 World Series clinching game, his homer and triple, driving in five runs, helped power the Yankees to the 13-5 champagne-soaked victory over the Cincinnati Reds. For his career, he hit 136 home runs, drove in 136 runs, and batted .269. After his playing days were over, he became the first Black manager in Triple A history. He was a regular at Old Timer’s Day. It is always sad to see the loss of great Yankees. Rest in peace, Héctor.

Hector Lopez / Photo Credit: Bob Croslin

As always, Go Yankees!

The Judge Watch Continues...

 

Aaron Judge, MVP

Aaron Judge taking one pitch at a time...

Patiently waiting for Number 61. The Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox for the second night in a row, another one-run decision, 5-4, but sadly, no homers from the Big Guy. I love how Aaron Judge no longer swings at those pitches out of the strike zone, but man, I wish he would connect with one of the few strikes he is thrown to escort it to the outfield bleachers. 

I think Albert Pujols did it right. He immediately followed his 699^th home run last evening with the 700^th of his illustrious career. His two home runs helped the St Louis Cardinals to take down MLB’s winningest 2022 team, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Albert’s former teammates. No waiting or letting the outside noise get into his head. I am not saying that Judge is letting the noise get to him, but it would be difficult for the normal human being when thousands upon thousands of people in the stands singularly want one thing, and nearly every question from the overwhelming New York media probes the topic. Judge is not a normal human being, and the home run will come, but until then, we wait. 

Aaron Judge / Photo Credit: Adam Hunger, AP

Since Friday’s game was televised by Apple + and not the YES Network, I think it may have been justice the record tying home run did not occur on their watch. If the Yankees had lost, I may have felt differently but fortunately, Jose Trevino’s run-scoring single in the bottom of the eighth helped the Yankees overcome the home runs allowed by Gerrit Cole to win the game. 

This afternoon’s game will be on YES, so Michael Kay will have the opportunity to make the call for Judge’s historic home run if it happens today. Kudos to Kay who apparently had the opportunity to call the Friday night for Apple+ by special arrangement, but he shut down the negotiations because he did not feel it was right for the broadcasters scheduled to call the game. Not trying to be a Michael Kay defender, but I saw so many social media posts this week blasting Kay for “crying” about not getting the Friday night game, yet listening to Kay this week, he never sulked. While he said that he would like to call the home run, he was against denying others the opportunity if YES was not televising the game. Kay handled himself professionally through the week, and hopefully, he will be rewarded today. Sunday night’s game, the series finale with the Red Sox, will be on ESPN so Kay would be limited to a discussion of the game on his KayRod Cast.   

Michael Kay

Aaron Judge, we love you and hope today is your day. Whether it comes today or not, we are thankful, we are grateful you are a New York Yankee. Please never let it end.

The Miguel Andújar Story concludes. Well, at least with the New York Yankees. In a bit of a surprise this week, the Yankees designated Andújar for assignment to make way for reliever Zack Britton. There was some chatter last night that the Yankees are talking with the Kansas City Royals about a potential trade. If it happens, the return will not be much. No trades can be made involving 40-man roster talent, but Andújar was never going to bring that level of return. It will most likely be an obscure Single A player with some potential. With no trade, he will be released.

Miguel Andujar / Photo Credit: Adam Hunger, AP

Regardless, Andújar’s time with the Yankees was over. If he was not DFA’d this week, it would have happened after season’s end. 2018 was a fun year. His forty-seven doubles and twenty-seven home runs would have secured AL Rookie of the Year if not for the supremely talented Shohei Ohtani. He persevered through injury, and was forced to learn the outfield, but always seemingly had a smile on his face. I know frustration led to his trade demand earlier in the season, but he was a good company man for the majority of his time in the Yankees organization. I knew it was time for the parties to separate. I wish Andújar the best. I hope he can reach the potential he once held with his next organization. Thanks, Miggy, and best wishes for a successful continued career in Major League Baseball.

As one who was not immediately in favor of the Harrison Bader trade, I am glad he is a Yankee. The price was high, and the wait was long, but Harrison Bader is the guy you never knew you needed until he was on your team. His energy level alone elevates the Yankees clubhouse. In four games, he has four hits in thirteen at-bats, good for six runs batted in. A stolen base. An extra base hit. But none of these stats tell how invaluable he has been in games. We knew he was a premier defender, yet I think many have been surprised at the strength of his arm.

Harrison Bader / Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg, New York Post

He has an infectious, winning attitude, and it has not taken long to realize that GM Brian Cashman may have known what he was doing on August 2^nd when he dealt Jordan Montgomery to St Louis. I know you can never have too much pitching, but Bader shows you can never have too much quality in center field. Aaron Hicks was instrumental in last night’s victory, but I am excited that the future of Yankees center field resides with Bader. The Yankees should try to move Hicks in the off-season and get out from under as much money remaining on Hicks’ contract as they can. I really hope the Yankees can sign Andrew Benintendi to a new contract so that Hicks will be expendable. Oswaldo Cabrera has earned the right to be the super-sub and has played tremendously in the outfield for a guy who never played there. If he is not tossed out this winter, Estevan Florial can be the fourth outfielder. If not him, there are plenty of guys around the league that would fit the bill. Like Andújar, Hicks’ time with the Yankees has reached its end. It seems a virtual certainty that he will be moved after the season. 

Regardless of what happens this season, Harrison Bader will open as the starting centerfielder for the New York Yankees in 2023. I would say the position is in good hands…and feet. The Yankees need to get the local kid from Bronxville a ring.

Sadly, no DJ LeMahieu anytime soon. It was reported that LeMahieu is a little better with the issue on his right foot between the big and second toes but is not ready for game action. With season’s end rapidly approaching, there will be no time for LeMahieu to ramp up activities. It will be all or nothing when he returns, and it does not sound like he would be effective if he tried to play today. I hope foot heals more quicky in the next couple of weeks than it has the last few weeks. The Yankees need an effective LeMahieu in the lineup for an extended run in October. 

While he does not think it will require surgery, LeMahieu believes it truly will not be healed until he can have offseason rest. So, the question is whether the pain can be reduced to the point it does not impact the quality of an at-bat. Wishing happy healing thoughts for LeMahieu, Matt Carpenter, and Andrew Benintendi.

Lastly, I am tired of Gerrit Cole’s home runs. That’s it. I have nothing else to add to that thought. I wish Cole would get out of his own head, and pitch to the talent that resides in his arm. Just when you think he is pitching great, he serves a gopher ball to wipe out the good. I hope this is not a prelude to October.    

Happy 61^st Home Run Day…I hope!

Roger Maris

As always, Go Yankees!

 

Hey Bartender, Serve Me Up Another Brew...

  

Garrett Mitchell & Teammates / Photo Credit: Morry Gash, AP

First beer fared poorly on the arms of Montas and Holmes…

I am not sure who wants a Wild Card spot more…the Milwaukee Brewers or the New York Yankees? The Yankees blew yet another game. Up by five runs early, starter Frankie Montas continued the latest rendition of Sonny Gray in Pinstripes. Then, the Brewers received a ninth inning gift, the unreliable Clay Holmes on the mound. It was all they needed despite two outs to get the walk-off hit (by a rookie no less) to beat the Yankees, 7-6.

Losses like this are agonizing and they reinforce why I do not carry great confidence in the Yankees in the playoffs. A lockdown closer on the roster seems like such a distant memory. It is a sad statement that Wandy Peralta, who can be a Weeble wobbling at times, seems to be the most effective closer. Where For Art Thou, first-half Holmes? A healthy Aroldis Chapman active on the roster for the first time in weeks, and there is absolutely zero confidence to bring him in late. Not by Aaron Boone, or any of us fans. The Yankees have two weeks to figure this out.

I have felt that Luis Severino would be best served out of the bullpen when he returns from the Injured List later this month but with the ineffectiveness of Montas, Sevy is needed in the rotation to give the Yankees any hope. Hoping the time off has rested Sevy’s arm so that he can take the additional innings without blowing out his arm (I get visions of Billy Martin asking too much out of Matt Keough’s arm many years ago when Billy Ball was in play in Oakland). The concern is obviously the limited number of innings Sevy has pitched over the last several years and the heavier workload this season. Win or lose, Sevy inspires confidence on the mound and that is not something I experience with Montas…or Jameson Taillon for that matter. I am not a big fan of Domingo German, but I have infinitely more trust in him over Montas. I hope it changes but it is what it is.

Frankie "Sonny Gray" Montas / Photo Credit: Morry Gash, AP

With the loss, the Toronto Blue Jays closed the gap in the AL East to five-and-a-half games. While the Yankees (87-57) were stumbling in Brew Town, the Jays (82-63) were beating the Baltimore Orioles, 6-3, at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

It does not get any easier for the Yankees today. Jameson Taillon takes the hill against Brandon Woodruff. Woodruff is 10-4 with 3.39 ERA. His K/9 rate is 10.74 (152 strikeouts in 127 1/3 innings pitched). I know, the Brewers are a good team and there was no way the Yankees were going to sweep this series, particularly on the road. I just hate losses that are wins that get away from us. I hope for better results today. Woodruff has only given up fifteen home runs this year, but everybody has an off day every now and then. Today seems like a good day for him to mix in a disaster. The Yankees can still take two of three, and that would leave me feeling good about the weekend despite the Friday night meltdown.

Oswald Peraza has the best seat in the house to see baseball games. I have no idea why the Yankees refuse to play Peraza in recent days. When Isiah Kiner-Falefa botched the backhanded attempt to scoop the hit by former Ray Willy Adames with runners on the corner, allowing the Brewers to briefly take a one-run lead in the eighth inning, my thought went immediately to Peraza and how he might have performed under similar circumstances. Maybe Aaron Boone has plans to play Peraza today, but it does seem that he will go to great lengths to show he is not going to punish IKF.

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

I firmly believe that IKF is not a starter. I like him as the utility guy since he can hit a little, and he plays a decent third base (perhaps better than he does short). Oswaldo Cabrera, who does get regular playing time, was 2-for-2 last night, with three walks. Plus, he spelled Marwin Gonzalez at first base, a position he has never played before. Let the kids play. There is a reason that Peraza is the second-best prospect in the Yankees organization.  Top prospect Anthony Volpe has two home runs and four RBIs in twelve games for the Scranton-Wilkes Barre RailRiders (.280/.357/.460 and .817 OPS), but the Yankees will not call him up this season, so why not give Peraza a better chance? Nothing ventured, nothing gained, and I firmly believe his floor is IKF’s ceiling. I sound like a broken record when I say it but there a reason the Texas Rangers invested a half-billion dollars in their middle infield to replace IKF. 

The wounded are slowly starting to return. The activation of Aroldis Chapman on Friday was the first of what should be multiple activations over the next week or so. Of course, the question will be at the expense of who? Next up appears to be first baseman Anthony Rizzo who could be activated on Sunday. Harrison Bader, currently on a rehab assignment in Double A, did not play last night, but he was 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs on Thursday night for the Somerset Patriots. He will make a couple more rehab starts and could be activated next week to make his long-anticipated Yankees debut. 

Harrison Bader / Photo Credit: Somerset Patriots

Scott Effross, Zack Britton, and Miguel Castro are three relievers who could be close to rejoining the Yankees to help bolster the pen. I probably have the least confidence in Britton. It has been a long, hard road for him. Healthy, he can be effective, but the question is whether there is enough time to get him ready to play a vital role. I am not so sure. Time is certainly not his friend at this juncture. The return of Effross alone will be invaluable.  There is an outside chance that Stephen Ridings could work his way into the bullpen before season’s end, but it would probably take an injury to someone else to make it happen.

DJ LeMahieu is beginning baseball activities again after time off for the inflamed toe so his return could be right around the corner. The Yankees need to make sure he is 100% since his offensive production disappeared with the toe injury. As anxious as I am to get Le Machine back, I want to ensure that we have the best version of him. 

Hopefully the Yankees do not lose Jose Trevino. He left Friday night’s game after taking a foul ball on his right knee. It is unclear if the right knee contusion will cause him to miss significant time. I am sure Ben Rortvedt is keeping his phone close while he waits in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Hopefully Trevi is doing better today and only misses a game or two. Barring any roster moves, Kyle Higashioka should be the starting catcher today, backed by IKF. Hey that’s a great reason to start Peraza at shortstop today. IKF is needed for catching duties!

The magic number is… It is hard for me to even look at magic numbers when there is still doubt about the division race. It sucks in a season that started so tremendously for the Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros have already secured playoff spots while the Yankees continue to fight for one. The Yankees have eighteen games left. The magic number to win the AL East is 13 while a Wild Card berth is 8.  No doubt the Blue Jays are salivating at the thought of hosting the Yankees for three games at Rogers Centre on September 26^th through 28^th. I guess we do not have to worry about whether Andrew Benintendi has been vaccinated.

Ex-Yankee to make Major League debut. I realize that Adam Ottavino did not work out for the Yankees, but the decision to trade him to the Boston Red Sox never made sense to me, particularly since the Yankees had to ship pitching prospect Frank German in the deal to get the Sox to pay the money left on Ottavino’s contract. While Otto pitches in Queens now, Frank German is set to make his Major League debut for the Red Sox. He was promoted today at the expense of backup catcher Kevin Plawecki who was designated for assignment. I liked German and I was disappointed when I heard his name included in the Ottavino trade.  German should thrive in the Boston bullpen. He will be able to share Yankees stories with Garrett Whitlock, Kaleb Ort, and Nathan Eovaldi. 

Frank German / Photo Credit: Katie Morrison, MassLive

Congratulations and good luck to Frank…except for four games next week. 

As always, Go Yankees!