Rising Out of the AL East Cellar...

  

Aaron Judge & Friends (Photo Credit: @Yankees via Twitter)

Yanks move past Red Sox to shake division-worst label…

The World always seems to be a little better when the New York Yankees win. Before the start of the latest series with the Tampa Bay Rays, it kind of felt like this might not be the Yankees’ year. Injuries have derailed what should have been the AL East’s best for the Yankees, while the Rays jumped out to a terrific start that put them as many as ten games ahead of our favorite team early into the season.

The Rays won the series’ opening game Thursday evening in convincing fashion, an 8-2 drubbing of Domingo German and the Yankees. With the win, the Rays became the first team to reach thirty wins in the Major Leagues this season. German was the luckless starter in the game. He did not pitch badly, giving up only one earned run, a total of two runs, in 5 2/3 innings. The bullpen, behind Ron Marinaccio, Albert Abreu, and Ryan Weber, let the game get out of hand.

Despite the convincing victory, the game proved costly for the Rays. Rays starter, Drew Rasmussen, who had pitched seven strong shutout innings, yielded only two hits and kept all Yankees out of scoring position to pick up the win, was placed on the 60-day Injured List. He was diagnosed with a flexor strain in his forearm. Although he will not require surgery, he has been shut down from pitching for two months. Tough break for the Rays. We wish Rasmussen the best for a speedy recovery. As I always like to say, to be the best, you must beat the best, and the Rays are better when Rasmussen is pitching.

The Yankees needed to make a statement in this series if they intend to make noise in the AL East. Yes, it is still early in the season, but we are reaching the point where wins and losses make a difference later in the season. Losing the first game of the series was ‘not what you want’, yet the Yankees came back to take the next two games as the series prepares to conclude later today that could either give the Yankees a tremendous three-to-one series win…or a disappointing two-game split.

Friday night’s win was huge. It always seems like the Rays score first in their games with the Yankees and Friday was no exception when Randy Arozarena belted a first-inning home run off Gerrit Cole. Rizzo tied the game in the bottom of the first with his shot to right. Cole gave up another home run in the second inning (so much for the thought that he had overcome the tendency to give up dingers this season after last year’s disaster). It set the stage for Anthony Volpe to be the hero. Dropped in the batting order, his fifth-inning homer tied the game, and his run-scoring single in the seventh put the Yankees ahead. Oswaldo Cabrera added an insurance run on a line drive to right field, but he ended the inning prematurely when he was thrown out trying to stretch the single into a double.

Sadly, the lone insurance run was not enough. A three-run home run by Josh Lowe in the top of the eighth inning put the Rays ahead, 5-4. Not to be denied on his bobblehead night, Anthony Rizzo belted his second home run of the evening after Aaron Judge had walked in the bottom of the eighth. 

Anthony Rizzo (Photo Credit: @Yankees via Twitter)

The two runs were enough to give the Yankees an improbable 6-5 victory, aided by a clean ninth-inning save by Wandy Peralta.

Saturday, I cannot say I was optimistic when the Rays jumped out to a 6-0 lead, highlighted by scoring five runs off Nestor Cortes, Jr. in the fifth inning, which included a Yankee Stadium-silencing grand slam by Yandy Diaz.  Thankfully, Aaron Judge decided to match Rizzo’s performance from the night before and his two home runs helped the Yankees overcome the deficit, the second homer put the Yankees ahead, 7-6. Oswaldo Cabrera, who saw his insurance run erased on Friday night, added two insurance runs that held up this time when he hit a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth after Judge’s second home run had given the Yankees the lead.  DJ LeMahieu’s slide at home with his hand reaching the plate before the catcher could get his glove down, scoring the second run, was a thing of beauty. The Rays scored a couple of funs to make it interesting, but Wandy Peralta picked up his second save in as many days to give the Yankees the come-from-behind victory. A sweet victory a week after the Rays had done the same against Gerrit Cole and the Yankees.    

(Credit: @Yankees via Twitter)

I am worried about Nestor Cortes, Jr. With the debut of Carlos Rodón in Pinstripes delayed indefinitely, and Luis Severino working his way back through rehab starts, the Yankees have had to rely upon Nasty Nestor more than they should have. With his struggles facing lineups the second and third time around, there is the question of whether Cortes will need to spend some time on the Injured List too if the hamstring injury at the start of Spring Training has continued to affect his performance through the shortened preparation for the regular season. Severino should be able to make his season debut soon, but I was (am) hoping he would (will) be replacing Clarke Schmidt and not Nestor. Hopefully, this is an unfounded fear and Cortes will show improvement in later innings as the season progresses.

The two wins put the Yankees in a position to win the series against the Rays this afternoon. Of course, Clarke Schmidt is pitching so it lessens the optimism but if the Yankees can beat a great pitcher like Shane McClanahan yesterday despite spotting him a six-run lead, the Yankees can win with Schmidt on the mound. He will be opposed by former Philadelphia Phillies starter Zac Eflin, who signed with the Rays as a free agent in the off-season. 

The Yankees’ win yesterday, coupled with a loss by the Boston Red Sox, allowed the Yankees to slip past the Red Sox in the AL East standings. The Yankees (23-18) are only a half-game up on Boston (22-18) so the cellar escape could be short-lived. Yet, it is a first step “upward” and if the Yankees can get back to winning series again, they can make further gains as the inevitable “stumbles” hit every team eventually. Getting Luis Severino back soon and hopefully, Giancarlo Stanton by month-end will be huge pickups for the team. You can add Josh Donaldson to the mix but frankly, I have not missed the guy. 

The Yankees are a game behind the Toronto Blue Jays, two in the loss column. It is hard to look much further than the Jays. Despite Tampa’s hot start, I continue to believe the Jays are the team to beat in the division. Surprisingly and despite their struggles, the Yankees have a better record than every team in the AL Central. Only one team in the AL West, the Texas Rangers (24-15), is better than the Yankees. As things stand now, in a way too early view, the Yankees hold the final Wild Card spot. While the Yankees’ struggles have been magnified by the media, not much is said about the Houston Astros and their 20-19 start. 

Luis Severino Update

Since beginning his rehab assignment, Luis Severino has started one game for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Earlier this week, Severino threw forty-nine pitches in 3 1/3 innings of work. He surrendered two hits, including a home run, but was optimistic about the overall performance. He felt all his pitches were working. He is scheduled to suit up for the Double-A Somerset Patriots on May 16 to pitch against Reading.

Luis Severino (Photo Credit: @swbrailriders via Twitter)

Severino is expected to be activated either later this month or early June. There is some talk that he could be activated after the upcoming game, but it seems like he will need more time to build up his stamina. The Yankees cannot afford for Severino to stumble deep into games like Cortes is currently doing. When Sevy comes back, he will be viewed as the second-best starter in the rotation. He must pitch like a solid #2 starter for the Yankees to succeed since Rodón will not be helping anytime soon. Cortes has not been “that guy” even if he was the best starter last season. Gerrit Cole and a bunch of struggling starters are not the right answer for long-term success despite Cole’s greatness.      

I am happy that Severino is nearly ready. Hopefully, the comments about his frustrations with how the Yankees have handled him are overblown. Sevy can help the Yankees overcome their slow start, and I hope his Yankees career extends beyond this season. I think Sevy understands the business side of baseball and sees the value of staying in Pinstripes.

Outside of bringing in the Brinks trucks to lure Gerrit Cole to the Bronx, the Yankees have not proven to be adept at bringing in elite starting pitchers, either through trades, free agency, or the farm system.  Okay, I should qualify that…healthy elite starting pitchers. They seem very good at picking the unhealthy ones.

The Invisible Man Makes an Appearance

Ben Rortvedt has been a Yankee since March 2022, yet there is not much visual evidence to support his presence. Injuries have held back the man who was intended to be Kyle Higashioka’s catching partner, which led, of course, to the acquisition of the invaluable Jose Trevino.

There may still be hope for Rortvedt in Pinstripes. He was recently activated off the Injured List and optioned to Triple-A. He contributed a walk-off three home run on Saturday afternoon, leading the RailRiders to an 8-6 victory over the Omaha Storm Chasers. Not known for the long ball, Rortvedt has homered in two consecutive games. 

Ben Rortvedt (Photo Credit: Kirsten Peters)

I am happy for Rortvedt and genuinely would like to see him succeed. It seems that it will take an injury to Trevi or Higgy to earn the Major League promotion, yet he can position himself to be ready for the call when/if it happens. The power to succeed is his. 

Happy Mother’s Day!

As always, Go Yankees!

The Turbulent Waters for Brian Cashman...

 

Brian Cashman (Photo Credit: Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports)

Long-serving GM has passed his expiration date…

Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman has had a nice run. He has been senior vice president and general manager of the greatest team in Major League Baseball since February 1998. Although he was not the architect of Dynasty Championship Teams of the late 1990s, he was seated in the General Manager’s seat when the Yankees won 114 games (125 games if you count the playoffs) to win the 1998 World Series against the San Diego Padres in a convincing four-game sweep. Given his long tenure with the Yankees and four World Series championships under his belt (even if he was the beneficiary of Gene Michael’s work for the first three and Hal Steinbrenner’s money for the fourth), Brian Cashman will one day find his way to Cooperstown. 

It is time for Cashman to find a new job. 

Of course, the truth is he will be secure for the next four years after signing an extension in December. It seems improbable that Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner would sever ties with his father’s pick for the general manager’s chair. Hal cannot even bring himself to alter his father’s outdated facial hair policy. I am sure ‘daddy issues’ run strongly in the Steinbrenner family.

Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner (Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports, via Reuters)

The game of Baseball has changed significantly since Cashman ascended to the GM’s throne. I do not dispute Cashman’s ability to work internally and externally with people to create trust and rapport. It is always a joke among the fanbase that Cashman wants to prove himself to be the smartest guy in the room. The only problem is, he is not. Younger, smarter general managers are starting to run circles around Cashman. You wonder what an elite front office like the Tampa Bay Rays have, could do if they had the financial resources of the New York Yankees. It has taken some time, but Ben Cherington is winning in Pittsburgh because of smart decisions. Not sustainable but that is not the point. 

Looking back over the Yankees’ significant trades since the infamous Sanchez/Urshela for Donaldson/IKF/Rortvedt deal in March 2022 is discouraging. They say that sometimes the best deals are the deals never made. In Cashman’s case, he went ahead and made those deals anyway.

March 13, 2022

In a surprising move, particularly after the Yankees had tendered Gary Sanchez a 2022 contract before the December 2021 lockout, the Yankees sent Sanchez and third baseman Gio Urshela to the Minnesota Twins for aging third baseman Josh Donaldson (and his fat contract), infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (I refuse to say shortstop because he is not one), and the invisible catcher Ben Rortvedt. 

Sure, Sanchez was an addition by subtraction, but the Yankees would have been better off simply non-tendering Sanchez the previous December and retaining Urshela. There were better options for shortstop than IKF, like actual shortstops which included a few elite ones. Rortvedt’s injuries led to one of the few good trades Cashman has completed in the last year. 

March 18, 2022

Bumped from first base by Anthony Rizzo, Luke Voit was a man without a position. I cannot fault Cashman for moving Voit to San Diego for a lower-level prospect, Justin Lange.  I always liked Voit’s football mentality playing baseball, and his home runs in 2020 were nice. But man, Voit with a glove was a precarious situation. There was simply no room on the roster for a DH-only type of player.

Lange, 21, a right-handed pitcher, is currently assigned to the Tampa Tarpons (Single-A).

Voit is with his third organization since leaving the Yankees. He signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers in February, and he is currently on their Major League roster although his production has been underwhelming. Voit had to go so it does not really matter if the Yankees ever get any results from Lange.

Hard to fault Cashman for this one. 

April 2, 2022

Cashman scored a win when he sent RHP Albert Abreu and LHP Robert Ahlstrom to the Texas Rangers for their backup catcher, Jose Trevino. Trevi has become the primary starter in a platoon with Kyle Higashioka, vastly upgrading the defense behind the plate, and while not known for his bat, he has knocked in a few game-winning hits. 

Jose Trevino (Photo Credit: AP)

We know the story with Abreu. The Rangers designated him for assignment and traded him to the Kansas City Royals. The Royals DFA’d him, and he found his way back to the Bronx via waivers before the end of last season.  Robby Ahlstrom is in the High-A minors for the Rangers organization, representing the only loss to get Trevi. 

The lone trade win for Cashman during the past year.

July 27, 2022

The Yankees finally made an upgrade in left field when they acquired Andrew Benintendi from the Kansas City Royals for RHP Chandler Champlain, LHP T.J. Sikkema, and RHP Beck Way. Unfortunately, just as Benny was getting comfortable in Pinstripes, he broke his hamate bone and never played for the Yankees again. He signed a free-agent contract with the Chicago White Sox in the offseason. 

Sikkema and Way are currently playing for the Royals’ Double-A affiliate, while Champlain is in High-A. 

I liked Benintendi and I wanted the Yankees to re-sign him, but this trade failed. 

August 1, 2022

Right-handed reliever Scott Effross was somewhat of a surprise when he was acquired from the Chicago Cubs for RHP Hayden Wesneski. Wesneski, along with former Yankees prospect Ken Waldichuk, was viewed by most to be the best two starting pitchers in the Yankees’ farm system. If Wesneski was moved, I always thought it would be part of a package for a proven Major League starter. So, for a reliever was a bit of a letdown, at least for me.

Effross proved to be a better reliever than expected and if he had stayed healthy, this trade might be viewed as a win. But alas, Effross required offseason Tommy John Surgery and will not resume his Yankees career until sometime next year.  Wesneski is currently in the Cubs’ starting rotation.  Given the dearth of starting pitching for the Yankees, Wesneski might have helped.

Cashman loses this trade.

August 1, 2022

Luis Castillo was the number one starting pitching target for most Yankees fans, but he proved to be cost-prohibitive. We will never know what the Yankees offered or were asked for, but it is assumed it was too much. In retrospect, was it? The Yankees paid heavily to acquire the second-best option in RHP Frankie Montas, along with left-handed reliever Lou Trivino, from the Oakland Athletics for LHP Ken Waldichuk, LHP J.P. Sears, RHP Luis Medina (probably the guy I was most sorry to see go), and 2B Cooper Bowman.

We know the story with Montas. He arrived hurt and was a shell of the player he had been earlier in the season for the A’s. Following offseason surgery, he is out for most if not all of the current season. Same with Trivino, who underwent Tommy John surgery this week.

Regardless of what happens with the quartet of prospects sent to the A’s, this trade is a colossal failure for Cashman. He gave up reasonable prospects for what has proven to be nothing. A little more creativity and he might have been able to secure a better, more reliable option for the starting rotation.

August 2, 2022

Sending Joey Gallo to the Los Angeles Dodgers was a needed trade. Clearly, Gallo had worn out his welcome in New York among the fanbase. A great guy…I will always be convinced he was a strong influence in the clubhouse with his personality and wit, but unfortunately, the on-the-field performance led to his unrecoverable downfall. 

The biggest surprise is that Cashman received a quality prospect for Gallo. I have heard that RHP Clayton Beeter, a starter in the minor leagues, is destined for the bullpen when/if he reaches the Majors. However, regardless of what his future holds, he is legitimately better than I expected. Beeter is currently pitching for the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate and has an outside shot to reach the Majors by the end of the season. If not this season, then next year.   

The Yankees could have received a lesser prospect for Gallo, and the trade would still be called a win for Cashman. Gallo simply had to go.

August 2, 2022

Trading LHP Jordan Montgomery to the St Louis Cardinals will always be a head-scratcher. Centerfielder Harrison Bader, when healthy, is a great player. I like having him on the Yankees, and I am hopeful his stay extends beyond the length of his current contract. But in trading Montgomery, the Yankees were not exactly dealing from a position of strength. They needed another starter when they made the trade and have subsequently needed more quality starters.

I will give this trade a ‘no-decision’ which could tilt in the Yankees’ favor if Bader helps the team win the World Series. Yet, it seems like the Yankees could have figured out a way to get Bader without giving up Montgomery. For as good as Bader played in the playoffs, I thought Montgomery’s loss from the clubhouse harmed the team for weeks after the trade (the psyche of the team was adversely impacted) and it may have contributed to their struggles late in the year and early exit from the playoffs. 

December 28, 2022

LHP Lucas Luetge was shipped to the Atlanta Braves for prospects SS Caleb Durbin and RHP Indigo Diaz. Durbin is currently in High-A and Diaz is in Double-A. 

Luetge served a decent role for the Yankees, but the trade was indifferent for me so I will have to give Cashman credit for picking up a couple of lottery picks for a journeyman pitcher. Many teams are routinely successful at reassembling their bullpens every year, and the Yankees are better than most. The performance of a reliever seems to be the most like a roller coaster ride to any position I have seen in my years of watching baseball. 

None of the trades above, except the acquisition of Jose Trevino, can be viewed as an outstanding trade. Gallo and Voit were throwaways and the players received for them were less than the prospects the Yankees gave up acquiring them.

The Yankees ignored the elite free agent shortstops the past several years, and they passed on generational talents like Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. If they had a better track record with trades or a stronger record for producing homegrown Major League talent, it would be understandable to forego the multi-millions it would have taken to bring additional superstar talent to New York. Sadly, it seems we are caught in a loop that will continue to produce flawed regular seasons and disappointing October results. I know the season is young, but the Yankees are currently ten games behind the attendance-challenged Tampa Bay Rays.

Sometimes a team needs a new voice. The Yankees brought in high-powered executives to help Cashman when they hired former Giants GM Brian Sabean and former Mets GM Omar Minaya this past offseason, yet their presences have yet to materialize (at least from the outside looking in). It just seems like the same old stagnant Yankees Front Office.

Brian Cashman

I have long been a proponent for moving Cashman to President of Baseball Operations and hiring a new General Manager. Whether Cashman stays or goes, the Yankees need a new voice in the room. A voice that can make the best decisions for today’s New York Yankees and the teams for the coming years. We are the New York Yankees so we should have the best that money can buy. 

I like Brian Cashman. He was the right man at the right time when he was hired. Times change. It is not a personal attack on Cashman when I say the Yankees need a new general manager. Sports management in all sports…generally speaking…tends to have a short shelf life. Longevity stifles creativity.

If the Yankees fail this season, Hal Steinbrenner needs to carefully reevaluate both his manager and general manager, recognize their shortcomings, and cut his losses. There have been many similar quotes, but I will use one by Tony Robbins. “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”

I am ready for another New York Yankees World Series Championship. 2009 is a distant memory. The Yankees need to refresh our memories for what it feels like to see, hear, and taste Pinstriped success in the season’s last and grandest series of all.  Hal Steinbrenner needs to make the decisions that help propel the Yankees forward. It is what Daddy would have wanted, after all. 

As always, Go Yankees!

The Deflating Optimism...

  

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Sam Hodde/AP)

The Yankees have become a rudderless ship…

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

Then, the injuries…

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Injured List is depressing.

60-Day Injured List

Scott Effross

Luis Gil

Tommy Kahnle

Frankie Montas

Lou Trivino

 

15-Day Injured List

Jonathan Loáisiga

Carlos Rodón

Luis Severino

 

10-Day Injured List

Ben Rortvedt

Josh Donaldson

Harrison Bader

Giancarlo Stanton

 

Active but Not Playing

Aaron Judge

Jake Bauers

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today is a good day for a win.

As always, Go Yankees!

 

Reminder: Please Bring Your Bats...

 

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Robert Sabo/NY Post)

Yankees fall to Blue Jays as offense goes silent…

Inevitably, the New York Yankees will lose their first regular season series. I only hope it is not against the Toronto Blue Jays. The team I perceive as the greatest threat in the American League East to derail the Yankees’ drive to repeat as division champions were in the Bronx on Friday night, and sadly, thanks to an off night by the team’s bats, the Blue Jays took the first game, 6-1. 

The odds were seemingly against the Yankees when the controversial Domingo German took the mound. Starting the first game of a season series with a bitter rival with German is not exactly leading with your best foot forward. German had the Yankees in a hole they were never able to escape when he gave up a first-inning, two-run bomb to fan-not-so-favorite Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. 

Domingo German (Photo Credit: Corey Sipkin/NY Post)

Aside from Oswaldo Cabrera’s solo shot to the right field porch in the second inning that made it a one-run game, the Yankees were unable to record any extra-base hits, settling for four singles to go with the ‘Where’s Oswaldo?’ home run. Several inning-ending double plays removed any potential for rallies, including the game-ending DP by Gleyber Torres. 

Glad to see Oswaldo go yard, but I thought the Yankees would do better against Toronto’s Yusei Kikuchi. Oh well, on to the next game. The Yankees seemingly like to lose the opening game of a series before rising to the challenge.

With the loss, the Yankees and Blue Jays (both 12-8) are tied for third place in the AL East. They trail the Tampa Bay Rays by five games and are a half-game behind the Baltimore Orioles. It is still way too early to draw any conclusions about the division race, but it is always preferable to have more wins than your opponents at any given time.  The dreadful Boston Red Sox are only a game and a half behind the Yankees. 

The Yankees feature their best in today’s game at 1:05 pm ET when Gerrit Cole (4-0, 0.95 ERA) takes the hill. He will be opposed by Toronto’s Alek Manoah (1-1, 6.98 ERA) who has not gotten off to a strong start.  Of course, it probably means Manoah throws a no-hitter and Cole loses his first game of the year despite giving up only one run. Hopefully, Coles continues to shove like he has all season, and the Yankees bring their bats to play.  Inflating Manoah’s bloated ERA would be a wonderful way to spend the day.

Credit: @Yankees, via Twitter

Josh Donaldson Delayed

The Yankees had expected to activate Josh Donaldson this week, however, he suffered a setback when the tightness in his right hamstring resumed. He was diagnosed with a Grade 1-plus strain and is going to miss the next couple of weeks. Oswald Peraza probably would have been sent down if Donaldson had been activated this week, so Donaldson’s re-injury buys young Peraza more time to show his skills at the Major League level.

Oswald Peraza (Photo Credit: Mary Altaffer/AP)

If there was a current player I would love to see “Wally Pipped”, it would be Donaldson. I am ready to move on from the expensive, aging vet even if his glove continues to play at an elite level. He is no longer a feared hitter, and he is not going to miraculously find rejuvenation. The Yankees had Oswald Peraza at third base on Friday night. Despite his 0-for-3 performance, it would be tremendous for him to have more opportunities to play third.  Peraza has a far greater upside than Donaldson, at this stage of Donaldson’s career. Donaldson was once an elite performer and League MVP, but he is not that guy anymore. It is time to move on. If the Arizona Diamondbacks can swallow the remainder of Madison Bumgarner’s contract, the Yankees can easily do the same with Donaldson’s contract. 

Peraza has nothing left to prove in the Minor Leagues and should be on the big-league roster for the duration of the season. It would be fantastic if he could have a breakout game that propels him as a force in the lineup and makes it impossible for the Yankees to demote him. His energy and defensive prowess are already on display. A few dramatic home runs or timely run-scoring hits and we are off to the races. 

A Roll of the Dice

The Yankees have signed former Angels, Diamondbacks, and Rangers outfielder Kole Calhoun to a minor league contract. Calhoun, 35, was once a solid contributor for the Angels, but, like Donaldson, his best days are behind him. 

Kole Calhoun (Photo Credit: Alex Gallardo/AP)

Last year for Texas, he hit .196/.257/.330 (67 OPS+) with 12 home runs and 49 RBIs in 125 games. He was a free agent after a failed attempt to make the Seattle Mariners’ roster in Spring Training.

I am not expecting anything from this signing. I doubt he will make it to the Bronx. He seems more like a depth signing for Triple-A who will eventually seek an opt-out. I guess everyone thinks they can be the next Matt Carpenter. To their credit, they would not be professional baseball players without that mindset but there is no magic here.  I wish Calhoun the best but honestly hope the Yankees never need him. 

Rehab Assignments

The Yankees sent two notable players on rehab assignments on Friday.

Harrison Bader was assigned to the Somerset Patriots (Double-A) and is expected to be activated early next month. Bader is much needed, and it will be tremendous for the team to get Aaron Judge back in right field where he belongs. Hopefully, Bader can pick up where he left off last October. His dynamic personality, mixed with the energy and enthusiasm of the team’s younger players, brings a breath of fresh air to the Yankees. Being a gifted ballplayer certainly helps. 

The Invisible Man, a/k/a Ben Rortvedt, was assigned to the Tampa Tarpons (Single-A). Rortvedt will eventually head for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and take his place as the next man up should anything happen to either Jose Trevino or Kyle Higashioka. Hard to believe but we may see Rortvedt play in Yankee Stadium this season. It will be nice to have actual proof he plays instead of photos standing outside of batting cages. 

Don Mattingly the Blue Jay

It is hard to see Don Mattingly wearing enemy colors. He was my favorite player throughout his Yankees career, and I respectfully followed his managerial career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins.  Seeing him at Yankee Stadium with a bitter rival is understandably more difficult to accept.

I wish the Yankees had done more to bring him back into the organization. I would have moved Carlos Mendoza to a different coaching position and made Donnie Baseball the bench coach for Manager Aaron Boone. However, I realize there may be some animosity between Mattingly and the Front Office which worked against Mattingly and the belief that he does not embrace analytics. I think the latter point is overrated. Any coach who is not buying into today’s analytics is not long for this profession. I think Mattingly understands it, and the coaches who can balance old-school baseball with analytic insight are the best for the game. 

I hope Mattingly can find his way back to the Yankees one day. Maybe it will not happen until General Manager Brian Cashman decides to hang up his saddle. Regardless, Mattingly will always be a Yankee, and I hope he comes home before he decides to shutter his baseball career. 

Miguel Ramirez, Chef Extraordinaire

The Los Angeles Times had a great article this week about Yankee Stadium clubhouse food for visiting teams. The Los Angeles Angels were in town to face the Yankees, and the players were raving about the food offerings in the clubhouse. 

Miguel Ramirez (Photo Credit: LA Times, courtesy of the New York Yankees)

Miguel Ramirez has been a clubhouse chef for the Yankees since 2011, and the 44-year-old Dominican brings Latino food to the forefront. In the article, Angels infielder Luis Rengifo is quoted saying, “They just have a lot. They have Dominican food, like rice and beans, Concón (the crust of crispy rice formed at the bottom of the pot).” About Ramirez, Rengifo went on to say, “The guy who makes it is amazing.”

Ramirez drew praise from former Yankees infielder Gio Urshela and Red Sox manager Alex Cora. Cora referred to him as the best in the business. 

Ramirez takes requests from visiting teams and specializes in multiple types of food beyond his Dominican roots such as Italian, Japanese, and Mexican cuisines. Before he started working for the Yankees, Ramirez was a chef in Mariano Rivera’s former steakhouse, Mo’s New York Grill. 

It was fun to read about a hero of Yankee Stadium in an opposing city’s newspaper. I did not know about Miguel Ramirez, but the recognition from visiting teams is beautiful and I am glad The Los Angeles Times brought light to his accomplishments.

As always, Go Yankees!

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

 

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

Giancarlo Stanton heads to the Injured List again...   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Get healthy, G.   

How Do You Spell Relief? ...

 

Clay Holmes (Photo Credit: AP)

The answer is NOT Clay Holmes…

Once upon a time, there was a belief that General Manager Brian Cashman had uncovered another gem when he acquired Clay Holmes for a couple of prospects (Diego Castillo and Hoy Park) on July 26, 2021. Holmes joined the Yankees in dominating fashion and helped to usher out the Yankees career of former closer Aroldis Chapman. Many accolades were given to Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake for what appeared to be a rebirth of Holmes as an elite reliever.

Sadly, the realization sets in that Holmes is just the same marginal reliever he was in Pittsburgh. Friday night’s game should have been fun. It featured the first Major League home run by Anthony Volpe leading off the game, which was immediately followed by a home run from the reigning American League MVP and Yankees Team Captain, Aaron Judge. Nasty Nestor Cortes, Jr. delivered a quality start on the mound. All the Yankees needed was a strong effort from the bullpen to seal the win.

Nestor was finished after seven innings. He had held the Minnesota Twins to only two runs while scattering five hits. He did not walk any batters and struck out seven Twins. He should have been in line for the victory. With the Yankees leading 3-2 in the top of the Eighth, Manager Aaron Boone made the decision to bring Holmes in to face the heart of the Twins order. As he did frequently late last season, Holmes proved, once again, he was not ready for prime time. With a single, a walk, and a Carlos Correa double before an out was recorded, the one-run lead had become a one-run deficit. The Yankees were unable to mount a rally and fell to the Twins, 4-3.

Carlos Correa (Photo Credit: Frank Franklin II/AP)

The loss dropped the Yankees to 8-6, good for third place, tied with the Baltimore Orioles, in the American League East, five games behind the Tampa Bay Rays. 

Clay Holmes’ implosion during the eighth inning is the latest example of why he should not be the trusted closer for America’s most storied franchise. I would never grill the man over one bad performance, but this is a continuation of struggles for Clay. During his four-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Holmes was 5-7 with a 5.57 ERA, giving up 112 hits in 119 2/3 innings while issuing 84 walks. Maybe this is just who he is.  While his overall numbers have been better with the Yankees, due primarily to his strong start with the team, his brief start to 2023 is trending closer to his Pittsburgh numbers. He is 0-1, 5.40 ERA, and has given up 6 hits, 4 runs, and has walked 4 batters in 6 2/3 innings. Sure, he has struck out 8 batters, but when you are giving up runs between those strikeouts, they do not really matter. 

I am not pining for Aroldis Chapman, but he has gotten off to a better start with the Kansas City Royals. I do not trust Chapman throughout a season at this stage of his career, so I am not saying I wish the Yankees had re-signed him. It is just frustrating that Holmes gave the Yankees false confidence that the closer’s role was secure when, in fact, it is not. Jonathan Loásiga is the first reliever I think of about closing games, but he is on the Injured List with right elbow inflammation and no timetable for return.  Given his health history, he is probably not the best option to close. Ron Marinaccio…Michael King?  I like King’s current role with the team, but maybe it is his turn to step into the hot seat. 

I miss the days of Mariano Rivera when the closer’s role was the least concern on the team.

It is only April and there are one hundred forty-eight games to play. An 8-6 start is not the end of the World, and the Yankees have time to figure this out. Brian Cashman needs to find the closing answer because it is obvious Clay Holmes, is not it. I have never been a big fan of the closer-by-committee, preferring defined roles. However, I am in favor of whatever path leads to a World Series championship in October.

Anthony Volpe’s First Home Run…

Leading off Friday’s game, Anthony Volpe blasted a 1-0, 95.3 mph, four-seam fastball off Twins starter Louie Varland over the left field wall for his first Major League home run. It is always nice to get the first of anything out of the way. Hopefully, it is the start of a long, highly successful career in Pinstripes. I can easily remember the joys of lead-off home runs by the immortal Rickey Henderson. Volpe has a chance to bring the same feeling on a routine basis. 

Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Robert Sabo for the NY Post)

It was cool that the fan who caught the home run ball turned it over to Yankees Security with no demands. There are still decent people left in this World after all.

John Sterling, the longtime radio play-by-play announcer for the Yankees, broke out his latest home run call for Volpe. “Anthony Volpe! A spettacolo oggi! Ohhh the fox socks one to left!” ‘A spettacolo oggi’ translates to “A show today” or putting on a show today.  Volpe is Italian for fox. Not one of Sterling’s best, but it will work.

Volpe was all smiles after the home run, and it continued post-game which drew the ire of some fans. Seriously? I am not going to fret about a 21-year-old excited about his first home run at the game’s highest level. Let him enjoy the moment. It was a home game at Yankee Stadium, with family and friends in attendance. It was a meaningful home run at the time because it put the Yankees up by a run. The joy of the home run is an exciting moment (milestone) in Volpe’s brief career, and it sets the stage for greater accomplishments. So, let him smile after a heartbreaking loss. This is April, not October. 

Hello, I must be going…

Reliever Colten Brewer’s career with the Yankees was brief. Brewer will be remembered as the player who cost Estevan Florial his spot on the 40-man roster. After two scoreless appearances, Brewer served up four runs in 3 1/3 innings during Thursday’s 11-2 loss (the Jhony Brito disaster game) and has been designated for assignment.

Brewer was never going to be a long-term Yankee as the last pitcher on the staff, but I did expect him to go longer than he did. Maybe he clears waivers and is sent outright to Triple-A like Florial. Maybe not. I think he showed enough in his good appearances that someone will take a chance on him. Thursday’s game was just one of those games where nothing seemingly goes right. Brito screwed that game up long before Brewer entered. 

Greg Weissert was recalled from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take Brewer’s place. 

The Rays finally lose…

Although I probably wish it was a team other than the Toronto Blue Jays to get the win, the Tampa Bay Rays’ dream of going 162-0 came to an end on Friday night. The Blue Jays won, 6-3, to drop the Rays to 13-1. 

Rays reliever Colin Poche (Photo Credit: Christopher Katsarov/AP)

The Yankees have too much of the season left to worry about the Rays’ hot start. It was inevitable they would lose. They have lost one of their starting pitchers, Jeffrey Springs, for an extended period (at least two months with ulnar neuritis in his pitching arm), and at the end of the day, the Yankees and, unfortunately for us, the Blue Jays, are better teams.

The evaporation of Left Field options…

Another longtime Yankees target for Left Field (at least in the eyes of the fan base) was removed when the Chicago Cubs signed Ian Happ to a three-year, $61 million extension. Bummer, I thought he was the best potential option for help at the trade deadline.

Good for Happ as it offers him financial security. I am surprised he chose not to test free agency given this was his walk year as he would have had solid appeal on an open market. 

This reinforces the Yankees should have been more aggressive trying to get a guy like Kyle Schwarber a few years ago before the Boston Red Sox and subsequently, the Philadelphia Phillies did. 

The Franchy Cordero comeback story has been fun, but I do not believe it is sustainable based on Cordero’s track record. It would be tremendous if Cordero truly has figured out the game to cut the strikeouts and fulfill his potential, but at face value, I do not like the odds.

Oswaldo Cabrera, despite last night’s ninth-inning hit into a double play that killed a potential rally, is an exciting, energetic talent, but I remain convinced versatility is his strongest suit even if he has played left field more than Aaron Hicks. 

It seems our desire for a strong closer and superior left fielder will continue its unrequited path.

As always, Go Yankees!