The Yankees: Glass is Half-Empty...

 

Aaron Judge and Juan Soto (Photo Credit: The New York Daily News)

Yankees can win it all, but will they?...

The off-season move to acquire one season of Juan Soto was a huge move by the Yankees, but if the team had listened to its fanbase’s additional demands for a strong starting pitcher, it may have been the decision maker between parity and greatness. I know, the Yankees are leading their division, but they certainly do not feel like a team of destiny. The combo of Juan Soto-Aaron Judge is unmatched in baseball, and it could all go for a naught. 

The Yankees lead the American League East Division and will roll into September with at least a half-game lead if the Baltimore Orioles win their Saturday night contest in the Mile High City against the Colorado Rockies. The Yankees are lucky the Orioles have never been able to find their stride, given the strong young talent on their roster. Being the division leader this late in the season is great, but there is much baseball to be played before the final standings are confirmed.  Magic numbers are a few weeks away from media magnification.  The Orioles could still run away with the division if they managed to hit their machine into gear although they do not quite have the starting pitching to do it.

Cashman’s decisions (or lack thereof) are the deciding factors in this year’s pennant chase. The opportunity to build an elite contender was there, but they settled for ‘not quite enough’ under the perceived theory that October baseball is just a crapshoot. 

After Saturday’s game, the Yankees announced that 1B/C Ben Rice had been optioned to Triple-A, along with Saturday’s starter (and loser) RHP Will Warren.  This means the likely return of Anthony Rizzo. Everybody likes to speculate that the lane is opening for the callup of outfielder Jasson Dominguez, but the club continues to send out signals that we probably will not see The Martian roaming the Yankee Stadium outfield in September. I like Will Warren, but he is not ready for Major League Baseball. I had hoped this would be the year for Clayton Beeter to make his ascension to the Major Leagues, but injuries had other ideas. Warren had his opportunities, but he is not an answer for the final weeks of 2024. 

In the offseason, I had wanted the Yankees to sign Jordan Montgomery. In retrospect, that move would have been a disaster as demonstrated by his dismal performance in the Sonoran Desert for the Snakes that led to his recent demotion to the bullpen. But I also pitched for Blake Snell. “Second-half” Snell would have looked fantastic in Pinstripes. 

At this point, the cavalry rescue for the starting rotation will be the return of Clarke Schmidt which is looming. Otherwise, the Yankees need to focus on the bullpen. I am extremely disappointed in deadline acquisition Mark Leiter, Jr. I had high hopes for the return of a Leiter to Pinstripes, and I had hoped it would be a successful union between player and club.  He has only proven that Jazz Chisholm, Jr was the sole successful deadline acquisition. While I do not expect the Yankees to DFA Leiter, it would not surprise me if they did. The Yankees already jettisoned the other reliever acquired at the deadline (Enyel De Los Santos) so they may as well make it a deuce. The only hope is that at least one (or more) of the relievers on the Injured List can step up in a hurry and contribute in a big way. Back spasms recently derailed Ian Hamilton (at least temporarily). Hopefully, the other have better success working their way back.

I do believe the Yankees should take a mix-and-match approach with their bullpen rather than rolling with Clay Holmes as the designated ninth inning closer.  Forget about who accumulates the saves. Worry about who protects the wins. Look for the right matchups that favor the pitcher regardless of who is on the mound.  If I had greater faith in Holmes, I would feel differently, but given the makeup of the bullpen, the Yankees cannot afford the volatile Holmes to close out close games when every game matters.    

Austin Wells has made me a believer that he is the team’s starting catcher and deserves the lion’s share of starts behind the plate. This is not intended to disrespect Jose Trevino who has performed admirably as a Yankee. Wells can be a key player in the lineup, and he obviously needs to play to excel. Let Trevino be Gerrit Cole’s personal caddy.  It is nice to see Wells perform like we expected when the Yankees drafted him. So many of those high draft picks fade into oblivion. Well, unless your name is Aaron Judge. Wells brings the strength to the catching position that has been missing since Jorga Posada retired. 

Austin Wells (Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

The Yankees should designate Alex Verdugo for assignment. I am not worried about a competitor picking him up. He is not going to help anyone win in October. He might be a great defensive replacement for somebody, but his bat will scare no one. The Yankees will not re-sign him in the offseason, so he is not part of the future, and he is not helping the present. I would rather see Jasson Dominguez in left field. Dominguez can help now and in the future. This left field upgrade does not seem like rocket science to me. 

I have always been a fan of DJ LeMahieu, and I was happy when the Yankees re-signed him several years ago even if the contract was a little too long. But his performance this season continually raises the question “what have you done for us lately?”. The answer is nada. If a player is not helping, move him out of the way for someone who can. I would be surprised if the Yankees cut LeMahieu and I would love to see him rediscover the fountain of youth (and hitting). I just cannot say that I am optimistic he will. Loved Brett Gardner, but there is a time for everybody to go.  The time has arrived for LeMahieu. The Yankees should be preparing their exit strategy for LeMahieu rather than continually giving him at-bats. I would so love to see LeMahieu make a huge contribution in September to help the Yankees win and rub it in my face. As Sabrina Carpenter says, Please, Please, Please.

For a team that leads its division, I should be more optimistic. Sadly, I am not feeling it with the team as currently constructed. They have the potential of winning (every team this year is flawed), but I think the team’s weaknesses will be magnified and exposed in a short series playoff format. Another historic Aaron Judge season that will potentially end in failure.   

What coulda, shoulda been…if the Yankees fail, the blood will be on Brian Cashman’s hands.

Brian Cashman

For the record, I hope this is not the only season in Pinstripes for Juan Soto. His presence on the team has been a joy this year, even during his slumps. He makes those around him better, and the Yankees will be stronger with him on its 2025 roster. He never needed that magical moment when he truly became a Yankee. He made it happen on the first day he pulled the jersey on. In all my years as a Yankee fan, I do not think I have ever seen a superstar player transition so smoothly to the team from the day of his arrival.

Juan Soto, New York Yankees

I hope Hal Steinbrenner pulls out all stops to make Soto a Yankee for life. Juan Soto and Aaron Judge can win together. It may not happen this year, but if given the chance, it will happen in the future. I am confident. Maybe changes need to happen in the front office, and/or on the bench, but those two players are the cornerstone for greatness. Hal Steinbrenner has the money and the influence to find the right people to make it happen.

As always, Go Yankees!

Where Do We (Yankees) Go From Here? ...

 

Jazz Chisholm Jr (Photo Credit: New York Daily News)

Yanks-Orioles battle for first despite rough waters for both…

The New York Yankees (73-51) sit atop the American League Eastern Division, leading the Baltimore Orioles (72-52) by a half-game. The Orioles lost last night, 5-1, to the Boston Red Sox at Camden Yards. But admittedly, the last thing I am concerned about is the Orioles' play, win or lose.

I am more worried about the Yankees.

With Gerrit Cole, the Yankees hold an advantage in Game 1 of any series. After that, it is a crap shoot. It is a roll of the dice backed by a bullpen that has yet to restore its superiority. In other words, it is hard to be optimistic about this team’s chances regardless of whether they win the division or snag one of the Wild Card spots. I know. Make it to October, and then anything can happen. True. But the realist in me knows that the Yankees will sabotage any forward progress with the usual weaknesses evident throughout the season.

The trade deadline is always viewed as an opportunity to build reinforcements. In retrospect, the Yankees’ Trade Deadline yielded nothing. I am not trying to be critical of the new Yankee Jazz Chisholm, Jr. I like the guy and the energy he has brought to the team. However, aside from those facts, he was brought in and immediately asked to play out of position (third base), and now, he is potentially lost for the season due to a UCL sprain in his elbow. Jazz seems to feel he will return this season (perhaps as soon as his 10-day IL stint is over), and maybe he will, but if the greatest need at the deadline was a third baseman, the Yankees should have traded for a third baseman. With Chisholm's injury, the window of opportunity, or the positive aspect of it, is the call-up…finally…of infielder Oswald Peraza, who, unlike Chisholm before his acquisition, has played some third base recently. Although it remains to be seen if he gets significant playing time, his home run this week was encouraging. I would like to see Peraza succeed. I firmly believe the Yankees need to allow him to play for the big-league club or trade him, although the latter point will have to wait until after the season if they go that route. I hope Chisholm makes it back because I believe the Yankees are better when he is on the field, but it does not negate my disappointment with the trade deadline.

Mark Leiter, Jr was a nice pickup for the bullpen, but other options could have provided more substantial, consistent results. Understandably, the cost would have been higher than that of minor leaguers Benjamin Cowles (SS) and Jack Neely (RHP). Yet, I would rather have Leiter over the departed Caleb Ferguson or the demoted Victor Gonzalez (sent outright to Triple-A after he was designated for assignment and waived). It is cool to have Leiter given the family legacy (his father, Mark, and his uncle, Al, played for the Yankees) and Anthony Volpe’s close friendship with Leiter, Jr’s cousin Jack, a top prospect for the Texas Rangers. He is a decent bullpen arm despite his familial connections.

Mark Leiter Jr (Photo Credit: Jason Szenes/New York Post)

I was a little surprised the Yankees traded Caleb Ferguson to a key rival, the Houston Astros, but it is not like Ferguson will bite us in the butt. If he gets critical outs in a playoff game against the Yankees, that potentially ends our season...so be it. Ferguson will remain addition by subtraction. I could not care less about whether Ferguson does well in hot, humid South Texas.

At the deadline, the big swing and miss was the acquisition of reliever Enyel De Los Santos, who performed horribly in pinstripes. He pitched in five games for the Yankees, covering six-and-a-third innings. He gave up thirteen hits and ten runs, yielding a homer and issuing three walks. His Yankees career will feature a 14.21 ERA, but hey, ERA does not matter, does it? Still, I was surprised the Yankees gave up on De Los Santos so quickly. He was designated for assignment this week and lost on waivers to the Chicago White Sox. So, all the Yankees have for trading minor league outfielder Brandon Lockridge, viewed as a rising outfielder, to the San Diego Padres is minor league RHP Thomas Balboni, Jr. Maybe Balboni will achieve his dream of playing in the Major Leagues with the Yankees. Or maybe he moves on, at which time we can revisit an old phrase with a new meaning…Bye-Bye Balboni. Regardless of how this turns out, it was not one of Brian Cashman’s better trades. Then again, he tends to have more deadline dogs than steals, so this is just another misfire to add to his resume. I would prefer a mutually beneficial trade but those seem rare in Cashman's universe.

De Los Santos' roster spot has been taken by former Toronto Blue Jays reliever Tim Mayza, whom the Yankees signed to a minor league deal in July after his release by the Blue Jays. Mayza's highest profile moment is his presence on the mound when Aaron Judge hit his sixty-first home run in 2022 to tie Roger Maris for the American League record. As we know, Judge would hit one more homer in his historic season to set the new AL high, but Mayza helped put him in position to set the new record.

Tim Mayza and Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: MLB.com)

This is when I hate to see the team pass on any opportunities to improve weaknesses in the offseason, with an apparent logic to see what the team needs at the deadline. Then, they cannot make any trades for impact players at the deadline because they are either unavailable or cost-prohibitive (player cost, not the green stuff).

Alex Verdugo at the start of the season to play left field made sense. To view him now as blocking the lane for Jasson Dominguez to receive a promotion to the Major Leagues is absurd. Verdugo should have been traded at the deadline for whatever the Yankees could have gotten for the soon-to-be free agent and ex-Yankee. I know Dominguez started slowly after his return to the field, but he is beginning to play better, and given the circumstances, he cannot be worse than Verdugo has played in recent months. I prefer Dominguez in left field, as a long-term factor for the Yankees, over Verdugo, who will be a one-and-done Yankee in a few months. It is a shame that Dominguez continues to toil in the minor leagues when he is fully capable of being a productive Major League player.

Look, I am not trying to be purposely negative about the Yankees. I am grateful they are battling for first place in the division with the Orioles and not playing leapfrog with the Toronto Blue Jays to avoid the division cellar or playing "mid" baseball with the Red Sox. If the Yankees make the playoffs, they will have my undying support. I only wish I had greater confidence about the potential of this year’s squad. Aaron Judge is the game’s best player, and Juan Soto is not far behind. This should be a magical year for those players. But they cannot win it all by themselves. They need help. Will the men that GM Brian Cashman chose for the roster this season be the right choices to slot around the dynamic duo? Well, as they say, time will tell. I wish I could say the answer is ‘hell, yes!’ but for now, it is just a ‘possible maybe.’ 

As always, Go Yankees!

Winning Yankees Baseball is Better...

   

Aaron Judge and Juan Soto (Photo Credit: @Yankees via Instagram)

Hoping the Yankees have turned the corner…

After a dismal month of play, two wins against the Baltimore Orioles in this weekend’s three-game series will not make me pronounce the Bronx Bombers are back, stronger than ever. The Orioles have had their own struggles over the past few weeks while the Yankees played MLB’s worst baseball. The Chicago Cubs swept the Orioles in a three-game series this past week. The Cubs pummeled Baltimore by a combined score of 21-2. It’s encouraging that the Yankees have won a series (by taking at least two of the three games against Baltimore) …finally… but they are not out of the doghouse yet. We share the concern for the team's recent performance, but if they can get on a roll to start the second half, the team can prove they are here to stay, not just another pretender.

The upcoming All-Star Break offers a much-needed respite for players not named Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and Clay Holmes. I would be okay with Judge and Soto being substituted for early in the All-Star Game on Tuesday or if Holmes did not get a chance to play. What matters most is the well-being of our Yankees. A rested, healthy team in the second half of the season is more important to me than watching a handful of elite players in a game that holds little significance.

I am not trying to remove the highlight of the three Yankees at this year’s All-Star Game. I always prefer to see as many Yankees as possible in the MLB’s showcase exhibition game, but this year, the health of the team’s most valuable assets is paramount. The Yankees will only go as far as Judge, Cole, and Gerrit Cole will take them. Starting pitching held together long enough to bridge the gap until Cole could return, but the Yankees would not be so lucky if they lost Judge or Soto for an extended period.

The Yankees will be tested to open the second half. They must beat the Rays, Mets, Red Sox, and Phillies this month to prove they have recaptured their groove in the last two games. Easier said than done. The Yankees face the Rays and Mets at home but will be on the road for Boston and Philadelphia. By the end of the month, we should know what this team is made of and if the team warrants upgrades by the deadline to make a run for October. The upcoming games are crucial and will determine the team's potential. So, in the big picture, I could not care less about the All-Star Game. But I am fully engaged, as I understand that the outcome of these games will shape the Yankees' future. Winning Yankees Baseball takes precedence over all else.

After Saturday's win, the Yankees have recaptured a share of first place in the AL East. The O’s have a slight edge (57-38, .600 winning percentage) over the Yankees (58-39, .598 winning percentage), but they are tied for all intents and purposes. Given how bad the Yankees have been playing recently, it is incredible that they remain in the AL East dogfight. The Boston Red Sox, a testament to the value of a strong manager, are only four and a half games behind the AL East leaders.

I wish to boldly state that the Yankees will obliterate the competition in the coming weeks and months, but realistically, the team has flaws that have been exposed. I am not sure that deadline acquisitions can cure what ails the team. As they say, we will soon find out since time will tell, as it always does.

I never once thought Clay Holmes purposely threw the pitch at the head of Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad on Friday night. He may have been trying to pitch in on Kjerstad, but, unfortunately, he failed to locate the pitch properly, and it struck the side of Kjerstad’s batting helmet. I am grateful that Kjerstad was not seriously injured. I get Orioles manager Brandon Hyde’s quick jump to the defense of his players, even if it was a little over the top. I would expect Yankees manager Aaron Boone to be as passionate if it had happened to one of his players. I am not purposely trying to defend Hyde’s actions, but I understand why he was upset even if Holmes did not intend to hit Kjerstad.

Benches clear at Camden Yards (Photo Credit: NY Daily News)

The Orioles placed Kjerstad on the 10-day Injured List for concussion-related injuries, so he needs some rest before he is ready to play again. I hope there are no long-term complications. We certainly pray for a quick and speedy recovery. You never want to see anyone hurt, regardless of their uniform.

Life was easier when the Orioles were a doormat in the AL East.

The Yankees have had their own bouts with the Injured List lately. On Friday, infielder JD Davis was surprisingly placed on the 10-day Injured List with stomach flu. The move is retroactive to July 9, 2024. The Yankees called up infielder Jorbit Vivas to replace Davis on the active roster. No 40-man roster move was necessary since Vivas was already on it. I am not sure we would have noticed if the Yankees had removed Davis from the active roster without any formal announcement.

Will the Yankees allow Vivas to play? Or will he see a few Major League games from the bench before he returns to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre? I am not sure when Vivas arrived in Baltimore to join the team, but two games into this series, Vivas has yet to appear. Given how down people are on Gleyber Torres, the Yankees should play Vivas at second base for a glimpse into the future. If you think he is good enough to be activated to the Major League active roster, he is good enough to play. He will potentially be the team’s starting second baseman in 2025. I say the future is now, and the Yankees should let him begin the Major League indoctrination into the speed of the higher-level game. Some things cannot be taught in the Minor Leagues. The faster we can ramp up Vivas, the better. I like Gleyber Torres, but he is on the fast track for a change of scenery caused by his inconsistent play.

DJ LeMahieu’s decline has also opened chatter about the need for a new third baseman, a position Vivas can play. On a side note, Oswald Peraza's stock has fallen significantly, and it seems like he is destined to follow the path of former top prospect Estevan Florial as an organizational flame-out. Including lower-level rehab games, Peraza is batting .211/.329/.297, with a .626 OPS, in the minor leagues this year. He has hit only one home run at the Triple-A level and 17 RBIs in 164 Triple-A at-bats. By comparison, Vivas hit .258/.404/.424, with a .828 OPS, at Triple-A this season. He had 5 homers and 19 RBIs for the RailRiders in 132 at-bats. Vivas deserves a chance to play regardless of how or why he earned his MLB opportunity. Taking LeMahieu out of the lineup is not going to hurt the team’s offense and, in fact, might help it.

Trade options are limited for third base. The Angels’ Luis Rengifo seems to be the most frequent name, but he is currently on the IL with wrist inflammation. Ryan McMahon of the Colorado Rockies is another name frequently mentioned, but it seems improbable that he will be traded. Cincinnati's second baseman, Jonathan India, is also mentioned, but the Reds are only three games out in the NL Wild Card chase. With the thin available talent at third base, a reunion with Gio Urshela is probably on the table. I would prefer to see Vivas take the position, either at second or third and run with it. The Yankees need to cure the ailments of at least one of those positions in the coming days. Rengifo and McMahon would be apparent upgrades for third base; however, I am skeptical they will be traded. A Rengifo trade seems likely, but wrist inflammation is troublesome even if no broken bones exist. Trading for injured players is not a great recipe for success.

Angels manager Ron Washington and medical staffer with Luis Rengifo (Photo Credit: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Yankees GM Brian Cashman generally moves in different directions than most people expect, and I think this trade deadline will be no different. I have no idea who the Yankees will target, and considering the extended poor play by the team, I am not entirely convinced the Yankees should part with top organizational talent to fill its current holes. The next few weeks should show if the team can make a run, and there is no doubt the Yankees are looking at all options. I just wish the dumpster diving would cease. Play the kids or trade for proven talent. The American League is wide open this year, and the Yankees can claim the league championship this season if they make the right moves. Hoping for ‘lightning in the bottle’ with players who have worn out their welcomes with their existing teams will not improve this year’s Yankees squad. They need to start playing winning baseball against winning teams. The Orioles will be hard to stop if they start hitting like we know they can. The Yankees must grab the divisional momentum now and keep it going if they intend to hold off the young, talented, albeit pitching-challenged, Orioles. Setting aside any feelings about whether the Yankees should change their manager and/or general manager, the team must make moves that matter regardless of whatever they may be. I am not predicting a World Series championship this season…there is too much time left before October…yet the Yankees can find the path to MLB’s final games if they play their cards right. No pressure.

The Yankees also called up catcher Carlos Narvaez on Saturday to replace Jose Trevino, who was placed on the 10-day Injured List. Trevino suffered a left quad strain while sliding home in the ninth inning of Friday night’s game. Ben Rice can obviously catch, but his focus must be on first base for the near future. It seems like Wells will get most of the starts in Trevino’s absence after the position was essentially a job-share. While I want to see Narvaez make a strong impression, I am hopeful Wells will use the opportunity to advance his game. We know Wells has the talent to be an offensive force, which may be the break he needs to accelerate his Major League growth. Sorry, I am trying to find positives in losing Trevino for a few weeks.

Cashman was dumpster diving again on Friday. He signed former Toronto Blue Jays reliever Tim Mayza to a minor-league contract. Mayza, 32, was recently designated for assignment by the Blue Jays and subsequently released. Yankees fans will remember Mayza as the pitcher who gave up Aaron Judge’s AL record-tying sixty-first home run in Toronto during Judge’s historic 2022 home run chase. I doubt this move will prove fruitful, but you never know. I never thought Michael Tonkin or Luke Weaver would become mainstays in the bullpen.

Speaking of players designated for assignment, my first thought when the Philadelphia Phillies released Whit Merrifield this week was that he would become Brian Cashman’s latest reclamation project. The Yankees had always liked Merrifield, and there seems to be some ‘destiny’ associated with it. I probably have mixed feelings. His play this season led to his release. Is this the player his new team will be getting, or will they get the player who was productive as recently as last year? I am not sure the Yankees should take that chance. Age happens… for a case in point, see DJ LeMahieu. If the Yankees do sign Merrifield, I will support him. If another team signs him, c’est la vie. This move will not bring champagne stains to the Yankees clubhouse floor.

As always, Go Yankees!

Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones...

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Or baseballs, bats, and opposing players…

Although this season has been fun, the harsh reality of injuries threatens to disrupt the feeling of utopia among the Yankees Universe. Before we get into broken bones, I am glad Aaron Judge is not among them. Losing Judge for a considerable time would have been a showstopper, particularly with Jasson Dominguez (oblique strain) riding the Injured List in Triple-A. Watching Judge exit the game on Tuesday night, thoughts of worst-case scenarios swam through the heads of Yankees fans everywhere. Thankfully, the medical results showed no fractures, so Judge should be back within days rather than weeks or months if he had fractures.

The frustration was evident on Judge's face when an inside pitch struck his hand. It's unlikely that Baltimore Orioles right-handed starter Albert Suarez had any ill intentions, but his lack of control on an inside pitch was a stark reminder of the game's risks.  The Yankees' success this season is intricately linked to Judge's performance, and his absence would undoubtedly be a setback to the team’s positive momentum. Reflecting on the recent loss of Mookie Betts from the Los Angeles Dodgers for six to eight weeks due to a left-hand fracture, I am relieved that the Yankees did not face a similar fate with their star player.

The broken bones belong to Anthony Rizzo, who fractured his right forearm in a collision on Sunday against the Boston Red Sox. Rizzo will be out for at least eight weeks. When the Yankees made a flurry of roster moves on Tuesday with a 40-man spot still needed to activate Gerrit Cole on Wednesday, I thought Rizzo might be a candidate for the 60-day IL, so I am not reading too much into his placement on the 60-day list today. I will start by saying I never want to see anyone hurt, but admittedly, while I am disappointed about the loss of Rizzo, there is some relief, too, given how pathetic he has been at the plate this season—something needed to change.

Anthony Rizzo (Photo Credit: Eric Canha/USA TODAY Sports)

Rizzo is batting .223/.289/.341 with 84 WRC+ this season, good for an fWAR of -0.4. He is thirty-five and no longer the player he was as recently as 2022. Rizzo signed a two-year contract with the Yankees on November 15, 2022, including a club option for 2025. Based on Rizzo’s performance and injury struggles over the last two years, it seems unlikely the club will exercise its option to retain him. So, when Rizzo returns mid to late August, he will play his final weeks in Pinstripes. It is hard to envision him returning with a hot bat. It will most likely be ‘more of the same,’ which will lead to the closure of his Yankees career upon season’s end.

If the Yankees go after an experienced first baseman at the trade deadline, they can hardly be faulted. Rizzo was a skillful player and, by all accounts, a great teammate, but age does not wait for anyone. It happens. It is always better to part ways with a player too soon rather than too late. I do not foresee any realistic scenario that cements Rizzo as a 2025 Yankee. Thanks, buddy. Next.

Yankees prospect Ben Rice, a catcher who added a first baseman’s glove to his repertoire in recent seasons, gets the first shot at replacing Rizzo. As much as I want Rice to succeed, if he is treading water (or worse) into July, the Yankees must go after a more proven resource to man first base. Some fans felt the Yankees should have promoted first base prospect TJ Rumfield. While I would have supported Rice or Rumfield, I cannot see the Yankees burning another 40-man roster spot in-season for Rumfield after making room for Rice. Rumfield seems like one of those November decisions. If the Yankees create more space on the 40-man, they will want someone they know will pay immediate dividends for the team.

I am not expecting the St. Louis Cardinals to trade first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (as nice as it would be for us), so the Yankees will have to find less obvious solutions that can produce. With the uncertainty at first base, the Yankees will unlikely trade Gleyber Torres in July. The best defensive second baseman on the roster is too busy playing the corner bases to take over as the full-time starter at second base. Plus, DJ LeMahieu has his own age-related performance deterioration issues.

So far, 2024 has been a terrific season for General Manager Brian Cashman and the cast of nerds. It will be interesting to see if their magical touch can extend to the current first-base predicament.

Hopefully, Ben Rice grabs the job and does not let go.

Ben Rice (Photo Credit: AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

So long to The Say Hey Kid…

Given that Willie Mays was ninety-three, it was inevitable that his end would be near. He lived a long and productive life and will be remembered as one of the greatest baseball players ever.

Willie Mays (Photo Credit: AP Photo/RDS)

Willie Howard Mays Jr. died of heart failure on June 18, 2024, at a care facility in Palo Alto, CA. Mays had been scheduled to attend a Major League game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, on Thursday between the San Francisco Giants and St Louis Cardinals. He had informed the parties earlier in the week that he could not attend. Unfortunately, his health decline and subsequent death preceded what should have been a joyous day of celebration in Birmingham on June 20. A mural of Mays, which had been in the works before Mays’ death, was unveiled after the news of his passing.

Willie Mays Mural, Rickwood Field, Birmingham, AL (Photo Credit: ESPN)

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred released the following statement on Tuesday: “All of Major League Baseball is mourning today as we are gathered at the very ballpark where a career and legacy like no other began. Willie Mays took his all-around brilliance from the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League to the historic Giants franchise. From coast to coast in New York and San Francisco, Willie inspired generations of players and fans as the game grew and truly earned its place as our National Pastime.”

Willie, thank you for your incredible accomplishments in life. You leave memories of a legend that can never be erased. Thank you for the man you always were, from beginning to end. You lived a life that cannot be replicated. We are better because you were here. Farewell to you, and may you rest in peace.

Willie Mays (Photo Credit: Scott Strazzante/The San Francisco Chronicle)

As always, Go Yankees!

We Play Today, We Win Today...

 

Juan Soto (Photo Credit: Godofredo A Vasquez/AP)

Mariano Duncan’s memorable quote ages like fine wine…

When former Yankees infielder Mariano Duncan uttered the now-famous words, “We play today, we win today…das it,” he was encapsulating the spirit of the 1996 Yankees. This team would clinch their first World Series championship since 1978, marking the beginning of the iconic 1990s Yankees Dynasty. Today, Duncan’s words continue to resonate with the Pinstripes. As we look ahead to the 2024 Yankees Season, the most crucial element is a team firing on all cylinders. While challenges like injuries and slumps are inevitable, an undeniable aura surrounds this year’s Yankees squad.

After triumphing in the first two games in San Francisco on Friday and Saturday nights, the Yankees could have easily let the Giants slip away with a win on Sunday. But this Yankees team is different. Trailing 5-3 in the top of the ninth inning, Gleyber Torres ignited the rally with a single to center. Jose Trevino hit into a force out to get Gleyber at second, but showing the grit of this year’s squad, Trevino, not known for his speed, sprinted to first base to beat the throw and keep a man on base. Continuing his stellar sophomore year, Anthony Volpe smashed a triple to center, scoring Trevino and narrowing the gap to one run. Then, the game’s premier free-agent-to-be, Juan Soto, stepped up. He added to his rapidly growing Yankees legacy with a two-run bomb to center field, propelling the Yankees into the lead.

Giancarlo Stanton's ground-rule double, following Aaron Judge's walk, added an insurance run, but the true heroes of the ninth inning were Trevino, Volpe, and Soto. Clay Holmes also deserves recognition for closing the door on the Giants in the bottom of the ninth. But as with all games, it was a team effort. Nestor Cortes Jr showed resilience, bending but not breaking under pressure. Alex Verdugo's clutch two-out, two-run double in the fifth inning tied the game, which helped to set the stage for Soto’s later heroics. The contributions could continue, but the Yankees emerged victorious, 7-5. This was a game that the 2023 Yankees would have lost. Team chemistry is crucial, and despite the criticism of GM Brian Cashman, he has assembled a team that thrives on playing together and, more importantly, winning.

Road trips generally mean more losses, yet this West Coast visit ended with the Yankees taking seven of nine games against the San Diego Padres, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the San Francisco Giants. No stopover at Dodger Stadium, but they will see the Dodgers in New York this coming weekend. Granted, there is not much to be scared about the Mike Trout-less Angels, but the Padres and even the Giants are competitive teams. To win at least half the games on a road trip is a success, so the Yankees were much better than that.

I am surprised at how quickly the AL East has become simply a two-team race between the Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles. The Boston Red Sox started strong, but they have faded. The Tampa Bay Rays seem to have an off-year, and the Toronto Blue Jays continue to play below their talent level. The Yankees lead the division by three games with a 42-19 record. Baltimore stands at 37-20. The Red Sox, Rays, and Blue Jays are at .500 or slightly below. There is a lot of baseball to be played, so the standings can and will change, but as a Yankees fan, it is delightful to be atop the division as the schedule breaks into the month of June.

The 2024 Yankees are fun to watch. I hope this wonderful ride continues throughout the summer.

The Yankees pitching took a hit when it was announced this past week that Clarke Schmidt had been placed on the 15-day Injured List with a right lat strain. He is expected to be shut down for four to six weeks, meaning when he resumes pitching and works his way back through minor league rehab, it most likely will be August before he takes a Major League mound again. 

Clarke Schmidt (Photo Credit: Brad Penner/Getty Images)

Everyone was worried about who would come out of the rotation when Gerrit Cole is activated off the Injured List. I know that Luis Gil will be under an innings watch, which probably made him the most likely to be pulled for Cole, but Gil’s performance has been so tremendous that the Yankees would be foolish to pull the plug now. Not that I think they would have or that it is time to think about it, but Schmidt’s absence takes the Gil decision off the table for now. The starter losing his spot will be Schmidt’s fill-in, Cody Poteet, regardless of how well he pitches.

I feel sorry for Schmidt. This has been a breakout year for him, and he looked like an integral part of the rotation. Thankfully, Schmidt’s condition was not worse than it was. When you hear a pitcher is injured, Tommy John Surgery is the first thing that always comes to mind. I am glad that Schmidt avoided surgery, and I hope rest allows him to recover and pitch at the same level as he did before the injury. For as much as I wanted the Yankees to sign Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell over the winter, Schmidt had proven to be the far greater investment by the Yankees. Maybe the Yankees will make a trade for a starting pitcher at the trade deadline, but, sorry for the old joke, Schmidt will be like a deadline acquisition when he returns. I look forward to his return, and I know the Yankees will need him in a few months. We hope for a full recovery and successful rehabilitation for young Mister Schmidt.

The Yankees do have a tough decision ahead with Jasson Dominguez. Dominguez has proven he can play at the Major League level, but there is no position as the team is currently structured. The easy answer would be to trade Trent Grisham and make Dominguez the starting centerfielder. In turn, Aaron Judge would have to move to DH, but then what do you do with Giancarlo Stanton? Putting a good defensive outfielder like Judge in a DH-only position also does not make sense. Trade Alex Verdugo to make room for Dominguez in left field, but then you are messing with the terrific team chemistry of this year’s squad and their ‘Dawg’ mentality. The most likely outcome seems to be Dominguez at Triple-A until an injury opens a spot on the active Major League roster. It is not ideal, but there is no clear answer with everyone healthy.

As much as I did not like Alex Verdugo before this season, he has solved the black hole in left that has plagued the Yankees since Brett Gardner departed. I genuinely like the guy now. He is an enthusiastic player, and you know he loves the Yankees as much today as he hated them last season. Everybody deserves a second chance, and he found his way to Pinstripes. It seems like he is most likely a goner after the season (via free agency), and I will be sad. I am excited about Jasson’s future, but it does not mean I will be happy to see Verdugo go. Of course, I will probably dislike him again after he is gone and wearing another uniform. Is it too much to want a future that includes Alex Verdugo, Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones?

Alex Verdugo (Photo Credit: Charlie Neibergall/AP)

Oh well, as long as the Yankees keep winning, the World is ours!

As always, Go Yankees!

We (Yankees Fans) Were Wrong...

 

Clarke Schmidt (Photo Credit: Steve Nesius/AP)

The Emergence of the Team’s Best Pitchers…

For most of the past offseason, I was focused on the Yankees finding help for the upper echelon of the starting rotation. I was on board with the ‘Sign Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell’ train and was prepared to see good prospects leave for then-Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Dylan Cease. I was concerned about a repeated dismal performance by Carlos Rodón in his second tour of duty. I was a little uneasy about having Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt as rotation dependents after ace Gerrit Cole landed on the Injured List to start the season.  I did not envision Marcus Stroman as “the” primary pitching acquisition (or rather the only one). With no offense to Marcus, who has been great both on and off the field, my sights were aimed at a solid number two starter.  Stroman is 100% a guy every team needs, and I am glad he is a Yankee, so I am not trying to diminish his value to the team. Yet, when the season started with Gerrit Cole on the shelf, I was concerned that the Yankees lacked an elite starter to make up for Cole’s absence. However, the team's resilience and the emergence of our current pitchers have given us hope and optimism for the season ahead.

Despite previous doubts, Brian Cashman and his team of strategists operate on a different level. They had faith in Clarke Schmidt, believed Luis Gil was a better fit in the starting rotation than the bullpen, and were convinced Carlos Rodón would return to the form he displayed for San Francisco in 2022. They were right on all counts. Meanwhile, I swung and missed with a strikeout on that trio of hopes, as I did not believe any of them would pan out. I was not alone. Many in the Yankees Universe shared my skepticism. Every time Luis Castillo shines in Seattle, Luis Severino shows glimpses of his former self in Queens, or Dylan Cease dazzles in his new San Diego uniform, the Yankees fan base yearns for what could have been. Yet, the most viable solutions were already on the Yankees roster.

It would not be fair to compare Jordan Montgomery's or Blake Snell's current stats with those of Schmidt and the others, considering that Monty and Snell did not benefit from complete spring training. But one thing is clear: Schmidt, Gil, and Rodón were precisely what the team needed, and regardless of what Montgomery or Snell achieved for the rest of the season, our guys are holding their own.

At age 28, Schmidt cemented his place in the rotation this season. I am grateful he was not included in the Juan Soto trade over the winter. As much as I hated to see Michael King go, losing Schmidt would have been worse. In nine starts, Schmidt is 5-1 with a 2.49 ERA. He has fifty-five strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings. He may not be Gerrit Cole, but he has given the Yankees a reliable rotation starter who gives the Yankees a chance to win every time he takes the mound. He continues to improve (much like his growth curve last season) and has rewarded the patience the Yankees have afforded him.

Luis Gil, 26, has posted remarkably similar stats. He is 4-1 with a 2.51 ERA in eight starts and has 48 strikeouts in 43 innings of work. Schmidt and Gil deserve much credit for the team’s strong 2024 start after last year’s disappointing 82-80 season.

Luis Gil (Photo Credit: @Yankees via X)

It can be argued that Nestor Cortes, Jr is the weak link in the starting rotation, yet he held the Chicago White Sox to only one unearned run over seven innings on Friday night. The starting rotation, collectively, has provided consistency, reliability, and dependability for the first two months of the season. It masked the slow starts by some of the team’s offensive stars. The bullpen gets tremendous credit, significantly Closer Clay Holmes, who has taken ‘bend but not break’ to a higher level; however, the Yankees would not be where they are without their starters.

I am proud of all five current starters, even with a few hiccups along the way. Determining who will lose their starting gig will be difficult when The Ace returns from the Injured List. This stuff has a way of working itself out, but as it stands today, I would move Nestor to the swingman role. Schmidt and Gil have proven their worth, and their highest and best use is starting pitching. Nestor shows he can be a strong rotation option (as he displayed on Friday night in the Yankees’ 4-2 win over the White Sox), but his talents are better suited for a swing role. Once upon a time, Ramiro Mendoza was one of my favorite Yankees in that role. Cortes can be as good, if not better. It is funny that it is the role I had envisioned Gil for before the season began, but like anything, opinions can change. We live in a ‘what have you done for me lately’ world.

I am glad I was wrong about the state of the Yankees’ starting pitching…or that WE were wrong as I do not recall hearing many Yankees fans who were screaming ‘Maintain the Status Quo!’ about the team’s starting pitching during the most recent session of the Hot Stove League a few months ago.

I am sorry for not believing in them during the offseason. I am incredibly proud of how most of the Yankees’ pitchers have delivered this year. It is too early to forecast a World Series, and the Yankees need to figure out a way to beat the Baltimore Orioles, yet I am excited about this Yankees team. This season has a unique feel, regardless of how it ends.

Pick up the phone, Hal…

If there was ever a player the Yankees should negotiate with in-season, Juan Soto is that guy. It has been easy to see how he plays the game on a higher level. Like any player, he is susceptible to slumps, but it is hard to find a more lethal player when he is right. He was exactly as advertised, only better. Fans clamored for years that Soto would be perfect for the Yankees’ lineup, and unlike the previous topic regarding starting pitching, the fans were correct.

Juan Soto (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Soto looks like he enjoys life as a Yankee, and there is no doubt that we appreciate him. Hal Steinbrenner needs to proceed with an offer that entices Scott Boras to negotiate an extension for his prized client before the player reaches free agency. Scott’s history indicates that he will let the free agent wars decide Soto’s next contract, but I am hopeful there is recognition of how much Soto and the Yankees need each other. Regardless of when the next contract is written, Soto will be financially set for the rest of his life.

It is positive to hear Hal Steinbrenner openly discuss possible negotiations this week. Steinbrenner generally steers clear of that talk and avoids in-season negotiations. Again, Soto is the exception to the rule. Break the bank. Keep the guy in Pinstripes. He will wear those pinstripes to the Hall of Fame one day. Although it has subsided recently, I am tired of the Soto-to-the-Mets talk.

It is time for Hal to call Scott Boras. This is the first step to a powerful payday that hopefully ensures Juan Soto calls the Bronx home for years to come.

Help is on the way…

Oswald Peraza and Tommy Kahnle have been on rehab assignments and should be ready for activation before the month ends. I feel bad for Jon Berti, but he appears to be the odd one out when Peraza and DJ LeMahieu return to the active roster. LeMahieu began his rehab assignment on Friday to be ready to join the team in early June. I want to see Peraza spend less time in Triple-A. He needs to play at the Major League level, whether with the Yankees or another team. I prefer the Yankees, but for the player’s sake, he deserves a Major League opportunity if the Yankees will not play him.

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

We have yet to see much of Kahnle on his latest tour in Pinstripes. I hope he stays healthy and becomes a force in the pen again. He has long been one of my favorites, and I want him to succeed. It is not like everybody in the bullpen is killing it right now. If Kahnle rebounds to form, there is room to push out guys not named Clay Holmes or Luke Weaver.

I am happy to see Peraza, Kahnle, and LeMahieu close to returning. The Yankees have some tough decisions ahead as they maneuver the active roster. There will be some hard choices to make. I have no idea where the Yankees will play Jasson Dominguez, who is also rehabbing. Before the season, it was easy to say Alex Verdugo should be the odd one out, but now I am unsure. Verdugo has done better than expected, and the formerly unlikable player has become likable. Dominguez can be the better player, and the Yankees have more extended control over him, so Dominguez makes the most sense to stay. Yet, trading Verdugo does not make sense, even if he will be a free agent at the end of the season. Maybe rethink it in July, but Verdugo is part of the magical chemistry the team has exuded this season. As much as I like Dominguez, I am trying to think about his return when it happens. I know I am not ready to part ways with Verdugo. I hope this sorts itself out to everyone's mutual satisfaction.

As always, Go Yankees!

Yankees Baseball is Fun Again...

 

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: NY Daily News)

Winning cures all…

Granted, the recent three-game slide was not fun, but to end it with a four-run ninth inning to beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-4, on Thursday night showed that this team is built differently than the 2023 version.  I guess you could say ‘What a difference Juan Soto makes!’

The Yankees (13-6) currently lead the American League East by a half-game over the Baltimore Orioles. Placement in the standings does not mean much at this stage of the season, but all things considered, I would rather be in first place than not. For the Yankees to be in first place after nineteen games with Gerrit Cole on the shelf and the bats of Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres lost somewhere in Antarctica, it is exciting to think where the team will be when the cooler bats warm up. Maybe Judge is breaking through after his game-winning hit in Thursday night’s late rally. I look forward to days when Soto and Judge go back-to-back with regularity.

Credit to the starting pitching rotation for keeping the team in games despite the absence of the AL Cy Young Award winner. As much as I wanted the Yankees to sign Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell this past offseason, the Yankees have no complaints with the current five. Long-term, Luis Gil is better suited for the bullpen, and he will be the one bounced from the rotation when Cole returns unless somebody else is injured first. However, for now, he is playing his part to the best of his ability.

Despite the flaws evident in the team, I am excited about this season. The Yankees will go through cold spells during the long season (like we saw earlier this week), but this is a capable team that can compete on the field with any team. I am not ready to anoint them as the World Series Champions-to-be, but this collection of twenty-six guys gives us hope for a better October than in recent years. Honestly, I think the Baltimore Orioles will win the division, but it would be no surprise if they fall short to the Yankees. Stay close and anything can happen at the end of the season.

I may have been disappointed when the Yankees traded for Alex Verdugo, but I am enjoying his Dawg mentality on the field. He strikes me as the outfielder that Clint Frazier wanted to be but could not back it up with his play. Verdugo, so far, has shown he can. I remember watching Verdugo play as a rookie for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and I wondered why the kid had been hyped so much. He may not be superstar-level, but he is the type of competent and consistent player that every team needs to win and one the Yankees were sorely lacking in left field last year.

Alex Verdugo (Photo Credit: @Yankees via Instagram)

Oswaldo Cabrera has performed better at third base than most people expected yet DJ LeMahieu will soon return. While Cabrera has gotten off to a hot start, there is no question LeMahieu is the better long-term play at third base. Cabrera has certainly earned playing time, and there is no reason to keep him off the field when LeMahieu does return. Cabrera will play somewhere on the field more often than not. He will also cover third base when LeMahieu needs a breather or if DJ moves over to first base to spell Anthony Rizzo.  I see people who say Cabrera must start at third base if he is hitting but the global view is LeMahieu offers the most for the position. Cabrera needs to play, but it does not need to be third base specifically when he is capable of other infield positions. LeMahieu remains the best third baseman on the roster (…even if he is a second baseman).

As much as I like Gleyber Torres, it is hard to envision any scenario for him after the season other than the Yankees simply letting him walk away. I doubt he will be traded at the deadline, but stranger things have happened. I no longer believe the Yankees will sign him to an extension when the organization has so many talented infielders coming up in the system. When the offseason hits, the Yankees will be distracted by Juan Soto and their attempt to sign him to a new contract before he signs elsewhere. For some reason, the team can never multi-task when adding new players. Outwardly, it always seems to be a one-player-at-a-time proposition unless it is a multi-player trade. I know it is not quite like that internally, but it is outside the organization's perception.

Yet distraction will not be the cause of Gleyber’s departure. His mental lapses, combined with the infusion of near-ready Major League infield talent, will prevent the Yankees from tying up dollars and years for the team’s starting second baseman. I know that some team will gain a talented second baseman in 2025 and I am a little sad that it will not be the Yankees who sign Gleyber. I will find no fault with the Yankees if they choose to move on from Gleyber and that sucks to say.  I like Gleyber, the player…when his head is in the game…and the person he is. Character matters, and Gleyber is a quality guy. Please, Lord, do not let him become a Red Sock. The only Wild Card that could keep Gleyber in Pinstripes is that he has become one of Juan Soto’s buddies. No doubt this is the year of keeping Juan Soto happy.

Third Base Coach Luis Rojas and Juan Soto (Photo Credit: @Yankees via Instagram)

I am not trying to be negative about the Yankees. This is legitimately the best I have felt about the team in a few years. As good as the team is playing, they will get better when Gerrit Cole, DJ LeMahieu, and Jasson Dominguez return. It seems like the Yankees will be players at the trade deadline but that is too far away to matter yet. The immediate goal is for the Yankees to be in first place or near it when Memorial Day Weekend rolls around. One step at a time. Then, to remain in a competitive position by the All-Star Break. I would love for the Yankees to break away from the pack and win the division before Labor Day but that is not realistic. I know there will be more cold snaps and frustrating losses, but as long as the team stays competitive in every series (even like the recent Blue Jays series they lost yet were in every game to the end), the wins will be there at the end of the season to unlock October. 

Time to tune out the naysayers. The Yankees are good.

Farewell to the Fallen

I was saddened to hear about the death of former Yankees pitcher Ken Holtzman. I know he is more known as an Oakland A or Chicago Cub, but he was a Yankee during the early years of my fandom.

Catfish Hunter and Ken Holtzman (Photo Credit: AP)

Those late 1970s Yankees were fun to follow and love despite the chaos of the Bronx Zoo. Holtzman was part of the famed trade with the Baltimore Orioles on June 15, 1976, that sent Rick Dempsey, Tippy Martinez, Rudy May, Scott McGregor, and Dave Pagan to the O’s for Holtzman, Doyle Alexander, Jimmy Freeman, Elrod Hendricks, and Grant Jackson to the Yankees. I always felt the O’s got the better end of the deal but through no fault of Ken Holtzman.

Holtzman won a World Series championship with the Yankees in 1977 although he did not pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was traded to the Cubs on June 10, 1978, for a player to be named later who turned out to be Goose Gossage’s setup man (Ron Davis). 

Holtzman was only 78. He died in St Louis, Missouri, his hometown. 

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ken’s family and friends.

Another surprising death was former Kansas City Royals and St Louis Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog. Herzog was the manager of the Royals when they lost several championship series to the Yankees in the late 1970’s. He was gone from Kansas City when they finally overcame the Yankees in 1980. He was such a colorful character in those '70s post-season battles between the Yankees and the Royals, at least in my childhood perception.

Herzog managed the Cardinals for most of the 1980s which included a World Series championship in 1982. 

I think the one thing that surprised me in reading Herzog’s obituary was that he originally signed as a young player with the Yankees. He never played for the Yankees at the Major League level, traded as a minor league player to the Washington Senators in 1956. All these years I never knew he started in the Yankees organization.

Herzog was 92. Like Ken Holtzman, Herzog also departed life in St Louis. St Louis, the city, and all Major League Baseball lost a couple of valuable members who will not be soon forgotten. 

The Year of Waiver Claims

The Yankees continued their active 2024 role of grabbing players off the waiver wire when they claimed outfielder Taylor Trammell off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers had claimed Trammell through a waiver claim in April after he had been designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners. Although Trammell is only 26, the blossom has faded off his former status as a top prospect and he has bounced around. The Yankees have liked him for a few years, so I am sure they want to tinker with him to see if there is anything there.

James Outman and Taylor Trammell (Photo Credit: Matt Krohn/Getty Images)

While I did not think Kevin Smith was a quality Major League player, I was surprised the Yankees cut him to make room for Trammell for no other reason than Smith being an infielder. The Yankees have a greater immediate need for infield help on the Major League roster than outfielders. I would have thought replacing Smith with a better infielder would have made the most sense. It probably shows how much the Yankees have liked Trammell and their belief they can help him succeed. Maybe it means Jahmai Jones has a short shelf life. The Trammell acquisition feels like an unfinished product…like there will be another move that addresses the infield needs. Who knows? I wish the best for Trammell, and I hope he achieves his dream. If not, he dances with DFA once again when the Yankees are off to their next waiver claim. 

John Sterling Rides Away

I have always enjoyed John Sterling as the radio voice of the New York Yankees and his legendary home run calls. It was sad news to hear that he is stepping down, effective immediately, due to health concerns. At 85 years of age, it was obvious we were close to the end, but there was always hope it would be "next year; not this year" (regardless of when that may be). 

John Sterling (Photo Credit: Bill Kostroun/AP)

Sterling will be honored at a ceremony to be held on Saturday at Yankee Stadium.

I never understood those who criticized Sterling and his style of broadcasting. He was unique, memorable, and always insightful. He spent 36 years with the Yankees, his favorite team as a child, and was fantastic from start to finish, even with a reduced broadcasting schedule in recent years. 

Since Sterling's retirement was immediate, there will be no final game to listen to. It already happened even though we did not realize it at the time. It seems like a selfless act by Sterling who strikes me as someone who would not want to take the focus away from the Yankees. He knew when the time was right, and then he simply walked away. Much respect for a great man, an outstanding radio voice, and a Yankees legend.  

Sterling deserves a place in Monument Park.  

As always, Go Yankees!