Friday, March 11, 2016

What if the Yankees Go Injury Free in 2016?


Welcome to spring training, the foreplay of the Major League Baseball season. It’s where the games don’t count and where the players with roster spots take it easy. It’s one of the few times where everyone is in first place and the sky is the limit in the hope department. There are a lot of “what if’s” in spring training though that need to get figured out before the season, for example what if Robert Refsnyder can play third base? Does he still begin the season in Triple-A with the RailRiders? I like the short-sighted speculation like that but at the same time I prefer to play devil’s advocate, analyze and look at everything from both sides and throw a “what if” out there that cannot be answered for quite some time like what would happen to the New York Yankees and how far would they go if the team went relatively injury free in 2016?

Could we expect a 40 home run season and 150 games played from Mark Teixeira? Another 30+ home run season from Alex Rodriguez and seeing him pass Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list? Another 30 starts and a whole lot of myths and rumors squashed about his and five doctors decision to skip Tommy John surgery and rest and rehab the ligament instead? Jacoby Ellsbury finally living up to the hype of being a $150 million man? Yes, yes, yes and yes.

While there are plenty of upsides to having a generally healthy season there will always be a con to every pro. We won’t get to see much, if any, of Aaron Judge since Carlos Beltran will play the bulk of right field and Aaron Hicks will fill in when needed at the position. We won’t get to see much Robert Refsnyder either if the Yankees stay healthy all season as Starlin Castro and Chase Headley get the bulk of the playing time at second and third base respectively. We’ll still get to see Gary Sanchez, Brian McCann and A Rod will need days off throughout the season to keep them healthy and fresh, but not enough for my liking as a self-professed prospect humper.


While we squabble over playing time and the lifelong debate of veteran or prospect if the Yankees stay healthy you will see them back in the postseason regardless. This team is littered with youth and littered with talent and if they can put it together collectively as a group and stay healthy you may see 90-92 wins in 2016. I truly believe that. Health and staying fresh means the offense somewhat resembles the 2nd highest scoring offense they were in 2015, the pitching of Tanaka, Michael Pineda, Luis Severino and others stay in the rotation rather than Chris Capuano, Esmil Rogers and others who struggled in the rotation last season, and it means a dominant back end of the bullpen. All these components equal victories and a damn good season for not only the players and the fans but for the city of the Bronx as well. Go Yankees, stay healthy!

22 comments:

  1. I like your "Injury Free Season" scenarios Daniel, although I would like to have Castro as our SS/2nd baseman and Refsy on the bench for 3rd/2nd base. A bench of Austin/Gary, Rob Refsnyder, Hicks and Ackley isn't a bad thing.
    Headley can be the come-back player of the season for the Yankees IF he returns to his normal self, thus being a very important part of a winning season as he is a switch hitter.
    Just think about it, we could have four switch hitters in the line-up on any given day...not a bad situation to have!
    Here is to good health for the team going north!

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    1. Well this was written before the Yankees decided to scrap the whole Castro at third base thing. I figured New York would want that veteran over the unproven rookie so I went with it.

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  2. Speaking of the thirdbase experiment with Refsnyder though, it has gone pretty well in my opinion.

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    1. I agree Jeff, and hope the manager dose also! Of course he will be on the shuttle to AAA some of the time.

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    2. One also must take into consideration if one is an athlete, 3rd base is easier to learn than 2nd base. With Refsy coming from the outfield into the infield (which is harder than going to the outfield) it was a good call.
      He should be fine as he is quicker than most 3rd basemen and he has shown a strong enough arm...much better than I thought he had as I was in doubt on that aspect of moving him.

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    3. Everything points towards New York bringing Ref to play third base as a backup on Opening Day 2016. Dustin Ackley has a tight quad so him and his versatility may be more important than ever.

      So glad Brian Cashman reads this site so he can get ideas and pass them off as his own.

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    4. See, just what we have been trying to get across to some fans...Cashman is not so dumb after all.
      We hammered him to let Refsy play and now he sees the light.
      Good thing I THOUGHT OF THAT All by Myself, well, maybe you had some input...ok, ok mostly your blog did it. You satisfied now? LOL

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  3. Really Reed because the last I looked we are still in spring training, so making the assumption that Ref is headed north is just that...an assumption

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    1. Yes, it is an assumption Ken H. but, a good one...I hope!
      The guy just hits the ball from the right side and is getting better at 3rd with the glove. Right now he is a bench player and will be on the AAA conveyer belt.
      Headley is a misthrow away from having the yips. If that happens he is toast. I have seen many players get the Yippies and they only do worse not better...very few have ever gotten better.
      Nice to see you commenting Ken, have a good day.

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    2. It's an assumption that can be gotten after comments from Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman. They want the 25th man to be able to play third base. No one but Refsnyder and Headley are really playing third base consistently. The proof is in the pudding so to speak. It's his job to lose.

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    3. Does the waiver wire mean anything to you? Don't read the tea leaves just yet Burch. This is the elf and Hal show!

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    4. I'm not betting the house on it by any means, especially looking at the past with Refsnyder, but I'm not completely dismissing it either.

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  4. Reed, first I want to state that Castro should not be with the Yanks playing 2B. It should be Refsnyder, but your boy Cashman decided he would rather add unnecessary payroll for a player that played half a season at 2B and was benched the first part of the year at SS for a pitcher that was not only versatile but was our most consistent pitcher. You wont hear me argue about Ref being up with the major league club. My point is that your boy Cashman is anything but predictable so no one should assume the Refsnyder move, as common sense does not play into his vocabulary.

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    1. Hans, I'm bitter about it too. Im hoping for both to do awesome (warren and castro). A part of me says "good call guys" everytime castro has an error. I found all the "Thank you, Chicago" and the publicity castro was getting when traded was unwarranted. But I constantly want to remind myself that it's a big transition to new york, and I think the first few months will be crucial for him. Hey, if we can get them both regularly playing and playing well in the bronx, Im fine with that.

      Now, onto cashman. I know you wanted a big trade, a solid starter, or something remotely exciting. The main talk was brett gardner and andrew miller. But first, come on, who would be excited to get Brett Gardner? He bores me to all hell. i dont think Cashman was capable of getting anything remotely exciting.

      However. My thoughts and expectations on this season are less than those of Daniels. No chance at anything significant in the playoffs. I think younger players should be showcased when given the opportunity. At the trade line, we should look to move one or both of the closers to a contender. That's when we best utilize supply and demand. If this doesn't happen, hands down- he's a complete idiot. If Chapman doesn't get traded, we will be getting a compensation draft pick of what, something like number 20-30? And like we've been discussing the past several months, a 20-30 draft pick (specifically from cashman) amounts to absolute trash. lol

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    2. Ken H...
      I was not in favor of the Castro trade and unless he becomes a MUCH better player than he has shown us so far I will not like it in the future. From what I have seen he is not a better glove than Refsy, he may end up being a better hitter with a little help...but, even that is debatable.
      Didn't we also get some pitchers in the deal?
      But as things are as they are...we will have to see if things work out or not...as you have said before; This is spring training!

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    3. Daryl I totally agree with you that this team will sniff a Wild Card berth and faulter like last year. Too many questions surround this pitching staff and the injury prone lineup we have. The elf didn't get it with Cano when he had no chance of re-signing him yet he let him finish the year instead of trading him for a bounty of players, instead he got a pick that might never measure up to the player Cano was. That is my fear with this idiot that he will do it again. He should be traded for a haul if this team is indeed on the outside looking in. I see this team 3rd to 4th place this year, however let me state this. I said the same thing last year and was wrong.

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    4. Daryl...
      Did you forget IF Chapman misses 30 games for his suspension and another 15+ games (on the farm) to get in shape for games time with the big guys, that will make 45 days and we would have him for another year.
      Now I am not sure if those 15+ games will count for the 45 days missing to kick in another year or not. But Daniel or someone can look it up, and I hope I am right!

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    5. Daryl,

      the compensation picks come after the first round so your 20-30 prediction is a lot closer to 30 than 20 (since you start out at 30 and teams lose their first round picks for signing qualifying offer players).

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    6. Reed,

      he would still be an active player and his service time would count. The only way Chapman avoids free agency is to come off the 40 man roster either by DFA or suspension.

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  5. SABATHIA:...says today," I'm on the right track." Really ?

    As simple as I can state...

    Sabathia, is being paid to win. Which he has enormous trouble doing.

    Sabathia, will never be a contributing true starter again. Every loss
    he puts up....wrecks our season, and blocks someone else.

    You have to pay him, so pay him to go away, and move on.

    Want to really jump start this outfit?
    Trade Gardner, and Ellsbury....and slot in the youth, whom they block.

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    1. If he's right on track we are seriously in trouble this season.

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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)