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| Credit: USATSI |
Brian Cashman on Line 3...
The Yankees were very busy on Thursday and that was before game time. Normally, I lead with the day's prior game but today I wanted to catch my breath from the flurry of activity that took place yesterday.
On Wednesday night, Miguel Andujar, penciled in at DH as a fill-in for the DL'd Matt Holliday, had one of the greatest Major League debuts in franchise history. For all I know, it may have been the best, outperforming many of the legends that have called Yankee Stadium home. He went 3-for-4 with 4 RBI's and a stolen base. Thursday rolls around and he's flying from Chicago to Syracuse, New York to catch up with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on the road.
I get the logic. The Yankees want Andujar to focus on third base with regular playing time. There's no doubt he'll be back but it must have been tough celebrating Major League success for the first time, followed by a tap on the shoulder that the manager wanted to talk to you...and oh yeah, bring your bags.
Coming the other way is first baseman Chris Carter. I think @BronxPinstripes said it best on Twitter the other day when they said Carter would be back faster than you could say 'Strike 3'. Sad but true. With the placement of Tyler Austin on the disabled list (hamstring), the Yankees needed a true first baseman. Austin Romine has done a good job and I'm sure he'll remain in the mix, but I guess we need to get prepared for more whiffs in big spots.
To make room for Carter, the Yankees moved Greg Bird to the 60-Day Disabled List which is probably a light indication we may not see Bird again this year.
The Yankees also recalled outfielder Dustin Fowler to replace Andujar. I wondered what was up with Fowler. Wednesday night, I was seeing tweets about how Fowler was a no-show for the RailRiders' double-header. No reason was given and when Manager Al Pedrique was asked about it after the games, he said that there would be clarity on Thursday. Early Thursday, the news was breaking that Fowler was on his way to Chicago to meet up with the Yankees. Obviously, the Yankees must have called the RailRiders to tell them to pull Fowler from games. It must be tough to be a Triple A manager. Things are going great and out of nowhere, your best players get plucked off your roster so you're left to pillage Double A. I don't dispute calling up Fowler. There is a greater outfield need right now and there's no way I'd put all my chips on Jacoby Ellsbury. It's unfortunate for Andujar but it would have been a good opportunity for Fowler. More on Fowler later.
Since Fowler was not on the 40-man roster, someone had to be voted off the island. Unfortunately, the loser was one-time top prospect Mason Williams. As an older prospect that never took advantage of opportunities, he was deemed expendable in an organization filled with outstanding outfield prospects. I know these moves are as much about preparing for the December Rule 5 Draft as they are for helping the team play the White Sox and the Astros. It will be interesting to see if the Yankees can trade Williams or if they lose him for nothing. I don't really see him accepting an outright assignment to Triple A but I could be wrong. If it were me, I'd try to catch on with an organization running a little thin with outfielders. Excuse me, Brian Sabean, can we talk? Fowler represents the ninth Yankee making his MLB debut this year. Gleyber Torres, why, oh why, did you make that slide?...
Busy, busy day.
White Sox 4, Yankees 3...
The exciting MLB debut for Dustin Fowler ended as horrifically as one could imagine. On his first play in the first inning, Fowler ruptured the patella tendon in his right knee when he tried to make a running catch into foul territory to catch a fly ball and collided with the low right field foul wall. I had been worried about Fowler going into this game. Delayed by rain, the game didn't begin play until 10 pm Central (which would have been 11 pm for Fowler having just flown in from Syracuse, New York). The late, wet conditions set a horrible stage for Fowler's debut. I felt the game should have been called, particularly considering the Yankees had to fly to Houston, Texas to play another game today at 5:10 pm Central. It was a very unfortunate situation for Fowler, who is out for the season.
The Yankees are now faced with yet another roster move. Rob Refsnyder, who replaced Fowler in right field, dropped a fly ball that should have been caught which allowed the White Sox to score a run in the bottom of the 2nd inning. No offense to Refsnyder but the Yankees need better help in the outfield. It will be interesting to see if the Yankees make another adjustment with the 40-man roster to recall Clint Frazier.
The Yankees scored first in the top of the first inning before the Fowler injury in the bottom half. Following an infield single by Brett Gardner and a walk by Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius grounded into a fielder's choice to first but Jose Abreu's throw to second glanced off Judge's left shoulder and went into left field. Gardner scored on the play.
In the bottom of the second, the White Sox scored two runs to take the lead. The first run, courtesy of Refsnyder's error. Adam Engel, who hit the two-out fly ball that Refsnyder dropped, scored the go-ahead run when the next batter, Omar Narvaez, singled to left.
The Yankees tied the game in the fourth. Ronald Torreyes lined a single to deep left with runners at first and second, scoring the lead runner (Jacoby Ellsbury). But the White Sox quickly answered in the bottom half of the inning. Yolmer Sanchez walked to start the inning for the White Sox. Adam Engel was hit by a pitch with one out to put runners at first and second. Omar Narvaez grounded out to first, but the runners advanced a base. Willy Garcia brought both runners home with a double to deep left and the White Sox led, 4-2.
The Yankees scored their final run in the sixth when Jacoby Ellsbury led off with a triple. He scored when Austin Romine hit into a ground out at short. Unfortunately, the Yankees were unable to complete the rally. They had the right opportunity in the ninth with Aaron Judge at the plate and Brett Gardner on first with two outs, but White Sox closer David Robertson struck out Judge to end the game.
I am sure it was a very long flight from Chicago to Houston.
This was a sickening loss. The long-term health of Dustin Fowler is the primary concern. But these were very difficult circumstances for the Yankees to play and a game that I felt should not have been played. The cost was far too great. If the Yankees play sluggishly today, who can blame them. With the loss, the Yankees (42-35) fell one game behind the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 6-3. The Tampa Bay Rays lost 4-0 to the Pittsburgh Pirates so they are three games behind the Yankees.
Luis Cessa (0-3) was the hard luck loser. He pitched 4 2/3 innings, with a whopping 89 pitches, allowing 5 hits, 4 runs (2 unearned thanks to the Refsnyder error), 3 walks, and struck out 1. If there is a positive, the Yankees bullpen threw 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief which included an inning by Tyler Clippard. The pitcher, who has been very erratic of late, struck out the side in the bottom of the 7th.
I hope Brian Cashman gets to the office early today. He has much work to do.
Oh well, on to Houston and MLB's best team, the Astros. It doesn't get any easier.
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| Credit: Patrick Gorski-AP |
The Yankees scored first in the top of the first inning before the Fowler injury in the bottom half. Following an infield single by Brett Gardner and a walk by Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius grounded into a fielder's choice to first but Jose Abreu's throw to second glanced off Judge's left shoulder and went into left field. Gardner scored on the play.
In the bottom of the second, the White Sox scored two runs to take the lead. The first run, courtesy of Refsnyder's error. Adam Engel, who hit the two-out fly ball that Refsnyder dropped, scored the go-ahead run when the next batter, Omar Narvaez, singled to left.
The Yankees tied the game in the fourth. Ronald Torreyes lined a single to deep left with runners at first and second, scoring the lead runner (Jacoby Ellsbury). But the White Sox quickly answered in the bottom half of the inning. Yolmer Sanchez walked to start the inning for the White Sox. Adam Engel was hit by a pitch with one out to put runners at first and second. Omar Narvaez grounded out to first, but the runners advanced a base. Willy Garcia brought both runners home with a double to deep left and the White Sox led, 4-2.
The Yankees scored their final run in the sixth when Jacoby Ellsbury led off with a triple. He scored when Austin Romine hit into a ground out at short. Unfortunately, the Yankees were unable to complete the rally. They had the right opportunity in the ninth with Aaron Judge at the plate and Brett Gardner on first with two outs, but White Sox closer David Robertson struck out Judge to end the game.
I am sure it was a very long flight from Chicago to Houston.
This was a sickening loss. The long-term health of Dustin Fowler is the primary concern. But these were very difficult circumstances for the Yankees to play and a game that I felt should not have been played. The cost was far too great. If the Yankees play sluggishly today, who can blame them. With the loss, the Yankees (42-35) fell one game behind the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 6-3. The Tampa Bay Rays lost 4-0 to the Pittsburgh Pirates so they are three games behind the Yankees.
Luis Cessa (0-3) was the hard luck loser. He pitched 4 2/3 innings, with a whopping 89 pitches, allowing 5 hits, 4 runs (2 unearned thanks to the Refsnyder error), 3 walks, and struck out 1. If there is a positive, the Yankees bullpen threw 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief which included an inning by Tyler Clippard. The pitcher, who has been very erratic of late, struck out the side in the bottom of the 7th.
I hope Brian Cashman gets to the office early today. He has much work to do.
Oh well, on to Houston and MLB's best team, the Astros. It doesn't get any easier.
Next Up: Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas...
Here are the scheduled pitching match-ups:
FRIDAY
Yankees: Michael Pineda (7-4, 4.12 ERA)
Astros: Lance McCullers, Jr. (7-1, 2.53 ERA)
SATURDAY
Yankees: Jordan Montgomery (6-4, 3.53 ERA)
Astros: Francis Martes (2-0, 5.51 ERA)
SUNDAY
Yankees: Luis Severino (5-3, 3.15 ERA)
Astros: Mike Fiers (5-3, 3.98 ERA)
Odds & Ends...
Another former Yankee has found his way to the unemployment line. The Atlanta Braves have designated 44-year-old Bartolo Colon for assignment. I really hope the Yankees do not to take a flyer. Let him go back to the Mets.
Have a great Friday! Today has to be better than yesterday. Let's Go Yankees!
Have a great Friday! Today has to be better than yesterday. Let's Go Yankees!
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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)