Sunday, April 25, 2021

Gerrit Cole is a Yankee...

  

Photo Credit: AP

Another dominant start by Caden Cole’s dad…

I know, the title of this post is probably one of the most over-used phrases on Social Media, but what a difference an ace makes! As if we do not say it enough, thank you, Hal Steinbrenner, for your gracious gift of $324 million to Baseball’s best pitcher. 

In a showdown with the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, Shane Bieber, Cole emerged victorious with yesterday’s one-run win as the Yankees took down the Cleveland ‘soon to be formerly named’ Indians, 2-1. Regardless of whether he wins or loses, or if he gives up a homer, I know I have so much more confidence when Cole is on the mound. Coupled with the brilliant contributions provided by the Yankees bullpen this season, it is a winning combination.

Cole recorded eleven strikeouts to raise his season total to fifty in five games. Jacob deGrom has as many in only four games, but regardless, you know Cole will reach his usual 300 by season’s end so long as good health remains his friend. I think this is the most I have joined a Yankees starting pitcher since the prime (early Yankee career) of CC Sabathia. I remember the fun and excitement of the summer of ’78 with the brilliant pitching performance of Ron Guidry. Cole brings the same excitement I felt as a kid. 

Thanks to Cole, the Yankees have their first three-game winning streak of the young season following the sluggish start. A record of 9-11 feels much better than 6-11. One day at a time, one win at a time. Borrowing former Yankee Mariano Duncan’s famous words, “we play today, we win today”. Breaking the weekend only one game below .500 would be a great way to start the new week. Despite the slow start, the Yankees are only three games behind the current AL leaders, the Boston Red Sox. Nobody expects Boston to be there at the end except for maybe the RSN. It’s a matter of when, not if, the Yankees will catch and pass the Red Sox. The Tampa Bay Rays, the more formidable competitor, sit a game and a half above the Yankees entering play today. The up-and-coming Toronto Blue Jays are currently tied with the Yankees for third place. If the Yankees can be in first place by Memorial Day Weekend, with Luis Severino looming on the horizon, life will truly be good.

I saw the tweet by Erik Kratz yesterday morning and of course Michael Kay mentioned it during the TV broadcast of yesterday’s game, but it is worth revisiting. Kratz tweeted: “Are the Yankees too professional? Maybe Rougned Odor gives them the swag they need outwardly. He brings a dynamic that, combined with the other talent already on the roster, could make them lethal, even if statistically he doesn’t play well.”

Photo Credit: AP

There were many Odor haters when the Yankees made the recent trade. I did not really understand the trade either for no other reason than Odor simply has not been a good player for a few years now despite his young age.  Yet, I did not rip the Yankees for the move. I see the financial aspect with the Texas Rangers paying Odor’s big contract, but I knew the Yankees must have seen something in him they thought could be corrected. Look, I am not expecting him to become a superstar in Pinstripes. He will not even be a starter when Luke Voit returns to push DJ LeMahieu back to second base. But his competitive spirit is refreshing, and it is helping drive others to better performance which is a single characteristic that carries value. Imagine his energy matched with Voit’s when the Yankees first baseman is back on the field. I like the swagger. The Tampa Bay Rays have shown they are not intimidated by the Yankees. I would love to see the changing of the tide. Put some fear in the hearts of the Rays. 

While the jury is still out on Odor, it is important to remember Cashman’s moves sometimes need time to marinate. Odor, although he may not be a great hitter, is seemingly coming up with the big hits at the right time. His home run yesterday, the margin of victory, showed there is life in the bat. Given how much Daniel Burch of The Greedy Pinstripes loves bat flips, no doubt he is enjoying it when Odor goes yard. 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/BatFlipBrotherhood

I suppose there is some irony that the two home runs in Saturday’s game were provided by two players despised by Yankees Twitter, Odor and Aaron Hicks.  Gerrit Cole called Odor “the cherry on top” so you know the Yankee players value these guys, even if Twitter does not.

I am a little sad Corey Kluber will not face his former team this series. For as much as Kluber haunted us an Indian, it would have been nice to exact some revenge.  

I could not care less about the New York Mets, but I have to say I am sorry to see the continued struggles of former Yankees’ reliever Dellin Betances. The former strikeout artist has been dealing with right shoulder impingement this season, and this past week the Mets moved Betances to the 60-day injured list. This means Betances will not be available until sometime in June. Now into his second season with the Mets, Betances has only been able to pitch 12 2/3 innings in regular season games for New York’s second-best MLB team. He deserves better. Not sure if we will ever see vintage Betances again, but he will most likely need to leave New York City to make it happen, especially if the latest injury keeps him out longer than currently expected or if he runs into further injuries in the months ahead. 

Speaking of former Yankees, farewell to Neil Walker who announced his retirement this past week. Walker is a good guy, and I enjoyed his time with the Yankees even if his performance was forgettable. He was not the player he had been earlier in his career (obviously), but he was a team guy. Like Jay Bruce, I had hoped for much more, but it was quite simply not meant to be. Walker’s career effectively ended when the Philadelphia Phillies released him last September after playing just 18 games during the 2020 season.  Father Time nails everybody, except for maybe Tom Brady. Walker’s playing card was revoked at age 35. Time for him to launch his second act for life after MLB. Hopefully, it will prove to be rewarding and successful for Neil and his family.   

Photo Credit: Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports

I saw the Yankees were in attendance, among many other teams, for a showcase last week featuring free agent right-hander Anibal Sanchez. It is hard for me to get enthused about the 37-year-old. I probably prefer to see Deivi Garcia achieve Bronx success over bringing in aging journeyman arms.  I am trying to keep expectations low, but I am excited about the return of Luis Severino later this summer even if the initial return from Tommy John surgery is generally met with choppy waters. And no, J.A. Happ’s flirtation with a no-hitter last week did not make me wish he were still around. 

When the Yankees broke out of the gate, falling on their ass, to start the season, the calls for the removal of Aaron Boone started to get louder. I even saw one article yesterday that suggested the Yankees should turn to former manager Buck Showalter. Sorry, as much as I like Buck and having him back in the family at the YES Network, I am not pining for his return to the field. I like Aaron Boone and I continue to support his leadership. Even growing up during the George Steinbrenner era, I am not a fan of in-season firings, even as an attempt to spark a team. Boone deserves a chance to see this season through conclusion. If he falls short, re-evaluate in the off-season. I do not see any available managerial candidates as difference-makers over Boone. Now that the Yankees are starting to play better, the calls for Boone’s head will hopefully subside. It is funny how people love to go after Boone when it is Brian Cashman who dealt the playing cards. Ultimately, I feel Cashman should be held to a higher standard for accountability. He has had a long tenure with the Yankees, but the team has not won since 2009 as all of us know too painfully well.  An off-season change with the general manager’s seat might be more powerful than ending Boone’s time in Pinstripes.  But now is not the time for either. There will be plenty of time to reevaluate at season’s end. For now, the focus should be on bringing a championship back to the Bronx.

First place by Memorial Day Weekend. Onward and upward, let’s win today.

As always, Go Yankees!

Monday, April 19, 2021

How To Fix the Yankees Offense -Bleacher Creatures

 Basically the only way for the Yankees to improve is to get better in positions where they are the worst offensively and defensively, we will not talk about pitching right now. The lowest OPS's are at 1B (now a 2B issue with Odor), CF, LF, SS (Gleyber is not getting traded). The worst defense is at 2B, SS, CF, and LF. Odor needs to go, right now the only thing we can do is call up Ford and hope he can hit like it is 2019. Voit will come back and be an animal. Ford is serviceable defensively at 1B and improves the right side of infield with DJ at 2B. DJ is not the solution long term at 2B though, he will be the 1B by the end of his contract and if I were up to it, he would play their next year. Gleyber has looked good defensively at short stop since everyone ripped him for shuffling before he throws. Almost every time I have seen since the few times, he messed up he has looked good. I think though he has focused too much on defense physically and mentally that his offense has struggled. I do not think has the range, glove or arm for long term SS and has looked a lot better in his career at 2B. Now we have a gaping hole at SS and if DJ is on first base, where does Luke Voit play. I love Luke Voit’s energy and production, and as we have seen, without homeruns, the Yankees are shit. We can hold on to him and play him at DH and make Stanton play the outfield to get his mind off hitting and so he will hit again or since Voit is once again a redundant right-handed, power hitter who strikes out a lot, we can trade him before he becomes a free agent and makes 25 mill per year, do not need any more people like that. So at short stop what can we do? Trevor Story has had an iffy year and inserting him there right now may not improve the Yankees offensively. I love the guy and would be very happy for him to be on the Yankees, but I think Seager is the much better option. Seager is not available until this offseason when he becomes a free agent and then you get into a bidding war with the Dodgers. Well Hal better open his pockets and get the perfect player to help this Yankees lineup. Now we move to third base, Gio Urshela is adorable, but I think he will regress, and it will continue. When he swings half the time he steps out of the box. His defense is very good, but he does not have a lot of range. For the sake of a budget, we will keep him at 3B for now, I would love someone like Jose Ramirez, but we cannot afford to trade for him or pay someone of his value in free agency. Also no one in the Yankees system who is highly ranked is a 3B. Maybe Peraza shifts over there in order to be called up but he is not close. Not one prospect in the Yankees top 30 plays 3B, the Yankees may have to look for a cheaper option somewhere else or just stick with Urshela. Now to the outfield, other than right field it is a mess. Hicks is shit, he can not hit, it is called hitting not walking and whiffing when you do swing. He has shown signs hitting from his natural side, which is the right, but that is just another righty batter for the Yankees boo hoo. Frazier is another righty who whiffs a lot and has outright struggled with the zone this year. They will not start him because Gardner still breathes so once again, I plead with you to start him or trade him. Hicks defense last year was crap and Frazier was a gold glove finalist in right field but I don’t buy it, he still looks shaky. For the quick fix, call up Florial, and use the Tauchman. I don’t know what to do long term, though I have heard of this Dominguez kid who might arrive in the Bronx in 3-5 years. Send Hicks to the Phillies and Frazier to whomever will start the poor guy. So on to the Catcher, your favorite boy, Gary Sanchez. He has looked better this year, but he is once again, plays into the hitting philosophy we all hate, striking out a lot. The only thing that could happen to Gary is that Wells sticks at catcher and they call him up end of this year or beginning of next year. I really hope he turns into a similar type of hitter to Joe Mauer. Most likely he will end up in the corner outfield or first base though. If Higgy keeps on playing so well, he may have some value on the trade market so watch out. So as of now our tentative lineup for 2021 looks like this.

C Sanchez/Wells

1B LeMahieu

2B Torres

SS Seager

3B Urshela

LF Stanton (if he has not retired from injuries yet)

CF Florial/Tauchman/player manager Brett Gardner

RF Judge

DH Voit (if he is not traded)

I may attempt to tackle the pitching side of things if I am up to it, but for now I just had some ideas and tried to make it semi realistic as possible and came up with this. Let me know if you have any better ideas how to solve this team that is not built to win even though they spend a quarter billion dollars.


Saturday, April 10, 2021

There Will Be Better Days...

Photo Credit: Dirk Shadd, Tampa Bay Times


Yankees off to usual slow start…

Can we take a mulligan on the season and start over? Slow starts seem to be a “Yankee thing”…unfortunately. It will get better. The wins will come but I always have unrealistic optimism for an undefeated streak, or least an extraordinary amount of April wins, to start the season, propelling the momentum for a strong season (much like how the 2018 Boston Red Sox charged to the championship) , but in usual fashion for our favorite team, a slow start eventually followed by consecutive series wins that puts the Yankees in the upper part of the division by June is the standard formula.

It is early, but the AL East standings appear to be in inverse order: 1. Orioles. 2. Red Sox. 3. Yankees & Rays. 5. Blue Jays. Flip the standings, drop the Jays and Rays a spot or two, and I am good.

I was hoping for more with the first game against last year’s AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays yesterday, especially with Corey Kluber on the mound. Sadly, it was not vintage Klubot. Not going to fret over one start, but it was not very pretty. Pulled with one out in the third inning, Kluber’s final line was five runs (three earned) with two walks and three strikeouts. He failed to preserve a brief two-run Yankees lead, and ultimately took the loss when Nick Nelson allowed the Rays to put the game out of reach. Bummer. There will be better Kluber starts this summer, but I was kind of hoping for a better first start against the Rays. 

Photo Credit: Associated Press

I am unsure what to think about Aaron Judge’s latest injury. The Yankees always seem to be guarded with the information they will release about Judge and his ailments. Judge will be an unrestricted free agent in 2023 (and age 31). I have growing doubts the Yankees will commit long-term dollars to Judge and it is sad. When healthy, he is such a great asset…the bat, the glove, the clubhouse personality, etc. But if he cannot stay on the field, what is the value? The Yankees would be foolish to tie up so much money for a player who will become an even greater injury risk as he moves through his 30’s. Judge remains one of my favorite players and I really hope that he can put consistent time on the field to earn an extension. It is only my optimism, not desire, that is starting to fade. If the injuries continue, the desire will exit.

Speaking of health, Gio Urshela missed yesterday’s game after side effects from his vaccine shot. He is expected back this weekend, possibly today. Glad to hear much of the team has been getting their vaccinations and they do not show the vaccine hesitancy of other MLB teams. It is unfortunate Urshela suffered the adverse reaction but hopefully he is doing much better today. 

This was not a good week for health news regarding former Yankees players. The worst was former Yankees starter James Paxton. Paxton was pulled from his first start with his new/old team, the Seattle Mariners, after 24 pitches, recording only four outs. Afterwards, it was disclosed that Paxton likely needs Tommy John surgery. If so, he will be derailed for the rest of the season and likely all of 2022. I do not wish any ill will toward anyone and certainly not against the Big Maple, but it is somewhat of a relief the Yankees did not sign him to a new contract last off-season. No doubt his injury history played into the decision and rightfully so. Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon carry their own risk, but for now, knock on wood, they are healthy. Paxton’s MRI has apparently been sent to noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles for a second opinion. Dr. ElAttrache is the Head Team Physician for both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Rams. If this goes the path of Tommy John surgery, I wish Paxton the best for a successful procedure and a speedy and full recovery. He is a good man and I look forward to seeing him on the field again even if he no longer wears the pinstripes.

Photo Credit: Dean Rutz, The Seattle Times

The other ailing former Yank is New York Mets reliever Dellin Betances. Betances was placed on the 10-day injured list this week with a right shoulder impingement. Based on his last couple of seasons, Betances has picked up the tag “oft-injured” and his reduced velocity has been well documented. He was a great Yankee but it appears the Mets will never see that player. Not that I want the Mets to be successful (I do not) but I want Betances to succeed. Hopefully Dellin can overcome the latest health challenges, without missing too much time, and pitch effectively for the Mets. It is a contract year for him (with limited options last off-season, he exercised his player option which pays him $6 million this year but he is an unrestricted free agent after the season) and it is hard to see the New York native staying in the City.  He deserves better and I hope he finds it.

Photo Credit: ESPN

Color me as perplexed as anyone when the Yankees acquired the poor hitting Rougned Odor. When I saw the Texas Rangers were paying Odor’s salary, basically meaning Odor has no impact on the luxury cap, I can certainly see why he would appeal to Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner. But aside from the homers, the bat has been horrific for a long time. I know he is only 27 (that keeps seeming to be the first positive everyone puts forward) but we all know young age does not equal success. I am skeptical the Yankees can find magic in his bat (or his glove). Thairo Estrada lost his seat at the table to make room for Odor when he was designated for assignment. Honestly, I would prefer Estrada over Odor. If the Yankees somehow unlock the potential Odor once held, great for them. I would love to see it happen. Realistically, I think he is just a future ex-Yank that could not cut it. 

Photo Credit: Smiley N Pool, The Dallas Morning News

The biggest surprise of the trade for Odor was remembering that Yankees prospect Antonio Cabello, who went to Texas with outfield prospect Josh Stowers, is only 20. He’s been around for so long, it seems like he should be older. The Yankees had moved the former catcher to the outfield, but the Rangers intend to resume his catching career. I hope Cabello achieves his dreams in North Texas. As for Stowers, it never really seemed like he had a future in New York when the Yankees acquired him a couple of seasons ago for the prospect they had acquired in the Sonny Grade trade to Cincinnati (second baseman Shed Long).  I get the Yankees’ logic. It is just a roll of the dice. If it works, they will be heroes. If it does not, Odor can be easily dismissed without financial ramifications. So, for now, welcome to the Yankees family, Mister Odor.  

I hope Estrada either clears waivers and is outrighted to the minors or the Yankees can trade him for something (bullpen help?). I would hate to see him simply cut for nothing.

Congratulations to Joe Musgrove for throwing the first no-hitter of the young season. Last off-season, before he was traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the San Diego Padres, many Yankee fans were calling for the Yankees to acquire him. Instead, the Yankees went for a different Pirates starter after Musgrove went to the land of “Sunny and 74”. I certainly do not regret the acquisition of Jameson Taillon and as previously noted, one start does not define a season, but good for Musgrove and congrats to the Yankee fans who saw the potential. It is kind of funny that Musgrove’s pitching coach is Larry Rothschild.

I am glad baseball is back. It is nice to see some people in the stands again after last year’s empty seats and cardboard cut-outs in some parks. I look forward to fuller stadiums as we move into the summer and fall.  Nothing better than a packed, energized Yankee Stadium crowd for a pennant chase and trophy hunt. It has been far too long since we have had that experience.

As always, Go Yankees!