The Hairy Long Overdue Policy Change...

 

Thurman Munson (Photo Credit: New York Post)

Hal Steinbrenner shocks the baseball world w/hairy announcement…

I have been saying that neatly groomed beards and goatees on Yankee players would be fine for years. I never fully understood the traditionalists who felt the facial hair restrictions should remain to support team professionalism, tradition, and integrity. No sooner than Hal Steinbrenner had made the announcement on Friday morning about the relaxed policy, fans on social media were screaming that there would quickly be names on the back of jerseys and Yankee Stadium would be renamed after a commercial entity. Those comments are absurd (and unrelated to a facial hair policy).

Here is Hal’s announcement:

Some guys just do not look right with clean-shaven faces. I had felt closer Devin Williams looked more intimidating with a beard than his reluctantly shaved face. Carlos Rodón is another player who looks more menacing with a beard. Gleyber Torres has completely changed his appearance with his beard at the Detroit Tigers spring training facility. You can go down the list with the names of players who will benefit from the allowance for facial hair. For those who remain clean-shaven, fine. The new policy is not a mandate that one must trash his razor.

Devin Williams (Photo Credit: Elsa/Getty Images)

The only weird thing about the policy change is its timing. All beards had to be removed before players reported to camp. If the topic was under consideration for change, the Yankees should have told the players that there was a temporary stay to allow neatly groomed beards until a final decision had been made. It would have allowed Williams to retain a beard he had groomed for six years. I am sure it will be back in game-ready shape by Opening Day.

With the policy change, Hal Steinbrenner successfully distracts the fan base from its discontent about the current state of third base. At this point, the Yankees may see if Oswald Peraza can take the position. I have no hope DJ LeMahieu can stay healthy enough to hold down the position throughout a long season. Oswaldo Cabrera is a better super-sub than a regular player. That leaves Peraza as the last hope until the Yankees go outside the organization to find help. Unlike LeMahieu, Peraza at least has some pop in his bat. If the rumors are true that LeMahieu was under DFA consideration last year, the Yankees probably feel the same way about him that we do. The only difference is they are contractually liable for him and cannot publicly state true feelings if they run counter to the player. Well, they could, but the damage would be hard to unwind, and it would devalue the player in the trade market (as if LeMahieu has not done a good enough job devaluing himself). So, I am on Team Peraza until further notice.

Oswald Peraza

Given how much team hacks like Jack Curry have indicated the Yankees have no interest in St Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, there is still a small part of me that hopes the Cards decide to peddle him by paying down his contract to entice the Yankees. I get that he is on the decline, but he can still be a productive player for a few more seasons. Nolan will only be 34 in April. Give him a couple of years, and groom his replacement (someone like George Lombard, Jr, who will have to move off shortstop if Anthony Volpe stays there). I like Nolan, and his defense would be tremendous for the infield and pitching staff. He is still capable of productive at-bats. I know he makes too much money, but ultimately, we, the fanbase, are not paying salaries unless you count ticket sales and chicken buckets.

Nevertheless, there are no indications the Yankees are waiting on Nolan, so I will let it go. Hopefully, Oswald Peraza can take the position, run (and hit…and catch…and throw).

I am always disappointed when the Yankees make good moves in the off-season, only to fall short of doing a complete job. They always seem to leave a gaping hole somewhere in the roster. I get that you need young, cost-controlled players to step up, but tough decisions must be made to put the best product on the field when that talent potential is not readily apparent. You hear the position will be re-evaluated at the trade deadline, but July continues without action. I'm not trying to diss guys like Anthony Rizzo, but for the most part, the moves are Joey Gallo-like. Acquire the player…watch the player crash and burn. New York is not an easy place to play. I think guys who have the benefit of Spring Training have the edge of putting on pinstripes over guys trying to pull them on during the dog days of the summer when teams are jockeying for position.

I am glad Hal Steinbrenner was willing to revisit his father’s facial hair policy. I thought it would take an ownership change to make it happen. Times change, and I believe George Steinbrenner’s views may have changed. George wanted to win more than anything else, and attitudes and philosophies about facial hair have changed since 1976. Hal needs to continue making decisions that are in the best interest of the New York Yankees and not based on what he feels his father would have wanted. This is Hal’s team. George left us nearly fifteen years ago.

On another note, I have no problem with the Yankees’ decision to extend Manager Aaron Boone. It is only a two-year extension, so no long-term commitment is required. I value Boone’s ability to connect with his players. We may get frustrated with some of his in-game decisions, but the talent pool of available managers who are better than Boone is limited. I do not want to see Brad Ausmus elevated to manager or as much as I hate to say it, Don Mattingly, an all-time favorite of mine, did not prove anything in Los Angeles or Miami to indicate that he could do a better job than Boone. Would I love to see Mattingly as manager? Sure. But realistically, he does not offer more than Boone besides his name value in the organization. I like Buck Showalter, but he never won a World Series last time I checked. Joe Girardi? I think he is doing a superb job in the TV booth.

It may be time to make a change in two years. So be it. I will not complain about Boone in the interim, even if there is frustration. I might say ‘fire him,’ but realistically, I do not feel that “better” is out there. There are better Major League managers, but they are employed. A good manager has good coaches and players around him. The Yankees need to make sure they give Boone the best possible hand.

I would rather see Boone go to war armed with financial security than sit as a lame-duck manager. Is he going to bring us a World Series championship? Time will tell, as it often does. Ultimately, this lands on the Yankees’ Front Office and Ownership. “Do Better.”

Lastly, congratulations on the Yankees for making the long-overdue decision to move prospect Clayton Beeter to the bullpen. I know, calling a 26-year-old pitcher a “prospect” is a bit of a stretch, but it has long been cited that Beeter would need to move to the pen for his most significant effectiveness. I want to see him succeed, and I hope the new role will fast-track his path to the Major Leagues after spending years in the minors.

Clayton Beeter (Photo Credit: AP)

I am glad baseball is back. Today’s Spring Opener, a 4-0 victory over the soon-to-be Steinbrenner Field home participants, the Tampa Bay Rays, was an encouraging, albeit meaningless, start. Prop up Marcus Stroman’s trade value. I think that was the primary objective of today’s game. Mission successful. Now, we await the trade. Okay, it might not be that easy, but one can hope.

As always, Go Yankees!

Old Friends Reunited: The Yankees & the ALCS…

 

The Yankees celebrating ALDS Success (Photo Credit: NY Daily News)

Yankees Advance to Next Round by Royally Winning…

The Yankees are back where they belong…the American League Championship Series. The Yankees have made more ALCS appearances than any other American League club. Their total of nineteen appearances leads the Boston Red Sox, the team with the second most, by seven. The team is 11-7 in the eighteen completed championship series. They have won fifty total ALCS games, leading Boston by eighteen wins. Unfortunately, the Yankees have not won the ALCS since 2009 despite appearances in 2010, 2012, 2017, 2019, and 2022. The sixth time is a charm!

Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, & Jazz Chisholm, Jr (Photo Credit: NY Post/Charles Wenzelberg)

The Yankees now await the winner of the deadlocked ALDS battle between the Cleveland Guardians and the Detroit Tigers. On Saturday, they will play their winner-take-all ALDS Game 5 finale in Cleveland, Ohio. If the Tigers advance (likely…considering Tarik Skubal will be on the mound), the Yankees will get a chance to avenge the ALCS sweep by the Tigers in 2012. Cleveland last advanced to the World Series in 2016 before they made Anthony Rizzo and his then-Cubs teammates immortal in Chicago for the rest of their lives.

I do not care who the Yankees face. To be the best, you beat the best, so let the best team emerge from the final ALDS, whichever team that may be. Not that facing an awakening Jose Ramirez would be fun, but trust the men in Pinstripes. If the Yankees are the best team, they will beat whoever shows up for Game 1 of the ALCS in the Bronx.

With no disrespect to Captain Aaron Judge, the Yankees are in the ALCS, thanks primarily to Giancarlo Stanton, Gerrit Cole, Gleyber Torres, Luke Weaver, and Jon Berti. Berti’s name looks like an outcast in this group, but he stepped in and did an admirable job at first base for a non-first baseman. He could have quickly (and excusably, without experience) butchered the position. Clay Holmes was dominant in his new bullpen role. I am happy that he has rediscovered magic, but it does not mean that I would want him to reclaim his old job as the closer. I am 100% behind Luke Weaver and his quirky personality, zany sense of humor, and electric arm as the team’s designated closer. I was a little surprised in the offseason when the Yankees re-signed Weaver. I had no complaints about his work last year, but I thought the pitcher and the team would part ways in the offseason. There was nothing special about his 2023 performance, at least not what stood out to make him a “must sign” player. Yet, he stepped up to fill a tremendous void in the bullpen, first through setup and, lastly, through the back end of games. People say the Yankees should sign Kenley Jansen this winter through free agency. I like Kenley, even if he has many miles on his arm, but Weaver should be the man until he proves he cannot sustain the position. In other words, I would rather have Weaver over Jansen or virtually any other potential replacement. If the Yankees had a chance for an elite closer, Weaver should not stand in their way, but I do not believe the current Yankees regime will pay top dollar for the bullpen like they once did. So, the combination of the team’s current fiscal conservatism in the bullpen and Weaver’s emergence led me to believe Weaver was the right man at the right time.

Oswaldo Cabrera & Luke Weaver (Photo Credit: AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

It is too early to talk about next season, but I hope the Yankees can find it in their budget to sign Gleyber Torres to a new contract. He took so much heat early in the season, and a poll of Yankees fans would have favored letting him go in free agency. But his placement atop the batting order later in the regular season coincided with a resurgence that has made him a vital player for October. He will always botch a routine play now and again, but even the great and legendary Derek Jeter was not immune from making those. The hustle concerns are correctable, and he has shown improvement. Players like Aaron Judge help to elevate Gleyber’s play and performance. The body of work, at least what Gleyber showed over the second half of the season, warrants his return.

Gleyber Torres (Photo Credit: Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

Caleb Durbin may be an All-Star second baseman one day. Good for him. He has yet to prove it at the Major League level. Gleyber is playing like he wants to be the team’s starting second baseman today, tomorrow, and next year. Let him. If he suddenly becomes Daniel Jones after he gets the big money, that is the risk you face with anybody. If it happens, the team will have to deal with it at that time, but it should not stop the team from bringing him back based on what he currently means to the organization and the players he has gone to war with. Juan Soto will be a Yankee next season if the team pays him the most money in free agency, yet I think how they treat other players, like Gleyber, in the offseason will draw Soto’s attention. If Gleyber is treated poorly, it could be a deciding factor if, for example, the Yankees and Mets offered the same amount of money, causing Soto to jump to Queens. That might be an unlikely scenario, but Soto cares about his friends.

There were times this season when Gerrit Cole disappointed me. His late start out of the gate for health reasons (not his fault) was the primary cause. He certainly was not the ace he was in 2023 when he won the AL Cy Young Award, but he showed up for the series clincher against the Kansas City Royals. That is why he is paid big bucks. I always fear a Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde performance by any pitcher, ala Carlos Rodón, but Cole brought his “A” game (despite tiring late) when it mattered most. I am sure I will have anxiety in his upcoming starts, but he did what he needed to do against the Royals. I hope it continues when he faces either the Guardians or the Tigers.

I hope we get the best of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto for the ALCS. I am happy when the team wins, regardless of who makes the necessary hits, plays, and pitches, but the world is a better place when Aaron Judge and Juan Soto are the Kings of the World. For Judge’s Yankees legacy, I want to see him come up huge in the postseason. Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera will forever be remembered for what they did in October. Judge will never match their number of rings, although I certainly would not complain if he did, but he can make a name for himself in the franchise’s long history of postseason success.  He is in a position that the great Don Mattingly could never reach. I loved Mattingly as a Yankee and feel the same about Judge. I do not want to see Judge come up short and never experience the feeling of being a World Champion in Pinstripes.

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: NY Daily News)

Is this the year we can quit talking about 2009? I hope so. Keep it going, guys. Eight more wins to your destiny.

As always, Go Yankees!

Is the World Series Over Yet? ...

 

Gerrit Cole (Photo Credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Ready for the Hot Stove League…

Hopefully, the Texas Rangers eliminate the Arizona Diamondbacks in four games so that we can get on to more important matters like the 2023-24 Hot Stove League. As much as I want to see the D-Backs lose, it is hard to get motivated to watch this year’s World Series even if there are a few ex-Yankees on the Rangers roster. Give one of the teams the trophy and let’s move on. I am ready for the start of free agency, finalization of the 40-man rosters in advance of December’s Rule 5 Draft, preparation for the Winter Meetings, etc. The only headlines I want to see are “Yankees acquire…”, “Yankees to sign…”, or “Yankees fire…”. 

I am assuming this will be the Winter of Discontent as Yankees fans will heighten their expectations for a Juan Soto trade in the coming days and weeks (as if they have not already been elevated to unrealistic proportions), only to have the hopes dashed when the San Diego Padres either decide to retain Soto or trade him to a Yankees rival. I will add the usual caveat that I hope the Yankees prove me wrong and grab one of baseball’s brightest talents. Nevertheless, I must take the ‘see it to believe it’ approach with Juan Soto and the Yankees. I refuse to go down that path of disappointment.

Juan Soto (Credit: ClutchPoints)

With speculation that the Yankees will have to trade Kyle Higashioka or Ben Rortvedt now that Austin Wells has proven he is Major League-ready, I do wonder about Jose Trevino. While Trevi was outstanding in 2022, his 2023 season was forgettable. Sure, he played hurt, but so far, he is just a one-season wonder. I am not so sure the decision of whether to keep Trevi or Higashioka should be an easy one. There is an argument to make that Higgy should stay. Rortvedt, even without the hit tool, earned raves for his work with Gerrit Cole.  I think Higgy will be the one to go, either through trade in November or he will be non-tendered, but if the Yankees offloaded Trevino instead, it should not catch anyone by surprise. I have greater hopes and expectations for Wells as the everyday catcher. The Yankees have a strong history of great offensive catchers, and Wells did nothing to show that he is Gary Sanchez behind the plate. In other words, he surprised people with his defensive play (better than expected). The remaining catcher that serves as backup should be the player most capable of being a backup.  As simplistic as it sounds, if Trevino believes he should be the starting catcher, does he let it affect his attitude or does he fully embrace his reduced role, recognizing Wells is the better offensive player? The best place for Trevino could end up being elsewhere depending on how this turns out. Trevi does not strike me as an egotistical player, but the decision of who to keep should not be considered lightly. 

Hopefully, the catching tandem will be decided in short order so that the Yankees can move on to the bigger issues and challenges confronting the team.

Help Wanted: Hitting Coach

I was disappointed to hear the news that Yankees hitting coach Sean Casey has decided he will not return in 2024. I liked his work with the veteran players and thought he brought great energy to the dugout. I totally respect his reasons for leaving. He has two teenage daughters in Pittsburgh and holds joint custody with his ex-wife. He did not want to be away from his girls for eight months out of the year. Casey is not the first, nor will he be the last player or coach to decide family is more important. I respect his work in replacing the fired Dillon Lawson, and I hope the Yankees can find someone who is as passionate about hitting as Casey is. 

Sean Casey (Photo Credit: USATSI)

I have seen some fans suggest Tino Martinez. I like Tino and he was one of my favorite players when he played, but I have mixed feelings about his return as a coach. He resigned as the hitting coach for the Miami Marlins in 2013 after rumors of physical and verbal abuse of players and coaches. I have no idea if there is truth to those rumors, and at this point, I do not really care, but Tino has not received a Major League job since his departure from the Marlins. I would rather see someone who has been consistently connected with the game at the big-league level in the recent past, given how much the game has changed over the last decade. I hope the Yankees do not take the easy road and promote one of the hitting coach assistants, Casey Dykes, or Brad Wilkerson. I would prefer an outsider. Like Casey, the new hitting coach does not need to have ties with the Yankees. I want anyone who can get the MOST out of Giancarlo Stanton and the other Yankees hitters. While 2023 proved that you cannot be solely dependent upon analytics, it does remain an important skill along with the re-discovered old-school baseball acumen. 

I often see fans wanting former Yankees greats as the new hitting coach, like Paul O’Neill. Being a great player does not automatically equate to greatness as a coach. I want a great coach without regard to how successful his playing career was. The Yankees need someone who can effectively communicate with the young players as well as the veterans. Someone who can marry analytics into strong professional baseball knowledge, and help the players be the best they can be. I truly hope the Yankees take a patient approach to find the best option for the role. The Yankees cannot afford another season of hitting like the Oakland Athletics. 

We are literally wasting the best years of Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge.

I would like to see Don Mattingly come back, but I doubt he would give up his gig as the bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays. After managing the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Miami Marlins, hitting coach seems like too much of a step back. I know he is a beloved Yankee, and you would think the Pinstripes would hold special appeal for him, but it would have to be the right job for his return. I do not feel hitting coach, as much as I would like to see him do it, is the right job for him at this stage of his career. There is also the concern in the back of my mind, justified or not, that I do not want to see a Yankee legend fail in a coaching role. Even though he never won a World Series, I have great memories of Mattingly’s time as a Yankee. I never want those fond memories to fade. 

Don Mattingly

General Manager Brian Cashman and his suspect Front Office have tough decisions ahead. Time to drop the ‘smartest guy in the room’ approach and roll up the sleeves. Winning should be the theme of the 2023-24 offseason. Building a winning team for 2024 AND winning back the alienated Yankees fan base. Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner needs to stand up, take his lumps, and tell us how he is going to improve the New York Yankees. Every move this offseason will be under a microscope. As much as the Yankees like to control the narrative, it is going to write itself based on what the Yankees do or do not accomplish this offseason.

Grab some popcorn.

As always, Go Yankees! 

Reminder: Please Bring Your Bats...

 

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

Yankees fall to Blue Jays as offense goes silent…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Credit: @Yankees, via Twitter

Josh Donaldson Delayed

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

Oswald Peraza (Photo Credit: Mary Altaffer/AP)

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

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

A Roll of the Dice

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

Kole Calhoun (Photo Credit: Alex Gallardo/AP)

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

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

Rehab Assignments

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

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

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

Don Mattingly the Blue Jay

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

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

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

Miguel Ramirez, Chef Extraordinaire

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

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

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

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

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

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

As always, Go Yankees!

The Return of the Yankees...

  

Gerrit Cole (Photo Credit: David J Phillip/AP)

Spring Training is underway…

Pitchers and catchers have reported to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, and the baseball fields at the facility have been buzzing with activity…unlike the Yankees’ Front Office. It is good to see old faces, not literally, like Gerrit Cole, and the new ones (with mustaches) like Carlos Rodón.

Carlos Rodon (Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post)

The talk of the first week centered on Yankees starting pitcher Frankie Montas. Manager Aaron Boone announced that Montas will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder next week (February 21) and is expected to miss much of the 2023 season.

Montas has proven to be GM Brian Cashman’s latest trade folly with the Oakland A’s. Last summer, most Yankees fans wanted Cincinnati’s Luis Castillo but the price tag proved too high for the talented pitcher who was subsequently dealt to Seattle. The next best pitcher on the market was Montas, but there were known concerns about the shoulder which had caused Montas to miss a start in the month preceding his trade to the Yankees last summer. 

This is not a case of ‘I told you so’. Despite the high cost (prospects Ken Waldichuk, JP Sears, Luis Medina, and Cooper Bowman), I openly embraced the Montas trade. Many Yankees fans were excited at the time. Unfortunately, the shoulder concerns proved more substantive, and we never saw the best of Montas; now, he may never don the pinstripes again if he cannot make it back this season. Montas is a free agent at the end of the year.

There should be a “Lemon Law” when it comes to trades with Oakland’s Billy Beane. Or maybe the next time Brian Cashman sees Beane calling, he should just hit the decline button.  As it stands today, I would prefer to have Waldichuk over Montas but c’est la vie.

With the fifth starter role up for grabs, Domingo German and Clarke Schmidt are the two obvious favorites. German is the likely choice if for no other reason than Schmidt can be optioned to Triple-A. Now 27 years of age, the time is now for Schmidt’s breakout season. He has the talent, and the stars are aligned in his favor if he can show he is more deserving to start than German.  A strong Spring may not be enough to land a spot in the rotation, but Schmidt will have opportunities. Hopefully, he makes the most of them. 

At the start of the week, former Boston pitcher Michael Wacha was the best available free agent. He has since signed with the San Diego Padres. The Yankees were never connected to him, but he would have been a nice pickup for the back of the rotation.

The Padres also made a low-risk, potentially high-reward signing of Cole Hamels this week. Who knows what Hamels has left yet it would have been a nice option to try. The albatross of Josh Donaldson’s contract seemingly prevents the Yankees from making the little moves to better the team. Is German so good that all other options should be ignored? Um, not really. If Ryan Weber is starting games in-season, the Yankees’ lack of planning will be on full display.     

On the bright side, Nestor Cortes Jr is recovering nicely from his Grade 2 hamstring strain. There is optimism that he will be on the Opening Day roster. 

Nestor Cortes Jr (Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post)

The Yankees will be making moves at some point in the coming days. With Montas sidelined for much of the season, the Yankees have three guys eligible for the 60-day Injured List. Montas, Scott Effross, and Luis Gil. Those are three valuable roster spots that could go for upgrades. If Cashman is penny-pinching, the three spots will create opportunities for a few of the non-roster invitees (none of whom move the needle in the ongoing attempt to catch the Houston Astros). Or he can make moves to improve the team. Hoping for the best (a trade or two to enhance the current roster) but prepared for the worst (the status quo with guys in camp).

Position players report on Monday so next week will bring more activity. The first Spring game is one week from today against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, Florida. 

Woohoo! Yankees Baseball is back, baby!

The Manny Machado Sweepstakes

Here we go again…

Manny Machado has announced that he will opt out of his contract with the San Diego Padres after the season (he has five years and $150 million left).  A couple of months younger than Aaron Judge, Machado has a chance to sign his second $300+ million contract.

I wanted Machado last time he was a free agent, and I am sure I will want him again. Eventually, the Yankees will move on from Josh Donaldson (sooner if I had my way) and DJ LeMahieu is not getting any younger. The Yankees will need a third baseman. The Yankees will probably pass on Machado as they did with the elite free agent shortstops the past two off-seasons. The more likely scenario seems to be the development of prospect Trey Sweeney or maybe one of Oswald Peraza or Anthony Volpe moves there if the Yankees retain Gleyber Torres.

I would be excited to see Machado in pinstripes, but realistically, it will never happen. If he does not re-sign with the Padres, the more probable landing spot is a move to Queens.  Steve Cohen thought he had his third baseman of the future with Carlos Correa until he saw Correa’s ugly ankle. He will most assuredly be all-in for Manager Buck Showalter’s former star player with the Baltimore Orioles to fill the third base need, especially if the Mets underperform this season. 

Left Field Vacancy

Starting to see more articles written about Giancarlo Stanton playing the outfield. I am not buying it. Stanton is a full-time designated hitter. A fragile player like him is not going to be less of an injury risk as he ages. Maybe he starts a handful of games in the outfield, but nothing more. If he is routinely playing the field, the Yankees are playing Russian Roulette with him. 

Giancarlo Stanton (Photo Credit: Kathy Willens/AP)

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers were two teams seeking left field help like the Yankees. The Dodgers signed free agent David Peralta, while the Rangers inked Robbie Grossman. The Yankees were not in on either player. Jurickson Profar remains a free agent, yet it seems unlikely the Yankees will commit any dollars to him unless they can offload some onerous contracts. 

Aaron Hicks, Estevan Florial, Oswaldo Cabrera, Willie Calhoun, and Rafael Ortega. Sadly, they seem to be the pool that will compete for the starting gig. No needle movers in this group. Cabrera’s needle-moving ability is his versatility, not planted in left field.

All I wanted for left field entering the off-season was to re-sign Andrew Benintendi. There were better options, however, Benny was a nice fit.  I honestly believed the Yankees would do at least as well as someone like Benintendi for left field. I never dreamed that they would do nothing.  The Yankees had to bring back Aaron Judge and the Carlos Rodón signing was huge, but the inability to fix left field leaves me very underwhelmed about this past off-season. The Yankees have unsuccessfully tried Joey Gallo and Benintendi over the past two years, at the cost of multiple quality prospects, and here we are back at the starting point with a left fielder who clearly needs to be replaced. 

Jasson Dominguez, Everson Pereira, and Spencer Jones offer hope for the future, yet they are still a few years away. Impatiently waiting for guys who are not ready. 

The clock is ticking. Brian Cashman has time to fix left field before Opening Day. The only question is will he?

Derek Jeter lands new job

It is bittersweet to see Derek Jeter hired as a new analyst for Fox’s MLB studio show lineup that features Alex Rodriguez and David “Big Papi” Ortiz. 

Curt Menefee, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Michael Strahan

I have enjoyed seeing Jeter in the public eye after his short stint as a minority owner of the Miami Marlins and its chief executive. It seemed he was doing more with the Yankees lately, and selfishly I wanted Jeter as part of the YES Network lineup.

No doubt Fox offers the bigger stage, and, as we know, Jeter performs best when the spotlight burns the brightest. I honestly did not think Jeter would take a job that paired him with Alex Rodriguez. Money talks and the “rivalry” between A-Rod and The Captain continues. 

Oh well, it will be fun to listen to Jeter during Fox telecasts, and it beats the playful bantering between Rodriguez and Ortiz. Hopefully one day Jeter can take a higher-profile role with the Yankees.

Don Mattingly, the Villain

As a long-time fan of Donald Arthur Mattingly, the first images of the new Toronto Blue Jays bench coach are a bit jarring.

I know…everybody needs a paycheck. I wish he was still in some National League city or out west rather than taking a key role with an American League East rival. I guess it would have been worse had he gone to Boston as if Toronto is not bad enough. 

He is wearing his famed #23 with the Blue Jays which adds salt to the wound. Mattingly wore 8 in Los Angeles and Miami as a tribute to Yogi Berra. It would have been my preference for his new job; however, Cavan Biggio wears 8 with the Blue Jays. 

I like Mattingly, but it is hard to not let his current role influence how I view him. He is just a coach on another team trying to beat the Yankees. I want him to lose. My desire is his eventual firing by the Blue Jays. Maybe I can re-embrace him as a favorite when his Blue Jays career is over. I certainly felt better about Derek Jeter after he left the Marlins. 

I am not going to wish Mattingly well in Toronto. There is nothing about the Toronto Blue Jays that I want to cheer for…except when they lose. 

Life will be good if the Yankees can stay a step ahead of the Blue Jays.

As always, Go Yankees!

The Countdown to Spring Training...

 

Yankees Captain Aaron Judge

Steinbrenner Field awaits old and new friends…

'Twas the month before Spring Training, when all thro’ the house. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…

The Yankees made some big executive hires at the beginning of the month when they brought in Brian Sabean and Omar Minaya, but it has been nothing but crickets for the past few weeks. We are now closer to Spring Training than we are from the number of days since New Year’s Day. Seemingly, the guys on the 40-man roster plus a few top prospects, and those with minor league contracts including Spring Training invitations are the faces we will see in a few weeks down in Tampa, Florida.

The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported this week that the Yankees have talked with the agents for free agent outfielders Jurickson Profar and David Peralta, however, nothing is imminent as the Yankees seem unwilling to cross the Steve Cohen luxury tax threshold of $293 million. Neither of those guys would move the needle in terms of improving the team’s chances against the Houston Astros or the upstart Toronto Blue Jays. 

So, for now, we await the Spring Training battle between Aaron Hicks, Oswaldo Cabrera, Estevan Florial, and a bevy of non-roster invites, including Willie Calhoun, Rafael Ortega, and Billy McKinney.

Estevan Florial

Mike Axisa brought up a good point this week about Hicks. He will accrue sufficient service time to gain 10-and-5 rights later in the season (August) which allows a player to veto any trade proposals. Based on this fact, it seems likely the clock is running out on Hicks and he will be an ex-Yankee by this summer’s trade deadline. It is tough enough thinking about Hicks on the Opening Day Roster…being married to him for the next three seasons would be abysmal.

Despite GM Brian Cashman’s recent words on MLB Network Radio about Hicks, “I suspect he will be the guy that emerges, because he’s still really talented and everything’s there”, everything the Yankees have done in the past couple of years shows they would love to move on. There is no way Cashman would bash a player he is actively trying to trade so I take his words with a grain of salt. 

I keep hoping for a Zack Britton signing before he ends up somewhere like Boston. I would like to have his experience in the pen as a hedge for Closer Clay Holmes. I know Jonathan Loaisiga or Tommy Kahnle could potentially step up if necessary so the desire for Britton is probably more sentimental than anything despite his health challenges. 

An infield glut has led to talk the Yankees will make a trade before Opening Day. I am not a proponent of trading Gleyber Torres but recognize that if both Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe make the roster, Torres is the most valuable trading chip. My excitement will be if Josh Donaldson and/or Isiah Kiner-Falefa is included in any potential trade regardless of the return.

As much as I respect Donaldson’s glove, I want a healthy DJ LeMahieu as the starting third baseman. This is why I believe so strongly the Yankees need a left fielder other than Oswaldo Cabrera so that Cabrera can be the guy to move around to different positions in the infield and not LeMahieu. I am quietly hoping Andres Chaparro or Trey Sweeney can eventually take the position within the next few years.  Well, Manny Machado would look good there, but I am not going to hold my breath on that one.

Oh well, a few more weeks before pitchers and catchers report.

Scott Rolen to the Hall of Fame

I do not begrudge Scott Rolen for making the Hall of Fame. He was a great player, but I find it humorous that I cannot identify him specifically with one team. He started with the Philadelphia Phillies but spent significant time in St Louis and Cincinnati. Is he a Phillie, a Cardinal, or a Red? I am so confused. I had forgotten he had even spent some time as a Blue Jay north of the border. He seems like one of those guys like Mike Mussina did, who should go into the HOF with no team insignia.

Scott Rolen (Photo Credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

I keep seeing people say if Rolen is in the HOF, Don Mattingly should be there. I guess it is not my desire to compare one to the other. Regardless of whether we believe Mattingly should be in the Hall of Fame, Scott Rolen’s presence has nothing to do with it. I accept his election because he received more than seventy-five percent of the vote. We can talk all day about the flawed voting process and the narcissistic writers involved but until a better solution is implemented, it is what it is.

Maybe Mattingly will be voted in one day by the veterans’ committee…maybe not. I will be happy if it happens, but frankly, I will not lose any sleep if it does not. Maybe that is just my pettiness about a guy who is the Toronto Blue Jays bench coach and is paid to beat the Yankees.

MLB Top 100 Prospects

MLB announced their top 100 prospects and three Yankees made the list. The top Yankee is everybody’s favorite prospect, Anthony Volpe, who is ranked fifth. Volpe will be in camp to battle Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Oswald Peraza for starting shortstop, but he is expected to start the year in Triple-A. Regardless of whether Volpe is on the Opening Day Roster or if he makes his Major League debut later in the season, it is nearly Volpe Time in the Bronx.

Anthony Volpe

Jasson Dominguez was ranked forty-seventh, and Oswald Peraza, who should be the Yankees’ starting shortstop this season, was fifty-second. 

Former Yankees Ken Waldichuk (Athletics) and Kevin Alcantara (Cubs) also made the list. They were seventy-sixth and eighty-seventh, respectively.

I thought Austin Wells might make an appearance on the list, but he did not make it. To his credit, making the list has nothing to do with future success. Austin Wells can hit, and he will be a very good Yankee when he is ready for his ascent to the Major Leagues.

Ex-Yankees in the News

There may be no news about current Yankees, but a few former ones were making headlines this week.

Jackson Frazier, the bumbling outfielder formally known as Clint, has resurfaced from his trip to the Winter Dominican Leagues to sign a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers. It includes an invitation to Spring Training. Frazier had been released by the Cubs last fall. 

Two former top Yankees prospects were designated for assignment. The Seattle Mariners DFA’d Justus Sheffield, while the Pittsburgh Pirates did the same with Miguel Andújar. In both cases, the players passed through waivers and were assigned outright to Triple-A. I thought some team might take a flyer on Sheffield’s potential, but I was wrong. It is sad how far both men have fallen. Hopefully, there is a rebound in store for one or both.

Justus Sheffield (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Aroldis Chapman found a new home in Kansas City. Given Chapman’s aversion to October, he seems right at home with the Royals since they will be taking October off this year. It is a one-year contract worth $3.75 million although Chappy can pick up $4 million more in performance incentives. I am grateful he will no longer make appearances for the Yankees, but it will sicken me if he gets to make that ugly stare at the end of a Yankees-Royals game in KC. I hope the Yankees can hit him as hard as the Yankees’ opponents did last season, if not harder.

I thought Chapman might sign with the Miami Marlins since he lives in the area, but apparently, they only offered $2 million. 

I am ready for Yankees baseball…

As always, Go Yankees!