Aaron Judge Breaks Dodger Stadium...

 

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Harry How/Getty Images)

The Captain makes Game-Saving Catch…

Aaron Judge is known for his monstrous home runs, and he added another one to his collection on Saturday evening, but his stellar defensive play was front and center in the eighth inning when he made a running catch into the right-field bullpen door. The hit by the Dodgers’ JD Martinez looked like it had extra bases on it, with a runner, Max Muncy, at first base. The Yankees were nursing a two-run lead and momentum had appeared to shift to the Dodgers after Gerrit Cole had prematurely exited the game. Yet, Aaron Judge had other ideas, and he caught the Martinez hard-hit fly as he pummeled into the bullpen door, causing it to fly open. Thankfully, Judge was not hurt in the play. 

In a twist of irony, despite the catch, and the immediate relay of the ball back to the infield, Muncy was awarded second base when the umpires ruled that Judge had left the field of play. The Dodgers need to build a stronger, safer wall.  Judge should not have been penalized for making a tremendous catch when a feeble door lost its encounter with the 6’7”, 282-lb superstar. Fortunately, Muncy was stranded, and the shift in momentum stalled for the Dodgers.   

Most importantly, aside from Judge avoiding injury, the Yankees prevailed, 6-3, to even the three-game series at one game apiece.  After Judge’s heroic play, the two earlier home runs by Jake Bauers seemed like an afterthought. 

Jake Bauers (Photo Credit: Ashley Landis/AP)

Judge added a home run of his own (19 home runs for the season), a solo shot in the sixth inning. Owaldo Cabrera recalled earlier in the day after the brief demotion to Triple-A when Greg Allen was placed on the Injured List, also homered in the ninth inning which gave the Yankees an important insurance run. Cabrera was not in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre long enough to “find” himself so I will just go with the thought that he shook the hand of the red-hot Oswald Peraza and channeled some of Peraza’s magic to himself.  Unfortunately, Greg Allen is hurt (hip flexor injury), but I am hopeful Cabrera can rebound from the struggles that had sent him back to the Minors.  The home run is a start.

There was a concern when Manager Aaron Boone pulled Gerrit Cole after six innings and only eighty pitches. The Yankees were up, 5-1, clearly in control when he departed. Wandy Peralta replaced Cole at the top of the seventh inning and was unable to record an out. A single, a triple that scored a run, and a walk ended his brief appearance. Michael King gave up a single, which scored another run charged against Peralta.  Fortunately, King settled down and held the Dodgers in check for the next two innings. After a dropped third strike, a throwing error by catcher Jose Trevino allowed Max Muncy to reach first base to start the bottom of the eighth inning. After being awarded second base because Judge punished the bullpen door and his large foot that stepped off the field of play. Muncy made it as far as third, but King struck out Miguel Vargas to end the threat.

Despite an annoying walk by Mookie Betts, Clay Holmes pitched a scoreless ninth inning to put the game in the win column for the Yankees. Cole’s early departure was blamed on leg cramps which is certainly better news than a potential injury. The Yankees cannot afford to lose Cole (7-0) at the top of the rotation, particularly after Luis Severino’s pathetic performance on Friday night. Peralta’s performance, like Sevy’s, was disturbing. Maybe he had flashbacks from his days as a San Francisco Giant while pitching in Dodger Stadium. Hopefully, reliability and consistency are Peralta’s friends next time out.   

Two home runs by Jake Bauers on Saturday after two home runs by Josh Donaldson on Friday night. I wonder who will hit two home runs for the Yankees today.  Assuming he is back in the lineup, I will go with the sentimental choice, Giancarlo Stanton, a native Angelino. But realistically, let Anthony Rizzo be that guy. 

The Yankees (35-25) are six games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East and only two games away from the Baltimore Orioles.  The Rays split a doubleheader with the Boston Red Sox yesterday. I find myself pulling for the Red Sox to win today, which is always odd. The Yankees will see the Red Sox next weekend.  As thrilling as it is to see the Yankees-Dodgers rivalry renewed, there is still no greater rivalry than Yankees-Red Sox even if the Red Sox are not the team they once were.

The Injuries

The Yankees received a shot in the arm when Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson, and Tommy Kahnle were activated this week, but they lost two more players to the Injured List yesterday. As referenced above, Greg Allen was placed on the Injured List after suffering a hip flexor injury in Friday night’s game. Allen’s ill-timed injury was a flashback to last year when the Yankees lost Andrew Benintendi just when it seemed he was making a difference with his outfield role, only to be lost.  Allen filled in admirably for the injured Harrison Bader and had been a threat on the basepaths.  As great as Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been with the roles he has been asked to play, Allen is a better centerfielder.  Hopefully, Bader will be back soon.  The Yankees travel to St Louis at the end of the month, and he should be motivated to play in front of his former fans. 

The other player added to the Injured List was reliever Ryan Weber. Weber has quietly excelled in his lower-leverage bullpen role. After being taken out of Friday night’s game with an elbow/forearm issue, he has been placed on the IL and will not pitch for the next couple of weeks. Best case, he is back after some rest. Worst case, he is gone for the season with Tommy John surgery looming on the horizon.  Here is hoping for the former.  Nick Ramirez was recalled taking Weber’s spot on the active roster. 

He may be a starting pitcher for a rival, but I am saddened to see Chris Sale is dealing with shoulder inflammation. When healthy, Sale has been one of the best pitchers in baseball. Unfortunately for him, good health has not been kind to him in recent years. I always operate under the assumption that to be the best, you must beat the best, so I prefer Sale on the pitching mound and not in a medical unit.  It will be a week before Sale gets a diagnosis. For his sake, I hope it is best case scenario.  Former Yank Corey Kluber was activated from the paternity list to take Sale’s place on the roster, and he will presumably slide back into the rotation after a recent performance-related demotion to the bullpen. 

Former Yanks

Former Yankees were in the news the week.

The biggest was the decision by Aaron Hicks to stay in the American League East.  He signed with the Baltimore Orioles after they lost their elite centerfielder, Cedric Mullins, to injury. Hicks was 2-for-2 in his Orioles debut (before departing with muscle cramps) and he made a highlight reel catch for the O’s last night. I wish Hicks the best. I am glad he is no longer a Yankee, but if he can find success at Camden Yards, good for him. There is a bit of irony in failing with the third-place team in the AL East, only to find a new home higher in the standings.  

Aaron Hicks (Photo Credit: AP)

 

Former Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez signed with the San Diego Padres following his release by the cross-town Mets.  El Gary should have a better opportunity with the Padres given they have less healthy and available (and less talented) catching than the Mets.  I did find it odd that Gary chose to wear 99 on his Padres jersey. He had worn 33 with the Mets.  It is kind of funny that two former Yankees who wore 24 in Pinstripes (Sanchez and Matt Carpenter) are forced to wear different numbers because another former Yank (Rougned Odor) is wearing the number.  If memory serves correctly, Odor was 12 in New York. Carpenter is wearing 14 for the Padres. 

Gary Sanchez (Photo Credit: El Nacional)

Former Yankees reliever Lucas Luetge was designated for assignment by the Atlanta Braves, and he remains in limbo pending his release or trade.  I am not seeking a reunion. His numbers in Atlanta do not inspire confidence he can be the pitcher of old. Instead, he is just an old pitcher.  I had just seen that one of the minor leaguers acquired in the Luetge trade, second baseman Caleb Durbin, all 5’6” of him, had earned a promotion to Double-A. Durbin leads the Yankees organization in stolen bases and plays with Dustin Pedroia-like intensity. I am not expecting him to reach the Majors, but crazier things have happened.

I was quietly hoping Luke Voit’s time in Milwaukee would prove fruitful. Beer City seemed like the ideal place for the husky Midwestern first baseman with the football mentality. However, his time ended when the Brewers released him this week after he had been designated for assignment. It has been a tough road for Voit since the Yankees traded him to San Diego. Hopefully, he can find success at his next stop. Like Luetge, I have no desire to see Voit’s return to Pinstripes. I liked him as a Yankee, but I did not like his glove at first base and the team has too many designated hitters as it is. If he can no longer hit, where is his value?  A strong presence in the clubhouse? As great a guy as he may be, better fits, guys who can bring value on the field, can be found elsewhere.

The weather in Los Angeles is supposed to be beautiful today. Mid-seventies, lots of sun. It seems like a tremendous day for a Yankees victory. 

As always, Go Yankees!

The Turbulent Waters for Brian Cashman...

 

Brian Cashman (Photo Credit: Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports)

Long-serving GM has passed his expiration date…

Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman has had a nice run. He has been senior vice president and general manager of the greatest team in Major League Baseball since February 1998. Although he was not the architect of Dynasty Championship Teams of the late 1990s, he was seated in the General Manager’s seat when the Yankees won 114 games (125 games if you count the playoffs) to win the 1998 World Series against the San Diego Padres in a convincing four-game sweep. Given his long tenure with the Yankees and four World Series championships under his belt (even if he was the beneficiary of Gene Michael’s work for the first three and Hal Steinbrenner’s money for the fourth), Brian Cashman will one day find his way to Cooperstown. 

It is time for Cashman to find a new job. 

Of course, the truth is he will be secure for the next four years after signing an extension in December. It seems improbable that Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner would sever ties with his father’s pick for the general manager’s chair. Hal cannot even bring himself to alter his father’s outdated facial hair policy. I am sure ‘daddy issues’ run strongly in the Steinbrenner family.

Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner (Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports, via Reuters)

The game of Baseball has changed significantly since Cashman ascended to the GM’s throne. I do not dispute Cashman’s ability to work internally and externally with people to create trust and rapport. It is always a joke among the fanbase that Cashman wants to prove himself to be the smartest guy in the room. The only problem is, he is not. Younger, smarter general managers are starting to run circles around Cashman. You wonder what an elite front office like the Tampa Bay Rays have, could do if they had the financial resources of the New York Yankees. It has taken some time, but Ben Cherington is winning in Pittsburgh because of smart decisions. Not sustainable but that is not the point. 

Looking back over the Yankees’ significant trades since the infamous Sanchez/Urshela for Donaldson/IKF/Rortvedt deal in March 2022 is discouraging. They say that sometimes the best deals are the deals never made. In Cashman’s case, he went ahead and made those deals anyway.

March 13, 2022

In a surprising move, particularly after the Yankees had tendered Gary Sanchez a 2022 contract before the December 2021 lockout, the Yankees sent Sanchez and third baseman Gio Urshela to the Minnesota Twins for aging third baseman Josh Donaldson (and his fat contract), infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (I refuse to say shortstop because he is not one), and the invisible catcher Ben Rortvedt. 

Sure, Sanchez was an addition by subtraction, but the Yankees would have been better off simply non-tendering Sanchez the previous December and retaining Urshela. There were better options for shortstop than IKF, like actual shortstops which included a few elite ones. Rortvedt’s injuries led to one of the few good trades Cashman has completed in the last year. 

March 18, 2022

Bumped from first base by Anthony Rizzo, Luke Voit was a man without a position. I cannot fault Cashman for moving Voit to San Diego for a lower-level prospect, Justin Lange.  I always liked Voit’s football mentality playing baseball, and his home runs in 2020 were nice. But man, Voit with a glove was a precarious situation. There was simply no room on the roster for a DH-only type of player.

Lange, 21, a right-handed pitcher, is currently assigned to the Tampa Tarpons (Single-A).

Voit is with his third organization since leaving the Yankees. He signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers in February, and he is currently on their Major League roster although his production has been underwhelming. Voit had to go so it does not really matter if the Yankees ever get any results from Lange.

Hard to fault Cashman for this one. 

April 2, 2022

Cashman scored a win when he sent RHP Albert Abreu and LHP Robert Ahlstrom to the Texas Rangers for their backup catcher, Jose Trevino. Trevi has become the primary starter in a platoon with Kyle Higashioka, vastly upgrading the defense behind the plate, and while not known for his bat, he has knocked in a few game-winning hits. 

Jose Trevino (Photo Credit: AP)

We know the story with Abreu. The Rangers designated him for assignment and traded him to the Kansas City Royals. The Royals DFA’d him, and he found his way back to the Bronx via waivers before the end of last season.  Robby Ahlstrom is in the High-A minors for the Rangers organization, representing the only loss to get Trevi. 

The lone trade win for Cashman during the past year.

July 27, 2022

The Yankees finally made an upgrade in left field when they acquired Andrew Benintendi from the Kansas City Royals for RHP Chandler Champlain, LHP T.J. Sikkema, and RHP Beck Way. Unfortunately, just as Benny was getting comfortable in Pinstripes, he broke his hamate bone and never played for the Yankees again. He signed a free-agent contract with the Chicago White Sox in the offseason. 

Sikkema and Way are currently playing for the Royals’ Double-A affiliate, while Champlain is in High-A. 

I liked Benintendi and I wanted the Yankees to re-sign him, but this trade failed. 

August 1, 2022

Right-handed reliever Scott Effross was somewhat of a surprise when he was acquired from the Chicago Cubs for RHP Hayden Wesneski. Wesneski, along with former Yankees prospect Ken Waldichuk, was viewed by most to be the best two starting pitchers in the Yankees’ farm system. If Wesneski was moved, I always thought it would be part of a package for a proven Major League starter. So, for a reliever was a bit of a letdown, at least for me.

Effross proved to be a better reliever than expected and if he had stayed healthy, this trade might be viewed as a win. But alas, Effross required offseason Tommy John Surgery and will not resume his Yankees career until sometime next year.  Wesneski is currently in the Cubs’ starting rotation.  Given the dearth of starting pitching for the Yankees, Wesneski might have helped.

Cashman loses this trade.

August 1, 2022

Luis Castillo was the number one starting pitching target for most Yankees fans, but he proved to be cost-prohibitive. We will never know what the Yankees offered or were asked for, but it is assumed it was too much. In retrospect, was it? The Yankees paid heavily to acquire the second-best option in RHP Frankie Montas, along with left-handed reliever Lou Trivino, from the Oakland Athletics for LHP Ken Waldichuk, LHP J.P. Sears, RHP Luis Medina (probably the guy I was most sorry to see go), and 2B Cooper Bowman.

We know the story with Montas. He arrived hurt and was a shell of the player he had been earlier in the season for the A’s. Following offseason surgery, he is out for most if not all of the current season. Same with Trivino, who underwent Tommy John surgery this week.

Regardless of what happens with the quartet of prospects sent to the A’s, this trade is a colossal failure for Cashman. He gave up reasonable prospects for what has proven to be nothing. A little more creativity and he might have been able to secure a better, more reliable option for the starting rotation.

August 2, 2022

Sending Joey Gallo to the Los Angeles Dodgers was a needed trade. Clearly, Gallo had worn out his welcome in New York among the fanbase. A great guy…I will always be convinced he was a strong influence in the clubhouse with his personality and wit, but unfortunately, the on-the-field performance led to his unrecoverable downfall. 

The biggest surprise is that Cashman received a quality prospect for Gallo. I have heard that RHP Clayton Beeter, a starter in the minor leagues, is destined for the bullpen when/if he reaches the Majors. However, regardless of what his future holds, he is legitimately better than I expected. Beeter is currently pitching for the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate and has an outside shot to reach the Majors by the end of the season. If not this season, then next year.   

The Yankees could have received a lesser prospect for Gallo, and the trade would still be called a win for Cashman. Gallo simply had to go.

August 2, 2022

Trading LHP Jordan Montgomery to the St Louis Cardinals will always be a head-scratcher. Centerfielder Harrison Bader, when healthy, is a great player. I like having him on the Yankees, and I am hopeful his stay extends beyond the length of his current contract. But in trading Montgomery, the Yankees were not exactly dealing from a position of strength. They needed another starter when they made the trade and have subsequently needed more quality starters.

I will give this trade a ‘no-decision’ which could tilt in the Yankees’ favor if Bader helps the team win the World Series. Yet, it seems like the Yankees could have figured out a way to get Bader without giving up Montgomery. For as good as Bader played in the playoffs, I thought Montgomery’s loss from the clubhouse harmed the team for weeks after the trade (the psyche of the team was adversely impacted) and it may have contributed to their struggles late in the year and early exit from the playoffs. 

December 28, 2022

LHP Lucas Luetge was shipped to the Atlanta Braves for prospects SS Caleb Durbin and RHP Indigo Diaz. Durbin is currently in High-A and Diaz is in Double-A. 

Luetge served a decent role for the Yankees, but the trade was indifferent for me so I will have to give Cashman credit for picking up a couple of lottery picks for a journeyman pitcher. Many teams are routinely successful at reassembling their bullpens every year, and the Yankees are better than most. The performance of a reliever seems to be the most like a roller coaster ride to any position I have seen in my years of watching baseball. 

None of the trades above, except the acquisition of Jose Trevino, can be viewed as an outstanding trade. Gallo and Voit were throwaways and the players received for them were less than the prospects the Yankees gave up acquiring them.

The Yankees ignored the elite free agent shortstops the past several years, and they passed on generational talents like Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. If they had a better track record with trades or a stronger record for producing homegrown Major League talent, it would be understandable to forego the multi-millions it would have taken to bring additional superstar talent to New York. Sadly, it seems we are caught in a loop that will continue to produce flawed regular seasons and disappointing October results. I know the season is young, but the Yankees are currently ten games behind the attendance-challenged Tampa Bay Rays.

Sometimes a team needs a new voice. The Yankees brought in high-powered executives to help Cashman when they hired former Giants GM Brian Sabean and former Mets GM Omar Minaya this past offseason, yet their presences have yet to materialize (at least from the outside looking in). It just seems like the same old stagnant Yankees Front Office.

Brian Cashman

I have long been a proponent for moving Cashman to President of Baseball Operations and hiring a new General Manager. Whether Cashman stays or goes, the Yankees need a new voice in the room. A voice that can make the best decisions for today’s New York Yankees and the teams for the coming years. We are the New York Yankees so we should have the best that money can buy. 

I like Brian Cashman. He was the right man at the right time when he was hired. Times change. It is not a personal attack on Cashman when I say the Yankees need a new general manager. Sports management in all sports…generally speaking…tends to have a short shelf life. Longevity stifles creativity.

If the Yankees fail this season, Hal Steinbrenner needs to carefully reevaluate both his manager and general manager, recognize their shortcomings, and cut his losses. There have been many similar quotes, but I will use one by Tony Robbins. “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”

I am ready for another New York Yankees World Series Championship. 2009 is a distant memory. The Yankees need to refresh our memories for what it feels like to see, hear, and taste Pinstriped success in the season’s last and grandest series of all.  Hal Steinbrenner needs to make the decisions that help propel the Yankees forward. It is what Daddy would have wanted, after all. 

As always, Go Yankees!

A Grand Yankees Opening and Debut...

 

Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post)

Yankees win in Volpe’s debut…

Opening Day 2023 was about as perfect as the day could be. Gerrit Cole, in a dominating performance after the opening walk on four pitches, led the Yankees to a 5-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants. He struck out eleven Giants in six innings of work. The first Yankees home run of the season was courtesy of the 2022 AL Most Valuable Player, and the game featured the exciting debut of an extremely talented 21-year-old shortstop.

A good start. Now rinse and repeat for one hundred sixty-one more games. I wish all games could be as non-stressful as the first of the new season.

The next two games against the Giants will prove to be more challenging if for no other reason than Cole is not starting. With no disrespect to Clarke Schmidt and Jhony Brito, the scheduled weekend starters, they are not Cole, a potential Cy Young Award winner if he can continue to shove all season. I have been hoping 2023 proves to be Schmidt’s breakout year and hopefully, it begins today when he takes the Yankee Stadium mound. I am not denying Brito is an exciting young talent, but as the team’s Triple-A emergency starter, I would have preferred the emergency was not the first series of the season. Losing three starting pitchers before the season started is difficult, but in difficulty, there is an opportunity to shine.  Schmidt and Brito can make statements with their performances and prove they can be useful rotation pieces in the years ahead.  Not that one game will define anyone, but you must start somewhere.

I liked Anthony Volpe’s decision to go with number 11 for his Yankees career. It was a classy touch that he sought permission from Brett Gardner, who wore the number proudly from 2008 through 2021. Even better that Gardy gave his blessing. I had no problem with 77 had Volpe chosen to stay with his Spring Training number. Mickey Mantle is one of the greatest legends in franchise history, and seeing his number twice on the back of a jersey was kind of cool. But now that Volpe has taken 11, I like his choice.

1st Major League At-Bat for Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Andrew Mills/NJ Advance Media)

I thought it was funny as soon as Volpe relinquished 77, it was snapped up by pitching coach Matt Blake. Manager Aaron Boone, with his Reds number of 17, is the only coach with a number below 60. It is kind of funny there is a movement for managers and coaches to not wear numbers due to the shortage. The Yankees have retired twenty-two numbers, the most in MLB. I feel for future generations who may see triple digits on jerseys. I would go with alpha-numeric characters before adding a third digit.  Give the manager “M1”. His bench coach could be “C1”.  Seriously, I wish the Yankees held the criteria for retiring numbers much higher than they do. Reggie Jackson had a nice five-year run with the Yankees, but it was only five years. Sure, he helped win two World Series, and his three-home run game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1977 World Series stands out as his greatest performance, but many guys have helped the Yankees win with much longer tenures of success. 

I am not a fan of Alex Rodriguez, but he helped the Yankees win a World Series and had a long Yankees career. Yet, his number is still in circulation, most recently worn by former Yankee Joey Gallo. No doubt his history with PEDs contributed to the decision not to retire the number, but still, he was a good baseball player, every bit as good if not better than Jackson. Mike Mussina pitched eight great years with the Yankees and won twenty games in his final season, yet his number 35 immediately went back into circulation and is currently worn by reliever Clay Holmes. Mussina’s sin is never winning a World Series, but it did not stop the Yankees from retiring Don Mattingly’s number. The Yankees have not re-issued CC Sabathia’s number 52 (or Masahiro Tanaka’s 19 for that matter). I guess the lack of numbers is a problem for the 2173 Yankees which should not be our concern.

New Acquisitions

I had expected Rafael Ortega to make the Yankees’ Opening Day Roster, so I was slightly surprised when he opted out of his minor league contract after the Yankees made the decision not to promote him. The Yankees had their eye on former Boston Red Sox outfielder/first baseman Franchy Cordero who was cut by the Baltimore Orioles after a strong Spring performance. They signed Cordero and he was in uniform on Opening Day.

It is rather humorous that the Yankees could not re-sign Andrew Benintendi, so they signed the guy he was once traded for. Not expecting much with Cordero but it would be nice if the Yankees could tap into some of the potential he once held. He has prestigious power if he could ever learn to hit consistently. Cordero stands out in my mind for a misplayed popup when he was the first baseman for the Red Sox in a game against the Yankees last July. The dropped ball allowed Aaron Hicks to score in a game eventually won by the Yankees, 6-5.

Franchy Cordero (Photo Credit: Mary Schwalm/AP)

Cordero signed with the Orioles through free agency last December. He had a surprisingly strong Spring, slashing .413/.426/.674 (1.100 OPS) in eighteen games, but it was not enough to make the Orioles’ Opening Day Roster. He was released by the Orioles on March 27^th and signed with the Yankees three days later. 

Regardless of past miscues and failed potential, it is a new beginning for Cordero. Maybe the Pinstripes are magical for him. Maybe not. There is only one way to find out.

The other new acquisition is reliever Colton Brewer. Brewer, who spent time with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in 2017, is another former Red Sock.  He was in camp with the Tampa Bay Rays this Spring after spending 2022 playing for Kansas City’s Triple-A club, and when he failed to make the Rays’ Opening Day roster, the Yankees acquired him for cash considerations. Brewer has subsequently been assigned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. When he was first acquired, it appeared that it would be for a Major League spot which I did not see as a fit. It seemed like the Yankees would have had to end their love affair with Albert Abreu to make room (or move on from outfielder Estevan Florial). Brewer seems to be a depth/insurance piece to be stashed in Triple-A until if/when the need arises. 

I thought the Yankees would be more aggressive in bringing in a veteran pitcher given the injuries to the pitching staff. Not sure why Aaron Boone said the other day the Yankees were working on a potential deal to add a pitcher to the staff. If Brewer was the pitcher he was talking about, it probably was not worth the mention. Perhaps the potential deal fell apart. Sometimes it is best to say nothing until it happens.

Oswald Peraza, RailRider

I feel bad for Oswald Peraza. I felt like he was ready for the Major Leagues, and at the start of Spring Training, I had thought he would be the starting shortstop for the Yankees. I am not disappointed Anthony Volpe has the job, but I am saddened it cost Peraza a spot on the Major League roster. Peraza started at short on Friday night for the RailRiders in their 2-1 win over the Buffalo Bisons. He was 1-for-4, striking out three times. He had an eighth-inning single and a stolen base. Not a great night for him, but hopefully he stays positive and productive until he gets the call to the Show. 

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

Granted, with Volpe making the roster, there was no room for Peraza. I seriously thought Peraza would be the shortstop based on the stronger throwing arm, with Volpe representing the future at second base. Volpe carved his own future to take shortstop, and good for him. So now what happens? I am not ready to part ways with Gleyber Torres, even if I recognize he seems to be the most tradeable asset. If the Yankees are willing to commit to Torres long-term, I would not have an issue with trading Peraza to give him an opportunity elsewhere. If there is no intent to extend Torres, then the Yankees should pull the trigger on a trade when a reasonable offer presents itself to open the door for Peraza. 

Peraza spending the summer in Triple-A proves nothing. His development needs to continue in the Major Leagues. I hope the Yankees can figure this one out without harming the player’s future.

Gary Sanchez to the Giants

Great for Gary Sanchez to get an opportunity with the San Francisco Giants. A minor league deal, with a 30-day opt-out, but it is a chance for him to start anew. Despite the shortage of catching in the Yankees’ system, I did not want a reunion with Sanchez. However, I equally did not want to see him show up in Boston, Toronto, or Tampa Bay. Going to a National League club on the West Coast is best case scenario.

The Kraken (Photo Credit: Dan Fappiano)

I hope he is successful in reclaiming a Major League job. I wanted him to succeed as a Yankee and held my support for him longer than most fans. When the Yankees parted ways, it was time. So even though I do not wish to see his return to New York, I would like to see him find happiness and success so long as it is not with a Yankees rival. 

Speaking of ex-Yankees, Luke Voit signed a one-year deal with a club option for 2024 with the Milwaukee Brewers. I am glad to see him land a Major League job. It has been a tough road for him since leaving the Yankees. San Diego, Washington, and now Milwaukee. Although never a fan of Voit’s glove, I liked the guy’s bat and his personality in general. Armed with the mentality of an NFL linebacker, his home runs were a joy to watch.  Cheers to Luke in Brew City!

He may not have played for the Yankees at the big-league level, but former Yankees prospect outfielder/second baseman Nick Solak was acquired on Friday by the Seattle Mariners. He had been designated for assignment by the Cincinnati Reds. Solak went to the Tampa Bay Rays a few years ago in the deal that brought Brandon Drury to New York from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Solak found some later success with the Texas Rangers. Once a touted prospect, his journeyman status proves GM Brian Cashman was right to include him in a trade. I am always worried that the prospects traded away turn out to be Hall of Famers like Fred “Crime Dog” McGriff.  An unfounded fear, for the most part.

As always, Go Yankees!

Play Today, Win Today...

  

Aaron Judge & Oswaldo Cabrera / Photo Credit: Getty Images

Time to start a winning streak…

The Yankees’ Great Collapse of 2022 continues. It is hard not to look at the New York Yankees with a ‘glass is half empty’ lens.  Since the Trading Deadline (August 2^nd), the Yankees are 10-20. A five-game winning streak in late August that included a two-game sweep of the New York Mets and the first two games of the series in Oakland, things had started to look better. It was a façade. The Yankees proceeded to lose the last two games of the four-game set with the A’s, then dropped three of four in Anaheim, and barely avoided being swept in Tampa this weekend. 

The Yankees return home today to play Gary Sanchez, Gio Urshela and the Minnesota Twins. The Yankees have handled the Twins with ease for years but if there was ever a year for the Twins to get revenge, this is it. Minnesota has had their own struggles, but the Yankees would be foolish to underestimate the Twins given the state of their current play. The Twins are 68-64, which is good for a first-place tie in the AL Central with the Cleveland Guardians. The Twins and the Guardians are currently five games out of the Wild Card chase, so the pressure is on the Twins to win the division if they have October aspirations. In other words, I fully expect the Twins to be ready to play. Former Yank Mike Ford was slugging like Babe Ruth when the Yankees were in Anaheim (okay, not really, but it seemed like it). No doubt former Yanks Sanchez and Urshela would love to do the same. 

Gary Sanchez & Gio Urshela

The Yankees desperately needed a win yesterday to keep the Rays from pulling within two games in the loss column. They may have won the game, 2-1, after thwarting a Rays rally in the bottom of the ninth, but the Yankees got away with one when Clay Holmes’ 3-2 pitch to Yandy Diaz, slightly below the zone was a called third strike with the excellent glove work by Jose Trevino who brought his glove up quickly on the reception. If it had been called a ball which is what it really was, the Rays would have had the bases loaded against a reliever they clearly had on the ropes. The stage was nearly set for a Rays walk-off which would have been agonizing. 

Regardless of how the Yankees (80-54) got the win on Sunday, they stand five games up on the Rays (74-58) entering play today (four games in the loss column). The Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles are six and eight-and-a-half games back, respectively. The Orioles trailing by only single digits. I type those words in disbelief, yet sadly they are true. The Orioles are a success story, and I am not excited they stand in the Yankees’ path the last week of the regular season when the teams play at Yankee Stadium for three games starting Friday, September 30^th. The Yankees’ last homestand of the year (they head to Arlington, Texas for the final regular season series), could have playoff implications for both teams. The Boston Red Sox seemingly have a stranglehold on the AL East Cellar as they have a five-game lead on the O’s for worst record in the division, and Baltimore seems content to let Boston reign as the bilge water of the division. 

The Rays get the Red Sox at home for three games starting today before they head to New York to play the Yankees again. It is imperative the Yankees hold ground against the Rays to protect the five-game lead heading into play on Friday. It sucks the Rays get the soft Red Sox, but their schedule gets noticeably tougher as the month progresses. They have nine games against the Blue Jays (those teams could cancel themselves out in division play), six against the AL’s winningest team, the Houston Astros, and three against the AL Central co-leader Cleveland Guardians. By the time they get through those challenging teams, a three-game pillow at Fenway Park awaits them to end the season. Hoping the season does not come down to which team, Yankees, or Rays, does better in their final regular season series.

Hopefully the Yankees can play winning baseball again this month. Last month was hard. The injuries have not helped, and they lost another valuable player in Andrew Benintendi whose injured wrist has landed him on the 10-day Injured List. Hoping Matt Carpenter and Harrison Bader are back soon to help the lineup. The Yankees must figure out the bullpen. Clay Holmes’ near meltdown yesterday is a reminder that his struggles have not gone away. I look forward with cautious optimism. I know the team, despite its challenges, can win. Unless they get some guys back, I cannot say I am so optimistic about October, but we will cross that bridge when it comes. The focus today should rightfully be on securing the AL East championship and gaining a first-round bye. The dog days of summer are over so no more time for lackluster play. Yankees, you got this!

Andrew Benintendi has been shelved. It was not a good sign when there was a ‘pop’ heard from Benny’s wrist during an at-bat against the Rays. Even though the early test results were negative, the sound alone was cause for concern. Turns out it was an indicator of greater problems as Benny was diagnosed with a broken hook of the hamate bone.

He will undergo surgery and we await his timeline. There is still hope he could be back for the playoffs, but time will tell. It is not like he can roll out of bed one morning and start hitting .300 again. Who knows how much time he will have to get ready…if he is ready at all. With typical rehab entailing three to four weeks of immobilization, there will not be much time to get back into baseball shape. Look at Giancarlo Stanton, he left his bat at the All-Star Game, and it has not rejoined him on the active roster yet. 

Although his Yankees career started slowly, Benny was rounding into form as a much-needed consistent source of hits. Since he was acquired from the Kansas City Royals on July 27^th for minor league pitchers Chandler Champlain, T.J. Sikkema and Beck Way, Benny has hit .254/.331/.404 with .734 OPS. He was four of five in stolen base attempts, and had hit two home runs, nine doubles, and a triple while walking thirteen times in 33 games. Can Aaron Hicks match that production? Not sure I would hold my breath on that one.   

I like Benintendi and what he brings to the team’s offense. I just wish the other guys not named Aaron Judge were hitting better. Hoping for a swift recovery and Benny’s return as a source for extra base hits.  The offseason free agent focus will be Judge, however, I hope the Yankees do not lose sight of Benintendi and bring him back for next year. Or trade for Ian Happ, that would work too. 

Anthony Rizzo’s back! I wish that meant he was back in the lineup but unfortunately it is the continued back problems that have caused Rizzo to miss extended time. After receiving an epidural for his back pain, there is hope he will be ready to play in a couple of days. He is needed now more than ever. With the injuries, Rizzo plays such a huge role in the lineup and the diversity of his left-handed bat in a predominantly right-handed batting order, worsened by the loss of Benintendi, is essential.

Anthony Rizzo / Photo Credit: AP

I have mixed feelings about bringing Rizzo back next year. I love the guy for how he plays and the leadership he brings to a clubhouse, but chronic back trouble is not a favorable sign. It will continue to be an issue for him moving forward, and that alone would give me pause to spend millions of dollars to keep him in Pinstripes. It really sucks to say that, but I am trying to be a realist. Austin Wells is frequently mentioned as a player who will eventually switch from catcher to first base, but he is still a few seasons away. There are no immediate or obvious first base solutions for next season beyond Rizzo.  I am sure this will be a topic of discussion for the team’s offseason rebuild strategy.

As for Rizzo’s epidural, let's hope he gives birth to an AL East championship.

The Roger Maris Watch. The historic season for Aaron Judge continues. His 53^rd home run yesterday in the first inning of the Yankees’ 2-1 win was accomplished in the Yankees’ 134^th game. Roger Maris, the American League record holder with 61*, did not hit his 53^rd until his 135^th game. So, Judge remains slightly ahead of the pace. I feel bad for Maris. The conditions he played under while in pursuit of Babe Ruth’s record must have been unbearable. I have heard the stories of the stress he endured while chasing a legend. The hate he received, the hair loss, etc. Judge, for the most part, does not get the same level of scrutiny since the fans…and more importantly, the media…are cheering for his success.

Aaron Judge / Photo Credit: @Yankees, via Twitter

I am glad it is a Yankee assaulting the AL home run record. Records are made to be broken, and even if the Maris record falls, his name and image have received tremendous attention this season. His 1961 season will not be forgotten regardless of what Aaron Judge does. I would love to see Judge hit 61 home runs in 154 games to eliminate the asterisk, but regardless, Judge has earned the right to stand next to the legends.

As always, Go Yankees!

Cashman's Swings and Misses...

 

The Week of Questionable Moves…

A week into the return of Major League Baseball and I think some fans were ready to go back into the Lockout. I generally try to stay positive, but the week has been puzzling to say the least.

I get it...these are no longer George Steinbrenner’s Yankees. The days of a passionate owner who wants to win at all costs are over and have been over for more than a decade. The Boss died in 2010 but he had been phased out the last few years of his life. Outside of 2009, Hal Steinbrenner has never been “all in”, at least not to me. I know, the Yankees generally spend more on payroll than most other teams and are consistently at or above the luxury tax threshold. The criticism is mainly how those dollars have been allocated and the times when spending more money made sense, but the team choose the status quo. 

The biggest surprise of the week was the end of the Gary Sanchez era in New York. I had grown frustrated with Gary like most Yankee fans, but I recognized he was well liked among his teammates, and he carries a reputation as a hard worker, so it was not like he was not trying. Many fans have been screaming all winter for Gary’s ouster, and there was frustration each time a speculative catching target was traded elsewhere (such as Cincinnati’s Tucker Barnhart to the Tigers). El Gary remains an offensive threat, a rare quality among catchers. I was ready to support Gary for the coming season despite his defensive lapses. While I thought it was possible the Yankees might move Gary, I was surprised at the news he and Gio Urshela had been traded to the Minnesota Twins for Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ben Rortvedt. I think my first reaction was ‘why?’

Gary Sanchez / Photo Credit: Nathan Mayberg, Cape Coral Breeze

Josh Donaldson is 36, has had injury challenges in recent years, and is owed $50 million for the next two years which includes a $6 million buyout option in 2024.  Generational free agent talent is available, and the Yankees choose to provide the Minnesota Twins with financial relief. Money that helped the Twins sign the top available free agent shortstop, Carlos Correa, last night. Funny, the Yankees could have used an elite shortstop.

I will start this by saying I like Isiah Kiner-Falefa, the team’s new starting shortstop. He possesses a great attitude and has the ‘I loved the Yankees as a kid’ pic that the fan base always appreciates.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa (right)

The Yankees, one of the wealthiest teams in Major League Baseball, are counting on Kiner-Falefa to be the answer at short until either Oswald Peraza or the prized Anthony Volpe are ready for their Major League debut. The Texas Rangers thought so highly of Kiner-Falefa, they signed Corey Seager to a ten-year, $325 million contract to play shortstop and Marcus Semien, a noted shortstop, to a seven-year, $175 million deal to play second base. Kiner-Falefa, an oft-mentioned name for the Yankees offseason rumor mill, seemed like he would stay in Texas to play third base when their top third base prospect and potential starter Josh Jung had surgery in February to repair the torn labrum in his left shoulder. Jung is expected to miss six months. Yet, it did not keep Texas from shipping Kiner-Falefa to the Twins for catcher Mitch Garver when they had the chance. After acquiring Kiner-Falefa last Saturday, the Twins received a financial gift from the Yankees who took the entirety of Donaldson’s and gladly handed them Kiner-Falefa as part of the deal less than 24 hours later.

Kiner-Falefa was easily moved within the past week by two lesser valued teams to be the starting shortstop for the most storied franchise in baseball history. I am sorry but I view Kiner-Falefa as a super utility guy at best. Betting the farm on top prospects who are still a couple years away does not seem to be a sound baseball decision, especially when you are wasting the prime years of Gerrit Cole, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.  If Kiner-Falefa turns out to be more, like Didi Gregorius did when he took over for Derek Jeter, I will gladly eat my words. It just seems to be heavy risk to me, especially when free agents Carlos Correa and Trevor Story were still available. Rather than pay Donaldson, I would have preferred to use the money toward shortstop and keep Gio Urshela as the starting third baseman (or DJ LeMathieu at worst).  Correa is now a Twin, and the Red Sox seem to be potentially connected to Story. 

I hope this decision does not backfire on GM Brian Cashman but unfortunately, I feel there is strong potential for it.

The Rangers grab Mitch Garver, one of the better catchers in baseball and a proven successful student of Yankees catching coordinator Tanner Swanson, and the Yankees get a young catcher with limited Major League experience with Ben Rortvedt. Despite having some serious guns, Rortvedt is better known for his defense, and presently slots into a catching platoon with Kyle Higashioka.

Ben Rortvedt

The days of loving offensive production from the catching position are over (Jorge Posada spoiled us). It is well recognized that Higgy is not a starting caliber catcher. Maybe he performs better in a platoon. I am sure Gerrit Cole will prefer the new catching tandem, but I am underwhelmed. Rortvedt is possibly an uncovered gem, but then again, it is a little bit of a pipe dream to expect more than what he is. 

In the end, I wanted the Yankees to go big at either shortstop or first base. They did neither. I like Anthony Rizzo and I am glad he is back with the Yankees. However, I had really wanted either Matt Olson or Freddie Freeman, both far superior players, but the Yankees had to get at least Rizzo with no disrespect to Luke Voit. The Atlanta Braves shocked baseball by trading for Olson, who was born in Atlanta, and signing him to a huge long-term contract. The jilted Freeman ended up going home too, returning to his Southern California roots to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers. I get Freeman’s decision to play closer to home, but Olson was a clear missed opportunity. Yes, I would have included Anthony Volpe in a trade for Olson if that is what it took. Olson is a young established Major League superstar. I will take that over prospect potential any day. I am not calling for the trade of Volpe, I am excited to see him play for the Yankees one day, but when the championship window is right now, you make decisions for today, not tomorrow. 

It was a little bittersweet to see Luke Voit leave yesterday. Clearly, the handwriting was on the wall that his days in Pinstripes were numbered. When Rizzo was re-signed, keeping Voit, the 2020 home run champion, seemed pointless. He could have played DH, but it would have been a job share with guys like Josh Donaldson and Giancarlo Stanton. I always appreciated his football mentality on a baseball field. Luke should be thankful the Yankees found a good home for him in San Diego, a team that has the potential to rise above the Dodgers in the NL West with its strong young talent base.  There was never any chance the Yankees would score Blake Snell in the Voit trade despite the wishes of many Yankee fans. San Diego needs every one of their elite arms to overcome their hated rival to the north. Many fans scoffed at the actual return; a single A pitcher who has been clocked at 102 mph (20-year-old Justin Lange). I am okay with the trade. Luke needed a change of scenery and the reason he was expendable (health questions and defensive concerns) limited his trade value. Lange was rated as the eighth best prospect in the strong Padres farm system by MLB.com.

Justin Lange

If Rizzo has a strong bounce back year, he could opt out of his contract after the season so we might be looking for a new first baseman this fall but that is not a concern for now. 

So far this off-season, Brian Cashman has seemingly made the wrong moves. I have been waiting for the huge, brilliant move to make the team better, but we have only served to help make other teams better. Meanwhile, there is a beast growing north of the border in Ontario.  The trade rumors for potential pitchers (primarily centered on A’s pitchers Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas) continue to swirl but we have yet to see any trades involving the Yankees. The Yankees, for the most part, seem content to run it back with last year’s squad who were beaten last October by the over-achieving Boston Red Sox. 

Whether it is true or not, the ‘World Series or Bust’ mentality of Yankees Ownership seems to have left the building. Build enough to make the playoffs as a Wild Card entrant and then play the roll of the dice seems to be the new mantra. If the Yankees finish third or fourth in the AL East this year, Brian Cashman should be fired. It is time for change. If Hal Steinbrenner is worried about paying his creditors and partners, maybe it is time for the Steinbrenner family to cash in their chips. I am sure there are plenty of billionaires that would love to hold the most valuable franchise in Major League Baseball and would be willing to provide a very generous retirement package for Hal and his sisters. 

I miss the old Evil Empire days. Oh well, at least Hal can pay his bills. 

As always, Go Yankees!

Pessimism is the New Optimism...

  

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Progress yet to be seen…

Despite hope for elevation in talks between the MLB Owners and MLB Players Association, the brief one-hour meeting on Saturday was just another sign the owners have no intent to compromise with the players. Those supporting the owners may say the players are unreasonable, however, in my humble opinion, the opposite is true. Eventually, the MLB Lockout will end. Eventually. For now, the certainty is the delay of Spring Training and possibly Opening Day if talks cannot escalate to meaningful and productive discussions with greater frequency.

It seems to me that the owners want the players to feel the pain of losing money so that they cave into the owners’ demands. Greed is alive and well in 2022.

Despite the 130-page offer presented to the Players Association, union lawyers were underwhelmed by the latest proposals. Although the lawyers will discuss the offer to the MBLPA’s executive board, there is not much optimism that the latest proposals will kickstart and accelerate negotiations.

Saturday was only the fifth time the two sides have met since the Lockout began on December 2^nd. There appears no chance the pitchers and catchers will report next week, nor will the Spring Training games begin on February 26^th as originally scheduled.

Highlights of the latest offer by the MLB Owners included:

• Elimination of the penalty (third-round amateur draft pick) for exceeding the luxury tax threshold.
• Increase the luxury tax threshold: 2022 & 2023: $214 million; 2024: $216 million; 2025: $218,000 million; and 2026: $222 million.
• Raise the minimum salary from $570,500 to $630,000; or an alternative tier of $615,000 for initial major league players, $650,000 for players with one-year of service, and $725,000 for players with two years of service.
• Increase the pre-arbitration bonus pool from $10 million to $15 million.
• Limit of five optional assignments of a player to the minor leagues each season.

The current annual inflation rate for the 12 months ending in January 2022 was 7.48%. The proposed levels for the luxury tax threshold fail to keep pace with current inflation. Based on the current luxury tax threshold of $210 million, the minimum ceiling should be no less than $225 million. With the players seeking approximately $245-$260 million, the owners and players have a long way to go to find a mutually acceptable threshold.

The pre-arbitration bonus pool proposal remains $85 million below the union’s most recent request.

I have not given much thought to optional assignments, but I was surprised to hear that Yankees reliever Albert Abreu was optioned to Triple A something like fourteen times last season. That is crazy. I know teams have gotten better at roster manipulation through players with options (particularly when trying to keep relievers fresh), and agree there should be a cap. The owners’ proposal for a maximum of five optional assignments makes sense to me and seems fair, but it is hardly an issue that moves the needle toward full agreement on all core economic issues.

Like many of you, I am disappointed. Baseball is my favorite spectator sport. I like football but not nearly as much as baseball. I have probably paid more attention to football this year for no other reason than the absence of baseball. I have interest in basketball and hockey but certainly not to the same degree as baseball or football. Baseball historically is such a release from the grinds of daily life. We ride the ebbs and flows of every season with our favorite team. We legitimately care about the players for our team, those fortunate enough to wear the famed Pinstripes (well, apparently, for everybody except Gary Sanchez¹, that is…). The MLB Owners are depriving us of a great sport because they are unwilling to compromise and unable to act with any urgency.

George Steinbrenner / Photo Credit: Getty Images

I remain hopeful for a 162-game season, but time is running out. I will never forgive the MLB Owners if the season is lost. Regardless of what the future holds, I am done with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. #FireManfred

Clown Rob Manfred

As always, Go Yankees! We miss you…

¹Editor’s Note: For the record, I do care about Gary Sanchez.