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 Best Team in Baseball...

 

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The Yankees Bandwagon is starting to get full…

Let’s party like it is 1998. It is a little early to compare this Yankees team to one of the greatest Yankees teams in the history of baseball but the ride, at least through today, has been one helluva jaunt. It boggles the mind that the Yankees have a ten-game lead in the American League East, a division that is expected to have four playoff participants, and we have not yet reached the All-Star break. The Toronto Blue Jays, the team with the strongest young talent in the division, have the potential to make it a race. I would certainly not discount their ability to go on an extended winning streak, but it sure feels better when your team is up, and not behind, by ten full games.

Admittedly, I was a little concerned when the Yankees began a thirteen-game streak against the Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, and Houston Astros. But three games in, the Yankees are 3-0 after sweeping the Rays at Yankee Stadium. The naysayers are quick to say the Yankees are only beating the bad teams and it appears the Rays are not as strong as they have been in recent years, but there are no pushovers in the AL East. Even the Baltimore Orioles are a better team than they once were and would have a better record if they resided in another division.

The Yankees face a stronger challenge starting tonight in Toronto. The goal, as always, is to win the series, but as the only team yet to lose twenty games, I am not going to fret if it does not happen. If the Yankees do win the Blue Jays series, it will be a very loud statement that their stranglehold on the AL East will not be relinquished anytime soon.

Last night’s game was beautiful. Surprisingly, a pitcher’s duel after Luis Severino was temporarily placed on the COVID List and the Rays’ scheduled starter, Drew Rasmussen, was placed on the Injured List. Clarke Schmidt was called upon to open the game in place of Sevy, and despite some two-out jams, he emerged unscathed with three scoreless innings, holding the Rays to one hit, and striking out five. Before the game, I thought JP Sears would be a better option, but I did not check when he last pitched and of course Schmidt was already with the team. Wonderful job by Schmidt, and he certainly rewarded Aaron Boone’s faith in him.

Ryan Weber, we hardly knew ye. Called up to replace Sevy on the active roster, Weber replaced Schmidt and although he yielded a fifth inning solo homer to Francisco Mejia, he gave the Yankees some length with 3 2/3 innings pitched, holding the Rays to only the one run. Despite the heroics, Weber’s Yankees career may be over before it really started. He was designated for assignment after the game when Severino tested negative for COVID and was feeling better than he had the night before, causing the Yankees to reinstate him to the active roster. Sevy has been cleared to travel to Toronto with the team. For Weber, there is always the chance he clears waivers and is sent outright to Scranton Wilkes-Barre if he does not elect free agency. But if he does not stay in the organization, the Yankees have a plethora of young arms waiting for their opportunities. So, thank you, Ryan, for the contribution to thrilling 2022 Yankees ride. We will be sure to send you the DVD.

Ryan Weber / Photo Credit: @Yankees

From there, relievers Ron Marinaccio and Michael King held the Rays in check to push the tied ballgame to the bottom of the ninth. With Aaron Judge, Anthony Rizzo, and Giancarlo Stanton scheduled to face Rays reliever Shawn Armstrong, it felt like magic was about to happen. I was a little disappointed when leading AL MVP candidate Aaron Judge flied out to right, but Anthony Rizzo quickly erased the disappointment with a thrilling walk-off home run to right center. Honestly, going into this series, I thought the Yankees would win no more than two of the three games. In years past, it has always seemed like a struggle to beat the Rays, but clearly, this Yankees team is different.

 

AL EAST	WINS	LOSSES	PERCENTAGE	GAMES BACK
Yankees	47	16	.746	--
Blue Jays	37	26	.587	10.0
Rays	35	28	.556	12.0
Red Sox	34	30	.531	13.5
Orioles	28	37	.431	20.0

I am looking forward to watching how the next ninety-nine games play out. May one of the most exciting and thrilling seasons in recent memory continue. Love these Yankees!

Anthony Rizzo / Photo Credit: Bebeto Matthews, AP

Yankees, please keep Aaron Judge happy. Next week, Aaron Judge’s arbitration case is scheduled to be heard on Wednesday. The Yankees offered $17 million while Judge asked for $21 million. Here is hoping the two sides reach a compromise before the hearing. I dislike the nature of arbitration cases that force the MLB teams to find the faults of the players, airing them to the other side, to justify their lower offers. Nothing like sitting in a room for hours being told how much you suck. No question Judge is worth $21 million. Regardless of what happens, the Yankees need to ensure that Judge is taken care of, positively, peacefully…and financially.

Aaron Judge is the face of the New York Yankees, and he should remain a Yankee for life. The last point may not be decided until after the end of the season but if he leaves in free agency, it would be the single biggest loss of a Yankees player, in his prime, that I can remember. There have been players I have been saddened to see leave but nothing of this magnitude. Judge deserves to be paid and he deserves to be the next Captain of the Yankees.

Aaron "MVP" Judge

North of the Border. The Yankees are in Ontario to face their strongest division rival in a three-game set. The pitching matchups are set: Jordan Montgomery versus former Dodgers starter Ross Stripling tonight. Jameson Taillon versus the talented young Alek Manoah (8-1, 1.67 ERA, sixty-eight strikeouts) on Saturday, and Gerrit Cole against Yusei Kikuchi on Sunday. Here is hoping the Yankees starters bring their “A” games like they did in Minnesota. It should be a fun series. As I like to say, to be the best, you must beat the best. The Yankees seem to find new ways to win every night. Let the trend continue.

Lastly, I hate to be critical of the Yankees, but… Aaron Hicks is killing me. Every at-bat is so painful to watch. Even when he does (infrequently) connect, any positive feelings are quickly erased. There is a reason that Aaron Judge has essentially become the team’s starting centerfielder and Hicks needs to be replaced in left. I am ready and hope for his departure next month. I am tired of watching him step to the plate with men on base, only to walk back to the bench with his head down after recording another out. I guess we always need to find “that guy” we can complain about, and Hicks is that guy for me. I am also not looking forward to the return of closer Aroldis Chapman. He was once a great closer, no question, but age regression happens to the best of us. I have genuinely enjoyed the lack of stress in the back end of games with Clay Holmes. No doubt when Aroldis Chapman is standing on the mound in the ninth inning sweating profusely, I will be sweating profusely in my living room. Chapman can still be dominant at times, and I hope the rest has been good for him. Regardless of how Aaron Boone decides to use him, I hope Chapman can excel and play a key role in the team’s success.

As always, Go Yankees!

MLB Fandom Lockout Continues...

  

MLB Owners & MLBPA continue to show disregard for its fans…

The MLB Owners and Players Association finally met this week in a ‘why bother?’ one-hour session. The fool in me had been hopeful the first meeting regarding core economics in over a month would yield some momentum for further talks. Silly me. Now the wait for the Players Association to counter which most likely will be as aggressive as the MLB Owners were conservative…meaning the two sides remain miles apart. No time frame has been given for the Players Association’s response. There is a threat Spring Training may not start on time, but a shortened Spring Training is probably very appealing to both the owners and players. Now, it feels like this labor dispute could drag into March and delay the start of the regular season.

I think both sides are damaging the reputation of the sport. Much has been discussed about appealing to younger fans to help continue to grow the fanbase. Yet, the current state of Major League Baseball shows young sports fans that football, basketball, and hockey are tremendous alternatives. If MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred wants to create a lasting legacy, he is on the wrong path. Hopefully, egos can be set aside, and cooler heads will prevail to bring meaningful negotiations soon. Maybe that is an overly optimistic view, but I cannot imagine the owners walking away from regular season gate receipts, especially after the trauma of the 2020 season. I do not understand the wait until the last minute. I understand each side wants to be the big winner but compromise for the sake of the game is more important. They can and will find common ground, but the question is when and at what cost to the fans.

We get this is a fight over our money. MLB Owners and Players, please remember this is not all about you. Get in a room, lock the door, and settle this…now.

Congratulations to Rachel Balkovec, the new manager for the Single-A Tampa Tarpons! This is a well-deserved promotion for Balkovec, who joined the Yankees in November 2019 as a minor league hitting instructor. I honestly wanted the Yankees to hire her as an assistant hitting coach for the big-league club, but this new role certainly befits the talented and industrious coach who is on her way to a bigger and brighter future in the Yankees organization.

Rachel Balkovec / Photo Credit: Yankees

Balkovec’s expressed goal is to be a general manager one day. I could easily see the Yankees eventually elevating her to assistant general manager. Jean Afterman is sixty-four and relocated a couple of years ago from New York to Sonoma, California. Balkovec is a possible replacement for the much-respected Afterman, when/if she decides it is time to enjoy the wonderful Napa Valley vineyards. Such an appointment could place Balkovec in line to eventually replace Brian Cashman. If not, it is a certainty in my mind that Rachel Balkovec will accomplish her goals through determination, perseverance, knowledge, and competitiveness. She wants to be a MLB general manager which means she will be a MLB general manager. For now, low level Yankee prospects will benefit greatly from an excellent teacher. I am glad she is on our side.

No word on a replacement for short-term Yankees assistant hitting coach Eric Chavez. The latest name mentioned is Eric Hinske, a brief one-time Yankee. His name excites me about as much as Mark Trumbo. In other words, not very much. Hinske served as assistant hitting instructor for several seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks until he was relieved of his duties in June 2021. I understand the need for a coach with Major League experience, a weakness in the current configuration of the Yankees coaching staff, but the Yankees can do better than Trumbo or Hinske. I like the idea of someone who has past ties to the organization but that is not a prerequisite. I want a coach who can team with hitting coach Dillon Lawson and assistant hitting coach Casey Dykes to provide a strong collaborative and synergetic trio to help make Yankee hitters better. I keep thinking Brett Gardner would be a formidable choice if the Yankees could convince him his playing days are over.

International Signing Day. For the Yankees, they are expected to sign top international prospect Roderick Arias. MLB’s Jesse Sanchez is reporting the Yankees have signed the young shortstop to a $4.0 million deal. The Yankees have not confirmed the signing. Per Sanchez, Arias has above-average bat-to-ball skills and strike zone awareness. He shows power from both sides of the plate with emphasis on the right side. Good opposite field power from the left side. Sanchez goes on to say the overall package could develop into a plus-plus hitter. Once the signing is confirmed, Arias will immediately be inserted into the Yankees’ current list of top ten prospects.

Roderick Arias

The presence of Arias and last year’s number one pick Trey Sweeney make it easier if the Yankees decide to include Oswald Peraza in a trade with the Oakland A’s to acquire first baseman Matt Olson. The Yankee still need more than a stopgap at short, but outside of Anthony Volpe or Jasson Dominguez, there is not much I would not give up to get Olson (although the argument can be easily made to simply part with money to sign Freddie Freeman). I remain on the bandwagon to sign either Carlos Correa or Trevor Story although their signings range from highly unlikely to mostly improbable. With no disrespect to the futures of Anthony Volpe or Peraza (if he is not traded), it will sicken me if the 2022 New York Yankees shortstop is Andrelton Simmons. If that is the case, I would rather have that Falafel dude from Texas. It does bother me that the Rangers thought so highly of Isiah Kiner-Falefa that they signed not one but two of the top free agent shortstops this off-season. I would prefer him over Simmons, but I do not think either guy would move the needle for improving the team.

More minor league free agent signings. I was a little surprised to see the Yankees have signed former top prospect LHP Manny Banuelos to a minor league deal (I know, Daniel, there is no such thing as a bad minor league deal). Manny has bounced around a few organizations since the Yankees traded him to Atlanta in 2015 (in the deal that brought Chasen Shreve to New York). In 2019, while a member of the Chicago White Sox, Banuelos gave up nine earned runs in one inning to the Boston Red Sox. After some time in China, he spent last season in the Mexican League. I would love to see Banuelos, now 30 years old, finally achieve success in the Major Leagues, even as a reliever, but let us just say that I am not optimistic.

Manuel Banuelos

The Yankees also signed former Red Sock Ryan Weber, 31-year-old RHP, to a minor league contract. In Weber’s last MLB appearance for the Red Sox on June 13, 2021, he gave up eleven runs in 5 2/3 innings. I see a common theme with both Banuelos and Weber. They have both been horrible for and against the Boston Red Sox.

Can Matt Blake and the Yankees minor league pitching instructors unlock potential in either arm? Doubtful but we will see. As they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I miss baseball.

As always, Go Yankees!