Congratulations to the First-Place New York Yankees...

 

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: New York Daily News)

Yankees win AL East; what’s next? ….

The New York Yankees won the American League Eastern Division Championship in a year that many had expected the Baltimore Orioles to win the division. After the division clincher, I saw a few Yankee fans on social media trying to collect receipts from fans who did not think the Yankees would win this season. I thought the Yankees would finish second to the Orioles before the season started. I am happy the Yankees proved me wrong, but I still think the O’s might have emerged victorious if their pitching had remained healthy. Sure, they had Corbin Burnes, one of the game’s best, but it was not enough. They also lost one of the game’s finest closers, Felix Bautista (Tommy John surgery in September 2023), and tried to replace him this season with the since-released Craig Kimbrel. I am not trying to deflate the Yankees’ success, and I know they also dealt with their share of injuries. I just realized the Orioles could not play with the whole deck, and the Yankees could take advantage of it. Baltimore will be back strong in 2025, regardless of how this season plays out.

But today is 2024, and the New York Yankees, possessing the best record in the American League, are your AL East Champions, with a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the American League Championship Series (assuming they make it that far). If there was ever a year to kick the Houston Astros to the curb, this is it, and I hope the Yankees do it. Beating the Royals, Guardians, Tigers, or Orioles will be enjoyable, but beating Houston would be fantastic. I would savor every moment of it.

I am pleased the Yankees took care of business after the long stretch this summer when they played like the league’s worst. Indeed, there is no underestimating the power of the Juan Soto/Aaron Judge tandem in the lineup. Soto made everyone around him better. Jazz Chisholm, Jr changed the clubhouse's vibe and attitude upon his arrival. After whispers pre-trade that he was a lousy clubhouse influence, the exact opposite turned out to be true. Those are critical differences as to why the Yankees won this season.

Juan Soto (Photo Credit: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Anthony Volpe stepped back, but I remain committed to him as the team’s starting shortstop. I am hopeful and optimistic about his improved performance next season. If it does not happen next season, it will be time to find Plan B, but that is the least of our concerns in October 2024. It is not like a reincarnated 21-year-old Derek Jeter, possessing all the vast knowledge and experience of the original version, will show up in Aaron Boone’s office, ready to take the field.

Gleyber Torres, for as much hate as he took early in the season, found a home atop the batting order, and his detractors were hard to find late in the season. I have never said I am anxious to see the Yankees replace Torres, eligible for free agency after the season. I know the Yankees need to drain the vault for Juan Soto, but I hope they can find a little extra to bring Torres back. I am not ready to turn the page with him. It is easy to point out his faults, but sadly, perfect ballplayers are rare. If Gleyber leaves, somebody else with “warts” will take his place.

Clay Holmes, thanks for the All-Star nomination and closing out the 2024 regular season with an easy save, but I wish you well in free agency, and I hope the Yankees close the door behind you. Luke Weaver showed enough to prove that he can become the next Yankees closer. Maybe the Yankees try to make a splash in the offseason (not sure who…signing an aged Kenley Jansen does not exactly excite me, regardless of the respect I have held for Kenley over the years). Still, Weaver can be the guy if given the opportunity. In recent years, the Yankees have proven they can grow talented pitchers in the farm system, and maybe the next great closer is just a call-up away. Who knows. Yankees VP Michael Fishman probably knows since he clearly knows everything (there is no air of seriousness in that sentence, I can assure you). The Yankees have proven a solid ability to build a good bullpen, so it should be the least of anyone’s concerns in building their offseason plans.

I have enjoyed Anthony Rizzo’s time as a New York Yankee. He may not have given us the years or the memories like some of the great Yankees first basemen who preceded him, but Rizzo saved us from Luke Voit’s iron glove at first base, and I will be forever grateful. His worth extended well beyond his glove. He has been a great teammate and a tremendous Yankee. I am glad he spent a few years in the Bronx, even if he will forever be remembered as a Chicago Cub. The fractures he suffered in his hand this weekend could spell the end of his Yankees career. The Yankees kept the door open by not placing Rizzo on the Injured List when they called up Ben Rice to replace him at first base for Sunday’s season finale. No word if Rizzo will be able to play in the ALDS, but fortunately, the team has a few days before any decisions must be made. If it is genuinely a ‘pain tolerance thing’ as we have heard, then maybe Rizzo plays and gives us one of those iconic victories despite injury performances like Kirk Gibson once did for the Los Angeles Dodgers. If not, thank you for your time in Pinstripes. While the Yankees will not pick up Rizzo’s option, the $6 million buyout is enough that the Yankees could negotiate a one-year deal for Rizzo to return next season. I am okay with whatever happens. If he leaves, he has been great. If he stays, wonderful…let’s try to get him a ring in Pinstripes if that does not happen this year.

Anthony Rizzo (Photo Credit: USATSI)

Like Clay Holmes, Alex Verdugo finished the last regular season game strong with a bases-loaded two-run single that gave the Yankees a 6-4 lead and an eventual win on Sunday over the Pittsburgh Pirates, which allowed the Yankees to finish 94-68, three games up on the Baltimore Orioles, 91-71. Sorry for the long run-on sentence, but one season of Alex Verdugo is enough. I liked him better than I thought when the Yankees first acquired him from the archrival Red Sox last offseason, but the Yankees can do better. Jasson Dominguez needs to work on his left-field defense this winter, but I prefer a matured Dominguez bat in left next season over a return engagement for Verdugo. Watch Verdugo become a major postseason star for the Yankees, making it impossible for them to part ways. Okay, I do not believe it would happen, but if it did, it would mean good things for the playoffs. Note to Hal Steinbrenner, please keep your money aimed at Juan Soto.

I think Trent Grisham can help teams win, but the Yankees needed to play him more for us to find out. For Grisham’s sake, he would get more playing time elsewhere. He remains arbitration-eligible in 2025, but the Yankees should do him a favor and move him to a team that needs him. I am unsure when Everson Pereira will be ready following UCL surgery earlier this year, but he should be making noise for Major League playing time when he is healthy again (or at least I hope he is).

The Yankees will have decisions to make regarding their starting rotation next season. I am sure any offseason plan for the Yankees (at least those by Yankee fans) will include a starting pitcher capable of shouldering the load behind Gerrit Cole. I do not believe Cole will opt out. The Yankees would be foolish not to extend his deal by one year. The Yankees need to build around Cole, not build toward replacing him. Clarke Schmidt and Carlos Rodón will be there, and Luis Gil showed much growth. Nestor Cortes, Jr seems like a wild card. He could stay. He could go. The over/under seems to favor his departure, even if he was the most consistent starting pitcher this season. There will be offseason pressure on the Yankees to upgrade the rotation despite their massive attention on Juan Soto’s impending free agency. Need to find the next Tarik Skubal or Paul Skenes if they can be seen without becoming the worst team in baseball to get the best draft position.

Like it or not, Aaron Boone will return next season regardless of how October plays out. I do not dislike the guy. I get frustrated with his decisions sometimes, but there seemed to be fewer of those occurrences as the season wore on. Maybe he is starting to get it. I had thought before the season that having an experienced bench coach in Brad Ausmus would help him, and I think it has. Granted, his former bench coach has done well as the manager for the New York Mets. My issue with Carlos Mendoza was never about his knowledge, experience, or ability to relate to players on their level. I had always thought he was too much like Boone to effectively help Boone.

It is a little early to discuss the offseason. Sorry. The current focus is the American League Divisional Series and determining who the Yankees will play next. The Yankees are well positioned for a deep run, and if the team gets hot, they can put the memories of ‘they have not won since 2009’ to rest. No team stands out as the prohibitive favorite. It is as simple as playing the best and being the best. The field is open.

On a side thought, I did not like the post-game celebration for just making the playoffs. I know the team missed the playoffs in 2023, and it is an honor to make the dance. Yet, the celebration of participating in the Wild Card series seems premature to me. Winning the division championship was an accomplishment, even better when the Yankees secured home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs. It was bad enough the Yankees played one game with a champagne hangover, but they did it twice in September. Two games they played at less than their best. It could have cost them home-field advantage. Thankfully, it did not, but I will never understand why you celebrate playing a Wild Card game. Win the short three-game series and then celebrate. The ALDS/NLDS are rounds more worthy of celebration…in my humble opinion.

The season has thankfully ended for the Chicago White Sox and their historically bad 121-loss season. I could not help but think what it must be like for Andrew Benintendi. Not that I want Benintendi today, but at the time of his free agency, I had hoped for his return to the Yankees despite the flaws in his game. But he desired a Midwest location and signed a contract that surprisingly was one of the largest ever handed out by the Chicago White Sox (if not the largest, if memory serves correctly). I hope the money was worth it for Benintendi while he watched those losses mount this season. I am sure the White Sox’s offseason plan will start with how to unload Benintendi and his contract. I do not pine for a return to the Yankees, regardless of what the Yankees do with Alex Verdugo, Jasson Dominguez, and left field.

Craig Counsell is a good manager, but it must have been tough to finish ten games behind his old club. Congratulations to the Milwaukee Brewers on their division championship, which leaves Counsell and the Chicago Cubs in the dust.

The San Diego Padres impressed me down the stretch, and so did the Detroit Tigers. Both teams can make some noise in October. I feel bad for the fans of the Minnesota Twins because of their team’s late-season collapse. As a Vikings fan, I know how much they have suffered with the NFL. While the Twins have at least won some championships in their history, late-season collapses are never fun. I am sure Yankee fans hated to see the Twins miss the playoffs, given the Yankees' success over the Twins through the years.

The season was filled with so much more than what I have covered with this random post. These were just a few thoughts at the end of another MLB regular season. February always brings so much excitement for the upcoming season, and the season, from the view of February, seems so long, yet quickly, we are at the end. It has been a fun season, even if it has been frustrating. I feel good about the 2024 Yankees despite their weaknesses. The team is cohesive, and they strive to pick each other up. They may not win it all this season, but I am confident they will give it their all.

As always, Go Yankees! 

Volpe's Fault the Yankees are in First Place...

 

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Robert Sabo/New York Post)

Young Shortstop draws fans’ ire despite current AL East standings…

I love social media. I worked all day and was unable to see the Yankees play. I got home, and the first Social Media post I saw was about how terrible Anthony Volpe is with a bat in his hands. Considering the Yankees won today, how about some positive posts about a team that has taken a three-game lead in the American League Eastern Division?

I have accepted that Volpe will not be one of the key offensive contributors for the 2024 Yankees. If he plays solidly on the field, you live with the consequences on the offensive side of the ball. It is September, and Volpe is the best option for the Major League club. If the team believes he will not succeed at their envisioned level, replace him in the offseason. Maybe Volpe will end up costing the Yankees their place in the playoffs. I doubt it would fall on one player specifically, but for the sake of argument, if it did, the Yankees had already decided who would take the field as the team’s starting shortstop. Good, bad, or indifferent, there is nothing we can do to change the result, and we can only hope for the best. But I refuse to trash on the player. I believe he will get better. It may not be this season, but I remain convinced in his ability, and I think he will make the necessary adjustments to take his game to the next level. It may be next season and if so, so be it. Trashing Volpe will certainly not suddenly make him the game’s next elite shortstop. However, it might hurt him in becoming the best player he can be, if that makes sense.

Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Corey Sipkin/New York Post)

I had certainly hoped for better results from Volpe, but I want him on this team and to succeed as a New York Yankee. Until he cannot perform at the necessary level for a championship-level club, I will support him.

Now, it is Clay Holmes, which is another matter. Holmes can be great sometimes, but when he is terrible, he is horrifically awful. Sadly, he gave me heartburn every time he took the mound in the ninth inning. Sometimes, it worked out; sometimes, the results were horrific, and games were lost. I wonder why the Yankees stood behind Holmes for so long, and much longer than it took the fan base to recognize that despite the All-Star selection this year, Holmes is not an elite closer. It is like the NFL. When a kicker goes bad, get rid of him. Not that I feel that way about every Major League reliever, but in Holmes’ case, he won the job when Aroldis Chapman flamed out as a Yankee because there were not really any other options. He did well enough in certain spots that he inspired the club’s faith in him, even if it never did for any of us.

I prefer to see Holmes in specific situations, not at the back end of games. So, I was highly relieved when the Yankees finally removed Holmes from their designated closer role after his twelfth blown save (talk about a dirty dozen). I have never been a fan of Closer by Committee, but I have temporarily swayed from my position as it is the best course of action. I only hope that Holmes does not somehow recapture his job, either in the remaining weeks of the regular season or in the postseason. Given that Holmes is a free agent at the end of the year, I cannot see the Yankees pushing hard to bring him back in any role. I think he has value as a reliever, but the Yankees have shown, for the most part, that they can build an effective bullpen. They do not need Holmes to make it so. He strikes me as a guy who needs a change of scenery for all concerned.

As far as the committee is concerned, Luke Weaver has done nicely. I like his emotion (which reminds me slightly of the guy who once wore his number 30, David Robertson). Yet, I do not believe Weaver should be the only closer. I like his situational role. Tommy Kahnle made the save in Sunday’s 5-2 win over the Red Sox. If the job gets done and games are won, I do not care who has an “S” after their name in the box score. The Yankees can find a solitary closer in the offseason. For the duration of the season, the closer committee gives the Yankees the best ray of hope.

The Yankees said goodbye to reliever Victor Gonzalez before the end of the season. The two off-season Dodger reliever pickups, Gonzalez and Caleb Ferguson, were huge disappointments. I wondered why the Dodgers were so willing to part with them last offseason when the trades with the Yankees happened; what’s the catch? They knew, and now we know. To Ferguson’s credit, he is pitching much better for the Houston Astros than he did for the Yankees, but neither former Dodger was worth the time and trouble. Gonzalez had cleared waivers back in June and had been outrighted to the Minor Leagues, but the Yankees concluded they had seen enough. Gonzalez has been released. Of course, he will probably go to Baltimore, Houston, or some other team the Yankees will see in October and light it up. Oh well, C’est la vie.

Back to the Yankees, they are currently 87-63 with the three-game advantage over the Baltimore Orioles, 84-66, who were presumably everybody’s pre-season favorite to win the division. They could still win the division, but their chances will obviously diminish if the Yankees can keep winning. Not that I expect the Yankees to steamroll teams to season’s end, but I am not convinced the Orioles are up to the challenge. Playing like an elite team is hard when you cannot keep your starting pitching healthy. The Orioles are a talented team, and I fully expect them to be back to contend as one of the American League’s best next year. Still, this season’s Orioles squad is headed for the land of underachievement, barring a complete turn of events for their team.

The Orioles lead the Wild Card chase with a comfortable four-and-a-half lead on the second Wild Card contender, the Kansas City Royals. The Minnesota Twins are two-and-a-half games behind the Royals for the third and final Wild Card slot. The Yankees' next opponent, the Seattle Mariners, is on the outside looking in as they trail the Twins by two-and-a-half games. The Yankees series looms as a critical postseason determinant for the Mariners. We will indeed find out which team wants it more this week.

The comeback wins by the Yankees on Thursday, and Friday was fun, but Saturday’s defeat was like an ice-cold shower. Thankfully, Aaron Judge whacked his 53^rd homer on Sunday to ensure the Yankees were positioned correctly for the win, allowing the Yankees to win the series, three games to one. As great a player as I think Aaron Judge is, I know that Juan Soto’s presence has helped make him better. It reinforces why the Yankees need to sign Soto this offseason. Judge will be good regardless of who is on the roster, but when he has elite support, his level of greatness rises exponentially.  I know where Soto was when Judge hit sixty-two home runs, but I honestly believe Judge might have hit more if Soto had been batting behind him during the 2022 season. I am convinced that Judge and Soto can win a World Series together, and if given time, they will. It may not be this season, but it can and will happen. Maybe the Yankees need a new general manager and/or manager, but that is talk for another time.

Jasson Dominguez, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Adam Hunger/AP)

For as disappointing as the Yankees have been at times this season, how can you argue with their current placement in the standings? You do not win a World Series in the regular season. You get placement in the playoffs and then let the magic show begin. This formula is currently trending in the right direction.

As always, Go Yankees!

Nothing Comes Easy...

 

Photo Credit: Mary Altaffer, AP

The Yankees’ Rollercoaster continues…

Just when the Yankees start to give you some confidence, they take it away. Such has been the 2021 season for Yankee fans. Last night’s 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays was disappointing despite the Yankees attempted comeback that fell short. Many fault Aaron Boone’s handling of the bullpen for the loss (true belief, in my opinion) but was clear to me that Rays manager Kevin Cash continues to out-manage Boone in their head-to-head matchups.

Photo Credit: Mary Altaffer, AP

With only a game lead in the Wild Card chase, anything can happen with just two games left. I see many predicting when the Yankees will clinch a playoff spot, but with all honesty, they could see themselves out of the playoffs as easily as grabbing one of the two Wild Card spots. It’s unfortunate the two primary Wild Card challengers, the Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays, drew losing teams for their final regular season series while the Yankees were handed a division champ that is one victory away from 100 wins.  I like the challenge of beating the best to be the best, but of course you must actually beat them. 

Since the start of the recent Red Sox series, every game has been must-win. The Yankees did very well against both Boston and Toronto, yes, but they need to step up and take care of business against the Rays. They can’t depend on the Washington Nationals or the Baltimore Orioles (Boston and Toronto opponents, respectively) to deliver a playoff spot for the Yankees. They need to control their own destiny…and they need to make a statement in doing so…to secure home field advantage for the single-game elimination if they do succeed in making the playoffs. I don’t think any team really fears the Yankees at this point.

I will never say ‘I wish Joe Girardi was the manager’…that ship sailed several years ago, and I refuse to look back. However, the Yankees, regardless of how this season plays out, need to revisit their current managerial choice. If they win the World Series, odds are Aaron Boone would be rewarded with an extension, but realistically, I do not see a World Series championship in the cards for us this year. The deck is stacked against the Yankees, and they haven’t proven they can beat the better teams ahead of them when the chips are on the line.  I so want to be proven wrong in this belief, trust me. The Yankees can do better than Boone at the helm. I always thought Oakland A’s manager Bob Melvin would be a good choice and the Yankees have had interest in the past, but just like the Rays went with an unknown when they hired Kevin Cash to replace Joe Maddon, the Yankees can find the right guy. Not that I necessarily want a manager with no experience, but everybody must start somewhere. They’ve rebuilt and upgraded the level of pitching instruction and can use similar strategy to upgrade all facets of the organization. Bottom-line, Aaron Boone has shown enough to know that he is not the one to lead us to the promised land

Photo Credit: Yahoo! Sports

Okay, enough beating up on Boone. I just hope the Yankees can win today and tomorrow to make anything less than the top Wild Card spot moot. 

Not great news to hear D.J. LeMahieu has a sports hernia. I suppose it is good news he plans to play through it and could potentially be back on the field on Sunday after receiving a cortisone injection. The only question is how effective he can be with the injury. It was nice to see the return of shortstop Andrew Velazquez (at the expense of Albert Abreu who optioned to the sidelines) earlier this morning.  While Gio Urshela has done a decent job at short, he’s obviously needed at third with the state of D.J.’s health, and I clearly have more trust in the Bronx native’s glove than I do Gio despite his strong defensive skills. You must accept less offense with Velazquez in the lineup (he’s starting at shortstop today), but it just means everyone else needs to step up and take care of business. Gary, yes, I am talking to you…among a few others. For Velazquez, he gets a chance against his former teammates, and I am sure he’d love to be celebrating this weekend on his truly home turf. 

Just win, Yankees, just win…

I will be going to a baseball game today. I wish I was in New York and going to Yankee Stadium, but living in Southern California, I’ll have to settle for the next best thing. Headed to Dodger Stadium later today for a game against the Milwaukee Brewers. By game time, the Dodgers should know if they’ve been eliminated from the NL West division championship or if they still have slight hope for at least a tie. The San Francisco Giants, up by 2 games with 2 games to go, are playing the disappointing San Diego Padres in the City by the Bay this afternoon. A win by the Giants and the best (or worst) the Dodgers can do is where they currently sit, top Wild Card team with an upcoming visit by backup first baseman Albert Pujols’ old team, the St Louis Cardinals, on Wednesday. 

Hey Daniel Burch, I will be wearing my Bat Flip Brotherhood t-shirt featuring Cody Bellinger. This hasn’t been the greatest of years for the son of former Yankee Clay Bellinger and who knows if he’ll even play but I’ll be pulling for bat flips by Mookie Betts, the Turners (Justin and Trea) or possible future Yank Corey Seager. Thanks for the shirt, Bro.

Bat Flip Brotherhood on Etsy, by Dan Burch

Not trying to turn this into a Dodgers post (sorry), however, it was sad to see Dodgers Great Clayton Kershaw walk off the mound due to injury last night. He is suffering from forearm discomfort. While he still needs to undergo further testing, it is possible this was the final start as a Dodger for Kershaw. The injury could rule him out of the playoffs if the Dodgers can advance past the Cardinals, and he’s an impending free agent. The Dodgers trade deadline acquisition of Max Scherzer looks so huge right now.  For Kershaw, as much as he has meant to the Dodgers, he is not the pitcher he once was even if he’s Cooperstown-bound. I could see him returning to his native Texas since he continues to make his home there. Regardless of what happens, I wish Clayton and his family the best. I hope he has a chance to pitch again this year in trying to look at this with glass half full. Kersh has been such a tremendous Dodger. 

Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports

Speaking of Joe Girardi, I thought it was interesting this week when his team hired the son of Yankees great Don Mattingly as their new director of player development. Preston Mattingly, 34, previously Major League advance scouting and game planning coordinator for the Padres, is viewed as an up-and-coming Major League executive. Rumor has it he came with a strong recommendation from the manager of the Miami Marlins. Seriously, this is a good hire by Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski, a man who knows how to tear down a farm system or two. Not that I wish anything good for the Phillies, a team I don’t care for despite their Yankee connections on the team, but congrats to young Mattingly as he continues his rise among front office executives. 

As always, Go Yankees!

Early Start for the Playoffs...

  

Photo Credit: Jim Rogash, Getty Images

Playing for Post-Season begins now…

For the Yankees, the playoffs began last night. Fortunately, the Yankees quickly dismissed old friend Nathan Eovaldi, and current team wearing funky yellow jerseys, with a few homers to take the first game of their series with the Boston Red Sox, the current top Wild Card team in the American League. With eight games remaining against two Wild Card challengers and the division champs, the Yankees simply cannot stumble. Now is the time for Team Inconsistency to play with, well, some consistency.  They have the talent to achieve but do they have the mental fortitude to win with their backs to the wall? I am still disappointed with the team’s failure to show for recent series against losing teams. Play up to the competition, not down to it.

In many ways, the very difficult final two weeks of the regular season might be a blessing in disguise. If the Yankees can continue to win, they control their destiny and can enter the one-game ‘winner take all’ Wild Card game with momentum. If they lose, it is probably indication they simply were not good enough this year. No freebies. Nothing is being handed to the Yankees. If they want it, they can take it.

Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg, The New York Post

While last night’s 8-3 win was fun, I hope the Yankees can follow it up with a strong performance today when they don’t have their recognized ace on the mound. No disrespect to Nestor Cortes, Jr, who has been so valuable this season, but he is not Gerrit Cole. Last weekend, we loved the Friday night 8-0 rout of the Cleveland (soon to be formerly) Indians, only to watch the Indians bludgeon the holy hell out of the Yankees over the subsequent two games. I don’t want a repeat performance this weekend.

Before the start of today’s games, the Yankees sit in the second Wild Card spot, a game behind the Red Sox. The Toronto Blue Jays, who lost last night, are two games behind and so are the Seattle Mariners. The Oakland A’s are four games back. Five teams for two spots. No team can afford a losing streak right now. This one is going down to the wire.

The sad part is that the 2021 Yankees should have been so much better than this. At the beginning of the year, if you had told me the San Francisco Giants would be a 100-win team and the Yankees would be struggling to avoid 70 losses, I would have laughed at you. I honestly thought we had another 100-win season in store for us. In the perfect world, the Yankees should have been fighting the Tampa Bay Rays for the division crown, not trying to wrestle the surprising Red Sox or young, upstart Toronto Blue Jays. 

Now that Luis Severino and Domingo German have joined the Yankees bullpen, I am hopeful we have seen the last of Andrew Heaney except for maybe mop-up duty. Not one of Brian Cashman’s better acquisitions. I had been hopeful the Yankees saw something in Heaney they thought they could fix but he has only proven why he has bounced around with a few different teams. As for Sevy, I loved seeing him back in game action after so long and if the Yankees are successful in grabbing a Wild Card spot and win it, I am hopeful Sevy will have worked his way into high leverage situations for the next rounds. No doubt we’ll see him today or tomorrow, and I hope the results continue to be positive. Welcome back, Sevy! We have missed you.

Photo Credit: Sarah Stier, Getty Images

Sounds like we may see Jonathan Loaisiga soon. Out with a strained rotator cuff since September 9th, the fear is coming back too soon, but if he’s ready, I am excited for the restoration of his role in Aaron Boone’s bullpen. Loaisiga is scheduled to throw on Sunday or Monday, and then the Yankees will decide if he needs further rehab or if he’s ready to join the team. He is, in my opinion, the single most valuable reliever on the team. Aroldis Chapman is pitching better, yes, but Loaisiga is so strong in so many different situations.  He offers the most diversity and inspires more confidence than the other guys. Chad Green has not been as consistent as I would like, although he is still a very good reliever. So glad Clay Holmes was there to fill the void left by Zack Britton, who underwent Tommy John surgery.  The Holmes acquisition was as good as the Heaney acquisition was bad. 

Manager Aaron Boone indicated that Jameson Taillon, currently on the IL with a partially torn tendon in his right ankle, could start one of the games next week against the Blue Jays. Taillon has grown into such a valuable part of the starting rotation after his early season struggles and it would be great if he’s healthy and can pick up where he left off. 

When I see fans predicting off-season additions for the Yankees, I rarely see mention of first baseman Anthony Rizzo. I am hopeful the Yankees can re-sign him after the season. I really like Rizzo’s presence on the roster. There’s no doubt he would have ended up in Boston if the Yankees had not acquired him and watching the defensively challenged Kyle Schwarber play first base for Boston yesterday, it reinforced how much stronger the Red Sox could have been with Rizzo back on their roster. I know Gleyber Torres must be the team’s second baseman next season, so the question is where does D.J. LeMahieu play? I often see people write his name in at first base and while I admire his play at the position, I continue to feel that his highest and best use is at second or third because of his defensive abilities. So, it becomes who do you want at third…LeMahieu or Gio Urshela? I am not ready to take sides in that debate, but if the Yankees must trade Torres or LeMahieu in the off-season to make room, so be it.  I want Rizzo back.

Photo Credit: Eric Espada, Getty Images

As much as I’d love to have an elite shortstop like Trevor Story or Corey Seager, the Yankees just need someone who can hold down the position until the young guys, Oswald Peraza, and Anthony Volpe, are ready. Most predictions show their arrival in 2023 and we could see them at some point late next season. Peraza is already on the 40-man roster. I’ve seen a few articles that say Volpe will eventually be shifted to second or third so does that make Torres expendable? Possibly. Speaking of shortstops, Urshela has played the position much better than I thought he would. The return to second has certainly helped Torres and I am glad his bat is starting to come around again. I am glad I am not GM Brian Cashman. He has many difficult decisions to make after the season is over. 

Ok Nasty Nestor, it’s your day. Please bring home the W.

As always, go Yankees!

Winning is Better...

Photo Credit: John Minchillo, AP

Why can’t all wins be this easy?...

Friday night’s win over the soon-to-be renamed Cleveland Indians was one of the rare times the Yankees have won in a cake walk this season and it was nice…very nice. With homers flying everywhere, the Yankees easily backed starter Corey Kluber and the bullpen (thank you for not inserting Andrew Heaney), thumping the Indians 8-0. It was probably bittersweet for Kluber as he’ll never face his former team again while they wear Indians gear.  Next season they become the Cleveland Guardians and will have a different look. 

Things looked so sunny and bright for the Yankees a few weeks ago when they were on the 13-game winning streak, and then, as we know, they fell hard with miserable play to undo the strong wild card advancement they had made, putting them back into the mix with the Red Sox and Blue Jays.

As hard as it was to get swept by the Blue Jays earlier this month, Thursday’s ugly loss to the Baltimore Orioles was probably one of the toughest losses, for me, to accept. The Yankees have lost a few games this season they should have won, and Thursday’s game was obviously the latest example. They scored two early runs and couldn’t put more insurance runs on the board, and let the Orioles steal the victory in walk-off fashion, thanks to ineffective late relief and sloppy play. The Yankees inability to figure out the Orioles this season while the Tampa Bay Rays were beating them in 18 out of 19 games is why the Rays are in first place and the Yankees are not. 

When the Yankees can’t beat a truly inferior opponent, it leads me to believe there will be no October magic in the Bronx this year. They do not seem to have the “it” quality teams destined for championships have. They have not given me the confidence they can sustain excellence and steamroll opponents when the chips are on the line. It’s within the realm of possibility they can win, if they can win one of the wild card spots, but they need to play more like Friday night and less like Thursday night. Of course, I hope and want them to win, I am just not overly confident they will. Please, Yankees, prove me wrong.

I had started to see ugly comments from the Yankees fan base when Joey Gallo wasn’t hitting dingers, but honestly, I never lost faith in the guy. Even when he is not hitting, he is helping with strong defense and getting on base. He also seems like a cool dude to have in the clubhouse which helps team chemistry. Now that he’s been placed in the lower part of the batting order (which is apparently more comfortable for him), he’s seemingly crushing homers every day. Two last night.  He is certainly heating up at the right time, and I am happy that I’ve supported him from the start.

When the Yankees designated reliever Brooks Kriske for assignment last week and subsequently lost him to the Orioles, it rubbed salt in the wound for how badly the Yankees’ front office botched it last winter when they protected Kriske on the 40-man roster, leaving Garrett Whitlock, now enjoying success in Boston, unprotected, and subsequently lost in the Rule 5 Draft. Not that Kriske has enjoyed any major league success, but it was disappointing that the guy who took his place on the roster, Sal Romano, was lost to injury in his first game back with the Yankees. 

Thanks to former Yankee Michael Pineda, the Yankees are back in the second Wild Card spot. Pineda and his current team, the Minnesota Twins, beat the Blue Jays last night.  The Red Sox hold the top Wild Card, but the Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays are in a virtual dead heat with 65 losses. They are only separated by the number of wins (84, 83, and 82 wins, respectively) which means the Yankees and Blue Jays can make up ground when they play an equal number of games (assuming they win those games).

I am happy the Yankees finally pulled Gleyber Torres from shortstop and put him back at second base. I like having Anthony Rizzo on the roster, but I do wish the Yankees had been successful in prying Trevor Story from the Colorado Rockies at the trade deadline. It will be interesting to see what the Yankees do in the off-season. With strong young shortstops in the system, like Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza, still a couple of seasons away, will the Yankees make a play for a top free agent shortstop like Story or Corey Seager, or do they just try to find an average player that can fill the spot until one of the young shortstops is ready to ascend to the position? If they don’t go big, it sort of feels like they are wasting the prime years of Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge. Both Volpe and Peraza are targeted for 2023 which is not too far away. Big off-season decisions for the Yankees, especially if they miss out on the play-offs or take the one and done route. 

Photo Credit: David Gravely, Southwest Times

Speaking of off-season decisions, please fire hitting coaches Marcus Thames and P.J. Pilittere. The Yankees have made significant upgrades with pitching instruction with innovative, new-age hires like Matt Blake and Sam Briend. They need to do the same with the hitting coaches. Sorry P.J., I know you are a company loyalist, and you were cheated out of a bonus a few years ago, but the Yankees can do better. 

Hopefully the Yankees can ensure the Cleveland “Indians” never win a game against the Yankees ever again. Just win today and tomorrow, please. Every game counts. No more room for poor play. 

As always, Go Yankees!

This Day in New York Yankees History 10/3: Wild Card Winners

As we learned yesterday in this same series the New York Yankees and the Colorado Rockies became the first ever set of Wild Card winning teams when a fourth playoff team was added to the mix. On this day in 1995 the first American League and National League Division Series were played with the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, and the Atlanta Braves winning the first ever games.


Also on this day in 1947 in Game 4 of the World Series the Yankees pitcher Bill Bevens came within one out of pitching the first no-hitter in World Series history. Cookie Lavagetto of the Dodgers came up with two outs in the ninth to pinch hit for Eddie Stanky and hit a two out double. The Dodgers would miraculously come back to win the game 3-2.

Hello… 162 Games For Nothing

Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. Yes, the title of the post is accurate. The New York Yankees just played in 162 games for nothing. Well, not for nothing. The fact that the team is hosting the AL Wild Card Game and not traveling to Oakland for tomorrow night’s game means something, and the fact that they could have avoided this one-game playoff game scenario altogether is also something worth mentioning, but those things cannot be changed now. The outcome of the last 162 games cannot be altered. Aaron Boone’s questionable pitching change decisions and his favorable use of AJ Cole is now all water under the bridge. All the griping, complaining, and frustrations now mean nothing. The last 162 games mean nothing as the postseason is now a new season.

Every slate is clean. Everyone goes back to 0-0. Everyone still standing has a shot at glory. Win tonight and this game means nothing. Win three more and the ALDS means nothing. Just keep winning until there are no more games left to win. Then the only thing that will matter is the Canyon of Heroes parade.

Oh, and baby. I love you! We get to watch playoff baseball together again tomorrow!! That was so exciting last year and will be equally as exciting this year. I just know it. I loves you!!

Predicting the Wild Card Game Starter

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone is being pretty secretive on who will start the American League Wild Card Game for the New York Yankees on October 3^rd, but I think I figured out who will start the game and I am prepared to share my prediction with you this morning on the blog.

The game is played on Wednesday, October 3^rd and the game will more than likely take place in the Bronx at this point with New York holding a slim lead and the potential tiebreaker advantage over the Oakland Athletics. With that said the game is officially seven days away.

Luis Severino pitched on Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays which all but counts him out of the running to start the Wild Card game. I guess the Yankees could pitch him on seven days rest, but it seems like the team is more than likely banking on a Wild Card Game victory and having Severino come back in the ALDS after essentially skipping a turn through the rotation.

JA Happ last pitched on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles, meaning his next turn through the rotation (including the bullpen game on Monday) would be Saturday the 29^th against the Boston Red Sox. Without much maneuvering that would leave Happ available on just three days of rest for the Wild Card Game in the Bronx, presumably. Not ideal, and probably not going to happen.

Masahiro Tanaka pitched last night and could pitch the game on Wednesday with six days of rest, something he has done exceptionally well throughout his career. Tanaka knows the bright lights of Yankee Stadium and knows what it is like to pitch a game in the Bronx in the postseason and specifically in the Wild Card “win-or-go-home” type atmosphere. To me it makes the most sense for him to make the start on October 3^rd for the Yankees, so he is my prediction. It explains the Yankees bullpen game on Monday and it puts New York not only in the best position to win the Wild Card round, but to compete and win the ALDS against the Boston Red Sox as well.

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles 9/22

And just like that it is game time here in the Bronx between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles. In the middle game of this three-game weekend set the Yankees will send Lance Lynn to the mound to face off with David Hess for the Orioles. The game will be played at 4:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network locally, MASN in the Baltimore area, and MLB Network nationally. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat app and by tuning into the Yankees radio broadcast on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN.

Follow us on Twitter, @GreedyStripes, and “Like” us on Facebook, The Greedy Pinstripes, to keep up with us and the New York Yankees all season long. Enjoy the game, Hess is a gas station and not a pitcher in my eyes… and go Yankees!!

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles 9/22

The New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles will continue their three-game weekend set today with the middle game of the series. Today the Yankees will send out Lance Lynn looking to put some distance between them and the Oakland Athletics in the first Wild Card spot while the Orioles will counter with David Hess. Who? Exactly. The offense needs to make everyone say that about Hess as well, so let’s get to it here in the Bronx.

Lance Lynn... we can thank Sonny Gray for this experiment not being over yet. 

Hess will face the Yankees for the first time in his career this afternoon, and possibly at the worst time in his short MLB career. Hess has won just one of his last 14 starts including a loss in his last start where he allowed four runs on six hits in 4.1 innings pitched against the Chicago White Sox last Sunday. 

The game will be played at 4:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network locally, MASN in the Baltimore area, and MLB Network nationally. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat app and by tuning into the Yankees radio broadcast on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN.

Enjoy the game, just win baby, and go Yankees!!

Red Sox Celebrate on Sacred Ground...

Photo Credit: AP (Julio Cortez)

Boston wins third consecutive AL East Championship in the Bronx…

I am not going to lie…I am pissed.  We allowed the Boston Red Sox to celebrate on Yankee Stadium soil and that should have never happened.  The Yankees won two of three games from the 2018 AL East Champions, and I can’t find any joy because they mailed in the third game after winning the first two to give the Red Sox the win they needed to claim the division championship.  I was happy they pinned the 49^th loss of the season on Boston after Wednesday’s win (to prevent any chance of the Sox matching the win total of the 1998 Yankees), but they really could have swept this series and forced Boston to ship the champagne to their next destination. 

Everybody is so quick to talk about how awful the Red Sox bullpen is but in last night’s bullpen matchup, Boston had the difference-maker in Steven Wright with three innings of scoreless relief.  The Yankees helped eject Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez out of the game in the fourth inning after he had thrown 100 pitches.  Red Sox reliever Heath Hembree relieved Rodriguez and was greeted by Giancarlo Stanton’s grand slam which temporarily gave the Yankees a 6-4 lead, but from there, the Yankees could only get two more hits and were unable to put any further runs on the board against Wright, Ryan Brasier, and Craig Kimbrel.  Meanwhile, the Sox teed off on Chad Green, Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman.  I can’t really blame Green or Betances.  They are the guys I probably would have brought in during those situations, but I think it was very foolish to bring in a rusty Aroldis Chapman with the Yankees trailing by only two runs.  The three-run homer by Mookie Betts off Chapman in the eighth inning pretty much iced the game for the Red Sox and prepared the champagne bottles for uncorking. 

I disagreed with manager Aaron Boone’s decision to bring in Justus Sheffield during Wednesday night’s game too.  Sure, Top Sheff evaded a self-created bases-loaded jam to end the game, but the Yankees were playing MLB’s winningest baseball team and the psychology of the game and beating Boston is important.  If you bring anybody in when you are leading by nine runs, it should have been Chapman and not Sheffield.  I would have eased Chapman back into the fold before placing him into a high leverage situation.  I was not surprised that Betts clubbed the homer off Chappy. Just like Aaron Judge is currently only producing hard outs and missing the mistake pitches, it takes time to get back up to speed.  Baseball is not a forgiving sport.

Photo Credit: NJ Advance Media (Andrew Mills)

I am still supportive of Aaron Boone despite my frustrations with his decisions over the last few days so I know I am just venting.  I would have played last night’s game to win which means that Chapman would not have made an appearance, nor would have any of the rookies currently on the staff.  After Betances, I would have lived or died with Zach Britton to the end. 

What really made yesterday so disappointing was the other primary Wild Card contender, the Oakland A’s, crushed their opponent.  GM Billy Eppler’s Los Angeles Angels must have felt they were playing the Los Angeles Rams after the A’s decisive 21-3 thrashing.  The Yankees hold a slim 1 ½ game lead on the A’s after yesterday’s results, but the scary part is the Yankees now face a losing team that they seemingly cannot beat (the Baltimore Orioles), the high-flying Tampa Bay Rays, and a rematch with the Red Sox at Fenway Park for the final ten games of the regular season.  I am not saying they have it easy, but the A’s play weaker opponents.  Three games in Oakland against the disappointing Minnesota Twins, three games in Seattle against the fading Mariners, and three games in Anaheim against the team they just drubbed by 18 runs in yesterday’s game.  In my opinion, it is Advantage A’s. 

Photo Credit: Getty Images (Thearon W Henderson)

A ‘one and done’ Wild Card game in Oakland. From my perspective, that’s where the Yankees stand right now with the way things are unfolding in the American League.  Well, at least CC Sabathia can catch up with friends and family in the area before he heads home to clean out his locker at Yankee Stadium for perhaps the final time.

As always, I hope the team proves me wrong.  But as I’ve said before, that’s on them, not me.  I want the Yankees to win but I am just not feeling it right now.  I am not convinced the Yankees can beat the A’s and I am certainly not convinced the team can beat the Houston Astros, Cleveland Indians or Boston Red Sox should they advance.  They certainly have the talent, but for a team that has been average at best for an extended period, they can’t just flip a switch to turn it on.  The Yankees need to make the next ten games count and carry momentum into the Wild Card game.  Otherwise, we’ll be watching the final season of Game of Thrones before the Yankees have another chance for the crown. 

Hopefully the team can return to its winning ways tonight against Buck Showalter and the Baltimore Orioles.  This series represents perhaps the final time that we’ll see the former Yankees manager in the O’s dugout.  For as much as I’ve disliked Buck at times during his post-Yankees career, I am a little saddened about the way the 2018 season has treated him.  To reach 50 wins, Buck’s team needs to win six of its final ten games.  That’s a tall order for the 108-loss team, but then again, they have three games against a team they’ve fared well against.  You know that Buck would like nothing better than to beat the Yankees for his farewell song. 

As the saying goes, sometimes the best trade is the one that you don’t make.  Last off-season, everybody was clamoring for the Yankees to acquire Michael Fulmer of the Detroit Tigers.  Fulmer had a disastrous 2018 season.  He was 3-12 with 4.69 ERA in 132 1/3 innings.  He gave up 128 hits and career-high 19 home runs.  Done for the season, Fulmer was diagnosed with meniscus damage in his right knee on Monday and underwent surgery yesterday.  He is still a young, controllable pitcher but unless the Yankees can get him at a severe discount, it would not be worth the investment.  If the Yankees had paid Detroit’s asking price last winter, we’d have nothing to show for it today.  Fulmer is expected to be ready for Spring Training but Detroit’s best move would be to wait for Fulmer to rebuild his trade value before considering any offers.

It’s up to CC Sabathia (7-7, 3.80 ERA) to get the Baltimore series off to the right start tonight.  He’ll be opposed by former Yankees prospect Yefry Ramirez (1-6, 5.50 ERA).  This is a winnable game.  Boone, make the right decisions.  Gary Sanchez, hold the door…hold the door!  Luke Voit, just keep on doing what you are doing, chest hair and all.  Let’s do this.  

Go Yankees!

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins 9/11

And just like that it is game time here in the Bronx between the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins. In the middle game of their three-game set this week the Yankees will send Sonny Gray to the mound, welcome back, while the Twins will counter with Tyler Duffey. The game will be played at 8:10 pm ET inside Target Field and can be seen on the YES Network. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat app, and by tuning into the Yankees radio broadcast on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.

Follow us on Twitter, @GreedyStripes, and “Like” us on Facebook, The Greedy Pinstripes, to keep up with us and the team all season long. Enjoy the game, hope for Sonny skies ahead, and go Yankees!!

Andrew McCutchen Brings a “Clutch” Factor the Yankees Have Been Missing

The New York Yankees this season have not been “clutch” here in 2018 like they were during the 2017 season. If that is even a real thing or whether it is merely something made up by fans and sports writers remains to be seen, but it has gained enough steam regardless among the baseball community that Baseball Reference (and I’m sure others) have tried to find a way to quantify it. Enter Baseball Reference’s “Leverage” stat. Basically what the leverage stat tabulates is a player’s performance in high, medium, and low leverage situations. For example, having the bases loaded with two outs would be considered a “high” leverage stat, while leading off a game would be considered a “low” leverage situation. If you want to know the exact verbiage and the way the stat is tabulated head over to Baseball Reference for their in-depth explanation.

Here are McCutchen’s stats in each leverage situation, courtesy of Baseball Reference:

As you can see McCutchen is a different, and better, hitter in high leverage situations than he is in low or even medium leverage situations, which can only be a good thing for the Yankees heading into the postseason.

Let’s compare that to someone who is universally thought of as “clutch” on this team, Brett Gardner:

Many also consider Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres, albeit in small sample sizes, to be clutch as well:

Torres:

Andujar:

This, my friends, is how you win in October, and this is how you win a World Series. This team is built to do so whether the naysayers believe it or not, now they just have to do it. *Insert Nike add mocking Colin Kaepernick while inserting a Yankees face into the meme*

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins 9/11

The New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins will continue their three-game set tonight with the middle game of the series. Welcome back to the starting rotation, Sonny Gray. Tonight the Yankees will send Sonny Gray out to the mound to face off with Tyler Duffey for the Twins. This could either be really good, or really bad, so let’s find out and let’s get to it here in Minnesota.

Gray will re-enter the Yankees rotation for a spot start tonight against the Twins. The Yankees have seemingly conceded the division with this move and are focusing on the Wild Card as they are giving each of their starters an extra day of rest with this move. Since Gray has been removed from the Yankees starting rotation the right-hander has gone 2-0 with a 1.83 ERA in 19.2 innings that spanned six games, one of them as a starting pitchah.

Duffey is tonight's starter for the Twins "bullpen game" tonight inside Target Field. Duffey will pitch an inning or two and will look to improve on his 1-2 record and 9.00 ERA in 14 appearances with the Twins this season. 

The game will be played at 8:10 pm ET inside Target Field and can be seen on the YES Network. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat app, and by tuning into the Yankees radio broadcast on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.

Enjoy the game, even though it appears the Yankees have officially conceded the division with this pitching move… and go Yankees!!