The Shortstop of the Present...

  

Oswald Peraza (Photo Credit: Instagram via @oswaldperaza27)

Oswald Peraza is expected to be the one…

The first Spring exhibition game is two weeks away, but this is the last weekend without organized Major League Baseball as pitchers and catchers report this coming week. Hello, old…and a few new…friends! We have missed you. The sights and sounds of George M. Steinbrenner Field will soon be upon us.

The biggest camp battle and one that may have already been decided is Shortstop. It would surprise no one if Oswald Peraza emerged as the starting shortstop for Opening Day.

Sure, many think Anthony Volpe should be the starter, but the Yankees never skip a level with players. Volpe played only 22 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season after his promotion from Double-A Somerset. In 2021, Volpe spent 54 and 55 games, respectively, for A Tampa and High-A Hudson Valley. He played 110 games at Somerset before his latest promotion. Volpe’s limited stats at Triple-A were his worst since playing in the Rookie League with Pulaski in 2019. While Volpe may have a scorching Spring that places him on the Opening Day roster, my expectation is 30 to 60 games at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before receiving ‘the call’. My best guess is he makes his Major League debut by the All-Star break. Injuries could certainly change the timetable but as we sit here in February, it seems the Yankees want Volpe to master Triple-A before ascending to the Bronx. There is no reason to rush Volpe. I want the best possible version when he arrives. If that means more time in Triple-A, so be it.

Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Instagram via @anthonyvolpe7)

If Isiah Kiner-Falefa is the Opening Day shortstop, something went horribly wrong with the plan.  Probably the only people who want Kiner-Falefa as the starter are IKF, his agent, and his father. I did see one Red Sox blog this morning that suggested Boston should trade for Kiner-Falefa to help solve their middle infield dilemma. Trevor Story is out after off-season surgery and will open the season on the Injured List. Xander Bogaerts bolted for the money and sunshine in San Diego.  It leaves Kiké Hernández as the shortstop. The Red Sox acquired Raul Mondesi’s son, Adalberto, from the Kansas City Royals to play second base in a platoon with holdover Christian Arroyo. Both Mondesi and Arroyo are injury-prone, so perhaps IKF could help provide infield stability. Sure, but keep him away from the easy plays. 

The Red Sox blogger did not suggest whom Boston should send to New York. In looking at Boston’s roster, there is a clear dearth of talent. Reviewing the players Boston would legitimately consider trading to acquire IKF and I cannot say anyone appeals to me. It is not like Boston is going to trade Rafael Devers to the Yankees and give them Garrett Whitlock back. Triston Casas has too much potential at first base. Alex Verdugo? Please, no.

Best-laid plans place Oswald Peraza as the starter, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and his $6 million salary as the infield utility player, and Anthony Volpe crushing it in Eastern Pennsylvania, awaiting the bus trip to New York.

Luis Severino, Wild Card

The Yankees are expected to have one of the best starting rotations in Major League Baseball. Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón provide one of the best one-two punches in the game, but, for me, Luis Severino is the key. Once the ace of the staff, Sevy arrives in Tampa this week as the third-best starter in the rotation. He has distanced himself from Tommy John surgery and seems primed to have a strong season. It is his walk year so he has added motivation to excel and finally be the workhorse we once thought he would be.

Luis Severino (Photo Credit: Instagram via @severino40)

I know Severino was disappointed the Yankees would not allow him to play in the World Baseball Classic. Given the health issues with Sevy in the past, I do not blame them for not wanting to lose control of the pitcher, even for a few weeks. Sevy might be the most closely watched starting pitcher in the rotation based on past injuries. WBC coaches playing Severino would not have been concerned about how he would be pitching in a few months, they would only be concerned with the here and now. Granted, I am not crazy about Nestor Cortes, Jr leaving for the WBC but there is far less concern with him than with Sevy. Proper care and handling of Severino is essential, and it is mutually beneficial for both parties.

If Sevy has a big year to go with the expected elite performances of Cole and Rodón, the rotation will be difficult to beat in October. The Yankees failed last October because they could not hit. Time to turn the tables to shut down opposing offenses. I keep hearing the Yankees have done nothing to move the needle in their chase to catch the Houston Astros. Peraza, a strong defender, has more pop in his bat, and unlike last post-season, he should have strong MLB regular season experience this coming October. Hopefully, DJ LeMahieu stays healthy. If Sevy is the pitching wild card, DJ is the wild card for position players. There is hope the Yankee bats can come alive in short series when it matters the best. This is 2023 and the slate is cleared for new, exciting performances and displays of brilliance and dominance on baseball diamonds across America. Next year is officially this year, as in “Wait until THIS year!”.

If Severino has an Aaron Judge-like walk year, life will be wonderful in the Bronx. If he has a Chad Green-like walk year, well, we might be looking forward to next off-season’s retooling.

I prefer to hold visions of a twenty-eighth World Series championship.

Clay Holmes, the Enigma

I think the player that concerns me the most is Clay Holmes because we do not know what we will get. Can he recapture last year’s first-half dominance, or will he struggle like he did later in the season, or will he land somewhere in the middle? The answer is most likely the latter, but hoping it is tilted toward dominance. 

Clay Holmes (Photo Credit: Instagram via @clayholmes21)

The Yankees need a strong backup plan for Closer. Jonathan Loaisiga stands out as the most likely recipient of save opportunities if Holmes falters, and Tommy Kahnle will be in the mix. Michael King is back and so is Ron Marinaccio. Still, I would like to see a proven closer added to the roster. Former Yankee Zack Britton remains a free agent and I would love to see a reunion. I am wondering if the Yankees are awaiting further moves until players can be moved to the 60-day Injured List to free up spots on the 40-man roster. The Yankees will move to replace Scott Effross and Luis Gil as quickly as they can since both will miss the upcoming season.

My hope is the Yankees have unlocked Clay Holmes and last season’s struggles were an aberration and not a sign of things to come. Yet, until he proves consistent performance, it will be a concern. I miss the days of Mariano Rivera when the end of games, win or lose, was never a concern.

The Left Field Black Hole

The fears of Aaron Hicks as the Opening Day left fielder are, well, intact.

Another left-field option came off the board this week when former Diamondbacks/Rays left fielder David Peralta signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Peralta’s name has been mentioned a few times over the winter but there never seemed to be strong club interest. Peralta’s one-year contract worth $6.5 million (plus incentives that could push it to $8 million) seems to set the potential mark for the top remaining free agent left-field option, Jurickson Profar. For the Yankees to commit those dollars to Profar, they would need to move salary if they are truly intent on staying below the Steve Cohen luxury tax threshold of $293 million. The Yankees have been trying to move salaries but nothing has come to fruition. Profar is not the player Andrew Benintendi would have been if Benny had returned, but he is better than Hicks or locking the highly versatile Oswald Cabrera into one position.

Jurickson Profar (Photo Credit: Instagram via @profarjurickson)

I am trying to stay positive and hope the Yankees have a strong left-field plan in place by late March…or at least better than the current options until the trade deadline.

Just a Numbers Game

After an off-season with both Carlos Rodón and Domingo German wearing #55 on the 40-man roster, the Yankees finally updated their website with new numbers. 

Considering Rodón was handed a #55 jersey at his press conference, it was a foregone conclusion that German would have to change numbers. He has claimed Adam Ottavino’s old number, proving the zero that he is. Either that or he has not been assigned a number yet. As the last single-digit number available, it sickens me a little that German is potentially wearing it.

Tommy Kahnle had to choose a new number since Anthony Rizzo is wearing his old 48. He has opted to take Miguel Andujar’s 41. I thought he might take his old buddy David Robertson’s 30 but that number has been taken by non-roster invitee infielder Wilmer Difo.

Reliever Jimmy Cordero was shown with number 50 most of the offseason (even before free agent Jameson Taillon had signed with the Cubs), but the website now shows him with 70. Jhony Brito (76), Matt Krook (92), and Randy Vásquez (98) are a few of the other 40-man roster number assignments.

Of the non-roster invitees, only Difo and Willie Calhoun were assigned low (under 50) numbers. Calhoun is sporting the number last worn by Yankees Legend Matt Carpenter (24). 

There is still some cleanup needed. Some players and coaches have duplicated numbers, and new assistant-hitting coach Brad Wilkerson has no number. Maybe Wilkerson likes knowing his days are not numbered…

Super Bowl Weekend

This is one of those years that it is hard to root for either team in the Super Bowl.

As a lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan, I may not have the hatred toward the Philadelphia Eagles like many Yankees/Giants fans do but there is no love, I can assure you. The Vikings lost the NFC Championship Game to the Eagles, 38-7, in January 2018. Earlier this season, the Eagles easily thrashed the Vikings, 24-7. I know, say what you will about the Vikings, but they were 13-4 and exceeded expectations despite having their season ended prematurely by the Giants. 

I think what bothers me most about losing ugly games to the Eagles is how ugly their fans can get. Take them out of the equation and I might have respect for what the Eagles are doing on the football field. 

I have never been a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs. Not sure why. I cannot pinpoint one exact reason. Maybe it was because of family members who were Chiefs fans or maybe kids at school when I was growing up who were fans. Maybe it is because the Kansas City Royals were the Yankees’ biggest rival in the late 1970s. I do not know. The Chiefs have never been a team I cared for. 

Regardless of the reasons, I probably dislike the Eagles a little less than the Chiefs so ‘Go Green’. 

Speaking of the Vikings, congratulations to elite wide receiver Justin Jefferson who was named the Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year. He is a fun talent to watch, and easily my favorite Viking. If new Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores can bring the team’s defense back to respectability, Jefferson and his teammates on offense should be flying high next season. 

Justin Jefferson (Photo Credit: Instagram via @jjettas2)

Enjoy the Super Bowl! Or if the game is not of interest, enjoy the commercials!

As always, Go Yankees!

The Yankees and the MLB Winter Meetings...

 

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Mark J Terrill/Associated Press)

The Hot Stove is ready to boil over…

The Winter Meetings are upon us.

The 2022 MLB Meetings begin tomorrow, Sunday, December 4^th, and run through Wednesday, December 7^th. I guess it is a reminder to us that Winter is also here even if it technically does not start until December 21^st. All eyes and ears will be on San Diego, California for the next few days. 

If last night’s announcement that the Texas Rangers had signed Jacob deGrom to an insane contract is any indication, it should be a furious and bumpy road ahead. As much as I respect deGrom, I am glad the Yankees did not invest five years and $185 million in a 34-year-old pitcher who has not pitched over 100 innings since the 2019 season. Sure, when deGrom is healthy, he is one of the best pitchers in baseball. It is the “healthy” part that concerns me. Pay a pitcher an average annual value of $37 million, only to see like a guy such as Domingo German make most of his starts. I hope deGrom stays healthy and has a productive five years in Texas. It is just not a bet that I would want to make, and I am glad the Yankees did not either. Justin Verlander would be nice but bring me Carlos Rodon and I will be quite happy. 

Carlos Rodon (Photo Credit: Thearon W Henderson/Getty Images)

To the Mets’ credit, their reported offer of three years for $120 million was extremely fair. So was the unsuccessful $175 million the Yankees offered Robinson Cano nine years ago. Sometimes other teams are more desperate. Oh well, life goes on. The desperation of other teams is probably what concerns me most about the current state of negotiations between the Yankees and Aaron Judge. How desperate are the San Francisco Giants to bring one of the biggest names in baseball, a high-profile Northern California native to the Bay Area? I suppose we shall soon find out.

My biggest frustration with the Judge situation is the Yankees could have avoided this. They had an opportunity to sign Judge to an extension prior to the season and chose to lowball him. Of course, that was before one of the most historic player seasons in Yankees history, but it seems that the two sides could have found common ground if they had tried. It has been reported that Hal Steinbrenner is willing to pursue Judge more aggressively than general manager Brian Cashman. If true, Steinbrenner should have gotten involved earlier to avoid Judge’s free agency. I find it hard to believe that Cashman would not be as aggressive as Steinbrenner wants him to be. If anything, the general manager should be more aggressive to push the owner’s comfort zone. 

While I respect Aaron Judge and his right to actively market his services to all teams, it is a complicated process for fans. One moment, the player is free to sign anywhere including the desired return to Pinstripes, but then the harsh, cold, and final words appear on MLB Trade Rumors…“Giants To Sign Aaron Judge”. I remain hopeful the Yankees bring back their brilliant right fielder. Honestly, it is hard to find solace in the experts who say that Judge will return to New York. No one knows what Aaron Judge is thinking or what his motivations may be for his next contract beyond the dollars. The truth is the Giants, or the Los Angeles Dodgers could win this lottery before it is over. We know one thing with absolute certainty, Aaron Judge will be a very rich man wherever he may go. 

Player Moves

The Yankees lost a bullpen member when free agent Miguel Castro signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks for a guaranteed $3.5 million. There is a $5 million vesting option for 2024 if Castro makes at least 60 appearances next season and passes a physical at the end of the year. Good for him. I did not really expect the Yankees to bring Castro back although I did appreciate his work when he was healthy. 

The guy the Yankees traded to acquire Castro last Spring, Joely Rodriguez, was recently signed by the Boston Red Sox. 

The Yankees need bullpen help and I would like to see a reunion with Zack Britton. Even if the Yankees were to sign Britton, he should not be the only answer. 

Zack Britton (Photo Credit: J Conrad Williams Jr/Newsday)

It will be interesting to see if the Yankees sign any ‘name’ relievers or if they go the ‘build your own’ route with signings or trades for under the radar guys like the Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees trust their development team and feel they can help transform guys into better versions of themselves like they did with Clay Holmes. 

The price of proven relievers will not be cheap as evidenced by the two-year, $17.5 million contract signed by 37-year-old reliever, and ex-Yankee, Chris Martin with the Boston Red Sox.

The offseason rumor mill has been full of ‘Gleyber Torres to the Seattle Mariners’ talk, however, the Mariners are no longer in the market with their acquisition of second baseman Kolten Wong from the Milwaukee Brewers for outfielder Jesse Winker (an oft rumored Yankee target) and infielder Abraham Toro.

I personally do not feel the Yankees should trade Torres. At least not yet. There is a chance, a strong one, that DJ LeMahieu may not be ready at the start of the season, and I firmly believe Anthony Volpe needs more time at Triple A before he is ready to ascend to the Majors. He will be a major star, but the Yankees need to handle him right (as they have to this point). I have already penciled in Oswald Peraza as the starting shortstop (hoping manager Aaron Boone feels the same). Oswaldo Cabrera’s greatest asset is his ability to play multiple positions so I would not want to lock him into one position. Gleyber Torres is the Yankees’ starting second baseman…until he is not. 

The three guys I want to see on the transaction wire are the obvious candidates. Josh Donaldson, Aaron Hicks, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. If the Yankees could eliminate one, great; two, better; or all three, Yippee Ki-Yay M-Fers!

Despite teams making moves, the Yankees have been eerily quiet since November 18^th when they signed Junior Fernandez. It seems they will be big participants this week, but then again, there have been years when I thought they would be active, and they were not. I know with certainty that the current roster cannot beat Jose Abreu and the Houston Astros and would have difficulty against their stronger AL East rivals. The Yankees need Judge and MORE…

Donnie Baseball behind Enemy Lines

As a longtime Don Mattingly fan, it was difficult to see him join the Toronto Blue Jays as their new bench coach. I know, for him it is a paycheck. It is his right to stay in a coaching position versus a role in a TV booth. I wanted him to join the YES Network and would have preferred that outcome as opposed to his upcoming stint north of the border, but I cannot fault him for his decision. 

I think as a fan, there is a preference that our heroes avoid going to our bitter rivals. Unfortunately, it did not stop David Wells or David Cone from pitching for the Boston Red Sox. Players and coaches view the game differently than we do. For them, it truly is a business.

It will be uneasy to watch Mattingly come into Yankee Stadium wearing a Blue Jays uniform, actively trying to help his players find ways to beat the Yankees while Monument Park holds his name and number.  I guess the solace is managers and coaches are hired to be fired. Until then, we must deal with Mattingly the Blue Jay. While I appreciate Mattingly, the player, Mattingly the coach is now just another coach I want to see fail. It was better when he was in the National League, and we rarely saw him in an opposing dugout.

I would have preferred the Yankees to hire Mattingly as their bench coach and reassign Carlos Mendoza to a different role. I suppose that would have been too uncomfortable for Aaron Boone. The hard truth, for as much as I have respected Mattingly, he has not really enjoyed great success in coaching. He was a better player than coach. He can be better (we all can), but I just hope it does not happen while he is in Toronto. 

Farewell to Gaylord Perry

Gaylord Perry passed away Thursday at age 84.

Most fans today do not remember when Perry was a Yankee. He pitched in the Major Leagues for eight teams from 1962 through 1983, compiling 314 wins and 3,534 strikeouts. The five-time 20-game winner was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991. 

I probably remember Perry most as a Texas Ranger where he pitched in the mid-70s. My family made annual treks to the Dallas/Fort Worth area to visit relatives for summer vacations, and I distinctly remember buying Slurpee’s at 7-Eleven convenience stores in Arlington, Texas with Ranger player-themed cups and adding Gaylord Perry to my cup collection. No idea where those cups are today, but the point is the childhood memory. 

Perry’s time in Pinstripes was short. He was acquired for the stretch run in August 1980 from the Rangers before departing that winter through free agency. He pitched in ten games, making eight starts for the Yankees at age 41. He did not appear in the 1980 American League Championship Series when the 103-win Yankees were swept by the Kansas City Royals. Overall, his time as a Yankee was forgettable but it does not detract from the greatness of the player or the man over the span of his career and life.

(Photo Credit: Diamond Images/Getty Images)

Rest in peace, Gaylord. May some spit ease your way into Heaven. 

As always, Go Yankees!

61 And Holding...

 

Aaron Judge / Photo Credit: Getty Images

Aaron Judge ties Roger Maris for 61 home runs…

It took eight days, but the apparent 2022 American League MVP, Aaron Judge, hit his sixty-first home run on Wednesday, September 28^th at Rogers Centre in Toronto off pitcher Tim Mayza. Roger Maris took much criticism when he set the American League single season home run record because he could not do it within 154 games like Babe Ruth did when he hit 60 in 1927. Judge hit his sixtieth within 154 games, but the sixty-first did not arrive until Game 155. It certainly does not diminish Judge’s performance this season. He has been tremendous, at a historic level.

Here is a listing of Judge’s 2022 home runs:

Roger Maris hit his record sixty-first home run on October 1, 1961. Assuming the Yankees play today (weather-permitting), and Judge is in the lineup, it feels like destiny for him to break the Maris record exactly sixty-one years later.

Roger Maris / Photo Credit: AP

I have never condoned steroid use, and the home run records by Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa will forever be tainted, but for as long as MLB recognizes their stats, I agree that Bonds is the single season home run champion with seventy-three home runs. But regardless of what the PED-inspired stats were, sixty-one home runs is the American League and Yankees’ franchise record. As such, we should take pride in Judge’s accomplishments. The additional bonus is he did it cleanly. Even greater if he brings home the Triple Crown as he continues to flirt at the top in league batting average.

I am enormously proud of Aaron Judge, and I am glad he is a Yankee. I am saddened that he will be free for any team to sign later this Fall, but for now, he is ours. I cannot fathom Judge leaving the Yankees and I hope he does not. This may be one of the biggest decisions ever made by Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner. It has been tough to see certain Yankees leave for other teams over the years, but I am unable to think of any that would be as devastating as Judge’s departure. In terms of legacy, there is no question Judge stands to gain the most by staying in Pinstripes. Retiring as a Yankee will forever brand him among the legends of the game and he will always stand among the Yankee greats. His day for immortalization in Monument Park after the end of his career would be assured. Judge means so much to the Yankees organization, and his contributions and value to the franchise and the city of New York far exceed his play on the field. It is simple, Hal, pay the man.

Unwelcome news on the relief front. Zack Britton may have pitched his last game for the Yankees. In making his third appearance of the season after returning to the team on September 24^th following his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Britton left the game after his bases-loaded wild pitch allowed the Baltimore Orioles to take a 2-1 lead over the Yankees last night (which proved to be the final score). Britton had failed to cover home plate on the wild pitch, and it was clear he was in pain. After the game, left arm fatigue was cited as the cause. Regardless, even if Britton can make it back for the few remaining days in the regular season, there is virtually no chance he will be on the post-season roster. He no longer has the time to prove he deserves a spot.

Zack Britton / Photo Credit: Adam Hunger, AP

If last night was Britton’s final game as a Yankee (he is a free agent after the season), it is sad that his final performances were less than stellar. I have enjoyed Britton’s time as a Yankee. I was excited when the Yankees acquired him on July 24, 2018, for Cody Carroll, Josh Rogers, and Dillon Tate, and I was happy when they re-signed him in January 2019. He has had his share of injuries, but when healthy, he has been a tremendous force in the bullpen. If this is the end, I wish him the best. I enjoyed our time together. Once a hated Oriole, he has proved he is a Yankee and will always be.

Word spread last evening that closer(?) Clay Holmes will not pitch again in the regular season. He is dealing with rotator cuff tendonitis, and received a cortisone shot on Thursday. Holmes remains optimistic that he will be ready for the AL Division Series which begins on October 11, 2022. This is disturbing news, and there is uncertainty what we will see if Holmes is able to recover in time. Can he be the dominant early season reliever with some rest, or will he continue to struggle? We simply do not know. This places more pressure on Scott Effross, Ron Marinaccio, and even Aroldis Chapman to step up for the back end of games. Chapman has looked better of late, but I cannot say he has my trust. Lou Trivino may be the best option, but like the Los Angeles Dodgers (who flushed Craig Kimbrel as their “designated closer”), I suspect the Yankees will continue to employ a closer-by-committee. I am worried about the state of the pen heading into October. I miss Michael King now more than ever before.

Giancarlo Stanton, wherefore art thou? Stanton looked pathetic at the plate last night. No hits in four plate appearances including two strikeouts. Excluding his injury-shortened 2019 and 2020 seasons, this has easily been Stanton’s worst season in the Major Leagues. His fWAR of 0.7 is the lowest of any season he has played at least one hundred games. While he has twenty-eight home runs and seventy-five RBIs, his batting line is an abysmal .206/.289/.440, with .315 wOBA, and 106 wRC+. For the month of September, his batting average was .143 (four home runs and eleven RBIs).

Giancarlo Stanton / Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg, NY Post

He has become an average player paid at superstar level. I have seen many on Social Media question whether Stanton should be on the post-season roster. Of course, he should, there is always a chance he rediscovers his stroke. When he does, he can carry the team on his back. There are few people who can do that. Stanton is one of the keys to October success, so it is discouraging he has continued to underperform in recent weeks. I hope he can find the magic soon. When he is right, nobody can crush baseballs like he can.

So long, Héctor López. The 1961 World Champion Yankees lost another member when Héctor López passed away in Florida on Thursday due to complications from lung cancer. The Panamanian-born López was 93.

Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, & Hector Lopez / Photo Credit: Bettman/Getty Images

He played for the Yankees from 1959 to 1966, after starting his career in 1955 with the Kansas City Athletics. López, a utility man, was better known for his hitting than his fielding. He made seventeen errors in his first year with the Yankees (in seventy-six games at third base and three in the outfield). His combined RBI total in 1959 with the Royals and Yankees was 93. It led Yankees manager Casey Stengel to say, “If I bench him, I bench 93 runs, but I would like better fieldin’ outta my 93 runs.” 

In the 1961 World Series clinching game, his homer and triple, driving in five runs, helped power the Yankees to the 13-5 champagne-soaked victory over the Cincinnati Reds. For his career, he hit 136 home runs, drove in 136 runs, and batted .269. After his playing days were over, he became the first Black manager in Triple A history. He was a regular at Old Timer’s Day. It is always sad to see the loss of great Yankees. Rest in peace, Héctor.

Hector Lopez / Photo Credit: Bob Croslin

As always, Go Yankees!

Not Looking Better at Closing Time...

 

Photo Credit: Godofredo A Vasquez, AP

Bullpen woes continue in struggles to “shut the door”…

I hate to lose. I know, the Yankees are playing much better and they do not seem to be in the free fall that we experienced earlier this month. It is hard to sweep teams, particularly on the road. Sure, the Oakland A’s are among the worst teams in Major League Baseball, but they are still a Major League team last time I checked. If the Yankees win today (Clarke Schmidt Day!), they will have won three of four games in Oakland which is perfectly acceptable. Lose…and leave with a split…is grounds for disappointment.

While it was frustrating to see Ron Marinaccio serve up a game-tying two-run homer to Stephen Vogt in the tenth inning or DJ LeMahieu’s inability to complete a double-play that led to the A’s walk-off 3-2 win last night, it is hard to win any game when you only get one hit. So, the blame for the loss falls on the entire team, not just Marinaccio or LeMahieu. 

I am hoping the Yankees win today to take good feelings to Anaheim. It is easy to dismiss the Los Angeles Angels as another bottom feeder, but they have won two consecutive games against AL East rival, the Toronto Blue Jays. I am sure Angels interim manager Phil Nevin would like nothing better than to beat the Yankees after losing his third base coaching gig with the team last offseason.

Phil Nevin / Photo Credit: Ashley Landis, AP

It is a concern that the Yankees continue their tendency to nearly get no-hit in games, but you must believe that Giancarlo Stanton will help as he rounds back into form after his long layoff. The bigger concern is the bullpen. As great as Ron Marinaccio has been this year, asking him to close is a mistake. Easy to say in retrospect, but closing is a different animal. Being a great reliever does not always equate to being a great closer. It takes a different mindset and attitude. Not an environment for success for a rookie. Thanks to the injuries, it feels like there is no closer and everyone in the pen is a closer by committee. Wandy Peralta may have been successful the other night, but I still do not like him closing games. Yet, when Clay Holmes and now Aroldis Chapman, among others, are on the Injured List, the bullpen is a volatile situation to navigate.  Holmes is expected to be activated for the Angels series tomorrow. Chapman’s unexpected placement on the IL opened a spot on the active roster that is expected to go Holmes, leaving the Yankees a man short this weekend.

The big question with Holmes is who will he be? Will he return to the dominance he showed earlier this year, or will he continue to struggle? Hopefully, the rest has allowed him to restore full health for a successful return. The Yankees need him if they expect to go deep into October.

As for Chapman, I cannot say that I have ever heard of a tattoo infection as the reason for a trip to the IL. Chapman’s time with the Yankees is short. There is no question he is gone when his contract ends after the season. It is not outside the realm of possibility the Yankees choose to part ways with Chapman in September. If he has any setbacks while on the IL, he really has no value. There will not be enough time for him to restore the team’s confidence in him. He was already on the outside looking in when Boone was scouring the pen to see who could close. I liked Chapman when he was at his best and it is a little sad that his final season ends on a pathetic note. 

I had been hoping the team would get a ‘pick-me-up’ with Zack Britton. Unfortunately, his latest setback, a glute-related injury, caused an end to his rehab appearance yesterday and casts doubt if he will be able to return to the Yankees next month.  Hopefully the injury is not too bad, and Britton can resume throwing again soon. Thankful the injury was not arm-related but this late in the season, any injury can be lethal to Britton’s hope for return. 

GM Brian Cashman, expected to be retained by Hal Steinbrenner, needs to figure this out. Not too many available options in late August. I had thought Luke Bard, currently on the active roster yet to make an appearance, would be ‘the Yankee who never was’ but Chapman’s placement on the IL breathes life into an extended stay. Bard needs to make the most of his opportunity…if, of course, he gets one.   

Oh well, better luck to the Yankees today. I would love to see a great outing for Clarke Schmidt, and it would be nice if the Yankees mix in a few hits and runs to support him. The total of seven games with two or less hits must stop. The Yankees are better than this and they need to start playing like it.  

Jordan Montgomery is still, well, Jordan Montgomery. Although he pitched like he was superhuman after the trade to St Louis Cardinals, his latest outing was a reminder of who he is. Granted, he was playing against the Atlanta Braves, but he gave up five runs and was trailing 5-4 when he was pulled after walking the leadoff batter in the sixth inning. Unlike his time with the Yankees, the Cardinals gave Monty some run support with two game-winning runs in the bottom of the ninth to make it a no-decision for the former Yank. 

McKenzie Dirr & Jordan Montgomery / Photo Credit: Montgomery via Instagram

Meanwhile, Domingo German, the beneficiary of Montgomery’s trade, pitched 7 2/3 innings of scoreless three-hit ball. He was not facing one of the best teams in MLB, however, the roles were the opposite last week when Monty was pitching against worse competition than German and was receiving high accolades. Fans have pined for Montgomery, so it is only fair that we recognize German’s excellent performance. I may not be German’s biggest fan but give credit where credit is due. 

As for Montgomery, my final word. My disappointment was more about the trade than with Montgomery himself. I recognize he is, at best, a mid to end of the rotation starter. I liked him, and felt he was generally consistent.  In a vacuum, I have no problem with a Monty for Harrison Bader trade even if Master Bader’s debut for the Yankees is delayed by plantar fasciitis. My beef was a net gain of zero starters at the deadline when the team needed one to two. Adding Montas was neutralized by subtracting Montgomery. Long-term I think Montas will be the better pitcher despite the early St Louis success for Gumby. Easy to say when Montas is an upper rotation guy. The point is the Yankees will be fine without Montgomery. My only wish would have been to wait until the offseason to move him. 

If Bader shows up and delivers the highlight reel plays he routinely posted in St Louis, all will be forgotten about Jordan Montgomery. Like they always do, the Yankees move on and so do we. One guy departs, another guy steps up. Seems that has always been the formula in any sport. 

Rest for Nasty Nestor Cortes Jr. It felt like a gut punch when I heard that Cortes was being placed on the Injured List, but clearly the silver lining is needed rest for one of the Yankees’ best starters. Cortes has the highest innings pitch count in his Major League career. With 131 innings pitched this season, he has exceeded last year’s total by thirty-eight innings. Nestor only pitched 7 2/3 innings in 2020 for the Seattle Mariners. The Yankees need Nestor in October so, injury aside, rest is hugely beneficial.

I was never upset about the Yankees’ decision to send Clarke Schmidt to Triple-A to stretch him out. The decision has proved fortuitous with Nestor’s placement on the IL. Schmidt gets the ‘next man up’ baton. He was waited for opportunity, and it is here. Schmidt is not only pitching for October, but he is also openly auditioning for a role in the rotation in 2023. Someone needs to replace Jameson Taillon if Taillon leaves through free agency, and Schmidt has put himself in position to be that man. 

Clarke Schmidt / Photo Credit: Bebeto Matthews, AP

Nevertheless, back to Nestor. I hope the stay on the IL is of minimum duration and that he returns healthy and rested. I was going to include happy, but Nestor is always happy every day, so that’s a given. 

End of the road for Aaron Boone? If the Yankees stumble in the playoffs and exit faster than a Joey Gallo strikeout, it will be interesting to see if the Yankees choose to retain Boone. After last season, so many fans called for Boone’s head. When the team got off to a hot start, their screams were muted but they have regained intensity with the team’s less than stellar play since the All-Star break.  Former Yankees beat writer and now Red Sox beat writer Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe places Boone on his list of possible openings after the season. Per Pete Abe: “Could Aaron Boone win 100-plus games in the regular season and get fired? If the Yankees lose in the Division series, maybe Hal Steinbrenner decides clean house. The Yankees haven’t won a pennant since 2009, their longest drought since 1982-95. They went through 10 managers during that period and that’s only counting Billy Martin once.”

Aaron Boone / Photo Credit: Tommy Gilligan, USA TODAY Sports

Honestly, I think Boone is safe for another year regardless of what happens. Hal Steinbrenner is not his father, who once fired an excellent manager despite 103 regular season wins (Dick Howser, who won the AL East in 1980 but lost the ALCS to the Kansas City Royals).  I simply cannot see Hal pulling the trigger on Boone whether we want it to happen or not. It has already been reported the Yankees will retain GM Brian Cashman (although no new deal has yet been signed). Love him or hate him, I think the breakdowns this year are more on Cashman than Boone. 

Last offseason, Buck Showalter loomed as a strong possibility if the Yankees had decided to make a change. He is obviously no longer available as he flourishes in Flushing Meadow. I struggle to come up with names of potential (available) managers who are ‘head and shoulders’ above and better than Boone.  I have no desire for the return of intensity with Joe Girardi. His act wore thin in Philadelphia, and the Phillies have prospered since losing Girardi. I love Don Mattingly and it seems he will be on the chopping block floor after the season. However, he has his flaws as a manager and bottom-line, I do not want to see Mattingly fail in New York. He was a great Yankee, and I want his legacy to always stand tall. 

I am prepared for Boone’s return in 2023. I get frustrated with his decisions at times like everyone, but he is a smart, personable guy. My only ask of Boone is continued improvement and growth as a manager. A World Series championship this season would provide Boone a cushion for many more years in the Bronx.

As always, Go Yankees!

The Winning Ways...

 

Trevi for the Win! / Photo Credit: Frank Franklin II, AP

Yankees Juggernaut continues to steamroll the AL...

Well, it was not a kind week for the elite Yankees starting rotation, but the team continues to find ways to win. After last year’s roller coaster season, it is so wonderful to have a team that competes hard every night (Wednesday night’s 8-1 clunker against the Twins excluded). No question this team has the “it” quality and this might be the most joyous season since the historic 1998 championship run. Not saying the team is going to win 114 (or 125) games but the 2022 Yankees can write their own script. To slightly change Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio’s famed quote, “I want to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee fan.”

The Captain

The Yankees are currently 42-16, .724 winning percentage, and lead the AL East by 7 ½ games. They have the best record in baseball and the only team that can join the Yankees with forty wins today is the crosstown Mets.

The Yankees faced a major challenge this week when they traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota to face the recharged Minnesota Twins. After off-season retooling following a season of disappointment, the Twins currently hold first place in the AL Central and will most likely be a team in the October hunt. For the Yankees, it was a warm reunion with former Yanks Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela. Old friendships aside, the Twins were not so hospitable with the Yankee starters. Jameson Taillon gave up nine hits and four runs over four innings on Tuesday night; Nasty Nestor Cortes Jr, the All Star to-be, went 4 1/3 innings, allowed seven hits and four runs, taking the loss in Wednesday night’s disaster; and Gerrit Cole, who gave up three consecutive home runs before recording on out on Thursday night, was the worst, giving up eight hits and seven runs in only 2 1/3 innings. The five home runs he surrendered was a career worst. If a starter deserved to take a loss among these three, it was Cole. Fortunately for him, the Yankees bullpen and the hitters bailed him out as the Yankees clawed back from a four-run deficit to win, 10-7.

Despite the inflation of ERAs among the three starters, the trip to Target Field was successful as the Yankees took two of three. Win every series and life is good. I know the Yankees have owned the Twins for the past twenty years but one of these days the law of averages will turn the tables on the Yankees. I am glad it was not this week and I hope it is not this year.

Aaron Judge / Photo Credit: Jim Mone, AP

Last night, Luis Severino brought order back to the rotation. He struck out ten, yielding only seven hits and limiting the Chicago Cubs to one run in six innings. The game was tied when he left so no decision, but his performance was invaluable, and it set the stage for later team heroics. It took thirteen innings, but the Yankees emerged victorious when Jose Trevino came off the bench, on his son’s fourth birthday, for a run-scoring single in the walk-off 2-1 win over Anthony Rizzo’s old club. There were some brilliant defensive plays along the way that kept the game tied so it was a tremendous all-around team win.

Aarons Judge and Hicks / Photo Credit: Robert Sabo, NY Post

I felt bad for Aaron Judge. He had several key spots taken from him with intentional walks. Sure, walking him was the right thing to do for the opposing manager (former Red Suck David Ross), but as a fan, it was still slightly disappointing to miss a potential "Judgian" moment for arguably the American League’s most valuable player.

Despite the home run on Thursday night, Aaron Hicks at-bats are painful to watch. He may be great defensively behind the plate, but you can put Kyle Higashioka in the same category. I was ready for Manager Aaron Boone to pull Higgy in the ninth inning (to bring in Jose Trevino) when he led off the bottom of the frame. A line out to center only reinforced my opinion that it was a missed opportunity for Boonie.

Clearly the Yankees must do something about Hicks or Joey Gallo. Gallo is starting to hit a little better which probably places the spotlight on Hicks. With Aaron Judge taking most of the starts in center, it seems like the clock is ticking on Hicks and it is only a matter of time until he is just another ex-Yank. Time will tell. I guess we will know if his continued Yankee career is to be or not to be by the anniversary of Thurman Munson’s death.

There was irony before last night’s game when the Chicago Cubs announced they had designated Clint Frazier for assignment. Kind of funny since he had been given a locker in the visitor’s clubhouse, complete with his Cubs jersey. Perhaps Frazier clears waivers and is sent outright to the Iowa Cubs. Or maybe the Cubs should just send him back to Cleveland to see if he can restart his career. I did not really appreciate the ‘cookie cutter’ comments Frazier made this week about the Yankees organization, but it seems that Karma took care of it. 

Clint Frazier, The DFA Man / Photo Credit: AP

The Cubs also announced that another softie, Marcus Stroman, had been placed on the IL so he will miss the return to New York. I am proud to be one of those on Twitter who have been blocked by Stroman. He took offense when I once said that I wanted no part of him on the Yankees. My opinion has not changed.

Former Yankees joining the managerial ranks. The past week saw one former Yankee player and manager fired in Philadelphia (Joe Girardi), but it resulted in the promotion of long-time Yankees coach and recent Phillies bench coach Rob Thomson to serve as Girardi’s interim replacement. Out in Anaheim, CA, or about ten miles from where I am writing this post, Joe Maddon could not survive an extended Angels losing streak after a hot start to the season and was ousted. Former Yankees and current Angels third base coach Phil Nevin will serve as the interim Halos manager. Congratulations to both men. I doubt Nevin manages the team beyond this year, but I am hopeful Thomson wins the audition for permanency as the Phillies manager. You can certainly say that he has paid his dues for this opportunity.

Phillies Manager Rob Thomson / Photo Credit: MLB.com

Bullpen returns. Bryan Hoch reported that Aroldis Chapman is pain free and is scheduled to throw a bullpen today. He will need at least another bullpen session before the team considers activating him or sending him to the minors for rehab. With all honesty, I do not see how Chapman can be reinstated as the Yankees closer. To me, Clay Holmes is the man until he is not. The way he is pitching right now slams the door most nights. The Yankees cannot disrupt a good thing. I know that the end of games has been less painful for me. I am not yearning to see a sweaty pitcher on the mound in the ninth with a loss of control and reduced velocity.

Hoch also reported that Jonathan Loaisiga left the team to deal with a family matter in Nicaragua on June 7^th. Hopefully, all is well for him and his family. It is unclear if he has resumed throwing, but his return seems further away than Chapman.

Zack Britton stays on track for return as early as August. He will be a welcome addition. He is currently doing bullpen work and will go on a minor league rehab assignment sometime in the coming weeks. I wish him the best for a full recovery and successful rehab. Same for Chapman and Loaisiga.

Zack Britton / Photo Credit: CBS Sports

Despite the relievers that will be rejoining the team in the coming weeks and months, I hope GM Brian Cashman can make another one of those sneaky good Clay Holmes type of trades to bring an unheralded reliever oozing with talent ripe for blossoming to New York.

As always, Go Yankees!

 

Manfred, Greed, and Arrogance...

  

MLB Owners refusal to play…

I hate baseball. Or to better clarify, I hate Major League Baseball and Commissioner Rob Manfred. My ire is directed toward the MLB Owners and not the MLB Players Association. Look, I love the game of baseball. I love life as a New York Yankees fan. I hate the greed of billionaires that is keeping the beloved professional game from us. Typically, this time of year, we are looking forward to excitement to the opening of Spring Training camps in a couple of weeks. Even though pitchers are catchers are required to report earlier, many position players show up at team facilities early to begin their season preparations. The thrill of watching the Yankees begin workouts in Tampa, Florida after a winter away. The buzz around Steinbrenner Field. This year, there is only a cloud of uncertainty.

Max Scherzer, the filthy rich yet only second-best starting pitcher for the New York Mets, a MLBPA executive subcommittee member, described the differences as “We want a system where threshold and penalties don’t function as caps, allows younger players to realize more of their market value, makes service time manipulation a thing of the past, and eliminate tanking as a winning strategy.”

I know the core economics issues go much deeper than Max’s words, however, this is a start. Why cannot the MLB Owners, in good faith, come to the bargaining table with a genuine desire to find common ground and create the new Collective Bargaining Agreement to end the Lockout? The MLB Owners request for a federal mediator was a slap in the face. It was purposely designed make the MLBPA look bad. They asked for a mediator when they have not shown a willingness to participate in meaningful and productive discussions. I keep hearing words like “contentious” any time the two sides get together. The MLBPA, rightfully and correctly, declined.

 

San Francisco Giants pitcher Alex Wood questioned MLB’s request for a mediator. He took to Twitter to ask “How can MLB request for there to be a mediator from the Federal Government to help with negotiations when they literally haven’t even done any negotiating up to this point? Asking for a friend.”  In another tweet, Wood said “It would probably take 2 weeks just for an ‘impartial’ mediator to get caught up enough to proceed. They’d then use an already broken system/CBA as a guideline toward a new deal. Makes zero sense for anybody. Players are ready to make a fair/mutually beneficial deal!”

Yankees reliever Zack Britton also chimed in, “When attempting to negotiate a collectively bargained agreement… “bargaining” is required.”

At this point, I do not feel it matters that Spring Training will be delayed. The question is how long it will be delayed. So long as Spring Training opens by the first of March, there is the sense the regular season will begin on time. So, that becomes the new deadline. But considering this is only three weeks away, the MLB Owners need to set their egos and greed aside, and work with the MLBPA to settle their differences now. With more talks expected next week, it is paramount progress must be made. So far, there has been none despite a Lockout that is over two months old.

MLB Owners, please hear our pleas. Restore Major League Baseball. Embrace the love and passion all of us hold for the game. Treat the players and fans with respect, and we will continue to line your pockets with an overabundance of cash. There is room for compromise. Return excitement to the lives of baseball fans everywhere. We want baseball now. Oh, while you are at it, please fire Rob Manfred.

While I retain hope the Yankees will sign free agent shortstop Trevor Story to a short-term deal with high AAV, count me among those probably more willing to give the shortstop job to young Oswald Peraza over some of the stopgap names that have been thrown around. A rookie shortstop, as the team is presently structured does not make sense, but if the Yankees can improve first base, center field and possibly catching, they would be better positioned to groom a new young shortstop and survive the growing pains associated therewith. As much as I want Story, it does seem as though Isiah Kiner-Falefa of the Texas Rangers is ticketed for the Bronx once the Lockout ends. If it happens, it increases my desire for Peraza to rise to the challenge and overtake Kiner-Falefa sooner than later. 

I have given up on any hope the Yankees will sign the best available shortstop, Carlos Correa. The Yankees seem more secure just trying to build a team that can potentially make the playoffs than one who can dominate/crush its opponents. I do not want Andrelton Simmons or an encore performance by an aging Didi Gregorius. Peraza may not be ready for The Show, but the Yankees can do better until Peraza or Anthony Volpe are ready to ascend to the Bronx. It does not seem that long ago when Yankees ownership was selling us the late Tony Fernandez as the team’s starting shortstop (a Spring Training injury in 1995 opened for the door for a young lad named Derek Jeter). Cut out the middlemen and go to the future. Hal Steinbrenner loves young, controllable players. If they can play, so do I. Oswald, take Spring Training by storm (if/when it opens). Your time is within your control. Make it happen.

Congratulations to the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals for their conference championship victories. The NFL playoffs have been very thrilling this year. I will be pulling for the Rams. Like the Dodgers are my second favorite baseball team, the Rams, since their return from St Louis, have been my second favorite football team. I am excited for Matthew Stafford. After so many years of losing in Detroit, he finally gets to play in the NFL’s greatest game and has a chance to grab a Los Angeles championship like his Highland Park, Texas high school buddy, Clayton Kershaw, before him.

Rams Offensive Coordinator Kevin O’Connell will be the next head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, my favorite team. To a degree, I am disappointed. It is nothing against O’Connell. After the failures of two successive defensive head coaches in Minnesota (Leslie Frazier and Mike Zimmer), the job screamed for an offensively minded coach. At 65, Zimmer had grown grouchy and stagnant. O’Connell is youthful (he is only thirty-six years old) and he is recognized as a bright, offensive strategist even if he does not call plays for the Rams. He has worked with new Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (they were together in San Francisco in 2016) and was one of Kwesi’s choices for head coach. 

However, Raheem Morris was the best qualified coach. This is not a statement of color, but rather a testament to a man that, despite his lack of success as a head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier in his career, has gained extensive knowledge and experience, with success, on both sides of the ball and is a known leader of men. I am sorry Raheem was not given stronger consideration. He was a finalist for the Vikings job and had a second interview, like Patrick Graham. But it seems, O’Connell, even with the team’s brief flirtation with Jim Harbaugh, was the choice all along for the Wilf Family. 

I hope Raheem gets the opportunity to be a head coach again. I passionately believe, like Bill Belichick and a few other coaches, he will be more successful the second time around. Time will tell if this is a huge mistake for the Vikings. I hope not, but I will always wonder what could have been.

I honor and respect Bryan Flores for the class action lawsuit he has brought against the NFL for its hiring practices. It is unfortunate the move may cost him another chance in the NFL (he deserves an immediate next opportunity after his dismissal in Miami), but he is helping to open doors for others.

As always, Go Yankees!