Keeping NYY Expectations Low...

 

Luis Severino (Photo Credit: Jeff Roberson/AP)

You win some, you lose some…

The Judge-less Yankees are not a threat to wreak havoc in October. They are barely a participant, holding onto the second Wild Card slot by a game on the Houston Astros, who hold the third spot, and a game-and-a-half lead in front of the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays’ inability to beat the Boston Red Sox (winless in six tries) keeps them from higher placement in the Wild Card standings.

Friday’s rainout led to a doubleheader in St Louis, Missouri on Saturday, and the Yankees promptly killed their mini two-game winning streak by getting pounded by the Cardinals, 11-4, in the rain-interrupted first game. Luis Severino, trying to pitch as badly as Domingo German did on June 22nd against the Seattle Mariners, gave up nine runs (seven earned) in four innings. Somehow, I doubt Sevy will rebound with a perfect game as German did. German’s performance against the Mariners was slightly worse (ten runs, eight earned, allowed in three-and-a-half innings of disaster), however, Severino carries greater expectations than German. The Yankees needed Severino to step up this season with Carlos Rodón and Frankie Montas on the Injured List. A record of 1-3 with a 6.30 ERA (good for -0.4 fWAR) in eight games/forty innings pitched is not exactly stepping up. Severino has the worst K/9 rate of his career (7.65; his career average is 9.86) and his HR/9 is double his career average (2.25 to 1.12). 

Although Severino is a free agent after the end of the season, I had previously expected the Yankees to re-sign him after the season. Now, I am not so sure. His dismal showing during his walk year places pressure on the Yankees to find better options. Maybe Sevy cannot bounce back with a perfect game like German did (hey, a no-hitter would be just fine!), I doubt he does, but simply put, he needs to pitch better. The chance to improve begins with the next start. There is time to right the ship. A quality start followed by another. Is it too much to ask?

The lopsided score led Manager Aaron Boone to have Josh Donaldson pitch. As much as I hate to see position players on the mound, Donaldson retired all three batters he faced. The fact that Donaldson pitched better than Severino in the game is a sad testimony of where we are with the Yankees. 

Thankfully, the Yankees won the second game of the doubleheader, 6-2. The game was much closer than the final score, and it featured a bullpen game for the Yankees, led by Ian Hamilton. The Yankees jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, only to see it immediately tied when Lars Nootbaar homered off Hamilton in the bottom of the first inning. Anthony Volpe, who was probably the star of the game, tripled in the top of the second inning, scoring Isiah Kiner-Falefa, to give the Yankees a lead they would not relinquish. His single in the top of the ninth, after Isiah Kiner-Falefa had walked, moved IKF into scoring position at third base. IKF promptly scored on a safety squeeze by Jose Trevino. Volpe scored an additional insurance run when a single to left field by Gleyber Torres brought both him and DJ LeMahieu home.  Say what you will about Volpe, but regardless of his recent struggles, he needs to continue to play at the Major League level to get better. I remain convinced it will be worth the wait.

 

Gleyber Torres and Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: USATSI)

The highlight of the game was the touching reception the Cardinals fans gave to Harrison Bader when he stepped to the plate for the first time. Bader did not play the first game. The warm reception received in the nightcap impacted Bader as he touched his heart during the applause and expressed his gratitude to the fans.  I may not be a Cardinals fan, but I have long understood how strong their fan base is. It was on display with Bader. 

The lowlight was the YES Network booth discussion with Michael Kay, Jeff Nelson, and Meredith Marakovits about Luke Voit’s sleeveless jersey while playing for the New York Mets Triple-A affiliate against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

Luke Voit

It led to Kay flexing his “dancing biceps” for the TV audience, sadly, a sight we can never unsee. 

The Yankees (46-37) failed to gain any ground over the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays this week. They remain nine and a half games behind. The Blue Jays appeared ready to leapfrog over the Yankees this week, but their weekend series against their Kryptonite, the Red Sox, has kept the Blue Jays a game and a half behind the Yanks. 

The Yankees open a four-game series tomorrow at Yankee Stadium against the second-place Baltimore Orioles. The O’s currently hold a three-game advantage over the Yankees in the AL East.

The Yankees need to get on a roll if they plan to make up ground. Taking anything less than three of four from the Orioles will seem like a disappointment. The Yankees’ offense, without Aaron Judge, gives little confidence they can dominate the O’s. With Gerrit Cole pitching today, he will miss Baltimore. Randy Vasquez is expected to be recalled for Wednesday’s start although he is listed as today’s starter for the RailRiders. Presumably, he will be scratched if the plans are for his promotion to make Wednesday’s start. If not, the Yankees have other plans.

Carlos Rodón completed his third rehab start. I preface it by saying he was pitching for the Yankees’ High-A affiliate in Hudson Valley. He struck out eight lower-level prospects in three-and-a-third innings. He gave up one hit and walked two batters. We should see the Yankee Stadium debut of Rodón this week. He was expected to make three rehab starts before activation and they were completed with solid results. Given Luis Severino has fallen off the cliff, the Yankees need Rodón’s presence in the rotation now more than ever. If he pitches like he did last year for the San Francisco Giants, the team should start to build some momentum. 

Rodón is expected to make his Yankee Stadium debut on Friday when Anthony Rizzo’s old team, the Chicago Cubs, are in town for a weekend series. 

Honestly, I have no expectations for the Yankees this year. I am not trying to be a pessimist, but rather a realist. If the Yankees need Aaron Judge to be “great”, then the team was poorly constructed. There is talent on the roster, but collectively, the talent and the effort have not yielded the necessary results to play with the big boys. Judge’s return remains murky at best. The hope he would be back before the All-Star Break has become hope he will return before the season’s end. The torn toe ligament casts doubt on how effective he can be until he has fully and completely recovered…an unknown timeframe.  The Yankees need an impact bat since the so-called impact bats on the roster are not providing it. 

July is the month for significant trades. However, I remain skeptical that the Yankees will make any big splashes this year. I do not see the Yankees taking on huge additional financial commitments nor do I see them moving another bevy of top prospects. Depleting the farm system for rentals has not worked out in the last couple of years.  We should probably hold off from running out to buy Juan Soto jerseys. Michael Kay has already been calling out the company line when he said that Rodón’s return is like a deadline acquisition. The cold, hard truth is these are our 2023 New York Yankees, for better or for worse. The refusal to pursue elite impact bats in free agency the last couple of years has led to the belief that we are wasting the best years of Gerrit Cole’s career. I yearn for the Yankees of old when they were a young, exciting, and over-achieving team. There is no magic with the current crew, aside from an occasional perfect game. Maybe things change when Judge and Rodón are back in full form, but maybe not. Until they can prove they are better, we continue to win some, lose some and that does not bode well for October.

Domingo German’s perfect game

I am not a fan of Domingo German.

Although I believe people deserve second chances, the stories of domestic abuse are hard to overcome.  As such, I had mixed feelings about Domingo German’s perfect game this week. It is exciting the Yankees won. It was a brilliant pitching performance regardless of the quality of the opponent. I am glad the Yankees won. The difficulty is German’s name is forever placed among Don Larsen, David Wells, and David Cone as the only pitchers to throw perfect games in Yankees history.  Gerrit Cole, Jhony Brito, Clarke Schmidt, Luis Severino, or Randy Vasquez…any of these names would have been more palatable than German as legendary franchise achievers.

While it is hard to celebrate the individual, the stats were impressive. No hits, no walks, no runs, nine strikeouts. Ninety-nine total pitches, seventy-two for strikes. German improved his season record to 5-5 and lowered his inflated ERA to 4.54. It was the first perfect game in Major League Baseball since Felix Hernandez did it in 2012. No one can ever take the perfect game away from German, and he will be talking to his grandchildren about it. Good for him. 

Domingo German and Kyle Higashioka (Photo Credit: USATSI)

I know some fans feel that German should be forgiven. Maybe so, maybe not. I have my feelings about him, and it does not make any difference to anybody. I believe it was Randy Wilkins, @pamsson on Twitter, who tweeted something to the effect that we can celebrate the accomplishment without celebrating the individual. It makes total sense to me. I can have my opinion; you can have yours. In the end, neither opinion takes away the accomplishment. 

Didi’s Return

Signed to a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners in early June, Didi Gregorius finally made his debut for the Tacoma Rainiers (Triple-A) on Friday. His arrival had been delayed due to visa issues. Gregorius, released last year by the Philadelphia Phillies, had been playing in the Mexican Leagues before his contract with Seattle. Only 33 years old, I am glad to see Didi given another opportunity. He is certainly one of the good guys in the game.

Didi Gregorius (Photo Credit: Instagram via @sirdidig18)

Time will tell if Didi makes it back to the Major Leagues, but the challenge is within his control. I would like to see him succeed…just not against the Yankees. 

It is weird to see both Didi and Luke Voit, once considered important Yankee players, fighting for their baseball futures in Triple-A.  Gary Sanchez, currently a backup catcher for the San Diego Padres, was able to make it back. Hopefully, the same outcome awaits Didi and Voit.

As always, Go Yankees!

Aaron Judge and the Honest Toe...

 

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: John Minchillo/AP)

Judge comes clean on the severity of his injury…

I remember when New York Yankees baseball was fun.

On Saturday, Aaron Judge revealed that he had suffered a torn ligament in the ailing toe that had landed him on the Injured List earlier this month after the general belief was strained ligaments. The Yankees once again prove they are not transparent regarding player injuries, and it takes the player to divulge the severity of the injury. We went from wondering if Judge would be out a few days, then to a couple of weeks, and now, if he misses less than a month, it would be a miracle.  I am doubtful we will see the 2022 AL MVP until after the All-Star Break. We will soon be hearing words like ‘Judge is a great Trade Deadline acquisition’.   

Despite the heroics of Billy McKinney in recent games, the Yankees are not the same team without Judge in the lineup. Giancarlo Stanton may be in the lineup, but his bat must be on a European vacation. The loss of Judge would be eased if Stanton was hitting like we know he is capable of, but, unfortunately for us, he is not. The Yankees go into every game hoping they can hold the opponents to three or four runs to give their anemic offense a chance to come through. This Yankees club would not be able to compete in a slugfest. The Los Angeles Angels defeated the Colorado Rockies, 25-1, last night. The Yankees have not scored a combined total of 25 runs since they lost to the New York Mets in the second game of a two-game series nearly two weeks ago. 

After losing a disappointing game to the Texas Rangers on Friday night, the Yankees bounced back with a 1-0 victory yesterday behind a tremendous performance by Luis Severino (finally) and a bullpen that was bent but not broken. The shutout upheld Billy McKinney’s fourth-inning home run as the game-winner.  The Rangers, one of the best offensive clubs in the American League, could have easily taken the game away from the Yankees. Somehow, they failed to get a timely hit when they needed it (credit to Yankees pitching), and the Yankees, needing every win they can get, emerged victorious. 

Billy McKinney (Photo Credit: Robert Sabo/NY Post)

The win allowed the Yankees (42-35) to get back to single digits behind AL East leader Tampa Bay Rays at nine-and-a-half games. The Yankees trail Aaron Hicks and the Baltimore Orioles by five games. The Toronto Blue Jays are nipping at the Yankees’ heels, only a half-game behind the Bombers. Further missteps by the team could leave them fighting the Boston Red Sox for the cellar. 

In June, the Yankees are 8-11. Surprisingly, they have been holding onto third place in the division despite their struggling offense.  The Angels have the same record as the Blue Jays, so they are just behind the Yankees in the AL East Wild Card standings. The Angels lost oft-injured third baseman Anthony Rendon, who was placed on the Injured List a week ago with a left wrist contusion, and, an old friend, Gio Urshela, for the season with a fractured pelvis. The Angels did not sit back and take their chances with rookies or cast-offs for third base. They went out and acquired Eduardo Escobar from the Mets on Friday night, and Mike Moustakas last night (after he had witnessed the 24-run loss to the Angels as a member of the Colorado Rockies). Moustakas may not be the player he once was but credit the Angels for trying. No need to wait for the Trade Deadline. 

The Yankees get absolutely nothing out of Josh Donaldson and their best response is to simply sit him on the bench. I realize we are in the final days of Donaldson’s time as a Yankee. The question is not ‘if’ he will be released but rather ‘when’. It seems like it will happen around the All-Star Break, but how long does GM Brian Cashman go without trying to find players who can help today? If the Yankees are hoping for some sign of the 2015 AL MVP from Donaldson, they will be sadly disappointed. Donaldson is done. Time to let him go home and enjoy his young child.  Given DJ LeMahieu’s decline, the best hope for third base, Oswald Peraza, continues to bide his time in Eastern Pennsylvania. It would be fun to see the Yankees acquire Nolan Arenado from the St Louis Cardinals, but I have given up hope Cashman will make that type of move.  Arenado, 32, is hitting .272/.319/.477 (.796 OPS) with 15 home runs and 50 runs batted in. The Yankees will be in St Louis next weekend. It would be fantastic to see them depart the city with Arenado on the plane. The Yankees will not make the trade, but it is fun to think about. They need a jolt to the lineup and Arenado could provide it. I am ready for anything over Donaldson.

I hope the Yankees can continue to tread water until Aaron Judge returns. It would be nice if a few of the big-name vets on the active roster would chip in. No offense to the players but highlight reels featuring Jake Bauers and Billy McKinney do not inspire hope for post-season success.   

Rotation Upgrade Nears Return

Carlos Rodón is moving closer to making his debut in Pinstripes. Today, he starts the second of three expected rehab games before he will be activated on the Major League roster. In his first rehab start, Rodón pitched three innings, allowing a hit and a run, while striking out five (including a streak of four-in-a-row). 

Carlos Rodon (Photo Credit: Somerset Patriots)

His start today, for the Somerset Patriots, will be against the Toronto Blue Jays’ Double-A affiliate, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

After Domingo German’s implosion the other night, Rodón’s presence is sorely needed in the Yankees’ starting rotation. Hopefully, Luis Severino’s terrific outing yesterday is a sign of things to come, and Sevy and Rodón can help the Yankees build momentum in the season’s second half. It certainly helps that Clarke Schmidt has been pitching much better lately…Jhony Brito too. I am hopeful the positives coming from the rotation will spell the end of German’s time as a Yankee.    

Promotions

RHP Clayton Beeter, acquired last year in the trade that sent Joey Gallo to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline, has been promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Beeter is 6-3 with a 2.32 ERA and 82 strikeouts in thirteen games started. The 24-year-old is positioning himself to help the Yankees later this season if his upward progression continues. 

I am excited to see what Beeter can do. When he first arrived in the organization, it sounded like his future was as a reliever, but confidence has grown in his ability to start. It would be nice if the Yankees could strike gold with Beeter after giving up so many talented prospects to get Gallo. 

Also promoted to Triple-A was third baseman, Max Burt. The right-handed Burt, 26, is hitting .267/.333/.481 (.814 OPS) with 7 home runs and 23 RBIs in 131 at-bats. There is always room in the organization for hard-working players. I would like to see Burt achieve his dream of reaching the Majors. Not sure if he will get the chance with the Yankees but who knows? Injuries on the big-league club (or the release of a certain aging third baseman) could open a path for Burt. Andres Chapparo should certainly be in that same conversation. It is time for some of the young guys to get opportunities over aging players in rapid decline.   

Aaron Hicks Resurgence

I am happy for Aaron Hicks. He has found a new life in Baltimore and has quickly become a key player for the second-place AL East rival. In 69 ABs for the Yankees, Hicks was .188/.263/.261 (.524 OPS) with one home run and five RBIs.  In 62 ABs for the Orioles, Hicks is .306/.403/.581 (.983 OPS) with four home runs and eleven RBIs. Like Estevan Florial in Triple-A, Hicks is seemingly making highlight plays every day in his new orange/black uniform and beard. 

Aaron Hicks (Photo Credit: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

As someone ready for Hicks to leave, I am not going to reverse course and say the Yankees should have kept him. He did not perform as a Yankee, at least not in recent years, and I am not sure he would have had this type of resurgence if he had stayed in the organization. Sure, consistent playing time makes a difference, and the Yankees were not giving it to him.  I saw former Oriole great Jim Palmer’s observation that Hicks was trying too hard in New York to live up to his contract, and it only made things worse, bringing down the wrath of the fans on him. He said that sometimes it is better to try “easier”.

Good for Hicks.  I remain convinced the Yankees made the right decision to part ways. The weight of the Pinstripes can be heavy and for Hicks, it was too much. 

As always, Go Yankees! 

The Yankees in the Land of Mediocrity...

 

Aaron Boone, Anthony Rizzo, and Domingo German (Photo Credit: Winslow Townson/AP)

The team continues to look for a spark…

In a perfect world, the Yankees would be the AL’s elite team, running away from the competition, in preparation for a deep charge into October. All the team’s players would be happy, healthy, and productive. And the Boston Red Sox would be winless. Sadly, we do not live in a perfect world. 

Losing is never fun but losing to the Boston Red Sox hits harder.  The Red Sox may be the AL East’s resident cellar dweller, however, they showed they were nobody’s fool with Friday night’s 15-5 thrashing of our beloved Yankees.  It was one of those games where I felt like joining with the Red Sox fans as they chanted ‘Yankees Suck!’. The sting of the loss lingered more than it should have with the weather-related postponement of Saturday’s game. If there is any consolation, the Los Angeles Dodgers lost last night, 15-to-zero, to their hated rival, the San Francisco Giants. At least the Yankees managed to score a few runs. Hey, misery loves company!

July is less than two weeks away and the Yankees find themselves ten full games behind the Tampa Bay Rays. The Baltimore Orioles are four games up on the Yankees, and the Red Sox only trail the Yankees by four games. The Yankees (39-31) are as close to the division floor as they are to second place. I know the 1978 Yankees overcame a mid-July fourteen-game deficit to force a one-game playoff for the division championship en route to the World Series crown, yet this team does not feel like it has that magic. 

The Los Angeles Angels have beaten the Yankees to forty wins. Granted, they have played three more games than the Yankees and have two more losses, but they are only a half-game behind the Yankees in the Wild Card chase. I guess it is Shohei Ohtani’s revenge.

Aaron Judge’s absence has proven how much the team has depended upon him. The other big bats in the lineup have been largely silent, putting added pressure on the pitching staff.  It is tough going into games thinking that the pitchers need to hold the opponents to no more than three or four runs to give the offense a chance. How did we get here? I thought the Yankees were smarter than this. When I say Yankees in this case, I am referring to Brian Cashman, his high-paid consultants, the team of nerds, and the others responsible for the players on the field or rather, should I say, not on the field. 

Brian Cashman (Photo Credit: Dustin Satloss/Getty Images)

Aaron Judge has gone from just needing a few days to rest to possibly returning before the All-Star Break as the best-case scenario. It was reported this week that he received a second platelet-rich plasma injection in his right big toe. The injection was targeted at a different ligament than the first one he received. Fans love to say the Yankees will be a different (better) team when Judge is back, along with Carlos Rodón and Harrison Bader. I am not so sure. It seems like the 2023 Yankees are snake-bit.  Something new continually comes up to derail team momentum.  The Yankees are playing like the average team they are. 

I wish I could look at the Trade Deadline with optimism. I am doubtful the Yankees can add impactful players. They cannot trade the elite prospects without sacrificing the future. It is not prospect-hugging, it is fact.  The Yankees are getting older, and keeping healthy players on the field is continually a problem.

Estevan Florial is tearing up Triple-A with homers seemingly every day without promotion to The Show. He is hitting .311/.403/.646 (1.049 OPS) with 18 home runs, 44 runs batted in, and 13 stolen bases. It seems obvious the Yankees do not believe his Triple-A numbers would translate to Major League success. Maybe the Yankees hope to get some value for him in a July trade, but realistically, it was not that long ago when every team in the Major Leagues had a chance to claim Florial on waivers and passed. Last year’s trade deadline acquisitions (or rather misfires) leave me a little doubtful to believe the Yankees can find gems who push them into second-half success.

St Louis Cardinals outfielder Tyler O'Neill is the most recent rumored trade candidate I have seen. I know there is some comfort in having a player named O’Neill in the Yankee outfield (even if he is not related to The Warrior), but he is another outfielder with durability problems. O’Neill is on the 60-day Injured List (back) and is not expected to return until next month. Even if his back is pain-free, the Yankees do not need another player who loves riding the Injured List. The O’Neill rumors are most likely ones created by Cardinals fans, yet I would not put anything ‘senseless’ past Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman. The Cardinals generally fare well in their trades with the Yankees.

I am hoping for the best but braced for the worst. It is the current state of the New York Yankees.

Harrison Bader’s Return

There was some disappointment among the Yankees fan base when outfielder Harrison Bader was not activated off the Injured List before Friday night’s game against the Red Sox. I get his desire to be 100% before he resumes his role as the team’s starting centerfielder, however, it is frustrating that it is so difficult to keep him on the field. It reinforces the belief the Yankees should find a new centerfielder in the offseason. I like Bader, and when he is healthy, he is a fun player to have on the team.  Unfortunately, those times are too infrequent. He is not worth the money it would take to sign him to a new contract if he cannot stay on the field. 

Bader was one-for-four for the Somerset Patriots on Saturday, with two strikeouts. Well, at least his bat is in line with a few of the hitters on the current active Major League roster.

Harrison Bader

Bader is expected to be at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday when the Yankees open a three-game set with the Seattle Mariners. Hopefully, he stays healthy and can help the Yankees find wins. 

Well Wishes to Tanner Houck

We wish an expedient and full recovery for Boston Red Sox starter Tanner Houck who suffered a facial fracture when he was hit with a line drive off Kyle Higashioka’s bat in Friday night’s game. He was able to walk off the field, and he never lost consciousness. He is resting at home and will have follow-up evaluations this week to determine the next steps.

Tanner Houck (Photo Credit: Winslow Townson/AP)

You never want to see anyone get hurt. A hard-hit ball to the face is one of the worst things imaginable on the playing field, and it certainly could have been far more devastating than it was.

I am glad Tanner is doing better, and I hope he is back soon. 

And Finally

The Yankees and Red Sox play a doubleheader today at Fenway Park in Boston. Clarke Schmidt and Luis Severino are the scheduled starters for the Yankees. A sweep would go a long way toward erasing the memory of the Friday night disaster.  Josh Donaldson, please feel free to hit a meaningful home run for a change.

As always, Go Yankees! 

Life Without Aaron Judge...

  

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Ashley Landis/AP)

Wanted: Miracle Toe Healer…

Life without Aaron Judge is not fun. Worse yet, it sucks. 

I know he is only away for a few weeks while his toe recovers from the dramatic play he made at Dodger Stadium earlier this month, but it is painful to watch the Yankees play without him. Without Judge in the lineup, the other weaknesses are magnified. It is frustrating that there is no timetable for Judge’s return.  I know the Yankees are conservative when it comes to injuries, and they do not want to set a date for return, only to face further delays, but I wish they were more transparent. Judge’s absence shows how devastating losing him in free agency would have been. Hopefully, the toe will improve with each passing day, and Aaron Judge will be roaming right field soon. 

I am not trying to play ‘I told you so’ but at the beginning of Spring Training, I felt Anthony Volpe should have returned to Triple-A for more seasoning and the Yankees starting shortstop should be Oswald Peraza. I held that opinion through most of Spring Training but finally acquiesced to support the decision to promote Volpe, pushing Peraza back to Triple-A when it appeared the Yankees were headed in that direction anyway. In retrospect, the Yankees should not have been seduced by Volpe’s strong Spring performance. We have seen too many players over the years enjoying stellar play in March, only to struggle once the gates of the regular season have opened. The ‘Greg Bird’ Syndrome. Most recently (before Volpe), it was Kyle Higashioka. 

I like Volpe, and I am excited for his long-term future with the Yankees, but maybe it is time for him to go to Triple-A to work on the finer aspects of his game now that he has had a taste of Major League life. He has a better understanding of what it takes to succeed at the game’s highest level, and it should provide a better blueprint for him to prepare to become a productive everyday starter in the Bronx.

Anthony Volpe (Photo Credit: Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Through sixty-six games, Volpe is batting .187/.261/.347 (.608 OPS). He has 9 home runs and 26 RBIs. He is 14-for-14 in stolen bases but he only has one in the last 24 games.  While you cannot compare Triple-A pitching to the Major Leagues, Oswald Peraza is batting .311/.383/.597 (.980 OPS) in twenty-eight games. He has 10 home runs and 21 RBIs, plus 7 stolen bases.  Peraza has cooled off lately after his blazing month of May, and he did not appear in either game of yesterday’s doubleheader between the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and the Norfolk Tides. I have not seen the reason for Peraza’s absence (he played Friday night), but if healthy, I would flip Volpe for Peraza. There is no denying Volpe has the higher ceiling, but Volpe would benefit from some further work in Triple-A while Peraza has nothing left to prove there.

I want Volpe to succeed, and he can be a disruptive force on the basepaths come October. A little time away to better his game is not an unreasonable request. Give Peraza a chance and be a stronger team later in the year when both players are on the Major League roster.   

Other players I am concerned about are DJ LeMahieu and Kyle Higashioka. The Yankees need LeMahieu to be the hitter he was before last year’s injury. LeMahieu will be 35 next month and admittedly, I am concerned he may never be the player he once was. For a while, I have wanted LeMahieu to take Josh Donaldson’s place as the starting third baseman. However, while I do not feel JD’s recent home runs scream ‘he’s back!’, LeMahieu’s struggles have lessened my desire to move on from Donaldson. I am about ready to rename LeMahieu “Oh Fer Three”. 

DJ LeMahieu (Photo Credit: Noah K Murray/AP)

Good pitching helped the Yankees on Saturday, but it is a tough ask for the pitching staff to consistently hold the other team to no more than one or two runs to compensate for an anemic offense. I am convinced this will be Higgy’s final year in Pinstripes, and I would not be disappointed if his time was up sooner than later. Ben Rortvedt was acquired to play catcher for the Yankees (not the RailRiders) and although the plan was derailed by injuries, I feel he can be an effective partner to support starter Jose Trevino. 

It will be tough for the Yankees to make trades in July. You cannot strip the farm system of multiple talented prospects every year without damaging the future. Last year’s trades seem like such a waste. The loss of many well-regarded prospects for multiple players who failed to make a difference for the Yankees. With the struggles of some of those prospects elsewhere, you can say the Yankees made the right calls. Yet, inevitably, there will be lost prospects who come back to haunt the Yankees. 

Despite the nice moments from Jake Bauers, Willie Calhoun and Billy McKinney, the Yankees still need a strong left fielder. I am not convinced the current lot is the answer. Bauers taking away a Rafael Devers home run on Saturday was a terrific highlight, but the Yankees can do better. Isiah Kiner-Falefa has performed better than expected as Harrison Bader’s replacement in center field, but the preference would be for him to remain in a utility role when Bader returns. For as much as fans have wanted the Yankees to promote Estevan Florial, the truth is the Yankees must make room for Bader and Aaron Judge when they are healthy, and at least one of Bauers, Calhoun, and McKinney will be sacrificed.  If the Yankees need a 40-man roster spot. Who loses? McKinney seems like the most expendable if Bader is healthy. If McKinney’s promotion had been Florial, it is likely Flo would be facing a second trip to the waiver wire with the Yankees losing him this time after his strong recent performance in Triple-A.   

It is a tough job for GM Brian Cashman and his team of nerds. They must reinforce the team with seemingly limited resources. The Yankees’ top five prospects according to MLB.com are three outfielders, a catcher, and a shortstop. I do not see the Yankees trading Jasson Dominguez or Spencer Jones. Everson Pereira is a talented future star, but he might be the most expendable of the group.  Austin Wells wants to stay at Catcher, but we have all heard the stories he will eventually need to change positions. With the profile of his bat, the Yankees will find room. I would be shocked if they traded him. Trey Sweeney, the shortstop, has always seemed like the future third baseman to me.  I do not want to lose any of the top five prospects.  Not so much prospect-hugging as it is concerned about the competitiveness of the team in future years. I know, win the World Series this year, and worry about next year…well…next year. 

The core belief is the twenty-six men who will take the field today at Yankee Stadium to play the series finale against the Boston Red Sox are average at best. This is not a championship squad. Sure, they will get better when Judge, Bader, and Carlos Rodón return. Maybe they can make a difference. Maybe they cannot. One thing is certain, they cannot do it alone. Better performances from Luis Severino, Giancarlo Stanton, and DJ LeMahieu, among others, are necessary for the team to accomplish its goals. Hoping for elite July reinforcements is akin to holding the winning ticket in Powerball. In other words, do not get your hopes up.

The Yankees need a left fielder and a starting pitcher. Bullpen help is always a plus. I am hopeful yet pessimistic that the Yankees can get the pieces they need. I will say it now that I do not believe the Yankees will acquire a player who moves the needle. I sincerely hope they prove me wrong. 

Mike Harkey, Pitching Coach

Yankees bullpen coach Mike Harkey, a former Major League pitching coach, was forced into duty yesterday as the fill-in for pitching coach Matt Blake.

It was a good opportunity for Harkey who led a successful mound visit with reliever Wandy Peralta late in yesterday’s 3-1 win over the Boston Red Sox that helped ice the game. Harkey always reminds me of Joe Girardi for no reason other than he is the last holdover from Girardi’s coaching staff. 

Blake and his family are dealing with the loss of his mother-in-law. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. 

As always, Go Yankees!

Aaron Judge Breaks Dodger Stadium...

 

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

The Captain makes Game-Saving Catch…

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

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

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

Jake Bauers (Photo Credit: Ashley Landis/AP)

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

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

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

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

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

The Injuries

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

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

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

Former Yanks

Former Yankees were in the news the week.

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

Aaron Hicks (Photo Credit: AP)

 

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

Gary Sanchez (Photo Credit: El Nacional)

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

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

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

As always, Go Yankees!

A Sliver of Pinstriped Optimism...

  

Luis Severino (Photo Credit: Robert Sabo/NY Post)

Severino upgrades Starting Rotation…

No offense, but the Yankees have none (offense). Lately, the Yankees have been Aaron Judge or bust. 

The Yankees were fortunate that Luis Severino brought his “A” game on Saturday against Juan Soto and the San Diego Padres. Sevy pitched into the seventh inning and would have completed it if not for an error by Gleyber Torres that unnecessarily extended the inning. Sevy yielded only one hit over 6 2/3 innings, giving up two runs although the second one was unearned after Michael King, in relief of Sevy, gave up a hit following Gleyber’s error. By holding the Padres to only two runs, the Yankees were able to escape with the win, thanks to a clutch RBI single by Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the bottom of the tenth inning.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa & Greg Allen (Photo Credit: Bebeto Matthews/AP)

Yankee fans were able to take a break from the latest game of “What has happened to DJ LeMahieu?” LeMahieu’s home run in the seventh inning tied the game at two after the Padres had taken a brief one-run lead.  He was also responsible for the game’s first run when he doubled to left in the bottom of the first inning, scoring Aaron Judge. Almost two runs were driven in with that hit, but a perfect relay from left fielder Juan Soto to shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, covering third, to the catcher, Brett Sullivan, erased Anthony Rizzo at the plate. LeMahieu advanced to third but was left stranded.   For the game, LeMahieu was 2-for-3 with two runs batted in. He was intentionally walked in the bottom of the tenth when Padres Manager Bob Melvin wanted to take no chances with the suddenly hot LeMahieu. 

Credit to Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who has proven to be the team’s valuable utility player this season. For as much as I was down on him as the starting shortstop last year, he has proven he deserves a place on the Yankees’ roster. This season, he has embraced his role and it has been evident in his play. He is an optimistic player who values wearing Pinstripes despite the past wrath of the fans. 

For Severino, he made eighty-two pitches, striking out five batters. The only hit he surrendered was a fourth-inning home run by Fernando Tatis, Jr. It was a strong performance and exactly what the Yankees needed as the season progresses. After three consecutive losses, the Yankees needed a shot in the arm and Sevy delivered.

Nestor Cortes, Jr’s inability to pitch deep into games is getting magnified and despite his brilliant 2022 performance, the Yankees’ rotation has suffered from Nestor’s placement as the second starter behind Gerrit Cole. Thankfully, Nestor slides down the rotation order with Sevy’s return, and hopefully, he falls further when/if we see Carlos Rodón. It is not that I want to see Nestor fail. Just the opposite. However, something is not right. His Grade 2 hamstring strain in February disrupted his Spring Training and may be the likely cause. Hopefully, Nestor will persevere and get back to his old self.  It remains to be seen if he can do it without a trip to the Injured List. 

So long, Aaron Hicks

The Yankees officially severed ties with Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks when he was released on Friday. With two years remaining on his contract, it was unlikely any team would have placed a waiver claim. I will always wonder if the Yankees could have lessened the financial impact if they had traded Hicks in the off-season, paying part of but not all the dollars remaining. 

As much as I was down on Hicks in recent years, I appreciated his play at the end of the Joe Girardi era. When he was healthy (and productive), he was a fun player to watch. Part of me wishes he had embraced a part-time role like IKF has, but Hicks’ production in recent years leads me to believe a parting of ways was in the best interests of both the player and the club.

I hope Hicks can find a nice role with another team (one which he can embrace) to help extend his career for a few more years until he drifts off to the golf courses in Arizona. 

Aaron Hicks & Cheyenne Woods (Photo Credit: Beth Ann Nichols/Golfweek)

Hello, Domingo German

Domingo German is back. The Yankees activated him today after he served his ten-game suspension for the “sticky stuff”. 

I will never be a fan of German, but his presence is needed…at least until the Yankees can find a better option. Playing a man short was tough on the Yankees’ roster for the past week and a half since the Yankees were unable to fill the spot while he was suspended. There is too much uncertainty with Nestor Cortes, Jr (as previously alluded to) and Clarke Schmidt. German can give the Yankees a chance to win. I will be excited for the day he becomes the long man in the pen instead of a starter (or better yet, finds new residence in another city), but for now, if he can hold teams to two or three runs over six to seven innings consistently, sign me up. 

With the departure of Aaron Hicks, my list of least favorite Yankees has been updated.

1. Josh Donaldson
2. Domingo German
3. Jake Bauers
4. Albert Abreu
5. Kyle Higashioka

I did want Bauers to succeed, but he is what he is…which is not very good. With Estevan Florial tearing the cover off the ball in Triple-A, I would cut Bauers to give Florial a shot. Yet, it does seem likely Florial will have to go elsewhere to get a true shot. The Yankees seem convinced that Florial cannot hit Major League pitching. I am still surprised that no team took a flyer on him when the Yankees placed him on waivers earlier this season. It seems a given that Bauers’ time will end when Giancarlo Stanton is activated. If the Yankees upgrade left field between now and the trade deadline, Willie Calhoun should be the next to go. 

I am not sure why I am so down on Donaldson. Maybe last year was an aberration with the shortened Spring Training. We all know that Donaldson knows how to handle the glove at third base. If he can find a rejuvenated bat, he can serve a purpose. Yet, I have not missed Donaldson in the lineup. If the Yankees do not trade Gleyber Torres, DJ LeMahieu is more than capable of handling third base with some assistance from Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Since Donaldson is currently on a rehab assignment, his return is imminent. He will have the next couple of months to prove his bat has not retired ahead of his playing career. If he continues to hit like last year (or rather, not hit), the Yankees should cut bait, just like they did with Hicks. I know I would prefer to have Oswald Peraza on the active roster over Donaldson. Not sure what Peraza has to do to earn a promotion since he should be playing in the Major Leagues right now.  Peraza is literally the team’s best fielding shortstop and he, like Florial, is playing very well in Triple-A. Not saying that he should start over Anthony Volpe, but Peraza should be on the MLB roster.  If given a choice, I would take the upside of Peraza over the ‘past-his-prime’ Donaldson. 

Oswald Peraza

Albert Abreu was once my favorite pitching prospect. While it seems likely the Yankees will demote Matt Krook when it is time to activate Tommy Kahnle, Abreu is the one who should go. We have seen enough. There are more deserving arms in the system, including Krook. The Yankees like Abreu so he continues to hang around, but it seems inevitable he will be bounced off the island at some point.

For as strong as Kyle Higashioka is behind the plate, the bat does not warrant a place on the roster. If the Yankees decided to replace Higgy with Ben Rortvedt after Jose Trevino returns from the Injured List, I would not be disappointed. Higgy has one more year of arbitration before he hits the open market, but the Yankees should move on from him this coming off-season if they do not part ways sooner. I like Higgy, but his performance does not match his rising salary (he is making $1,462,500 this season). Through eighty-one plate appearances, Higgy is hitting .173/.235/.333 (.250 wOBA) with seven home runs and eleven RBIs. If there is a player I would like to see turn it around, it is Higgy. Trevino’s injury gave him a chance to shine, but he has chosen to take the dull path. It would be nice if Rortvedt seized the opportunity, but his chances have been limited. 

The Yankees are 31-23, seven games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East and three games behind the Baltimore Orioles. As the Yankees continue to get healthy, there is reason for optimism. Giancarlo Stanton’s return will take pressure off hitters not named Aaron Judge which will benefit everyone.  If the Yankees can get back to winning series consistently, they can make up ground in the division. Today is a good day to start.

As always, Go Yankees!

Movin' On from Aaron Hicks...

  

Aaron Hicks (Photo Credit: AP)

Long-time Yank is designated for assignment…

In an unexpected move, the New York Yankees designated outfielder Aaron Hicks for assignment on Saturday to make way for the re-acquisition of outfielder Greg Allen who had been toiling away in Worcester (WOO-stuh!), Mass for the top Red Sox affiliate.

Most Yankees fans have recognized that time had passed for Hicks with the Yankees. By placing Hicks on waivers (he almost certainly will not be claimed), the Yankees will be on the hook for the remainder of his salary except for minimum wage when another team signs him once he has been released. Just like the Yankees erred in tendering a contract to Gary Sanchez in December 2021, they made a mistake not trying to trade Hicks in the off-season when they could have gotten another team to absorb part of the contract.  I guess it becomes a question of how talented of a prospect(s) would it have taken to get a team like the Minnesota Twins to pay half of Hicks’ contract. We will never know. Teams can now try to sign Hicks for MLB’s minimum salary of $720,000 as soon as he clears waivers.

The Yankees owe Hicks the remainder of his 2023 contract, which was $10.5 million for the season, and in 2024 and 2025, they must cover his $9.5 million annual salary. There is a $1 million buyout attached to 2026. 

For his eight-year career with the Yankees, Hicks hit .230/.329/.384 (.713 OPS) with 81 home runs and 278 runs batted in.  He played in 651 games for New York. 

The Yankees acquired Hicks on November 11, 2015, from the Minnesota Twins for catcher John Ryan Murphy.

Unfortunately, Hicks lost his job just as he was starting to hit in recent days, but it was time. There was nothing Hicks could have done to recapture the trust of the fan base. He may be well-liked in the Yankees clubhouse, and I bet he is fantastic to play golf with, but if anybody needs a change of scenery, it is the 33-year-old Southern California native.  Hicks’ frustrations with part-time play are well documented, and the purge clears some negativity from “The Room”. 

I am not sure if Greg Allen is an upgrade, but the Yankees only need short-term outfield help. They seem to enjoy stopgaps. Allen knows his role, and like Matt Carpenter last year, will be ready regardless of the role he is asked to play. Maybe not this year, but Jasson Dominguez, Spencer Jones, and Everson Pereira will be knocking on the door soon. Three players who have an opportunity to be exceptional Major League talents. Jake Bauers has a short window to prove his worth, but left field seems it will garner attention at the trade deadline for GM Brian Cashman and his team of nerds. I had thought playing Giancarlo Stanton in the outfield was a good way to engage him in games, but the latest IL-stint reinforces the need to keep him at designated hitter.

Allen wore #22 during his prior Yankees tenure, but the number has since been taken by centerfielder Harrison Bader. For his latest number, Allen will be rocking in classic David Robertson (30). A great number, 31, goes back into circulation. For me, the number is forever David Mark Winfield. Admittedly, it would have been tacky if Allen had chosen 31 before Hicks’ corpse was cold.  But somebody in the future will be the beneficiary of a strong number choice.

I wish Hicks the best for his next opportunity.

For today’s series finale in Cincinnati, the Yankees have activated Luis Severino for the start. He replaces Jhony Brito, who was optioned to Triple-A after yesterday’s game. Sevy will be missing the big bats, hopefully for both teams, as Aaron Judge gets the day off.

As always, Go Yankees!