Except for one thing. Last night, when we finally brought in Betances and Chapman to seal the deal, it's a good thing we had a four-run lead. Nobody is swinging at Dellin's breaking balls in the dirt, and base-runners are stealing the silverware hanging around his neck. Meanwhile, El Chapo keeps walking lead-off batters, and those 102-mph meatballs are going out of the park at 115-mph. Last night, with a three-run lead, Joe started warming up David Robertson... just in case. And of course John whooped about yet another proven closer to call upon from that magnificent Yankee pen.
Yep. We have the greatest Yankee bullpen ever assembled, but with one minor hitch: The (cough) closers can't (cough) close. No problem. Move along people, there's nothing to see here. That gaping wound in the fabric of our security system, a little duct tape should fix it. And now that we are an Officially
Well, I dunno. We won last night, and it's always nice to see Joggy Cano hitting 30 points below our own second-baseman, even if Starlin Castro is jogging these days due to the hamstring. But I'm wondering what impact the next week will have on Cashman's trading plans. If, say, the Yankees go on a tear, would it embolden him to trade the 2020 crown jewels for Sonny? And if we fall apart, would it keep Clint Frazier and Miguel Andujar as future Yankees? I'm not even sure what to root for, but John is doing it for both of us. Ice berg, dead ahead.
One hundred twenty percent correct, duque - - precisely the sentiments I voiced, in my 3:14 AM post, on yesterday's most excellent piece.
ReplyDeleteNow that we've got the bullpen "fixed", who's going to inform Girardi that he can't "fire" the fans, fake news, or no fake news. I'm certain though that Randy Levine will put his head together as one, with Bri-Bri the Cash-Puss, and they'll come up with SOMEthing...and that's what really scares me.
Damn straight, it's really hard to know what to root for this week.
BTW, I hope La Steinbrenner Her-OWN Delicate Self, did not watch last night's game - - I am certain she would have been soooo grossed out, having to look at Ben Gamel. LB (No J)
It looks like a deal is possible for Gray. You gotta hope Frazier is offf limits. That leaves Mateo ( who most likely is a center fielder with the Yankees) as a prime target for Oakland. The good news ,if it happens , is we are deep with quality young outfielders and short stops. We can afford to make a move there.It is a trade ,if done well, we could survive. And with luck get some help for the future as Gray is only 27 years old.
ReplyDelete27, yes, but somewhat injury-prone; that said, he MIGHT be coming back to something like he formerly was, but I just don't want to give up the farm for him; if it were only Mateo, and people below him, OR one of our shaky "closers", I might actually be in favor of it - - but I would NOT want to see them include Frazier, Torres, Andujar, or Sheffield. LB (No J)
ReplyDeleteTo get a better sense of what Sonny Gray's trade value it is important to look at other trades in order to get a sense of what is possible
ReplyDelete1) Sonny Fox for Bob Allister and an Aardvark.
Sure we needed an aardvark (because no body here had one) but seriously Bob Allister? Bad Trade.
2) Sonny Jurgenson for a pair of Norm Snead's shoes.
Actaully this was a fair trade because Norn Snead had really big feet.
3) Sun Myung Moon for Moon Unit Zappa
This was a straight cash dump as Sun Myung's acolytes were constantly over eating at post game buffet. While Moon Unit never rose to her lineage she did have one song of the summer once.
and last but not least Sonny Corleone DFA/DOA The more talented Micheal was blocked at a key position so Sonny had to go. While this was not a trade it could serve as more of a road map and if I were Elisbury I'd get an EZ Pass. Just sayin'
Doug K
You lucky ducky, Dougy!! Whatever you're smokin', I want me some of that. Please let me know who your supplier is. I'm in pain, and this stuff would help - - I'm sure I could qualify for a med certificate. Hell, the Yanks have been causing me extreme anxiety the past few weeks, on top of what's been going down outside of MLB. LB (No J)
ReplyDeleteP.S.: I'd rather trade for Sonny Daye, the ecdisiast. LB (No J)
ReplyDeleteI think the bigger question here is what happens when Sonny get blue. Is he then Sonny the Gray and the Blue? And why did we fight the Civil War? Discuss among yourselves.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete1) Sonny Fox for Bob Allister and an Aardvark.
Sure we needed an aardvark (because no body here had one) but seriously Bob Allister? Bad Trade.
It was actually Bob McAllister, but you get major points for remembering that his predecessor was Sonny Fox.
One of my favorite memories of Wonderama -- which I watched religiously -- was when Tug McGraw was a guest, probably shortly after the 1969 World Series. I recall that McGraw demonstrated fastballs, curveballs, etc. including both showing his grips to all the kids in the audience and then throwing actual pitches. He stood and fired away at a piece of plexiglas behind which the producers had placed a camera so you could see the break on the ball. This was long before "super slo-mo" but it was a fine, fine moment in late 60s/early 70s technology.
If memory serves, McGraw did this in his socks on the tiled studio floor and he seemed a bit frustrated at not being able to get a proper break on the ball to show the kids.
At one point, he sat among all the kids in the audience and fielded questions. One younger kid was allowed to ask a question and he asked, "How many home runs did you hit?" McGraw laughed out loud, sincerely and heartily.
I looked for a video of it on YouTube but no dice. It's probably lost to history.
ReplyDeleteI should add that McGraw had one career home run and it likely occurred after that episode was broadcast...
IF HE HAS AN ONCE OF SHREWDNESS, AND/OR INSIGHT IN HIM,
ReplyDeleteCASHMAN CAN REALLY HELP US HERE WITH THE RIGHT DEAL FOR GRAY.
I BELIEVE HE CAN GET GRAY AND NOT KILL OUR FARM.
POOL OF NAMES FOR THEM TO TAKE (IN MY OPINION)?
OAKLAND PICKS ANY 3.
JORGE MATEO
ESTEVAN FLORIAL
TYLER WADE
BILLY MCKINNEY
FRECIER PEREZ
THIARO ESTRADA
DOMINGO GERMAN
DONE.
OUR OUTFIELD OF THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE SHOULD BE,
CLINT FRAZIER
BRYCE HARPER
AARON JUDGE
WE CAN AFFORD TO GIVE UP VIRTUALLY ANY OUTFIELD PROSPECT WE HAVE, (THAT IS WHY RUTHERFORD WAS SENT PACKING).
GETTING RID OF RUTHERFORD TELLS ME, BETWEEN THE LINES, WE ARE GOING FULL BORE, FOR HARPER.
ELLSBURY MUST BE EITHER BECOME OUR 4TH OUTFIELDER, BE TRADED, WHICH SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE, OR RELEASED IN ABOUT ANOTHER 2 YEARS, (EVEN IF WE HAVE TO JUST PAY HIS REMAINING CONTRACT BALANCE).
CHASE HEADLEY MUST BE GONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
MIGUEL ANDUJAR SHOULD GET A SHOT....THE SOONER, THE BETTER.
WE NEED TO GET A HEALTHY, MOBILE GREG BIRD BACK AND PLUG HIM IN AT FIRST. (WHENEVER THAT IS).......
KEEP STARLIN
KEEP DIDI
GARY CATCHES
OUR LINEUP, WITH THAT OUTFIELD, BIRD BACK, AND HEADLEY AND ELLSBURY GONE, SHOULD BE INCREDIBLY LETHAL, AND BALANCED LEFTY/RIGHTY WISE..... RIGHT NOW WE ARE TOO HEAVILY RIGHT HANDED..... SUDDENLY, WE NEED MORE LEFT HANDED BATS. (HENCE BRYCE, AND BIRD).
BUY THE BEST FREE AGENT PITCHER AVAILABLE THE NEXT 2 SEASONS IN A ROW. (ALONG WITH BRYCE).....MONEY IS COMING OFF!!
KEEP ROMINE AS BACKUP (JUST DON'T USE HIM SO MUCH).
KEEP TOE AS OUR UTILITY INFIELDER (DON'T USE HIM AS MUCH EITHER).
OUR BULLPEN SHOULD BE IMPOSING....IF THEY THROW F@CKING STRIKES!!!
LADIES AND GERMS, I HAVE JUST GIVEN YOU THE BLUEPRINTS TO WORLD DOMINATION!
EVEN GIRARDI MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SCREW IT UP!
OH, TO DREAM.......
Thank you. You know I actually wrote McAllister initially and then when doing a spell check it said "Alister" and I just blindly said, "Sure why not?" and hit send. I saw it after it published.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great story. I was always more of a "Just for Fun" guy then right to the Bowery Boys. But all those shows were great. Soupy Sales, Sandy Becker, Winchell & Mahoney. Still a big Doodles Weaver Fan. There's a great interview on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsePqRLla3U with Soupy and Sandy about what that was like.
I actually got to write for Shari Lewis and Lambchop (her live stuff) a long long time ago. She was pretty amazing as well I believe she won Emmys in the 60's 70's 80's 90' 2000's. I don't think there is anyone else in TV land that pulled that off. But I digress...
Doug K
If Doug K won't share his supplier with me, then, All-Caps, I'll settle for yours..."Girardi may not be able to screw it up"???? Nuh-uh. Nope. He could screw up most ANY line-up and/or roster you can come up with. Even Axisa agrees now, that Girardi needs to go (see today's RAB Mailbag for his fairly blunt comments - - things we have been saying all along.
ReplyDeleteDon't disagree with much you've said above, All-Caps, but dream on - - perhaps Congress will pass the New Dream Act (for Yankees) soon. LB (No J)
He said "Andy is dandy" all of the time. It was usually after pitching out of a jam or after he had a good start. Can't have him dropping it after every strikeout, cheapen the impact. Think about it, a strikeout is pretty much a hit and relatively unremarkable. Would you want to hear it's an A-Bomb for every ball that leaves the infield. I say this but John did break out "ELLLLL CAPITAN" for every slow rolling up the third baseline.
ReplyDeleteanonymous..... YOU MAY BE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT GIRARDI SCREWING UP A LINEUP OF STARS..... BUT I WAS BEING KIND OF SARCASTIC THERE...... I HAVE TO READ AXISA'S COMMENTS....
ReplyDeleteDOES GIRARDI REALIZE CHAD GREEN REALLY HASN'T BEEN TOUCHED IN ALMOST A MONTH???
All-Caps: Well, he's been really good, so obviously you can't use him. He needs to be preserved for the one-game wild card play-in in two months that the Yankees might or might not make.
ReplyDeleteNice to see two wins in a row though. Nice to see a Judge HR as part of it.
GREAT WIN JJ...
ReplyDeleteI FEEL A ROLL COMING.....
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