Of the returning Yankees, nobody excites like Clint Frazier

Two weeks ago, before he tweaked his gonad (actually, sprained his ankle), the dormant volcano known as Clint Frazier - aka "Red Thunder" - briefly came alive. After several false starts and flight delays, Frazier finally found himself an everyday player on the Yankees, and the results exceeded anything we dared to imagine. Briefly, that is.

In 68 at bats, Frazier hit .324 with 6 HRs (which tied him for a team lead.) His outfield play looked a bit Ron Swoboda-esque; he flings himself at liners and seems destined to splatter bug-on-windshield into a wall. But in those two magical weeks, Frazier ignited inspirational fires that have not blazed across the Yankiverse since the advent of Aaron Judge. 

Suddenly, we foresaw the famous "double-digit outfield:" Frazier, #77, and Judge, #99, replacing the "double Aaron" outfield of Hicks and Judge, with Giancarlo Stanton as mop-up DH. Add Sanchez, Andujar, Gleyber, Voit and Didi, and - holy crap! - that's the most testosterone in a Yankee offense since 2009, when Arod's urine sample was used to power the city of Binghamton. If Frazier is for real - (remember Cooperstown Cashman's line about his "legendary bat speed?") - and the others return, holy crap! we're gonna roll this truckin' convoy across the USA, convoy! (Where is CW McCall?) Damn! Deal me in. It's as if Sir Paul and Ringo suddenly join up with the remaining two Monkeys! All right, no more dated references. (And sorry, Gardy. We love you, but .220 isn't cutting it, and frankly, there is no reason why you, of all people, should not be able to beat an over-shift. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR GARDY TRYING TO BLAST HIS WAY INTO A RIGGED DEFENSE, NOT WHEN HE'S HITTING .220. FOR GOD'S SAKE, MAN, BUNT!) 

Okay, sorry about that. Back to Frazier.

Today, Clint is eligible to come off the 10-day injury list. As best as I can determine, this means absolutely nothing. The Death Star has invoked radio silence about his chances. According to the gushing Hannitys of YES, Frazier ran in the outfield yesterday, whatever that means. He could rejoin the team this weekend or take the $150 Uber ride to Scranton - a demoralizing move for most youngsters, but the kind that Frazier has shrugged off over the last two years. But it would demoralize me.

In baseball, nothing excites like a hitting phenom. With no established concrete ceiling, you don't know how good they can be. That's why Luke Voit inspires so much excitement, and Cameron Maybin so much dread (even though, hey, he's played well.) The 2019 Yankees have unveiled two potential breakouts: Domingo German and Clint Frazier. We don't know what we've got, which sure beats knowing what we haven't got. 

Today, Andujar and Stanton might rejoin the team, effectively replacing Maybin and Thairo Estrada. After those two dismal losses in Arizona, they will be welcome sights. Still, it's Frazier I want. And please, juju gods, please... let him be for real.