He will have missed about 70 games, 42 percent of the season. He's been gone so long that we've nearly forgotten him, his name inscribed into the Ledger of the Lost, with Jack Ellsbury and Larry Bird. (Wait... is that right?)
So, what happens when the "Big" Gio returns? (Assuming he will.) Let's explore the possibilities...
For starters, let's be honest here: Damned if I know. Will he be a full-time DH, manning the dugout, or a caretaker capable of handling LF without a bodyguard? This is huge, because the Yankees may be the only team in the solar system with a worse-fielding outfielder (Clint Frazier.) Exactly what level of half-season fiasco are we pondering?
Either way, the odd-man out should be Mr. Kendrys "BUNT, KENDRYS, BUNT" Morales.
I believe I speak for the Yankiverse in saying, "So long, Ken!" Brian "Cooperstown" Cashman supposedly signed Morales because his exit velocity suggested that he was hitting better than his .210 average. He was right. Morales sure can whack that pill - directly to the 2B who is standing in right field, who leisurely tosses him out. Morales can't beat an over-shift. I'm not sure he's even tried. Soon, he will have all the time in the world to think about bunting or adjusting his swing. Too bad. He wasn't the worst experiment we've ever tried, unless his salary defrayed the money "Food Stamps" Hal Steinbrenner refused to spend on Dallas Keuchel. Oh, well, when Stanton reappears, Morales disappears. That seems pretty simple. (Though with the Yankees, is anything simple?)
But soon, maybe two weeks down the line, Aaron Judge will return. Then the question boils down to Clint Frazier or Cameron Maybin. That gets thorny.
Lately, Frazier has been the Yankees' best hitter. Without him, we would have lost yesterday. At 24, he's three years away from peak foliage (and already on course to hit 25-30 HRs.) When Stanton returns, the Yankees could alternate him with Frazier, using one in the OF and one at DH. (That means Gary Sanchez cannot DH on rest days.) When Judge returns, the Yankees will play Judge in RF, Hicks in CF, Stanton-Frazier in LF-DH, and Gardy - whose 2019 season has stumbled from misery to farce - backing up everybody. The larder would be full, and Maybin would be gone... with one huge caveat:
We have no reason to expect Stanton will stay healthy. None.
He's been a china doll throughout his career, constantly tweaking something. On a lesser scale, so is Judge. Some players go forever. Some get hurt blowing their noses. Stanton is the latter. Judge, I dunno. (Hicks, too.) There is absolutely no reason to count on any of them lasting the second half of the season.
So here is our worst fear: To accommodate Stanton, the Yankees would deal Frazier, their premier trade chip, to San Francisco or Toronto. We'd get the pitcher we scorned last week in Keuchel - (Three cheers cheers for Hal: The Yankees saved money!) A week after we deal Frazier, Stanton hurts himself, and we go to Fenway with Shane Robinson in the outfield. (That's a metaphor; we actually don' t have Shane any more.)
The Yankees can survive with five outfielders: Stanton, Hicks, Frazier, Judge and Gardner. The question is: Will Cashman use Frazier to get a pitcher? And if that happens, will we ever forgive this franchise?
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25 comments:
Interesting that you don't even consider the logical alternative, given the performance of Maybin Frazier Gardner --
Let Gardner go. His first half is horrid, and we can be pretty sure that his 2nd half is gonna be even worse.
Yeah, I know -- he plays hard. He doesn't stiff us in running to first. He has an occasional 12-pitch at-bat. And he fields better than Frazier, Stanton.
So what? The guy is done. Do a "thought experiment" -- if the NYYs release Gardner, with his $8 million 2019 contract . . . which team is going to pick him up???
We all think they're gonna trade Frazier. Try another approach: Which team would be foolish enough to give up even a Single-A pitcher for Gardener?
I've been a Yankees' fan for a long time. I remember what happened when they kept guys who were done long past their sell-by dates.
Don't you?
Gardner could go on the DL with a split lip. Problem solved.
Gardy isn't going anywhere. He's playing his last season (didn't we think that last year?) in New York, and his occasional home runs and grit will keep him on the team. Frazier is in trouble because he's already been villified by the media, labeled a whiner, and has played badly in right field--a place he should never be played, for some reason, while he's always seemed pretty comfortable and serviceable in left, where he belongs. (So of course, Boone keeps putting him in right so he screws up, which screws with his head, which creates mental turbulence that comes out in talking to the press...all of which could make him trade bait.) But he hits. He hits with power. And hitting with power is the goal of management, home runs being what they think puts fannies in seats.
It's a conundrum to some of us, but to management I'm sure the decisions have already been made. The problem of Stanton and Judge being injury-prone is really a huge problem for them. Stanton is an upgrade from Morales for sure. Judge is our Big Star (Alex Chilton aside) and media face. Those two bashers are going nowhere, but the roster issues they create through their fragility are serious.
In a way, none of this matters anyway since we don't have starting pitching. Sevvy is long-tossing, but I have zero confidence he'll be back anytime soon, and less that he'll be as effective as he was the first half of last year. German is supposedly injured because the dugout geniuses "saw something" his last time out. Maybe so. I saw a young guy who can't really pitch yet on the major league level once the scouts figured him out. His abilities and arsenal are getting there, but aren't there right now.
CC is a crap shoot shading toward the downside. Tanaka is a crap shoot. Paxton is a crap shoot. Happ is a crap shoot. Who knows? Maybe they all get hot and we cruise. It's getting clearer and clearer that Monty probably isn't coming back this year.
Our rotation is shoddy. Our bullpen isn't exactly shoddy, but you can't pitch the same four guys every single game, and the other options pretty much suck. Even those four guys are going to be fallible, and Chapman may be a knee case along with being a head case.
It's a long season. A losing streak is inevitable. So are the hot streaks, I hope. But we still don't have championship-level pitching. Everything else is just dithering.
Even though I called for it a week or so ago, I think Duque's logic is unassailable. There is no way they can trade Frazier—and what's more, there is nothing they can get for him that will make a big difference.
The Giants will undoubtedly ask for more to give up Bumgarner. Probably Thairo, which will be another body blow, and maybe a young pitcher. The Blue Jays will want the same for Stroman. Our Pal Hal won't take on the money that a Scherzer is getting, even if the Nats would deal him.
We have to keep The Red Whiner.
Besides, I want to see him and Giancarlo in the outfield at the same time. That should be pretty funny.
IT WON'T HAPPEN, WITH GARDY, BUT JOE FORMERLY OF BROOKLYN, HAS A GOOD POINT.
YESTERDAY, CLINT FRAZIER SOLIDIFIED WHY WE MUST KEEP HIM.
THE INCREDIBLY "CLUTCH" -(IT DOES EXIST!)- AT BAT HE HAD, I HAVE SEEN COUNTLESS TIMES, ONLY ENDING UP WITH OUR BATTER, (NO MATTER WHO IT WAS,-STANTON, GLEYBER, SANCHEZ, AND EVEN JUDGE), STRIKING OUT.
THAT RIGHT HANDED SUBMARINE PITCHER HE WAS FACING WAS THROWING SLIDER AFTER SLIDER, ALL TANTALIZINGLY CLOSE TO THE PLATE.
FRAZIER INSTINCTIVELY LAID OFF CLOSE PITCH AFTER PITCH.
THEN WITH THE COUNT 3-2, HE CONFIDENTLY STROKED A LINE DRIVE TO DEEP LEFT CENTER FOR THE SAC FLY, TO PUT US AHEAD.
THAT MAN (AND LEMAHIUE), ARE OUR BEST "CLUTCH"- (IT DOES EXIST!)- HITTERS, BY FAR, ON THIS TEAM.
FRAZIER IS GIFTED.
HE DEFINITELY HAS THAT "CLUTCH" (IT DOES EXIST!)- GENE.
WE SIMPLY CAN'T GET RID OF THAT.
The Internet Anagram Server went ahead and served up hundreds, nay thousands, of hits for "Kendrys Morales."
These three popped out at me:
Markedly Snores
Dreamy Snorkels
Nakedly Sores Mr
I've got nothing and neither does Casholo.
Yeah I think it's Thario as well. He's the potential all-star that we don't have room for and therefore has value to another team.
I like the "lose Gardner" idea. Normally he falls off a cliff in the second half but he's been hitting so poorly it's more like falling off a curb. But, as has already been said, it ain't gonna happen.
I'd still do the the Didi trade and resign him next year. But I know I'm wrong to even consider it. He's just too good and too much fun to watch.
So it's Thario and a couple of minor league pitchers for a STARTER. Sigh.
Doug K.
Doug K., the Didi deal is pure genius—but Coops won't consider it, I'm sure.
And much as I am adamantly against dealing Thairo, what I worry is that it will be even worse: Frazier AND Thairo the Pharaoh AND a young pitcher or two for a Bumgarner.
I am hoping against hope that—with the injury excuse safely tucked in his pocket—Coops just decides to buckle down and rebuild this year.
We forgot to mention AnDUjar. Maybe Hal will too.
Doug K.
Nah, they won't deal him—because in the logic of contemporary baseball, which holds that hitting with high slugging and on-base averages are everything and fielding is nothing, everyone has simultaneously bought into the idea that he is the worst fielder ever and thus worthless.
I know, I know: I don't get it either. But there it is.
Lies, damn lies, and statistics.
As I say every year, the only thing we can be sure of is that management will do something stupid. It must be done. Even if they pull off a great deal, it will be accompanied by a stupid one. Maybe that's true of any team, but it's certainly true of this one.
The world has gone mad today
And good's bad today, And black's white today,
And day's night today, When most guys today
That women prize today Are just silly gigolos
And though I'm not a great romancer
I know that you're bound to answer
When I propose, Anything goes...
If Bumgardner had another year plus the 3 months he only has left would he be worth and would Cashman deal Frazier, Thairo and a decent AAA pitcher such as Chance Adams or Montgomery. Only if the Giants gave the Yankees a 48-hour window to secure a 2-3 year extension would that kind of deal be done. If it is only a rental (and Bumgardner agreed to be traded to NY) a package more like just one of the two previously mentioned plus a Chance Adams or Loaisiga would be a fair return. Although the Giants need a decent power-hitting outfielder the Yanks would probably rather trade Estrada. Perhaps the Yankees would offer a package of Estrada/Frazier, Adams and Bird (Brandon Belt isn't a bad first baseman but at 5 years younger than Belt he still possesses more upside, if healthy) for Tyler Austin and Bumgardner.But I still think the Yankees feel Bird will blossom. Who knows, the Giants could pull another Chapman-like deal and re-sign Bumgardner.
JM....In spite of the unmatched resources the Yankees possess, their Bloated Front Office of condescending, contemptuous and arrogant assholes will sure screw things up even more. Take tat to the bank.
surely*
that*
Sigh, time for a cognac.
Just glad we lucked out with a rainout. Now, we need a full day and night of rain tomorrow, and we are home free.
Oh, dang. Both teams have an off-day on Wednesday. Can't count on that much rain. Not even in NYC.
Bring up Volpe!
HERE'S THE PROOF THAT REGGIE JACKSON WAS NOT A "CLUTCH" CAREER PLAYER.
Total career slash line (11,418 plate appearances):
.262/.356/.490/.846
Career slash line for 2 outs and RISP (1,416 PA):
.252/.378/.473/.851
Career slash line for late and close (1,847 PA):
.251/.352/.452/.864
Essentially no difference between Jackson's overall career numbers and overall numbers in clutch situations. SUCK ON THAT, MORONS!
So--I've not only proved that Reggie Jackson did not possess some magical "clutch" quality over the entirety of his career, but that Rufus T. Firely and All-Craps are just DUMB FUCKS--the latter proposition being really self-evident.
YOU LOST MOTHERFUCKER.
RUFUS FUCKED YOU UP BAD.
REGGIE WASN'T CLUTCH...(IN OCTOBER NO LESS)....
STOP EMBARRASSING YOURSELF.
Oh really, All-CRAPS? Did your pal Dufus "fuck me up" by proving that I made up these numbers? That the numbers don't mean what they mean? And I'm "embarrassing myself" by being the only person to back up my assertions with EVIDENCE? Nice try, dopey.
I posted irrefutable EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE that there was no overall tendency by Jackson to excel beyond his normal offensive productin in clutch situations. And all you can post in return is your usual ALL-CRAP hysteria on the level of a preschooler? You obviously have a mental age of about seven. I'm quite sure that you never graduated from any kind of college. Logic and fact are alien to you. You're a subhuman specimen--the blog Caliban. Yuck.
Now tell me what is inaccurate about those CAREER NUMBERS, asshole. Or just shut the fuck up already and find some other forum in which to spread your stupidity like a dark stain.
Here it is, ALL-CRAPS. SUCK ON IT, DOPEY!
Reggie Jackson
Total career slash line (11,418 plate appearances):
.262/.356/.490/.846
Career slash line for 2 outs and RISP (1,416 PA):
.252/.378/.473/.851
Career slash line for late and close (1,847 PA):
.251/.352/.452/.864
I’m Stat Boy!
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I’m Stat Boy!
I just got off of my shift at The Pizza Pit. Mommy had a sandwich waiting for me in my basement apartment and I ate it. Then I picked my zits and changed out of my cool orange and red uniform. After I attempted to sooth my onanism, I decided the world should know of the depth of my baseball knowledge. I’m Stat Boy, and the world should pay for me being such a loser!
I’m Stat Boy!
I just got off of my shift at The Pizza Pit. Mommy had a sandwich waiting for me in my basement apartment and I ate it. Then I picked my zits and changed out of my cool orange and red uniform. After I attempted to sooth my onanism, I decided the world should know of the depth of my baseball knowledge. I’m Stat Boy, and the world should pay for me being such a loser!
I’m Stat Boy!
I just got off of my shift at The Pizza Pit. Mommy had a sandwich waiting for me in my basement apartment and I ate it. Then I picked my zits and changed out of my cool orange and red uniform. After I attempted to sooth my onanism, I decided the world should know of the depth of my baseball knowledge. I’m Stat Boy, and the world should pay for me being such a loser!
I’m Stat Boy!
I just got off of my shift at The Pizza Pit. Mommy had a sandwich waiting for me in my basement apartment and I ate it. Then I picked my zits and changed out of my cool orange and red uniform. After I attempted to sooth my onanism, I decided the world should know of the depth of my baseball knowledge. I’m Stat Boy, and the world should pay for me being such a loser!
I’m Stat Boy!
I just got off of my shift at The Pizza Pit. Mommy had a sandwich waiting for me in my basement apartment and I ate it. Then I picked my zits and changed out of my cool orange and red uniform. After I attempted to sooth my onanism, I decided the world should know of the depth of my baseball knowledge. I’m Stat Boy, and the world should pay for me being such a loser!
I’m Stat Boy!
I just got off of my shift at The Pizza Pit. Mommy had a sandwich waiting for me in my basement apartment and I ate it. Then I picked my zits and changed out of my cool orange and red uniform. After I attempted to sooth my onanism, I decided the world should know of the depth of my baseball knowledge. I’m Stat Boy, and the world should pay for me being such a loser!
I’m Stat Boy!
I just got off of my shift at The Pizza Pit. Mommy had a sandwich waiting for me in my basement apartment and I ate it. Then I picked my zits and changed out of my cool orange and red uniform. After I attempted to sooth my onanism, I decided the world should know of the depth of my baseball knowledge. I’m Stat Boy, and the world should pay for me being such a loser!
I’m Stat Boy!
I just got off of my shift at The Pizza Pit. Mommy had a sandwich waiting for me in my basement apartment and I ate it. Then I picked my zits and changed out of my cool orange and red uniform. After I attempted to sooth my onanism, I decided the world should know of the depth of my baseball knowledge. I’m Stat Boy, and the world should pay for me being such a loser!
I’m Stat Boy!
I just got off of my shift at The Pizza Pit. Mommy had a sandwich waiting for me in my basement apartment and I ate it. Then I picked my zits and changed out of my cool orange and red uniform. After I attempted to sooth my onanism, I decided the world should know of the depth of my baseball knowledge. I’m Stat Boy, and the world should pay for me being such a loser!
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