Remember that rant I unspooled last week? The foamy mouth I delivered about Miguel Andujar needing to play 3B? Forget it. That was just me, messing with you. What I meant to say was that the job is Urshela's.
With all the hubbub about Aaron Judge's home run - (the wonderful Rickey Ricardo call: "Adios, amigo! Aaron Judge, he's GUILTY... of putting the Yankees ahead, one to nothing!") - you might have overlooked Mike Tauchman's game last night. He went 3 for 4 and stole two bases, playing CF.
You know that verbal bowel movement I made last week, where I demanded that the Yankees play Clint Frazier? Well, I'd eaten some bad clams. What I meant to say was that Tauchman reminds me more of Paul O'Neill than any Yankee in recent memory (which is the only memory I have, anymore.) Until injuries break this lineup, Tauchman is our fifth outfielder.
And get this: If both players can repeat what they did in 2019, I would argue that the Yankees have the best infield and outfield in the game.
Yep, I mean it. Put this is the official record: Add a solid-hitting Gold Glove 3B to Gleyber Torres, DJ LeMahiue and a Voit/Ford platoon, and tell me what MLB lineup has a better infield. Houston? We don't count cheaters.
It was also nice to watch newcomer RP Nick Nelson chew up the Redsocks last night, but Boston looks ready to phone it in. My guess is they'll start the official tanking process around Aug. 15, seeking to a) trade high salary players to Yankee opponents and b) finish dead last, to draft first.
Of course, we still can't be sure there will be a season? Enjoy this while we can. Last night brought three hours of respite from doom-scrolling. Thank you, Gio. Thank you, Mike. It's good to have you back. I never doubted you.
Orel Hershiser last Wednesday commented on Jose Altuve's called third strike during the Dodgers-Astros game...
ReplyDelete“Guessing’s harder than knowing.”
That sounds like something Wilford Brimley would've said.
ReplyDeleteIf you look at the outfield choices, the odd man out is clearly Gardy, and I say that with a heavy heart. At least, unlike Jeter, he's not at the top of the lineup where he can kill rallies regularly. (What's a rally? We only hit dingers!)
I have a feeling that, like a certain president, Gardy may not just leave after this year. Especially if the season is short-circuited, which would be his Jeter's-broken-ankle reason for having to play yet another year.
Question, though not about Gardy: Why is Hicks getting "rested" already, five games into the season? Or is Boone actively trying to create playing time for Tauchman? I have to wonder which it is, given Hicks' injury-prone history.
ReplyDeleteGiven the fact that Hicks has just had TJ surgery, and with extra outfielders just sitting around in SWB, it makes perfect sense that he gets regular rest. It's not like he had a rocket of an arm to begin with, but he won't be 100% until next season (if ever).
Uh,actually a rocket arm has always been one of Hicks's calling cards, which is another reason the TJS is such a shame. Unless he continues to come back as good as new, of course.
DeleteA few thoughts on yesterday's game...
ReplyDelete1) Several Red Sox had some of the worst looking at bats I have ever seen. No fight. No talent. It was disgraceful. I loved it.
2) My favorite moment was during a replay of the Urshala play with the camera on Nick Nelson. After the batter was called out Nelson went, "Wow!" Big league play.
3) Who didn't miss Joe Buck? I'll get the voting started... ME.
Doug K.
My comments;
ReplyDelete1. I love a great third baseman.
2. Nick Nelson looks like he is poised, comfortable and confident. Could be secret addition.
3. Tauchman is a special player. He fan play all three OF positions....and has the speed for center and left.
4. Andujar will not get enough playing time to find himself. He will struggle. And that could be dangerous in that the Yankees might overlook him and lose him to a team that will allow him to become a superstar. My hope is the following; he will work his way into the lineup and replace Gardy as our regular left-fielder next year.
5. Voit looks like he is finding a groove. So time for Boone to play Ford.
6. Tanaka showed enough to confirm that he is a hero. Exceptional courage, grit and talent. A tribute to Japanese culture and baseball.
7. The Yankees have two players from Princeton.
8. Losing Tommy Kanele is terrible. He is a fine reliever. And tough as nails. Good thing these guys make millions....it eases the pain to them, and their family, of such negative developments.
9. Kyle is a fine back-up catcher. He needs some better luck with those line drives he has been hitting.
10. Gary got a seeing eye single, and hit a decent shot to deep left. He may be finding his timing. I can't help but note, however, how many pitches in the dirt skip away from him. Most occurred with none on base.
11. Nathan, who was often injured when a Yankee, will likely shut us down today. Gotta hate him.
I like the alternating guys, too, RichieAllen, seeing as how all our players get hurt if they play too much. Keep shuttling them in and out. Hey, it worked for Casey Stengel.
ReplyDeleteDoug K.: Mark me down for another "Not Me." I will mail in the ballot later.
Who is the other Princetonian, Alphonso? And has any team ever won it all with two?
ReplyDeleteAlso, the Yanks and Red Sox HAVE to play another Sunday night game? With nobody in the stands? Really, it can't just be a nice, Sunday afternoon at the ballpark?
Also, ALL-CAPS, I hope you are enjoying how the Metsies are melting down before our eyes.
ReplyDeleteToday, in the 4th inning, they are trailing 3-0, are 0-9 with men on base and have stranded 8 runners, and Yoenis Cespedes is AWOL.
The Mets have announced that Cespedes "They do not believe that Cespedes' safety is at risk"—though how they would know that if they can't get in touch with them, as they claim, I don't know.
What a star-crossed franchise.
Sure, as the great Branch Rickey liked to say, "Luck is the residue of design." It was a pretty poor design to give a great big contract to Cespedes, and count on him.
But who knew he wouldn't even show up? Something there is that doesn't like the Mets. Besides us, I mean.
Nathan? He’s not pitching, It’s some guy named Brice.
ReplyDeleteCheck in later during the game?
ReplyDeleteFuck you Joe Buck. And Hal too.
Given how the announcers are covering the game, we might as well be listening to Red Sox radio. Talk about lopsided. Wow. I'm turning on John and Suzyn.
ReplyDeleteARod is such a dink.
ReplyDeleteAnd Paxton is pissing me off.
ReplyDeletePaxton has nothing. Except a whole lot of pissing me off.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they should send out the grounds crew to mop up all that Maple Syrup dripping off the mound.
ReplyDeleteGIO !!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteFUCK YOU ARod!!!
Is it me, or does Ricardo sound a lot like John? I have trouble telling them apart, the cadence and vocal mannerisms are so incredibly similar.
ReplyDeleteIt's like hearing the world's best cover band.
Lol JM.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the worlds best Spanish/Latin cover band of an over-70 great? Well that would be Brown Sabbath.
https://youtu.be/GoqcIQ37amo
Beauregard, you are appreciated!
ReplyDeleteDJ!! DJ!!
ReplyDeleteALL FUCKING RISE!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe big kid is having a good week.
ReplyDeleteIn the preseason predictions, I said Aaron Judge would have 10 homers at the 30-game mark.
ReplyDeleteHe might have 10 at the 12-game mark.
The Yankees Win! The Yankees WIN!!!
ReplyDeleteThu UH UH UH UHUHUHUH YANKEES WWIIIINNNNN!!!@
AH! AH! AH-HAA-AAAAAAAHHHHHGHHHAASSJJHHHHHHHH!!!
Wow, uh, whew. I had thought that you were serious. Ahem--Amen, brother.
ReplyDeletePS tell Hoss to drop the line about selling Judge before the truth hits.
ReplyDeleteWhat, what???? Why, I never, I say, never, ever suggested that Judge be traded! And neither did anyone else here!
ReplyDeleteNo, sirree!! Why, I always said, the moment Judgie baby got by a few minor hurts, he would be a terror again! A career-long, Yankee immortal!
Really, it's on tape. Hang on, I'm making the tape just now...
Oh, and Giancarlo! Why, I always knew he'd come around! The Twin Towers, I called 'em...uh-huh, ahem...oh, boy...
Meanwhile today, the Mets had 10 hits and did not score. And then...Cespedes.
ReplyDeleteThe most star-crossed team there ever was.
Better yet, is how much Judge is pulling the ball—much more even than in 2017, according to the good folks at YES.
ReplyDeleteImpossible to predict anything in this crazy season, but a good sign.
Impossible to predict baseball...
ReplyDeleteFuck you Hal.
I think we can put to rest the rib issue with Judge....
ReplyDelete"lose him to a team that will allow him to become a superstar"
ReplyDeleteWell... superstars can usually run AND field. Some are even really good at it.
Hopefully, Miggy can be more than a DH. I think he's trade bait, if someone dangles a player that Cashman likes.
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