I should have saved “The Outfield” for part three because, like Godfather Part III, the thing is a total mess with a bunch of pieces that require narration to explain what the hell is going on.
Side note – Coppola is doing a recut and some kind of major
fix on Godfather Part III and it’s due out in December. I for one am hoping for
the best and expecting the worst.
Is this my segue? Yes it is. Except for the hoping for the
best part.
The Yankee outfield is poorly constructed…
How poorly constructed is it?
It is so poorly constructed that Rudy Giuliani wants to use it as a legal argument.
(That’s not a political joke BTW. When a guy goes something
like 0-30 in court he becomes the butt of jokes or the head coach of the Jets. )
---
Let’s get back to the problem. The Yankees have seven
outfielders, six of which are, let’s be kind and say, problematic. Side note: I am including Brett Gardner
because we all know they’re going to re-sign him for like, 5 million dollars. It’s like the end of “Bang the Ceiling Slowly”
this guy isn’t leaving until they carry him out.
So, let’s look at the issues and then see if there’s a work
around. Here are our NY Yankee
outfielders
Judge
Pro: He’s great.
Great in the field. Great at the plate. Face of the Yankees. Face of MLB. Blah
blah blah.
Con: I bought a Judge
jersey and the third time I washed it the sleeve fell off. And therein lies the
rub. We can’t count on him staying healthy. Is it his girl friend with her ride
em cowboy chest pounding? Is it big guys get hurt in MLB but amazingly can play
tight end in the NFL?
Thoughts: I don’t
know. He’s not going anywhere and can’t be relied on. Bummer.
Hicks
Pro: Does just enough
good things to make you believe he is the real deal.
Con: The rest of the
time. I mean it’s great that he walks a
lot but Mantle, Murcer, Williams, Hicks?
Thoughts: I really
wanted him to work out but it’s not going happen. His team friendly contract
makes him a trade chip. Technically he has had enough big moments to make a
nice YouTube highlight reel. So maybe there is someone who sees what Brain saw
and is willing to take a chance. I’m
thinking Cleveland but more on that later.
Tauchman
Pro: Can back up all three outfield positions. Reasonable
defender.
Con: Opposing pitchers
have figured him out. It’s diminishing returns the rest of the way. Plus… Mantle, Murcer, Williams,
Tauchman?
Thoughts: If they
keep him I guess I’m kind of OK with it but really there should be a better
solution for our back up.
Now our real troubles begin. Left Field! Slowly I turn… and
then turn again because I took a bad route to the ball which skips past me and
heads to the wall…
Clint Frazier
Pro: Golden Globe nominee. It’s his time. Hits in the
clutch. Hits for power. Legendary bat speed right up there with Harley Quinn. This guy is our Left Fielder for the next
five years.
Con: But what will we
do with everyone else?
AnDUjar: Can hit but
can’t field
Stanton: Can hit
- when not hurt. Always hurt. Probably can field but we will
never know because playing outfield, what with all that smooth perfect grass
and open space is dangerous! I truly believe he is not a malingerer,
and wouldn’t it be great if he played like he did in the post season? Sigh.
Gardner It’s time to thank him for his service. It happens
to us all. No disrespect to a true Yankee
So, seven outfielders in search of At Bats. Let’s fix it!
CENTER FIELD
Cleveland needs a center fielder. They have pitching. We
need pitching. Hicks plus, I can’t believe
I’m saying this but AnDUjar. I will live
to regret this. I know it. Really AnDUjar should be the DH and Stanton given a
new address but that’s not going to happen.
Add a young pitcher and get
Carlos Carrasco he is signed thru 2022, 4 yrs./$47M (19-22)
& 23 team option and gives us a number 1/2 starter because Hoss is right.
It’s pitching. Pitching. Pitching.
But Doug , you ask who will play Center Field?
Sign Jack Bradley Jr. Hey, a Red Sox Centerfielder what could go wrong? I’m kidding. Sign George Springer. He is so good. But that’s not happening either because… Hal.
It would also be the first of the Steve Cohen vs. Hal battles and
Steve ain’t losing that one. So, Kevin
Pilar (and I HATE Kevin Pilar). Two years
and pray that Florial figures it out. Wait! Tell
me more about this Jackie Bradly Jr. guy….
Tauchman backs up.
Yes, it isn’t a great solution, but it breaks the logjam and
gets us an ace!
LEFT FIELD
Clint. We’re good.
RIGHT FIELD
Obviously Judge but sign Joc Pederson. Bats Left which we
need. Great platoon guy. Totally destroys right-handed pitching. Gets to DH when Stanton can’t (and we all
know that’s coming). Can also back up Clint in Left. Won’t break the bank. They need to do this.
So:
Frazier, Meh, and
Judge with Stanton/Pederson/Tauchman as
bench. (and Pitching!!!!)
LAST THOUGHT
Salary is a wash BTW as we lose Hicks (10M) and don’t have to pay Gardner (10M), to pay for Pederson and Millar and we lost Happ or Paxton to pay for Carrasco.
Posts
8 comments:
Doug,
They chose the write guy to right! (sic)
That is a terrific and funny summary. I'm thinking maybe you should tear off the other sleeve of your Judge jersey and start pumping iron.
I am so puzzled how the Yankees became so historically penny-pinching about players salaries and yet, throw away so much money on long-term, losing contracts. We chide Hal as being cheap, but consider the millions he willingly squandered on (_______________________) and (_________________) and...
...the list goes on. You know who I'm talking about.
The Yankees seem to be penny foolish and pound foolish as well, sailing many under-performing hucksters into luxurious retirement.
SHit. I am re-writing this because at the ether swallowed my brain and words. So here I go again, only with more anger.
Judge is a legit all star right fielder. But his health is a huge issue. And when he forces the Yankees to reach into their bench, we go from staying at the Ritz Carlton, to checking into a motel 6 near the strip mall.
Hicks was a worthwhile acquisition 5 years ago. He is a place holder now. And if we actually had anyone for whom he was holding a place, he would become a bench player. He is fast but not " fast." He walks a lot, but is not a base stealer. He hits well from the left and poorly from the right. His arm is marginal. You don't win world series games with him as your strength up the middle.
If Red Thunder isn't our full time left fielder, we become a non threat. And he remains a question mark. Clearly, the Yankees still don't trust him. And not without cause.
Our outfield depth is scary. I mean, Gardy can fill in for a game or two, but he quickly becomes full time, again. Tauchman is speedy and a good glove. As long as you don't mind an " automatic out" in your batting order. Is there anyone else?
Please don't even suggest that Stanton can play a position. His position is on the bench. growing old, striking out and hitting some exit velocity HRs of 120mph. He is ours for seven more years. That will, with luck, be longer than the pandemic.
Outfield is a Yankee vulnerability, not a an asset. And when Judge gets injured, it simply disappears.
If readers are skeptical of what I say, just look at the outfields for the Dodgers and the Rays. Or the teams behind them ( losers in the playoffs ) . Then, look at the Yankees's outfield. You will yawn.
So, if Brian and Hal, don't re-build the outfield, we will remain a wild card candidate. And not, as they say, " a tough out."
Tyler Wade.
Hits, fields, fastest man on the roster.
Don't forget Tyler Wade.
I bought a Judge jersey and the third time I washed it the sleeve fell off.
I would address the rest of your baseball comments, but this made ma laugh a fair amount so I didn't.
I.e., Good job.
Pretty damned funny, Doug!
As for Tyler Wade, when did he hit again? .170 last year, .190 lifetime...
Oh—and don't trade Andujar.
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