Saturday, March 6, 2021

For Miguel Andujar, a bad start can be a killer

Let's be clear: Nobody's hitting in Tampa. Nobody. And nothing matters. Nothing. We are watching a mirage, a practical joke played on us every March by mean-spirited  juju gods, who'd be better off bingeing Netflix. 

That said, I double-dog-dare you to study these numbers.

Reminder: A loss in early March is just as meaningless as one in late March. 

Unless you're Miguel Andujar. Unless you're on a bubble. Unless you're lost on the Tamiami Trail.

Miggy is now 1-9 - (no walks, one K) - and officially listed at 3B, which for now is as dark a dead end as exists in the Yankiverse... (after DH, of course, which shall be Giancarlo Stanton's until the end of time.)

Barring an injury, Gio Urshela should hold 3B for the next three years. No other Yankee fielder is so entrenched. (Aaron Judge still has a big contract to negotiate; Gleyber still hovers between 2B and SS.) To backup at 3B for the Yankees is to channel Wally Pipp, and today, that's where Andujar sits. 

Barring injuries - (speaking of injuries, where is Stanton?) - Andujar likely will spend the month of April at the Yankee Gitmo, alias Scranton. He won't even have a league to tear apart, or games to display his improved defense. He'll sit there like a lump of coal, counting cars on I-81, waiting for a phone call that might not come. Lost time, which he has come to know well.

Three days ago, Andujar turned 26. His incredible rookie season, when he outshone every other Yankee hitter, looks more and more distant... and, frankly, cruel. You see the wasted potential and wonder: WTF? Certainly, nobody is to blame for 2019, when shoulder surgery shut him down. But to be ignored throughout 2020 - he had 62 at bats, hitting .242. - how does that happen? And now, heading into 2021, nothing has changed. 

Of course, Miggy could get three hits today and be leading the team tonight. It's March. Nothing matters, nothing. But of all Yankees, he's the one player who needs a great spring. And he is 1-9. 

10 comments:


  1. One thing about March with the Yankees is certain: if German continues to pitch like he did yesterday, nobody will care about his domestic transgressions. Nobody.

    There are already too many coke heads, drunks, pill poppers, wife beaters, bang-the-can cheaters and other assorted criminals populating the halls of Major League Baseball (and every other professional sports league) to care about anything in the long term IF you are successful on the field.

    I see Alex Cora is back in Redsux uniform as if nothing had happened. Hinch is out there collecting a paycheck; how many other felons have slid past their criminal behavior and come out smelling like roses.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've been preoccupied the last couple of days so here's my catch up...

    1) "We are Old Testament Yankee fans."

    I'm more of an Old Testicle Yankee Fan.

    2) "Old Yankee Stadium-Alive with a rolling thunder. New Yankee Stadium-Corporate Neil Sedaka melody piped in for the folks beneath the moat. They paved Paradise and put up a parking lot."

    New Yankee Stadium is to Old Yankee Stadium what the The City of Paris is to Paris, Las Vegas.

    It's like they built a Vegas hotel version of what they think Yankee Stadium would be like and included other attractions in the building because the game isn't enough.

    3) The last few games

    The Yankees can't string hits (Still!) They have scored one run in 18+ innings against inferior competition and it was a HR. In the other games prior they also score on home runs. This does not bode well.

    Doug K.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'll keep harping on Andujar needing surgery for a torn shoulder labrum as the true cause of his wilted bat until he starts hitting ropes. Yankee coaches see with wizened eyes what fans never see. Andujar not starting "someplace" is treated by fans as a deep conspiracy, which is simply silly. He'll play even if he shares DH with Stanton, if and when he hits.

    ReplyDelete
  4. So when does he get better, Kevin? Why is it that none of our players ever seem to recover from injuries now?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Horace, still waiting on Greg Bird. Personally (this coming from forty years of heavy weight training), I believe that a lot of these injuries come from too much lifting. Every one's body comes with a heritable bell curve when it comes down to training and injuries. IMHO, a LOT of guys still juice (contrary to public perception, you can add crazy amounts of strength without getting much larger). But we can't rule out the possibility that the Team is simply on a bad run of Health Cards. Or that we don't pay attention to other team's injury troubles......

    Maybe they keep hiring lousy trainers.

    ReplyDelete
  6. If most athletes still juice at the Olympics, I'm sure most players still juice in MLB baseball.

    I didn't know Andujar still hasn't had surgery on his shoulder. Is that for real? They only rehabbed it? For a torn labrum? Sounds like surgery should have been done a long while back.

    The Hammer of God

    ReplyDelete
  7. I checked wiki: Andujar did have surgery on his shoulder in May 2019.

    The Hammer of God

    ReplyDelete

  8. I really want the world to know about this great man who brought back happiness into my life again after my husband left me and the kids 3 years ago for another women online when i contacted Dr Believe he cast a love spell for me within 48 hours my ex husband start calling me and begging for forgiveness for everything that have happened between us. I was so happy to have my family back together with love again here is the email of Dr Believe via believelovespelltemple@gmail.com a man with the great powers you can also call him or add him on Whats-app: +2348156148821
    God bless you
    I am very grateful for your help in my marriage.

    ReplyDelete

  9. LOTTO, lottery,jackpot.
    Hello all my viewers, I am very happy for sharing this great testimonies,The best thing that has ever happened in my life is how I win the lottery euro million mega jackpot. I am a Woman who believe that one day I will win the lottery. finally my dreams came through when I email believelovespelltemple@gmail.com and tell him I need the lottery numbers. I have spend so much money on ticket just to make sure I win. But I never know that winning was so easy until the day I meant the spell caster online which so many people has talked about that he is very great in casting lottery spell, . so I decide to give it a try.I contacted this great Dr Believe and he did a spell and he gave me the winning lottery numbers. But believe me when the draws were out I was among winners. I win 30,000 million Dollar. Dr Believe truly you are the best, all thanks to you forever

    ReplyDelete

Members of the blog can comment. To receive an e-mailed invitation, write to johnandsuzyn@gmail.com. And check spam if it doesn't show up. (Google account required.)

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.