Okay. We survived Luke's second extended stay on the IL.
Tonight, he returns to the line-up to face pretty much the same AA pitching he was seeing in New Jersey.
So the question for this audience is: How will Luke " work his way" back in to MLB?
I say, he will not hit right away.
He will take some mighty cuts, and catch mostly air.
My worry is that he swings so hard that the destroys the ligaments and tendons of his upper body. Much as he did when we saw Luke 2.0.
He is also likely to add to the Yankees League lead in " Hit Into Double Plays ." As he smacks a ball hard, into the shift, and is slow-footed to first base.
But there will be plenty of time for Kay, Cone and O'neil to remark that the Yankees finally have their infield back.
Luckily, Voit will not need to be productive in game one.
Cole is pitching. And the Royals are in town.
And it is likely better that Voit not get on base, and have to use his legs.
Who else is feeling good about this?
The middle-aged Brett Gardner, with his 2020 WAR of 0.7 and his 2021 WAR of exactly ZERO, is starting in centerfield AGAIN tonight. Boone keeps claiming that Gardner is his go-to centerfielder because of his defense, but Gardner's defensive WAR for 2020 was ZERO and his 2021 defensive WAR is MINUS 0.2. In other words, he is not even good on defense, and a disaster at the plate. He cannot his either righties or lefties, negating his supposed value as a "lefty bat" (he batted .229 vs. righties last year and .229 this year). In other words, worthless on both sides of the ball, and pushing age forty in a key up-the-middle position. Judge or Frazier would clearly be a better choice overall, with Gardner relegated at most to pinch-running duties or situations where you need an extra-inning bunt, even though, frankly, he would have long ago been released by any other MLB team, which certainly would have retained Tauchman instead of Gardner. Does anyone have a rational explanation for this stubborn folly from the Yankee brainless trust?
ReplyDeleteLuke is in the lineup...
ReplyDelete1. DJ LeMahieu (R) 2B
2. Aaron Judge (R) RF
3. Luke Voit (R) 1B
4. Giancarlo Stanton (R) DH
5. Gio Urshela (R) 3B
6. Gleyber Torres (R) SS
7. Clint Frazier (R) LF
8. Kyle Higashioka (R) C
9. Brett Gardner (L) CF
The Yanks face Brady Singer who is pitching for the Royals.
ReplyDeleteThey have never faced him.
I've saved you 3 and one half hours of watching.
By the way--Gardner's 2021 defensive WAR places him 106th out of 136 MLB players who have played centerfield this year. It was ridiculous to sign him based on last year's performance, and he should be DFA'ed ASAP. But to make him your regular starting centerfielder? Suicidal stupidity from Cashman/Boone. And please spare me if he goes 3 for 4 tonight; we're discussing meaningful samples sizes here.
ReplyDeleteTLDR
ReplyDeleteCole must really hate ICS.
ReplyDeleteEither that or Boner decided to give ICS the day off after a grueling day yesterday.
Not like he's hot or anything.
Okay, so Voit must have read the post.
ReplyDeleteAt least he didn't have to run *fast*.
ReplyDeleteDon't get too excited and let this go to your head. The Yankees have that "Boone" factor.
ReplyDeleteAnother sucky umpire.
ReplyDelete6 inches outside.
Kyle!
ReplyDeleteI liked Santana better at Woodstock.
ReplyDeleteThis game is tied because NOT hitting with RISP has now become one of Yankees true outcomes
ReplyDeletePlatoni: That is a symptom of a weak offense in general. Good hitting teams get their share of hits in all situations.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they keep a stat like batting average with runners in scoring position?
ReplyDeleteSinger is still out there. Despite many opportunities for the Yankees to put him away.
ReplyDeleteFucking first pitch Stanton,,,, god I hate that guy!
ReplyDeleteThis is from https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/frazicl01.shtml Unfortunately the format was in a vertical format. As you can see, only an imbecile could believe that Frazier should start over Gardner. Frazier needs to be at Four-A. This is the man's prime age! He can't actually DO ANYTHING! Here are the numbers for any fathead who thinks he/she should be making out the lineup:
ReplyDeleteWAR
-0.7
0.8
AB
166
690
H
32
167
HR
5
29
BA
.193
.242
R
18
98
RBI
12
94
SB
2
7
OBP
.313
.327
SLG
.331
.441
OPS
.644
.767
OPS+
81
106
Pathetic.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteNearing 90 pitches, third time through the order. Maybe have a tight leash now?
ReplyDeleteTLDR=ADHD
ReplyDeleteboooooooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing puckered.
ReplyDeleteKevin,
ReplyDeleteDon't even attempt to talk to puckered. He's just bitter about still living in mommy's basement and doesn't actually *watch* the games. And don't ask him about that 'out-of-town' girlfriend. She has an inflation nozzle.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI'm not bored. You're boring.
ReplyDeleteThat's life. Face it.
Now go inflate your 'girlfriend' or at least file the calluses on your hand.
ReplyDeleteCole sucks third time through the order. They almost got a hit!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteeach
ReplyDeletecarefully.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeletewww.amazon.com/air-pump-inflatables/s?k=air+pump+for+inflatables
ReplyDeletewww.amazon.com/Callus-Remover-Titania-Removing-Cracked/dp/B07BNLLPDC/
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the 'tight leash' you advocate, I'm sure you already own one of these:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.amazon.com/Neck-Choker-Collar-Blue-Leash/dp/B078N6RRB8
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteVoit was a victim of a rob.
ReplyDeleteYou're the only one here that masturbates to stats puckered.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteWow puckered. You must have rubbed yourself raw typing that.
ReplyDeleteTry watching the game.
Frazier, looking good. Torres, making Frazier look better.
ReplyDeleteSo, you don't deny masturbating to stats?
ReplyDeleteThanks for confirming what we all knew.
Now, what town does your imaginary girlfriend live in?
Let me know before you ban me from this site. And before you 'out' me. And before you actually have a salient point.
OK, I'll have to accept never.
Shoulda kept Cole in for one more batter fourth time through the order.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteBig head complimenting Frazier's defense.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis would be a REALLY difficult triple play.
ReplyDeleteToo easy puckered.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteShit
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThe shit team showed up tonight
ReplyDeleteGive up two runs and the ball doesn't leave the infield...smh
ReplyDeleteRuined a good start by Cole.
ReplyDeleteThey need to score runs. I wish there was a stat regarding hitting with runners in scoring position. Some keyboard warrior needs to come up with it.
When does the WNBA game start?
ReplyDeleteThey're checking Lasagna's glove.
ReplyDeleteNo need.
How fucked up is this? Loaisiga pitches like shit and the umpires are checking him for a foreign substance....jeez...
ReplyDeleteRanger,
ReplyDeleteIt's like the TSA at the airport. They check they geriatrics and young girls. They don't WANT to find explosives. The umps don't want to find anything.
I hate them so fucking much.
ReplyDeleteWhy the hell would you pinch hit ICS HERE!?
ReplyDeleteYou need baserunners, not outs.
Rufus...
ReplyDeleteJust like the heel wrestlers with the foreign object. Better yet, have the pitcher wear a mask and announce him from "Parts Unknown, Weight Unknown"....
Ranger,
ReplyDeleteFunny, comparing the three, the wrestling umps seem the more observant.
DJ!
ReplyDeleteLeMajor!
ReplyDeletePuckered is a very pathetic creature. Angered at the tone of this erudite and immensely enjoyable blog because they believe someone is wrong on the internet. Angered that we have the temerity to share our love of the franchise in our own ways. Angered at our community and comradery. With no regard for Puckered's view of anything. Puckered's tiny fist shaking as they try to educate us on higher level stats as if we all don't have Fangraph accounts for that. The temerity of our fun!! How dare we!
ReplyDeletePuuuuckeeerrrrrreeeeeedddddddd!!!!! We are all old and ungainly and becoming downright unattractive but we love this blog. We all still have love and affection in our lives. (We're all still getting laid, understand?) There's a lesson there for you.
Puuuuckeeerrrrrreeeeeedddddddd!!!!! GET A FUCKING LIFE!!!
Judge a victim of a deadened baseball...
ReplyDeleteOdor...what a waste of an at bat...
ReplyDeleteBoone happens.
ReplyDeleteJudge should have hit a single. It's the only way to have the next man get a hit
ReplyDeleteMike, swing at pitch IN the strike zone.
ReplyDeleteTAKE pitches out of the strike zone.
Leads to better results.
oh, fuckety fuck
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteKeyboard warrior. Too much of a pussy to show up at the stadium. Mommy won't let him.
ReplyDeleteMake Holland throw strikes....
ReplyDeleteBig head: "Urshela hobbling"
ReplyDeleteToo bad Wade was wasted needlessly already.
Boone happens.
I'm down to hoping for 'not a double play'.
ReplyDeleteFrazier would have struck out by now on the same (taken) pitches.
ReplyDeletefuck
ReplyDeleteBoone happens.
Fuckshit. Shitfuck.
ReplyDeletePathetic. 13 left on base. Awful clutch hitting...and, at the end, it was all down to Brett Gardner, who seemed to hit the same pop fly he hits every other at-bat (On the other ones, he strikes out.).
ReplyDeleteHardly unexpected. Gardy was overrated at his best. Now, at his worst, he is no longer a major-league player.
JM bringin' the full Joe Schultz! Pound the Budweiser!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely right about Gardner, HC66--but he shouldn't have been re-signed last year, much less this year. Who can fathom Cashman's stupidity? What chaotic buzzing goes on in his pea-brain?
ReplyDeleteThat was just dreadful. I'm gonna go to bed.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteFrazier, 695 ab, 29 HR, 20 GIDP, 1, that's ONE IBB (!), 7 sb, 2 cs (showing off his blazing speed), .270/.324/.437/.762. Does that look like a budding star at age 26 soon to be 27? He can't hit, has terrible plate discipline, GIDP machine, occasional pop, lousy fielder, terrible baserunner. I really think that he can't handle New York. I've actually been a fan since he came up. Made the requisite excuses, but now his chance, while not impossible to become an impact hitter is really on the brink. Especially when he has a glove which will not carry him into his middle thirties. Worse yet, we have Gleyber Torres who better hook up with Cano. Two years of looking at his hang-dog expression, and a swing which belongs on a man 15 years his senior is alarming. And what to do with these guys? Trading them returns little, and maybe, just maybe a different coach, minus the pressure of New York turns their careers around. The Brain had better find some "thought enhancement" drug which may give him shaman-like insights. I can't remember a Yankee team that had a collection of some elite talent, lack of "esprit de corp", lack of fundamentals, and propensity for injury as this team. Ever. And how is this team already being called "old"? Because they play like it? Their baserunning and the lack of defensive range? They are many things, but "old" isn't one of them. More's the pity.
ReplyDeleteStat baby incel - suck it.
ReplyDeleteKevin--Frazier, over a large sample size in 2020, when he wasn't getting jerked around, posted a .905 OPS. Your specious agglomeration of stats from a time when he was recovering from a concussion is plainly dishonest.
ReplyDelete
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