No LF, no 3B, no SS, no closer, no 4th & 5th starters, no free agent remedies on the market. Regulars dropping like Russian conscripts. The two shining stars of spring, both destined for the minors. A roster screaming for trades by our GM, who is in the worst funk of his career. The Mets rising, the Astros ruling, the AL East lusting for revenge, as the Yankees try to rise from a 2022 second-half when everything, everywhere, all at once... sucked.
Oh, and here's a delightful thought: Our most injury prone players - Giancarlo, DJ, Sevy- have yet to visit the trainer's room. Should we expect a year of good health from these medical marvels?
Why such pessimism?
1. Anthony Rizzo has a bum back. There's something about Yankee first-basemen and barking lumbagos. It makes you think of Donny. Naturally, Aaron Boone gave it the pooh-pooh: If this were the regular season, he'd play through it.
That's supposed to reassure us?
Last year, Rizzo had a great first half: 22 HRs, among the leaders. Then the back acted up. In the second half, he hit 10. (For the season, he batted .221 - not exactly Mattingly.) On an old school Yankee powerhouse, a tweaked 1B could be replaced. But Rizzo is so critical to this team - somebody must protect No. 99 - that the mere thought of him compromised bursts ours hope like a Chinese spy balloon. If Rizzo cannot play or - worse - cannot hit, this is a huge, dark cloud.
2. Aaron Hicks looks legitimately putrid. Yesterday, two Ks, a botched fly ball, a pickoff. Okay, I'm calling you out: You secretly thought Hicks might have a decent season. You didn't post it online; you feared the death threats. But deep down, way way down, you thought, "Maybe he'll hit .240!"
Well, increasingly, we're looking at Willie Calhoun or Rafael Ortega. Calhoun or Ortega. This is for real, people. It's not a dream. You are not flashing back to a Bubba Crosby drug delirium. Calhoun or Ortega. That might be our opening day LF option.
3. Our two bright hopes remain months away. Since Tampa opened, the rise of Anthony Volpe and Jasson Dominquez has been our happiest narrative since - well - Greg Bird.
On that note, let's get real here.
With Volpe, we're actually hearing people recall the arrival of Derek Jeter: How nobody expected him to make the team, and look how that turned out. And when Dominguez signed, they compared him to Mickey Mantle. Now, they're doing it again.
Do we realize what we're doing? We're sabotaging these kids, comparing them to some of the greatest Yanks of all time.
Both might have fine MLB careers. They don't need to be compared to Jeter and Mantle.
Volpe needs a month in Scranton. The Martian needs Double A. Either could be ready for the Bronx by, say, August. This talk about them making the team... I fear it's a way of distracting the fan base from the problems at hand.
And right now... chaos.
Aaron Hicks has achieved what every ball player strives for; Consistency. Some guys might hit a HR in a few games, might have a few hits in other games, but Hicks sucks in every game! Pencil him and you know you’ll get a few Ks and a misplayed ball. All of this for only $10m a year. The man has reached Nirvana.
ReplyDeleteI understand Dominguez needing more time in the minors, he only played a handful of games over a ball. Volpe on the other hand, reached aaa last season. I see no reason to think he can’t be ready now.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious to see what the Yankees do with their final outfield spot.
ReplyDeleteYou've got Judge, Stanton, Hicks, and Cabrera right now with Bader on the IL.
Estevan Florial has looked terrible this Spring. Do they dump him or bring him north just because he's out of options?
Rafael Ortega can play all three outfield positions, bats left handed, and has MLB experience. He's hit .265/.344/.409 (.753 OPS) in 701 PA over the last two years with the Cubs. And he's had a great Spring. To me, he's the guy who should get the final outfield spot. Doesn't seem like it would be too big of a push to get him on the 40-man roster.
Former Yankees prospect Billy McKinney is still around camp. Michael Hermosillo as well. Both have MLB experience.
I don't think the Yankees rush Jasson Domínguez north, though that would be fun. That's what the Nats did with Juan Soto a few years ago.
Rookie: Soto 54 G, Domínguez 7 G
Single-A: Soto 45 G, Domínguez 125 G
High-A: Soto 15 G, Domínguez 45 G
Double-A: Soto 8 G, Domínguez 5 G
I just think the Yankees are too set in their ways to make an aggressive move like that.
Re: Florial The team’s “brain” trust does get it correct sometimes, proving the adage that even a broken clock is right twice a day. They never seemed to really consider Florial a viable part of their future despite his obvious athleticism and some positive results in the minors. I don’t think they would hesitate exposing him to waivers, although the Bader injury may change that. I think there’s a fair chance he could pass through waivers since many teams already. Have their own versions of Florial. In that case the team could simply re-sign to a minor contract if they so desired. But as Zack pointed out, he’s been awful offensively this Spring, totally lacking the contact skills the team so badly needs.
ReplyDeleteDuque:
ReplyDeleteIt is what it is and always will be. The MAGIC WORD, Genius Cashman.
Stanton so far is 3-16 on the spring, a .188 clip, with 1 double, no runs scored, no runs driven in, no walks and 6 strikeouts.
ReplyDeleteCould it be that, at 33, we no longer have to worry about him getting injured? That he just sucks, period?
There is no magic formula to determine when to bring a player up to the majors. If a guy is ready, then he can go from beer league to majors. It all depends on how your best scouts assess the guy. You check out his at-bats and his defense, check out what goes on inside his head by asking intelligent questions, then make a judgment call. If you believe he's ready, you bring him up. Putting him in the minors for a month or a year or two, just for "seasoning" is stupid. Not saying that Volpe or Jasson are ready, because I haven't seen them play, but those experts who have seen them should make the call. And if they think he's ready, the GM should listen. Especially in this case, where Cashman obviously is terrible at assessing players.
ReplyDeleteEven if a player is a bit green, you might bring him up a little early. He can develop at the major league level. At some point, every player needs some growth stimulus. Keeping them in the minors and hoping that they fully mature in the minors is foolish. That last few steps in development only happen at the highest levels.
In boxing, managers put a new fighter in against a guy they know he'll beat. Then this continues step by step until he's ready to fight world class competition. You think he'll get better and better by continuing to fight only tomato cans? If he keeps winning, at some point, the manager decides to put him up against the best. It's always going to be a baptism by fire at some point. That's the only way you find out how good a prospect is and whether he is championship material. All athletes reach their full potential only by competing against better athletes.
Judge finally reached his potential last year. Everything seemed to come together. Imagine if they'd kept him in the minors for years and years because he struck out too much. If they'd Wasted too many years in the minors with Judge, he never would have had that record breaking season in 2022.
@borntorun999, It bothers me that they think Florial strikes out too much, when really the entire team is a strike out machine. For God's sake, we had Joey Gallo on this team for an entire year. Not saying that Florial should be the LF or the CF, but that rationale that he strikes out too much ... come on.
ReplyDeleteIf the Martian looks ready, and he's got the right fundamentals, the right approach in his head, they should throw him in to LF. Same with Volpe at SS. Same with Peraza at 3B. What difference does it make with bench boys like Hicks, Donaldson and IKF? I think they make the playoffs whoever they put in. The only reason to continue to play the old guys is if you're shooting for mediocrity and want to make a first round playoff exit again.
I believe the issue with Florial is his inability to recognize offspeed pitches and his swing-and-miss tendencies on pitches in the strikezone. That's a big red flag for a prospect. If you can't hit offspeed pitches in the zone at AA and AAA, it's very difficult to make the leap to the majors.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I was banging the drum for the Yankees to give him a shot in June/July last year. We were running out the dynamic duo Gallo and Hicks, and I thought that was the perfect opportunity to give Florial some consistent playing time for 6 weeks or so before the Trade Deadline.
Now he's out of options and the Yankees still haven't given him an extended look. Such malpractice by the organization. So glad we watched Gallo hit .085/.253/.239 in that span instead of giving Florial a run.
"...our GM, who is in the worst funk of his career..."
ReplyDeleteNow that is saying something.
The one thing we can depend on is that The Intern is going to make all the wrong choices. He just can't help himself. He's that bad at what he does. Any other franchise would have fired him years ago.
Volpe and the Jasson are probably headed to points south because the Yankees require marquee names at most positions just because they are recognizable names with a positive past. And that those very same names are well past their expiration date.
Amen, guys. I'm with Zach: it's probably too late already, but why not give Florial a shot? Particularly when the alternative is to just DFA him.
ReplyDeleteOswaldo in left, so obvious it won't happen. Unless something, you know, happens to the other candidates. Wink wink, nudge nudge.
ReplyDeleteOswald at SS or Volpe at short and Oz at third. Or DJ at third, but not Schmucko. Anyone but Schmucko.
Judge in center and Stanton in right and I know, I know, but come on already. One word: Clank, as in Belfry.
King the closer until he shows he ain't.
This team has no problem anywhere that can't be taken care of, except for the front office.
That's Blefry, you dumb fucking spell check fuckhead.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting pissy because the goddamn anesthesia isn't wearing off on my leg and I'm stuck in fucking recovery for fucking forever. Yes, today was hip replacement day.
Monday is hip replacement day at Carvell.
The Yankees front office continuously plays not to lose. If they were bold they would...
ReplyDeleteLet Volpe play 2B. Word is his arm strength is such that he will wind up there anyway. Let's give him the reps and get his attitude on the team ASAP.
Give Peraza SS. IKF sits (a lot)
Trade Gleyber for a decent Left Fielder even if Gleyber has greater value. Release Hicks. Hicks is what Sanchez was. A drag on the ballclub in every way.
Keep Cabera as the rover. (SS, 2B, OF)
Play DJ at third and first alternating with Donaldson and the obviously hurting Rizzo. Three old guys for two positions. Should actually work out.
Send Jasson to AAA for a few months then make him the LF. Make the new LF the 4th OF.
Play Stanton as often as possible in the field until he gets hurt.
You'll be up and around in no time JM! Sharpen up your ice skates!
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, enjoy the pharmaceuticals.
Play Stanton as often as possible in the field until he gets hurt.
ReplyDeleteThat shouldn't take too long.
ReplyDeleteIf I self-administer a significant overdose of Hopium, it ends up this way:
a. Yankees play .385 baseball through June.
b. They call up all of the young guys (meaning they DFA or IL the old guys).
c. Things get better.
That's the best I can do.
Well, we can always hope, Joe!
ReplyDeleteJM, speedy recovery!
Yankees Twitter account just posted Joe Pepitone died. Wow.
ReplyDeleteJM...is this your first or second hip replacement? I know a few that have changed their life undergoing that procedure. I'm sure you'll be up and about soon.
ReplyDeleteRIP Joe. He was the cool guy on the team. The worldly kid beyond his age from the streets of Brooklyn. What a hitter he would be today with all the diluted MLB pitching.
I've been advocating for well over a year that the Martian be given a shot. Because he can't do worse than Hicks and would likely do a ton better. But the Bloated Front Office is the worst in the majors. They'll start Volpe and Dominguez in the minors no matter what they do down in Scranton because they want to squeeze a year extra of contract control.
I hear this year's new promotion at YS is " Rat Day". The first 10,000 kids receive a free roasted rat-on-a stick from the concession stands. I think the day is August 24 against the Nationals.
Yes, get better soon, JM! Hope the recovery is fast and complete.
ReplyDeleteAnd mmmmm....rat on a stick....ohohohoh!
"Peraza, playing shortstop, and Volpe, who moved over to second base, hooked up for a couple double plays in a 1-0 loss to the Twins on Monday."
ReplyDeleteThis x100
JM -
Speedy recovery sir.