The Death Barge isn't saying how long he'll be out - nobody would believe them anyway. With Loaisiga, any visit to the Injured List is like a phone call from The Babadook.
At 28, he's already missed the equivalent of four full seasons. Injuries have cost him all-star status and a shot at becoming the Yankee closer. His legacy might someday be as the guy whose tweaks and strains turned a Yankee great into a What-If?
Loaisiga signed as a pup with San Francisco in 2012, ruled the Dominican dirt league and then - boom! - missed the next two years with a bum shoulder. Emulating their football namesakes, the Giants punted.
In 2016, Loaisiga signed with the Yankees, pitched one game at Single A Charleston and - boom! - needed Tommy John surgery.
In 2018, he ruled in Double A Trenton, skipped Scranton and became the first Nicaraguan to ever play for the Yankees. Ever since, he's been a bullpen lug nut, arguably our best reliever and the reason why Cooperstown Cashman should have cut bait on Aroldis Chapman, but that's for another day.
The concern has always been Loaisiga's fragile arm. Clearly, the Yankees will rest him at the slightest suggestion of elbow trouble. Let's hope they caught it early enough, and this is a mere precaution. But without him, the 2023 bullpen looks vastly different.
Last night, Boone's Big Three Circle of Trust - Michael King, Wandy Peralta and Clay Holmes - held their ground: Four innings, one hit, two walks. At least temporarily, they silenced that mouthy Baltimore crowd, which seemed to think it was filming an episode of The Wire. But today, it's not certain who's available.
In a perfect world, this would have been Loaisiga's day. Instead, Albert Abreu? Old "Double A?"
It's April, of course. Too soon for concern. We all know this. Only a fool gets worried in April. Still, fingers crossed. If we lose Loaisiga for any appreciable time, it will stress our bullpen in ways we cannot fathom. Dominoes tumble. And fuck the Easter bunny. He can't touch Santa's boots.
Brito looked like he was on the ropes in the 1st inning, and that drive by Santander sure seemed like a three run homer when it came off the bat, but it was just a sac fly. Orioles only scored that one run in the inning and, sure enough, it came back to kill them. They never had another big scoring opportunity the rest of the game. Which shows that the 1st inning can be just as important as any other inning.
ReplyDeleteBrito may be able to work himself into the script for 2023. They'd be crazy not to give him a few more starts.
With all the starters scatching one hundred pitches just to get through five, the bullpen is going to be shot full of holes by the fourth of July.
ReplyDeleteDifferent year, same old story.
But no, DickAllen, we have the best rotation in the majors! We have...Frankie Montas!
ReplyDeleteLasagna isn’t going to throw for 2 weeks, which means if he needs a rehab more like 3 or 4. By then hopefully Schmidt is back in the pen where he belongs because Rondon is starting
ReplyDelete@ Hammer....exactly, it would be foolish not to continue starting Brito even if he has one mediocre outing as every pitcher will suffer. So you've kinda answered your own statement regarding the Yankees decision-making competency.
ReplyDeleteBrito has earned the oppo for more starts, obviously. Schmidt to the bullpen and hand him a mop.
ReplyDeleteIgnore boones lies and realize that Kahnle and Johnny Lo will both miss significant time this year.
Tampa 8-0 and playing great. The value of forward thinking ownership, perceptive management and skilled on field management should never be overlooked. Alfred E. Boone: “What. Me Worry?”
DJ LeMahieu, 3B.
Aaron Judge, CF.
Anthony Rizzo, 1B.
Giancarlo Stanton, DH.
Gleyber Torres, 2B.
Oswaldo Cabrera, LF.
Jose Trevino, C.
Franchy Cordero, RF.
Anthony Volpe, SS
Nestor. Cortes P. need at least 6 innings from him.
@ BTR....LOL at " Alfred E. Boone: What, Me Worry?"
ReplyDelete@ Jaraxle...that's some wishful thinking there...
ReplyDeleteDid someone say Alfred E. Bumbling Bubbling Seed-Spitting Boone the Loon?
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I've ever said this before, but Boone is an idiot. "Alfred E." is perfect. So, evidently, is Tampa.
ReplyDeleteIf Tampa keeps this up, they'll cruise to the divisional title. They have a long way to go, but an 8-0 start is nothing to sneeze at. Or otherwise expel air in a violent way.
Cordero Yay!
ReplyDeleteJudge, the second.
ReplyDeleteJM - I'm curious to know your thoughts on Boone . . .
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteFor how long can Tampa keep this up?
For how long can Franchy keep this up?
Can the NYYs sustain themselves on 4 Judge HRs every 9 games?
Will Aaron Hicks ever again appear in a starting line-up?
Can Lorna Boone screw up any additional stuff?
Stay tuned . . .
The answers to these and other questions will be revealed in this episode of "Soap."
ReplyDeleteSomeone told me that “Franchy” is really short for Franchise. We’ll see…
ReplyDeleteDoes that make him Chicken?
ReplyDelete@JoeFOB...Long, not long, no, yes (unfortunately), yes (repeatedly)...
ReplyDeleteLOL Ranger, if so let’s hope he hits as good as he tastes!
ReplyDeleteTampa's played Detroit, Washington and Oakland. Tigers might be mediocre this year. Nats and A's will be very bad. Maybe fewer than 50 wins bad. Tampa took care of business. Tip cap. But the competition was bad.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand what went wrong today. Quite obviously, Franchy should have been replaced by our substitute utility infielder without a hit on the season.
ReplyDelete