But but BUT... I do miss the fantasy that our bullpen possessed one duly assigned closer, a titan who lifted the earth upon his shoulders. Right now, the Yankees have no such person. Clay Holmes had a miserable second half of 2022, and thus far, he seems to have taken up where he left off.
The Yankees have now lost six games. Four directly hinged upon a leaky bullpen. And at the heart of all our concerns, one question remains unanswered: Who is gonna get the last three outs?
Scattered deliriums...
1. Congrats to Jasson Dominguez - aka The Martian - who finally secured his first hit of 2023 at Double A Somerset. He went 1-3 with 2 walks and a SB, lifting his BA to .053. Gotta start somewhere.
2. The Yankees hit three HRs last night, producing three runs. Solo shots. Aside from that, nothing happened. I know it's too early to sound alarms, but let me state what we all know: If they are a HR-only team, they will win nothing of consequence in 2023.
3. Yankee catchers have yet to throw out a baserunner in 2023. They are one of three teams to face this problem. Base stealers are 12-for-12 against us. But it's not always the catcher. This week, Ian Hamilton disassembled on the mound, allowing a game winning run, with two stolen bases that didn't even draw a throw. This is a problem.
4. Despite all our woes, I'm delighted to report that Boston looks worse. Their recent keystone combo was Yu Chang at 2B and Bobby Dalbec at SS. Roll that around on your tongue. Bobby Dalbec at SS. It would make a great bumper sticker. Could this a year when they self-tank?
5. One of the worst parts about last night: We squandered a solid start by Nestor Cortez. Right now, the Death Barge has two reliable starters - Gerrit Cole and Nasty Nestor. We're pushing them to pitch deeper and deeper into games. That can come at a price.
6. Congrats to Anthony Volpe for his first MLB HR. For whatever it's worth, last year in the minors, he hit 21. Two years ago, 27.
7. Gleyber has gone stone cold, hitting .190 in his last seven games. This slump corresponds to his reporting a muscle tweak. Considering our infield depth, it seems crazy to be pushing a guy out there in April.
Domingo German today. Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.
As I mentioned, Torres’ slump is a direct result of my activating him in my fantasy league. I will take one for the team and deactivate him next week.
ReplyDeleteComplained about Holmes earlier. No closer, he.
It seems impossible that this ream could miss the watered down playoffs, but considering all the holes in the roster, is it really so far fetched? Perhaps that’s what needs to happen along with a drop in attendance and TV ratings.
Tampa Bay lost to a real team. It's a marathon not a sprint...
ReplyDeleteHere's who was supposed to be in our bullpen...
ReplyDeleteFrom MLB.com
RHP Lou Trivino (right elbow ligament sprain)
Expected return: Possibly May
RHP Jonathan Loáisiga (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: Late April/May
RHP Tommy Kahnle (right biceps tendinitis)
Expected return: Late May/June
RHP Scott Effross (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2024
RHP Luis Gil (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Second half of 2023
Oy!
While the Grownup team looks like Franchy's namesake in 1940 and before we start a full blown scamper to Dunkirk for a quick dip in Lake Erie, we can focus on the minors until ASShman trades them for An injuries Rockies pitcher
ReplyDeleteChaparro, after going o-a week, has hit 6 HRs in just a handful of games.
Beeter is rocking a .82 ERA after two starts.
Same ERA for Zach Messinger in HV.
Also, while no one was looking, Florial has an OPS of 1.786 [Yeah, I know-4Ks].
Scanning MILB scores and stats is more fun than watching German' and his gang of Broken Toys, at least until ASSman trades them to blossom elsewhere or has them rot on the vine.
King is the closer. Holmes only got the job because King broke a bone. Holmes can't handle the job. Back to King.
ReplyDeleteWhy is this so hard? Because it's Boone (an idiot) and Cashman (remarkably incompetent). They make every decision so, so hard, because the harder they make it, the more heroic they can seem when they finally do what everyone else knew they should do a long time before.
I worked with someone like that once. It wasn't great.
Yikes, Domingo German is pitching today?
ReplyDeleteI'd rather see Placido Domingo on the mound. And I think he's dead.
JM, that sounds like my wedding night.
ReplyDeleteExcept working out the kinks with her has been great.!!
ReplyDeleteCarl,
IKF is warming up.
Clay Holmes was a hit machine in Pittsburgh. As in the pitcher who specializes in making opposing batting averages healthy. After a great first half last season, he might be reverting to form.
ReplyDeleteBut is anyone going to call out Ba-Boone for bringing him in for the 8th? I didn't like it. Not that they have a ton of options, but I still would've gone with just about anyone else there. They probably should've stayed away from using Holmes at all. He'd pitched a lot of late.
Gleyber Torres, Dumbass Cashman might have missed his chance to trade him. Here come the untimely errors and hitless nights.
Carlos Correa: is he now Yankee Killer No. 1? It used to Evan Longoria. Now Correa has taken the crown. This guy's biggest problem is that he doesn't play against the Yankees for 162 games a year. He can roll a swinging bunt to SS for a hit. He can poke a fly ball to right for a homer. And he can lace one down the right field line to win a game. Someone tell the Yankee pitching coach that you have to pitch inside to get this guy out. He specializes in hitting the other way.
Someone forgot to tell the Yankee hitters that it's all right to hit a home run when someone is on base. In fact, that's the best time to do it. Three solo homers. Home run derby, Yankee style.
Tampons finally lost a game, eh? On an error to boot. Here's to hoping that they lose 13 straight. But I wouldn't bet on it.
@ Carl, Placido Domingo is alive and kicking as far as I know. He got in trouble a little while back by groping and fondling a little too passionately. Since then I think he's been hiding in a hole somewhere. Yanks should invite him to sing the national anthem sometime. He can also sing the 7th inning stretch and, if the Yanks win, he can do "New York, New York". Wouldn't that be great?
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteDominguez gets a hit, his trade value has never been higher (since the season started).
I see a trade coming from way up the street. Cubs get the Martian, Chaparro, maybe the Bicepvdt, Cash-hole throws in Beeter to "sweeten the pot", Yankees get Kyle Hendricks. Out since last July but he's throwing. He's throwing! Jed Hoyer says, “He’s doing great, I think we’ll evaluate it, but he’s not far off.” And if Jed says he's not far off he must not be far off.
It's perfect: Cubs have old catchers, they need an outfielder, Hosmer ain't any younger than he used to be, and they have one too many starting pitchers. Yankees crack rehab team will have Hendricks back on the IL, I mean back in the rotation, in no time.
World Series right around the corner. Around the corner and up the way a little bit. Maybe cross the street and go up another block or so. But it's walking distance
Per MLB.com
ReplyDeleteThe Yankees announced that they have recalled right-hander Greg Weissert from Triple-A, with fellow righty Colten Brewer designated for assignment in a corresponding move. The club’s 40-man roster count drops to 39.
——————————————
The issue with Weissert, and it’s a big one, is lack of control. Otherwise, he has better stuff than any other reliever on the roster with the possible exception of King.
Brewer (who looked like Robert Duvall in To Kill A Mockingbird) could return to SWB if he clears waivers, which seems likely.
I check in every day with you all, it's my Yankees ritual,,,, you're ALL soOOOooo damn funny and insightful it has thankfully replaced the joy that I used to have following the team. Because this is another Cashman construction, I've basically given up all hope that the season will end well, so I'm trying to wrap my head around the concept of simply enjoying some moments; the newbies, The Master and Suyzyn, Judge, etc while dropping any and all expectation of any post season success. It's a different way to root for this team, I'm trying my best to adjust,,,,, fun times LOL!
ReplyDelete@ Hammer...Perhaps it was German's girl friend he groped?
ReplyDeleteYes, Placido should sing God Bless America during the 7th inning. But I wonder if he can sing all the high notes in the national anthem.
999 - on Monday I proposed a trade to another player in my fantasy baseball league - Correa for Torres.
ReplyDeleteThey rejected it - so I was stuck with Correa.
One can never predict (fantasy) baseball, Suzyn.
Twitter today brought clarity to John's Anthony Volpe HR call, which sounds like it was designed to be misheard.
ReplyDelete“Anthony Volpe! A spettacolo oggi! Ohhh the fox socks one to left!”
“A spettacolo oggi” is Italian for “A show today!” Is the Master entering his Dianne Feinstein period?
Stang,
ReplyDeleteNot until there is a Home Run and he goes, "Gooooooooooaaaaal!"
Har!
ReplyDeleteMichael Kay just went Master on a Cabrera foul, declaring it a homer until it wasn't.
Isn’t the weather just perfect?
ReplyDeletePlacido had perfect pitch.
ReplyDeleteArchie, my late reaction to your comment is lolololololololol!!
ReplyDeleteSo the smushed face abuser is having the best game of his career. It's partially not imperfect.
Will that avoid the jinx?
And we can't score with guys all over the bases.
Getting overcast. Perfect for catching fly balls.
ReplyDeleteNo Perfecto. No no hitter. But a damn nice showing. Maybe he hasn't completely lost it.
ReplyDeleteThese fake homerun calls are getting outta hand lol
ReplyDeleteIt is high, it is far, it is OFF THE WALL!
ReplyDeleteAnd Stanton stood at the plate to watch the ball he just hit and ended up at second instead of third. If he ran hard out of the box, an outside chance at an inside the parker. Third, easy.
ReplyDeleteHe was probably listening to Kay’s call.
ReplyDeleteVolpe is gonna steal home this year…
ReplyDeleteYankees Win!!!
ReplyDeleteToronto just beat the Rays again. You can get off the ledge now…
ReplyDelete😀
Good win today. Let's not wash our hands of the 2023 Yankees yet.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a while since I rooted for the Blew Jays, but a sweep of the D-Rays would be fun.
ReplyDelete"The Best Team in MLB History" would suddenly have only a 2 game lead.
As a wise man once said,
"You can figure baseball Suzyn."
Actually, if the Yanks were smart they would assign their scouts to simply scout Tampa's scouts so they have a chance to draft or sign the players Tampa follows.
@ Carl Oh, I'm sure Placido can hit all the high notes in our anthem. He's a world class opera tenor. The American anthem, which is based on the music for an old English drinking song, has a few high notes, but they're not that high. It's noted for its difficulty for ordinary people to sing well, but an opera tenor can do it in his sleep.
ReplyDelete