When Boone sent Volpe up to pinch hit with the bases loaded and two outs ( the score tied at 0-0 ), I watched him look like a high school kid eaten up by the first two pitches, and then I turned off the TV set and went to dinner.
I could see that Volpe had no prayer.
And fans of this blog knew this was the best Yankee chance of the entire evening. The only chance. If we score here, we win. If not, this game is lost.
I didn't want to see the look of abject failure on Volpe's face when he struck out. Nor did I wish to witness the Yankee bench doing their best to stem looks of disappointment and compassion for a teammate they love.
I won't even mention the horror of having to hear the joyous roar of the Toronto fan base and team, brought forth by his failure.
It was going to be terrible. And I just felt, " if I don't see it happen, maybe it won't." Volpe does not want me in his foxhole with him.
I understand that Boone wanted to create a " Derek" moment. It would be so encouraging if Volpe could come through as the great Derek regularly did. And I do believe ( we all do ) that Derek would have put the bat on the ball and, likely as not, hit a base clearing double.
But that was Derek.
And this was Volpe.
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55 comments:
Yes, you are correct, but the fact that he had to PH there is a testament to the failure of ASSman to field a complete MLB level team.
who could have hit in that spot -Hicks?
The fact that this kid had to bat, when he should be getting a full season of AAA ball is damning evidence of ASSman's failure to sign an experienced All-Star caliber SS when they were on the market and moving Volpe to 2B as the majority of scouts said he should be. Or perhaps he or Peraza could have been traded for a VG starter from a pitching rich organization. Or Torres could have been traded for an OF of modest ability to play LF while Volpe and Peraza matured.
Instead we had a Not Ready for Prime Time player up.
That is not second guessing. It is what many of us here have stated for years.
Again, why is HICKS ON THIS TEAM?
Yes just reported that Trevino has a groin pull and is on the IL
His replacement? The man, the myth Ben Rortvedt. Make of it what you will.
Alphonso, I think your assessment in the previous post—the Yanks' front office doesn't aggressively fill needs, it just allocates funds to a pre-set budget—was absolutely brilliant, a wonderful assessment-in-a-nutshell of how the team operates and has operated for a long time.
They simply refuse to sign free agents who would make all the difference, or explore trades for top players. Instead, it's always tinkering around the margins, with the implication that the farm system will provide the core of the team.
Then...they stick with guys who have proven, over and over again, that they cannot build a good farm system.
It's all beyond the definition of insanity. It's now the definition of inanity.
That said, I think Volpe was worth taking a look at. No, he's not Jeter. Who is?
The trouble is, as several have noted, when you're trying to bring a promising young player along you DON'T throw him into situations like last night's, setting him up for embarrassing failure.
It speaks again to how badly this roster is constructed, and how little Ma Boone does with it.
Alphonso...had Volpe gotten a hit what would be your headline? Would it have to change like "DEWEY WINS!!! changed in the later newspaper editions or would there even be a post? Inquiring blogger minds want to know (at least this one does)!
And also AA Volpe will remain the Yankees shortstop until the end of his baseball career because he's CASHMAN'S shortstop, and by god Cashman was absolutely right in passing on all the shortstops who were growing on trees these past two years because our Brian IS NEVER WRONG!
It's sad to see Volpe flailing away right now; he probably even knows he's underdone and could have used a little more time in the oven but he's stuck - stuck like Hicks is stuck even though it's apparent to anyone with eyeballs that what Hicks needs most is a change of scenery. But our Brian admit he was wrong...b-b-buy Bushwood??!!
1Torres. 2B
2Judge DH
3Rizzo 1B
4LeMahieu 3B
5Bader CF
6Cabrera, RF
7Volpe. SS
8Higashioka C
9Hicks, LF
Why is Judge at DH? Why is Cenrera not hitting last?
Inquiring minds want to know…
Horace, I disagree with you in one respect. Much like pitch counts coddle and restrict pitchers from staying in the game and learning how to pitch in high-leverage situations, MLB players, especially from what I've seen of Volpe, are no porcelain China doll waiting to be broken forever should they fail. I'm not pissed at Buffoone for doing that. Especially, as we've noted, no one else was available.
Sorry Cabrera on my above, not Cenrera, whoever that is.
Big fingers, small phone.
Nolpe yet for Volpe.
Just keep on stealing them bases and we'll be ok.
Also MLB.tv just dropped by 50% (which is still roughly 25% more than it should be) so I grabbed it and now will be able to watch these 2023 over achievers under achieve their way to immortality.
Can we put together a pool on how many games/days it will take for Ben R to injure himself and go to the IL?
I'm down for 4 days. Not games, days. He'll probably be felled by pigeon poop.
Just to lighten the mood, Donaldson hurt his thumb while putting together a dollhouse for his daughter so his rehab is ion temporary hold. I shit you not
Sorry to disappoint!
Not Jeter? That is such a high bar it's almost unfair to the young man. It's like asking the next young catcher (do the Yankees even dream of such a thing anymore?) to be like a young Munson.
BTR
I told you. There is no way he wants to come back and suck and get booed.
All he has to do is keep finding a way to stay hurt, "rehab", cash his final 26 MILLION dollar check, and retire at the end of the year.
One day he can appear at a Blue Jays Old Timers Day (a la Jacoby with the Sox) and laugh and laugh and laugh!
Since discovering Volpe is half Pinoy, I assure you his Tiger mom has instilled a no fucks anttitude about humiliation. Last nights pinch-out and error will roll off his back. Like the previous five errors did. I think it was the same inning he made a great double play.
Until he blows it again, the I’m back to fuck him.
Looking forward to B-Rort. He’s practically a rookie too.
What would a Sterling HR call for Ben Rortvedt look like?
Luis Cessa was released by the Reds…
Cessa - Rortvedt...the perfect Cashman battery...is within our grasp.
You can bet on Rortvedt.
Old Blue Finger gets it done!
Looks like it’s an Amazon game. Maybe I’ll get to watch!
Big Ben Goes Pen?
Hmm… That suggestion was above average.
Judge goes Yardy
Why is Hicks in the lineup?
Can’t get YES on Amazon so I’ve got the Toronto feed…. I don’t know which is which but the Toronto “Colour” guy has THE MOST OBNOXIOUS FUCKING VOICE I’VE EVER HEARD! Back to the shack I guess
He sounds Suzyn and Gilbert Gottfrieds love child
That would indeed have had to be a love child
Boone is having a nervous breakdown.
Aaron! Save some for the rest of the league!
Buck Martinez is the color guy. You might remember him as a catcher…
Gary the Met. Lol.
Nope, don’t remember him. Suzyn must. What a broad!
hicks Cooper maxi play of the game yay
ugh
Ffs....
Buck Martinez is the guy who started the "suspicious eye movement" crap about Judge.
*uck martinez
#1 Yankee Hater did not get the job done :) RBI whatever don’t care, he didn’t get a back page for that. Now he has to play.
I like Rizzo, but can he please stop swinging at pitches that are eyeball height? It seems that 99% of his strikeouts are him flailing at fastballs that are a foot above the top of the strike zone.
Abreu got away with one…
Volpe!!!
The Kid.
VolPEEEEEEEEEE!
“Turning on some CHEESE!”
Three-hit-Hicks. Anything is possible. Dream the impossible dream.
Trade Hicks tonight - have him parachute out of the charter into the open sunroof of a fast moving Uber to Chicago
Yankees Win!!
Josh Donaldsbury
Judge homered, Yankees won. It really is that simple.
I'd say give little Tony a couple of more weeks to see if he can survive in the majors.
3/4 in TOR ain’t bad…Need to win the Cincy series if not sweep outright
STILL - I think that Hicks has the athleticism to make the adjustments necessary to land inside an Uber or a Lyft heading to Chicago. SO let's trade his arse for a bowl of vanilla soft serve and a pair of donkey socks.
You may have a point about Volpe, Carl Weitz. But I still think a pinch-hitting assignment in that spot is a little much. Let the guy get some at-bats on the night at least.
But hey, nice snap back by him tonight.
Dr. Ulu concurs!
As for Donaldson...yeah. Let's just say that the guy seems to have lost a little desire. Building his little girl's dollhouse?
Try using that as an excuse sometime to your boss.
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