Florial went 2-for-5 with a pair of roped singles, but he fanned once - enflaming a bugaboo that doesn't apply to other Yankees, which leaves him trapped in Wilkes Barre for eternity, or at least the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
We've discussed Florial ad nauseum. It's complicated. He fans too much, some scout is blackballing him, and he's out of minor league options, so if the Yankees promote him, they can't send him back. He passed through waivers this spring, but he won't this time, so...
Quick, everybody! Sing along with the Kingston Trio:
"Oh, he'll never return,
"No he'll never return,
"And his fate is still unlearned.
"He may ride forever on the streets of Scranton,
"He's the man who'll never return..."
Last night, Florial was the toughest out in Syracuse. It's a continuing toothache that the Yanks won't give him 100 MLB at bats, just to see what happens. He's tied for the International League lead in HRs, hitting .294, and he's one of the fastest Yankees in the system. Last night, he beat out a fielders choice on pure speed. And he's the man who'll never return.
Between now and Aug. 1, you'd think the Yanks would give Florial a chance. At worst, he's a solid defensive OF - better than either Jake Bauers or Billy McKinney. If he hits, he might save Cooperstown Cashman from another disastrous deadline deal, as the Yankees continue to squander bright young assets in a darkening future. But don't hold your breath. He's the man who'll never return.
One other thing about last night: Elijah Dunham - playing CF and wearing number 7 - went 3-for-5 with a HR. Dunham started the year hot, then became a human Ice Bucket Challenge. Last night, he broke a 1-for-19 skid, lifting his average to a mere .223. Still, the guy looks scary coming off the bus. He has the shoulders of a Giambi. If he could just get hot...
Other matters:
Anthony Volpe. I want to scream at the TV when the YES Men talk up Volpe's recent resurgence. They are bombarding the kid with disastrous juju, the kind usually reserved for Russian subversives and tourist submersibles. Every time Volpe comes up, they mention chicken parm and his recent spree: He's 8 for 15 in his last four games. It's way too soon to pronounce Volpe done with his rookie slump. (Before this mini-streak, he was 3 for 18.) But but BUT... he's up to .212. (Could he make .230 by the all-star break?)
Anthony Rizzo. Last night, amid the rollover of poor Oakland/Las Vegas, he took a fast ball to the elbow. X-rays came back negative. But cross your fingers. Even though he's not been hitting, the loss of Rizzo would be catastrophic. His glove at first base is indispensable.
Jackie Donaldson. The Yankees finally won a game in which he homered. That likely means another month of him. He won't move at the deadline. Nobody will take him. At some point, maybe mid-August, the Yankees will give up and DFA Donaldson. And we know what will happen next: He'll sign with a rival, hit a few HRs and rail about how he didn't get enough chances in NY. Shoot me.
Luis Severino. Sevy in Saint Louie tonight. He needs to build off that last outing. Could Domingo's perfecto raise all troubled Yankee boats? Could Setback Sevy become Salvation Sevy? Are we talking about Domingo German and the Dial of Destiny?
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12 comments:
I’ve been advocating for Flo for a few years now. I don’t think he’s necessarily going to be a big time player, but as duque pointed out, he’s going to be at least the equal of whoever we’re likely going to add at the TD. He would have to be added to the 40-man roster, which always seems to be a source of consternation to our vapid front office.
Donaldson hitting HR’s is definitely blocking Peraza, who returned to SWB after a mystery injury-illness that was hushed up like a case of VD at a nunnery. Looks like he could definitely be trade bait at the deadline. The team really does seem committed to Volpe for the whole season, for better or worse.
We’re exactly halfway through the season with 45 wins, on path for (checks math) 90 wins and a very possible WC berth. But it’s been a roller coaster, up and down season, impossible to predict. I suppose that would be a good thing for most teams, generating low-key excitement, but the burden of our expectations is a heck load to bear..
But hey, it could be worse - we could be the Mets! 😂
It looks like Volpe finally stopped swinging for the fences and is taking his base hits. That's a much better plan as singles become doubles with a stolen base. Plus he creates chaos.
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I don't think that the Yankees are going to trade Peraza but I could easily be wrong. He's pretty much proven himself and was part of the long term plan. Don't see why that would change.Sucks to be him right now though.
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Question for AA
and if you answered this already I'm sorry (I didn't see it) but...
Why did security take away your sign? It was small and,based on the way you were flashing it from time to time, you weren't being obnoxious or blocking people's views. Did they think you were signaling players in some way?
It was white. Did it interfere with the fielders ability to see the ball off the bat? Other people had signs ripping ownership and those were OK.
What was their justification?
Torres is a bonehead sometimes but he's one of the few who can actually hit.
Volpe is not a bonehead and it seems he may be starting to swing a bat like he should, making better contact, whacking the ball around, but he's not a smooth shortstop.
Jackie's shot. Sure, homerun yesterday and he has his average up to .143 (goes 1 - 5 and his average goes UP!). But he's shot.
Peraza is a shortstop, and he needs to hop a freight to St. Louis today. To. Day.
So how about Torres goes to third where he has no time to think? He was originally supposed to replace That's Headley way back when Bird and Gary and all those guys were the future so it's not like it's never been talked about.
I don't know. Desperate times and all that. I just get a bad feeling about Cashhat, the deadline, and Peraza.
If they said Rizzo is OK, then he'll be out 4-6 weeks.
Florial is still too young for Cashman to bring up. Another four years, maybe.
Volpe is showing a lot of good signs. Going the other way a lot. Even bunted in the perfect game. But why did it take so long? Doesn't speak well of the coaching here.
I will repeat: the craziest thing about the Florial situation is that Cashman is afraid...HE WILL DO WELL.
If Florial bombs, Cashie can simply send him through waivers and re-sign him for Scranton...AS HE HAS ALREADY DONE THIS YEAR.
The Yankees are now in a situation where they are afraid one of their best minor leaguers will be a big hit in the majors.
I think this is the new definition of insanity.
The head-shaking aspect of the Volpe story is that everyone repeats the chicken parm part without noting: The team's Double-A catcher straightened him out where all of the major-league coaches and the manager could not.
WHAT DOES THIS TELL US, PEOPLE???
(Sorry, feel like raving a little today.)
Hoss, as Buddy Holly once wrote, Rave On!
I still think the long-term solution is to move Volpe to second and deal Unconscious Gleyber.
But you may have the better idea, Mildred. Peraza and Volpe at short and third, it could be like Jeter and A-Rod: it doesn't really matter who plays where, together they would be a "Gold Glove Left Side." I suppose you could then bury Heads Up Torres somewhere in the lineup.
And 999...yeah, I never would've thought the Yankees would have 9 more wins than the Mets, playing as they have this year. Poor, cursed Metsies.
Donaldson now has 8 home runs on the season—and 11 hits, which someone was playing up yesterday as if it were a good thing. No, it is not.
Doug, you got any report card marks for us at the halfway point?
Florial may not be trade bait, in which case he's probably penciled in for next year. Depending how he does at Spring Training, the worst way to judge a player, as others have pointed out.
Cashman and his crew are easily the worst in baseball. And they'll be here until many of us are dust to dust.
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