But here's the thing: He was always right. The next play could bring a fumble or six-pick interception. Every single play, every single moment on a field - or in life -can be the instant that changes everything. (You go, Marianne Williamson!)
Baseball bloggers face a similar dilemma when attempting to pinpoint the Yankee who will matter the most this season. Any idiot knows that 2024 will balance on Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole. We can shinny down the roster and imagine anybody becoming a key lug nut. What if Luke Weaver develops a smooshball and wins 20 games? Won't he be the most important Yankee? Fuck, yeah! We'll be the Dream Weaver. We'll do the Weave Wave! Leave it to Weaver!
But from where we stand now - hours before the Valentines Day cascade of chocolates and Viagra - one Yankee stands out, in part because of 2023's unfinished business.
We still don't know WTF to expect from Anthony Volpe.
His range of 2024 outcomes now stretch from home town superstardom to a complete flop. He won't be Derek Jeter, but he could be a foundational block on which the Yankees build their team. He won't be Zolio Almonte, but he could be a disappointment to be eventually traded for a meatball sub. Wither goest Clint Frazier!
Last year, Volpe - age 22 - hit .209 with 21 HR and 60 RBIs. He stole 24 bases, not bad for a guy with a horrible OBP of .283. He fanned 167 times, 10th in the AL. He won the AL Gold Glove, though let's just say his status as the premier fielding SS remains questionable. He hit .198 against righties, .248 against lefties. For a Jersey boy, he hit better on the road (.229) than at home. Twice, in June and August, he seemed to poised to get hot, but he never did. Over the second half of the season, he hit .200. Ugh.
There is talk about changing his launch angle - God, I hate that phrase - and exit velos, and bunting, blah blah blah, but it might as well be Tony Romo talking about UFOs. If we know anything about baseball, it's that the season is long enough for spring training resolutions to end up in the dumpster.
But here's the thing:
If Volpe becomes half the player the Yankees once projected him to be, 2024 could turn on a dime. So...
IF VOLPE HITS: Let's say he bats .265 with 25 HRs, his stolen bases should rise to 40. He could move to the leadoff spot or continue to bat ninth, creating a circular order. He could get on base for DJ LeMahieu or Alex Verdugo, psyching out pitchers, elevating each at-bat. There is rabid speculation as to how Juan Soto could boost the offense. Volpe could have the same cascading impact. If he hits like he did in the minors, you can even imagine the Yankee challenging Baltimore (which remains the team to beat.)
IF VOLPE DOESN'T HIT: Shoot me. If he fails again - maybe .200 with fewer HRs - well, the Yankees will have watched their most vaunted prospect in years turn into an afterthought. We'll move on to Oswald Peraza. Volpe will still only be 23 - plenty of time to blossom - but to Yank fans, he'll be 35. Once again, the Yankees will have a black hole at the bottom of their batting order. That will put more pressure on the sluggers, who will see fewer hittable pitches. It will be like an NFL team with a decimated offensive line: One domino topples another, and another...
So, on this one, I'm Tony Fucking Romo. When I look at 2024, everything turns on Volpe. A year into his MLB career, we still donno what he's got. Soon, though, that will change. Cross your fingers.
The poor kid has had his swing fucked up by our crack coaching staff. I think he's better than last year showed. I sure hope he is. Maybe Judge can quietly get him to his personal hitting coach and away from the destructive force of our idiots.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, in pitching...it seems that we're still in the mix to get Dylan Cease, but it's gonna cost us a legit, high-level prospect (Spencer is off the table, supposedly).
That would be good. We need another quality starter. But who knows? It's all a crap shoot.
.265 would be a miracle. Settle for a around .230 and an OBP north of .315.
ReplyDeleteIf Stanton plays and hits, the Yankees can carry that. Stanton's the real make or break guy.
ReplyDeleteIt also may squeak the hinge a bit with Ausmus in the dugout and Giardi in the booth.
ReplyDeleteIsn’t it Boone’s last year of his contract - they may send him home early - you know, for observation.
CORRECTION:
ReplyDeleteG I R A R D I
My apologies
1) Pub -
ReplyDeleteStanton's return to, even mediocrity, would be outstanding but if he's the make or break guy then we are doomed.
He could be the break guy as in, the Yankees get a break if he breaks something early and is gone for the season allowing Soto to be the principal DH and getting an extra batter who can actually hit every once in a while into the lineup.
2) Volpe
Good suggestion about using Judge's hitting coach because he should be going for contact and OBP, not HRs. Get on and steal a base. BTW how is it that Yankees feel the need to have outside hitting coaches? What a poorly run team.
3) We still need a third baseman!
I like Volpe and there’s still reason to believe he can improve his offense. But his .283 OBP was second to last among all qualifying players, and that won’t cut it. He needs to show better pitch recognition (should come with more experience) and stop swinging for the fences, which unfortunately is what this team stupidly teaches its prospects to do. (Recall the Tarzan-like grunting mantra “hit strikes hard” of departed hitting “coach” Dillon Lawson). I would sign up right now for the .265 BA Duque mentioned, but would be happy with less as long as the OBP improves. I don’t really care about the HR production, but he should maximize his skills by running more. He ran quite a bit early last season, but stopped around the end of May. I know analytics hate SBs so they probably gave the walking jellyfish Boone orders to stop it, which he did like the good li’l lap dog he is. In a perfect world AV would be our lead-off hitter, but for now he serves best out of the 9 hole. This team does not have an actual lead-off hitter. Don’t try to sell me DJLM, he is in decline and runs like a turtle with a broken leg.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the regular season will not turn on Volpe, Stanton, or Soto but on the pitching. If the pitching can reach acceptable levels this should be a playoff team. If not…
Finally: somebody needs to gag that insufferable prick Romo. Is he getting paid by the word? He was the only flaw in an otherwise terrific Super Bowl. He’s probably still blathering about the last play. STFU already!
Doug--Gio would be great at third and won't break the bank, either. But then what do you do with DJ? I doubt they would make him a part-time player. Too much money being paid. That usually determines who the Yankees play.
ReplyDeleteSo I think we should resign ourselves to DJ, Volpe, Gleyber, Rizzo, third to first.
Unless, of course, we could get another starter for Gleyber. Then sign Gio and put DJ at second.
Come on, JM!
ReplyDeleteThat idea of yours, although a very good one, would assume that The Intern has some spark of creativity in that useless cranium of his. I won't even call what he has a brain, because he never seems to use it.
Back to the mailroom for him!
I know, I know. Any speculation regarding any problem actually being fixed is moot. Cashman is an idiot.
ReplyDeleteNo chance in hell.
Cashman has a chance in hell…..
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI know how to get him to hit .309 with 31 HRs.
Trade him.