To face the Mets, the Yanks turned to the Still Alive Five (TM) - the core of young players that must thrive in 2024, and which has basically disappointed thus far.
The Yankees are the Team of Maybe (TM)- with enough maybes to fill an entire division - and the Still Alive Five represents a giant step forward that could catapult the team into destiny, or history, or something.
So, who are these five players, and most importantly, what have they done lately? Well...
1. Anthony Volpe, 23, is doing it. This spring, he is 6-for-17 (.353) with a double, triple and 3 stolen bases. Much has been written about his reduced uppercut, which last year threatened to turn him into a SS version of Joey Gallo. We'll see. But thus far, nothing to dislike.
2. Oswald Peraza, 23, finally played yesterday, after missing a week due to a tight shoulder. March was threatening to pass him by. It still might. He went 0-2 with 2 Ks, adding to a lost spring, thus far. He has come to the plate 5 times, fanned four. His window as an elite prospect is closing. Another year in Scranton, and he's Estevan Florial Jr.
3. Everson Pereira, 23,didn't get a hit in three appearances. On the spring, he is 3 for 16, with a HR. Last year, Periera rocketed through the farm system, then went knock-kneed at the MLB level in September. The Yanks still love him, but the OF is overcrowded, and he will surely start in Scranton. That could make him a trade chip, as soon as the Yankees need pitching.
4. Austin Wells, 24, he's the one youngster who didn't disappoint last year, but that might be changing. He is 2-15 with 7 strikeouts. Ugh. Heading into camp, he looked like a lock to platoon with Jose Trivino at catcher. Now, dunno. Ben Rortvedt - the Consonant King - is 3-for-10 this spring. He's out of options, so the Yankees can't send him to Scranton. Wells might get caught in the expendability game: If he can be dispatched to Scranton, it will probably happen.
5. Oswaldo Cabrera, 25, is running out of time. Damn. The guy just cannot hit. He went 0-3 yesterday with two Ks. On the spring, he is 1-for-18, though with only four strikeouts. (I'm Mr. Brightside!) Supposedly, he is abandoning his attempt to switch-hit, becoming a LH bat. That's a bad sign.
But, hey, maybe everything will work. After all, this is the Team of Maybe.
Volpe has looked pretty impressive with the glove, too. Maybe that GG wasn't deserved last year, but it might be this year.
ReplyDeleteSpencer was sent down. No surprise. No room at the inn...er, outfield. So how will The Martian elbow his way in?
Shoulda traded Vertigo. Shit. Shoulda signed Monty. Shit. Shoulda signed Snell, even. Shit.
Still stuck with Hal and Tosis. Shit.
I like the Still Alive Five. Sounds like a little known part of the Marvel Universe sort of a Not Brand Ecccch kind of thing.
ReplyDeleteThen again, there is probably a multiverse where Red Thunder, ICS, Florial, The Bird Man, and Miggy "Two Bags" are All Stars and playing for their 3rd title in a row on their way to first ballot HOF induction.
JM - that’s a whole lotta in and a whole lotta shit.
ReplyDeleteAnd come to think of it, the word Yankees does sorta sound like the brand name of a paper product that a teenager might use to clean up any trace of any mess left behind.
Perhaps it is high time that this, our beloved baseball team be renamed to reflect a more modern and appropriate branding.
I propose:
THE NEW YORK CASHMEN
ReplyDeleteThe New York Hellbenders
State amphibian of Pennsylvania.
AA: Maybe the CashCows?
ReplyDeleteHH:
ReplyDeleteAre they not Men?
{insert Devo joke here}
Are they not controlled by the Intern?
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asking for a friend
Wow. We're in mid-season form: hanging on every meaningless at bat, are we?
ReplyDeleteMildred,
ReplyDeleteI had to look it up.
I prefer the other nickname -- the snot otters.
Good to see Rondon is in mid season form!
ReplyDeleteSomebody give Jones a first baseman’s mitt. Once Rizzo collapses (which will be very soon if not sooner), he can play there until Judge’s legs give out. Then they can swap places.
ReplyDeleteNot Brand Ecccch....oh, those were the days.
ReplyDeleteAA, interesting you should say that about the team name. A late, great, Red Sox fan I knew called us the Yank-me's. Very close.
Is Rondon sucking again? I'm shocked, shocked, I say.
He is definitely Devo.
can we PLEASE make the Rondon't thing stick...asking for a friend.
ReplyDeleteRodon't with Can't run.
ReplyDeleteTwo Ca$h-tastrophies.