Tuesday, June 18, 2024

The most perilous Yankee period is upon us: It's Cashman Time

Well, the Babadook is here. 

We should have foreseen it, when Anthony Rizzo last week showed modest signs of primordial life. Rizzo homered dramatically against KC, temporarily salvaging a game that, in the end, would become a walk-off debacle. He followed with a 2-hit game, marching to the "Get hot & get hurt" mantra that has haunted Yankee hitters for a decade.

By now, you know that Rizzo will miss 4-to-6 weeks with a broken wrist. The way the Yankee front office soft-soaps injuries, it's reasonable to expect him to miss 6-to-8 weeks, if not longer. That would put his return in September, when God knows where the Yankees will be, and whether an open slot will exist for him. 

Considering the team's a $6 million 2025 buyout option - (as opposed to paying him $17 million) - the Anthony Rizzo Era may have ended with the Yankees. Between now and September, it's hard to imagine Cooperstown Cashman standing pat at 1B, especially the way DJ LeMahieu has been driving balls into the ground. 

Whatever happens - (thinking Yank fans always fear the worst) - it will likely cost Rizzo his future in the Bronx. Six weeks away from his 35th birthday, the guy was hitting just .223 with 8 HRs. Among MLB starting first basemen, Rizzo ranked 22nd out of 24 in OPS (a meager .630), just ahead of Detroit's recently demoted Spencer Torkelson.  

In a nutshell, the Babadook. At Scranton, the Yankees have a 6'5" oak named TJ Rumfield, who is batting .303 but with only 5 HRs. He's said to be good with a glove, and he bats LH, which helps. He's 24, signed out of Virginia Tech, and I gotta believe the fan base would love to see a broad-shouldered galoot, who at least looks good coming off the bus. But who are we kidding? Five HRs? Cashman wants something with pop.  

There's also Ben Rice, a 25-year-old ex-Dartmouth Greenie - (Alphonso's alma mater, by the way) - who is still listed as a catcher, though  he's transitioning to first. At Scranton, he's 14 for 42 (.333) with 3 HRs. (He had 12 HRs at Double A, so there's power.) But we must worry about his glove. Also, he bats RH, a bummer. 

Which means Cashman is working the phones. One possibility: 37-year-old Jose Abreu, who was released last week by the Astros, after compiling some of the worst numbers north of Joey Gallo. Abreu was hitting .124 with 2 HRs, and he bats RH, without a platoon pathway. The only advantage: Houston will pay his salary. 

Somewhere out there, some journeyman 1B might soon receive the opportunity of a lifetime - being injected into NYC pennant race. But Yank fans have every reason to fear the worst. The Babadook is here. Voldemort. Baltimore...

14 comments:

JM said...

Cole is pitching on Wednesday. First start of the year, and his last start with Scranton lasted less than five innings. He was good, but is he really ready? He better be. But even if he's doing great, does he get pulled early? That means Boone's bullpen mismanagement will be given extra chances to drag us into the pit (like it did this weekend).

If you really want to get depressed, read the latest Keefe. He nails every single thing, from Boone's incompetence to the disastrous arms we're carrying in the pen to Gleyber's negative effect on the team.

It's too early to start drinking, too. Damn it.

Doug K. said...

I like the idea of a 6'4" professional first baseman. So bring TJ up!

You know, some of those Gleyber slow internal clock failures on the DP might go away with a tall lefty who can stretch.

This as opposed to a righty ageing converted second baseman who was converted to third and whose idea of stretching for a ball is what he does when he wakes up in the AM and has an itch.

They weren't getting a lot of pop from 1st anyway. I'll take a guy who is capable of hitting .280 can get on base. Plus his name is TJ so he's got that out of the way.

Doug K. said...

I wonder about Cole's first start being all high intensity pitches from the get go. Sounds like a recipe for re-injury.

ranger_lp said...

Here's your answer...

The Yankees are giving Ben Rice a shot to play 1B in Anthony Rizzo’s absence

Rice is hitting .275 with a .925 OPS and 15 homers across AA/AAA this season

Doug K. said...

Ranger - Good! He needs to come up anyway as the Yankees will probably reluctantly reveal that Trevino has been playing hurt the whole time and he can get some games in behind the plate as well.

JM said...

Yes! Rice is nice. Hope he can deliver and stick.

Wait. Sticky rice? I wonder if his father was a kernel in the Army?

JM said...

From MLB.com:

Compare Judge’s 2024 line to his 2022 MVP season …

2022 – .425 OBP / .686 SLG / 1.111 OPS / 210 OPS+
2024 – .425 OBP / .686 SLG / 1.110 OPS / 210 OPS+

… and there’s nothing about this that’s out of the ordinary, other than the highs and lows. He’s done this before. He’s doing it now. This might just be who he is – which is a generationally great hitter.

BTR999 said...

Difficult to project what we have in Rice. Some nice stats in MiLB, but is just another AAAA washout? We know without seeing he has had substandard coaching.

Could very well be the last we see of Rizzo. He gave us a few good years than became an overpaid drain on payroll. Can’t say he was blocking anyone since this org beliefs anyone can play 1B, an insult to an old first slacker like me.

Mildred Lopez said...


Wheels be wobblin'

Doug K. said...


Rizzo's greatest contribution might have been his friendship with Judge. He was the Judge whisperer during his 62 HR season and you will notice that when Judge was making up his mind where to go the Yankees locked in Rizzo VERY quickly in the process.

JM said...

Judge may be wearing a cast, but I hope he keeps showing up for games in the dugout. Smart guy, he has something to offer there.

BTR999 said...

Please let me point out Rice bats LH, not RH

13bit said...

Home call:

"RICE AND BEANS OVER THE WALL!"

Kevin said...

Everytime I hear the "anyone can play first base" I think of Sheffield up-talking (as usual) how that he was an athlete and could easily handle first. Only he couldn't. Nothing in baseball is "easy" when it counts.