To insure that our readers are keenly aware of today's presumptive reality, before going straight to the Comments Section to scream about your latest indignity, please take the following IT IS HIGH TEST OF COGNITIVE SENTIENCE. (Note: Octopuses generally ace this.)
The following chart shows the current hitting leaders in all of baseball. Study it carefully. (If you are an octopus, let your tentacles taste and savor each number.)
The Question: Does any one particular twosome on any one particular team stand out? (Note: I have added colors to help in formulating your answer.)
If you answered YES, two players do stand out... congratulations, Octomom! You have the timber and fiber of an authentic MLB manager. That means you could decide what to do when playing the Yankees. And, of course, we all know what that would mean: You'd walk the second guy whenever possible.
For now, that's Aaron Judge.
Today, the Interweb is full of suggestions for how the Yankee brain trust can save Judge from being continually motioned to first base with flicks of opposing managers' wrists. There, the slugger festers until the final out of the inning is recorded.
I won't join that Suggestion Box Chorus. We can move Judge up or down, back and forth, or willy-nilly, but he won't see pitches worth hitting until one change comes about. And its name is Giancarlo.
Until Giancarlo Stanton starts hitting - (when that will happen is anyone's guess) - Judge will stand there, as exposed as Sally Rand, without a Babadook behind him to strike fear in opposing dugouts.
Listen: I love Austin Wells. He might just be a great catcher, a Jorge-type, who becomes a lynchpin to winning teams. But right now, he is no reason to pitch to Judge.
Listen: I think Ben Rice is an intriguing young hitter, whose discipline provides a bright future, especially if he can catch. But right now, he is no reason to pitch to Judge.
Listen: We might someday put an asterisk on the date that Jazz Chisholm became a Yankee, as the moment when the 2024 season turned in our favor. But right now, he is no reason to pitch to Judge.
Anthony Volpe? Nope. DJ LeMahieu? Too soon. The Martian? At least a month away.
A hot Giancarlo Stanton is the reason to pitch to Judge. And that will happen when it happens. Nothing we can do - except maybe win a few close games via pitching - will matter. Judge will get walked until the next guy is scary enough to make a difference. That next guy is Giancarlo. Right now, he's a double play ball waiting to happen. But one of these days, he will get hot. I think.
So, get back into your water tank. And a reminder: Tomorrow night begins my annual dRUNK BLOg. Hopefully, by then, Giancarlo will be hitting. If not... as Suzyn says... "O boy."
Posts
19 comments:
Wait a second - Does Ohtani actually still play in the MLB corporation?
Ewwwwww. That creeps me out.
I figure Stanton will be hitting by the time I'm back in New York, which is late next week. Should be sooner, but I don't want to tempt the Juju gods by assuming it will be.
Plus, I'll be in Berlin starting tomorrow. I don't know if the gods keep track of us that far east, but it might be dicey. At least, that's what George Smiley is telling me.
JM - if you run into Irving - please give him my regards.
viel Glück!
Judge used to bat in the 2 hole. Of course, he also batted lead-off. They should try having Judge bat #2 and Soto #3. Stanton would still need to start hitting to protect Soto, for sure.
Carl, I've been thinking about that for a month or two now. Makes sense to me.
I see a songwriting opportunity for a Harris Walz.
The point is that there’s currently no one else in the order good enough to protect these two freaks of nature.
To the CW’s point - Professor Boone could alternate them each game - Judge in front of Soto one game, Soto in front of Judge the next.
I'm so old, I still like having a set lineup and set position players. With some flexibility, but mostly always the same, barring injuries.
In a game that’s trying to expand its appeal and relevance what is more counterproductive than removing the impact of its biggest stars? As discussed yesterday on the Kay show, the intentional BB has got to be amended. My own personal choice would be to limit to one time per batter per game.
Agreed - BTR - Agreed
Good idea.
The Judge in #2 slot argument still comes up. Amazing. If I was an opposing pitcher, I'd much prefer Judge hitting #2. I'd walk him every time or throw unhittable pitches in unhittable spots. If he wants to get himself out, he can.
Soto #3 wouldn't protect Judge. If the leadoff man made out, I'd walk both of them. Or pitch both of them very tough. I'd take my chances with the guys in back of them. Even if the leadoff man got on, I'd still prefer to walk both of them. Because I think I can get out of it with just one run. And that's a lot better than a big inning.
The reason Judge has over 100 RBI is that he's been hitting #3 this year. If he'd been in the #2 slot, he'd have only 80 RBI, maybe less.
Exorcising the IBB or limiting it to only once per game wouldn't do any good. The pitchers would simply throw four wide ones, like the good old days. I would, anyways. It does have a slight risk of throwing wild pitches, so there's that.
Stanton has become our newest rendition of "Gets hot, gets hurt". He won't get hot anytime soon. It'll take him 'til almost the end of the season to get going. Whereupon he'll get hurt again. Why do I feel like Sisyphus?
We're much, much better off without Stanton. Even if he has a good game in the playoffs, he gets hurt at the end of that game. Then, we play a man short for the rest of that playoff series because he can't play but Cashman is dumb enough not to DL him. It's happened before; it'll happen again.
I still believe this ain't no playoff team. I'm still in "I'll believe it when I see it" mode. They are fully capable of a 20 game losing streak. Or losing 30 out of 35 games. I have zero faith in this team.
A lot of it has to do with the management, of course. If they had competent management, they would definitely make the playoffs. But with Cashman and Napoleon Boonaparty, fuhgeddabout it! I hear they have a country club atmosphere in the clubhouse. A ballclub that hasn't won diddly squat since 2009 has a country club atmosphere! Can't even make this stuff up!
Excellent points - hog. Wish we had a couple of “professional” hitters to bat behind the dynamic duo - but we don’t
Oh, oh the amazing sentience of octopuses! An octopus would not pitch to Judge with any of their arms. Not even three or four arms simultaneously
It is true Judge would lose rbi opportunities if he batted in front of Soto, but my lyin' eyes tell me that Soto doesn't chase pitches as much as Judge. Don't have stats, but my impression is that. Problem is, by definition Soto would have come up 40 times this year with the bases empty.
There's a reason I'm not the manager. I'd still be better than Bonehead, though.
And octopuses are cool. Except when they're on your head. After dark. Then it's a little creepy. Plus the bites hurt. Kinda like the fat girl you dated a couple of times in college when you were so high you didn't notice.
Anyway octopuses are cool, if a little chewy.
Post a Comment