Do you know me?

I'm T.J. Rumfield.

I was missing from the Yankees' Top 30 Prospects List the other day. Evidently, ranked behind even 16-year-old kids who have never left the D.R. And even though I ended up batting .292 and hitting 15 homers in just 114 games for the Scranton RailRiders last summer.

Don't believe me? 

Just listen to Jack Rotolo, who wrote this on the LWOS site last August 26th, in an article about the Top 5 players the Yanks were most likely to bring up for the stretch run:

The 24-year-old from Virginia has quietly put together a very solid season in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In 95 Triple-A games, T.J. Rumfield has smacked 12 homers with 59 RBI, not to mention boasting an OPS of .806. He’s also a defensive wiz at first base, winning a Minor League Gold Glove with Double-A Somerset last year.

When Anthony Rizzo fractured his arm in June, the Yanks could have called up Rumfield to replace him. But, they ended up choosing fellow first baseman Ben Rice, who has been on the MLB roster ever since. Both players are lefties with big frames, and they performed similarly in the minors. With Rice’s hot start long gone, the Yankees could very well take the opportunity to see how Rumfield fares at first base before Rizzo returns.

Huh. 

Rice ended up hitting .171 in 50 games, and didn't make the postseason roster, either. Of course, we don't know how T.J. might have hit, compared to Rizzo's 7-30 playoff run, with one double, no ribbies, and 10 Ks performance.

But I'd like you to try a little exercise. Warning: don't do this if you are alone at home.

Close your eyes, and picture that fifth inning in Game 5 of the World Series again. I know it's traumatic just going there—but try. 

Mookie Betts hits his slow roller to first and bursts out of the box. No question about it: he's going to outrun Gerrit "The Pointer" Cole to the bag.

But...a 6-5 "whiz" at first base—a guy who's maybe only hitting .000 in the playoffs so far but is not a walking invalid—charges the ball as he should, scoops it up neatly, and beats Mookie to the bag. 

Thunderous applause. Inning over. Soon, game over, with the Yankees winning handily. Back in LA, with Ohtani's sleeve pinned to his Jersey, the valiant, overextended Dodgers lose in 7. Maybe Anthony Rizzo smacks the Series-clinching homer in Chavez Ravine. 

After which he's replaced by fielding whiz T.J. Rumfield at first, for the bottom of the 9th. Where he gloves the final out for an ecstatic win that erases all the pain of this wretched century (at least when it comes to baseball).

Picture this...but do NOT do it without a loved one at home.  Otherwise, you will soon be picked up, screaming and naked on a street corner, trying to tear your hair out.

You have been warned.

 

At age 35, how much should the Yankees expect from Giancarlo Stanton?

Okay, people, close your textbooks and take out a paper and pencil. Time for a pop quiz on the Yankees' postseason hero and MVP of the American League Championship Series, Mr. Giancarlo Cruz-Michael Stanton. 

True or false... 

1. Giancarlo played his first two MLB seasons under the name "Mike."

2. In the recent world series, Giancarlo - our most dangerous slugger - batted just .238.

3. Over his illustrious 15-year career, through age 34, his statistical doppelganger is Edwin Encarnacion.  

4. In the recent postseason, Giancarlo picked up his only stolen base of 2024.

5. Over his entire career, on full counts - 3 and 2 - he's a .200 hitter.

6. Over his career, with two outs and runners in scoring position, he's at .246. 

7. Throughout his career, the team he has most punished is the Colorado Rockies.

8. The Yankees have him under contract for four more years.

9. Beginning in 2026, the Miami Marlins will annually kick in $10 million of Giancarlo's salary. 

10. In 2028, when he's 38, the Yankees will have a $10 million buyout option.

All of the above are true. Now, essay question: Debate this statement into April. 

The Yankees should not expect much from Stanton in 2025. 

Aw, shoot. Forget that question.. I don't wanna pick on Giancarlo. Frankly, I've come to like the guy. His teammates certainly do. You could see it all season, in their mannerisms. Yeah, he's fragile. But nobody's ever accused him of dogging an injury. We can make numbers jump through hoops, but Stanton's towering presence was our best hope in October. He hit seven HRs, four against Cleveland in the ALCS. Whenever he came up to bat, I came out from behind the couch. And when he hit one, fukkinay, that ball stayed hat. 

But, realistically, what can the Yankees expect in 2025?

For the last two months of 2024, the guy couldn't run. Remember him in the world series, straining to score from third, thrown out easily? Remember the DP fears, if he hit a grounder? You can go with a hobbled DH in a seven five game series. You can't over a full season. 

So, this winter, as we wonder what to expect from Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt - relevant questions, indeed - the biggest question mark, by far, is the guy who will slot in behind them. Can Giancarlo run? If not, can he even play? Because remove his bat from our lineup, and the Yankee DH becomes - well - Betty White. So, do we still wanna sit out the bidding on Alex Bregman?