If everything ended today, we'd be heading to Houston, behind Blistex Fried, Jazz, Judge, Gio, and the cast of Squid Game. Of course, everything depends on what Cooperstown Cashman does in the looming Aug. 1 Reformation, when the Yankees once again mortgage next year for a shot in October.
Seven questions about the 2025 Yankees.
1. Is this the real Anthony Volpe?
He isn't hitting, fielding, stealing bases - yikes. Is this it? The guy bleeds Yankee plasma, no question. But at some point, for his and our sanity, the Yankees must move on. It's starting to pinch. Right now, everyone is quietly waiting for George Lombard Jr. to swoop in take over SS. But moving too quickly could undermine Lombard's development. So the question remains, as offered by the late and great Peggy Lee: Is that all there is to Volpe?
2. How vulnerable is Aaron Boone?
Depends. Boston just hit the break on a 10-game win streak. Is this another one of those years? Because Yankee managers don't survive Redsock resurgences.
Right now, here are the Top 5 People Currently Looking Nervously Over Their Shoulders, Ranked.
1. Pam Bondi
2. The disaster pooh bah in Texas
3. Rosie O'Donnell
4. Elon Musk
5. Aaron Boone
If Boston keeps going, I'm thinking Boone jumps into the Top 3. (Word to the Wise: Don't Sleep on Kristie Noem.)
3. What can we get in a trade for Spencer Jones?
Not advocating it, as Jones invigorates our fleshy fantasies, with the idea of a bookend giant slugger in LF. But let's face it, Jones might be the Second Coming of Joey Gallo, and who wants that? Also, his trade value may never be higher. (Sports Illustrated calls him "baseball's most intriguing prospect.")
Look: All trades depend on the details. Let's assume that Cashman is already making calls. What does "intrigue" get you? How intriguing!
4. Whaddawe do 'bout Boston?
We beat them like a rug, that's what - in a four-game home series that begins Aug. 21.
By then, they may have passed us in the standings, and everybody will be three weeks into the Trade Deadline Facelift. The Yankees are 1-5 against Boston. That cannot stand. The Rays and Jays won't do it. Nor would I put money on the Tigers. Either we beat the Redsocks, or this lopsided millennium will get even darker.
5. Will Aaron Judge leads in HRs only three times?
Depends on Cal Raleigh, who is NOT a flash-in-the-pan. If Big Dumpster wins the HR race - he currently leads - Judge's universal dominance as Earth's Greatest Slugger could end. He lead in HRs in 2017 (52), 2022 (62), and 2024 (58.)
Moreover, if Raleigh brakes his HR record - he's one behind Barry Bonds in the books - it would slightly undermine on Judge's Ruthian feats. As Yank fans, we want Judge's HR record to last - well - at least three years, right?
That, or his 62 HRs would look like a spiked total in a time when slugging records commonly fell. Judge is certifiably great. His our captain. He's a future Hall of Famer. But let's hope he beats the Dumper.
6. How high can Jazz Chisholm go?
He's been on a tear since returning from his injury, and he seems happy at 2B. How long can he keep it up? His ceiling is - well - do we have a read?
For years, he's been touted as a potential star. He almost put it together last fall, but he was playing out of position. Now, at 2B, he's where he belongs. And at 5'11, he is the most unlikely hitter in the Home Run Derby.
Watch him win it.
7. Is Jonathan Loaisiga done?
When he returned, last month, our bullpen looked solid. Now, it's more porous than the national effort against measles. Unfortunately, he's not the pitcher we remember from 2023. He's getting pounded, and it's scarier with each appearance. Forget the Circle of Trust. He's a candidate for Scranton.
Half-time. A lotta questions.
Oy. And I think it's even worse than our Peerless leader implies...
ReplyDelete1. Not the real Volpe but… like a certain Brigadoon,Volpe won’t flourish until ends up being properly coached in another organization.
Delete2.Boone will not be vulnerable until Cash is. He’ll keep Boome around till he needs someone to throw to the wolves
3. I’m not trading Jones for anyone short of Jose Ramirez and I don’t trust Cashgrab to make that call
4. I’m not worrying about Boston as long as Toronto is on top. Don’t worry about snakes in the garden when you have spiders in the bed.
5. Yeah, judge will lead again when the yanks trade the farm for a rental to hit behind him. Looking at you Suerez
6. Jazz is at his nadir. He gets hurt too often to reach his full potential
7. Back to the piss poor coaching. Johnny, Hamilton and Weaver have all looked like different pitchers since their rehab stints. Yankee minor league system must have given them ptsd
Yes, Volpe needs to go. Is George Lombard, Jr. (I'm christening him GL2) ready to step it? Will he be any time soon?
ReplyDeleteI sincerely doubt it. The kid is hitting .203 at Double-A, without power. It's nice he had a good Futures Game. So far, his future is beginning to remind me of...Drew Henson's, who had more power.
Great players flash early. So...next up? Dax Kilby? Hey, I like the name, and he's reportedly a favorite of Buck Showalter's. But the Yanks are capable of destroying any prospect.
As for the other questions:
ReplyDelete—Keep Spencer Jones. They won't get enough for him anyway.
—Yep, Boston is back. Be very afraid.
—Yep, Johnny Lasagna looks done. Oh, that crack training staff!
—No, Boone does not have to worry. Yet. If the Yanks finish out of the playoffs this year—a very real possibility—then he might go in the off-season. But I doubt it. He is Cashman's shield for as long as he can take it.
—No, Jazz will NOT win the home-run derby. But he may well injure himself in it!
—No, Judge will not go on winning more home-run titles or setting more home-run records. For one thing, he is already 33. For another, Brian Cashman has never sufficiently protect him in the lineup. (Looking at you, Juan Soto.)
If Brian Cashman had been GM when Paul Krichell spotted Lou Gehrig on the Columbia campus, he would have said, "Sounds interesting. Let's see how he looks when he graduates."
If Hal Steinbrenner had been the Yankees owner when Roger Maris became available, he would've said, "Hey, hold on there! If this guy is as good as you say, we might have to pay him $75,000 some day!"
1) Volpe - The real question goes beyond his lack of hitting, range, and fielding and goes to his judgement. He doesn't seem to have good instincts. This magnifies the other three bad traits. He needs to go.
ReplyDelete2) Boone - He doesn't look well. He doesn't sound well. And if having Boston shoot past the Yankees ends him that would be a price worth paying. Especially if his replacement has time to right the ship. But they ain't winnng the WS this year anyway.
3) Jones - Not digging the twin towers in the outfield thing. Didn't work with Stanton, not going to work with Jones.
Also, Baseball, like golf doesn't require height. This isn't the NBA where that seems to matter. So Jones is just a big power big strikeout guy right now and maybe forever but his size don't really enter into it. Unless you're talking marketing. Oh, right... shit
4) Boston - See #2
5) Judge - Not worried. The big dumper should peter out in the second half for two reasons. First, the Home Run Derby destroys whoever participates. Second, there's a reason that catchers don't hit 50 plus HR's a year. It's a grind! He may get to 60 but Judge has the clearer road.
6) Jazz - What moron is letting a guy with a bum shoulder and delusions of grandeur participate in the Home Run Derby!!!!! The Home Run Derby DESTROYS whoever participates.
This is going to be a catastrophe. The Yankees are going to trade away too much talent in order to fix third and then end up with a giant hole at second anyway.
7) Is Lasagna done - Usually you can tell by the smell.
Burnt Cheese……
DeleteOh, it be bad alright. Anyone who thinks this is a championship team is either lying through their teeth or dangerously disturbed. Don’t expect any earth shattering changes at the T/D either; the Yankees don’t trade for players , they trade for contracts. However, you can expect to hear the annual blather about how getting back players like Yarborough or Gil is better than any trade,
ReplyDeleteI don’t know about better, but it certainly is cheaper!
Please let me strongly agree on the Chisolm/HR Derby points. It’s an injury waiting to happen.
ReplyDeleteWhen will the imbeciles running MLB reform the MLB draft?
ReplyDeleteDo away with all CBT/FA penalties in the first few rounds. Straight draft based on last year’s finish. Allow International players to be drafted Allow pics to be freely traded and sold (We do need to limit the amount on selling pics. Scumbags like Cohen might spend $50M on the #1 pick!) Allow teams to use draft pics on minor league players with 5 years of service, or have completed their age 25 seasons.
Any other ideas?
Volpe is playing hurt, hasn't been the same since that "funny pop" in his shoulder back in May. Shoulders take forever to heal, even if they are "minor" injuries. From what I've read Lasagna's pitches have been breaking laterally instead of down. Maybe fixable? Jones may be striking out a lot, but he's been hitting for a high average. Maybe he shouldn't be lumped in with Gallo, yet. The Brain is in.a bad spot. The team might be fixable if he trades most of the farm jewels. But the thing is, how long can Judge keep doing his Thing? IDK....
ReplyDeleteVolpe is playing hurt, hasn't been the same since that "funny pop" in his shoulder back in May. Shoulders take forever to heal, even if they are "minor" injuries. From what I've read Lasagna's pitches have been breaking laterally instead of down. Maybe fixable? Jones may be striking out a lot, but he's been hitting for a high average. Maybe he shouldn't be lumped in with Gallo, yet. The Brain is in.a bad spot. The team might be fixable if he trades most of the farm jewels. But the thing is, how long can Judge keep doing his Thing? IDK....
ReplyDeleteGood point, Kevin! I couldn't believe that at the time. The team that loves to give its key players "extra rest days" even when they're tearing up the league, stuck him right back out there. This promises to be just like when they played Severino/Sanchez/Rizzo when they sustained devastating injuries but were still played for weeks, months, seasons.
ReplyDelete1. Volpe never gets a day off, even though he's playing hurt. When he loses concentration, he should get benched for a game or two. A. Why doesn't he ever get a day off? B. Why isn't he benched when he screws up? Oh yeah, problem 2.
ReplyDelete2. Boone is an empty suit. A PR guy. But I agree, he's ballast to be thrown overboard when Cashman is finally in danger of losing his job.
3. I don't believe in Spencer Jones. He's better at strikeouts than home runs. Yes, trading him to an actual professional farm system might suddenly unleash his potential. But that's the only way he's making to the majors. I'd say trade him for a bonafide talent, but that would mean trusting Cashman not to screw it up. I have more faith in Jones than I do in Cashman.
4. If the Yankees lose the AL East crown, they have nobody to blame but Cashman, Boone and Hal.
5. Not worried about Judge. He seems to get better with age.
6. Jazz should not be participating in the HR derby. Nobody should. I expect he'll be back on the IL shortly after that.
7. Jonny Lasagna? Better used in low leverage situations, until he is truly past his injuries. He's overusing his sinker and he's not mixing his pitches enough. A better pitching coach might help. So would a smarter manager and not having any of Cashman's analytic geniuses loitering in the hallway shouting orders to Boone in the dugout. Don't dump him. Manage him back to effectiveness.