(Note: Every win is a big Yankee win.)
Now, what? Ten ponderings of the unponderable...
1. I've always heard that Trump is a Yank fan. So why hasn't he accused umps of cheating? Or, at the least, demanded that Hal spend more money?
2. Gotta believe Jose Caballero's two HRs last night signaled an end to Anthony Volpe in NY. The question now is whether the Yankees can get anything decent in return. A bullpen widget? A backup catcher? Not a lot of hope here. But it's now six years since his breakout season in the minors, and the Yankees have never stopped hyping him. That's a long, long wait. Soon, it will be over.
3. Cam Schlittler should pitch next weekend, killing his chance to start in the All-Star Game. He is unquestionably the best pitcher in the AL, with a 9-5 record and 2.01 ERA. If he does not pitch in the All-Star game, the honor would probably fall to - gulp - Sonny Gray. (10-1, 2.61 ERA) adding another smear of incompetence onto Brian Cashman's record.
4. I keep telling people to fear Boston. They have a young team, they've won eight of 10, and they've been far too awful to still be this close.
5. Recent slump sends Ben Rice into the All-Star game with an uninspiring batting average on the Jumbotron. He's down to .267. He's still hitting HRs - fourth in the AL - but nobody is missing Aaron Judge more. Rice is hitting a shit-ton of grounders, and he now seems to be swinging for the fences more than in the past. Is there no coach to straighten him out?
6. Yankees' silence on Giancarlo is a loud siren signaling that he will not be back until September, hoping to warm up for the postseason. What a fiasco. I don't begrudge the man his contract, and injuries are injuries - (poor guy can't open a bag of chips) - but at some point, the Yankees must cut bait. This perpetual wait, marred by setback after setback, you can't run a baseball team this way. You cannot win without hungry players, and the Yankees are a country club.
7. The failure of Austin Wells this season has been utterly breathtaking. The guy has 10 RBIs. Ten. He's played 61 games. Ten RBIs. Ten. And yet they have nobody in the system, having traded all their catchers (Higashiyoka , Narvaez, Sanchez, Torrens, Trevino, Torres...) Ten.
8. The Martian is running out of time. He's probably got another month, while Aaron Judge slowly mends. But .209 with 4 HRs isn't cutting it. The biggest disappointment of 2026 remains the nothingburger (thus far) from Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones.
9. Apparently, no Yankees were invited to Trav and Tays's super-party mega-blast. Back in the day, you couldn't imagine ten celebrities getting together without Jeet or A-Rod in the mix. Now, no A-Listers? Not even Judge? Sad.
10. The best hitter in baseball is Jordan Alvarez. The second best? Juan Soto. And he's still not worth it.
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9 comments:
They struck out 17 times last. SEVENTEEN TIMES.. with 3 hits. Wrap your heads around that. For sure, the first domino to fall should br the Hitting coach.
Ours, someone called James Rowson, seems to have a vow of silence.
The answer to number 5 is no.
# 7. Yesterday, I posted a link about Volpe being the only player in MLB history to have at least 1000 at-bats with under a .285 OBP. After yesterday, Wells now has 1001 AB and a .287 OBP. It's likely that by next week, Austin will be the second on that list. I think that puts an exclamation point on the failures of Brian Cashman, the coaching staff, the scouting department, the analytic department, and the entire bloated front office.
Cam Schlittler start was the only game of this series where the Yankees had a sliver of hope to win. Good for them, they won. But now comes the hard part of having to endure three thrashings at the hands of the Tampons. It won't be for those with weak stomachs.
'Twas the revenge of Cabellero. At least Jasson Dominguez did not attempt to steal third base and get thrown out before that home run. You know if Cabellero or Volpe had been on base, they would've been thrown out stealing. I was afeared Cabellero might run past the baserunner and get called out like Bobby Meachum four and a half decades ago. But never fear on that point, Caballero is too busy stylin' after a homer to run past a baserunner.
our stomachs are strong
The Tampons were probably unable to use their humidifier on the baseballs yesterday. It must've broke down and the repairman was unable to make it in. You can bet your bottom dollar that it'll be functional by now. Prepare for a shellacking. Will the Tampons score double digit runs by the 2nd inning today? That is the question.
only seven runs today, hOg - four of which will occur after inning five
this is according to the I Ching
As for Volpe, I'd prefer to shop Chisholm, get something for him instead of losing him to free agency, and turn Volpe into a second baseman, letting Caballero stick at SS. The problem with Volpe is lack of versatility, but I think he could be a reasonable 2B if coached well (!). I suspect making the pivot at 2B on a DP would be the biggest issue. But if he had less pressure on him, and quietly hit .260-.275 with 15 HRs and maybe 50 RBIs, he could still contribute. He has the potential I feel to be maybe a Bobby RIchardson or Brian Roberts type 2B. As much as I value McMahon's defense, we need a bat at 3B, a catcher, and bullpen help. Maybe Chisholm as a rental somewhere could bring one or two of those pieces.
I hope I'm wrong, but my guess is Volpe starts at short tonight. A lefty's pitching for Tampa, and Jazz and his ouchy toe played on the Trop turf last night. So, they'll get Jazz "off his feet" today. Cabby goes to second and Volpe will be at short.
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