1. Storm warning issued on George Lombard Jr. Three errors in three days. Not worried, yet. Let's just say, aware of the situation. Lombard has been a huge defensive presence at SS, nearly Jeter Redux. But he needs an error-free few games, or whispers will turn into a siren.
2. The best thing about beating Toronto (with Vlad Jr. barely bothering to run out a grounder): Watching them flounder against Spencer Jones. Already, he has become the guy you hold your pee for. When Jones comes up, nobody runs to the kitchen to get the cheese curds.
3. The Yankees claim Ryan Weathers might return. Too bad we cannot believe anything they say. Last month, Weathers was ticketed for the bullpen. He's had a tough setback, but he's probably back to that assessment.
4. Jazz Chisholm finally homered yesterday. (He had become the guy who sent you to the kitchen.) But hey, 18 HRs - he could finish around 25 is not chopped liver. Chisholm's problem is the same that attacks most Yankees: Unnecessary hype. And the worst part? He hyped himself.
5. We have reached the point where Gerrit Cole must take over the duties as ace of the staff. Cam Schlittler has carried the rotation all season and remains our best shot for the Cy Young. But the onus is now on Cole. He's the tribal elder, the de facto captain of the staff. If Cole comes through, Cooperstown someday will be calling.
6. In Scranton yesterday: Volpe (at 2B) 0-3; The Martian 2-4 with a HR and 4 RBI; and Oswaldo Cabrera - yes, he of the CarShield commercials - at SS, 3-4 with 2 HRs. He's now hitting .292. Come on, Yankees! This guy deserves another shot. You cannot be serious about going the rest of the year with Ryan McMahon.
7. To catch Tampa and exorcize Boston, it's very simple. All the Yankees must do is get a few hits with runners on base. Yesterday, Ben Rice came through with a huge 2-out single, ending what loomed as a huge lost opportunity. There is nothing scarier across the Yankverse right now than the Yankees with the bases loaded and nobody out. The first guy strikes out. The second guy pops up. And suddenly, the game is on the line.
8. Thus far, Luis Garcia Jr. and Heliot Ramos have fizzled. Both were hitting around .280 when the Yankees traded for them. Both are well below that number. Hopefully, they start hitting... now?
9. They say Judge is near. I'll believe it when I see him. In the meantime, I keep thinking about his return on September 11th - the haunted date - which opens a tough three-game set against the Mets, followed by four against Tampa. That's a date Judge won't want to miss.
10. Prediction: Knicks in five.
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14 comments:
11. Cone.
Sonny Gray - 16 wins, 2 losses, ERA of 2.79
3 losses, sorry. my fingers were twitching
Isn't Judge usually terrible against the Mets and the Rays?
They won't bring up Oswaldo Cabrera. They'd rather have Ryan McMahon play with a broken finger. Cabrera is another one who would be better off getting traded, for his career. He's never going to get much of a chance here.
Chisholm's problem is that he simply does not take professional at-bats. Running into a home run once every week or two doesn't mean he turned the corner. Doing (or trying to do) whatever is necessary, using the right approach for the situation, that's what it's all about. Aside from the occasional home run, he usually strikes out on three giant swings. Terrible. But it's not all on him, either. Good managers would never tolerate that. This is a teenager who must be enticed, cajoled, coddled, benched, threatened, yelled at, whatever, in order to bring out the best in him. Boone doesn't have it in him to get the best out of Chisholm.
They did increase their chances of making the playoffs by winning yesterday. But they're not out of the woods, by any means. And "exorcize" Boston? They've been trying to do that since 2004. They have almost always failed. In a head to head matchup, I cannot see this Yankee team beating Boston. No way. Impossible. Won't happen.
Ryan Weathers is a pretty huge injury. They've relied on the starting rotation all year to hold them in games. That just might be the straw that breaks the camel's back. The wave that breaks the dam.
I can see the Yankees losing most (or all) of their games against the ASS-stros, the Mets, the Rays, the Red Sox. And that's even with Judge back for some of those games.
The huge run Boston had, something like 32-5, ended when the reported MIT guy the Sox hired to break into the communication software between pitcher and catcher was exposed ( so the batters knew what pitch was being thrown). Now that they gave to guess what's being thrown, they are close to or under .500. Of course, MLB will try to bury this cheating like they did 10 years ago
I miss Oswaldo. I think he and Lombard would make a fine left side of the infield. But my God, I don't want to see Volpe at second. There's something wrong there. His head is fucked up or something, and I wouldn't blame him if it is.
The September Song starts next week. Damn few day games for me to watch. But of course, the days grow short when you reach September.
I have a feeling this team will surprise us in a good way before we get there. Call me irresponsible. I'm just a cockeyed optimist. Always look on the bright side of life.
Have to guess*
I hadn't heard about the latest cheating Red Sox scandal that nobody will say anything about, like Bighead Papi and his juice.
Cabrera is a 26th man type. Still, I would prefer him to Rosario, who has no clear role with the team other than he hits right handed .
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