Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Don't look now, but Gleyber appears to be everything they said

In baseball, some batters inspire leakage. The fellow strides to the plate, his interstate numbers flash on the screen, and you think, "Jeez, I gotta piss." At times, even certain Yankees summon the ghostly IBS lady, prodding you to visit the nearest bowl or bush. For much of the 2010s, the bottom of the Yankee order was the stuff of a Fleet Enema: You saw the names and headed for the head.

Then again, there are those rare stars for which we make the personal sacrifice - squeezing our tortured loins in tribute, holding our water until it gushes from our ears - putting psychic delight over physical discomfort. 

Thus far, the 2018 Yankees have been hard on our plumbing. Right now, the lone pee break (not counting pitching changes and between-innings) come via Neil Walker and maybe Austin Romine. And one hitter has become required watching.

Since going 1-8 out of the gate two weeks ago against Toronto, Gleyber Torres has quietly become a must-see at bat. I say "quietly," because he hasn't yet homered, which, these days, seems to be the only way of getting attention.

Over the last 10 games, our hottest hitter is not the AL Player of the Week Didi Gregorius. It is Gleyber - hitting .391. with three doubles. (That includes his slow start in Toronto.) Last night, Torres' line double to the wall finally chased Charlie Morton in the nine-inning market correction that was always fated to happen sooner or later. You can't win them all.

Of course, this is Gleyber's once-around-the-league phase, and he'll soon hit his own market correction. We're now seeing Miguel Andujar's battle with the Major League breaking ball; until he adjusts, his average will do the adjusting. But the AnDoo hit .306 at Scranton last year, and he'll come around, hopefully before Brandon Drury forces a situation. Gleyber, on the other hand, not only is the Yankees' anointed Chosen Son, but he was hitting .347 at Triple A when called up. His ceiling remains completely undefined, and right now, every part of his game looks MLB ready. (Remember how they said he wasn't particularly fleet afoot? Good grief; he looks like the fastest guy on the Yankees.)

Over the last 10 games, Yankee batters have run hot and cold. Gary Sanchez (4 HRs) and Didi (3 HRs) were on certifiable tears, while Brett Gardner (.125) and Aaron Hicks (.118) should have gone to the movies. That's normality. Some get hot, while others turn to ice. If you're strong enough, the streaks will beat the slumps. That's what happened. The Yankees went 9-1. 

But Gleyber Torres is already someone to hold your pee for. I've got a feeling that by September, he won't be batting in the bottom third.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

With me it's more like, "This will be a good time to take a leak." but you are right, Walker is that bathroom break personified.

Last night's game left me deflated and hopeful. When it ended I thought, "Well they (The Astros) don't play well in NY so maybe we can steal one and then beat them there.

What I liked about that thought is that I'm thinking playoffs. Not trying to be hubristic here. Just realized that we are close. We had Castro last year not Gleybar. Headley not AnDUjar. And G-d willing we will have a functioning Stanton by October.

BTW there is something very wrong with the phrase "A functioning Stanton" It sounds kind of like something a urologist would tell you. "Take these pills and you will have a functioning Stanton in 3-5 weeks." I don't know.

Anyway, we lost 2-1. In Houston, which in my mind is now the New Anaheim. When I was living in LA in the 80's I would go see the Yankees whenever they came in and I don't think they ever won with me in attendance.

2-1 With Sonny Fox on the mound and Judge on the bench. I figure we get Verlandered today but he's never faced Gleybar either. So who knows?

Doug K.

Anonymous said...

THAT WAS MY FIRST THOUGHT READING THIS POST....

WE HAVE TO GET HIM OUT OF THAT 9 HOLE....

ALTHOUGH, THIS IS A GOOD PROBLEM....

Joe Formerlyof Brooklyn said...


Impossible to disagree with this post. I have one question, tho:

If Brett Gardner and aaron Hicks went to the movies -- which film would they choose?

ranger_lp said...

If you take Brett Gardener and Aaron Hicks to the movies...they probably will want popcorn...

HoraceClarke66 said...

I see no reason why Neil Walker should play another game as a Yankee. I don't say this maliciously, but a .190 slugging percentage from your first baseman just won't cut it—not when you have 2-3 better players ready and willing to replace him.

Hell, for that matter, Adam Lind is now racking up hits in Single-A.

Also, I noticed that Thairo the Pharaoh made it up to Triple-A, which is great to see for so many reasons. But another reason why the bell has started to toll for poor Tyler Too, still struggling at .192 down in Scranton.

Baseball can be a very cruel game.

Anonymous said...

"If you take Brett Gardener and Aaron Hicks to the movies what film would they choose?"

The Long Goodbye

Doug K.

el duque said...

"The Killing Fields"

Anonymous said...

Meatballs 3 - Summer Job

Doug K.

Anonymous said...

Screwballs - - maybe they would get distracted by some boobs which are unlike the ones they encounter on the baseball field. LB (No J)

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