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Monday, July 23, 2018

The most important week of the season thus far; it's almost time to call the cards

This week, just eight days before the trade deadline, the Yankees can sniff close-up the pungent bait dangling in front of their noses.

Tuesday, they'll face Blake Snell, whose All-Star game appearance - (he was a replacement) - may have raised his price tag, in terms of what the Rays front office will demand. After backsliding in 2017, he's having a career year: 12-5 with a 2.27 ERA. (Compare to Luis Severino, who is 14-2, 2.31.) But in his last outing, he went only three against Detroit. Statistically, he is by far the best pitcher on the market. (Degrom is 5-4, 1.68, but it's National League.) My guess is he's why the Yankees are said to be offering Sonny Gray. Surely, any package for Snell would include Gray, plus multiple top-tier prospects. So, we'll see him, firsthand.

Wednesday, it's Nathan Eovaldi, who has gone at least six innings in six of his last seven starts. But in his last three, he's been cuffed around - an ERA of 5.17. He gives up home runs. But the Yankees know him well. He might just be an injury waiting to happen.

Could Cashman go after both, a blockbuster? It would be hugely expensive. Tampa has one of the smartest and most resourceful front offices in the game. (See their bullpen- starter innovation.) Along with Gray, Cashman would surely have to surrender Justus Sheffield, Estevan Florial, Albert Abreu - a trove of their long term future. Like the Mets, Tampa has a thing about hating the Yankees, whose local popularity and presence threatens their well being and agitates the Rays front office. They won't just take Higgy and the Tylers, Wade and Austin. They'll want liver, spleen, kidneys and a lot of blood.

Next up this week is KC, whose rotation is in shambles. Two weeks ago, they traded Kelvin Herrera, their closer, to Washington. Back then, we might have pondered Mike Moustakas in a trade. Now, with Greg Bird hitting, that's out. But the Royals represent a team-wide garage sale. Anybody can go. (And by the way, this is a three-game home series the Yanks must sweep. If we - gulp - lose two out of three, the tabloids will be screaming for a deal. In other words... Danger: Will Robinson...)

Thursday, Sonny pitches against KC. It might be the most important outing of his Yankee career. It's possible that Cashman has already decided to move on, and if Tampa moves Snell, Gray's outing - good or bad - would complicate matters on too many levels to ponder. I lap myself trying to fathom them.

Finally, Friday, July 31, we play Baltimore, a team for sale down to the subatomic level. If Chris Britton or Adam Jones are still with the team, it will almost surely be their last night as Orioles. Chris Davis, too. My guess is that none of them play, for fear of injuries. The O's probably won't deal with the Yankees, out of sheer hateful spite. The question is whether they'll flip Britton to Houston for next to nothing, just to maintain their Met-like vermin presence in the AL East.

Coming up: The most important week of the season, thus far. It's almost time to call the cards.

36 comments:

TheWinWarblist said...

As Louis Pasteur said, "Dans les champs de l'observation le hasard ne favorise que les esprits préparés."

JM said...

Wasn't that Madame Curie? It's all so confusing.

HoraceClarke66 said...

We're not close enough to win it all with one pitcher.

This week is indeed critical. Along with the question of whether or not we make a trade looms this one: will we have any pitchers left at the end of it?

This week should tells us:

—What's going on with Sevvy? Just a little tired, or injured?

—Can CC go 6 innings anymore?

—Have Tanaka's hammies healed?

—Was Chappie just rusty, or badly hurt?

In any case, I highly doubt that this invalid ward of a pitching staff can carry us deep into October. Time to batten down, and hug those prospects!

Leinstery said...

Severino still in his funk and the Yankees still can't best the mighty Rays and their horde of mediocre relievers.

Leinstery said...

I just saw how the Rays scored...My God Sanchez sucks at everything. The catching manages to reach new depths every day and the hitting makes Neil Walker look like Gehrig.

TheWinWarblist said...

Hoss, I love you, but I disagree. We are close enough to win it all with one more stud pitcher. And Blake Snell look all the world like a real live stud major league starting pitcher. If we're gonna trade for someone, let it be a quality starter.

Rufus T. Firefly said...

Sanchez apparently sees no urgency in anything he does. Unfortunately, he is out of options.

Rufus T. Firefly said...

https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/yankees/2018/07/23/gary-sanchez-luis-severino-confront-dugout-after-passed-ball/823799002/

TheWinWarblist said...

Sevy could have moved a bit more quickly himself. It's not like he hasn't had enough practice covering home on passed balls.

Rufus T. Firefly said...

TWW,

Severino was at the plate in time and Sanchez hit the runner. It's all on Sanchez.

Look at the clip in the dugout. He looks like he stuffed a Montero snack in his mouth between innings. He needs a serious intervention.

Rufus T. Firefly said...

Maybe the Yankees can pick up Ramos in trading for Snell. Throw in Sanchez in return along with a mid level prospect. Naw, never mind. They'd never fall for that. Too bad the catching market is so thin. Sanchez is infuriating.

Rufus T. Firefly said...

Oh fuck

Leinstery said...

Game over. This team sucks.

13bit said...

Sanchez still has some trade value, doesn't he, for the right team where "a change of scenery" could make all the difference?

Leinstery said...

Sevy didn't fly off the mound because who expects a guy to score from second on a play like that? The lazy fuck got crossed up, couldn't find the ball right away, made minimal effort to retrieve the ball and flicked it off the runner.

Now how can the greatest offense ever assembled win a game against the fearsome Matt Andriese?

Reminder, they're playing the Bug Selig memorial 1 game playoff in their road grays.

Leinstery said...

Scratch 2 runs to make it a game, give everything back and probably then some. Severino needs a stint on the DL.

Rufus T. Firefly said...

and now for some good news...

Sanchez actually blocked a ball in the dirt.

Yippeeeee!

KD said...

I told the Yankees. Get a personal trainer, says me. Get Fat Sancho a private chef. He would have come out of his DL stint with new energy and a winning attitude. But NO! Just as mentally lazy as ever.

No wonder Joe was on his ass. Boone better do something fast. Should not be up to our Ace to discipline the lazy bastard.

Rufus T. Firefly said...

OK, didn't matter. Never mind.

Rufus T. Firefly said...

I'm starting to warm up to Stanton.

Just a little.

Parson Tom said...

Mismanagement rears its ugly head. Hottest hitter on deck and what do you have Didi do, bunt?!?!? Opens first base for Stanton to be walked.

And now Hicks is squaring to bunt with the freaking bases loaded?

TheWinWarblist said...

I know they will break my heart, yet I cannot be quit of them.

Leinstery said...

Hicks is useless. And we all know how Gary's at bat will go.

Please God may he be hit by a pitch.

Parson Tom said...

well, at least Hicks didn't hit into a DP. which brings Sanchez to the plate with his .189 average. this is not what I'd call playing the percentages.

TheWinWarblist said...

Now it's up to Chubbsy Ubbsy.

The rock handed fat fuck.

Rufus T. Firefly said...

What's worse than a pineapple?

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/jamesbond/images/8/8b/Spy_Sea_Vac_Drill_%26_Komodo_Dragon.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140823123542

the bum even has jogginson's jersey number.

Parson Tom said...

how to play yourself out of a tying run, by Aaron Boone.

Parson Tom said...

nice hustle getting down to second by Hicks. Sanchez? Not so much.

TheWinWarblist said...

Fuck him. Fuck Sanchez. Fuck his fat slow ass going down rht line. Not running hard out of the box? Fuck Sanchez that lazy fat fuck. May his anus and inguinal lymph nodes necrose and discharge the foulest of pus.

Leinstery said...

At this point you couldn't give this lazy sack of shit away?

Boone will probably ask him meekly to try harder tomorrow and bat him 4th. Binders would have him half drowned in the whirlpool. Bring back the Binders.

TheWinWarblist said...

Fuck him. Fuck Binders. Fuck his crazy ass binders. Not running hard out of the box? Fuck Binders that crazy stupid fuck. May his anus and inguinal lymph nodes necrose and discharge the foulest of pus,

JM said...

Sanchez should be sent down. Sucking is one thing, but not even trying is another. Let Romine play. No more prima donnas. That was shameful.

Rufus T. Firefly said...

John M,

Unfortunately, Jogginson Jesus Sanchez is out of options. Time for a Jacobian injury and a trip to the DL. How about starting with obesity induced paralysis? He certainly exhibited all of the symptoms of it tonight.

Anonymous said...

WHAT A FUCKING DISGRACE.

AINT GONNA CUT IT IN NEW YORK RUNNING OUT GROUNDERS LIKE THAT GARY.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE SHORTSTOP EVEN THREW IT TO FIRST ON THAT PLAY.

WHO KNEW SANCHEZ WASN'T RUNNING.

POTENTIALLY THE LAST PLAY OF THE GAME, AND HE LOAFES DOWN THE LINE LIKE THAT?

HE BETTER APOLOGIZE TO THE TEAM, THE COACHES, THE OWNERSHIP, AND US!

IF HE DOESN'T, FUCK HIM.

IT'S NOT LIKE HE'S HITTING .290.

THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM TO FIND HIMSELF IN SCRANTON.

ANOTHER FUCKING PINEAPPLE.

HoraceClarke66 said...

He needs to go. Now.

So do some other people.

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