Tuesday, July 30, 2019

The Blue Jays just gave the finger to both Marcus Stroman and the Yankees

This should be a joyous, block party week across the Yankiverse: We sit comfortably atop the AL East, while Tampa, Cleveland, Oakland and the Redsocks mud-wrestle for the 2019 wild card dregs. Hell, we should we drinking malt liquor from quart bottles, and eating cheese-injected pretzels, happy and dumb, on our Naugahyde couches. Why are we so dejected?

Clearly, it's the fake reality of this July 31 deadline. We sit at the crossroads, stalled out at the intersection. So jumbled is the outlook that I cannot decide if we should trade the farm for a starting pitcher or stand pat and do nothing. All I know is that, whatever we do, it will probably backfire. Is that just me, being naturally pessimistic, or have we tapped into a fundamental Yankee destiny that increasingly looks doomed? They say you cannot predict baseball, Suzyn. But I can easily count the ways that October will turn on us. 

1. We'll splatter against a legit rotation from Houston, Boston or LA - facing starters who - gasp - actually pitch into the seventh.  

2. Our closer will walk his customary lead-off batters, filling the bases and blowing leads. Meanwhile, our overworked, stems-and-seeds bullpen will burst like an over-inflated balloon. 

3. Our big bats - seeking to score 15 per game - will go swoosh with runners on base. We might beat Minnesota in a short-series shootout. Once we hit real pitching, we'll be pulling our goalie by the third inning. 

Unfortunately - or maybe fortunately, I dunno - the biggest decision was made for us this week, when Toronto sent Marcus Stroman to the Mets for two of their best prospects. Could we not have beaten that deal?

I have to wonder: What have we done to the Blue Jays lately? Not much. The last time we traded for one of their stars was JA Happ, whom I suspect we'd happily give back. Isn't Food Stamps Hal Steinbrenner a beloved member of the Billionaires Club? He certainly doesn't spend as his dad did, or as Los Angeles and Boston regularly do. He's happy to let other teams win, and redo the boathouse. He didn't chase Dallas Keuchel. He didn't flirt with Manny or Bryce. Good grief, are they pissed at us for signing Troy Tulowitzki? What did we do to Toronto? 

My guess: The Jays were giving both us and Stroman their spit-moistened middle finger, trading him to the wrong NYC team, and for less than the Yankees would have surrendered at the deadline. They were sick of hearing Stoman whine about pinstripes, so - in the wily nature of Mephistopheles - they granted his New York wish in the most perverse of ways. 

So now... we sit on the couch and watch the news. We'll get some fifth-inning bullpen lug nut, or maybe a fifth starter. We'll overpay, and nothing will change: We'll still see Betances and Severino as our saviors, waiting for either to report a tweak and say, "See you next spring." 

But here is my wish, amended to reflect my stark pessimism. I suggest the Yankees troll the oceans for the pitching equivalents of Mike Tauchman and Luke Voit - that is, 27-28 year-old Triple A workhorses, the kind who are regularly overlooked by parent clubs. The David Hales. Maybe we can acquire some forgotten former prospect who has a month left in his shoulder and nothing to lose. 

The Yankees have survived this season on the backs of no-name underachievers, who stepped from the abyss and saved this team. It's time for Cashman to beat the bushes. Somebody out may have some juice in his arm. We need that guy. Otherwise, the Colt-45 is tasting stale. 

27 comments:

Joe Formerlyof Brooklyn said...

Shane Greene has pitched 38 times, (38 IP) for Detroit, saving 22 games, allowing 21 hits *(but also 12 walks)*.

Ottavino has gone 46 innings in 50 games. 32 hits, 30 walks.

Britton has gone 43 innings (46 games), giving up 32 hits, 22 walks.

Assuming they can't get a half-decent starting pitcher -- and the management judgement on acquiring Happ and Paxton (and Corbin) seems to show that it is a bit faulty -- maybe SG can bolster the bullpen thru October.

In the event you've not looked below the AL East in the standings, Detroit is in last place in the Central -- at 31-and-71. Likely to deal?

Beyond 2019, Greene might well be some "insurance" if Chapman opts to walk, shoots someone, or beats on one or more additional women.

Greene is being paid all of $4 million for this year, and faces arbitration for 2020. He becomes a free agent in 2021.

JM said...

Exactly. This is what I was getting at the other day, when I said the stat staff was coming up with a list of trade targets we would never expect.

They're nobodies, career nothings, guys other teams have given up on and keep on some staff somewhere to fill out a roster requirement.

Buried in their reams of statistics is the glimmer of brilliance, tenacity, and craft that makes them more than their current owners...er, employers...think.

Of course, Cashman might just do his usual stupid trade. Maybe the stats on pitchers aren't as extensive as those on position players/hitters. Or something. Maybe that's why Cash finds gems on one hand, but is powerless when it comes to pitchers.

JM said...

And Joe, agree completely about Greene. I thought we never should have let him go in the first place.

JM said...

All God's children got troubles:

The Dodgers have committed 22 errors in their last 14 games. They’ve given up 15 unearned runs in their last 11 games. Their 79 errors are tops in the National League.

cabish47 said...

In a previous thread, there was a suggestion to bring up Deivi Garcia. He has yet to conquer AAA: 1-1, 5.14. He needs more time there. He's only 20.

It made me think of another savior from AAA in the murky past, the sainted Mel Stottlemyre. In 1964 he as a 22-year old, was 13-3, 1.42 at Richmond. He was ready. He went 9-3, 2.06 from August 12 to the end of the season. The Yankees edged out Chicago by one game, not likely without Mel.
The point is, he was ready. Deivi needs more time. A good way to discourage a young player is to throw him into the fire too early.

JM said...

I was at least one of the people advocating a Deivi call-up. And Cabish is right--it's not the best possible idea, but one born of desperation.

This Greene idea is solid, though. Maybe we don't need a starter, because mostly our starters are openers. We need an insanely good, workaholic bullpen.

That might be the "new baseball" solution to the mess.

ranger_lp said...

@JM...I agree on Deivi call-up.

I keep hearing Rachael Ray being traded to the Yanks. Maybe our pitching guru, Larry, can fix him...wait...he hasn't even fixed a faucet.

13bit said...

Doesn't have to be Dervish, but we must have *somebody* we can toss in there at some level. If we don't, then we should get a new director of all farm activities, recruiting and youngsters. Do we have a farm to develop our own talent or strictly to develop trade chips?

Ceeja said...

Tell the starter to go once through the order like its game 7 of the series. If he's done the job and has something left, maybe he gets to go through one more time. Stockpile relievers and triple A call ups.

Hey our starters suck, so deal with it by treating them like relievers.

Expand the roster in September so we have a staff of 18 guys and give our best relievers a chance to rest up for october.

The problem is not that our pitching sucks but that we can't admit they suck. Let's go full Tampa.

Then next year we need hal to spend money and do trades when the other team does not have us over a barrel

Anonymous said...

I, TOO WAS ON-BOARD WITH CALLING UP DEIVI GARCIA, BUT LIKE JM, AND CABISH SAY, HE ISN'T READY.

JM IS RIGHT ON THE BUTTON, IT'S DESPERATION. WE ARE DESPERATE.

SADLY, CRUSHINGLY, IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GETTING WHAT SOMEONE DESCRIBED AS "A LEFT HANDED MICHAEL PINEDA".

ROBBIE RAY.

KILL ME NOW.

BRIAN CASHMAN (AND HAL), HAVE DONE A HORRIFIC HATCHET JOB ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS YEARS STARTING PITCHING STAFF.

I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT INJURIES.

WE PASSED ON CORBIN. (I AGREED THOUGH- WAY TO EXPENSIVE AND NOT A.L. TESTED).

WE PASSED ON KEUCHEL. (POSSIBLY THE BIGGEST MISTAKE SINCE NOT PULLING THE TRIGGER ON CLIFF LEE).

THESE MOTHERFUCKERS HAVE NO VISION.

THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THE PITCHING BEFORE IT FALLS APART.

IN OTHER WORDS, YOU DON'T PUT YOUR TRUST AND HOPES INTO JOHNNY LASAGNA, CC SABATHIA, AND JORDAN MONTGOMERY (COMING BACK IN AUGUST).

.....AND MIND YOU, WE GOT EXTREMELY LUCKY WITH DOMINGO THIS YEAR.

THE TIME TO PULL A DEAL WAS MUCH EARLIER.

WAITING TILL THE LAST SECOND OF THE TRADE DEADLINE, IS LIKE GOING SHOPPING ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

CASHMAN (AND HAL) ARE A CLUSTERFUCK WHEN IT COMES TO OBTAINING STARTING PITCHERS.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHO IS REALLY "GOOD", AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO TRADE FOR IT.

BY WAITING, CASHMAN ALLOWED FOR THE GIANTS AND INDIANS TO GET BACK IN THE RACE, THEREFORE PULLING BUMGARNER ,AND BAUER BACK FROM BEING DEALT.

SOMEHOW, CASHMAN (AND HAL) HAVE THE NOTION THAT WE CAN KEEP TRADING OUR WAY TO A WORLD SERIES VICTORY, WITHOUT UTILIZING THE FREE AGENT MARKET.

THAT IS INSANE.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MOST OF THE PROSPECTS ARE GONE?

IT IS HAPPENING TO US RIGHT NOW.

WHAT A CLUSTERFUCK.



Ceeja said...

Here's another thing. Why do we owe it to a starter to give him a chance to work through his problem. Why not pull him in the first inning if it's obvious he's got nothing. Then just send him out again 2 days later to throw as an opener or a reliever.

Look these sons of bitches aren't Bob Gibson. They're Dooley Womack.

I'm tired of spotting the other team 7 runs. Treat everyone like a reliever

13bit said...

Amen, ALL-CAPS, amen...

Carl J. Weitz said...

Wow, they still make Colt 45? I know that I see Dolt 45 daily on my TV screen, but that piss is still sold? Yikes.

I think Jordan Montgomery will be back at the end of August but likely not enough time to stretch him out. Okay, on this team a starter's 75 pitches brings them into the third inning, so perhaps he will start a few games. Dellin is a good bet to make it back with a few weeks to get him primed for the pen. At least we are better off with them than Tarpley, Hale and Holder. Same with Severino if we are lucky.

And Ceeja, if you lifted a starter after an inning and started him 2 days later it would ruin any structure and hurt the other starters by giving them to much or too little days rest.

Ceeja said...

I agree that this has always been the received wisdom, and it would be hard to get any starter to buy into this. But if the staff is as putrid as ours, maybe it's time for some quick hooks. I think we may be moving toward the day where very few starters will be treated like true starters

Joe Formerlyof Brooklyn said...


I love coming to this blog, even when it's depressing. I hadn't thought about Dooley Womack for a long, long time.

Baseball Reference says he's alive, 79 years old, and grossed 5.0 WAR in his career. Record of 19 wins, 18 losses, 302 innings pitched.

As a result of his name/mention on this website, I found a Wikipedia page devoted to DW (think about that for a half-second) --

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dooley_Womack

Anonymous said...

It doesn't matter whether or not Garcia is ready. He's on an innings limit. Sheesh--do your homework, guys.

Anonymous said...

Duque: "I suggest the Yankees troll the oceans for the pitching equivalents of Mike Tauchman and Luke Voit - that is, 27-28 year-old Triple A workhorses, the kind who are regularly overlooked by parent clubs."

In other words, pull a rabbit out of a hat. Thanks, duque. This is stunning advice.

Ceeja said...

Well the fact is that the yanks really dont have much choice other than to pull a rabbit out of the hat. There's a reason why I picked this team to finish third. We should be happy theyve done as well as they have

JM said...

Actually, an innings limit is a good argument for bringing Garcia up now, and not waiting. Of course, they'll wait until September, and then use the innings limit as an excuse for not using him.

The problem with the innings limit concept is, it assumes every pitcher should be treated the same as every other pitcher, which doesn't seem true on the face of it. Granted, it's the "safe" route to take, and there's nothing wrong with that, per se. Except I would like to see the actual statistical results (yes, numbers) that prove it works. Of pitchers held to innings limits when they were young, how many ended up having arm or shoulder problems anyway? Is their percentage of surgery statistically better than young guys who have no limit, or have a meaningfully higher limit or innings? (By the way, is it really an innings limit? I imagine there's a pitch count involved that would be more important, so it should probably be called a pitch limit. But, semantics.)

Are there any pitchers who haven't been subject to a limit that would represent a fair sample against which we could compare?

Lots of questions I don't know the answers to. I do recall, however, that the innings limit really worked well for Joba...*cough*...so I have that stuck in my head for better or worse.

Rufus T. Firefly said...

If it's Colt 45 in a quart bottle, it better be in a wrinkled brown paper bag in this weather.

Unless Deivi has already hit his innings limit, give him a shot. Can't be worse than our starters not named after the sabbath. Give our burnt out starters a rest (see CC at the spa). Maybe that will help them.

Anonymous said...

anonymous...DOMINGO GERMAN IS ON A PITCHING LIMIT TOO....

IT DOESN'T MEAN NEITHER HE, NOR DEIVI GARCIA CAN'T PITCH FOR US THE REST OF THIS SEASON...

DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

13bit said...

FUCK INNINGS LIMITS

13bit said...

https://new.wordsmith.org/anagram/anagram.cgi?anagram=Fuckinningslimits&t=500&a=n

Rufus T. Firefly said...

1st hit: Miscuing Skinflint

Isn't that HAL?

HoraceClarke66 said...

You said it, ALL-CAPS.

Coops assumed that if he waited to the very end, the OTHER teams would be desperate. Nope. He should have seen how the races were developing and realized there would be a lot of buyers out there. Not our Coops.

Robbie Ray...Chthulu help us. The man is leading the NL in walks and has a 3.91 ERA with Arizona. I would rather get Matthew Boyd.

HoraceClarke66 said...

Thanks for the Dooley info, Joe FOB. I remember that guy going 7-3 for a truly miserable Yankees' team in 1966. Bouton made fun of him for when Houk told him, "You're having almost as good a spring as Dooley Womack." But he could have done a lot worse.

I wish we had about ten Dooley Womacks right now.

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