Monday, November 18, 2019

Across the Yankiverse, nothing seems to be happening, but that will soon change

By Wednesday, the Death Star must set into concrete its 40-man roster for December's Rule 5 draft. That gives Cooperstown Cashman about 60 hours to peddle a Scranton-shuttle player or two, freeing space to protect his low-flying, stealth prospects. If Cash has anything going, it must happen soon.

Thus, we find ourselves in moments of strained anticipation, like in the old TV westerns, where Ward Bond sits beside the campfire and whispers, "Shhh, Barney, listen: it's quiet out there... too quiet." 

Yep. The birds and crickets have gone silent. Something's afoot. The Yankees are waiting... waiting...

... For Didi Gregorius to ponder preliminary offers and decide if another year in NYC could happen. It's not impossible. He's coming off a crapola season, and for a 30-year-old SS, long-term contracts can be elusive. If he doesn't like the offers, Didi could conceivably phone home and take a one or two-year deal. From there, who knows? He could maybe win a ring and cement his role as a Yankee for life. Note: I doubt this will happen, but until Didi signs with somebody, it's a possibility. And unless his talks become prolonged, I suspect Cashman will wait until Didi's fate is decided. His domino could be the first of many.

... For MLB to rule on punishment for Domingo German's domestic violence case. He remains  on Dean Wormer's Double-Secret Probation, but he's already missed a month of regular season and the playoffs, without a police report in anybody's hands. How much further into 2020 will he sit in the penalty box? You'd think the Yanks should soon get word. If it's extensive - say, half the season - that will impact everything.

... For reports on Miguel Andujar's fielding, following workouts in Tampa. Is he a viable 3B? Because if Miggy had played last year, with MLB's super-juiced bouncing ball, how many of those 47 doubles would have gone out? I'm guessing he'd have hit 40 HRs. If he can play 3B, if he's raised his game, what happens to Gio Urshela and the rest of the infield? Before the Yankees do something stupid, such as trade Andujar for a Mike Lowell-like package - (Ed Yarnell, Mark Johnson and Todd Noel, remember them?) - the Yankees need to know.

... For the free agent market to solidify on Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg. Listen: Cashman will NOT sign either. He hates the idea of giving up two high draft picks and losing international signing money. Thus, he'll merely beat his chest to sound interested and keep the critics off his boss, Food Stamps Hal Steinbrenner. But Cole and Strasburg will set the pitchers' market, and Cashman needs to know what it means for lesser starters. He simply cannot go with the same depleted staff that finished 2019.

... For bidding to begin on Austin Romine, the best back-up catcher in baseball. For now, Cashman is publicly stating his fealty to Gary Sanchez. That means nothing. If we've learned anything, it's that Cashman's public proclamations - in the face of a better deal - aren't worth a newborn baby's fart. Watching Sanchez languish through October - failing with bat and glove - has me convinced that Cashman would deal Gary in a heartbeat if a bedrock defensive catcher comes into view. Sometime soon, Romine's agent will call with an offer he's received from some middle-market team, and the Yankees must decide whether to beat it. Only then will we get a glimpse of Gary's real fate, and I think it could be a surprise.

It's quiet out there, all right. Too quiet. Mr. Sulu, put up all shields and have the phasers on ready. 

14 comments:

JM said...

I'm tired of waiting on Sanchez. Romine would be better, although a full season might be a bit much to ask of him.

Cashman and starters is a joke in search of a punchline.

Miggy needs another position. Or does Gio become trade bait after being rescued off the scrap heap? Was 2019 a fluke juiced by the Superball?

Hal sucks, and will always suck.

TheWinWarblist said...

I'm tired too JM. So tired ...

13bit said...

I'm drifting away from caring about baseball. Cashman is such a fucking tool.

Hal is a plutocratic asshole of the highest magnitude.

Everything and everybody in the organization follows from those two absolute facts.

Anonymous said...

WE ARE GOING TO MISS OUT ON EVERY FREE AGENT ACE PITCHER OUT THERE.

I WAS READING SCOTT BORAS' COMMENTS, AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW TEAMS AND PLAYERS NOW RATHER GET THE PROCESS GOING "EARLIER".

THAT IS EVERYTHING WE DON'T DO.

WE "CHECK IN" VIA PHONE CALL, THEN WAIT, AND WAIT, AND WAIT.

WE HAVE A "CHECK WITH US LAST" POLICY.

IT'S TOTAL BULLSHIT, AND LIKE 13 BIT SAYS, I TOO, AM DRIFTING AWAY FROM CARING ABOUT BASEBALL.

IF THE NEW YORK YANKEES OWNERSHIP, WITH ITS POWERFUL FINANCIAL RESOURCES, CAN'T IMPROVE A TEAM, THAT NEEDS IMPROVING, THEN FUCK YOU HAL.

AS STATED, I WON'T BE GOING TO THE STADIUM THIS SEASON UNLESS WE SIGN AT LEAST ONE OF EITHER COLE, STRASBURG, OR BUMGARNER.

DOESN'T MATTER WHO WE GET VIA TRADE, I DON'T GIVE A SHIT.

LET SOME OTHER ASSHOLE SPEND $24.00 DOLLARS FOR A PLASTIC CUP OF GENTLEMAN JACK.

I WISH HAL OR SOMEONE CONNECTED WOULD READ THIS.

Anonymous said...

Here is the roster crunch...

A link to the Current 40 man roster from Baseball Reference.com

https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/2019-roster.shtml#the40man::none

Right now it's at 33.

CC, Gardy, Romaine, DD, and EE and two others are FAs and are gone

Seven Slots Left.

Jacoby, Bird and AnDUjar have to be added by Wednesday.

So first off...

1) They cut Jacoby. He's down to his last year. They did it with A-Rod. It's time to bite that bullet. Sure they give up "insurance money" but they will need the slot.

2) They release Greg Bird as well.

3) They add back AnDUjar.

Six Slots Left.

I think DD, and Romaine's replacement is already on the roster. But
Gardy, sadly, will stay.

Five Slots Left.

I predict these four guys get protected.

Deivi Garcia
Luis Medina
Nick Nelson
Luis Gil

One Slot Left.

We need to sign at least one free agent starter.

Out of slots.

Notice no Florial. There are a few other guys who should be protected as well.

So really they need 4-5 more slots.

My predictions:

Say goodbye to:

1) Chance Adams
2) Nestor Cortes
3) Albert Abreau
4) Johnny Lasagna

Because Cashman will do some other roster upgrades through free agency and trade current 40 man roster players for guys he doesn't have to protect.

Say good bye to:

1) Clint Frazier
2) Thario Estrada or Tyler Wade
3) Luke Voit or Mike Ford (I prefer to keep Ford)
4) Luis Cessa

Just my 2 cents.

Doug K.


Retired Stratman said...

Back in the ‘80’s we used to walk over to the old stadium from the apartment in Washington Heights and buy bleacher seats for cheap (I think they were $8). You could get a hot dog and a beer for a couple bucks, and just enjoy the game. So what if we lost? It’s a long season - we’ll get ‘em next time, etc.

Fast forward to a couple years ago. Between the ridiculously overpriced tickets, food, beer and parking, it cost about $1,000 to take my family of four to see the Yanks lose a shoddily played mess of a game in the new stadium. It took over an hour just to get out of the crappy little chainlink parking lot and out onto River Ave., then another hour or so on the Deegan and Cross Bronx, then another hour home on the Long Island Expressway. That was the last time I will ever go to the Stadium and fill that rich, greedy piece of shit Prince Hal’s pockets with my hard earned cash. If I’m gonna spend that kind of dough for a night out I’ll go see Hamilton on Broadway and have a nice steak dinner at the Palm. Guaranteed to be worth every penny.

Anonymous said...

EVERYONE FORGOT CLARKE SCHMIDT.

HE NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED TOO (DOESN'T HE)?

...OR ARE WE JUST LETTING OUR #1 PICKS GO NOW TOO?

WE ARE A FUCKING MESS.

Anonymous said...

I forgot German as well. Yikes

Doug K.

HoraceClarke66 said...

$8? Hell, Stratman, in 1977-78, we'd go up to the Stadium day of, get a general admission seat in the third tier for $2.50 (movies were then $3-4), and move around to one of the inevitably empty ones behind home plate.

WITH dogs, beer, and peanuts, you were hard pressed to spend $15, and you got to see one of the best and most colorful teams in the sport, during a great age of baseball.

Not quite the same value today.

Retired Stratman said...

Not even close, Hoss. Nowadays when we want to see a live game we go to see the Long Island Ducks. Independent league, beautiful stadium, decent beer and dog prices, free easy parking and fireworks after the game. All for the price of going to a movie. Even got to see Dontrelle Willis pitch a few years ago. Great games, good times, no hassles. Baseball like it used to be. The Yankees are now for watching on tv with the sound turned off and the radio on.

HoraceClarke66 said...

Good to hear, Stratman.

Oh, and ALL-CAPS? Coops will get somebody. Probably Wheeler. Talk about addition by subtraction...

cabish47 said...

My friends and I were in the Boston area in 1970 and would go to Fenway for $1 in the bleachers. Hoss, you might remember the night your namesake broke up Sonny Siebert's no-hitter in the ninth. I was the only one cheering. Yanks lost 7 to 4 but a great time.
Won't go to the Stadium today--too much hassle, too expensive.

Mediasavvy said...

I would imagine that any FA's the Yankees re-sign will probably get their contracts after the Rule 5 draft, if only to give Cashman some wiggle room with the roster.

But I expect we'll see a flurry of trades in the next two weeks.

But if Ellsbury isn't released, you can bet your insurance dollars why...........

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