Monday, November 11, 2024

With an inside track to another Japanese star, are the Dodgers on the cusp of a dynasty?

The Chiba Lotte Marines - a Japanese ballclub, not Starbucks' newest drink of the month - will soon post to MLB Roki Sasaki, a 23-year-old pitching phenom who might even be better than Yoshinobo Yamamoto, who crushed us in Game Two, before the leaden weight of our shortcomings finished the job. 

Thanks to the Byzantine rules for Japanese players migrating to Paradise - (that's us, ha!) - Sasaki shall be limited in how much money he can rake - (don't ask how; it's another rule written for billionaires, by billionaires) - but he does get to choose his next city and jersey.

And let's face it: That's probably the Dodgers. 

Why? Well, they have the best team in baseball. They have the most fruitful endorsement market in baseball. They have the best player in baseball. They have the two biggest Japanese stars in baseball. They have the hottest women in baseball.  (Sorry, Cleveland, but you've still got Machine Gun Kelly.) And they keep the most questionable financial books in baseball.

That final spoke in their wheel of dominance comes courtesy of their deal with Shohei Ohtani, who will receive deferred salary payments through eternity, long after California and Florida have been swallowed by the oceans, and we are mere festering blemishes of microplastics in some earthworm's underbelly.

I have a theory, and I'm going to spare us both a half-hour of mental tiddlywinks by not researching it. Instead, hell! I'm posting it, straight up, because - hey, these are the modern times, right? - and so, where was I?, oh, yeah, the theory... it goes like this: 

Every baseball dynasty came about from a secret advantage that some team cooked up and exploited, and ended only after other franchises caught up.

For example, the Blue Jays of the 1980s: They dominated the AL because super scout Eppy Gurerro built a bridge to Latino players, such as Tony Fernandez and Carlos Delgado. For several years, Toronto enjoyed an unlimited tap of talent (which we watched firsthand in Syracuse.)  

The Yankees dominated the late 1990s because they were the first team to build and own their own TV network/ATM - the YES Channel, featuring Paul O'Neill! - creating millions of dollars for old George to spend. 

The Astros briefly dominated in the late 2010s because they figured out how to cheat. The Rangers, Redsocks and Yankees enjoyed brief surges, via their friendly pharmaceuticals: performance enhancing drugs.

And now comes the Dodgers, on the verge of becoming Team Japan, signing the brightest stars from the new frontier. Considering how they cook the books, they might even make a run at Juan Soto. 

There is a chance the Mets will rise to dominance, because owner Steve Cohen represents a nexus of infinite money and runaway big dick ego. It hasn't happened yet, but close your eyes, and you can see it. By this time, the Yankees could be deep in the shadow of a raging Godzilla, and I don't mean Hideki Matsui.   

Whatever comes about, the Death Barge had better start sweetening its ties to Japan, more than by simply sending Mr. Warmth, Brian Cashman, to watch a game now and then. While Food Stamps Hal works on his winning charm, Hollywood smile and effervescent personality - looking to hypnotize and capture Soto - the world might just pass us by.

Sunday, November 10, 2024

Delirium builds as 24-year-old Yank prospect wins Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby

Light the candles. Get out the Calgon Bath Oil Beads. Put on the Hallmark Network, with the audio on Manilow, the Copa Cabana years. There's a new sprig of hope on the Yankee horizon: Garret Martin - a 6'3," 215 Texas lug nut - just whacked 10 HRs in 90 seconds to win the Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby, a performance that should free certain ornery readers from obsessing over a certain 5th game and 5th inning.  

Martin - age 24 in an A-level league known more for humidity than skills - achieved a Hollywood ending this weekend, down by 5 HRs with 47 seconds left in the Derby. Breathless, Martin called timeout - to strategize. Then, with the clock ticking, he unleashed a string of bangers to win the trophy, or crown, or belt, or certificate of achievement? Whatever. 

Okay, let me answer the question you are silently screaming: Who is this guy? 

Last year, in the Sally League at Hudson Valley, Martin - a RH outfielder - hit 12 HRs and batted .216, with 97 Ks and a .748 OPS. His Yankee ETA is - um - someday. But hey, a derby is a derby... unless it's a Durbin.

That's right. Caleb Durbin. In the Arizona Fall Star Game, played last night, Durbin - the 5'6" Altuvian infielder and current Yankee wind sock of hope - collected two hits and a SB. He is projected to soon become the all-time Arizona Fall League base-stealing champion, beating the immortal Rick Holifield. He is giving Brian Cashman important cover, as the Yankees watch Juan Soto toy with our hearts.

Here we are, lost in a November sandstorm of free agent speculation, still reeling from the world series meltdown, and steeling ourselves to be outbid on the one player who could make a difference... but we have a weekend of nothingness in Arizona. I mean, it could be worse. What if Martin came in second? What if Durbin breaks his wrist? 

Either way, I gotta say it: We should prepare for the most depressing winter since 2014, when Joginson Cano - a-doncha know - left the building. Even if we keep Soto - which looks like a longshot - we're going to be facing a swiss cheese roster of holes. But, hey, the derby!  

Saturday, November 9, 2024

Five Easy Fixes (All feasible) Non Soto Edition.

 1) Roki Sasaki, the “Monster of the Reiwa Era,”  Cheap!!!

From the NY Post:  "The Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball announced overnight that they intend to make the star starting pitcher available through the posting system that will make Sasaki the kind of bargain even tiny markets can fit into a budget.

The right-hander throws 100 mph, is renowned for a devastating splitter and turned 23 last week." 

The scuttlebutt is that he will sign with the Dodgers. But if he would rather be THE Japanese Ace as opposed to "Another Japanese Ace" he should think about the Yankees.  

Boy would that fix the rotation. 


2) Christian Walker 1B  1/3 Soto Money 

From SI : "Walker, 33, is coming off a solid season with the D-backs, though it was shortened by an oblique injury that kept him out for all of August. Still, the veteran posted yet another good offensive year with Arizona, slashing .251/.335/.468, with 26 home runs and 84 RBI.


As has been his standard, he put up an excellent defensive season, racking up 13 Outs Above Average, a .998 fielding percentage, and +7 defensive runs saved, earning him a nomination and chance for his third straight Gold Glove Award."

Should cost 60M for three years. He should hold up.  Gold Glove defense. Solid hitter. 

3) Carlos Estevez Closer  1/3 Soto Money 

From SI: "The talented righty was truly dominant in 2024, recording a 2.45 ERA across 54 appearances and 55 innings with 50 strikeouts. He had a minuscule 0.909 WHIP, doing a wonderful job of limiting base runners throughout the year.

4) Bring up Caleb Durbin  Cheap!

5) Sign Soto (OK I lied)

Gotta sign him! 

Another Year of Boone: The Rhyme

Another year of wondering just how we'll lose today,
Another year of being told that everything's okay.

Another year ignoring all his anger and his sorrow,
Another year of claiming Stanton's slump will end tomorrow.

Another year predestined to another autumn flub,
Another year to watch him run a cozy country club.

Another year avoiding and refusing to confront,
Another year of batters who will never learn to bunt.

Another year of heading to a mid-October slaughter.
Another year of lugging Brian Cashman's tired water.

Another year of bullpen moves that rile and incense us,
Another year of instant challenge replays gone against us.

Another year of smiling, always hyping false morale,
Another year of bowing to the problem: Food Stamps Hal.

Another year of post-game shows, so tiring and sober,
Another year of sitting home and watching in October.

Another year of peaking back in May or early June,
Another year of nothing: We are keeping Aaron Boone. 

Friday, November 8, 2024

Is it more like a bad penny or a piece of toilet paper stuck to your shoe?


Or is it like a big wad of Dubble Bubble someone carelessly spat out on a hot summer sidewalk?

Yes, he's back...we're stuck with him.


Buena suerte, amigos.


Yanks announce plans to bloviate and pretend interest in big free agents

Because that's what they do. 

All-in, on everyone!

As they wait on Soto, will the Yankees this winter watch their other options leave the table?

The all-knowing Internet says we won't learn Juan Soto's fate until mid-December, after the winter drinking sessions meetings - if we're lucky. 

That's because super agent Scott Boras, a scion of dicksmanship brinksmanship, will string out the bidding until March, if necessary, to squeeze extra bacon from the piglets billionaires. Moreover, he won't accept a deferred payment plan, as Shohei Ohtani did with the Dodgers, because, in this case, there isn't an entire country picking up the tab with endorsements.  

That leaves the Death Barge to either wait patiently until Soto's decision, or to start collecting the usual all-stars from five years ago - Alex Bregman, Paul Goldschmidt, Whit Merrifield, your mom - with each expenditure undermining Food Stamp's willingness to chase the generational talent. 

I mean, if we sign Bregman - banging that celebratory garbage can lid - would anyone believe Hal would also pry Soto away from Steve Cohen, the Dodgers, or Rogers Communications? Sorry, folks, but the spittle trail from Hal's clenched grimace will tell everyone he's bluffing, hoping to finish second, so he can whinny, "O, shucks!" and toss in his cards. 

In the modern era, the Yankees are pretty good at finishing second, or as Bert Parks would say, "first runner-up."

With or without Soto, Cooperstown Cashman must either find a 2B to replace Gleyber, or hold a spring training contest between Oswald/Oswaldo and the fantasy mite, Caleb Durbin, who is currently hitting .296 in the Arizona Fall League. We may love Durbin, a credit to his Altuvian size (5'6") and spirit, but let's not kid ourselves: He's a stretch. They all are. 

Likewise, CF. If Soto jumps, that probably pushes Aaron Judge back to RF - (where he belongs) - and leaves us with, what? The Martian in CF? Quick question: Did you happen to see Jasson Dominguez in September? My God. Calgon Bath Oil Beads, take me away! He was so awful in the field that Boone went with the disappointing Alex Verdugo - .233 and 13 HRs - through the playoffs. (And, to be honest, Doogie made what should have been a great play of the modern era, somersaulting like Jeter into the LF seats, a moment destined to last - um -two minutes? Sad.) 

Well, ya know what? I fukkin dunno what to do. But I know this: The Yankees desperately need Soto, and in the old days, before nepo baby Hal and the Marxist luxury taxes, we'd get him. These days, no guarantees. The Mets are already the superior team in NYC, and Cohen could go wild and sign both Soto and - say - Pete Alonzo. Hal will never do such a thing. Money doesn't grow on trees, people.

And I don't care how hopeful we want to be: 2025 looks like a long, hard, downward slog, with everything long, hard and drawn-out. And if we do sign somebody soon, it probably just means the big prize - the one that matters - is off the table. 

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Cashman.


Hey, I know: it's hard to admit that you were wrong. Harder, still, to admit that maybe your entire operating philosophy for your whole career has been wrong. But that's what Brian Cashman managed to do—or at least take the first step toward doing—when he did not make Gleyber Torres a qualifying offer the other day.

That must have been hard for him. Gleyber was, after all, Cashie's first attempt to build his own Derek Jeter—a near obsession to our GM—when he brought him over from the Cubs for the Aroldis Chapman loaner. And at first it looked like The Brain had struck gold.

Gleyber was supposed to be the cornerstone, the key piece of Cashman's new youth team. Theo Epstein said he was the one thing he regretted giving up in the Aroldis deal that helped the Cubs to their first World Series win in 108 years. Which might have been just another Theo deke, but he seemed to be sincere.

Gleyber, for his part, went tearing up through the minors in 2017. Only an injury on an audacious slide across home kept him from being called up that year. And if he had been, who knows? Maybe a young, uninhibited, engaged Gleyber would have made the difference that put the Yankees over the top, and brought them a surprise World Series win.

Impossible to say—but it didn't seem to much matter. Gleyber sure looked like the real deal in his first two seasons, playing second base while the Yanks waited for Sir Didi to get old. In 2018, he hit 24 homers and had an .820 OPS, and should have been first or second as Rookie of the Year. (Both Gleyber and our Miggy got beat out by the non-rookie, Shohei Ohtani.) 

In 2019, he was even better—considerably better—with 38 homers and an .871 OPS, and if he was probably the beneficiary of the jacked-up ball that year, so what? He looked like the future.

The trouble started when the Yanks tried to slot him permanently into the shortstop position in 2020. His production plunged and he wasn't able to field the position. Instead, we got two seasons in which his errors exceeded his home runs.

Plopped back on second, he improved in 2022 and 2023, but then there was considerable backsliding this season, despite a good last month and a decent playoffs (until the World Series). 2024 was his third big-league season—out of 7—with more errors than homers. Much of the season, his power all but seemed to disappear. 

And while there were those couple good months, Gleyber once again—as always—had other months when he was, statistically, close to being the very worst player in the sport. 

Some claim that he is a top hitter in the AL, at least, among second basemen. But the stats don't actually show that. Gleyber has never won a Silver Slugger award, for instance—and in 2023, he finished 9th in the league in grounding into the most double-plays.

This brings us to his running, which is slow, at best; lazy and confused, at worst. We all remember that 9th inning in the ALDS against Boston, in which he somehow failed to beat out a very slow roller to Rafael Devers, thereby ending our season. There is a lot of that with our Mr. Torres. Someone who runs a site called "Grunt Baseball" has even put together several series of videos which he claims shows Gleyber failing to run hard to first, including in this World Series (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuRttdoiekE)

Another stat I saw claimed he was the sixth-WORST runner in the majors this past season. Running stats? Yeah, I'm dubious, too. But we've all seen the colossal screw-ups.

The fielding is even less excusable. Gleyber has now led the AL in errors at his position 3 times, once at shortstop and, in 2023 and 2024, at second. In most other fielding stats, he almost always finishes in the bottom third of the league.

Yet another inexplicable, inattentive play by Torres—fielding a routine throw from right field—cost us Game One of the Series, thereby changing the entire complexion of the Series. Nor did he redeem himself with the bat. After a big first game in which he nearly homered—nearly, but not—he went 1-16 the rest of the way, finishing at .143 with 3 walks. 

Sadly, he has never proved able to keep his mind on the game or his eye on the ball.

I don't know what happened to Gleyber. He seemed to go the way of that whole Class of '17—Bird, Fowler, Frazier, Andujar, Severino, Sanchez—all of them but Judge, wiped out by mysterious injuries or even mysteriouser declines in every aspect of their games. I'd wager a great deal of money that these were due to the Yanks' defective instructional and training methods.

But since he won't or can't overhaul the system, it's good that Brian Cashman is admitting his mistake, and tossing away one of its broken parts. Or maybe not. The Yanks should make a clean break, and open up second base to a battle royale between Jazz and the kids. But even if they won't—even if this is just a refusal to pay Gleyber's market price in the hopes of freeing several millions in salary—it's the right move.

Now, Hal & Pal will surely take that cash and go full steam after Juan Soto! Right? Right? Hey, is this thing on?









The Juan Soto dilemma always begins with the same question: Would Hal sign him and then stop?

According to the Interweb, final bids for Juan Soto will eventually boil down to a Viagra-infused manhood war between Steve Cohen and Hal Steinbrenner - pitting NY against NY. (Actually, I don't buy this. A "mystery team" always pops up, it's usually Toronto, and wouldn't Rogers Communications love Soto hitting in front of Li'l Vlad ?) 

For the record, the IT IS HIGH official policy regarding Juan Soto is as follows:

Sign Juan Soto. Dammit. We spent the last year trying to be amicable, cheering him, hoping he'd like us and choose to stay. It wasn't easy, being amicable. When he peacocked at home plate, or botched a fly to right, we secretly seethed. But nobody whined. Fukkin amicable, right? 

So, repeating now: The official IIHIIFIIc policy: 

Listenup, Hal, you booger-mouthed little cheapie, spend whatever it takes and sign Juan Soto.

But but BUT - the word of the day is but - Yank fans must ask a few questions about the oncoming Soto Sweepstakes: 

1. Would Hal use Soto's signing as an excuse to sit out other free agent auctions? Even if we keep Soto, the Death Barge next year will need: 

a) a 1B
b) a 2B
c) a LF
d) pitching
e) pitching
f-z) pitching. 

If Hal signs Soto and goes into hibernation, we could relive the last five Giancarlo years, all over.  

2. If the web is right, and Soto stays in Gotham, could it infuriate half of the NYC sporting base? From my fallout shelter in Syracuse, behind the shelves of canned soup, it's hard to gauge the current Big Apple zeitgeist, aside from wondering the whereabouts of Pizza Rat? But I can say this: 

If Soto becomes a Met, I will personally take joy whenever he botches a fly ball - for the rest of his career. I recognize that Soto, by signing with the top bidder, would simply be feeding his family. But if he scorns the Yankees, it's Joggy Cano, all over again, and he will insult each of us - personally, spiritually, molecularly - and forever always wear an invisible Star Insurance patch of animosity. Nobody will weep if Soto, as an orangey Met, tweaks a hammy and misses June/July. 

3. Wherever Soto goes, will the added financial weight prove harder to lug. Having more money than God will be a new experience. Throughout 2024, Soto was courted and sparked by NY. In April, he got off to a great start, throwing out a runner at home against Houston. He had a great year, and he's a great player, but he was also sorta lucky. Next year, with the limburger stench of Game 5 Inning 5 still clinging, he might not have such an easy time. 

Wait. Am I sounding negative? Let me repeat the Official Stance of IT IS HIGH: 

The Yankees must sign Juan Soto. Dammit. Whatever it takes. Soto and Judge should be Yankee fixtures for the next decade. But let's don't kid ourselves: Two hitters won't win a ring. If Hal doesn't have the balls to go all out - Soto and beyond! - maybe he should think of another path, one with a longer-range arc? 

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Sorry, but the Yankees don't seem to matter today.

Let me apologize: On this site, I try to never mix politics with the Yankees. 

The world needs a safe place for nut-bag Yank fans, and regardless of your or my political views, that's what IT IS HIGH needs to be. You'll always be welcome here.

But today, with the chaos that I'm afraid is about to unfold, I just can't bring myself to agonize over whether TJ Rumfield remains a viable alternative at 1B. (I think he could be, but the lack of power is concerning, and, oh, fukkit, who are we kidding? the Yankees will sign some fat guy who peaked in 2022.) Obviously, what I think doesn't matter. The Yankees won't change. Cashman will return, Boone will return, Food Stamps Hal will just grow richer until his money stacks to the moon, and whenever there's a chance to make a bad deal, rest assured, the Yankees will make it.  

Back in 2004, when the floors caved in, I thought nothing could ever be worse. Then, last week, in one single inning, I was proven once again to be a fool. 

I think the America we knew is over. And, today, I just can't do this.

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Publius: Anybody see the news that the Yankees will be involved at Times Square on New Years Eve?

From commenter Publius...

League pennants used to not be good enough for NYC, but times change.

Anyway, word is Judge and Cole will be featured. Judge will drop the ball, and Cole will stand there and point at it.

An Above Average Haiku Tuesday - Indigestion and Lower Intestinal Blockage Edition




 

Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear

It was fun, seats were cheap and plentiful, and there was no assault on your ears. 
Assuming you liked Eddie Layton.





































 

Yankees: Keep Cole and Carry On, while Caleb "Arizona" Durbin chases the immortal Rick Holifield

By now, you know that Gerrit Cole's "Et tu, Brute?" free agency lasted barely 24 hours, and he's ours through 2029 - age 38 - as is, hopefully with the Verlander gene infused in his spit. Meanwhile, let's hope the Death Barge wins something, so Cole doesn't spend the rest of his life recalling his role in "the Yankee Buckner." 

What's sorta weird here is that, apparently, Cole accepted the same contract that he opted out of, a phantom haggle that - I can't help wonder - contains hidden consequences. Basically, the story being sold is that Scott Boras - once, the most terrifying name in MLB front offices - took Cole to the marketplace and then yanked  him back. Does that make sense? Nope, unless... 

1. Unless Cole never wanted free agency to begin with, and Boras jumped the gun. This happened long ago with A-Rod - remember? - who opted out during a world series, then canned Boras and signed with the Yankees, hat in hand, seeking to make nice.

2. Unless Cole and Boras realized that nobody would beat a 4-year offer at $144 million for a 34-year-old who last year pitched 95 innings and might forever be recalled as "the Yankee Buckner." 

3. Unless Boras secured some secret, boilerplate change that will haunt us later. Are brown M&Ms still a thing?  

Whatever. Everybody loves Cole. That sign - "Yankee fan for life" - it still touches our hearts. He'll always be that innocent, adorable 9-year-old. If you think watching the Eagles' Saquan Barkley vault defenders is hurtful to Giants fans, watching Cole pitch for, say, the Blue Jays would be cruel and unusual juju punishment, even for the most obnoxious of us. 

So, he'll be back. Gleyber? Nah. Holmes? Probably gone. Soto? That's the question. 

If Soto leaves - no matter where he goes - there is absolutely no way the Yankees can spin the next three months in a positive way. Already, the Mets secretly own NY. (The media hasn't figured this out yet.) If the Mets sign Soto... kaboom. 

Wait! No! I take it back! There is Caleb Durbin, the Chuck Palahniukian pigmy - (at 5'6," even Anthony Volpe will tower over him; think of the photo ops with Aaron Judge) - now on the verge of beating Rick Holifield's all-time Arizona Instructional League single-season record for SBs. Why isn't ESPN doing cutaways?

In February, Durbin turns 25. It's sorta sad that he is The Distraction, but I'll take it. Last year, over three levels of the Yankee farms, he hit .275 with 18 HRs. (His HR numbers would be better, but he broke his hand and missed about 40 games.) Guy plays everywhere, but I gotta think he's a 2B.

Of course, it's worth wondering about the quality of catchers in an "Instructional" League. This season, over 18 games, Durbin has stolen 22 bases, caught stealing just once. He's hitting .265 with 3 HRs, only 4 Ks and 13 walks - (small strike zone?) - an OPS of .849. Yeah, it's a long shot, a moon shot, but I'm biting. If there's a pinprick of light, we'll sail towards it. 

Gerrit Cole will return. But really... The Yankee Buckner? 

Monday, November 4, 2024

...And Gleyber Is Gone! Maybe...


Yanks do NOT extend a qualifying offer to The Gleyber. Meaning that he could be back anyway, but not for anything like what he's making.

Hip, hip, hooray, and ballyhoo! 

It's a shame for Gleyber. But just too many seasons of lackadaisical, uninvolved play—right up through the late World Series—for me to be upset. 

And maybe, just maybe, this means money for Soto.





Yay! Flouncy's back!


I kid, I kid. I'm actually glad that Gerrit Cole is coming back. He pitched very well in the playoffs and particularly the World Series...and is almost the only starting pitcher we can count on.

He and the Yanks have not yet agreed on his extension, but they have agreed that he will stay, and they can keep talking. So good.

What this means about Juan Soto...probably nothing good. But if they're going to re-sign and extend Cole, then signing Soto really makes all the more sense. If they're going to stick with the vets, they're going to want to contend.





"Let me tell you how it will be..."


Wondering what the Yankees are going to do if they can't sign Juan Soto?

Just consult The Yankee Way: The Untold Inside Story of the Brian Cashman Era, by Andy Martino.

Martino's book contains a firsthand description (pp. 259-263) of how Cashman and his staff reacted as the attempt to re-sign Judge came to a head, just as MLB was having its annual winter meeting in San Diego, in early December, 2022. As rumors spread that Judge was about to sign with the Giants or even the Padres, Cashman and the Yankees "braintrust"...essentially did not have a clue.

Here are a couple lines from Martino, who was in San Diego, covering the meetings, and running into Cashman, Boone, and other Yankees front office guys at their hotel:

"...it felt as if the Yankees were losing the thread. They were now in the dark during a crucial point in negotiations, unaware even where Judge was or planned to be."

Boone "and several high-ranking Yankee officials" sat in a bar, debating whether Judge was flying to SD, as rumored, whether or not Boone should call him...and generally sounding like a cast of Waiting for Godot. "Cashman remained up in his suite, working."

The next day, as rumors spread that Judge had maybe already decided to go home to San Francisco, the Yanks fell into complete disarray:

"For the first time, the front office discussed among themselves the notion that perhaps Judge was done as a Yankee...Upstairs in the Yankees' suite, Cashman and his lieutenants fell silent. A few dropped their heads into their hands...the room was soon funereal: there was quite typing, the occasional sigh, and the heavy feel of dejection." 

That evening, with everything still unresolved:

"A pair of Yankee executives passed through the lobby of the Hyatt, their shoulders sagging, their mouths turned downward...In [the] fortieth-floor bar, sitting on couches that sat low to the ground, some in the ton office began to speculate on next steps after Judge left. Would it be better to sign the next-best free agent (at that moment, shortstop Carlos Correa)...Maybe the Yankees should sign the center fielder Brandon Nimmo and as much pitching as they could gather? 

"This is how uncertain the future of the Yankees became at that moment...Cashman did not participate in this gathering. Wary of being seen by the public with a drink in his hand when news broke that Judge was signing elsewhere—how would that go over with an angry fan base?—he remained in the suite."

Yep. 

This is, mind you, in a book that's well worth reading, but which can best be described as hagiographic whenever it turns to Brian Cashman. Nonetheless, we learn how thoroughly unprepared the Yankees were in dealing with what had been an obvious possibility for at least a couple years. 

There was no Plan B. There was no plan A. There was just random speculation. 

"Maybe we should sign Nimmo" (pictured above), a perfectly adequate outfielder who batted .224 this season, has an OPS over 200 points below Judge's, and is know mostly for running to first when he gets walks.

Hurrah.

You can rest assured that, with the Yankees, nothing has changed, and there is still no plan in place. If and when the youngest superstar in the majors—a superstar who already cost them a first-rate starter—walks off the team, the New York Yankees will, maybe, sign the closest thing to Brandon Nimmo.

Or maybe not. Maybe this year, they'll just count on us being satisfied with Spencer and The Martian, and save Hal even more money. 

What a farce.





 



Hot Take on the Proposed Starting Lineup

Analytics loves to break up leftys and righties. What about tall and short?  










1) Jasson (Tiny  5'9") CF

2) Judge (Huge 6'7") RF

3) Durbin (Tiny 5'6") 2B

4) Stanton (Huge 6' 6") DH

5) Jazz (Medium Sized 5'11") 3B

6) TJ Rumsfeld (Huge 6'5") 1B

7) Volpe ( Tiny 5'9") SS

8) Wells  (Normal 6"2 big for a catcher) C

9) Spencer Jones (Huge) 6'6" LF