They lost their first five games of the year, finished the month of May nine below .500, fueling late night comics and radio sports rant phonies. Basically, they sucked.
Meanwhile, the Yankees roared off to a magical start, sweeping Houston and leading the AL East. By June 1, the disparity was so lopsided that Met fans were reduced to cheering for their owner's money: Next year, we'll buy Juan Soto, nyah, nyah, nyah...
And yet... here we go, awaiting a two-game battle for Gomorrah with no clear favorite. Consider:
* The Yankees have lost 7 of 10. Meanwhile, the Mets have gone 8-2.
* Though Luis Severino won't pitch in the series, he might in the All Star game. He's 5-2 with the NL's 15th best ERA (3.29) and might just be the greatest Yankee fiasco of the modern era. For 10 years, we groomed him. Finally, we punted, saying the guy needed a new city. So, he goes across town and - yikes - thrives. The Severino story has one message: We blew it. And something is fundamentally wrong with the Yankees.
* It's not the only thing. The Yankees have a huge, emerging flaw at catcher, where Jose Trevino's soft-throws threaten the team and his career. Recently, Boston and Baltimore ran wild against us. This weekend, we didn't see it from Atlanta - the second worst base-stealing team in baseball, with only 35. Tuesday night, expect Francisco Lindor, Sterling Marte and Harrison Bader to go crazy. For each, a walk will be a double, maybe a triple. Until Trevino conquers his throwing problem - which might be mental - both he and the Yankees face an existential crisis. On top of all their other needs, the Yankees might have to trade for a catcher.
* Once a pitcher gets past Soto and Judge, the Yankee lineup is - well -awful. It's getting hard to stomach the YES team's continued assurances that DJ LeMahiue is returning to form, or that Oswaldo Cabrera shows signs of emerging. They hit pop flies and ground balls. The bottom of the Yankee lineup is a disaster.
* Once again, the Yankees are turning to Gerrit Cole to staunch a wound. This is frightening. Cole's return was supposed to supplement the rotation, not save it. Mark these words: The Yankees are putting way too much pressure on a pitcher - however great - who is returning from rehab. If Cole starts feeling soreness...
* Yesterday, the Yankees yesterday traded a dirt league prospect for 31-year-old 1B J.D. Davis, who had been DFAed by Oakland, the second worst team in the AL. Last year, Davis hit 18 HRs for the Giants. He's a lifetime .259, bats RH. This year - with 4 HRs - he'd lost his job with the A's.
What does all this mean? Well, it means that Cooperstown Cashman is staying up at night, trolling the scrap heaps. It's what he does best. But the next phase - the August trade deadline - is what Cashman historically has done worst.
How the Yankees fare in the Subway will determine how hard, and how soon, Cashman starts making moves. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
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A few years ago against the Mets, I remember Cole pitching to Met hitter Dominic something-or-other. A pretty decent looking hitter, with some power. For some half ass reason, early in a 0-0 game, Cole throws a slider which misses (I think it was inside). Then throws another slider high over the plate that gets crushed for a homer (again, I think it was inner half). And the rout was on, as it only got worse from there. Cole only lasted about 2 innings plus. The nutty thing was that Cole had a great fastball that day, was touching 100 mph. Looked like it had life. He has a 100 mph fastball and for some crazy reason is throwing back to back sliders against a AAAA hitter. A wasted pitch sequence, a wasted start by Cole. And I knew right then and there that this Prima Donna does NOT know what the hell he's doing.
Unfortunately, this is what we have going for us in this subway series. You never know, maybe he pitches well, this being baseball. But if he pitches well, I expect the Yankee bats to go ice cold. If the bats are hot, Cole will probably get bombed. Either way, I expect the Mets to sweep.
Mutts always get up for us. It's their playoffs/World Series every year. Usually, these teams end up splitting, but I'd bet the Mutts sweep this year.
I said many times that there was nothing wrong with Severino that a good pitching coach couldn't cure. Blake appears to be better this year. Hell, I heard he even yelled at Cole during a rehab session for throwing too hard. Good for Blake, but a few years too late for the Yanks. Maybe in another five years Blake will be considered a really good pitching coach. Maybe the number crunching nerds management brought in over the winter did some good. Who the hell knows. Bottom line is Severino is pitching a lot better over there than the self-proclaimed "worst pitcher in baseball" that he was here.
Speaking of Severino, Rodon looks like he's sliding back to sucktitude again, after getting off to a very good start. The coaching here cannot seem to correct problems. When guys start to struggle is when you see it. They just get worse and worse until they commit seppuku.
Train in Vain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNot47WRBFk
Severino the greatest Yankee fiasco of the modern era? Of course one can make the case. But really only along the lines of 'what a shame, he could have been one of the all-time greats if only...' Despite the Yankees' horrible coaching and medical incompetence, he gave them some pretty good performances over several years. Obviously lots of time on the EL the past few seasons, but up until last year he was pretty good during his occasional healthy moments. And as frustrating as his constant setbacks were, bringing unwelcome memories of Carl Pavano, at least he wasn't clogging up the active roster with overpaid mediocrity and blocking anyone with potential. Cashman didn't trade a dozen prospects to acquire him. And his contract wasn't for a million years. Unlike some other fiascos we could mention.
I have a feeling that when we go to Californy tomorrow, the Clash will get played a lot in our hotel room.
As for the Yankees...well, look, it's been great. And unlike 2022, we know what's coming. 2022 was horrible because it really looked like they had the magic and then the crash was traumatic. This year, we've seen it before. We hope it's not happening again, but Cashman's pickup of Davis shows that we are truly doomed. We're taking DFAs from the worst teams in baseball, as if that's better than just standing pat. It's not. It's worse.
How would you feel--trying to shore up your confidence as your team sinks from its Olympian height, and some new guys show up and they're already branded total losers? Would you feel that the organization is serious? Would you think that these sad discards are worthy of your high-flying team?
No. Of course not. So your confidence slips further. You're basically insulted. And the team suffers with yet another lugnut who can only drag the team down.
P.S. Yes, Grisham has had a hard time adjusting to a part-time role, but notice that yesterday he was two for three. The only bright spot in the bottom half of the order. He also seems to have this propensity to hit the ball out of the park when he does hit it. At this point, I'd rather see him than Vertigo, who's spinning down...down...down...(cue Bernard Herrmann music).
I still suspect that Sevvy's problems stemmed in part from the Yankees insisting on pitching him for the second half of 2018, when they knew he was injured.
July 1, 2018—you could look it up, as Casey used to say.
We were skunking the Red Sox in the Stadium, 9-0—moving into a tie for first despite Boston's great start that year. Sevvy had allowed 2 hits and struck out six, with 2 outs in the 7th. He would be 13-2 after this start, with a league-leading ERA of 1.98.
All of a sudden, he's pulled, with those 2 outs in the inning. No explanation was ever given—but Sevvy was never the same pitcher that year, he was never the same pitcher again. Yanks kept throwing him, though. He went 6-6 the rest of the way, finishing with a 3.38 ERA.
Yanks still insisted on letting him get clobbered in that awful ALDS against the Red Sox—put out some cock-and-bull story about how he couldn't find his way to the Stadium.
Cashman should've been fired for that crap alone.
Hey, Grisham has upped his average from .105 to .138 in less than a month!
From The Athletic:
"Adding J.D. Davis from the Oakland Athletics could be another shrewd move by the Yankees. Yes, Oakland is terrible, and yes, it tossed Davis to the DFA (designated for assignment) scrap heap. What would the Yankees want with him? Well, he’s been good against lefties this season, hitting .265 with a .795 OPS in 37 plate appearances against them, and his career OPS against left-handed pitching is .779."
Adding J.D. Davis from the Oakland Athletics could be another shrewd move by the Yankees??????? hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
I hate to ask, but "another shrewd move"...?
"Another" implies a multiple of some sort. At least, more than one. Perhaps several?
When was the first such move, please?
[not holding you responsible, JM]
Hoss,
Just finished your book. It is indeed excellent, even the tragic parts.
My favorite line is in the Bibliographical Essay -- no, not the shout out to this website, as good as that was.
It was this little gem buried:
"...the first volume of The New York Game..."
The Yankees training staff may be even worse than Ca$hole at destroying the Yankees.
That is a pretty high (low?) bar, but I think the reach it.
As for the JD Davis acquisition, another dumpster dive!
Did they get him to program the clubhouse soundtrack? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JD_Davis
Finally, if Ca$hole is so shrewd, how was he unable to coerce either Lance Berkman or Lyle Overbay out of retirement. That slacker!
I love and respect you all too much to say “I told you so.“ I also know that, deep down in your hearts, none of you had the hope that you were bravely projecting here for the last month and a half. I am driving in the Rocky Mountains at the moment with a bad signal, so I will keep this short. Why did I pop on now? Remind everybody that this is Brian‘s team. He built it, he conceived it, and he owns it, lock stock and barrel. He has o take responsibility, like the upstanding piece of shit that is. You can’t just take credit for streaks. When was the last championship, Brian? You piece of shit. You foul piece of shit. You and the owner Hal and the moron Boone. You all belong in a reptile park in cages.
The Met was Domenic Smith.
Cole knows the opposing hitters well and makes a great effort in game preparation.
He does appear to be a Prima Donna, though. He goes through periods where he gives up too many home runs. Such as he did in 2022 when he was at or near the top in HR allowed. Often, he is around the plate too much, which is why he gives up the long ball so frequently. But, like other top pitchers, most home runs are of the solo variety.
I was thinking that Hoss did so much research for that book, it would make sense if he spun another book or two out of it. And I would definitely buy them.
Although a second volume of "The New York Game" would, logically, probably pick up where the first book left off, around 1950. Though a second volume could focus on the Negro Leagues and Hispanic teams.
Or Hoss or the publisher were just being optimistic when he/they put in that "first volume" thing. After the long, long birthing process for the current book, I would understand if Kevin is moving on to other subjects.
So, Hoss..whaddya say? Any plans? Your fan club awaits with baited breath.
Remember when Cashman stiffed Torre when he wanted a raise without managing a championship team? (I don't blame him, either. I think Torre did not deserve a raise, just as he could never manage a team to perform beyond its latent abilities. Give him a great roster, he wins. Give him a flawed roster, he can't. Overrated.)
So why doesn't Cashman hold himself to such a high standard? Because it's human nature. When things go right, I did it. When things go wrong, it's not my fault.
Two peas in a pod, those guys.
Like most IIHIIFIIC readers, I tend to look at the Yankees through pessimistic glasses. I just purchased another 5 fashionable pair through Warby Parker for the price of one! One tends to view the Yankees universe in that way when a chump like Cashman is the GM. But the silver lining for this season is that many of the better players will be back from injuries, including The Martian, who will have a strong positive impact on the fate of 2024. Some of the more successful relievers and Clarke Schmidt will also return. I think this will be enough to get the team deep into the playoffs. Do I need a visit to the optometrist?
Carl,
My magic 8 ball says "All signs point to yes!"
I’m more concerned with the downward trend of this team rather than the Mess, who barely register on my sports radar.
The lineup is a mess. LeMahieu is done and Torres is…well, Torres. Volpe is a terrible choice to lead-off, Rizzo is gone (maybe forever). We have no IF, and JD Davis ain’t gonna move the needle. Apparently, Caleb Durbin had his right hand amputated by an over zealous Scranton quack after getting HBP. The team is maintaining radio silence on both him and Clayton Beeter.
We don’t have a decent. two-way C, unless they rush Gus Ramirez.
Stanton being Stanton, which is being worse than useless, as his salary and one dimensional play prevents needed change, now and seemingly forever. Remember, historically when he returns from the IL he remains in a month long funk.
There really isn’t much help available at the deadline, nobody wants our overpaid 35 year old garbage anyway. We just have to wait to see what walking wounded can help us by September. At that point, we’ll be solidly entrenched in 3rd or 4th place, struggling to make the low bar of being the final WC team.
@ Rufus...LOLOL
Love your optimism, Carl! You should bottle that stuff.
Hey, Rufus & JM—can't thank you guys enough, just as I can't thank everyone on this site enough for all your support.
But YES (not the network), the second book is done (at least through 2022), and while it needs some massive editing, it will be out in the spring of 2026.
It will start with the signing of Jackie Robinson, and baseball right after the war—and Robinson will be on the cover. Here's what it will look like, though obviously, we need to revise the subtitle:
/Users/kevin Baker/Desktop/New York Game.5.2.pdf
Hoss, I just finished your book - let me add my voice to the choir of praise for this well researched, informative, and thoroughly entertaining read. Looking forward to the next!
Hoss, that's great!! I hope I'm still around in 2026. Guaranteed sale here.
Hoss,
I hope you can make it to the meet up. Because the chances of you being allowed in the stadium after vol. II is released are below zero. After all, it will include the Steinbrenner AND Ca$hole years. I'm betting you will be PNG at the stadium after your thoughts are published.
I for one would be happy to spend any future game with you at the dive pregame spot. And I'll buy you a drink or 3. 🍸
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