Thought I was about to catch a walk off grand slam but alas.
Of our free agents I’d ideally bring back McCutchen, DRob, Happ and Britton. It’s unlikely they bring back both relievers though. They’ll desperately need to add a starter, but I’m worried Corbin is Sonny 2.0.
I’d not pick up Gardner’s option.
As for Andujar, I suppose they could try him @ 1B - I'm not sure how well he'd play there, but they could give it a shot. I'm not desperate to deal him. But, if replacing him with Machado were a possibility and flipping him into pitching help was the corresponding move, I wouldn't hate it.
Another factor to consider.
Let's suppose the Yanks indulge Machado and promise he will play SS. Let's also suppose that in that scenario, the Yanks keep Andujar at 3B and trade Didi.
Let's further suppose that in 2019, Machado is a disaster at SS and Andujar does not improve or regresses defensively at 3B.
There could be Door B, behind which in 2020 the Yanks move Machado to 3B, Torres to SS- find a new 2B and trade Andujar (or change position).
I don't think we need to go shuffling too many pieces in the lineup.
I agree there.
However, he has long wanted to play for the Dodgers- who just like the Yanks, reset their luxury tax this season. The Dodgers probably go with Turner and Seager at 3B and SS, and let Machado walk- so they won't be spending money there.
If the Dodgers lose the Harper sweepstakes, I suspect that they will be more than willing to circle back to the Yanks and check what the cost to get Stanton will be. Keep in mind that all but 2 of the Dodgers current OF will be FA at the end of the year.
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He will not go back to a losing organization.
I agree there.
However, he has long wanted to play for the Dodgers- who just like the Yanks, reset their luxury tax this season. The Dodgers probably go with Turner and Seager at 3B and SS, and let Machado walk- so they won't be spending money there.
If the Dodgers lose the Harper sweepstakes, I suspect that they will be more than willing to circle back to the Yanks and check what the cost to get Stanton will be. Keep in mind that all but 2 of the Dodgers current OF will be FA at the end of the year.
rich, I doubt the Yanks trade Stanton without signing Harper. It is a catch 22 because they would not sign Harper unless they could move Stanton. Once they sign Harper, there is only one outlet for Stanton and the Yanks would be limited in the return value.
I think if anything they go for Machado.
I have actually thought about the possibility that the Yanks get Machado to play 3B- and instead of trading Andujar, trade Stanton and put Andujar at DH. IMO, that would improve the team defensively (essentially swapping Machado for Andujar) without hurting the team offensively. I see Machado and Stanton as almost a wash. Stanton will hit more HR, but Machado is just a better overall hitter.
I agree that Machado @ SS and Miggy @ 3B is too spooky defensively on the left side of the INF. I'd feel much better with Machado @ 3B and Didi @ SS.
But It's also true that Torres could be shifted to SS to push Machado over if Didi is dealt or not retained, then we'd be looking for a 2B and a new position or team for Andujar.
I am personally in no rush to get Miggy out of town - he's one of my favorite guys on the team. Just spitballing some ideas here.
I don't think we need to MAJORLY overhaul the lineup, but I'd really like to try and shuffle at least a tiny bit to try and construct a lineup that handles situational hitting better than this one did. We seemed too prone to slumps the way things were closing out this year.
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In comment 14119141 section125 said:
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He will not go back to a losing organization.
I agree there.
However, he has long wanted to play for the Dodgers- who just like the Yanks, reset their luxury tax this season. The Dodgers probably go with Turner and Seager at 3B and SS, and let Machado walk- so they won't be spending money there.
If the Dodgers lose the Harper sweepstakes, I suspect that they will be more than willing to circle back to the Yanks and check what the cost to get Stanton will be. Keep in mind that all but 2 of the Dodgers current OF will be FA at the end of the year.
rich, I doubt the Yanks trade Stanton without signing Harper. It is a catch 22 because they would not sign Harper unless they could move Stanton. Once they sign Harper, there is only one outlet for Stanton and the Yanks would be limited in the return value.
I think if anything they go for Machado.
I know I just suggested it to Kyle, but I'll suggest it again. What if the Yanks signed Machado to be the 3B- but then traded Stanton and moved Andujar to DH?
I think Stanton for Machado is a push- Stanton hits more HR, but Machado is the better overall hitter.
Stanton struck out over 100x more than Machado did this year.
I want to get some of the K's out of here. I'd prefer Machado if I was given the choice. Still plenty of power - but a more consistent hitter and the type that I think this lineup really needs.
Obviously when Stanton goes on tears, he's as scary a hitter as there is in baseball. I'm not in a rush to get rid of him, either.
I know I just suggested it to Kyle, but I'll suggest it again. What if the Yanks signed Machado to be the 3B- but then traded Stanton and moved Andujar to DH?
I think Stanton for Machado is a push- Stanton hits more HR, but Machado is the better overall hitter.
Agree, I think that Machado is about an equal swap for Stanton offensively as you said and at 3rd base it is a major upgrade. Hoping that Frazier recupes over winter. With the OF of, Judge, Hicks, Frazier and then keep Gardy one more year, unless Ellsbury is truly healed and he can be the swing OF a let Gardner go to save money.
Just his basic BA has fluctuated wildly over the last 4 years.
2015 - .330
2016 - .243
2017 - .319
2018 - .249
Obviously there's more under the hood - but he's just been tough to peg recently.
I'd love Harper's bat in this lineup, but the positional fit is going to be a little bit of a challenge because I don't think anyone is going to want him in LF full-time.
2018 is an outlier. I'm not saying he is not improved and can't possibly repeat his performance but I am not sure this player is worth $30 mil at this time.
Other folks here have said he has had two years of note. He has not. Most of his other years are trash and he had one ok year where it would be nice if he was a fourth starter. Anything less than his elite 2018 for $30 mil is a bust imo. How likely is he to repeat that performance. It is a very big risk.
Kershaw on the other hand is an injury risk but he has been one of the very best pitchers in the history of the game. And guess what, the Yankees can win 100 games without him. The importance of an SP like Kershaw is that you have him in peak form for the playoffs. Kershaw is a pitcher on Sale's level. Corbin is a wild card. I like him for a good price but for top pitcher money I think it is a big mistake.
It's sort of hard for me to understand how that wasn't figured out and corrected months ago when there was obviously something wrong and he was getting bashed around. Particularly the start @ CLE when it looked like they literally knew every single pitch he was about to throw.
I guess it's not as easy to correct as maybe it seems. But it's still really frustrating.
And Harper will fit snugly into left field (Gardener won't be back and Frazier is an unknown), whereas the addition of Machado means figuring out what to do with either Didi or Andujar.
He's not a good OF'er as it is, and then we're moving him into the tougher corner @ YS when he hasn't played LF at all in 4 years. He had a -3.2 dWAR this past year and that's not even playing any LF at all.
It would be a pretty big downgrade from Gardner.
If he puts up offensive years like 2015 or 2017, you live with it. But it wouldn't be ideal.
Now Manny is an elite defender at 3B and at least a capable SS. So it's not just about the bat. But the inconsistency that Bryce has held against him is a bit overblown. Just my opinion
Check out the video.
Yankees insiders believe Severino was tipping his pitches - ( New Window )
He's still an excellent pitcher, but he's seen DL time each of the last three years. He could certainly get more than two years, but is it worth walking away from 2/$70 to get 5/$90 or even 5/$100?
And Harper will fit snugly into left field (Gardener won't be back and Frazier is an unknown), whereas the addition of Machado means figuring out what to do with either Didi or Andujar.
Overall as players they are close. Harper has pretty much been the better hitter at least as far as OBP and SLG tells us. But Machado has been more durable and plays a much tougher position. It's sort of a push and I would be happy with either of them.
He's still an excellent pitcher, but he's seen DL time each of the last three years. He could certainly get more than two years, but is it worth walking away from 2/$70 to get 5/$90 or even 5/$100?
The word is that he will turn down the option. I am not sure that is a good idea or a bad idea. He will certainly get an enormous contract on the open market. Having said that, The Dodgers have as much money as anyone and I don't expect them to let him leave.
I like Brantley the player a lot - I don't like the injury history. But he's a real LFer and he can hit when he's healthy.
His name caught my eye yesterday when I was looking at the upcoming FA's.
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It's behind a pay wall so I won't link it. But tells you all you need to know about how the Yankees are being run.
“If a coach or a manager decides to do something with the lineup, or pitch usage, or play one player versus another, and if that comes at the expense of your philosophy or runs counter to your philosophy, then you’ve got to call that coach or manager on the carpet,” Cashman said. “Versus, ‘ah, let it slide.’ You can’t let things slide. You have to constantly reinforce and educate and do battle with it. You also challenge them.”
I know that you have this belief that Cashman is acting as the manager through Boone. However, I think this quote undermines your belief.
What I read him to be saying is that the Yanks have a philosophy, and the coaches have to be on-board. However, it also indicates that the day-to-day decisions are made by the manager and coaches- with oversight of those decisions by the front office.
This is not different from any other team using modern methods that go beyond "instinct and intuition." The Astros have a core philosophy and they required their manager to get on board. Same in Boston when they hired Cora.
Sorry, if anything, the quote supports the proposition that Boone is there to do Cash's bidding.
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CF: Hicks
RF: Judge
LF: Harper
3B: Andujar
SS: Didi
C: Sanchez
DH: Murphy
1B: Voit
2B: Torres
Bench: Romine, Torreyes, Frazier
Thoughts?
Daniel Murphy? NFW...he's 33 years old.
Keep Hechavarria over Toe.
Put Frazier in LF and DH Harper, should they go that route. Would rather Machado.
If Machado batted lefty, yes.
We need more balance.
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In comment 14118646 arniefez said:
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It's behind a pay wall so I won't link it. But tells you all you need to know about how the Yankees are being run.
“If a coach or a manager decides to do something with the lineup, or pitch usage, or play one player versus another, and if that comes at the expense of your philosophy or runs counter to your philosophy, then you’ve got to call that coach or manager on the carpet,” Cashman said. “Versus, ‘ah, let it slide.’ You can’t let things slide. You have to constantly reinforce and educate and do battle with it. You also challenge them.”
I know that you have this belief that Cashman is acting as the manager through Boone. However, I think this quote undermines your belief.
What I read him to be saying is that the Yanks have a philosophy, and the coaches have to be on-board. However, it also indicates that the day-to-day decisions are made by the manager and coaches- with oversight of those decisions by the front office.
This is not different from any other team using modern methods that go beyond "instinct and intuition." The Astros have a core philosophy and they required their manager to get on board. Same in Boston when they hired Cora.
How does that quote undermine the belief that the Yankee manager is Cash's puppet? "does something with the lineup, pitch usage"? You get called on the carpet by the FO for "philosophy", whatever that means. That is getting down in the managerial weeds.
Sorry, if anything, the quote supports the proposition that Boone is there to do Cash's bidding.
Quite the opposite, in fact.
Remember that Girardi got fired, in large part, because he could not relate to the younger players- and by the end of last season, rarely even spoke to many of them- according to numerous reports. The Yanks are in a youth movement, and that is a team philosophy. So is communication.
Girardi was always a vet first, second and last guy. He really resisted playing the young players- especially pitchers. That ran against the team philosophy- and it got him fired when he couldn't change. Even getting to Game 7 of the ALCS couldn't save him.
What the quote shows, in my opinion, is that Cashman is trying to instill a organizational way of doing things. In the old days, the O's and Dodgers used to call it "the Dodger way" or "the Oriole way." There was a way of teaching the younger players, there was a way things were done, and there was a philosophy that guided the way the team was run on the field.
I don't think this is much different that what they did.
I know some here want to see some sort of nefarious interference by Cashman in the day-to-day managing a team, but I don't see the evidence for it. IMO, this is no different than a corporation putting out its corporate guidance and credos- it doesn't mean that the CEO is running the day-to-day of the company through the managers- it is just the way things are to be done (or supposed to be done).
I am sure that the numbers will never be seen publicly, but I suspect that the Yanks analytics guys have crunched the numbers for the shift and other defensive things- and applied them to the unique shape of the Stadium (small RF, huge LF). I also suspect that those numbers bear out that lefties are actually disadvantaged in Yankee Stadium.
Think how many times we saw all the lefties in recent years (especially Tex batting lefty) hit the ball a ton- only to have the 2B make the play in short RF. In contrast, we don't see too many defensive plays made in short LF by middle INF against righty hitters.
It might be that in this new age of shifts, defensive positioning and Stadium designs that it is better to be a righty hitting team in Yankee Stadium. I would suggest that Judge, Voit and other power guys have no problem taking the ball out to RF when it is pitched away.
Obviously, that may change on the road- but teams still pay 81 games at home out of 162, so you may as well design your team for your park.
It's sort of hard for me to understand how that wasn't figured out and corrected months ago when there was obviously something wrong and he was getting bashed around. Particularly the start @ CLE when it looked like they literally knew every single pitch he was about to throw.
I guess it's not as easy to correct as maybe it seems. But it's still really frustrating.
I still say it was his inability to throw his offspeed stuff for strikes - they were not near the plate. It must be a real easy tell if every batter knew in a millisecond what each pitch he was throwing.
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Unrelated, but unfortunately, the Yanks seem to have arrived at the same conclusion most of us did re: Sevy, which was that he was tipping pitches in game 3.
It's sort of hard for me to understand how that wasn't figured out and corrected months ago when there was obviously something wrong and he was getting bashed around. Particularly the start @ CLE when it looked like they literally knew every single pitch he was about to throw.
I guess it's not as easy to correct as maybe it seems. But it's still really frustrating.
I still say it was his inability to throw his offspeed stuff for strikes - they were not near the plate. It must be a real easy tell if every batter knew in a millisecond what each pitch he was throwing.
Just a thought. How about Sanchez tipping pitches by his set up for the pitch called? Batter could not see it but maybe base coaches could?
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Unrelated, but unfortunately, the Yanks seem to have arrived at the same conclusion most of us did re: Sevy, which was that he was tipping pitches in game 3.
It's sort of hard for me to understand how that wasn't figured out and corrected months ago when there was obviously something wrong and he was getting bashed around. Particularly the start @ CLE when it looked like they literally knew every single pitch he was about to throw.
I guess it's not as easy to correct as maybe it seems. But it's still really frustrating.
I still say it was his inability to throw his offspeed stuff for strikes - they were not near the plate. It must be a real easy tell if every batter knew in a millisecond what each pitch he was throwing.
I think that was also part of it - but I saw this during the game and was pretty startled...
At one point, NESN noted that Jackie Bradley Jr. mouthed “fastball” on the bench to Mookie Betts on an 0-and-2 pitch to Brock Holt.
I think they knew exactly what he was throwing before he was throwing it in a bunch of instances. It literally looked that way on the field.
Whatever it was, they have to figure it out and get him back to what he was in the first half of the season. Having that version of Severino is vital to this team and their success going forward.
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In comment 14119206 arcarsenal said:
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Unrelated, but unfortunately, the Yanks seem to have arrived at the same conclusion most of us did re: Sevy, which was that he was tipping pitches in game 3.
It's sort of hard for me to understand how that wasn't figured out and corrected months ago when there was obviously something wrong and he was getting bashed around. Particularly the start @ CLE when it looked like they literally knew every single pitch he was about to throw.
I guess it's not as easy to correct as maybe it seems. But it's still really frustrating.
I still say it was his inability to throw his offspeed stuff for strikes - they were not near the plate. It must be a real easy tell if every batter knew in a millisecond what each pitch he was throwing.
I think that was also part of it - but I saw this during the game and was pretty startled...
At one point, NESN noted that Jackie Bradley Jr. mouthed “fastball” on the bench to Mookie Betts on an 0-and-2 pitch to Brock Holt.
I think they knew exactly what he was throwing before he was throwing it in a bunch of instances. It literally looked that way on the field.
Whatever it was, they have to figure it out and get him back to what he was in the first half of the season. Having that version of Severino is vital to this team and their success going forward.
If it was that easy, I think other sources would come out with a tutorial and show what the tip was. Unless some scout, reporter, official somewhere comes out and shows what the tip was, I will be wary.
I thought maybe it was Sanchez. Does Sanchez set himself up differently for fastballs and sliders? But I also suppose Romine would be guilty as he was catching over the summer while Sanchez was on the DL, which is pretty far fetched.
Maybe Sanchez was doing something differently on slider calls to try and prevent a PB or WP. I really have no idea. But something was off and it definitely felt like Boston knew what he was throwing before he threw it.
There's definitely more to it, I think - but the Yankees themselves seem to believe there was a pitch tipping issue in addition to whatever else was happening.
Bottom line, I just hope they figure it out and get him back to first half Sevy.
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tick higher BA and SLG against RHP, lower OBP (.358 vs. .386). It matters, but it doesn't matter that much.
I am sure that the numbers will never be seen publicly, but I suspect that the Yanks analytics guys have crunched the numbers for the shift and other defensive things- and applied them to the unique shape of the Stadium (small RF, huge LF). I also suspect that those numbers bear out that lefties are actually disadvantaged in Yankee Stadium.
Think how many times we saw all the lefties in recent years (especially Tex batting lefty) hit the ball a ton- only to have the 2B make the play in short RF. In contrast, we don't see too many defensive plays made in short LF by middle INF against righty hitters.
It might be that in this new age of shifts, defensive positioning and Stadium designs that it is better to be a righty hitting team in Yankee Stadium. I would suggest that Judge, Voit and other power guys have no problem taking the ball out to RF when it is pitched away.
Obviously, that may change on the road- but teams still pay 81 games at home out of 162, so you may as well design your team for your park.
A pull-happy lefty in YS is definitely disadvantaged for everything but homeruns, and analytics-driven pitching can help to blunt the impact of that. It's hard to go oppo on someone living inside, especially with heat (which everyone has), so it's either going to be lined into the shift or, if he misses a spot, over the fence.