Good Morning unhappy Yankees fans. The non-hitting Yankees team showed up last night as did the non-ace Cole. I left early last night because I could see that Cole was bad and they were not hitting. Nothing worse than getting agitated before going to bed. I see in the box score that Loaisiga and Severino did not acquit themselves well, either.
To be fair, aside from losing to the Red Sox, it did not change anything - the Rays probably beat them in 4 games at most.
Long post...
So as we do best on BBI, let's tear this down and give our views on what needs to be done in our own POVs.
Cashman needs to go. His product is stale. Look back over the last decade and aside from 2017, the hitting on this team disappears for large periods of each season. How many times have we wondered how a team with that much talent can simply go into a slump with every player in it at the same time. He does not develop starting pitching, even though he is pretty good at finding RPs.
Boone and staff. Keep Harkey, Blake and Cressey and the rest go. I have no idea who to get, but a yes man is not the answer and neither are Girardi or Showalter. This was an inept staff. The start of the season with all the baserunning and fielding mental errors is unforgiveable. The handling of the pen was subpar. The rigid dictum on never throwing a pitcher on more than two days is ok as long as there are exceptions. Boone's whole feel for when to push a pitcher and when to pull him was just off. He was not as bad as Joe Torre in handling the pen to be honest.
Players - as most had noted, starting with an all right handed order was whimsical and defiant. Cash believing he could bully other teams with the Yankees power. Well by trade deadline he figure out that he needed a couple lefty bats and they improved. After some injuries and COVID forced them to hit SWB for players, players with speed and defense, they started playing exciting winning baseball. August was one of the best months and fun months in since 2017.
First Base:
Rizzo/Voit - I would let Rizzo go back to Chicago. I was impressed with his fielding but not the bat. He'll want too much money for what he will give and he is over 30. Unfortunately Voit is a walking IL player, bring him to ST and see if he can be traded.
I move DJLM to 1st. He is much better than Voit in the field, but not quite as good as Rizzo. He will probably improve with experience. We know he can hit. It was clear that his injury hurt his bat and I'd bet it was for most of the season.
Second Base:
It is clear that Torres is much better and more comfortable at 2nd. Everything about him improved when they moved him back where he belonged. They control him for a while. Leave him at 2B and see how he responds. He will have value.
SS:
I think I stick with Velazquez until Peraza is ready unless they can find a glove guy with a better stick than Velazquez. But Velazquez is a high energy switch hitter with above average baserunning skills. Nothing wrong with a lower cost guy playing for a contract that will not hurt you in the field or on the bases.
Third Base:
No problem with Gio staying put. He had an off year with leg issues that I think plagued him the whole season. He toughed it out and his game suffered for it.
I'd keep Tyler Wade, when given a chance to play he batted better than we thought he could and he can competently play 2nd, 3rd and SS as well as OF if needed. He is a demon on the bases and was close to passing Gardy as the best baserunner on the team.
Catcher:
They need to replace Gary. His fielding is atrocious and his bat does not cover his fielding problems. Pitchers should not be subjected to that level of incompetence behind the plate. Gary has tried and tried to get better. He lost weight the past two seasons. He has done everything they asked and he worked very hard. His bat has also gone away. I wonder if the analytics non-sense ruined his swing. He used to go oppo to drive the ball, but now all I see is uppercut pull swing.(Same could be said for Voit, fwiw).
Higgy, I was never a Higgy guy. Yes he can block pitches in the dirt and he has decent power occasionally. I suppose as back up he is ok except he has a noodle arm.
Outfield:
RF - Judge - enough said. Pay the man
LF - Stanton - let him play the field. He gets more engaged when playing the field
CF - Now we have an issue. Hicks will be back, but he is another IL card holder. Yes he can run down flies and I would bet his arm will be better. His bat is mediocre at best. I think he has one season left. Just prepare for him missing half the season.
Gardy - love the man. Nobody plays harder. Nobody gives better at bats. But it is time. I think Greg Allen can play the backup roll while keeping the baserunning that Gardner gives.
Florial - they either need to find him a spot in the Bronx, or move on.
Starting Pitching:
Cole - bad end of the season. I think we will find his hammy never fully healed and that is why his control was missing in September. Not really worried about him just disappointed.
Montgomery - I think he proved he is no better than a 4 or 5. But there is nothing wrong with that and I have no real issues with him. I get the impression he is a worker and still improving along with his repaired arm.
Cortes - keep this guy as a backend starter. He seems too good to be a long relief guy.
Severino - who is this guy? Is he the near ace we expected? There is little doubt as to his physical ability. I think being with Cole, he will learn pitching.
Taillon - He had a rough start, got really good midseason and then faded a bit. I have no problem with him. Another guy that will benefit by listening to Cole and being another year removed from surgery.
German - I think he has #3 to maybe #2 stuff. As do many pitchers, he has one inning that he forgets what he is doing and gets tagged.
Kluber - I really enjoyed watching him pitch. Technician with supreme control. Would need to be re-signed but at 35 y/o pushing 36 I would pass because of what he would likely want to stay. For $6-$8 mill, I would be tempted.
King - it appeared to me that King gained a lot of control as the season wore on and when he returned from his finger injury. It might very well be in their plans(or whomevers)to stretch him in ST and let him start. If not, it is quite apparent he is a strong BP arm.
Gil - do they commit to a youth movement? I think I would give this guy a serious, serious look in ST. He maybe another half season away
Schmidt - so far I have not seen it from him. Seems always injured.
Nelson - likewise, I do not see it with him. Has great stuff, can't throw a strike
My choice:
Keep Cole, Severino, Taillon, Montgomery, German and King. Cortes remains with team as spot starter and long relief. Have Gil pitch at SWB.
Let Kluber sign elsewhere.
Bull Pen:
This could be where there is some turnover.
Chapman - not sure what to think. I am pretty certain the days of constant 100 mph+ are over. I do like that he has developed the splitter and slider into good pitches.
Loaisiga - the heir apparent to closing. Looked like he had a bad night last night, but it happens
Green - 30 years old. FB down a tiny bit from consistent 97 to steady 95/96. IMV, his control was off by midseason. He has always been a bit streaky from unhittable to a gopher ball machine. He may be worth keeping another season or maybe it is time to move on.
Peralta - guy can pitch. He has balls. Right demeanor for the bullpen. Important lefty reliever that is also effective against righties.
Holmes - another keeper. Whatever they corrected with his control issues turned him into a near unhittable pitcher.
Luetge - he pitched remarkably well until late in the season. I think scouting reports caught up as well as innings. I bring him back
Rodriguez - not sure what he is, but a lefty arm.
Abreu - need to work with him. I think this is another power arm with good off speed stuff that need to be brought up
Others
Deivi Garcia - lost man of the team. What is he? Why did he lose his control? Perhaps if they want to start a youth movement, bring him up and make him a bull pen pitcher.
I keep:
Chapman, Loaisiga, Holmes, Peralta, Abreu. I think hard about Green, but lean toward keeping. Likewise Luetge, but I think they can find a younger arm.
I would think about Garcia as a BP arm to at least get him to the Show.
I'd bring Rodriguez to camp as an arm, but he is another I just do not see helping.
There are players that will be released, there will be trades made.
The most important thing this offseason will be moving on from Cashman and Boone. I hope Hal can see that. It is quite apparent the status quo will lead to continued status quo.
That is my two cents. I will check in later today to see what the BBI Yankees brain trust has to say. I am sure this will not be the last of these.
I might too. But Judge puts fannies in the seats and Cressey seems to have Judge and Stanton training properly for their body types. I think he will stay healthier.
I do not think they let him go.
Sure, if we fielded a 400M roster, then Boone or I could manage this team. The fact is we won’t, so there is no reason we should play at a distinct disadvantage when our rivals have Cash and Cora.
Maybe Cashman will realize how arrogant he was putting Boone at the helm. Now that he’s on the hot seat, let’s see if he continues to throw everyone else under the bus even though he’s the one that orchestrated it all. At the very least, Fishman should be let go, his brand of analytics just do not work. It’s not surprising that Gallo has a high launch angle when all he hits is pop-up’s to the LF or SS, if he makes contact that is.
Quote:
Aaron Judge is not perfect, he gets hurt too much, but if they let him walk I might rethink how much I care about this team.
I might too. But Judge puts fannies in the seats and Cressey seems to have Judge and Stanton training properly for their body types. I think he will stay healthier.
I do not think they let him go.
Extending Judge to a massive deal is basically going to double down on everything wrong with the team. And I love Judge. But we are going to have $55-$60m tied up in him and Stanton each year, 2 guys that can break down at any moment and certainly won't last into their mid-late 30s.
As long as we get a great haul i'm completely fine dealing Judge.
Extending Judge to a massive deal is basically going to double down on everything wrong with the team. And I love Judge. But we are going to have $55-$60m tied up in him and Stanton each year, 2 guys that can break down at any moment and certainly won't last into their mid-late 30s.
As long as we get a great haul i'm completely fine dealing Judge.
I think that the proper training methods will keep Judge(and Stanton) on the field and lessen any injuries they may get.
Yes, it sucks having to cough up the money that will be required to keep Judge. And there is precedence for trading off a top 10 player when the Red Sox traded Mookie Betts. I would not trade him, but if you are going total change of direction, Judge would get a huge haul.
Quote:
Aaron Judge is not perfect, he gets hurt too much, but if they let him walk I might rethink how much I care about this team.
I might too. But Judge puts fannies in the seats and Cressey seems to have Judge and Stanton training properly for their body types. I think he will stay healthier.
I do not think they let him go.
Agree. Judge should be kept although the rest of the outfield needs to be addressed with a new bat (or two).
I think the Red Sox winning would chafe Hal more, the fact that the team hasn’t done or announced anything probably doesn’t bode well for Boone, or even Cashman. Who knows?
I think the Red Sox winning would chafe Hal more, the fact that the team hasn’t done or announced anything probably doesn’t bode well for Boone, or even Cashman. Who knows?
Jim the eternal question, how much is too much? For Cole, Stanton, DJLM(you forgot that one) and soon Judge it is not the next 4 or 5 years it is the 6th and later.
Giving a SS a 30M contract to me is out of the question. I have confidence in Torres, Volpe, Peraza and Cabrera filling out 2B/SS/3B in 1-2 years. Cabrera was voted best defensive 3B in AA according to the BA survey.
I know the upcoming CBA strike will prevent trying to get Judge signed, but I would love to put a feeler out to see what he/his agent is thinking. They cannot afford to have 6 guys at 36/37 on the team at the same time.