3/28: Juan Soto Is A Yankee

[jon abbey]

I'm a big fan of how Cashman has positioned the Yankees as of now, a bunch of hitters potentially in their walk year and extra motivated to perform, and a bunch of very exciting kids ready to step in in the near future. The pitching staff is maybe a bit thin in terms of depth, but I think that means they plan to promote aggressively when deserved (step on up, Brock Selvidge).

NY starts the season with one of the toughest series on paper they'll play all year, four games at the always loaded Astros. Verlander is on the IL (as is Cole of course). NY has struggled with the Astros for a long time now, but they did sweep their last series here last September, the series where Dominguez homered off Verlander on the first career pitch he saw. Sadly our favorite Martian is on the mend still and won't be with us for a few months, but the NY offense is rebuilt and could be a lot of fun to watch this year. They somehow finished 25th in MLB in runs scored last year, today Eno Sarris predicted that they would lead all of MLB in runs scored in 2024. Here's hoping you're right, Eno.

4 PM EST. Cortes vs Valdez, battle of the rhyming lefties. Let's play ball.

 

[jon abbey]

It was unclear as of Wed afternoon if Jon Berti would make it to this game on time, but I think if he does, he will start at 3B over Cabrera, as he hit .325 against LHP last season.

 

[jon abbey]

NY has a really tough opening three weeks:

4 @HOU
3 @ARI
3 TOR
3 MIA
3 @CLE
3 @TOR
3 TB

If NY can get through those 22 games at 12-10 or 13-9, they should be in pretty good shape.

 

[jon abbey]

This’ll get you revved up if you’re not already:

View: https://twitter.com/yankees/status/1773145554056278237?s=46&t=0GHHaPVUX26Io0V2HIcS0g

 

[Thurms Ghost]

@BrendanKutyNJ

Yankees' Opening Day lineup:
Gleyber Torres, 2B
Juan Soto, RF
Aaron Judge, CF
Giancarlo Stanton,DH
Anthony Rizzo, 1B
Anthony Volpe, SS
Alex Verdugo, LF
Jose Trevino, C
Oswaldo Cabrera, 3B
Nestor Cortes, LHP

 

[jon abbey]

So I guess Berti isn't getting there in time, understandable.

 

[Wingack]

So I guess Berti isn't getting there in time, understandable.

He does have a jersey number already today.

Interesting to see Verdugo in there vs the lefty and not Grisham. That feels like a shaky bottom 3 in the lineup vs lefties.

Also, a little worried about Nestor today.

 

[jon abbey]

Interesting to see Verdugo in there vs the lefty and not Grisham. That feels like a shaky bottom 3 in the lineup vs lefties.

I think this is just because it's OPENING DAY, normally I expect Verdugo to sit vs lefties.

 

[Murderer's Crow]

Excited for the game tonight and more importantly, excited for the team. The more I look at the roster, the more I think the pitching will be fine. We've got depth and the ability to acquire more. The offense should be a monster all year and it feels like a couple of wild card players are going to make huge contributions (Volpe, Gleyber contract year, Rizzo, Jasson).

 

[jon abbey]

I can’t find it again now but someone posted that in the last 12 seasons, NY is 5-0 on Opening Day when they homer in the 1st, 0-7 when they don’t. So we’ll know early!

 

[Wingack]

This camera angle is weird.

 

[jon abbey]

This camera angle is weird.

Both pitchers are lefties throwing from the third base side of the rubber, maybe that’s why.

 

[Wingack]

Both pitchers are lefties throwing from the third base side of the rubber, maybe that’s why.

Oh yeah, I think that is definitely a big part of it.

 

[jon abbey]

Nestor needs this out, 24 pitches already.

 

[jon abbey]

Narrator: he did not get it.

 

[jon abbey]

Get a fucking out, Nestor.

 

[cromulence]

There's still a part of me that isn't sure Nestor is for real, and I definitely did not have a good feeling about him today.

 

[jon abbey]

There's still a part of me that isn't sure Nestor is for real, and I definitely did not have a good feeling about him today.

I mean, he was for real in 2022, but he has never recovered from going on 3 days rest in game 5 of the ALDS.

 

[jon abbey]

I believe this is the biggest overreaction day of the sports year. "Oh, no, how can my team ever recover from this 0-1 hole with only 161 games remaining?"

 

[jon abbey]

And yoiks.

 

[Murderer's Crow]

It'll be fine. right guys? RIGHT?!

 

[jon abbey]

It'll be fine. right guys? RIGHT?!

I believe this is the biggest overreaction day of the sports year. "Oh, no, how can my team ever recover from this 0-1 hole with only 161 games remaining?"

 

[EvilEmpire]

I’m already enjoying Girardi and O’Neill together in the booth. And they were totally right about the challenge Nestor could have with a team that hits fastballs so well.

 

[jon abbey]

Yeah, Girardi can be abrasive but I freaking love him in the booth. Phil Rizzuto will always be my favorite baseball announcer for nostalgia and entertainment reasons, but Girardi is the most insightful baseball announcer I've ever heard.

 

[jon abbey]

47 pitches for Nestor through 2, they need at least 2 more innings from him to not destroy the bullpen in mop-up duty.

 

[jon abbey]

9 pitch 3rd for Nestor, good job.

Let's go offense!

 

[Wingack]

Girardi is excellent in booth. Better than anyone they have had in recent years.

 

[jon abbey]

6 of the first 13 Yankees have reached, can't break through yet.

 

[jarules1185]

Framber not excited to face Volpe

 

[jon abbey]

3 GIDPs in 4 innings, not ideal.

 

[EvilEmpire]

They're seeing a lot of pitches, but damn, it's nice to have a groundballer on the mound sometimes. Lots of times.

 

[cromulence]

LOL, this game is awful.

 

[jarules1185]

Taking that swing in that situation just is lame. People talk about situational hitting of moving a leadoff double over to 3rd, etc, but i think not hitting the ball on the ground with runners on and less than 2 outs is probably a lot more impactful in the long run.

 

[Wingack]

Cortes has rebounded a bit here.

 

[jon abbey]

10 pitch inning for Nestor, at least they're getting Framber right back out there.

 

[jarules1185]

A 10 pitch inning in the pitch clock era is almost jarringly brisk

 

[jarules1185]

Framber's control in non-bases-loaded situations is Ankiel grade today

 

[EvilEmpire]

Who is this new 2B that sees so many pitches? I like him.

 

[Wingack]

Ok Juan, it’s time

 

[jarules1185]

Let's try elevating one over the infield

 

[jarules1185]

Good shot

 

[jarules1185]

Some bottom percentile ABs from Stanton and Judge, and Rizzo gets a chance to injure both hands. Not the best sequence

 

[jarules1185]

It's amazing in a game where the Yankees have hit into 3 DPs and given up 4 runs already that somehow it has probably been a worse experience for Astros fans

 

[Wingack]

Not feeling so grim about Cortes this year anymore

 

[cromulence]

This ump is not good.

 

[jarules1185]

heyo

 

[cromulence]

Wow, right after an absolutely terrible swing, Oswaldo connects.

 

[Wingack]

Who had Oswaldo Cabrera as the first Yankee home run off the year?

 

[jarules1185]

Soto really running that one out. He's pretty slow right, did not expect that to be close

 

[jarules1185]

That was a lot of buildup for a pinch hitter that ultimately has a career 70 OPS+ and 3 HR since 2014