Yankee Regular Season News & Notes
- Thread starter jon abbey
- Start date
Might as well put this thought here. Remember how much fun the Yankees had playing the game from August-thru-October last year? Where did that feeling go? Todd Frazier is a likely answer. He took his happy nature to the Mets, along with his superior glove and timely hitting.
In his place, the Yanks tried Drury, who came down with migraines, and slow-starting rookie Miguel An-do-jar. They put another tense rookie at second base.
And speaking of tense, the No. 3 hitter is really pressing in home games.
Then you have the former 8th-inning stud, who gives everyone a bad case of nerves.
This isn't about chemistry. Nobody believes in it anymore. But what about just having fun playing the game?
In his place, the Yanks tried Drury, who came down with migraines, and slow-starting rookie Miguel An-do-jar. They put another tense rookie at second base.
And speaking of tense, the No. 3 hitter is really pressing in home games.
Then you have the former 8th-inning stud, who gives everyone a bad case of nerves.
This isn't about chemistry. Nobody believes in it anymore. But what about just having fun playing the game?
Andujar has started crushing the ball almost every AB as we knew he could, and Gleyber is coming any day. Losing Bird right before Opening Day was big and has had an impact, same as Turner and Murphy and Rizzo for the top NL teams.
There's a ton more pressure on this team and there will continue to be until they start having some fun, which means winning more games. Soon as Stanton starts hitting normally again and Boone figures out what to do with Betances, we'll start seeing some more normalization.
With Kahnle out, Betances goes back into the bullpen rotation. That might be the best medicine. Throw him back in the fire. Rothschild thinks he's close to getting his command back.
Kind of interesting, he has no options left, but he is 26 and was on the BP top 100 list 4 times. I bet he is their new 6th starter if needed, then they can use German more aggressively in relief. Actually he made two starts for WAS and the second was pretty good (5.1 3 2 2 2 5 against ATL), but Hellickson bumped him to the pen and he was ineffective in two relief outings and then got caught in a numbers game as WAS tries to fix their leaky as always bullpen.
Hale is DFAd for Cole after two days and two scoreless innings tonight, tough business.
Hale is DFAd for Cole after two days and two scoreless innings tonight, tough business.
Brandon Drury activated, farmed out to Scranton! I like the move. Andujar has been an important part of this team, and hadn't done anything to meet a demotion. He and Torres are good buddies, too. Drury can still be useful.
If I am the Scranton beat writer, Drury's the first guy to interview before tonight's game. He might be pissed off and seeking a trade. Or maybe he is grateful the Yankees helped him with the migraines and blurry vision issues that sent him to the DL. Either way, good story.
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23503720/brandon-drury-new-york-yankees-reinstated-dl-assigned-triple-scranton-wilkes-barre
If I am the Scranton beat writer, Drury's the first guy to interview before tonight's game. He might be pissed off and seeking a trade. Or maybe he is grateful the Yankees helped him with the migraines and blurry vision issues that sent him to the DL. Either way, good story.
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23503720/brandon-drury-new-york-yankees-reinstated-dl-assigned-triple-scranton-wilkes-barre
Drury might still get his chance, Andujar has a dangerous bat but the defensive numbers are down on him (he's definitely weak at charging softly hit balls and turning them into outs) and he has only walked three times.
Clint Frazier is the guy who looks like he deserves a chance right now though, 6-8 this weekend with 2 HRs in AAA, 1.125 OPS in 12 games there.
Clint Frazier is the guy who looks like he deserves a chance right now though, 6-8 this weekend with 2 HRs in AAA, 1.125 OPS in 12 games there.
And while he does have a dangerous bat I could see him going in a deep slump. We could look up next week and he is hitting .230 all of a sudden, and that doesn’t work for a guy who doesn’t walk much.
So with the double rainout does Frazier go back down? It seems a shame that he was only up for less than a day, but thems the breaks, I guess. Alot of the speculation is that Frazier goes back down for a relief pitcher but I have not seen any confirmation of the move.
The Yankees triple A team could probably beat some Major league teams such as the Reds or White Sox.
They're only 17-19 so far so I don't think that's true but agreed NY has a lot of MLB-ready talent stuck in the minors currently. Not counting Frazier even though he'll likely be back in AAA soon:
Greg Bird (rehab in AA)
Billy McKinney (rehab in AA)
Brandon Drury
Adam Lind (dude had a .875 OPS for WAS last year and can't sniff a roster spot)
Tyler Wade
Pitching is more spread out across the minors and most of them aren't ready or close, but they probably have 15 high-ceiling potential SPs across the whole system. Some like Luis Medina are still in extended spring training, he supposedly has both the best fastball and the best curve in the organization and will go to Charleston soon. He just turned 19 and Tim Naehring said recently he thinks he would go 1-1 if he was in the upcoming draft.
Greg Bird (rehab in AA)
Billy McKinney (rehab in AA)
Brandon Drury
Adam Lind (dude had a .875 OPS for WAS last year and can't sniff a roster spot)
Tyler Wade
Pitching is more spread out across the minors and most of them aren't ready or close, but they probably have 15 high-ceiling potential SPs across the whole system. Some like Luis Medina are still in extended spring training, he supposedly has both the best fastball and the best curve in the organization and will go to Charleston soon. He just turned 19 and Tim Naehring said recently he thinks he would go 1-1 if he was in the upcoming draft.
That series was ugly, NY is actually only 9-9 against the AL East, 19-3 against everyone else.
Yanks got stuck at Dulles Airport last night, no hotel space at all. Sleeping in lounges, just like normal travelers.
As expected, Kahnle back from the DL and Bird is also with the team and will likely be activated tomorrow. Adam Lind was released from AAA, which probably means that Tyler Austin will be going down when Bird is activated tomorrow.
Also Erik Kratz, who was the 4th string catcher, was traded to the Brewers, NY signed Wilkin Castillo who played in AA and AAA for them last year to replace him.
Also Erik Kratz, who was the 4th string catcher, was traded to the Brewers, NY signed Wilkin Castillo who played in AA and AAA for them last year to replace him.
I thought Austin and Bird could have made a great platoon.combo. i know Walker can play a variety of infield positions but how often will Boone sub his regulars? Its a dam shame because Austin does not deserve to go down.
Austin has been very solid but Clint Frazier is the guy in AAA I think could most help the team right now, more than Austin or Drury, as he could replace Gardner against lefties. Bird hits lefties very well, .846 OPS in regular season games, that famous HR against Andrew Miller in the ALDS last year to win 1-0 and I think all three of his rehab HRs were against lefties.
Chasen Shreve has to be in danger also, they need Cole for emergency rotation depth and Holder has been dominant for a month now. Kahnle is back and Warren is starting rehab in AAA, so in a week, even with a 8 man pen:
Cole
Warren
Holder
Kahnle
Green
Robertson
Betances
Chapman
Chasen Shreve has to be in danger also, they need Cole for emergency rotation depth and Holder has been dominant for a month now. Kahnle is back and Warren is starting rehab in AAA, so in a week, even with a 8 man pen:
Cole
Warren
Holder
Kahnle
Green
Robertson
Betances
Chapman
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I think a trade is imminent regardless. We can't feasibly keep Frazier, Drury, and Austin in the minors through the deadline. Drury has to already be chomping at the bit and Frazier must feel stuck in limbo.
I'd say the Mariners would be a possibility, but I don't know what they have left to trade at this point.
A couple of rumors that Hamels to NY is heating up, maybe for Chance Adams and Thairo Estrada. That makes sense both ways, Hamels is nothing special anymore but he would bring reliability to the back of NY's rotation, and Adams and Estrada fit the kind of prospect Cashman likes to trade, guys who were recently thought highly of but who have fallen off in recent months (Estrada hasn't played much yet after being shot in the thigh in a robbery attempt in the offseason), both were top 100-150 prospects in the offseason.
I'm in on Hamels, I think he does more than solidify the back of the rotation. He slots in anywhere from 2-4 in the playoffs. Not the #2 you need or want but probably the best option.
Only question I have is re: opportunity cost and what else we might get with Adams or Estrada.
Only question I have is re: opportunity cost and what else we might get with Adams or Estrada.
Random thought: who could Andujar get that none of us are thinking about. I still think he's the likeliest big name to go, and then they'll sign Machado.
I just wonder who out there is worth Andujar.
I just wonder who out there is worth Andujar.
I agree with that, because I think his defense at 3B will always be an issue. I think who he could bring back is a pitcher in a similar stage of his career, maybe one of the Braves guys since they have so many.
I also wonder if Andujar could be a long-term option at 1B, if Bird continues with his injury issues. I don't necessarily think Bird's definitely injury prone/Nick Johnson, but the bottom line is tonight was the 100th game played in his career, out of a possible 428 since he was first called up in August 2015.
I also wonder if Andujar could be a long-term option at 1B, if Bird continues with his injury issues. I don't necessarily think Bird's definitely injury prone/Nick Johnson, but the bottom line is tonight was the 100th game played in his career, out of a possible 428 since he was first called up in August 2015.
July 8th game v. Toronto will be moved to Sunday night baseball, so Yankees will have 3 games in 27 hours, with the doubleheader on the 9th (in a different country, mind you)
https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-not-pleased-with-switch-to-sunday-night-baseball-next-month-1.18908204
https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-not-pleased-with-switch-to-sunday-night-baseball-next-month-1.18908204
Yanks are hoping players' association and MLB will sway ESPN on this due to player safety issues.
https://www.mlb.com/news/5-mlb-trades-that-could-happen-before-deadline/c-279533358
What would you guys consider as "too much" for Hamels? Is there a definitive line here where you guys would just say "go with what we have" over trading for Hamels? His option doesnt look like it will vest, so would you guys exercise the team one?
What would you guys consider as "too much" for Hamels? Is there a definitive line here where you guys would just say "go with what we have" over trading for Hamels? His option doesnt look like it will vest, so would you guys exercise the team one?
They're not giving up Sheffield for Hamels, probably not Abreu either, but they have plenty of other pieces if that's the way Cashman wants to go. The rumor I posted about five posts up makes much more sense, Chance Adams and Thairo Estrada (both top 100-150 guys coming into the season).
The thing I keep coming back to with rotation help is that Cashman could have gone after Gerrit Cole harder in the winter, but he didn't and HOU eventually stepped in. I have to think that Cashman didn't pursue Cole harder because he had something else in mind (down the road) that he liked better, so we'll wait and see. Cashman's overarching plan to rebuild this team has always been to put as many pieces in place as possible before the Harper/Machado/others FA bonanza this winter, so I think all of our questions will be answered by next spring.
Also I still think Michael Fulmer is a better fit long-term, assuming NY thinks his health is fine. He will certainly be pricier but I don't think NY really needs an ace, they just need a #3 guy who can reliably pitch six innings. NY is 25-2 so far this year when their SP goes six, they are going to score runs, even in the postseason.
After today, the Yankees will have played six less games than the Red Sox. I'm not sure if I've ever seen that wide of a gap.
On the flip side I’d imagine the Yankees bullpen has been incredibly rested over the first two months of the year
The even more unusual thing is that I believe they were 3 or 4 games behind earlier in the season (meaning games played) and they caught up briefly, but then the WAS series being rained out pushed them behind as did the two this weekend.
NY plays twice tomorrow (hopefully) while BOS doesn't, so it will be back to four at least by Tuesday AM.
NY plays twice tomorrow (hopefully) while BOS doesn't, so it will be back to four at least by Tuesday AM.
Buck Showalter complimented Boone for his use of relievers thus far. Robertson is only Yankee among top 40 with 27 appearances. That ties Kimbrel. Chapman has 24 so far, Green and Betances at 23.
Boston bullpen use probably more impressive. Kimbrel at 27. Kelly only other Sox among top 40.
If you add in six games for Yanks, and figure 50 percent usage, Robby probably one behind league leader (31). Chapman gets up to 27.
As Abbey has mentioned, Yankees have bullpen depth, not just with the big club. They have some hard-throwing fools in Scranton. Triple A is filled with relievers who throw 97.
Yep, Acevedo is finally back and had two dominant three inning relief stints in AA this week (a combined 6 1 0 0 0 6). He is already on the 40 man and was the guy I was hoping/expecting to break through as a multi-inning reliever for NY this season. He missed time with a blister and a concussion but he seems back on track now.
One more thing on NY's overarching plan going into 2019, Cashman has positioned himself to go after both Machado and Harper if he wants (if he does, I would offer them both matching 8/280 deals at the start of FA and ask them if that was enough to be in the best lineup of all time), and Andujar and Clint Frazier are the young guys who would be in those spots otherwise at the start of 2019, so the more NY can see those guys, the better they can gauge those potential big FA pursuits. Also in the event they did get both Machado and Harper, that would free up both Andujar and Frazier to be moved for pitching, those look like two serious chips.
Torres 2B
Judge RF
Harper DH
Stanton LF
Bird 1B
Machado 3B
Sanchez C
Didi SS
Hicks/Gardner CF
It almost certainly doesn't make sense, but holy moly.
Torres 2B
Judge RF
Harper DH
Stanton LF
Bird 1B
Machado 3B
Sanchez C
Didi SS
Hicks/Gardner CF
It almost certainly doesn't make sense, but holy moly.
Didi can be shifted on and isn't always so patient, also he will be in the last year of his deal. Torres seems like a guy you want up as much as possible, the bigger the situation the better. I did some L/R stuff in there, but really you cannot go wrong with any order there.
Didi has 1hr and 1 double in the last 28 days. He hasn't looked much better recently and it's clear something isn't clicking with his swing. Naysayers early on talked about his soft hits and home/road splits for why he was overrated but that's not why he's regressed. He's simply not swinging the bat well or connecting in any regard right now.
They have to figure him out or work Drury back (who is pummeling AAA).
They have to figure him out or work Drury back (who is pummeling AAA).
If they traded Andujar, for instance, to get a quality starter, then Drury has a job again. I suspect this is why Drury has been diplomatic in remarks recently about his place in the organization. He knows something will happen next month.