4/5: Nola vs. Cole

[terrynever]

Aces wild in a 1:05 getaway game at the stadium today. Getaway games are usually faster, even before the new rules came into play. Looks like a chilly day with light rain a possibility. Not a great day for the hitters.

Phillies might want to get home and hear their fans boo them for starting their season with four straight losses. Yanks are 3-2 on this opening home stand.

Nothing matters in April but the rookie shortstop is off to a slow start. Volpe may be better off on the road for a week. Lots of pressure on a local product playing in front of family and friends. So let’s win another series and head to Baltimore.

 

[Wingack]

Hoping he Hicks/IKF experiment in the OF is over.

 

[terrynever]

Hoping he Hicks/IKF experiment in the OF is over.

Yes. What is the point of keeping Hicks here? Eat the money and remove the washed up player. He’s clogging up the system. I think the loyalty to IKF is due to him being a good teammate willing to play anywhere. Hicks is not a good teammate.

 

[Wingack]

Yes. What is the point of keeping Hicks here? Eat the money and remove the washed up player. He’s clogging up the system. I think the loyalty to IKF is due to him being a good teammate willing to play anywhere. Hicks is not a good teammate.

You just cannot have to absolute zeros in the lineup and in the field at the same time.

Seems like though they are giving them a chance here and if they don’t do anything they may be on their way out the door.

 

[Wingack]

View: https://twitter.com/Yankees/status/1643614510681321477?s=20

 

[Ale Xander]

Free game of the day on mlbtv

 

[Ale Xander]

Hoping he Hicks/IKF experiment in the OF is over.

I sort of get Hicks in LF

but what’s the deal with IKF in Center???

 

[terrynever]

I sort of get Hicks in LF

but what’s the deal with IKF in Center???

No idea. Maybe to just rub it in Hicks’s face? You can no longer play center and we would rather put a shortstop out there than you.

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

The problem with IKF is that while he can play all over the place, he can't do any of it very well. Using DJLM in a super utility role makes sense because he can be really good at multiple positions.

 

[terrynever]

Gleyber singles in Judge, who stole second with two outs. Ump squeezed Nola on the pitch before. And one more against Donaldson before the third out was made.

 

[terrynever]

Ump just squeezes Cole on strike three. Two pitches later, Stott doubles to left.

 

[terrynever]

Cole gets Bohm on a grounder to DJ. I do like to see the old fielding alignments back in the game.

 

[jon abbey]

The problem with IKF is that while he can play all over the place, he can't do any of it very well. Using DJLM in a super utility role makes sense because he can be really good at multiple positions.

He has actually looked good in CF and with Bader out, NY doesn’t have a lot of options there.

 

[jon abbey]

Tomorrow’s game postponed.

View: https://twitter.com/dplennon/status/1643671197605822465?s=46&t=0GHHaPVUX26Io0V2HIcS0g

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

Jodo out and IKF in at third base.

 

[terrynever]

IKF takes over for Donaldson at third base. Demonstrating why Boone prefers him to Hicks.

 

[terrynever]

He has actually looked good in CF and with Bader out, NY doesn’t have a lot of options there.

Shortstops make good CFs, and vice versa. You gotta be a great athlete to play either.

 

[terrynever]

Turner reaches on a slow bouncer to IKF. Then Cole picks him off.

 

[EvilEmpire]

IKF ranges from above average to excellent pretty much wherever he plays the field, including apparently, CF. Given his role as a super utility guy now, I don't really understand the hate, especially with Cabrera starting most of the time and not filling that role himself.

Now that IKF isn't a regular starter, it's a good role for him and I think, good for the team. He isn't great offensively, sure. But he doesn't strike out too much and can put the ball in play. He's a useful player.

 

[terrynever]

Useful is a good word to describe IKF. My top two targets for removal are Hicks and then Donaldson.

 

[EvilEmpire]

Given that Gleyber is off to a good start, I agree. Hicks and Donaldson are the priorities to move for me too. Especially Hicks if he whines too much about his role.

 

[terrynever]

Given that Gleyber is off to a good start, I agree. Hicks and Donaldson are the priorities to move for me too. Especially Hicks if he whines too much about his role.

Good luck moving Hicks! I think they will have to cut him. The Pity Party is getting troublesome. You get one guy whining, pretty soon it spreads.

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

IKF ranges from above average to excellent pretty much wherever he plays the field, including apparently, CF. Given his role as a super utility guy now, I don't really understand the hate, especially with Cabrera starting most of the time and not filling that role himself.

I think this is a stretch. If IKF was above average to excellent at shortstop he would still be the shortstop. He is useful, as Terry says, because he can play a million positions. Also, I think the general beef currently is that Cabrera sat the last two days while IKF and Hicks played. It's obviously very early, so the likelihood of people being cut or traded is low. Not sure when that can even be realistically expected.

 

[EvilEmpire]

I think this is a stretch. If IKF was above average to excellent at shortstop he would still be the shortstop.

I don't think it is a stretch. He was +10 DRS at SS last year, ranking 6th in MLB. I know he blew some really high vis plays, but I think it is accurate to say he is at least above average at SS. He's probably a better SS than Volpe right now, obviously without the upside.

A super utility role suits him. He's fine.

Edit: Of course I was a Luis Sojo fan back in the day too. I like rooting for the guys sitting at the end of the bench on a loaded team. I don't expect too much and am easy to please.

 

[terrynever]

Cole through six innings. 90 pitches. Fanned Turner on 99 mph in top of sixth. Three hits, two walks, seven Ks.

 

[EvilEmpire]

Love DJ. Love him.

 

[terrynever]

DJ ropes a double to wall in left-center leading off bottom of sixth. He seems to have his power back.

 

[EvilEmpire]

Nola looks really good today. I didn't expect Gleyber to get that done. And now with a stolen base too!

 

[terrynever]

Nola looks really good today. I didn't expect Gleyber to get that done. And now with a stolen base too!

Gleyber has grown into a veteran player right in front of us. He hits cleanup, steals bases, plays middle infield.

 

[terrynever]

Cole emptying the tank in 7th. 98-99.

 

[EvilEmpire]

This pitch clock thing is going to lead to more pitchers calling their own games, huh?

Edit: Just as Mr. Cone says something similar.

 

[terrynever]

Cole lifted with one out in 7th following a pitcher’s balk on 3-2 count. Boone came and got him. Loaisiga in and gives up first-pitch single to Stott. Next pitch, hits Bohm in middle of back.

 

[terrynever]

Jake Cave with a hard SF to deep left. 2-1.

 

[terrynever]

IKF shows his value with a sweet backhand to force runner at third.

 

[terrynever]

Boone declines to pinch-hit Hicks for Cordero against lefty Greg Sosa. Strikeout, 3 pitches.

 

[terrynever]

Trevino with a 2-run homer to left. That’s more like it! Hicks had a big smile for him.

 

[EvilEmpire]

Gleyber on fire.

 

[jon abbey]

Good win, hopefully Peraza up for Donaldson.

 

[jon abbey]

Gleyber on fire.

He had two steals and one caught stealing today and they were in three different innings, you don't see that too often.

 

[jon abbey]

Also Cole seems to be really thriving with the pitch clock, I think he overthinks sometimes and there is no time to do that anymore.

 

[jon abbey]

View: https://twitter.com/ktsharp/status/1643708616225202183

 

[EvilEmpire]

Gosh, I wonder how many steals Rickey would have had with these new changes.

That would have been fun.

 

[Wingack]

Hopefully this puts an end to the people wanting to trade the Yankees second best hitter in Gleyber Torres.

 

[terrynever]

Hopefully this puts an end to the people wanting to trade the Yankees second best hitter in Gleyber Torres.

DJM might return to second best this season. But you never know with foot injuries.

 

[EvilEmpire]

I'm happy to be wrong, but honestly, I just don't trust Gleyber's bat or strike zone judgement over the long haul.

I know it's irrational since he showed such promise his first couple of seasons. Hope he keeps this up. The ability is there.

 

[jon abbey]

Hopefully this puts an end to the people wanting to trade the Yankees second best hitter in Gleyber Torres.

Do you want to pay him huge money after 2024, $150M or $200M? If not, it still makes sense.

 

[terrynever]

I'm happy to be wrong, but honestly, I just don't trust Gleyber's bat or strike zone judgement over the long haul.

I know it's irrational since he showed such promise his first couple of seasons. Hope he keeps this up. The ability is there.

Some players can surprise us. Gleyber’s effortless grace cuts both ways. He hustles one play, jogs to first on the next play. I think we all may have expected too much from him so soon. In 2023, we are looking at a 26-year-old infielder who happens to stand 6-1 and weigh 200 pounds. He hits cleanup now and seems to be growing into a better hitter. He steals bases. Surrounded by great hitters, Gleyber is just going to get better as he watches the three guys in front of him working counts. Just a fun team to watch. I haven’t really loved a Yankee team in 20 years but this one may steal my heart.

 

[EvilEmpire]

Good post, Terry.

At least for me, it's pretty easy to forget that Gleyber is still only 26. I was surprised to read that in your post, though I shouldn't have been.

 

[terrynever]

Good post, Terry.

At least for me, it's pretty easy to forget that Gleyber is still only 26. I was surprised to read that in your post, though I shouldn't have been.

I looked his age up to make sure.

Imagine if Dominguez makes the big club next year. Yanks would be pretty young in a lot of positions.

 

[jon abbey]

Good win, hopefully Peraza up for Donaldson.

Actually if they put him on the IL, I bet they bring back Brito as a 5th starter.