He has been hitting inside, they only care about him being ready for Opening Day.
NY spring training 2024
- Thread starter jon abbey
- Start date
Judge played for the first time in nine days today in CF, 1-1 with a walk, the 1 a roped double to the wall in right center, and moving fine defensively.
But the big news there is that Judge is playing LF on Friday, something he has never done in a regular season game, maybe just a couple of times in previous spring tranings? With Soto's addition and Grisham being so good defensively in CF, it really helps NY's flexibility if Judge plays LF against LHP, especially in Yankee Stadium.
Against RHP:
Verdugo-LF
Judge-CF
Soto-RF
Against LHP:
Judge-LF
Grisham-CF (also a LHH like Verdugo but Grisham has reverse splits and is an impact defender in CF)
Soto-RF
Otherwise you need Stanton or Soto playing the big NY LF to get Grisham in the lineup and Judge seems like so much of a better option, so I'm glad that seems to be happening.
But the big news there is that Judge is playing LF on Friday, something he has never done in a regular season game, maybe just a couple of times in previous spring tranings? With Soto's addition and Grisham being so good defensively in CF, it really helps NY's flexibility if Judge plays LF against LHP, especially in Yankee Stadium.
Against RHP:
Verdugo-LF
Judge-CF
Soto-RF
Against LHP:
Judge-LF
Grisham-CF (also a LHH like Verdugo but Grisham has reverse splits and is an impact defender in CF)
Soto-RF
Otherwise you need Stanton or Soto playing the big NY LF to get Grisham in the lineup and Judge seems like so much of a better option, so I'm glad that seems to be happening.
Even I thought I was probably making too big a deal about the Diego Castillo saga a couple of months ago, but I think he would make this team right now if NY had held onto him, but instead the Orioles of all teams managed to be the ones to stash him off of their 40 man. NY has fantastic OF depth right now:
Judge
Soto
Verdugo
Grisham
Stanton
AAA:
Pereira
Greg Allen
Oscar Gonzalez (.970 OPS this spring)
IL:
Dominguez (he is on the 60 day IL so as not to tempt anyone to rush but it will be interesting to see when he starts playing minor league games)
Freight Train Comin':
Spencer Jones
But they need infield help ASAP, with Peraza and DJ out, Cabrera is the opening day 3B and there's no obvious backup for any of 2B/SS/3B, they badly need an adequate versatile left side infielder (like old buddy Tyler Wade who started at 3B for the Padres today).
And they need to trade Rortvedt, he is really good defensively and young, but out of options and they have already replaced him as 3rd C with Carlos Narvaez. He might not get a lot in return but he should get something. Jahmai Jones is also out of options, he can only play 2B/LF really, I'd guess he'll be DFAd and maybe NY will get him back as he's not that exciting.
Judge
Soto
Verdugo
Grisham
Stanton
AAA:
Pereira
Greg Allen
Oscar Gonzalez (.970 OPS this spring)
IL:
Dominguez (he is on the 60 day IL so as not to tempt anyone to rush but it will be interesting to see when he starts playing minor league games)
Freight Train Comin':
Spencer Jones
But they need infield help ASAP, with Peraza and DJ out, Cabrera is the opening day 3B and there's no obvious backup for any of 2B/SS/3B, they badly need an adequate versatile left side infielder (like old buddy Tyler Wade who started at 3B for the Padres today).
And they need to trade Rortvedt, he is really good defensively and young, but out of options and they have already replaced him as 3rd C with Carlos Narvaez. He might not get a lot in return but he should get something. Jahmai Jones is also out of options, he can only play 2B/LF really, I'd guess he'll be DFAd and maybe NY will get him back as he's not that exciting.
Rosenthal is reporting that Lorenzen is signing with Texas, so it’s still a possibility.
Warren and Gil pitched all nine innings against the Mets this afternoon:
Gil 4 2 2 2 2 5
Warren 5 3 1 1 2 0
Think Warren will get the 5th SP spot and Gil will be a long guy out of the pen along with Weaver. Warren might not make the team Opening Day because they don't need him right away but I think he'll get the spot for game 5.
Gil 4 2 2 2 2 5
Warren 5 3 1 1 2 0
Think Warren will get the 5th SP spot and Gil will be a long guy out of the pen along with Weaver. Warren might not make the team Opening Day because they don't need him right away but I think he'll get the spot for game 5.
Sign me up for that. Given the likely innings limitation on Gil this year, the potential to have as many of those innings be higher leverage ones could be awesome. Assuming he performs well in the role, of course.
Interestingly both Escobar and Andrus are 35, Andrus is 5 months older.
Escobar: 12.0 career bWAR, 5121 PAs
Andrus: 34.2 career bWAR, 8603 PAs
Andrus is 26th among active position players in career bWAR, quietly a very impressive career. He had a 3.1 bWAR year in 2022, can play all of SS/2B/3B (which is exactly what NY currently needs, to fill the Peraza bench spot) and is Venezuelan like Gleyber, so could maybe give him some defensive tips as he prepares for free agency. Maybe Cashman can trade for someone he likes who has options but Andrus seems like a very good fit for a waiver wire pickup.
Escobar: 12.0 career bWAR, 5121 PAs
Andrus: 34.2 career bWAR, 8603 PAs
Andrus is 26th among active position players in career bWAR, quietly a very impressive career. He had a 3.1 bWAR year in 2022, can play all of SS/2B/3B (which is exactly what NY currently needs, to fill the Peraza bench spot) and is Venezuelan like Gleyber, so could maybe give him some defensive tips as he prepares for free agency. Maybe Cashman can trade for someone he likes who has options but Andrus seems like a very good fit for a waiver wire pickup.