LACKING CELEBRATION

Back in 1980, a group known as, “Kool & the Gang” released a song entitled, “Celebration”.  The year before that, Queen released “We Are the Champions”.  Frustratingly, neither song has fit the Yankees in quite some time!

Shortly after humiliatingly losing the Wildcard game 6-2 back on October 5 this past season to the appalling Red Sox, both Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner strongly indicated that the Yankees would spend again (as the luxury tax was reset).  Over the past 10 days, many teams including the Mets (who signed several good players including one of the best pitchers in baseball, Max Scherzer) have done what “they” were supposed to do.  On the other hand, the Yankees have only re-signed one so-so relief pitcher (Joely Rodriguez) and added one utility infielder (José Peraza) through free agency who is set to report to their AAA team!  During the last 10 days, the Yankees have also lost Clint Frazier, Roughned Odor, and Tyler Wade who were each exposed to the Rule 5 Draft.  Additionally, both Hal and Brian mentioned that a shortstop was their number one target.  Really?  We just saw the Texas Rangers sign the second-best shortstop (Corey Seager) in the game yesterday.  Another very good offensive hitting shortstop, Javier Baez (formerly of the Mets), just signed with the Tigers (his numbers were good, but his attitude is questionable).  The Rangers also recently signed Marcus Seiman, another very good shortstop.  The best shortstop, Carlos Correa is still a Free Agent, but who knows how good he really is without cheating?  I believe he is still an excellent player who didn’t need the cheating (sort of like Barry Bonds was before steroids).  Correa has also shown plenty of immaturity including attacking Derek Jeter by stating that Jeter did not deserve any of his six gold gloves.  Not many Yankees’ fans are eager to add him and his arrogance to our team!

That makes Trevor Story as the only decent free-agent shortstop available.  He has been playing in Coors Field for the Rockies, which typically adds a lot of offense to players’ numbers.  Story is no different hitting just .241 on the road.  On the other hand, numbers per  

https://www.lonestarball.com/2021/11/29/22804648/trevor-story-home-road-splits-adjustments-colorado-rockies-coors-fieldm 

demonstrate that many players have actually produced decent offensive stats once they get readjusted by the second or third game away from Coors Field.  At 29 years old, Story would be a very good fit for the Yankees, especially as they have three shortstop prospects (Anthony Volpe, Oswald Peraza, & Trey Sweeney) who are 1-2 years away from potentially playing in the big leagues.

Some more free agents will be made available by 8:00 pm tomorrow when non-tendered players become obtainable.  (The deadline was moved a few days earlier due to the possible (and more than likely) upcoming MLB lockout, as the players’ union and the owners are seemingly too far apart on a new deal for the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.)  Luke Voit, Gary Sanchez, and Miguel Andujar could each be affected if the Yankees fail to offer them a tendered contract.  I doubt Voit or Sanchez will be simply let go by the Yankees without a return.  They both offer at least some value to others, should a trade be proposed.  On the other hand, Matthew Boyd of the Detroit Tigers is a starting pitcher who is expected to become available – mostly due to his ongoing flexor tendon recovery.  He’s certainly a worthy Free Agent selection, should the Yankees be able to sign him.

The Yankees’ fans have been waiting long enough for some major improvements.  It’s time to give up on Gary Sanchez and, yes, Brett Gardner.  Neither has led us to a championship.  Gardner has been a very good player for us in the past but over the last few years, he’s just been “okay” and has basically been our fourth outfielder in way of offense, even though he has technically acted as our third outfielder in way of substituting for others (mainly Aaron Hicks) defensively.  I don’t think any Yankees’ fan wants to see Hicks being counted on as our 2022 centerfielder.  He’s almost as bad as Ellsbury in terms of injuries!

Hey, Brian and Hal, WAKE UP!!!  We need a lot of Celebration from the two of you!!!

SALVAGEABLE SEASON?

As of today, the Yankees are 53-48.  With 61 games to go, that projects to become a season-ending record of 85-77 which is 8 wins less than I had projected back in the beginning of this season.  Like it or not, there are always logical reasons for failures to attain achievements.  In the Yankees’ case it’s been mainly their lack of timely hitting.  Embarrassingly, they are amongst the worst in the Majors! 
 
Yes, they’ve had a lot of COVID-19 issues in the early part of the season and most recently, but even with them experiencing more conditions than most teams, it’s not a qualifying excuse for them during this season.  All of their hitters have failed.  While Aaron Judge is having an “okay” season, he too has failed too many times with runners in scoring position.  Not only do they fail to drive runs home during such cases, but they also often ground into rally-ending double plays.
 
With all of that said, the Yankees’ front office has finally offered their fans hope for this season.  In the past 2 days, they’ve acquired 2 great lefty-hitting All Stars, Joey Gallo (from the Texas Rangers) and Anthony Rizzo (from the Chicago Cubs) without spending any great deal of money and without giving up any foreseeable great talent.  For years, all of the true Yankees’ fans have known that our lineup has been lacking lefty hitters.  As I’ve mentioned in the past, from the time of Babe Ruth, our original stadium’s dimensions were designed purposely to offer an advantage of lefty hitters and lefty pitchers.  Our new stadium was built with the same continuing concept.  Gene Michael built our last dominating championship team with the stadium dimensions as part of his analyses of players.  We finally produced a fitting lineup for our stadium – something neglected for too many years recently.  It will also offset the opposing pitchers’ ability to pinpoint their pitches easily.
 
Joey Gallo
I’ve already heard the rumblings that Gallo strikes out too much and is just like a lot of our players because of that aspect.  Well, yes, he does strike out a lot, but in his case those strikeouts ARE the bulk of his outs.  In other words, he will simply have less groundouts or fly balls.  With less groundouts, he will also ground into less double plays!  Furthermore, he has more walks (currently 74) than anyone in the league!  Earl Weaver (a former Hall of Fame manager of the Baltimore Orioles) used to preach that he’d rather have a hitter strike out (causing one out) than hitting into a double play (causing two outs).  He’s an excellent right fielder who won a Gold Glove in 2020 who also offers versatility with his ability to also play left or center field and even some first base. 
 
In summary:  Gallo is only 27 years old; his contract is very affordable with another season left on it; he’s an All Star; he’s won a Gold Glove; he’s a power hitter; hits lefty which will help our top righty hitters gain better pitches; and his swing will fit Yankee Stadium’s dimensions for added homeruns.  Joey Gallo will add a lot of value to this current lineup.
 
Anthony Rizzo
Someone must have forced Brian Cashman to drink a lot of caffeine this week!  He pulled off his second presumable steal-of-a-deal within a few days with the acquisition of Anthony Rizzo.  The Yankees have not only lacked lefty hitters, but they’ve also lacked a first baseman who has won Gold Gloves.  To find the last Gold Glove first baseman in pinstripes you’d have to go back to 2012 when Mark Teixeira won the award (he also won Gold Gloves as a Yankee in 2009 & 2010).  At first base, to win a Gold Glove you have a great start with being a lefty, something we’ve lacked in our lineup and at first.
 
Rizzo not only offers to be a premium defensive first baseman, but he also offers to be a very good hitter!  Currently, he his hitting .248 with 14 homeruns and 40 RBIs.  He’s already been on a World Series Championship Team (the Cubs in 2016) where he hit .410 with 3 homeruns.  Of course, all Yankees’ fans appreciate players who can produce during the most challenging games – those of the post-season.  Rizzo’s power has been diminishing somewhat, but (just like Gallo) Yankee Stadium’s right field will help him gain a few more back.
 
Rizzo is about to turn 32 years old, which is not as young as Gallo, but he’s not as old as Gardner either.  He offers a decent batting average during a year in which pitchers have been proven to be “enhancing” their spin rates; has won 4 Gold Gloves (2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020); offers fun character to the clubhouse (this dude supposedly ran around naked to the Rocky theme to rile his team); hits lefty which will (just like Gallo) help our top righty hitters gain better pitches to hit and add a few more homeruns to his individual total; and is still one of the best overall hitters in the game.  Rizzo being a Yankee has certainly added value to our 2021 team.

[Note:  The Yankees also attained lefty starter Andrew Heaney (from the Angels) and lefty reliever Joely Rodriguez (from the Rangers in a package with Gallo).]

 BACK TO NORMAL?

Well, this season begins with more hope than last - but, still with COVID-19 reservations.  Such reservations didn’t hesitate to show up on the first day of baseball with the Washington Nationals having 4 players who tested positive for COVID-19 and 5 others who were within contact.  It ultimately postponed the Nationals’ opening series against the Mets.  We can only hope that this season has many less obstacles than last, especially with high volumes of vaccines continuing to be administered each day.  At least this season will begin with up to 20% of each stadium’s capacity of fans rooting in the stands.

With that topic out of the way, I want to concentrate the rest of this article discussing…THE NY YANKEES!

 

Yesterday, we lost our opener in Yankee Stadium.  Our lack of timely hitting reminded me too much of our failures over the last few years.  On paper, our lineup is scary - mostly loaded with power threats.  This team needs to improve upon their RBI success during periods that demand it. 

 

HITTING:

Most Yankees’ fans are quick to critique the failures from Yankees with the initials, "G.S" - George received similar critique when he was the owner. In this case it's players, Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez.  Well, it’s time for the Aarons, not named Hank, to come through!  Aaron Judge and Aaron Hicks are very talented, but it’s time for their heroics to happen at the right times.  Don’t get me wrong, I am a fan of both, especially Judge.  I love his defense (although not so much yesterday) including his quarterback-like arm.  His power scares opposing pitchers, which is why they pitch all around the strike zone.  Unfortunately, he doesn’t stop them from that strategy anymore than Hicks does.  They are often looking for the home-plate umpire to call a ball here and there and accept walks way too gracefully.  They should instead study some videos of players like Yogi Berra.  It didn’t matter where the ball was, when he needed to bring a runner home, he took on the ball, not the pitcher.  If these two Aarons did that once in a while, the pitchers would no longer have a successful strategy against them!  Our lineup looks and should be great, they just have to hit in the clutch more often!

 

STARTING PITCHING:

As for our starting pitching this season, I feel confident we have a very good group.  The staff isn’t exactly filled with 5 aces, but it is filled with very capable starters.  Of course, just like any pitching staff, health matters.  Gerrit Cole, Corey Kluber, Domingo German, Jameson Taillon, and Jordan Montgomery are a force to be reckoned compared to any other 5 starters in all of baseball, even with the lack of innings pitched from the middle of our pact over the past two years.  On top of that, they have Luis Severino due back by mid-season.

 

BULLPEN:

The bullpen is good, but not great.  Aroldis Chapman, whose 100+ MPH fastball used to be unique, is not as effective as it was a few years ago because more-and-more pitchers have also reached above 100 MPH on their fastballs.  That has given the hitters more practice at catching up to that speed - and they have proved it.  Still, we have a group in the bullpen that is better than most of our competitors.

 

DEFENSE:

Lastly, our defense has to be measured.  For the outfield, as mentioned, Judge in right is typically excellent, Hicks in center is decent, and Frazier in left is better than it used to be by him.  Our infield begins with our first-baseman, Voit (when he get back in a few weeks from the IL).  He is good defensively - of course no where nearly as good as Don Mattingly!  LeMahieu is very good at second, Gleyber Torres is somewhat weak as a shortstop, and Gio Urshela is a great third baseman, nearly as good as Graig Nettles!

 

PREDICTION:

Our division is not too strong this season.  That alone will help the Yankees win many games.  If the season successfully reaches 162 games, I predict the Yankees could win at least 93 games as long as they withstand decent health.