SALVAGEABLE SEASON?
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).]
