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).]