Game 139. Lead down to 3 1/2 after 4-2 loss to Rays.

Before the game, news regarding C Jose Trevino. He was put on paternity leave. Ben Rortvedt was called up from AAA.

Trevino also is the team nominee for the Roberto Clemente award, given for community service.

With Trevino joining the list of unavailable Yankees due to injury or paternity leave, the lineup was further depleted, and the Yankees (83-56) lost to Tampa Bay 4-2 Friday night. Their lead in the AL East, once 15 1/2, is now 3 1/2.

Even the return of Derek Jeter to Yankee Stadium for the first time in a while didn’t bring any luck.

Some reinforcements back from the IL can’t arrive quickly enough (more on that in a bit), but how good will they be? How rusty?

Yankees’ starter Frankie Montas gave up back-to-back, one out doubles in the first inning, and the Rays were up 1-0.

The Rays got three runs in the fourth, thanks to a couple of misplays by Aaron Hicks, who was then booed mightily and pulled from the game. Harrison Bader can’t arrive soon enough, it seems. I had to laugh and pull a “show me” attitude when Hicks said his goal in spring training was to be a 30/30 guy. Not even close and right now his goal should be just to remain on the team in 2023, which I don’t believe will happen. Hicks contract, with 3 more years to go, is one of the worst in Cashman’s GM history. The Yanks, like they did with Joey Gallo and Sonny Gray, need to know when to cut the cord. As with Gallo and Gray, they’ve stuck with Hicks too long. Once the fans turn on you, you got to go.

With one out in that fourth inning, Ji-Man Choi walked. Montas got the second out, then gave up a single. Wander Franco, just off the IL, and who doubled in the Rays’ first inning rally, doubled again, driving in two runs. Hicks had the ball in his glove at the foul line, but with the side wall approaching, appeared to shy off and dropped it. He thought it was a foul ball and took his time getting the ball back in while two runs scored. Very bad look. Then he misplayed the next drive into another double and the Rays lead went from 1-0 to 4-0. If he makes the first play, the game remains at 1-0. He basically gave away three runs. With the Yankees’ offense compromised, that was like giving away the game. The fans then gave Hicks the “Gallo” treatment, not only booing him but actually chanting “Joey Gallo” at him. It was a bad look and made manager Aaron Boone pull Hicks after the inning.

On top of that, Hicks to that point was 0 for 2, 2 strikeouts, and his batting average dropped to .211.

You can’t have this. The Yanks need to find a taker for him or eat his contract. Like I wrote, when the fans turn on you as they have, you got to go.

This isn’t to be mean at Hicks. It’s just reporting the reality of what happened and what must happen.

The Yanks scored a run in the seventh, thanks to who else? Aaron Judge. Oswald Peraza walked, and with one out, moved to second on a groundout. Judge singled to make the score 4-1.

Kyle Higashioka homered (8) in the bottom of the ninth to make it 4-2. Judge walked with two out in the ninth, but Gleyber Torres, the potential tying run, flied to right to end the game. The ball was caught at the fence.

Judge 2 hits, RBI
Andujar 2 hits
Higashioka 3 hits, solo HR (8)

Montas (L, 5-12) 5 2/3 IP, 4 R, 9 H, 4 W, 4 K. 1 HBP 3.89 (Combined A’s/NYY record)
Luetge 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.49
Weber 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 0.84

Baseball passings. Thomas and Burnside.

A couple of baseball passings.

Lee Thomas, 86. Got two at bats early in 1961 for the Yankees, but as a RF and 1B, he was blocked by Roger Maris and Moose Skowron. The Yankees traded him to the Angels, and he played for the Angels (1961-1964), Red Sox (1964-1965), Braves (1966), Cubs (1967) and Astros (1968).

Thomas hit .285-24-70 in 1961, finishing 3rd in ROY voting, and 24th for the MVP. The next year, he hit .290-26-104 and was on the All-Star Team both times (two All-Star games that year) and finished 11th in MVP voting.

He hit .255 with 106 HR. His 162-game average was .255-17-68, OPS+ 100. He went into the front office of the Cardinals, helping them to their pennants of 1982, 1985 and 1987, with a WS title in 1982.

Thomas later became GM for the Phillies, and was their GM when the Phils won the 1993 pennant.

Also passing away recently was P Pete Burnside at the age of 92. Burnside, a LHP, pitched for the Giants (1955, 1957-1958), Tigers (1959-1960), Senators (1961-1962), Orioles (1963) and back with the Senators in 1963.

Burnside was 19-36 in his MLB career, ERA 4.81, ERA+ 83. The player with the most HR hit off of Burnside was Roger Maris with 5, of which 3 were hit in Maris’ “61 in ’61” season.

Yanks sign a few relief pitchers to deals.

With a lot of their bullpen on the injured list, the Yankees signed some pitchers to mostly minor league deals. Now Anthony Banda (still with team) and Luke Bard (sent down) did appear in a game with the Yankees, and you probably know about those. New are these:



Tyler Duffey. 31, RHP. To a major league deal. Duffey was 2-4, 4.91 for the Twins this season. He was with the Twins his whole career, 2015-2022 and is 29-27, 4.57, ERA+ 93 for his career. (100 is an average ERA+).

Chi Chi Gonzalez to a minor league deal. 30, RHP. Twins and Brewers this year. 0-1, 6.87 in six games. Career Texas 2015-2016, Colorado 2019-2021, Twins 2022, Brewers 2022 9-24, 5.72, ERA+ 82.

Jacob Barnes to a minor league deal. 32, RHP. 3-1, 6.10 for the Tigers this year. Career: Brewers 2016-2019, Royals, 2019, Angels 2020, Mets 2021, Blue Jays 2021, Tigers 2022. 8-16, 4.73. ERA+ 92.

Wilking Rodriguez to a minor league deal. 32. RHP. Spent two games with the Royals in 2014.

Not major news. Depth moves because of bullpen problems.

Game 127. Lack of offense (1 hit in 11 innings) dooms Yanks in 3-2 loss. Chapman to IL.

Before the game, the Yankees’ depleted bullpen took another hit, and in one of the strangest ways possible. Aroldis Chapman had to go on the IL due to an infected wound from a recent tattoo he got. Sheesh.

He joins King, Green, Castro, Abreu, Effross and Holmes on the IL. (Did I miss anyone?) Holmes should be coming off of it soon. As for Schmidt, he has to start today because of Cortes being on the IL. Way to trade pitching depth at the trade deadline, Cashman. No corresponding move yet. I’d guess maybe Ryan Weber again?

The Yanks’ (78-49) offense was practically non-existent in this game, wasting an excellent outing by Domingo German. German pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings but received no support. The only hit the Yankees had in the 3-2, 11-inning loss to Oakland came on a double by Oswaldo Cabrera in the top of the sixth inning.

The scoreless duel went into extra innings and to that (Ugh) ghost runner on second base. In the top of the tenth, Kyle Higashioka was the ghost runner. Andrew Benintendi tried to bunt him to third, but Higashioka was thrown out. Benintendi stole second while Aaron Judge struck out. Josh Donaldson was intentionally walked to set up a DP but Anthony Rizzo was HBP to load the bases. A WP and error on the play scored two runs. The Yanks couldn’t do anything after that, much as they didn’t do anything all game long. Two gift runs. But the Yanks would eventually lose by gifting one back.

But in the bottom of the tenth, the A’s started with their ghost runner, and Ron Marinaccio (see above about the depleted bullpen) got the first out but then gave up a game-tying 2-run HR to Stephen Vogt. He then got a groundout, and on a strikeout, the pitch got away for a WP and the batter reached. A single followed, but Lou Trivino came in to get a strikeout and send the game into the eleventh.

The Yanks did nothing in the top of the eleventh. In the bottom half, a walk put runners on first and second with no one out. Trivino got a fly out, then a ground ball appeared to be an inning-ending DP. The Yanks got the force at second, but D.J. LeMahieu threw the ball away in going to first trying for the DP and the winning run scored. The Yanks challenged the slide into second, but the call stood. 3-2 A’s. 11 innings. The Yanks only managed one hit.

German 7 2/3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0W, 5 K. 1 HBP. 3.19
Loaisiga 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 5.52
Marinaccio 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1.93
Trivino (L, 2-8) 1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 5.14 (Combined stats A’s/NYY)

Game 116. Yanks blanked again, 4-0.

I was going to write that there are no words.

But there are words. Words I’ll try to keep to a minimum, but words of frustration, anger, sadness and disappointment at the way the Yankees (72-44) are playing right now.

The Yanks were shutout for the second time in a row, 4-0, by Tampa Bay last night. It’s the fourth time they have been shutout in their last nine games, and the tenth time this season. Aaron Judge must feel as if he has to HR every time up.

Gerrit Cole pitched well. He gave up a run in the fourth which wasn’t his fault. Aaron Hicks badly misplayed a ball in CF into a leadoff triple, the next batter singled, and Tampa Bay was up 1-0.

In the bottom of the same inning, Hicks came to bat with one out and the bases loaded. Unfortunately, Hicks is now 9 for 63 (.143) in his career with the bases loaded after bouncing into an inning-ending, rally-killing 1-2-3 DP. The boos for Hicks were loud afterward and deserved. He’s 6 for his last 57.

In the top of the ninth inning, Wandy Peralta got two outs, but he also walked two. As I’ve written a lot during this bad streak the Yanks are having, walks and two-out hits have been killing Yankees’ pitchers. Lou Trivino came in and his first three batters were single, HBP and single before he got the last out. 4-0 Tampa Bay. Ballgame over.

Amazingly, the Yankees still have a 10-game lead in the division despite going 20-26 in their last 46 games and losing 10 of their last 12. They are 11-21 since July 8.

Why the Yanks got Trivino (5.79 ERA) as well when they made the deal for Montas, who knows. Meanwhile Clarke Schmidt (2.40 ERA) and Ron Marinaccio (2.03) are at AAA. Yankees fans are shaking their head at that.

Yankees fans also are shaking their heads at the Jordan Montgomery trade. Since the Yanks traded Monty to the Cardinals for Harrison Bader (more on that in a moment), Monty has won both his starts (one against the Yankees) and has pitched 11 scoreless innings. Meanwhile, Bader is still in a walking boot.

Bader can’t come off the IL and replace Hicks in CF soon enough. It’ll be interesting to see what happens to Hicks once Bader joins the Yankees. Meanwhile, Estevan Florial is still at AAA, and instead of bringing up Florial, who can play all OF positions, especially CF, the Yanks brought up Miguel Andujar, who can’t play CF or RF. (SMH). These kind of front office decisions anger and frustrate the fans. One thing noticeable the past few years in Yankee land is that the Yanks hang on to guys far past their expiration date. We’ve seen it with Sonny Gray, Gary Sanchez, Joey Gallo and now Aaron Hicks. Maybe they want to get the most they can out of a bad deal or contract, but it’s like holding on to milk after it has spoiled. You want guys to do well. But if they don’t, you can’t hold on to them forever.

Ok, I kept the words of frustration, anger, disappointment and sadness to a minimum. The integrity of this blog requires that something be written. Talk to Yankees fans, read their blogs or tweets and you will know and see that there is a lot more of that anger, frustration, disappointment and sadness right now.

This team, as written by Jon Heyman yesterday, needs a jolt. This can’t continue.



Torres 2 hits.

Cole (L, 9-5) 6 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 2 W, 6 K. 3.30 (Tough, Hard-luck Loss).
Loaisiga 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 6.00
Peralta 1 1/3 IP, 2 R, 0 H, 2 W, 2 K. 2.53
Trivino 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1 HBP. 5.79 (Combined A’s/NYY ERA)

Game 113. Holmes’ struggles cost Yanks. Lose 3-2 in 10. 8th loss in last 9 games.

I hate current managerial trends. Instead of thinking outside of the box, managers—not just Aaron Boone—go by analytics and formula instead of by gut, feel and what they see. And it cost them games.

I remember when relief pitchers like Sparky Lyle or Goose Gossage would go two or three innings for the save. Not these one-inning guys. One guy has the seventh, another the eighth, another the ninth. You brought in your best to face the heart of the lineup. If a guy did well, you left them out there until you saw they were losing it.

You didn’t change just for the sake of change. You didn’t stubbornly keep going to one guy “because he’s our closer” despite the fact that the guy has been struggling for weeks and it may be best to put him in lower leverage spots for a while until he gets straightened out. Let someone else who is hot take over for a while. Not everyone is a Rivera.

Go with the hot hand instead of playing pat and trite all the time. That goes for the lineup, too.

These problems hurt the Yanks (71-42) in a 3-2, 10-inning loss to Boston last night. The loss was the Yankees 8th in their last 9 games. Since a 52-18 start, the Yanks are 19-24. That is too long of a stretch of disappointing baseball. It has to be turned around. The postseason is seven weeks away. You don’t want to be playing like this going into the postseason (granted, the 2000 Yankees finished the season 3-14 and won the WS, but that’s an outlier).

In losing 8 of their last 9 games, 5 losses are by one run. 39 of the Yanks 113 games have been one-run games, and the Yanks are 21-18 in those games. Since the All-Star break, the bullpen has lost 9 games for the Yankees. The wheels are falling off and must be put back on, and now. The Yanks still have a 10-game lead in the division with 49 games to play, but they have lost best record in the AL to Houston (the Yanks are 1 1/2 games behind the Astros). After Boston this weekend, the Yanks have Tampa Bay, Toronto and the Mets. Unless they turn things around, this bad stretch could get really bad. And in this bad stretch, bullpen management has been questionable, as have been other front office decisions (like Schmidt and Marinaccio in AAA instead of with the Yankees).

Also, the Yankees offense needs to be more than just Aaron Judge, who scored both Yankees’ runs last night.

The Yanks jumped on one-time Yankee Nathan Eovaldi for a run in the first inning when Judge walked and scored on a double by Anthony Rizzo.

Judge hit a HR (46) in the third to make it 2-0. It was Judge’s 100th RBI of the season. The Yanks didn’t score after that. It cost them. For example, Gleyber Torres is 7 for his last 50.

Domingo German pitched well, giving up only one run in six innings. His first start of the season wasn’t good, but in the four starts since, his ERA is 2.61. Nice.

So, the Yanks had a 2-1 lead going into the seventh. You are coming off an off day. Scott Effross pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning. Only 10 pitches. Why not leave him out there for the eighth? Change for change’s sake is NOT good.

Aroldis Chapman pitched a 1-2-3 eighth. 11 pitches. Once again, if a guy is doing well, why not leave him out there? Repeating. Change for change’s sake isn’t good.

So, Boone went “formula” bringing in Clay Holmes even though we all know Holmes has been struggling. In his first 38 appearances this season, he was phenomenal, with an ERA of 0.46. However, in his last 11 games, his ERA is 10.24. Like a poker player, a manager has to play the hot hand and not stand pat. Holmes is not the hot hand right now. Effross and Chapman were. As soon as Holmes came in, I held my breath.

Holmes’ problems are of command and control, and sure enough, he walked two batters before giving up the game-tying single.

To the 10th and the ghost runner that I hate. Tim Locastro PR for D.J. LeMahieu. Judge walked. Two on and no one out and the Yanks didn’t score. Rizzo got unlucky on a line drive that was caught. A couple of feet higher and it’s probably an RBI double that scores one, maybe two runs. Josh Donaldson and Gleyber Torres both struck out. The Yanks miss Stanton and Carpenter immensely. Donaldson and Torres hitting 4/5 isn’t the answer. The Yanks were 1 for 10 w/RISP.

Boston got the hits they needed off of Luis Trivino in the bottom of the tenth and won 3-2.

Frustrating. You could see some of it coming, though. Boone, and the front office, need to be more flexible and better regarding in-game and especially bullpen decisions (Boone) and personnel decisions (Cashman). For if this collapse continues for a couple of more weeks, heads could roll at season’s end. Granted they can’t control injuries. But for things they CAN control…

We remember the great Yankees’ comeback of 1978. We don’t want a reversal of fortune.

When you are in a funk this long (19-24 in last 43 games) something needs to be said…and done. Boone can’t just sit there with rose-colored glasses on and spin things better than a White House press secretary. The Yanks need to turn it around, and now.

Judge solo HR (46). 100th RBI
Trevino 2 hits.

German 6 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 2 W, 4 K. 4.18
Effross (H, 15) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W. 2.94 (Cubs/NYY ERA)
Chapman (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 4.13
Holmes (BS, 5) 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 W, 0 K. 2.39
Peralta 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.20
Trivino (L, 1-7) 1/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 5.70 (A’s/NYY record)

Game 105. Yanks lose 8-6. Trade Montgomery. Sports world mourns Vin Scully.

Before getting into Yankees’ news, some sad news in the sports world. Another legend has passed away. Just a few days ago, basketball legend Bill Russell died at the age of 88. Russell was a 5x NBA MVP, won 2 NCAA Titles, an Olympic Gold Medal, and in his 13 years in the NBA, won 11 titles, 8 in a row. The last two titles Russell won came as a player-coach. He was the first black coach or manager of a major sports team.

Now the sports world has lost one of the greatest sportscasters of all time, Vin Scully, at the age of 94. Scully attended the church my sister and her family attend in California, and when I went to church while visiting, besides spending some time with our Lord, I also hoped to see or meet Mr. Scully. Didn’t happen though.

May both Russell and Scully rest in peace.

Before the Yankees game last night, a final trade happened, and it was a stunner. I don’t like the trade right now. Time will tell. The Yanks traded Jordan Montgomery to St. Louis for CF Harrison Bader.

Montgomery was 3-3. 3.69 for the Yanks this year (ERA+ 104) and 22-20, 3.94 in his career (ERA+ 108). Bader is a top-notch defensive CF, who is currently on the IL and in a walking boot with plantar fasciitis. He is expected back in a few weeks. Should he not be able to play this season, the Yanks get a minor league prospect as well from an approved list. Besides Bader, the Yanks get a player to be named later or cash.

Bader, 28, is from Bronxville, NY, a righty batter. He finished 6th in ROY voting in 2018 and won a Gold Glove last year. This year he was hitting .256-5-21 with 15 SB (OPS+ 93). For his career, his 162-game average is .246-16-52, 17 SB, OPS+ 99.

What this means for Aaron Hicks down the road, who knows. As for now, I didn’t and still don’t get the deal. Bader is on the IL. Where he fits into a crowded outfield (Judge, Benintendi, Hicks, Stanton, Carpenter, even Gonzalez and for now Locastro, who would be sent down when Bader is healthy) who knows.

But the Montgomery trade comes after the Yanks traded away prospects Ken Waldichuk, Hayden Wesneski, JP Sears and Luis Medina, and came while Luis Severino is on the 60-day IL. For now, the Yanks’ rotation is Cole, Montas, Cortes, Taillon and German. I know with Severino’s injury and lack of work because of injury the last three years that the Yanks want to be careful with Severino, and that Severino could be back in mid-September, but how good would Sevy be come playoff time?

Time determines whether trades are good or bad.

As for last night’s game, the Yanks (70-35) lost 8-6 to Seattle. Taillon wasn’t good.

Eugenio Suarez hit a 2-run HR off Taillon in the first inning. Cal Raleigh made it 3-0 Seattle with a HR in the second.

Those were the only hits Taillon gave up. His wildness hurt him. In the third, Seattle scored on a walk, an error and a SF. 4-0.

The Yanks got back into the game with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Anthony Rizzo led off with a walk, and one out later, Josh Donaldson doubled home Rizzo. One out after that, Jose Trevino hit a 2-run HR (10) and it was now 4-3.

Taillon was pulled after a couple of walks in the top of the fifth. Lucas Luetge came in but surrendered a double that made the score 6-3 Seattle.

The Yanks tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Rizzo led off the inning with a HR (27), then Matt Carpenter singled. Donaldson then homered (10) to tie it up.

However, Luetge immediately gave the lead back to Seattle, giving up a HR to PH Sam Haggerty to lead off the top of the seventh.

Seattle scored an insurance run, with help of a WP, in the top of the ninth inning. The Yanks loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth but didn’t score. Final score, 8-6 Seattle.

LeMahieu 2 hits
Rizzo solo HR (27) 4th consecutive game with HR
Donaldson 2 hits, 3 RBI. 2-run HR (10)
Trevino 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (10)
Kiner-Falefa 2 hits.

Taillon 4 2/3 IP, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 H, 4 W, 6 K. Both hits given up were HR. 3.96
Luetge (L, 3-4) 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 0 K. gave up 1 HR. 2.82
Effross 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.62 (Combined ERA Cubs/NYY) Yankees debut
Abreu 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1 WP 2.30 (3-team ERA)
Trivino 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 6.34 (Combined ERA A’s/NYY) Yankees debut

Game 104. Yanks hit 4 HR in 7-2 win. Trade deadline is today. What more moves are coming?

Today is the trade deadline. We’ll see what other moves will be made (like the Yanks unloading Joey Gallo. It would be a shock if it doesn’t happen). We also have to see what moves will be made to squeeze yesterday’s Yankee acquisitions onto the roster.

A few moves were made already. Miguel Castro and Luis Severino were moved to the 60-day IL, meaning neither would be available until mid-September, if at all. Clarke Schmidt was sent back to AAA. I really feel badly for Schmidt, who has a 4-2, 2.40 ERA (ERA+ 161) this season. Carlos Espinal was brought up but will most likely be sent back when Scott Effross arrives.

As for who goes down when Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino get here, that I need to see. Last night’s starter, Domingo German, may be set down. As far as who goes down for Trivino, that is a tough call. I don’t see Marinaccio going down, but it could happen. He has options, and that would be tough. Marinaccio is 1-0, 2.16, ERA+ 180. Maybe Abreu is DFA’d? But Abreu has done well since the Yanks have picked him up (2-0, 1.06 ERA as a Yankee). It will be a tough call. Maybe someone gets dealt to make room. And when Stanton gets healthy, that is another move to be made (and I think dumping Gallo is that move). GM Brian Cashman has some “chess moves” to make.

The Yanks became the first team to 70 wins (70-34) by beating Seattle last night, 7-2. The Yanks hit four HR in the game, two by (wait for it…) Jose Trevino (you thought I’d say Aaron Judge, didn’t you? Judge did hit one).

The Yanks wasted no time in getting on the board. D.J. LeMahieu led off the bottom of the first with a single, then Judge doubled. Anthony Rizzo followed with a 3-run HR (26) and the Yanks were up 3-0.

German went five innings and got the win, but it wasn’t pretty. He put nine runners on base in his five innings, an average of almost two an inning. In the top of the second, he gave up a HR to Kyle Lewis and the score was 3-1.

The Yanks got two more runs in the bottom of the second. LeMahieu walked with two out, and Judge followed with his 43rd HR of the season to put the Yanks up 5-1.

German got out of a bases-loaded jam in the third but gave up a run in the fourth that cut the Yankees’ lead to 5-2. He would get the first two outs of an inning, then put a few runners on before getting that elusive third out.

Jose Trevino homered in the bottom of the fourth (8) then homered again in the bottom of the eighth (9) for the final score of 7-2. Four Yankees’ relievers combined for four shutout innings.

LeMahieu 3 hits
Judge 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (43)
Rizzo 3-run HR (26)
Trevino 2 hits, both solo HR, (9)

German (W, 1-1) 5 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 3 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 6.39
Marinaccio 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.16
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.81
Loaisiga 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 6.46
Peralta 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.29

The minor league prospect list has been updated again, especially after yesterday’s moves erased five players from that top 30.

Yanks land starter in Montas, give up 4 prospects.

There will surely be another deal, like dumping Joey Gallo, but Brian Cashman just completed his major objectives. Get an OF upgrade (Benintendi), get a reliever (see previous post on Effross) and get a starter.

The starter deal just went through. The Yanks got their man (after losing out on Castillo) in Frankie Montas of Oakland. They also get reliever Lou Trivino. For the pair, the Yanks give up #5 prospect Ken Waldichuk (who I really liked, but you have to give to get), #10 prospect Luis Medina, #20 prospect J.P. Sears, and #21 prospect Cooper Bowman.

A look at each.

COMING TO YANKS

Montas. 29 years old. RHP Arbitration eligible 2023, Free agent 2024. RHP. Only 4-9, but a 3.18 ERA (ERA+ 118) for a bad A’s team. Last year he was 13-9, 3.37, ERA+ 122 and finished 6th in CYA voting. For his career, 35-32, 3.73, ERA+ 110. (100 is average).

Trivino. 30. RHP. I am not sold on this one, but it may have been an if you want A, you got to take B kind of thing. Trivino is having a bad year for Oakland, 1-6, 6.47, ERA+ 59 with 10 saves. He had a good 2021, going 7-8, 3.18 with 22 saves. His career has been like that. Good, bad, good, bad. For example, in his rookie year, he was 8-3, 2.92 in 2018. ERA+ 143. But in 2019 he was 4-6, 5.25. ERA+ 82. Hot and cold. For his career, he is 20-23, 4.04, ERA+ 103. Arbitration eligible 2023, Free agent 2025.

LEAVING

#5 prospect Ken Waldichuk. 24. LHP. 6-3, 2.71 between AA/AAA this year. I have been following him since last year. Liked what I saw. You got to give to get, though. 12-8, 3.00 in minor league career, 50 games, 48 starts. 328 K in 215 2/3 IP.

#10 prospect Luis Medina. RHP. 23. 4-3, 3.38 at AA this year. 14-20, 4.46 in minor league career, 86 games, 84 starts.

#20 prospect J.P. Sears. LHP, 26. Pitched in 7 games for Yanks this year, 2 starts. 3-0, 2.05, ERA+ 190. Was 1-1, 1.67 at AAA this year. Did very well in brief time in majors this year.

#21 prospect Cooper Bowman. 2B/SS. 22. Righty bat. .217-8-35 with 35 SB at High A this year. In 111 minor league games, .227-12-58 with 48 SB.

Seeing what the Mariners got for Castillo (they gave up 4 prospects, including their 1, 3 and 5) you knew that Montas would not come cheap. At least the Yanks gave up one of the top 4 prospects they had. But 3 top 10’s go today, as well as Sears.

I’ll have to update the prospect list.

Game 101. Magic 8 ball! 8 in 8th gives Yanks 11-5 win. Judge 2 HR, 6 RBI inc. Grand Slam.

You’ve run out of words for Aaron Judge this season. Really. July isn’t over yet, and he has 41 HR, and is making a run at the AL and Yankee record of 61 set by Roger Maris in 1961. He has 11 HR in his last 13 games. His 9 multi-HR games this season is a Yankees’ record.

The NL and MLB record of course is 73 by Barry Bonds, but those three guys who hit more than Maris (Bonds, McGwire and Sosa) are all linked to steroids. For purists, the true record still belongs to Roger.

Trivia: Sammy Sosa hit 60 or more HR three separate times but didn’t lead the league in any of those three seasons.

Before the game recap, some moves and thoughts on a recent big trade. First off, the Yanks re-signed Ryan Weber and Shane Greene to minor league deals.

Secondly a Yankees’ target is off the market. Reds’ starter Luis Castillo (29, RHP) was dealt to Seattle. As much as I wanted Castillo, I can see why the Yankees, although it’s rumored that they were close to getting him, backed off. Seattle gave up four prospects for him, including their #1, #3 and #5 prospects. For the Yankees, that would have meant SS Anthony Volpe (1), CF Jasson “The Martian” Dominguez (3) and LHP Ken Waldichuk (5), along with another prospect. That wasn’t going to happen. It looks like the Yankees will face Castillo (4-4, 2.86, ERA+160 this year) Tuesday night.

With Castillo off the board, the Yankees’ top trade target now is Frankie Montas (29, RHP) of Oakland. Montas is only 4-9 this season, but his ERA is 3.18 and his ERA+ is 117. Not as good as Castillo, but still good. If they can’t get Montas, then rumors are they are then looking at Noah Syndergaard of the Angels (RHP, 30 in August) who is 5-8, 3.83, ERA+104 this season, or Jose Quintana (33, LHP) of Pittsburgh, who is 3-5, 3.50, ERA+ 120.

As far as Syndergaard is concerned, it has been written that since TJ surgery, he hasn’t been the “Thor” (and yes, he’d need a haircut) of his Mets days, and although still decent, he’s lost 2 MPH off his fastball since the surgery. Quintana was a Yankees’ farmhand many years ago.

The Yanks are looking to deal Miguel Andujar and Joey Gallo. Teams are looking at prospects and are most likely prioritizing them over Andujar and Gallo.

We will see what develops. Another deal I would like besides one for Montas would be one with the Cubs to get bullpen help. Could David Robertson (37, RHP, 3-0, 2.23, 14 saves this year) be back for what would be his third go-round with the Bronx Bombers?

Ok, now to the game recap.

In the top of the first, Judge robbed the first batter of the game, Kansas City’s MJ Melendez, of a HR. The guy can do it all, defensively as well as offensively.

The Yanks got off to a quick 3-0 lead. Anthony Rizzo hit a solo HR in the bottom of the first inning (#24), and two innings later, after a walk to D.J. LeMahieu, Judge hit a 2-run HR (40).

Maybe it’s me, but Gerrit Cole seems a bit off his game this year. Aces shouldn’t be coughing up 3-0 leads. Cole seems more prone to the HR ball this season, too. With two out in the fifth, the Royals got four straight hits, followed by a 3-run HR by Salvador Perez, to stunningly go up on the Yanks 5-3. A misplay (ruled a hit when it could have been an error) by Isiah Kiner-Falefa helped KC to its big inning. IKF would make up for it later. Another big play was on a grounder to Rizzo, who had a little bit of a delay in flipping the ball to Cole for the out. Batter beats it out, inning prolonged.

After a rain delay to start the eighth inning, the Yanks exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Rizzo and Gleyber Torres got back-to-back singles. An error by KC SS Maikel Garcia loaded the bases. Andrew Benintendi got an infield single to make it 5-4. It then appeared as if Aaron Hicks was HBP to force in a run, but he wasn’t. Hicks worked a walk anyway and the game was tied at 5. IKF then made up for his previous miscue by hitting a single to put the Yanks up 6-5. A groundout by Jose Trevino made it 7-5. A walk to LeMahieu re-loaded the bases, then Judge unleashed HR #41, a grand slam, for the final score of 11-5.

Judge 3 hits, 6 RBI. A 2-run HR and a grand slam. (41). Also robbed KC of a HR.
Rizzo 2 hits, RBI. Solo HR (24)
Torres 2 hits.
Kiner-Falefa 15 game hitting streak.

Cole 6 IP, 5 R, 7 H, 0 W, 9 K. gave up 1 HR. 3.30
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 5.24
Abreu (W, 2-0) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.22 (3-team W/L, ERA)
Peralta 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K. 2.37

The Yanks are 68-33, have a 12 1/2 game lead in the AL East and the magic # for clinching the division is 50.