Minor League Report. Bird starts rehab today, Castro soon.

Greg Bird begins his rehab today (Wednesday) and Starlin Castro is expected to do so on Friday.

AAA: SWB’s game was suspended because of rain. It’ll be completed today with the regularly scheduled game then following (Bird should be in that one). SWB was losing 5-2 in the fifth at the time of the suspension.

AA: Trenton (78-42) gave up 2 in the top of the 11th and lost 6-4. 2B Nick Solak 4 hits, 2 doubles, triple, 2 RBI. SS Thairo Estrada 3 hits, 2 RBI. CF Jeff Hendrix 2 hits.

Carter 3 2/3 IP, 3 R, 8 H, 0 W, 3 K. 3.18
Pena 2 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1.50
Gomez 2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K. 1.57
Carroll (L, 1-5, 3.10) 2 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 W, 3 K.

High A: Tampa (75-46) won 8-2. LF Devyn Bolasky 3 hits, HR shy of the cycle, 3 RBI. C Donny Sands 2 hits, RBI. 2 hits 2B Kyle Holder. 2 RBI CF Trey Amburgey. Tampa pitchers K’d 12.

Hebert 4 1/3 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 1 W, 4 K. 6.32
Frare (W, 1-2, 4.57) 2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 6 K. Nice.
Frawley 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.35

Low A: Charleston (66-54) lost 2-1. C Ryan Lidge (cousin of former MLB closer Brad Lidge) 2 hits, RBI.

Nelson (L, 2-10, 4.67) 5 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 5 W, 8 K.
Diehl 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 4 K. 3.51
DeCarr 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 3 W, 0 K. 5.87

Yanks deal for power, relief.

The Yanks made a major deal to try and get more power, resolve the first base situation for now, and straighten out the bullpen. I am going to try to analyze the deal, both good and bad and also what it may mean short AND long term.

In the deal, the Yanks get 1b/3b Todd Frazier, and relief pitchers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle from the White Sox. They gave up Tyler Clippard and three prospects.

Getting:

Frazier: 31, a 2x All Star. When he was a little kid, he and his Little League teammates lined up next to a Yankee at a Yankee game. Frazier got to line up next to Derek Jeter for the National Anthem. Now he is a Yankee. He is a free agent after this season. He is making $12 MM now. So a trial run to see if the Yanks want to keep him for 2018, and he wouldn’t interfere with Greg Bird for 2018 at 1B. Frazier is primarily a 3B, who has played 94 games at 1B in his career. We’ll see who plays 3B and who plays 1B between Headley and Frazier. Frazier has a little more experience there than Headley.

But… asssuming Bird ever becomes healthy, could the Yanks sign Frazier once he hits free agency, move him back to 3B in 2018, and then move Chase Headley? Headley has just 4 HR this year at what is supposed to be a power position in 3B. Headley is still signed for 2018, at $13MM. The Yanks would most likely have to eat a lot of Headley’s contract to get rid of him.

Pros? What I mentioned above. A corner IF of a healthy Bird at 1B and Frazier at 3B is an upgrade for 2018 if the Yanks can sign Frazier this offseason. The man has power. In his last three full seasons, 2014-2016, he hit 29, 35 and 40 HR. He has 16 HR so far this season. His 162 g. average is .247-30-87, OPS+ 111. If Frazier becomes your long term solution then, Headley and 3B prospect Miguel Andujar could be used as trade chips to upgrade elsewhere.

Cons? He is hitting just .207 this year. He hit .255 in 2015, .225 last  season and is at .207 now. So that is a downward trend. We’ve seen another infielder with a lot of power, low batting average recently (Chris Carter). We know how that one worked out. Hopefully he ups the BA and keeps the power. Another thing is that he is a righty power hitter, as opposed to a lefty like Duda or Alonso, both who were rumored to be on the Yanks’ radar. Here is where losing Bird really hurt this year. Consider the righty power (Judge, Sanchez, Holliday,  Todd Frazier (what was supposed to be in Carter), Clint Frazier vs. the lefty bats (Gardner, Ellsbury, Gregorius)…. you have switch hitters in Hicks who did well before his DL stint and Headley, and Headley hasn’t given power (4 HR). Neither has Ellsbury (4 HR). Gardner, though surprising, isn’t known for his power. There is an imbalance in the power between righty and lefty bats which the Bird injury really highlights. Getting the righty bat in Frazier didn’t solve that imbalance. You’d think with all that righty power that this was Boston and Fenway rather than the Yanks and Yankee Stadium. It’s the Yankees. With that short right field porch and Yankee history, the Yanks need a lefty power bat (think Ruth, Gehrig,  Giambi Nettles, Jackson, Tino, O’Neill, Maris, the switch-hitters in Mantle, White, Tresh, Posada, Teixeira). Still, Frazier at 1B is an upgrade over a Choi/Cooper platoon.

Robertson:  32, RHP, signed through 2018. $12MM this year, $13MM next year. The most positive aspect of this deal, I believe. He has already been a Yankee, been a 1x All-Star, already been their closer. He replaces the beleaguered Tyler Clippard, who after a good two months this year, appeared to just lose it completely. That alone is good. Robertson’s prior NY experience should serve him well. Robertson has been doing well this year, 4-2, 2.70, 13 saves. I see just pros here, no cons. Let’s hope I am right. 162 g. average 5-4, 2.95, ERA+ 141, 16 saves. Between him, Betances and Chapman, should help shorten the game, and Green (see below) and Warren have been great and can move into the sixth. Definite upgrade here.

Kahnle: Was in the Yanks system years ago, getting up to AA. 27, RHP. 1-3, 2.50 this year. 162 g. average 1-3, 3.70, ERA+ 117. I don’t know where he slots in or how he plays against say a Holder, Heller, Gallegos, etc.

I don’t think the Yanks are done making moves. I really think they need a move for a starting pitcher (Sonny Gray?). To me, replacing Pineda with Mitchell or Cessa won’t get it done. Could the Yanks stretch out Chad Green and make him a starter (thus Kahnle replaces Green in the bullpen) or is another trade (like for Gray, Gerrit Cole) coming? I really think the Yanks need to get that starter and upgrade the rotation.

Now to who the Yanks gave up:

Clippard. A good two months followed by an awful month. 4.95 ERA. 1-5. Yanks lost confidence in him, justifiably so. A 13.06 ERA in his last twelve appearances, since June 12. A change here had to be made.

Ian Clarkin: 22, LHP, hasn’t made it to AA yet. 4-4. 2.61 at Tampa. 14-18 in his minor league career. Here is where depth of prospects helped make the deal. The Yanks have rookie lefty Jordan Montgomery in the rotation now. Justus Sheffield is at AA. Caleb Smith just made his MLB debut the other night. Dan Camarena is another lefty. Could Clarkin be better than say, Camarena? Yeah, maybe, but you do have to give to get.

Tito Polo: 23 soon. Righty hitting OF. Between High A/AA this year, .298-5-36, 25 SB. Yanks got him from the Pirates in the Nova deal last year. Seems like a nice prospect, just made it to AA, but with outfielders in front of him (esp. righty hitters Clint Frazier, Judge…)

Blake Rutherford: 20, Lefty hitting OF. 1st round pick last year (2016). .281-2-30 this year at Low A Charleston. The one guy that the White Sox probably wanted most. Losing him hurts but you have to give to get. A few years away, obviously. The Yanks do have guys like Billy McKinney, Jake Cave, Mason Williams, and the injured Dustin Fowler yet as lefty hitting outfielders, and still of course have Gardner and Ellsbury.

We’ll see about Todd Frazier. Power nice, needs to up that batting average, still a 1B upgrade. To me, getting D-Rob (aka Houdini) back is the big plus in this deal.

But the Yanks can’t stop here. Go get that starter.

 

Game 91. Yanks fall, 4-2.

The Yanks continued their slump, and hopefully they start a winning streak soon or else not only will a playoff spot slip out of their hands, but they may fall under .500.

The last time the Yanks finished below .500 was in 1992.

On a day when it was confirmed that both Michael Pineda and Greg Bird will be undergoing surgery, the Yanks lost to the Twins 4-2. That dropped their record to 47-44. They are 9-21 in their last 30 games.

Aaron Judge has been in a slump since winning the HR Derby during the All Star break. He’s something like 1 for 21 since the break. He isn’t the only Yankee who has lost a lot of points off his batting average lately. The team’s OPS+ has dropped from around 110 to 104 now.

Hopefully they turn it around soon.

Bryan Mitchell started in place of the injured Pineda and was decent enough, giving up two runs, one earned, in five innings.

Down 2-0 in the fifth, the Yanks got one run back on doubles by Garrett Cooper and Austin Romine.

In the seventh, they tied the game on doubles by Chase Headley and Cooper.

For Cooper, it was the best day of his MLB career so far. Just brought up last week, Cooper went into the game 1 for 10, but went 3 for 4 with two doubles & an RBI. Fellow rookie Clint Frazier had two doubles.

Caleb Smith made his MLB debut and pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh. Joe Girardi pushed his luck with the rookie and paid for it when Smith gave up two runs in the eighth. Maybe a more experienced veteran wasn’t available for the eighth (esp. after that 16 inning affair Saturday and the DH Sunday) and Girardi stated that his hands were tied and options limited, but you were wondering about a kid making his MLB debut pitching the eighth inning of a 2-2 game, and going into his third inning of work. After pitching two scoreless innings, Smith got burned in the eighth, giving up two runs and taking the loss in his MLB debut.

Mitchell 5 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 H, 2 W, 2 K. 4.29
Smith (L, 0-1, 6.00) 3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 W, 5 K.

Trade rumors are heating up regarding the A’s and 1B Yonder Alonso. You wonder if RHP Sonny Gray may also be involved, since with the Pineda injury and the DH Sunday, the Yanks are forced to start Mitchell & Cessa in back to back games.

 

Game 87. Yanks lose Pineda, blow game to Boston, 5-4.

What an awful day.

We now know why the Yanks delayed so long in announcing their rotation setup for the Boston series.

It’s because Michael Pineda probably has thrown his last pitch as a Yankee.

Pineda was to become a free agent at the end of the year. Any chance of him ca$hing in disappeared when he was diagnosed over the All Star break with a torn UCL. Tommy John surgery has been recommended and he’ll be out for the rest of the year. He won’t return until late 2018 at the earliest, maybe not until 2019.

This is very much like what happened to Nathan Eovaldi. The Yanks let him go, and another team signed him on the cheap, waiting out 2017 with Eovaldi and hoping he’ll be ok for 2018. The same could happen with Pineda, just one year later. It does appear Pineda is done as a Yankee, much like Eovaldi was.

In the meantime, Bryan Mitchell (this Sunday) and Luis Cessa (later) will be taking Pineda’s spot. Manager Joe Girardi said that Chance Adams isn’t ready for a callup to the big leagues yet. Despite a great record, Girardi stated that Adams still has some things to work on first.

As for a trade to get a pitcher, we’ll see. You know the other teams will hold the Yanks up, knowing they are desperate.

Also, it was revealed that Greg Bird has had yet another setback and surgery on his ankle is looking more and more likely.

Garrett Cooper made his MLB debut for the Yanks last night, and it was a rough one for him, as he struck out three times.

Then there was the game, which the Yanks blew by giving up 2 runs in the bottom of the ninth to Boston. Boston won 5-4. The Yanks are now 45-42, and and 7-19 in their last 26 games.

The loss dropped the Yanks into third place in the AL East, 4 1/2 games behind Boston. Tampa Bay jumped into second.

Boston didn’t even hit the ball out of the infield in scoring those two runs.

The bullpen, which was such a strength in April and May, has become a disaster.

In this 7-19 skid, TEN of the Yankees’ losses have been by one run. TEN.

Some problems: While they are 26-17 at home, they are 19-25 on the road. They have to start winning on the road.

More importantly, they need to start winning one run games. They are 9-18 this season in one-run games. Unacceptable.

They scored first on a Gary Sanchez RBI single in the third, but Boston’s Hanley Ramirez hit a 2-run HR in the bottom of the frame to put the Red Sox up 2-1. Boston got an RBI single from Dustin Pedroia to put Boston up 3-1 in the fourth.

Jordan Montgomery only lasted four innings. Chad Green did another great job in relief and probably should be considered for the later innings and more important work.

In the fifth, Headley doubled, Gardner singled in a run, and Sanchez hit a 2-run HR (14) to put the Yanks up 4-3.

In that bottom of the ninth, Aroldis Chapman gave up two infield hits, and a double steal put men on second and third with no one out. Ronald Torreyes’ second error of the game enabled the tying run to score, and after an intentional walk to load the bases, Chapman walked in the winning run.

Chapman, who the Yanks signed to a five-year deal this offseason to bring him back, hasn’t been the dominating Chapman of years past. He spent some time on the DL earlier this year, and you wonder if that usage in last year’s postseason by the Cubs is having an after effect. A 3.92 ERA is quite high, esp. for him.

The bullpen has to get straightened out. The Yanks have to start closing out these one-run games, not blowing them. It seems like Chad Green has been the only good, consistent bullpen guy lately, maybe Warren, too.

The Yanks have three more games in Boston this weekend (day/night DH Sunday) then go to Minnesota and Seattle. By the time the trip is over, we’ll know a lot about whether this team is still in it or not. These next two weeks are important, both from a win/loss standpoint and for what the team does in the trade market.

The Yanks did get Matt Holliday back last night (rough night, 0 for 4, 3 strikeouts) and should get Starlin Castro back off the DL today.

But they don’t pitch, and the Yanks need to be shutting down opponents late in games.

Montgomery 4 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 3 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.78
Green 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 5 K. 1.80.
Warren (H, 7) 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.96
Betances (H, 9) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 1 HBP 3.07
Chapman (BS, 3; L, 2-1; 3.92) 0 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 W, 0 K.

Game 84. Yanks’ free fall continues with 9-4 loss.

Because I have to work today, there will be no full minor league report. SWB lost 4-1, with Chance Adams (6-3, 2.50 at AAA, 2 R, 5 H, 3 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR) taking the loss.  Adams is 10-3, 1.94 overall AA/AAA this season.

This is getting quite painful. The Yanks’ free fall continued with a 9-4 loss Friday night which dropped their record to 44-40, 4 1/2 behind Boston. They are only a game ahead of the third place Tampa Bay Rays. They dropped into a virtual tie with the Twins for the first wild card spot.

If they continue like this, even a wild card spot could be slipping away.

They need to right the ship, and soon.

They lost despite Milwaukee making five errors in the first four innings of the game,  and lost despite Brett Gardner drawing four walks, because the Yanks only managed four hits.

The Yanks struck out 12x.

Tyler Clippard was awful again.

The Yanks took a 1-0 lead in the second on a SF by Clint Frazier. Milwaukee got two in the top of the fourth on a 2-run HR by Jesus Aguilar, who had 2 HR and 7 RBI on the night.

The Yanks went ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth when Ji-Man Choi hit his second HR in as many games since the Yanks called him up.

In the fifth, Aaron Judge hit #30, breaking Joe DiMaggio’s record (1936) for most HR in a season by a Yankees’ rookie. 4-2 Yanks.

Then the bullpen failed again.

Clippard came in to pitch in the sixth inning with men on second and third and no one out and allowed both runners to score, one on a wild pitch. Game tied.

In the seventh, he walked three batters, one intentionally, before giving up a grand slam to Aguilar. Milwaukee tacked on another run later in the inning. 9-4 Brewers.

Montgomery 4 1/3 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 0 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.65
Webb 2/3 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K. 4.76
Clippard (BS, 5; L, 1-5, 5.24) 1 2/3 IP, 4 R, 1 H, 3 W, 1 K. Gave up grand slam.
Shreve 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K. 2.96
Cessa 2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 W, 0 K. 4.18

Disconcerting were a couple of comments made. One by Clippard who says he feels good on the mound (then why the bad results?). The other by some coward in the Yanks’ front office who is suggesting that Greg Bird is jaking it and doesn’t want to play. Why doesn’t that person come out publicly and say that straight to Bird’s face? I am sure Bird wants to play but cannot. Those comments are uncalled for.

 

 

 

Minor League Report. Torres needs TJ surgery, done for year.

Yankees’ top prospect, INF Gleyber Torres, needs TJ surgery and is done for the year. He injured his non-throwing elbow sliding into home the other day and hyperextended the elbow, injuring ligaments as well.

The Yanks were possibly grooming Torres to take over at 3B for Chase Headley later this year. They also now have promoted 3B Miguel Andujar to AAA. Andujar is an option for the future at 3B, also the Yanks may look at the trade deadline for a 3B. They aren’t happy with Headley’s performance so far.

Besides 3B, the Yanks may also look to upgrade at starting pitching and 1B. With CC out until early August and Tanaka struggling, an upgrade in the rotation, via Chance Adams being called up,Fo or a trade, looks imminent.

Also, 1B has been a problem with Greg Bird hurt and shut down, and the disappointing performance of Chris Carter. Here, the Yanks could look at a promotion (Tyler Austin, Mike Ford, Ji-Man Choi) or look to trade.

These are three positions that bear watching over the next month. How do the Yanks upgrade here? Is there a big deal brewing?

AAA: SWB (42-26) won 6-1. CF Dustin Fowler double, HR, 2 RBI. 3 hits, HR, 2 RBI LF Jake Cave. 3 hits, RBI 2B Donovan Solano. RF Clint Frazier 2 hits.

Lail (W, 4-2, 4.78) 6 2/3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 2 W, 3 K.
Layne (H, 1) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 0.00
Heller 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 2.48.

AA: Trenton off.

High A:   Tampa (37-31) won 4-2. 2B Nick Solak 2 hits, solo HR. LF Tito Polo 2 hits, rbi. C Sharif Othman 2 hits.

Widener (w, 4-6, 3.94) 6 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 W, 4 K.
Foley (H, 1) 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 W, 3 K. 1.59
Gomez (S, 2) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K. 2.55

Low A: Charleston off.

UPDATE: Yanks’ minor league pitcher Matt Marsh has been suspended 50 games for using a banned substance.

Minor League Report. Littell shines after callup to AA.

With various Yankees’ injuries, we’ll have to see who gets called up.

As reported in the Yankees’ report, the Yanks have shut down Greg Bird.

Hopefully no curse. The Yanks released Eric Ruth.

AAA: SWB (37-26) lost 8-2. 3B Tyler Wade (.315) 3 hits. DH Ji-man Choi (.301) 2 hits. 2B Donovan Solano 2 hits.

Mitchell (L, 0-2, 5.09) 3 2/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 1 W, 4 K. Disappointing year for him.
Wotherspoon 2 1/3 IP, 1 r, 3 H, 3 W, 2 k. 1.93
Feyereisen 2 IP, 0 r, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K. 3.12
Jones 1 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 1 W, 2 K. 3.55

AA: Trenton (42-22) won 5-1. SS Thairo Estrada (.320) 2 hits, RBI. 3B Miguel Andujar 3 RBI. LF Billy McKinney 2 doubles. RF Devyn Bolasky 2 hits.

Zack Littell was 8-1, 1.76 at Tampa. He was promoted to AA Trenton. This is his first AA game. He is a 21 yr. old RHP.

Littell (W, 1-0, 0.00) 7 IP, 1 R, UNEARNED, 2 H, 3 W, 10 K.
Frare 1 Ip, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 4.94
Brewer 1 Ip, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.76

High A: Tampa (36-31) won 3-1. 1B Tim Lynch double, HR, 3 RBI.

Clarkin 4 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 4 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2.47
Hissong 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 3.97
Harvey (W 1-0, 0.00) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K.
Schwaab (H, 3) 1 IP, 0 r, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 4.00
Gomez (S, 1) 1 Ip, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.76

Low A: Charleston (32-35) lost 2-0. DH Mandy Alvarez 3 of Charleston’s 6 hits.

Orozco (L, 3-5, 4.95) 6 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 H, 1 W, 3 K.
Frawley 2 IP, 0 r, 0 H, 0 W, 4 K. 1.53
Mundell 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.31