Game 33. Yanks beat Twins (4-1) and the elements.

I was at Yankee Stadium today for the game with the Lehigh Valley Yankee Fan Club, and can honestly say that it was the first time as an adult that I was at a baseball game and didn’t have a beer.

What I had—and needed—was three hot chocolates.

It was a miserable day in the Bronx, cold, drizzly and windy. The weather was RAW, RAW, RAW.

The game was called in the bottom of the eighth with the Yanks (19-14, 2nd in AL East, 2 back) leading 4-1. They get the win. The game was called after a 61 minute rain delay and in my opinion, should have been called much earlier.

Before the game, GM Brian Cashman told the media that Luis Severino won’t be expected back until after the All-Star break.

Domingo German has so far picked up the baton from Severino and has become the staff ace in Severino’s absence. He picked up his sixth win of the season against just one loss, and lowered his ERA to 2.35.

The Yanks scored twice in the second inning. Gleyber Torres led off the inning with a single and Brett Gardner walked. After Gio Urshela struck out, Cameron Maybin walked to load the bases. Mike Tauchman struck out, but D.J. LeMahieu got an infield single to score Torres, and when SS Jorge Polanco of the Twins tried to make a play on LeMahieu, he threw the ball away, enabling Gardner to score and Maybin to go to third. Luke Voit flied out to end the inning.

With two out in the fourth inning, German had his only blip of the game. An infield single, walk and another single cut the Yanks’ lead to 2-1.

With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Urshela singled, and an out later, Tauchman hit a 2-run HR (4) to make it 4-1. The losing pitcher for the Twins was ex-Yankee Michael Pineda.

The game ended with Torres, the leadoff batter in the eighth, on third with no one out and Gardner up.

German (W, 6-1, 2.35) 6 2/3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 3 W, 7 K.
Kahnle (H, 3) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.   1.38
Ottavino (H, 5) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1 HBP.  2.12
Chapman (S, 7) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K  2.13  1 WP

The WP by Chapman was probably caused by a wet and muddy mound which caused the Twins pitcher to have a PB and WP shortly before the game was delayed and then called. Like I mentioned above, the game should have been called way before it actually was.

The attendance of 38.603 was probably sold tickets, because the crowd actually IN the Stadium freezing its butts off was considerably less. It said 51 degrees but a strong wind (19 MPH, blowing in from LF) and drizzle made it feel like it was in the 30s.

Advertisements

Game 26. Yanks beat SF, 7-3. Voit continues to roll.

When I first saw the lineup, I didn’t have too much confidence in the Yanks last night.

It looked like the worst lineup I had seen since the Horace Clarke years of the late 1960s/early 1970s.

For one thing, no DH in a NL park.

Gio Urshela hitting cleanup? Thairo Estrada in LF? Sanchez and Gardner on the bench?

This against Madison Bumgarner? Even though Bumgarner isn’t what he was?

As Gomer Pyle would say, “Surprise, surprise, surprise!”

The first four hitters in the Yanks’ (15-11, 2nd in AL East, 1 1/2 back) lineup went 10 for 18, scored 6 runs and had 5 RBI in the Yanks’ 7-3 win over the Giants last night.

The Yanks jumped on Bumgarner right away with two runs in the first. D.J. LeMahieu led off the game with a double, went to third on a flyout by Luke Voit and scored on a double by Gleyber Torres. Urshela singled Torres to third, and Cameron Maybin in his first AB as a Yankee, singled in Torres to make it 2-0.

James Paxton gave a run back in a shaky first inning, but then settled down the rest of the night.

In the third, Luke Voit, who is having a great road trip, singled and was bunted over to second by Torres (when is the last time you saw the #3 batter in the lineup lay down a sac bunt?). Urshela, a .232 career hitter with 9 career HR in 517 at bats, singled Voit in to make it 3-1. Urshela, known for his glove and not his bat, has been swinging the bat well in subbing for the injured Andujar at 3B.

In the fifth, the Yanks made it 4-1 when LeMahieu singled and Voit doubled him home.

Consecutive singles by Austin Romine, Mike Tauchman and Thairo Estrada made it 5-1 in the sixth. For Estrada, his first MLB RBI.

Paxton tired in the sixth, giving up two runs before Tommy Kahnle came in to get the final out of the inning. 5-3 Yanks.

With two out in the seventh, Zack Britton gave Yankees fans a scare by walking three batters in a row to load the bases. Manager Aaron Boone then pulled a double switch, bringing in Adam Ottavino to replace Britton, and getting Brett Gardner in the OF (Tauchman going from CF to RF, replacing Maybin). In the key moment of the game, Ottavino struck out Buster Posey to get out of the inning.

Luke Voit hit a 2-run HR (8) in the ninth to give the Yanks some insurance runs. 7-3.

Voit has been a real steal for the Yanks. Since Brian Cashman went out and got him, Voit has played in 65 games for the Yanks, hitting .309-22-55, OPS+ 170. Keep that up over 162 games and you are talking MVP-type numbers.

LeMahieu 3 hits, scored 3x
Voit 3 hits, 2 runs scored, 3 RBI. 2-run HR.
Torres 2 hits, RBI
Urshela 2 hits, RBI

Paxton (W, 3-2, 3.38) 5 2/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 2 W, 8 K
Kahnle (H, 2) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1 WP.  1.86  Looking like he did in 2017, not 2018.
Britton (H, 4) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 3 W, 1 K.  2.45
Ottavino (H, 4) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K.  2.51
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K.  2.45

The bullpen: 3 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 5 W, 6 K.  A bit wild, but no hits or runs. Combined, the Yanks’ pitchers struck out 14, walked 7.

 

 

 

S.T. Game 11. Yanks fall 9-5. Besides Seve, CC to miss start of season too. Would Yanks use “opener”?

The Yanks lost to the Cardinals, 9-5 today, to drop the spring training record to 5-5-1.

We know that Seve will miss time, and now the Yanks have said that because of the knee surgery and stent put in, that CC will begin the season on the injured list. Remember that once activated, CC has a five-game suspension to serve.

So two of the five starters will NOT be starting the season. As of now, GM Brian Cashman wants to plug from within, meaning no Dallas Keuchel, Gio Gonzalez or Edwin Jackson.

Gonzalez has been rumored to be someone the Yanks might consider, but he’d have to agree to a bullpen move once Severino and CC are ready.

I like Loaisiga, and he shows great potential to step in as a spot starter now, and to replace CC in the rotation in 2020, but he is a raw talent. 5 out of his 7 outs today K’s, but gave up 5 Runs in 2 1/3.

With both Severino and CC out, we are looking at Cessa, German and/or Loaisiga filling those two spots unless the Yanks sign someone.

Loaisiga (Johnny Lasagna) had mixed results today. Good: 5 K in 2 1/3 IP. Bad: 5 runs given up.

Austin Romine had a 3-run HR today, Gleyber Torres 2 hits. Prospect Trey Amburgey had 2 RBI.

Loaisiga (L) 2 1/3 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 2 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR
Harvey (BS) 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R , 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Coulombe 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K.
Diehl 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Coshow 2/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 0 W, 0 K. Gave up 1 HR
Reeves 1 2/3 IP, 0 R , 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.

With Seve out until maybe late April, and CC out until about that time, could the Yanks, with their strong bullpen, consider an “opener” for a game or two in April?

Steven Wright of Boston drew an 80 game suspension (and would miss the postseason) for HGH ban. Hmm, why would a knuckleballer need HGH?

Jacoby Ellsbury (the Nowhere Man) is expected to join the Yanks in Tampa around March 17.

Hicks is still recovering from back pain.

The Yanks sent Domingo Acevedo down to Trenton, and sent Trevor Stephan and Brady Lail to minor league camp.

 

 

 

Beltran appointed special advisor to GM Cashman

Ok, let’s put some pieces of a puzzle together. Even though the Yanks say that Manny Machado has some explaining to do about his actions and statements in this year’s postseason, the Yanks are still meeting with him tomorrow. Obviously, with Didi out half the season, the Yanks could go with Machado at SS until Didi returns.

What they then do with Miguel Andujar is anybody’s guess. (Trade for a top-notch pitcher? A top-notch 1B if Voit/Bird don’t cut it? Move Andujar to another position? 1B? LF? But of LF, what of Clint Frazier? You get the drift).

But here is the rub. A-Rod, Machado’s idol, is a special advisor to the Yankees. Machado has made it clear he’d love to play in NY (in the case above, regarding Machado’s offseason, some columnists have suggested that maybe Machado needs to sell himself to the Yankees and not the other way around). #13, A-Rod’s number, hasn’t been retired, and wouldn’t Machado like to follow A-Rod by wearing the number Machado wore in Baltimore? (#8, which Machado wore for the Dodgers, is retired by the Yankees for both Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey).

Now today, the day before the Yanks meet with Machado, the Yanks announce that they have hired Carlos Beltran as an advisor to GM Brian Cashman. It just so happens that Beltran’s former agent happens to be Machado’s current agent. Now Machado’s brother-in-law, Alonso, was just traded from Cleveland to the White Sox, and blood may be thicker than water, but with A-Rod and Beltran both now special advisors in the Yanks’ front office, maybe that water is getting mighty thick.

Me? Here is my guess: that Machado does wind up a Yankee (with Harper going to the Phillies). Which could give a lineup of Gardner, Judge, Machado, Stanton, Hicks, Sanchez, Andujar, Voit/Bird and Torres come opening day.

Should Clint Frazier make the team (I doubt it, unless the Yanks can dump Ellsbury—keeping Ellsbury means AAA for Frazier—no room) maybe against lefties Hicks leads off, everyone below Hicks moves up a notch and Frazier bats ninth.

Just saying.

But an interesting move in Beltran (who by the way, interviewed for the Yanks’ managerial job last year….possible managerial material?) being hired by the Yanks the day before the Machado meeting.

Just trying to read the tea leaves here.

Hal Steinbrenner will probably not be at the meeting with Machado. After all, his mom just passed away.

But I keep thinking of Machado as another A-Rod. All that talent, but all that baggage that may be coming with it.

 

Dodgers go 1 up, Boston 2 up in LCS’s. Didi has successful surgery; Machado

The Dodgers went up 3 games to 2 over Milwaukee and are one game away from returning to the WS with a 5-2 win yesterday in Game 5 on the NLCS. Clayton Kershaw, who has had postseason trouble in the past, pitched like the ace he usually is.

Boston took a 3 games to 1 lead over defending WS champ Houston in the ALCS, beating them 8-6 Wednesday night. Jackie Bradley, who hit a grand slam in Game 3, hit a 2-run HR in Game 4. Closer Craig Kimbrel has been shaky this postseason, but with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the ninth, LF Andrew Benintendi made a diving catch to save the game for Boston. If the ball drops and gets past him, Houston at least ties, and probably wins, the game. Also, fans interfered earlier with a ball that went for an out instead of a HR, and that too, cost Houston. Was the call correct? Who knows, but there is a good article by Joel Sherman in the NY Post today criticizing MLB for continuing to use overweight, 66-yr. old umpires as the OF umps down the line.

Didi Gregorius of the Yankees had successful Tommy John surgery on his right (throwing) elbow. Once again, he’s expected to miss at least half of the 2019 season.

Meanwhile, one possible replacement for Didi, Manny Machado, isn’t helping his free agent cause. As talented as Machado is, his lack of hustle and sometimes dirty play is turning a lot of people off.

In an interview on the Michael Kay show, Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman states that teams have inquired about Gary Sanchez, but that Sanchez is unavailable, even after his disappointing 2018 season.

 

Games 128/129. Yanks Sweep Orioles, 10-3 and 5-1. Ensure winning record.

The Yankees swept a day/night DH from the Bad News Bears (oops, Baltimore Orioles) on Saturday, moving them to 82-47 on the season and ensuring a winning record for 2018.

The last time time the Yanks did NOT finish at .500 was in 1992. With the DH sweep and a Boston loss, the 82-47 Yanks are 7 back of Boston for the AL East. (Wild card info at the bottom of this report).

Game 1, afternoon: Yanks win 10-3, belting out 4 HR and Stanton was robbed of another (would have been career #300).

You can criticize Cashman for some moves, but the move for J. A. Happ? Give him credit for that. 5 starts, 5-0.

In this game, the Yanks went up 1-0 in the first when Stanton walked, Hicks doubled and Andujar hit a groundout for an RBI.

Happ gave up 2 in the bottom of the second. 2-1 Orioles.

The Yanks got 4 in the third. Robinson singled ,Gardner walked. After an out, Hicks singled in one and Andujar hit a 3-run HR (21) to make it 5-2.

Gardner hit a 2-run HR (11) in the fourth to make it 7-2.

To the fifth. Andujar singles, and one out later, Torres and Voit single to make it 8-2. Bird is really in jeopardy of losing his job to Voit.

Torres homers in the eighth (19) 9-2.

Hicks homers in the ninth, 10-2.

The Orioles score in the bottom of the ninth, but final, 10-3 Yanks.

Gardner HR (11) 2 RBI
Hicks 3 hits, HR (21), 2 RBI
Andujar 2 hits, HR (21) 4 RBI
Torres 2 hits, solo HR (19)
Shane Robinson 2 hits.

Happ (W, 15-6, 3.80 Tor/NYY) 6 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 W, 9 K.
Cessa (S, 1) 3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 W, 2 K.  5.34

2nd game, night: Sonny Gray finally pitched great. 6 1/3 shutout innings. Low pitch count. Of course, the fact it was Baltimore has to be taken into consideration.

Other than Luis Severino, guess who is the only other Yankees pitcher with 10 or more wins (not counting J.A. Happ, 10 with Toronto and 5 with the Yankees)? Would you believe….Sonny Gray?

The Yanks scored in the first when Gardner led off the game with a double, Stanton walked and Hicks got an RBI single. Hicks cost the Yanks a run later in the inning when he was picked off of first.

In the second, the Yanks benefited from bad Orioles fielding (there are plenty of reasons they are 37-93).

Torres singled, and after a flyout by the slumping Bird (once again, job very much in jeopardy to Luke Voit), Romine and Torreyes each singled to load the bases. A WP moved everyone up, Yanks up 2-0. Gardner hit a grounder to first, the first baseman came home and it was a bad throw, 3-0. A good throw maybe has him. It was a poor throw.

In the fourth, with one out, Romine singled. Torreyes reached on an error (this is the Orioles, remember?) and Gardner hit into a force. Stanton singled (normally a double, but the ball was hit so hard down the RF line and off the scoreboard that it was just a single) to make it 4-0.

In the ninth, Austin Romine’s 9th HR made it 5-0.

Baltimore scored a run in the bottom of the ninth, final 5-1 Yankees.

Hicks 2 hits, RBI.
Andujar 2 hits.
Torres 2 hits.
Romine 3 hits, solo HR (9).

Gray (W, 10-8,  5.05) 6 1/3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 W, 7 K.
Holder 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K.  3.02
Kahnle 2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K.  6.43
Betances 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  2.18

The Yanks are 4 1/2 up on Oakland for the top wild card spot.

 

Yanks deal Austin and a minor leaguer to Twins for Lance Lynn

Cashmoney is busy. Just after trading Adam Warren to Seattle for international bonus $$$, he has, per MLB Trade Rumors:

6:16pm: New York will acquire righty Lance Lynn in the deal, Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets. Minor-league right-hander Luis Rijo also goes to Minnesota, Heyman tweets.

6:14pm: The Twins and Yankees have agreed to a trade that will send first baseman/outfielder Tyler Austin to Minnesota, per Jon Heyman of Fancred (Twitter link). Other elements of the agreement remain unreported at this time.

Austin has split the 2018 season between the majors and Triple-A. He produced at about a league-average clip in the majors.

Austin hit .223-8-23, OPS+ 98 for the Yanks this year, basically helping to fill in while Greg Bird was on the DL. In 85 MLB games, he has hit .230-15-43, OPS+ 96. His BB/K ratio isn’t too hot, though. 19 walks, 106 strikeouts. In 25 games for SWB, he was hitting .247-5-11. He’ll be 27 in early September.

Lynn, 31, was 7-8, 5.10 for the Twins this season, ERA+ 85. He got a WS ring with the 2011 Cardinals and was an All-Star in 2012 when he won 18 games. He missed all of the 2016 season with an injury, but from 2012-2017 he averaged 14-9, 3.39, ERA+ 114 with the Cardinals. He has 24 games of postseason experience, 7 starts, and is 5-4, 4.50.