Judge named captain; Yanks DFA Luetge. NFL Legend Franco Harris passes away.

At the press conference yesterday to announce his signing, Aaron Judge was named the Yankees’ captain, their first since the retirement of Derek Jeter after the 2014 season.

A press conference regarding Carlos Rodon’s signing will be today.

In order to make room on the team for the signing of Tommy Kahnle, Lucas Luetge was DFA’d.

Sad news: Another part of my childhood is gone. I am a Steelers fan and growing up in the 1970s the Immaculate Reception kind of sealed the deal as far as me becoming a fan of the Steelers. Just a few days before the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, and a few days before weekend celebrations about that play, and a few days before the Steelers were to retire his #32 at halftime of the Steelers/Raiders game Saturday evening, Franco Harris died at the age of 72. RIP, Franco.

Yanks bring back Kahnle

With Miguel Castro having left as a free agent to go to Arizona, the Yanks have replaced him with an old face… Tommy Kahnle. The deal is for two years at $5.75MM per year.

Kahnle has pitched for Colorado (2014-2015), The White Sox (2016-2017), the YANKEES (2017–2020) and the Dodgers (2022). He only pitched in one game for the Yanks in 2020 before needing TJ surgery.

His previous stint with the Yanks was mixed. Throw out 2020, when he only pitched in that one game. In 2017, after coming over from the White Sox, he had a record of 1-1, 2.70. His 2018 was awful, as he went 2-0, 6.56 but he rebounded in 2019 to a record of 3-2, 3.67. So, he was 6-3, 4.01 in his previous Yankee years, ERA+ 111.

The signing of Kahnle isn’t only because of Castro leaving. Chad Green is a free agent, and he is expected to miss most or all of 2023 anyway because of TJ surgery. Scott Effross will miss the whole year with TJ surgery. The Yanks’ bullpen was short in the playoffs with missing guys.

Kahnle’s total numbers are 9-9, 3.78, ERA+ 116. He was 0-0, 2.84 for the Dodgers last year after he came back from TJ surgery. 13 games, 12 2/3 IP.

Kahnle has gone 1-0, 3.38 in the postseason in 18 games, all but three with the Yankees.

Kahnle bolts to Dodgers

Tommy Kahnle could not pitch for the Yankees in 2021, and he won’t be pitching for them in 2022 either, it appears.

Kahnle, who pitched in just one game for the Yankees in 2020 before needing Tommy John surgery, will miss all of 2021 because of recovery. The free agent signed a two-year deal with the Dodgers.

In four seasons with the Yankees, 2017-2020, Kahnle was 6-3, 4.01 with one save. ERA+ 112. In 15 postseason games, he was 1-0, 2.33. For his career (Colorado 2014-2015, White Sox 2016-2017, and Yankees 2017-2020) Kahnle is 9-9, 3.82, 4 saves, ERA+ 115.

Kahnle, who’ll miss all of 2021, becomes a free agent.

From ESPN

The New York Yankees have let Tommy Kahnle become a free agent rather than allow him to become eligible for salary arbitration ahead of a season he is likely to largely miss while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

New York said Saturday that the hard-throwing 31-year-old right-hander had refused an outright assignment to the minor leagues and elected to become a free agent, Kahnle’s right as a player with at least three years of major league service.

Kahnle has 5 years, 131 days of major league service and despite the injury would have been likely to get a raise after making $2.65 million last season.

Kahnle only pitched in one game for the Yankees in 2020 before needing Tommy John surgery which will cost him all of 2021. So why pay for nothing?

Kahnle has had a great 2017 with the Yankees, poor 2018, and great 2019 before a waste of a 2020 and another waste of a 2021 forthcoming.

The lack of Kahnle in the bullpen in 2020 was felt, especially with the struggles of Adam Ottavino compounding matters.

Game 6. A most welcome return. Monty leads Yanks past Boston, 5-1.

Jordan Montgomery, who has the nickname “Gumby”, could have stood on the mound last night and used the old Eddie Murphy line, “I’m Gumby, dammit!”.

As if anyone forgot.

Montgomery, who I nickname “the General” after the famous WWII British general Bernard Montgomery, had a very good rookie season in 2017, going 9-7, 3.88, ERA+ 116, when he finished 6th in ROY voting.

Then came 2018. He was doing well, 2-0, 3.62 in six starts when he needed Tommy John surgery. He missed the rest of 2018, some 80% of the season or so.

He missed all of 2019, except for one start and one relief appearance at the end of the year. Just four innings, three runs, no decisions.

He was doing great in spring training this year and then the virus hit. So his first start of 2020 wasn’t until last night, July 31.

He went 5 2/3 innings, gave up just one run, and got his first MLB win since April 21, 2018. That’s a long time to wait.Two years, three months, ten days.

It also reminded you that he’s good. Welcome back, Monty.

The Yanks (5-1) hit three homers to support him in the 5-1 win over Boston.

Montgomery gave up a HR in the third inning to Michael Chavis, and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, caused by his own making by hitting a batter and later committing an error on what should have been a DP comebacker.

Down 1-0 in the bottom of the third, the Yanks took the lead when D.J. LeMahieu singled and Aaron Judge followed with a two-run HR (3). It was the third straight game in which Judge homered.

Gio Urshela made it 3-1 in the fourth with a solo HR.

Finally, Brett Gardner got his first hit of the season, a 2-run HR in the eighth to give the Yanks a 5-1 cushion, which wound up to be the final score.

LeMahieu 3 hits. The “Machine” is hitting .455. Picking up where he left off in 2019.
Judge 2-run HR. (3) Homers in three straight games.
Torres 2 hits. Guess we didn’t need to worry about that bruised elbow.
Urshela 2 hits, Solo HR.
Gardner 2-run HR. Finally, his first hit of the season. Now to get the Kraken going.

Montgomery (W, 1-0, 1.59) 5 2/3 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 1 W, 4 K. 1 HBP. Gave up 1 HR, made an error.
Green (H, 1) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4 K.  0.00   Looked great
Ottavino (H, 1) 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.   0.00
Holder 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.   0.00

Doubleheaders will be seven inning games this year to try to get the games over with because of the virus and health reasons. The “man starts on second” rule for extra innings applies to these games in the eighth inning. Hopefully both rules, shortened games for DHs and also the”man starts on second base” rule are for this season only because of the virus situation.

Also, good and bad news on the injury/virus front. Aroldis Chapman is over the virus and will be back soon. But the Yanks have lost Tommy Kahnle for the rest of the season. UCL, and faces Tommy John surgery.

Suzyn Waldman, Yankee radio announcer, kept a promise to Gerrit Cole and sang the national anthem before the Yanks’ home opener last night. A few years ago, knowing Cole grew up a Yankees’ fan, that the Yanks had originally drafted him (he went to UCLA instead) and was about to hit the free market soon, Waldman told him that “he’d make a great Yankee.” Cole replied, “If I sign (with the Yankees), you have to sing the national anthem at the home opener then.” Cole remembered that Waldman had done the national anthem at games before and once starred on Broadway. Last night, Waldman kept her promise. Nice touch.

The Yanks are wearing HGS patches on their uniforms to honor Hank Steinbrenner, who passed away a few months ago.

 

 

 

Game 5. Judge to the rescue! Yanks win 8-6.

The Yanks scored 5 in the first and went on to top the Orioles for the 18th straight time. Easy, right?

Not so fast.

Aaron Judge had to hit a 3-run HR in the top of the ninth to give the Yanks (4-1) an 8-6 win.

The Yanks got five in the top of the first. With one out, both Judge and Gleyber Torres were HBP. Torres later had to leave the game. Thankfully, x-rays on his elbow were negative. Bad bruise.

Giancarlo Stanton singled in a run, and Aaron Hicks walked to load the bases. Luke Voit then hit a grand slam—his second HR of the season—and the Yanks were up 5-0.

But J.A. Happ, who had troubles last year and who gave up a ton of HR last year, did it again last night. He gave up a 2-run HR in the bottom of the first, another 2-run HR in the bottom of the second, and now it’s 5-4 Yankees.

In the middle of the sixth, there was a rain delay of 1:34.

In the bottom of the eighth, Jonathan Loaisiga gave up a 2-run HR and the Orioles were up 6-5.

But in the top of the ninth, Gio Urshela walked, and after an out, D.J. LeMahieu singled. Judge then hit his game-deciding 3-run HR, his second HR of the season.

Highlights:

Judge 3-run HR
Stanton 3 hits, RBI
Voit 2 hits, grand slam

Concerns:
Torres’ elbow
Sanchez 0 for 15 for the season with 10 strikeouts.

and from ESPN

Boone said after the game that reliever Tommy Kahnle was not available. When asked why he opted to use pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga in a spot usually reserved for the 30-year-old right-hander, Boone answered with a cryptic, “We’ll have something on that tomorrow.”

Pitching line:

Happ 4 IP, 4 R, 4 H, 2 W, 2 K. Gave up 2 HR.  9.00
Ottavino 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K.   0.00
Loaisiga (W, 1-0, BS, 1; 4.50) 3 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 2 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR
Britton (S, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 0.00

 

Game 3. Gleyber leads Yanks past Nats, 3-2.

Gleyber Torres had 3 of the Yankees’ 5 hits, including a HR and 2 RBI as the Yanks (2-1) nipped the Nationals, 3-2 on Sunday afternoon.

I think Michael King was supposed to start this one, but he had to be used in relief in Game 2 when James Paxton got knocked out in the second inning.

Jonathan Loaisiga started and went three innings, giving up a HR to Trea Turner in the third. 1-0 Washington.

David Hale gave up a run in the fourth. 2-0 Washington.

Meanwhile, Patrick Corbin, who grew up a Yankees’ fan but who chose Washington over the Yankees when he was a free agent after the 2018 season, was putting the Yanks down quite easily.

When Torres hit his first HR of the year to make it 2-1 in the seventh, it was just the Yankees’ second hit of the game. Corbin then was taken out, and a few batters later, Luke Voit homered to tie the game.

In the eighth, Aaron Hicks, PH for Kyle Higashioka, walked. After PH Gary Sanchez struck out, D.J. LeMahieu singled. Aaron Judge lined out but Torres singled to make it 3-2 Yankees. After a balk moved the runners up, Giancarlo Stanton was intentionally walked but Luke Voit struck out to leave the bases loaded. It almost cost the Yanks.

With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Turner reached on an error by Torres, and Adam Eaton doubled. Tommy Kahnle struck out the next hitter, intentionally walked the one after that and then got out of the inning with another strikeout.

Zach Britton had to escape trouble in the bottom of the ninth. A leadoff single, then a SB. Britton walked the next batter but the runner on second tried to steal third and was thrown out. Britton then retired the next two hitters to end the game.

Torres 3 hits, HR, 2 RBI.
Voit solo HR

Loaisiga 3 IP, 1 R,  2 H, 1 W, 3 K.  Gave up 1 HR.  3.00
Hale 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K.  6.75
Ottavino 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 0.00
Green (W, 1-0, 0.00) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K.
Kahnle (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K.  0.00
Britton (S, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K.  0.00

Because of the pitchers used in Game 2, before this game, Ben Heller and Clint Frazier sent down, Brooks Kriske and Nick Nelson brought up.

You feel bad for Frazier, who may be on the trading block. Great talent, no room for him.

Exhibition Game 20: Yanks beat Mets, 9-3

MLB.com goes back to spring training when the Yanks were 11-8 in posting their boxscore. Hence the “Exhibition Game 20” headline above, and spring training (summer camp?) in my categories. In any case, the Yanks improved to 12-8 with a 9-3 win over the Mets at Citi Field.

Clint Frazier hit a 2-run HR. Mike Tauchman had 3 hits and an RBI. Gleyber Torres had two hits and an RBI. Miguel Andujar had two hits and an RBI. Erik Kratz, who just turned 40 last month, drove in two runs.

The pitching line:

Michael King (Winner) 4 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 W, 3 K.
Britton 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Green 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Ottavino 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Heller 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.

The Mets featured ex-Yankees Robbie Cano, Melky Cabrera, Eduardo Nunez and Dellin Betances. Betances made one of the Mets’ four errors.

They’ll play another exhibition game tonight, this time at Yankee Stadium.

In other news, Domingo German took back some words he said the other day that made it seem like he was walking away from baseball. Still, don’t expect him until 2021, what with his suspension.

Ex MLB umpire Rick Reed passed away at the age of 70.

S.T Games 16 & 17. A win and a tie.

The Yanks split the squad today (Sunday) and won one game and tied another. They are 10-5-2 in Spring Training.

First, the 1-0 win over the Braves, in which Yankees’ pitchers combined for a two-hit shutout.

Clint Frazier had 2 hits. Chris Iannetta with the RBI.

Concerns: Mike Tauchman .056; Tyler Wade .080

Tanaka 3 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 4 K.  2.08
Kriske 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K.  3.38
Ottavino 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  0.00
Britton (W, 2-0) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.  0.00
Kahnle (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.  0.00
Green (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.  2.25
Acevedo (S, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  0.00

Now the tie, 5-5 against the Orioles.

Tommy Milone 3 for 3, 3 RBI, a 2-run HR.

Schmidt 2 IP, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 W, 2 K.  2.57
Abreu 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.  4.50
Medina (H, 2) 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 W, 1 K.  2.25
Lane (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K.  10.80
Gil (H, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 2.25
Vizcaino (BS, 1) 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 1 K.  9.00
Rosa 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.  6.00

Recent cuts: C Kellin Deglan and Wynston Sawyer (minor league camp), P Nick Nelson (AAA) and Miguel Yajure (to AA).

 

S.T. Game 14. Yanks fall, 5-1.

The Yanks (8-5-1) fell to Baltimore, 5-1 in their S.T. game Friday night.

D.J. LeMahieu had 2 hits. Luke Voit homered for the only Yankees’ run.

Concerns: Gleyber Torres made his 4th error of the spring. Gary Sanchez is hitting .059. Tyler Wade .091. I know, just spring training.

Some sloppiness. Deivi Garcia threw a WP. David Hale threw 2 WP. Sanchez had a PB.

Pitching Line:

Garcia (L, 0-1) 2 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K.  6.75   The WP
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.  0.00
Hale  2 IP,  2 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 W, 5 K.  10.38 The 2 WP
Ottavino 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K.  0.00
Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 0.00
Green 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K.  3.00
Avilan 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K.  3.86′

Three of the five runs given up were unearned. Combined for 14K