Game #59. Sevy’s awful first inning dooms Yanks. Dodgers win 8-4.

When you are facing a future first ballot Hall-of-Famer, you don’t want to give him a big cushion to work with. But that is what Luis Severino did. Sevy had an awful first inning, giving up six runs, and after one inning Dodgers’ starter Clayton Kershaw had a 6-0 lead.

The Yanks saw a couple of familiar faces for the first time in a while and were probably glad that they won’t see them as often since they are out of the division with the Dodgers and not with the Red Sox anymore. That would be Mookie Betts (probably a future HOF in his own right) and J. D. Martinez (who can also make a case for the HOF).

Betts hit Severino’s second pitch of the game for a HR, and after a hard-hit out and a single, Max Muncy hit a 2-run HR to put LA up 3-0. Just what you don’t want against Kershaw. If you look at the Dodgers’ team stats on baseball-reference.com, guess who the #1 Dodger of all-time is according to WAR? It’s not Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Sandy Koufax, Jackie Robinson or name another Dodger great. It’s Kershaw. Giving him a 3-0 lead is usually death to your team.

But the Dodgers were not done in the first. Four straight singles made it 4-0. A SF made it 5-0. Even the outs were hit hard. The Dodgers batted around, and Betts hit a single to make it 6-0. And Betts wasn’t done for the night.

The only thing encouraging for the Yankees was that both of the sluggers who came off the IL after being on it for over a month homered last night. The first was Josh Donaldson, whose solo HR (2) in the top of the second made it 6-1. Donaldson would hit another HR, a two-run shot, in the top of the ninth.

But Martinez hit a solo HR in the bottom of the third for LA to put the Dodgers up 7-1. It was the third HR Sevy gave up for the night. As I mentioned, even the outs he got were loud outs.

Giancarlo Stanton, the other Yankees’ slugger activated off the IL before the game, homered (5) in the top of the fourth off of Kershaw and it was 7-2.

In the bottom of the sixth, Betts proved he wasn’t done, hitting his second HR of the game, this one off of Ryan Weber, to put the Dodgers up 8-2. Betts was 4 for 4 last night with 2 HR and 3 RBI.

Donaldson’s second HR of the game (3), a 2-run shot, closed out the scoring. Yanks lost 8-4.

The Yanks only got five hits on the night, and three of them, all HR, were by guys just off the IL in Donaldson and Stanton.

The loss dropped the Yanks to 34-25. They are in 3rd place in the AL East, 6 1/2 behind first place Tampa Bay and 3 behind second place Baltimore. If the playoffs started today, the Yanks would have the 6th and last playoff spot in the AL. They hold that spot by 2 1/2 games over Toronto. Long way to go, though.

Stanton solo HR (5).
Donaldson 2 HR (3). Solo and 2-run shots.

Severino (L, 0-1) 4 IP, 7 R, 9 H, 1 W, 2 K. Gave up 3 HR. 5.28
Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 0.00 SEASON DEBUT JUST OFF IL
Weber 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.14
Abreu 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 3.45

I’m starting to worry about Anthony Volpe. He hasn’t stolen a base since May 13. Of course, you can’t steal if you aren’t getting on base. His average is down to .190. Since May 14, he is 7 for 58. That is a .121 batting average in that span. He has just 3 walks to go against 21 strikeouts. He is noted for his good eye and his speed and baserunning ability, but neither has shown up lately. Since May 2, he’s only hitting .152 with five walks and 36 strikeouts. It’s not just a recent slump. It’s been going on a while. He’s only 22, and we all (myself included) advocated for him after his phenomenal spring training. We do need to be patient with him, but remember he only had 22 games of AAA experience before the jump to the majors. For those who say AAA doesn’t matter and want to jump players right from AA to the majors, I disagree and point to Volpe as an example. Sure, some stars can do it. But it is rare. Some, like Al Kaline, never played a day in the minors. But it is rare. You wonder if Volpe, like Mickey Mantle in 1951, needs to be sent down to get his mojo back. Oswald Peraza has been raking at AAA lately. Is a switch in order? Volpe is on a pace for 22 HR and 60+ RBI. He is also on a 35 SB pace. Those are great numbers, but that pace has dropped off. I’m patient, but .190, OPS+ 71 and .152 over the last month is concerning. He’s human and at some point, you probably feel he is pressing or starting to press. You don’t want to destroy his confidence, but at some point, you need to see better results. Here’s hoping he turns it around, but maybe it has to start back at AAA.

Game #58. Schmidt sharp, but Yanks’ bats stymied in 1-0, 10-inning loss.

Clarke Schmidt pitched his best game of the year, but the Yanks’ bats were stymied by George Kirby (when I hear that name, I think of a comedian from way back) and Seattle relievers, not to mention some Seattle defense, in a 1-0 10-inning loss.

Gleyber Torres made a couple of nice plays to keep Seattle off the board, but it was a pitching duel throughout. The Yanks (34-24) only got three hits all game long.

In the top of the sixth, with Kyle Higashioka on second and two out, Torres hit a liner that it looked might be an RBI single, but SS J.P. Crawford leapt to snag the liner.

In the top of the seventh, with two out and D.J. LeMahieu on first, Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a drive that seemed like it could be an RBI double, but Julio Rodriguez made a nice grab at the fence.

In the top of the tenth, the Yanks had the ghost runner on second with Oswaldo Cabrera. D.J. LeMahieu reached on an error with Cabrera moving to third. IKF popped up, but Jake Bauers walked to load the bases with one out. Anthony Volpe grounded into a force at home, and PH Franchy Cordero struck out as the Yanks wasted their chance.

Seattle had their ghost runner now, and Ron Marinaccio gave up a game-winning RBI single to the first hitter he faced, and the Yanks had lost, 1-0.

The Yanks are off today. Tommy Kahnle, Josh Donaldson and Giancarlo Stanton are expected to be activated for the weekend series against the Dodgers, and we will see what the corresponding roster moves will be.

Schmidt 5 2/3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 W, 7 K. 5.01
Peralta 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. 2.25
Holmes 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 3.09
Marinaccio (L, 2-2) 0 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 4.00

The Yanks went 19-10 in May. They are 34-24, in third place in the AL East, 6 games behind Tampa Bay and 2 games behind second place Baltimore.

Minor League Action from 5/30/2023. Donaldson, Stanton & Kahnle all rehab at AA.

AAA: SWB (26-26) beat Lehigh Valley, 4-1.

SS Oswald Peraza 2 hits, RBI. Solo HR (7) #3 prospect.
DH Carlos Narvaez 2 hits.
3B Jamie Westbrook 3 hits.

Tully (W, 5-1) 6 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 0 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.52
Feliz (H, 1) 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 1 K. 0.00
Nick Ramirez (H, 2) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1.38
Weissert (S, 5) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. 1 WP 2.35

AA: Somerset (25-20) lost 3-1 despite Donaldson, Stanton and Kahnle all playing on rehab assignments.

SS Trey Sweeney Solo HR (3) #7 prospect.
3B Josh Donaldson 1 for 4, single. REHAB ASSIGNMENT
DH Giancarlo Stanton 0 for 3, walk. REHAB ASSIGNMENT

Richard Fitts (L, 2-4) 6 IP, 2 R, 8 H, 1 W, 8 K 1 WP 4.96 #10 prospect.
Tommy Kahnle 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 W, 1 K. 9.00 REHAB ASSIGNMENT.
L. Santos 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 3.08

High A: Hudson Valley (27-19) lost 7-0.

Jo. Valdez (L, 1-3) 3 2/3 IP, 7 R, 6 H, 2 W, 5 K. 2 HBP. Gave up 1 HR. 7.08
Dees 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4 K. 2.95
Ry. Anderson 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4 K. 4.13
Paciorek 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 2 K. 3.77

Low A: Tampa (19-27) won 15-0.

RF Anthony Hall 2 hits, 4 RBI.
LF Christopher Familia 3 hits, 3 RBI. 3-run HR (1).
3B Brett Barrera 2 hits, 1 RBI.

Merda (W, 1-2) 6 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 3 W, 4 K. 4.46
Velasquez 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 3 K. 1.14
M. Ramirez 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 2 K. 1 WP 7.41
Gray 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 4.70

Minor league action from 5/28/2023. Donaldson hits 458′ HR while on rehab.

AAA: SWB (25-26) won 11-4.

CF Estevan Florial 3 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (12). Hitting .322 now. Has he finally found it?
3B Josh Donaldson 2 hits, 2 RBI. Solo HR (1). 458 Ft. Bomb. REHAB ASSIGNMENT
1B Andres Chaparro 2 RBI.

Will Warren (W, 2-1 at AAA) 6 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 W, 8 K. 1 HBP 5.27 #9 prospect. (5-1, 3.35 AA/AAA this year).
Tommy Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. 0.00 REHAB ASSIGNMENT
Brewer 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 1.86

AA: Somerset (25-19) won 3-2.

CF Everson Pereira 2 hits. #6 prospect.
DH Austin Wells 2 hits, #4 prospect.
C Mickey Gasper 3 RBI.

Yoendrys Gomez 3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 3 K. 0.00 #11 prospect. SEASON DEBUT
Giacone 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K. 2.21
Wilson (W, 1-1) 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 4.86
Diaz (H, 3) 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K. 3.32
Mauricio (S, 1) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.97

High A: Hudson Valley (27-18) won 8-4.

CF Spencer Jones 2 hits, #5 prospect.
SS Alexander Vargas 2 hits, 2 RBI.
DH Antonio Gomez 2 hits, 2 RBI.
LF Grant Richardson 2-run HR (4).
3B Marcos Cabrera solo HR (3).

Drew Thorpe (W, 3-1) 5 2/3 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 2 W, 7 K. 3.92 #8 prospect.
Aguilar 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 3.65
Neely 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 4 K. 1 WP 2.00
Watson 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1.48

Low A: Tampa (18-27) won 3-1.

DH Omar Martinez 2 hits, RBI.

Pestana 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 3 K. 1 WP 5.82
Gabonia (W, 2-0) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 4.20
Stuart (H, 1) 4 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3 W, 5 K. 5.40
Bustamente (S, 1) 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 W, 0 K. 2.18

Minor league action from 5/25/2023. Donaldson and Kahnle on rehab.

Because I am leaving early Saturday morning to go on a bus trip to the Yankees’ game on Saturday, there will probably be a recap of Friday’s Yankees game but no report on the Friday minor league games. No time for a write up.

AAA: SWB (23-25) won 10-1.

CF Estevan Florial 4 RBI. Grand Slam (11). Was 1 for 5, 4 strikeouts and the Grand Slam. .313
3B Josh Donaldson 1 for 3 in first Rehab game.
RF Kole Calhoun 2 hits.
DH Andres Chaparro 2 hits.
SS Oswald Peraza solo HR (5) #3 prospect.
LF Elijah Dunham 3 hits, 2 RBI. #18 prospect.
C Rodolfo Duran 2 hits, 2 RBI.

Spence (W, 4-2) 5 2/3 IP, 1 R, 7 H, 3 W, 3 K. 1 WP 4.86
Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 0.00 REHAB
Norwood 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 5.40
Brewer 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 2.35
Weissert 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 2.77

AA: Somerset (24-17) lost 7-6.

2B Caleb Durbin 2 hits, 3 RBI.
1B Eric Wagaman 2 hits, 3 RBI. 3-run HR (3)

Clayton Beeter 5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3 W, 6 K. 3.03 #15 prospect
Diaz 1 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 W, 2 K. 1 WP 3.12
Wilson (L, 0-1) (BS, 1) 1 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 1 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1 WP 1 Balk 5.52
Giacone 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1.86

High A: Hudson Valley (25-17) won 10-8.

SS Alexander Vargas 2 hits, RBI
LF Aaron Palensky 3 hits, 3 RBI. Solo HR (12). .333
DH Spencer Henson 2 hits.
1B Rafael Flores 4 hits, 2 RBI.
RF Grant Richardson 2 hits, 2 RBI.
2B Benjamin Cowles 2 hits.

Messinger 6 IP, 6 R, 5 ER, 8 H, 4 W, 2 K. 2 WP 3.12
E. Santana 2 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1 balk 8.36
Watson (W, 3-1) 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 4 K. 1 HBP 1.54
Neely (S, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 2.16

Low A: Tampa (15-26) lost Game 1 of scheduled DH, 6-5 in 10 innings.

SS Jared Serna 2 hits, RBI. Solo HR (8).
CF Daury Arias 2 hits.
LF Tayler Aguilar solo HR (2)
RF Alan Mejia 2 RBI.

Bow 1 2/3 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 4 W, 1 K. 2 HBP 33.75
Gray 2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.91
Gabonia 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. 1 HBP 4.73
Ayers 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. 3.63
Velasquez (L, 0-1) 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1.19

Game 2 was ppd.

Minor League Action from 5/21/2023. Kahnle rehabs again.

AAA: SWB (21-24) lost 4-2.

CF Estevan Florial solo HR (9). .311
3B Andres Chaparro 2 hits, RBI.
RF Franchy Cordero 2 hits.

Boyle (L, 2-3) 2 2/3 IP, 3 R, 7 H, 3 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. 6.69
Deivi Garcia 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1 WP 4.24
Bowman 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 0 K. 3.05
Krook 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 2 K. 1 Balk. 1.17
Brewer 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.70
Weissert 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.00

AA: Somerset (23-15) lost 3-1.

CF Everson Pereira 3 hits. #6 prospect.

Abeyta (L, 2-2) 5 2/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 W, 7 K. 1 balk. 1 HBP 5.79
Giacone 1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1.96
Wilson 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K. 1 WP 3.29
Diaz 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1.65

High A: Hudson Valley (23-16) split a DH.

Game 1: lost 6-0.

Chase Hampton (L, 1-1) 5 1/3 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 W, 7 K. gave up 1 HR. 1 WP 3.10 #26 prospect.
Paciorek 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 2.92
Neely 1/3 IP, 2 R, 0 W, 3 W, 1 K. 1 WP 1 HBP 2.30
Cortijo 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1 HBP 3.20

Game 2: Won 3-2. in 9 innings (DHs in mnors are 7 inning games, so this one went extras).

Drew Thorpe 6 1/3 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 2 W, 8 K. 3.55 #8 prospect.
Watson 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. 1 HBP 1.69
C. Gomez (W, 2-1) 1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1 balk 4.58

Low A: Tampa (14-25) won 9-1.

C Augustin Ramirez 2 hits, RBI
SS Brenny Escanio 2 hits, RBI.
3B Jesus Rodriguez 2 hits, RBI.
1B Ronny Rojas 2 hits, 3 RBI. 2-run HR (4).

Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 0.00
Stuart (W, 1-2) 3 1/3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 W, 3 K. 1 HBP 6.89
Velasquez 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.29
M. Ramirez 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 9.00
Bustamente 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.50

Minor League Action from 5/18/2023. Tommy Kahnle on rehab.

AAA: Will Warren moved up from AA (3-0, 2.45 there) to AAA. #9 prospect.

SWB (20-22) won 8-3.

CF Estevan Florial solo HR (7).
1B Billy McKinney 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (5).
RF Michael Hermosillo 2 RBI. 2-run HR (6).

Warren (W, 1-0 at AAA) 6 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 0 W, 4 K. gave up 2 HR. 1 HBP 3.00 (AAA ERA)
Krook 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1.32 Wonder when he may get a callup?
Deivi Garcia 1 IP, 0 R,1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1 HBP 4.09
Brewer 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.18

AA: Jasson Dominguez must like warmer weather. Great spring training, awful April but heating up with the weather. Also, when will Yanks promote the hot Austin Wells?

Somerset (22-13) won 10-3.

CF Dominguez 3 RBI. 2-run HR (6). Still only hitting .212 but hot lately. #2 prospect.
C Wells 2 hits, RBI. Solo HR (6th at AA, had one at Low A on rehab). #4 prospect .286
LF Everson Pereira 2 hits, RBI. Solo HR (6) #6 prospect .263
3B Tyler Hardman 2 hits, 5 RBI. 2-run HR (7) #20 prospect.

Richard Fitts 3 2/3 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 2 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR. 6.21 #10 prospect.
Semple (W, 2-0) 2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 1 WP 0.00 was at AAA to start season (0-2, 10.13). 2nd game down at AA.
Wilson 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 2 K. 3.55
Giacone 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.59


High A: Hudson Valley (22-14) lost 6-1.

C Rafael Flores 2 hits.
RF Aldenis Sanchez 2 hits.

Messinger (L, 0-2) 5 1/3 IP, 5 R, 2 ER, 7 H, 3 W, 6 K. 2.23
Cortijo 1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.32
Watson 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 1.83

Low A: Tampa (12-24) lost 4-3.

CF Daury Arias 2 hits.
DH Augustin Ramirez 2-run HR (4).

Tommy Kahnle 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1-2-3 inning with a K. REHAB.
Brock Selvidge 4 IP, 1 R, 6 H, 0 W, 7 K. Gave up 1 HR. 3.74 #30 prospect
Vinyard (BS, 1) 2 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 W, 3 K. 1 HBP 3.98
Keating (L, 2-2) 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 3 K. 2 WP 1.62

Game #8. Brito and Yanks tough out 4-1 win.

Jhony Brito’s second MLB start (and game) didn’t start out well. Two singles and a sac fly in the first three batters gave Baltimore a run. You wondered, being it was only his second MLB game, how Brito would handle it.

He handled it fine. Although he wasn’t “on”, throwing 92 pitches in five innings, he gave up only one more hit and no runs after that in the Yankees’ (5-3) 4-1 win over the Orioles Saturday night.

It’s early, only eight games into the season, but once Carlos Rodon and Luis Severino come off the injured list, it appears as if Brito should stay in the rotation, and Clarke Schmidt should be the one leaving it.

The Yanks tied the game in the top of the fourth via walks to Anthony Rizzo and Gleyber Torres and a two-out, RBI single by Aaron Hicks.

A three-run rally in the top of the fifth was the game decider. Anthony Volpe, who had been strugging lately, led off the inning with a triple. A bit further to the left and he would have had his first MLB HR. As it was, it hit the high scoreboard in right field. D.J. LeMahieu gave the Yanks a 2-1 lead by following Volpe’s triple with a double. A WP moved D.J. over, and he scored on a sac fly by Aaron Judge. Giancarlo Stanton then crushed a 436 ft. HR (3) over the tall, pushed-back wall in LF to make it 4-1.

Three Yankees relievers combined for four shutout innings.

Before the game, in order to make room for Brito coming up, Jonathan Loaisiga was put on the IL with elbow inflammation. The Yanks also put Josh Donaldson on the IL and brought up Willie Calhoun. Tommy Kahnle was put on the 60-day IL.

LeMahieu RBI double.
Judge 1 for 2, walk, RBI SF.
Stanton 2 hits, solo HR (3).
Hicks RBI single
Volpe triple (First MLB XBH)

Brito (W, 2-0) 5 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 W, 2 K. 0.90
King (H, 1) 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. 3.60
Peralta (H, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 2 K. 0.00
Holmes (S, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1 WP 4.91

S.T. Game 13. Yanks lose 11-7, but bigger news is that 3 pitchers (including Rodon) join Montas on the IL.

Forget the score today. It’s only spring training. I’ll get to today’s game in a moment. The bigger news is that three more pitchers join Frankie Montas on the injured list to start the season. They are Tommy Kahnle (strained biceps), Lou Trivino, and Carlos Rodon.

Rodon has a mild strain in the forearm, which set off Tommy John surgery concerns, but it doesn’t affect the UCL. He won’t throw again for 7-10 days.

So, with Montas down, and also Rodon for a short time, it appears as if the rotation on Opening Day will be Cole, Severino, Cortes (himself just getting over a hamstring issue), German and Schmidt.

Clarke Schmidt pitched today, and so far, his spring training has been meh. (8.10 ERA) He gave up 2 runs (2-run HR) in 3 IP today as the Yanks (7-6 in spring training) lost 11-7 to Boston. Tyler Danish has had an atrocious spring training (ERA 94.50!), and that continued today.

Jasson “The Martian” Dominguez continued to have a hot bat, hitting a 3-run HR. The 20-year-old is targeted for AA, but we can dream about him making the big leagues soon. Also homering was Andres Chaparro, who also is having a hot spring. Chaparro has shown a good bat, but when he goes back to the minors, he needs to work on his defense. The minor league numbers for the 3B/1B defensively don’t look good. Improve that, continue to hit, and maybe he can be a future option. After all, Josh Donaldson is 37 and the Yanks probably will not pick up Donaldson’s option after this season.

Volpe 0 for 3. #1 prospect.
Judge 1 for 1 with a walk.
Dominguez 1 for 2 with a walk and a 3-run HR. #2 prospect
Chaparro 2 for 2, solo HR. He and Dominguez went back-to-back.
Peraza 1 for 3 #3 prospect.
Trevino 1 for 2, 2 RBI

Schmidt 3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 0 W, 3 K. Gave up HR.
Cordero 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. With Trivino and Kahnle out, has shot at opening day roster.
Marinaccio (H) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K.
Danish (BS, L) 1/3 IP, 6 R, 6 H, 0 W, 0 K. Gave up 3 HR. As mentioned, a brutal spring training. ERA 94.50.
Jennings 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Evans 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Vasquez 2 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K. Gave up 1 HR. #14 prospect.

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.