Yanks sign Severino to 4 year, $40MM extension.

The Yankees avoided arbitration with Luis Severino by signing him to a 4 yr. $40MM extension.

It will be interesting to see who has a bounce-back year this year. The Yanks won 100 games last year despite Gardner hitting .236, Sanchez .186 and Bird .199. Imagine if they would have been their normal selves.

Speaking of Gardner, will he lead off this year or bat 9th? There is a case for Aaron Hicks leading off. The only problem is, on a team so righty-leaning, Hicks’ switch-hitting bat may be needed in the middle of the lineup.

But according to a recent article (I believe NY Post?) here are some interesting numbers from Hicks last year. .248-27-79, 11 SB, drew 90 walks.

In the three places where he had 100 or more plate appearances in 2018,

Batting first .276-11-21
3rd .222-6-19
6th .223-5-20.

Hmmm… interesting. And Hicks is more likely to lead off a game with a HR than Gardy.

We’ll see.

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HOF Frank Robinson dies at 83; Britton adds a “K”, and more.

2943 hits. 586 HR. The only player to win the MVP in both leagues (1961 Reds, 1966 Orioles), winner of the triple crown in 1966, ROY 1956, baseball’s first black manager. A record of 38 HR for a rookie that stood for a long time.

Those are some of the achievements of HOF OF Frank Robinson, who passed away today at the age of 83.

Robinson was a 14x All Star who was on two WS Champs (1966 and 1970 Orioles) and three other pennant winners (1961 Reds, 1969 and 1971 Orioles). He won the 1966 WS MVP, was an All-Star game MVP, Manager of the Year.

What a resume.

He led the league in runs scored 3x. Doubles once. HR once. RBI once. Batting average once. OBP 2x. Slugging 4x. OPS 4X. OPS+ 4x. Total bases once. He crowded the plate and led the league in getting HBP 7x. He led the league in SF 2x, intentional walks 4x.

He played for the Reds (1956-1965), Orioles (1966-1971), Dodgers (1972), Angels (1973-1974) and Indians (1974-1976). His 162 game average was .294-34-105, 12 SB and an OPS+ of 154.

10x he finished top 10 for MVP voting.

In 35 postseason games, he hit .238-10-19.

He was elected to the HOF his first year eligible in 1982. He should have received more than 89.2% of the vote.  He is considered (by JAWS on baseballreference.com) the 5th greatest RF of all-time.

As a manager (Indians 1975-1977; Giants 1981-1984; Orioles 1988-1991 and Expos/Nationals 2002-2006) he went 1065-1176, winning pct. .475. Average year 77-85. His best teams were the 1982 Giants and 1989 Orioles (when he won Manager of the Year). He never managed a team to the postseason.

He was one of the greatest players ever.

Elsewhere…

Every pitcher wants a “K” but the Yanks’ Zach Britton is now Zack Britton. At least he gets a k.

The Marlins traded C J.T. Realmuto to the Phillies for C Jorge Alfaro, top pitching prospect Sixto Sanchez, minor league prospect Will Stewart and international bonus money.

Earlier this offseason, it was rumored that the Marlins were involved in a possible 3-way deal for Realmuto with the Yanks and Mets. The names have come out. The Marlins would have sent Realmuto to the Yanks for BOTH Sanchez and Andujar, with the Yanks flipping Realmuto to the Mets for Syndergaard. Um, who would then be starting C for the Yanks then? Romine? And what about 3B? Need to then get Machado? And with Didi still out, you still need a SS. You can see why the Yanks nixed that possible deal.

 

CC signs, announces 2019 will be it. Sanchez to undergo shoulder surgery.

CC Sabathia signed his deal, and announced that 2019 will be his final year. He turns 39 next July. He needs 4 wins for 250 and 14 strikeouts for 3000.

Gary Sanchez will undergo surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder. It’s expected to set him back 3 months, but he should be ready for Opening Day.

 

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.

 

Game 2 ALDS. Yanks even series behind the Kraken.

Turn the page.

Gary Sanchez had a poor regular season. His .186 batting average was the lowest ever for any Yankee with 300 or more plate appearances.

But he did hit 18 HR. He hit 33 last season. He hit 20 in just 53 games in 2016. You knew the power was there, and that at any time he could put up a two homer, 4 RBI game.

That is the Sanchez we hoped would return, and in time for the playoffs. Make up for a bad regular season with a great postseason.

It is the Sanchez we got last night. Sanchez hit two homers and drove in 4 runs as the Yanks won 6-2 to even the series up. Game 3 is in the Bronx Monday night.

David Price started for Boston, and he has had a couple of problems lately. #1, he has trouble against the Yankees. #2, he has trouble in the postseason (0-9 record in 10 starts). #3 Gary Sanchez owns him. Not a good combination.

So Aaron Judge, the second batter of the game, hit a 445-ft. HR to give the Yanks a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Judge has homered in all three postseason games so far.

Sanchez came up in the bottom of the second and continued his mastery of Price by hitting a HR to make it 2-0 Yanks. With two out, Price proceeded to walk Gleyber Torres and Brett Gardner. Gardner was starting in CF for Aaron Hicks, who has a tight hamstring. Hicks was available for pinch-hitting duty and the hammy won’t keep him out for the rest of the series (if it did, he wouldn’t be available again until the World Series–no ALCS).

Andrew McCutchen then singled off of the green monster to make it 3-0 Yanks and give Price an early shower.

Meanwhile, Masahiro Tanaka was on, and was his postseason bulldog self. (He is now 3-2, 1.50 in five postseason starts). He gave up a HR in the bottom of the fourth, but it was a solo one, and went five innings giving up just that one run.

In the seventh, the Yanks broke the game open. Judge singled and Voit walked. Stanton, who is struggling—so much so that lots of people are comparing him to A-Rod and A-Rod’s postseason struggles—hit a topper that at first it appeared as if Nunez’ throw hoping for a force pulled the fielder off the bag. But Boston reviewed and the call was overturned. Forceout. Hmm. The fielder must have kept his big toenail on the bag because it didn’t look that way. Nunez’ throwing was shaky all night long. He almost made 3 errors instead of the one he did make. But then again, when he was a Yankee, he had the nickname of Nun-E.

Hopefully Stanton comes around. Aim for RF in the Bronx, Giancarlo. You are strong enough to hit it out anywhere, especially there. Stay back.  No need to pull everything.

So it was first and third, one out, and here is where Sanchez hit his second HR of the game, a 479-ft. bomb that left everything and went out on the street. 6-1 Yanks.

Dellin Betances gave up a run in the bottom of the seventh to make it 6-2, but that was it. Yankees’ pitchers limited Boston to 2 runs and 5 hits. Good job.

I am a bit concerned yet about the Yanks’ hitting w/RISP. 2 for 10 last night (the Yanks had 8 hits and drew 7 walks, so they could have scored more runs than 6). Hopefully that picks up.

Judge 2 hits, solo HR.
Voit 0 for 2 but drew 3 walks.
Sanchez 2 HR, 4 RBI
Gardner 0 for 2 but drew 2 walks.

Tanaka (WIN) 5 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Betances (H) 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K.
Britton 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 0 K.
Chapman 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K.

In the other ALDS series, Houston beat Cleveland 12-1 behind Gerrit Cole’s 7 innings and 12 K. Houston is up 2 games to 0.

The NL was off. Milwaukee is up 2-0 on Colorado and the Dodgers are up 2-0 on the Braves.

Yanks set for tonight. Severino starting. Colorado eliminates Cubs.

In the NL wild card game last night, Colorado eliminated the Cubs in the wee hours of the morning, 2-1 in 13 innings. The Rockies advance to face the Brewers.

The Yanks and A’s meet tonight in the AL wild card game.  (8 PM, TBS). Luis Severino will start for the Yanks. Here is hoping he is dominant, but the Yanks also could say throw as hard as you can for as long as you can, even if it is only three or four innings and then turn it over to the bullpen.

Here is also hoping no passed balls from Sanchez, and that his .186 bat wakes up and he hits a homer or two.

The roster could change after the game. But for this game, besides the starters, C Sanchez, 1B Voit, 2B Torres, SS Didi, 3B Andujar, OF of McCutchen, Hicks and Judge and DH Stanton, the backups are OF Gardner, C Romine, C Higashioka, INF Walker, INF Hechevarria, INF/OF/PR Wade.

Backing up Severino are Happ, Lynn, Tanaka, Green, Chapman, Betances, Robertson, Britton and Holder. Should the Yanks advance, expect CC to replace Wade. As for Higashioka next round or Bird (or another pitcher) that’s up in the air.

The A’s are going with 11 pitchers, 10 of them relievers, and one guy for extra-innings protection. So the Yanks could be facing a new pitcher every inning or every other inning. Strange scenario but it is what it is. Hopefully, for the Yanks’ sake, too many cooks spoil the soup and eventually the A’s put a pitcher out there who doesn’t have it. Eventually, if you use too many pitchers, you may find the rotten egg.

In a one and done scenario, you never know who might wind up being the hero… or goat.

The Twins fired manager Paul Molitor. So Texas, the Angels, the Twins, the Blue Jays, probably the Orioles, others? looking for new managers. Surprisingly, Joe Girardi isn’t rumored for any of these open positions.

 

Game 162. Yanks fall, 10-2, finish 100-62. Wild Card game next.

The Yanks lost the season finale, 10-2, to finish the season at 100-62, 2nd in the AL East, 8 behind Boston. They now prepare for the sudden death wild card game at the Stadium on Wednesday night vs. the 97 win A’s.

Not a good day for a tweener, Cessa, or two rookies in Loaisiga and Sheffield.

Luke Voit got two of the Yanks’ four hits, and his 2-run HR (15, 14 as a Yankee) accounted for both of the Yankees’ runs. So the record is 267 HR in a season by one team, the 2018 Yankees.

The Yanks made 3 errors in this game.

Miguel Andujar got his 47th double of the season tying Fred Lynn’s record for most by an AL rookie.

Gary Sanchez finished at .186, the lowest batting average in Yankees’ history for someone with, say, 300 plate appearances.  1970 Jerry Kenney was the previous low.

Cessa (L, 1-4, 5.24) 1/3 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 H, 0 W, 0 K.
Robertson 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K.  3.23
Loaisiga 2 IP, 3 R, 0 ER,  4 H, 0 W, 2 K. gave up 1 HR.   5.11
Sheffield 1 1P, 3 R, 2 H, 2 W, 0 K.  Gave up 1 HR.  10.13
Tarpley 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 4 K.  3.00
Cole 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 2 K.  6.14 (Wash/NYY)
Adams  1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K.  7.04