BBWAA elects no one to Hall.

The Baseball Writers elected no one to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2021.

There will still be a ceremony, because COVID cancelled out 2020’s ceremony, those elected in 2020 will be inducted in 2021.

75% of the vote is required for induction. The top 3 finishers are controversial, in various ways. They were Curt Schilling at 71.1%, Barry Bonds at 61.8% and Roger Clemens at 61.6%.

Next year will be the last year on the ballot for all three of them.

There were some, like Scott Rolen, who made big jumps but still fell fall short.

But for Schilling, Bonds and Clemens, the gains were miniscule.

Ex-Yankees Gary Sheffield (40.6%), Andruw Jones (33.9%), Andy Pettitte (13.7%) and Bobby Abreu (8.7%) remain on the ballot.

You need 5% or more to remain on the ballot.

Ex-Yankees Latroy Hawkins (2 votes, 0.5%), A.J. Burnett (no votes) and Nick Swisher (no votes) fall off of the ballot.

Game 67. CC pitches well but gets no support as Yanks lose, 3-1.

On Old Timer’s Day, the Yanks could have used some of the old timers in the lineup today, especially Nick Swisher, who hit one into the upper deck during that Old-Timers game.

That is because the regular lineup today didn’t do much, scoring just one run as the Yanks (46-21) lost 3-1. With Boston’s win, they are in a virtual tie again, with the Yanks holding the lead in winning percentage.

CC Sabathia pitched great, but had one bad inning that cost him and the Yanks the game. In the second, he gave up two singles and a double to start off the inning. One run in for the Rays, men on second and third. Then he got a popup and strikeout. But with two outs, two on, on an 0-2 pitch, he gave up a single and it was 3-0 Tampa Bay. That one pitch, on an 0-2 count, cost the Yanks and CC the game.

The Yanks went 0 for 7 with RISP and struck out 12x. They got their only run in the fifth on Aaron Hicks eighth HR of the season.

Hicks 2 hits, solo HR.
Didi 2 hits.

Gardner sat with a sore knee.

Sabathia (L, 4-2, 3.30) 7 2/3 IP, 3 R, 10 H, 1 W, 10 K.
Warren 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.08

On Monday, the Yanks are in Washington to complete the suspended game from May 15 at 5 PM, then at 7 PM play the makeup of the May 16 rainout.

 

Minor League Report. (Also, some Yankees news).

For the second time this month, the Yanks had to spend overnight at an airport. Last night, after taking off, it was discovered that there was a malfunction, the plane had to return to Dallas and the Yanks once again had to wait hours at the airport before leaving. This happened last week in Washington, now again. Luckily both occurrences were before off-days, but the Yanks came out flat in KC after it happened. What about tomorrow vs. the Angels? At least tomorrow (Friday) the ace, Severino, is pitching.

Some interesting tidbits about Old-Timer’s Day this year. Andy Pettitte and Jason Giambi will be there. Jim Leyritz is pissed because he didn’t get an invite.

Boston lost, so the lead Boston has over the Yanks is down to one. Boston is 34-16, the Yanks 31-15. So the Yanks are actually one up in the loss column, having played four less games. So if the Yanks, in those four extra games they have, go 3-1, they would be even with Boston.

He was not there long. Ryan Bollinger, brought up yesterday, was immediately sent back down. Reason? Tommy Kahnle is expected to be reactivated tomorrow.

Now for Saturday, it gets interesting, because Greg Bird is expected back on Saturday. But who does he replace? Tyler Austin? In 28 games, 101 at bats, Austin is hitting only .238, but has 8 HR, 23 RBI and has an OPS+ of 118, 18% above league average. The walk/k ratio isn’t good at 7/41, and the average isn’t hot, but it would be a tough send-down for someone with an 118 OPS+, 8 HR and 23 RBI.

Nick Swisher is with the Yanks, basically as a “scout”.

AAA: SWB (21-24) won 3-1. SS Tyler Wade (.228) 2 hits. 1B Greg Bird 1 for 5, RBI. 2B Billy Fleming 2 hits. RF L.J. Mazzilli 2 hits.

Keep an eye on Josh Rogers. If the Yanks need an emergency starter, he may be called up before Justus Sheffield. LHP, 23, 24 in July.

Rogers (W, 4-3, 2.80) 6 1/3, 1 R, 4 H, 3 W, 6 K.
Feyereisen (H, 1) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.18
Coshow (S, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.21

AA: Trenton (27-19) lost 1-0, getting just three hits.

Keller (L, 4-3, 3.11) 6 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 2 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR.
Frawley 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.45

High A: Tampa (24-21) lost 9-1.

3B Angel Aguilar HR. RF Alexander Palma and CF Dom Thompson-Williams 2 hits each.

Nelson (L, 1-2 6.89) 2 2/3 IP, 7 R, 4 H, 4 W, 3 K
Trieglaff 2 1/3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 W, 3 K. Gave up 1 HR. 2.70
Young 3 IP,  1 R, 3 H, 4 W, 3 K.    5.63

Low A: Charleston (20-25) rained out.

 

 

Swisher and Choate retire.

This week saw the retirement of two former Yankees.

Nick Swisher, RF for the 2009 WS champs (249-29-82, OPS+ 122), and a Yankee 2009-2012, retired. An All-Star in 2010, he hit .268 with 105 HR in his 4 years as a Yankee, OPS+ 124. It’s where he had his best years. For his career, he hit .249 with 245 HR, OPS+ 113. From 2004-2015 he played for the A’s, White Sox, Yankees, Indians and Braves.In the postseason, the ebullient Swish went .165-4-8 in 47 games.

Randy Choate, who was a rookie in 2000 and the last active player from that 2000 WS Championship team (0-1, 4.76), also retired.  Choate was with the Yanks 2000-2003, going 3-2, 4.43 as a Yankee, ERA+ 104. He may have been an unlikely candidate for 15 years in the majors, but that’s what being a LOOGY (Lefty One Out GuY) will do for you. In his career he went 16-14, 3.90, ERA+ 108 for the Yankees, Diamondbacks, Rays, Marlins, Dodgers and Cardinals and besides pitching for the Yanks in the 2001 WS, pitched for the Cardinals in the 2013 WS. He was 0-1, 3.38 in 21 postseason games.

 

The Minors.

AAA: SWB won 11-2. Nick Swisher is on a leave of absence due to his wife giving birth to their second child. Luis Severino 6 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 8 K. He and three relievers combined for 16 K. 2 hits, HR, 2 RBI Jonathan Diaz. Jake Cave 3 hits, 2 RBI; Donovan Solano 3 hits, 1 RBI. Aaron Judge 2 hits, rbi.

AA: Trenton won 5-1. Chance Adams, promoted from Tampa, 7 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 7 K. Dustin Fowler 2 hits, 2 rbi.

High A: Tampa won 3-2. Ian Clarkin five shutout innings. Abiatal Avelino 2 hits, HR, 2 RBI. Devyn Bolasky 2 hits.

Low A: Charleston won 5-4. Jose Mesa 3 scoreless IP of relief, 6 K. Jhalen Jackson a 2-run HR.  Same for Nathan Mikolas. 2 hits Jeff Hendrix.

The Minors. Judge HRs again.

AAA: SWB won 5-0. Aaron Judge is red hot, and homered again. Nick Swisher and Ben Gamel were each 3 for 5, with Gamel getting an RBI. Donovan Solano had two doubles and 2 RBI. Chad Green (6-6, 1.54) pitched six shutout innings, and continues to make a case as an alternative to Nova, Eovaldi or Pineda—all who have ERAs over 5.00.

AA: Trenton won 3-0 in a rain-shortened five-inning game. Mark Payton, Miguel Andujar and Lane Adams with two hits each, with Andujar getting two RBI, Adams the other one. Jordan Montgomery five shutout innings.

High A: Tampa won both games of a doubleheader by the same 2-0 score.

Regular game: Josh Rogers 7 IP, 3 hits. Vicente Conde two doubles, 2 runs scored.

Makeup of 6/26 game: Domingo Acevedo 7 IP, 5 hits. 2 hits, rbi for Conde. Austin Aune HR. Zack Zehner two hits.

Low A: Charleston lost 6-1. Jeff Hendrix two hits.

The Minors. Marathon win for Tampa.

AAA: SWB lost 3-2. Chad Green 3 R in 7 IP, 11 K. Swisher is still with them, 1 for 4. 2 hits Donovan Solano and 3 hits Pete Kozma.

AA: Trenton won 3-1.  Chance Adams, promoted from Tampa, 0 runs in 5 1/3 IP. HR Lane Adams.

High A: Tampa won 3-2 in 18 innings. Tampa struck out 22x. Lakeland struck out 23x.

Low A: Charleston won 8-6. Chris Gittens (I think I’ve been writing Giftens, my bad) 3 HR, 6 RBI.

The Minors.

AAA: I haven’t heard anything about Nick Swisher yet. He could opt out of his contract today and try to latch on with another team.

SWB (38-28) won 7-5. 2 hits, HR, 3 RBI Gary Sanchez. Ben Gamel 3 h, 3 rbi. Aaron Judge and Donovan Solano 2 hits each.

AA: Trenton (38-26) won 7-4. Kyle Higashioka and Lane Adams 2 RBI each. Miguel Andujar and Dante Bichette, Jr. 2 hits each.

High A: Tampa (40-24)  lost 2-0. Ian Clarkin tough-luck loser. 7 IP, 1 R (gave up HR). Abital Avelino 2 hits.

Low A: Charleston (39-25)  won 3-0. Nestor Cortes 6 IP, 1 H.

The Minors.

AAA: SWB  won 8-4. Luis Severino 7 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 2 walks, 8 K, gave up a HR. Donovan Solano 2-run HR. Nick Swisher 3 hits, 2 RBI (will he opt out in mid-week?) Ben Gamel 3 hits, HR short of cycle, rbi.

AA: Trenton off.

High A: Tampa won the regularly scheduled game 5-0. Josh Rogers 7 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 walks, 4 K. Miguel Andujar 2 h, rbi. Jake Skole 2 RBI. Wes Wilson 2 hits.

Makeup of 6/12 rainout: Tampa lost 10-0. Devyn Bolasky and Austin Aune 2 hits each.

Low A: Charleston lost the regularly scheduled game 8-1. Cesar Diaz solo HR.

Makeup of 5/29 rainout: Won 2-0. Nathan Mikolas solo HR.

The Minors.

AAA: SWB won 8-5. Chasen Shreve 1 scoreless IP on rehab. Nick Swisher 2 HR, 3 RBI. Solo HR for Aaron Judge. Jake Cave 2 hits, Pete Kozma 2 RBI.

AA: Trenton lost 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth. Dante Bichette, Jr. 3 hits. 2 hits Francisco Diaz.

High A: Tampa rained out.

Low A: Charleston lost 6-3. 2 HR, 3 RBI Chris Giftens.