Cody Bellinger could be headed to the injured list, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register (via Twitter). He was held out of Wednesday’s game with a sore calf and last saw game action in Monday’s 10-3 victory in Oakland. Mookie Betts played centerfield in his place on Tuesday night, but the reigning MVP runner-up was out for Wednesday’s game with a stiff lower back. Betts could return for Friday’s home opener, however. Still, it might be prudent for manager Dave Roberts to keep Betts in right field for the time being. That would mean more time in center for Chris Taylor. AJ Pollock didn’t see any time in center last season, but he does have eight years of Major League experience at the position. Elsewhere in the west…
- Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo is moving southpaw Caleb Smith to the bullpen, per Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic (via Twitter). It’s not yet clear who will take Smith’s spot in the rotation. Zac Gallen is on the mend, but he won’t quite be ready in time for Smith’s turn on Saturday. Taylor Widener lines up for Friday’s game, while Luke Weaver will pitch on Sunday. If they go with a bullpen game, both Alex Young and Taylor Clarke are already in the bullpen and capable of bulk innings. Smith, of course, would also be available out of the bullpen. He gave up three earned runs on five hits and three walks in three innings on April 3rd, his only start of the season.
- The Rangers had other offers for Rougned Odor beyond the deal they accepted from the Yankees. Other offers had more favorable financial terms, but the Rangers prioritized adding talent, per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (via Twitter). Fangraphs had Antonio Cabello as the Yankees’ 23rd-ranked prospect prior to the trade, while Josh Stowers was listed in the “Realistic Bench Pieces” section.
I wish the Rangers had “accepted one of those other offers.” I don’t see Odor as a fit with the Yankees. We’ll see.
I agree, I think this trade stinks..
Don’t know why anyone would want that thug.
Wait.
He’s a “thug” because someone taught him how to throw a right cross? By that notion, the suburban housewives that frequent the boxing gym I work out at are “thugs”.
That is a stretch for me.
Hilarious coming from the same Yankee fans who throw batteries, beers and coins at players (even their own) on the field. Thugs? Pot=kettle
Bautista threw the first punch, odor just knew how to throw his correctly
Herecomedatboi you clearly watched a much different game. But run that false narrative with that handle.
Bautista had his hands up.
But no, he didn’t throw the first punch. Of course that hitch & wind up (similar to a suburban housewife before a few sessions in the gym) was his undoing.
Dumb stuff like that’ll get a fella rocked. Which is what happened.
In Bautista’s defense he took everything Odor threw at him.
So there’s that.
Like my grandfather used to tell me; “son, if you’re going to be stupid, you better be tough.”
I agree for a different reason.: I don’t think Josh Stowers or Antonio Cabello are MLB caliber prospects.
As far as Odor being a “thug”. You must not have seen the game when Rougned Odor clocked Jose Bautista.. Jose Bautista went in hot to 2B with a late slide to break up a DP, However, he purposely started his slide at the back side of the 2nd base bag and went for the legs of Odor. It was a dirty slide. In fact, both runners were called out for interference.
Odor shoved Bautista. Bautista put his left hand out to Odor’s head and drew his hand back. At that moment, it appeared Bautista was sizing up Odor to throw a punch. Simultaneously, Odor wound up and delivered just as Bautista began to make a fist.
Many in the media painted Odor as the villain. Jose Bautista was not a victim. Bautista was showing like he was going to punch Odor wheras Odor did actually punch Bautista.
Doubtful he’s a thug. He just knows how to defend himself. With Judge looking like he’s hurt again and Stanton likely to break down as well, I’ll take his lefty bat and say good call, Cashman.
Hopefully this is reference to his multitude of dirty slides. His fight with Joey PEDs was just that.
“He just knows how to defend himself.”
Exactly.
Watch the video. You can see everything is textbook right down to his heel rising up at the finish.
Someone taught him that.
Bet.
False narrative blah blah blah go get wrecked
Odor is a thug Google his fighting history. Minor league game he started a fight that got a record 51 players fined . He won’t shut up and if he doesn’t like the guy he goes after them.
@GaryHarris- I definitely think Stowers is better then advertised, and will eventually help the Rangers. If not as a starter then definitely as a 4th outfielder. He is a leadoff hitter with some pop from the right side. It was probably not going to work out in NY, but no reason why it can’t in Texas. There was absolutely no reason for the Yankees to acquire Odor. The only reason they did was because he has power from left side which is definitely needed in their line-up, and he will cost the Yankees practically nothing. I still don’t like the move though. I hate to lose Estrada because he will definitely help a team out there that needs an infielder to start. He just needs to get the at bats to perform, and he won’t hurt you with his glove. Thinking .277 12-14 HRS, 55-65 RBI’s with about 10-12 stolen bases or so playing regularly. Estrada will be a nice pick-up for someone.
@rafiano
He got into some scuffles in the minors too, huh?
Well. You see a “thug” but I see a guy who doesn’t yield to someone trying to physically intimidate them & backs up what he says.
Different takes for different fellas.
@Ducky Buckin Fent- never thought about that before. Excellent point, besides I would think that everybody that wasn’t a Blue Jays fan definitely wanted to punch Bautista at least once or twice? Lol. Not only is Odor tough, he’s pretty scary looking to. Let’s just pray a ball isn’t hit to him during a game. Still early on but are you worried about Gleyber’s defense at shortstop? Lmk
And a closer that fired a gun in his garage
@kemark- calm down man it’s not like he shot somebody cuz! Chappy was just trying to see if his garage was bulletproof, at least he was wearing a vest.
Gleyber at SS is one of those, “ya gotta dance with the girl that brung ya” things.
Let’s give him the entire year. Well…that is how I’m playing it. He hasn’t really had a chance yet for a real season to see what he can do.
He certainly didn’t do us any favors last night but he’s looked…ok to this point. I just don’t think we’re going to be that strong defensively. But I can see mediocre.
This is starting to become one of the things I’m questioning the effectiveness of Boone in regards to. Say what you want him, but Joe G’s clubs were always strong fundamentally. They always played hard for him too.
@KC
These two things are not remotely the same & are entirely unrelated. Just doing a little trolling, man?
I get it.
Hey, I always pull some wire for walleye on the way back to where I launched from when I’m waterfowl hunting. So I troll too, sometimes.
Actually I think Cabello will surprise a lot of people.
@madman
You ain’t seen nothing yet, wait till the asterisks come to town. Ahahahaha!
Yeah no kidding. Madman
Agree… Welcome to the new world where you aren’t allowed to defend yourself
Would people call him a thug if he looked like Nolan Ryan? He punched someone on the field. Never heard thug used.
It does have a lil odor to it.
I think he’ll make a perfect Yankee, except for when he loses his temper and starts punching Yankee fans who rag on him.
Say “good bye” to that ugly beard, Odor. Good lord in heaven! Bless Yankees for having that more that appropriate “non-facial hair” clean cut internal policy.
@julyn LOL relax. Sorry you hate freedom of expression. That policy is one of the most antiquated things in sports
Yankees have done decent job pulling guys off scrap heap. Andrew jones, vernon wells, kenny lofton, didi just off the top of my head. Even dj wasn’t that highly regarded.
Jones, wells and lofton did nothing as yankees. Why did you pick them?
Urshela would be a good example.
I don’t see Odor as a fit with any MLB team. Sure he has power but that’s where it ends. Pretty much if he’s not hitting a home run, he’s not hitting period.
Mckinstry looks like he could be a lefty replacement for Bellinger.
Taylor and Mckinstry would be everydt starters, anywhere else.
Did anyone see Yankees game last night? The Yankees lost but having some team speed with Tauchman and Wade was HUGE. I don’t see how Odor is more valuable then Wade right now.
That game bothered me a little bit with all the plays at home. It makes me wonder about injuries from the stupid man on second rule. Drives me crazy when baseball does something that ridiculous. I get it for last year but not anymore.
How about the stress it’s placing on the pitchers whom are – theoretically – being protected by this rule?
Greene got gassed. Had everything to do with the fact every pitch was thrown under duress.
Stupid rule is stupid rule.
It’s unfair to make pitchers throw from the stretch when they haven’t allowed any base runners.
To be fair, most relievers throw from the stretch nowadays anyway.
But putting a runner on second automatically ensures that every pitch he throws is now high leverage & therefore bound to be more physically demanding. I see it is actually counterproductive to the rule’s actual intent.
Extra innings man on second so bunt infuriated me. Let Gardy swing away. The bullpen was empty so what good is a tie game going to do?
But the extra innings were a lot more exciting than the first 9 innings… More strategy involded (sac bunts), instead of team waiting to hit a HR….
I still don’t understand that deal for the Yankees. I suggested they should be looking to find their best SS available, and then shift everybody to the right since Torres would eventually end up costing them. And it only took 2 days for that to happen. I’m fine with it as a division rival, but will a Torres-Odor middle infield not be the worst defensive pairing in the league? They do only need to cover for Voit for a couple of more weeks, but it could be ugly until then.
You think the defense on the right side of the infield is better with Luke and Dj than it is with Odor and DJ? I think you’re simply confused about how to handle the improvement at 1st & loss at second in the same equation & choosing to look at the middle infield while totally ignoring the corners.
DJ is great at 1st or 2nd. Odor is light years ahead of Luke on defense. I don’t see how that adds up to your defense being worse unless you’re trying to compare this with the goal you had of a better defensive shortstop which went out the window when Luke got the 1st base job and we resigned DJ.
The yankees need guys who get on base. Another strikeout machine with poor contact skills makes no sense
100% agree. That is why DJ is so valuable.
and why that deal is a steal
@astros
You are confusing high K rates & low batting averages with a lack of getting on base. Those three things can – & quite frequently do – go together.
Obligatory: plus it’s harder to hit when you don’t know what pitch is coming.
Once there was a player who batted .197 in his first 401 at bats while striking out 151 times. His on base percentage was .324 and he hit 19 home runs. Odor has performed at a similar level over the past 4 years. That said, he’s no Mike Schmidt.
You have try pretty hard to hit 30 bombs and have a -1.4 fWAR. He’s a bat-only reclamation project.
Needing guys who get on base doesn’t mean they don’t need lefties with power for the infield.
By the way – Analytics is a thing. Check it out.
Brilliant observation emac22. So forego guys who get on base for more strikeout hr only guys. You should rewrite moneyball. The next market inefficiency is signing all overpaid .200 avg guys who might hit 30 hrs with 270 k’s. Im going to read about analytics right now
Not to mention an up the middle dynamo defense of torres and odor. Yanks should cut voit and resign chris carter for first base. Hes perfect for your lineup
I’m more curious how they exactly plan to both fit and use Odor.
I wonder if he ends up replacing Bruce when Luke comes back.
He gives you the same lefty bat but the option of using him in the infield instead of spots where you already have too much depth.
Agreed. When voit is back Those two can’t both be there
I pray Bellinger and Betts are out for the Nats series. Our current roster compared to the dodgers is scary.
Luc. Comparing anyones roster to the dodgers is scary. They have the rays front office with the yankees pay roll. Still gotta play the games
Yep, im excited to play them but I’m preparing myself for some losses
this Smith thing again shows why Miami should have dealt him earlier. if they traded him a tear earlier then they did he could have netted a big return rather then been a piece in a deal for another vet. could’ve dealt him for Jazz + and kept Gallen.
Maybe they could of gotten some younger players but if he was good at the time keep him. They got Marte in return who is a good leader and I thought they would of won at least 1 game in NLDS with him in the lineup and not being injured
i think if they dealt Smith at peak value they could have ended up with all of Gallen, Chisholm, Marte, and perhaps more. Smith to me always seemed like a solid backend guy but what he was doing early 2019 didnt look sustainable to me. and it showed with the correction in the 2nd half.
Picked Bellinger in a home run pool. Homered opening day, passed turner so it didn’t count, now going to the IL. Lovely
Imagine baseball without injuries.
Well, here the list right now:
mlb.com/news/baseball-injury-updates
Pollock played more than 15 games in center last year…
I don’t like Odor but do like the Yankees getting him. I am a Jays fan so I obviously side with Bautista. It will make for a better rivalry from a fan’s perspective. The current Jays players don’t care. The real goon in the whole punch scenario was Matt Bush based on his back story. Maybe he has grown up. With regards to Odor with the short porch he may surprise us all.
@Roughed Odor- I hate to hear you don’t like yourself. That doesn’t seem to be healthy? Lol. Hopefully that all changes in NY. I wish you the best even though I wish the Rangers traded you elsewhere. Good luck and welcome to NY!
I do like how he’s using “goon” like a hockey player but in baseball.
Canadians, eh?
@Ducky Buckin Fent- Can we even call them Canadian’s anymore? How about Dunedinian’s? Lol. Or later in the season maybe Rochesterians? Wherever they decide to play. The Jays will either be 3rd best team in Florida or the 3rd best team in New York either way. The Dunedin Goons. I love it!!!
Man, I hope something disastrous like Cole getting hurt doesn’t happen because the Jay’s guys will shred you.
& – to be honest – I wouldn’t mind if you lightened up on them a little bit. It’s not their fault for what is happening.
Ya know? Rivalry stuff is rivalry stuff & I get that. But you’re hitting below the belt on some of this in my opinion, man.
Jays fans will always hate him, but Texas going down back to back years in the playoffs more than made up for it.
Doubt there will be any animosity with Odor on the yanks with the current team, not one player left on the jays from that year.
Breaking News: Yankees cut DJ in favor of Odor because DJ wouldn’t K enough!
According to Boone, “we wanted a second baseman that fit our club motto of all or nothing. Swing and miss is our offensive philosophy.”
Well…ya got us there.
Good troll is good troll.
Let me make a cast.
(clears throat)
“Hey, those Orioles are a bit of a handful huh @123Redsox? We couldn’t finish the sweep. How’d your club fare against them?”
I will allow O’s fans bask in temporary glory of having sole possession of first place? They deserve that much even for a day.
“reigning MVP runner-up” — not sure I’ve ever seen that phrase before. I’m not sure you can “reign” as the guy who came in second. LOL.
AJ Pollock is just awful these days
– McKinstry and Rios will overtake him by the All Star break
I don’t know why Dodger fans continue to get behind this guy, one can only hope he opts out after this season taking the free 5 mill and retire
My question is why anyone thinks they can judge a player after 26 PAs. Care to explain how that works?
He also does not have an opt out after this season. He’s signed through 2022, with an option after that.
Pollock had a 133 OPS+ last year! Awful is mighty strong
It’s been 24 at bats