The Yankees hope to finally have the 2020 AL home run king in their lineup by early next week, per Lindsey Adler of the Athletic (via Twitter). Luke Voit has yet to make his debut this season, and the Yankees are struggling to find production at first base. Jay Bruce logged -0.3 fWAR before retiring, and Mike Ford has a 42 wRC+ in 38 plate appearances. DJ LeMahieu has started the most games at first this year, but that means pulling him from the keystone where neither Tyler Wade (76 wRC+) nor Rougned Odor (83 WRC+) have made much of an argument for keeping the position. Besides, even if Wade has enough glove to allow his subpar bat at second, the Yankees might need LeMahieu elsewhere…
- Gio Urshela’s knee is healing nicely, but he’ll probably have at least another day and maybe two before returning to the lineup, per Greg Joyce of the New York Post (via Twitter). The Yankees brought up Miguel Andujar to help cover in the meantime, though it was interesting that manager Aaron Boone deployed LeMahieu at third while starting Andujar at first. LeMahieu made an error that helped open the floodgates for the Nationals in the Yankees’ 11-4 loss on Friday. Regardless, DJL is back at the hot corner again today with Ford at first.
- Zack Britton, meanwhile, will throw a simulated game next week, but he can’t be activated from the injured list until the end of May at the earliest, per Adler. The Yankee pen has been one of their high points so far this season, leading the Majors by a mark of 2.1 fWAR. They’re also tied for ninth in usage with 121 bullpen innings. Regardless, everyone needs more bullpen help, and Britton’s long been one of the best.
If the Yankees can’t live up to expectations this year Cashman is the one who finally has to be held accountable.
I agree with you 100%
He will get resigned for another 10 years along with Boone instead
Cashman is the most overrated GM in the last 50 years.
Nope
Disagree. The Yankees continue to make the playoffs every year. It’s his fault that players choke in October? He also found diamonds trading mid season that shows his value. Is he perfect? Of course not. His line up is too right handed dependent for one thing but if you’re considering replacing him, you better have a replacement ready. Also who really believes he wanted to replace Girardi when Boone was brought in? I still believe that was a money decision made for him. The team was facing another Joe Torre like negotiations with one year left on Girardi’s deal and simply did not want to pay Girardi big money for his past 2009 championship. Stupid move then that looks even worse today.
Pleeease. these guys choke because he failed at his evaluation of so called talent …to excel in the playoffs.
This is one of the top 3 teams in payroll…don’t you think that should account for something more than just making the playoffs year after year..pleeeeeeeeeeease. We last won the World Series 11 years ago!!!!!! he is horrible in evaluating playoff talent…
Why?
Nope!! In spite of signing Nolan Arenaldo over the winter. JOHN MOZELIAK has made 8 years of horrible contracts which paralyzed the Cardinals both financially and personnel wise. In addition to the horicious contracts for non productive players—- Mozeliak traded away some super talented —major league ready minor leaguers. Talented players who are stars and super stars currently on other teams. Luke Voit being one them.
Yanks have been playing fundamentally bad baseball ( bad baseball running, poor fielding, and horrible situational hitting) that’s on Boone and the players. A much bigger problem is roster construction (way too right handed, too many hitters that are fundamentally the same — always swing for the fences) this is ultimately Cashman’s fault! It time for Cashman to move on but I doubt it will happen.
Mickey, you pretty much nailed it
Fire Cashman. Good. 2 seconds later I’m begging the Mets to hire him. Cashman is a genius. You wanna toss him away? We’ll take him.
My Yankees are like the M*A*S*H Unit. Hopefully they can all be reunited one day healthy during the season. It remains to be seen.
This seems to be the case with just about every team this season.
Yes, and this is especially critical this season with a ‘deadened’ baseball. The home runs will not come as often, as easy, or during the clutch moments as in seasons past. This year, more than ever, the well balanced teams, moving runners station-to-station and keeping the ball in play will have the advantage, imho.
Moreover, I’ve always advocated for fundamentals. The Yankees remind me of the youth travel teams, where the team that wins is often the team that just keeps sending runners around the bases regardless of the situation. Meanwhile, the other team continually has errant throws, misses playable balls with the glove, and plays out of position. One error turns into 5 runs, etc.
I like Boone, but he’s responsible for ensuring that doesn’t happen. If the Yankees have a bad season, Cashman and Boone will be held to account. Boone will get one pass, while Cashman will get replaced and moved elsewhere in the organization.
@Clip(!)
Your return coincides with some good Yankee baseball. Chance to go 7-2 on this homestand & win 3 straight series.
Voit will help.
Britton too. We’re really beating up Greene & Loaisiga right now. Need O’day too. This might be the best & deepest ‘pen of this core.
Which is high praise.
I am not overly sold on “situational hitting”. Particularly in the postseason. Home run rates actually increase in the playoffs. As no real baseball rules have changed to discourage TTO guys I still ride with it.
But.
How can the – more or less – same players (sans DJ even!) go from being ranked 10-12 in defense to now become one of MLB’s worst? & do all that dumb stuff on the bases?
We were a far better squad with fundamentals under Joe G. I think they played harder too? Though I’m not 100% convinced of that. I’m not prone to emotional angst filled takes.
But we could do better than Aaron Boone.
Good to see you on the board.
Thanks Ducky, I appreciate it. You are dead-on accurate with homers in the postseason. I’m just not sure if that’ll play this year, or make the impact it has made in years past.
I’m beginning to see the ball-in-play teams as the favorites of this continues league wide… ala KC Royals ‘15.
Who knows though, I’m probably wrong. You have great observations and I’ve become much more a fan of TTO offense than in years past. Maybe this all gets rectified with the Yanks current play? We all know each game for them is amplified, especially with a loss. I’m not too worried – they’ll stay on track.
My prediction is Boone and Cash are back after this year. Yankees will contend again.
Hey, you’re – for better or worse – one’ve my guys.
I think the only thing that’ll stop teams from packing their lineups with TTO guys would be to ban shifting. So: perhaps.
But: I am wrong. A lot. About all kinds of stuff.
Aesthetically, I detest how the Yanks have built their offense. It’s wretched viewing. But it’s efficiency cannot be denied. If I were an MLB GM I’d build my offense the exact same way. 17-19 Yanks were 1st or 2nd in runs. Even last year we were 4th.
I find it difficult to argue with the bottom line results.
Sure would like to see us pull this one out.
Can’t see any way the Yanks’ll move on from Cash. Boone? Maybe. Again, I think we could do better (than AB).
Sweeet! Stanton. Really Good Hitter.
Took care of biz on this homestand, uh. Swept D-Town took 2 of 3 from Hou & Wash.
As added bonuses, my company moving into high gear, I brought home a nice black bear from Montana, & tied a few flies during it.
Keep winning series & it’ll all work out. Happy Mother’s day to Mrs. Clipper.
Sadly even when all are back team is flawed with bad defense and guys that strike out to much
Yankees, Yankees, Yankees, WHO CARES !!!
Bunch of overrated guys that can’t stay on the field.
Did Andujar have a hit last night? Didn’t think so. His best hope for a hit today is a rainout.
The former ROY runner-up looked fine yesterday. When your competing with Ford, Frazier, Gardner and Odor for PT the bar is pretty low right now.
Did Andujar get a hit on Saturday? Nope, didn’t think so.
The Yankees are looking to trade Andujar but there aren’t a lot of teams that can use a “No Fielding, No Hitting” infielder that can miss balls in the outfield too. Might as well pick up Albert Pujols.
Why blame cashman Boone is the worst manager I have ever seen. Not much of a baseball player and worse as a manager during tonight’s game Ford is on first with no outs game tied in the tenth and the Cather Kyle is at bat and he doesn’t bunt what the hell is wrong with that dude. I blame Boone for at least one tenth of yankee loses. Did I mention he is by far. By far the worse manager I have ever seen
It’s about time for Stanton to go down once Voit comes back. That seems to be the way it works.
Boone is Cashman’s sword to fall on. He choose to part ways with Girardi and passed on any Managerial candidates with prior experience in favor of him. The Yankees live or die by the Home Run, which would be fine if this were the “murderers row” Yankees who could actually hit for more than power but if this team doesn’t Homer they don’t score and if they don’t Homer they Strike out. The offensive approach is on Boone
There is only ONE important date on MLB calendar…..and that is Oct. 5. That is when the Post season begins. Eeking or squeaking into the playoffs means nothing. So my question is , do our Yankees have the guns to excel.. The current squad (offense) will fail against superior pitching……..thus making THEIR superior bullpen a moot point….We need to get guys that can get on base (aka on base %)…..and we are among the worst teams for the last 2 years in leaving runners on base
Cash is a really good GM he deals with the weight of the New York media and fans. He is always a pro. Not a big Boone fan.. I would have liked a more old school guy. Willie Randolph.. Don Mattingly.. I think that Dave Robert’s might be a good replacement. Cash has done well.. but it’s time to win a WS this year. Or make the changes