From Bryan Hoch:
It was three weeks ago that Marcus Stroman voiced a preference to remain on track to start the Yankees’ home opener, an assignment he desperately craved. The Long Island native could picture himself pitching in pinstripes, thrilling a Bronx audience of friendly faces.
Stroman made good on that promise, delivering six scoreless innings as the Yankees opened their home schedule, though his teammates mustered no support. The Blue Jays spoiled the afternoon, as Ernie Clement’s seventh-inning homer broke a scoreless tie in New York’s 3-0 loss at Yankee Stadium.
Honestly, this team looks awfully similar to the 2023 Yankees, even WITH Juan Soto. They just added Marcus Stroman, Luis Gil and a healthier Carlos Rodon, while losing Gerrit Cole. That’s basically a wash, so they need their ever-slumping lineup to get its head out of its ass. Two shutouts in eight games isn’t getting the job done.
Stroman was really good, though, so that was nice.
Hopefully they also added Volpe II and even Vertigo is an upgrade, but of course losing Cole negates that
Rougned Odor signs MiLB contract with the Yankees. Be afraid, be very afraid.
When Cash falls in love it’s forever.
Takeaways:
Boone seems like a lovely, lovely guy. I absolutely hate him.
Stanton: what does it say that his most helpful quality is now a tendency to get injured?
Where’s Waldo? …but Waldo not playing, not even pinch-hittting, is no surprise – remember Boone’s well-established bone-headed strategy of sitting the hot hand.
Not even pinch hitting leading off the 8th for Trevi who hits like a pitcher -28 OPS+ so far this season, 56 last season. He saw Richards had a reverse split but couldn’t put in in context.
The Yankees clearly value his ability to run his clubhouse, but it’s really incredible how miserable of a tactical manager he is.
He never even considered hitting for Trevino
Bieber needing TJS was the most obvious result ever.
Hopefully Strider somehow avoids it.
This team was pretty bad in 2023 with Cy Young winning Cole (yeah, the Judge injury cost them a playoff spot). But his team is Cole-les and they have like a 0.3% chance of winning a WS, but let’s keep running dead wood out there instead of seeing what a couple of younger guys can do playing 120 or so games.
This is why it was so astonishing that they (Cashman) kept running Volpe out here when Volpe was awful for such a long stretch. Something he’s [Cashman] been loath to do with young players for such a long time is just play them making the Volpe thing in 2023 a head scratcher.
I would’ve sent him down also but at least he was young, had potential and played good defense. More importantly what’s he going to do with Stanton this year?
Hoch Jonathan Loaisiga says that he has a torn UCL and needs season-ending surgery. He said that it will not be Tommy John surgery and expected recovery is 10-12 months. Dr. Keith Meister will perform the procedure.
Well, another nail.
Why would you want the guy who’s been the best and most consistent hitter so far hitting above the 7 hole?
G Torres (R) 2B
J Soto (L) RF
A Judge (R) CF
A Rizzo (L) 1B
G Stanton (R) DH
A Verdugo (L) LF
A Volpe (R) SS
A Wells (L) C
O Cabrera (S) 3B