![Yankees at the Orioles](https://rlyw.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/yankees-at-orioles-1024x511.jpg)
Carlos Rodón (#55, 31, LHP, 9-7, 4.63) vs. Dean Kremer (#64, 28, RHP, 4-5, 4.42)
YANKEES
1B Ben Rice L
RF Juan Soto L
DH Aaron Judge R
LF Alex Verdugo L
2B G. Torres R
C Austin Wells L
SS A. Volpe R
CF T. Grisham L
3B O. Cabrera S
ORIOLES
SS G. Henderson L
DH A. Rutschman S
1B R. Mountcastle R
RF A. Santander S
3B J. Westburg R
LF Austin Hays R
2B Jorge Mateo R
CF C. Cowser L
C James McCann R
Don’t worry, around noon, Rodon will start using his off speed pitches to shut the Orioles out for four innings, thus only losing the game 7-2 after he tries to establish his fastball in the first inning and gives up four home runs, and then after the game, he’ll say, “Gee, I guess I should try using my off speed stuff in the first inning next game…but I won’t.” But hey, heading into the All-Star break just a game out of first was a lot better than I think anyone expected, ya know?
Rice hitting 087 this last week with a 185 OBP and 11 Ks so Boone moves him back to the leadoff spot. While that’s dumb what’s worse is the suspicion that he’s on a truncated Kevin Maas career path.
Roku showing off some 1993 graphics there with the batter animation
Volpe double, Trent RBI single, Rodon two scoreless. Just how Boone drew it up.
Looks like Yankees have 3b, 2b, SS, LF and now 1B offensive problems
Time to release Carlos. The offense is fine. It’s a low offense era because of all the lame-ass strikeouts. But no excuse for the awfulness of Carlos
Not a fan of his transformation into a craftless lefty
Endless nibbling. It’s annoying to watch with Stroman. But Marcus at least has a plan and a purpose behind his pitches. Carlos has no clue
He’s at his most dangerous (to himself) with two strikes and even worse with two strikes and two outs.
Rodon went two whole innings not sucking before walking the 9 hitter after having him 0-2 and then giving up another of his many home runs. Rodon can’t finish anybody.
It’s comforting to know that in 2026 we’ll still have Rodon, Stanton and DJ but don’t despair about 2027, Rodon will be here thru 2028. As long as Hal’s paying Hixie maybe Cash can bring him back.
That was a splendid bunt Gleyber.
Don’t think you go into the PA thinking about a bunt. But he was so fooled on the first pitch that getting the runner over is fine. Except that Carlos is pitching and would automatically give the Orioles two for every one the Yankees score.
After a bunt single, the run expectancy in this inning against this head case has got to be about 3.4
Wow I never would have guessed that Carlos would respond to that bunt by hucking five straight balls out of the zone. He has the mental toughness of a bowl of Jello
Trent has been one of the better Yankee hitters lately. Rice almost got that.
Chip Carey is whatever, but the other guys in the Roku booth are awwwwwwwful.
I like that Nelson has lots of thoughts on pitch selection and location since he must have thrown 95% sliders in his career
I believe in Verdugo
Hello, hello (hola)
I’m at a place called Verdugo (¿dónde está?)
It’s everything I wish I didn’t know
Wow, Boone is actually not fucking around for a change. Pulling Rodon after FOUR. However, is Kahnle even that much better?
The answer? No, he is not.
I can’t even IMAGINE what Kahnle was thinking with that pitch.
Kahnle’s numbers look good but he hasn’t been good.
Kahnle’s very reluctant to throw anything but the change for a strike.
That was the best Tommy has looked that I’ve seen him so far. Apart from that incredibly foolish pitch to Santander. He was getting swings and misses. His fastball seemed a little better than it has been. So of course when he got Santander to two strikes…
Oh yeah, that was why it was so annoying, because he looked good otherwise, but then that insanely bad pitch.
Sucks that there’s no one viable to hit for Cabrera here.
I seriously would have let Jones hit there, then have LeMahieu play third.
I just don’t get why Cabrera is in the Major Leagues
He’s the only other guy who can play shortstop. But yes, it ain’t great having him in the lineup.
Boy, do I love me some Tonkin.
Wow. Guess I take my mean words about Tonkin back. Only inning so far today where the Yankee pitcher had a plan for each hitter.
Why wouldn’t you just walk Judge to pitch to Verdugo to keep the lefty/lefty matchup?
Hyde wants to use everyone. But def agree that Perez has looked better than anyone he’s going to bring in.
Wow, what a pitch against Soto to strike him out.
I don’t get why you don’t just walk Judge and let the lefty easily retire Verdugo, who sucks?
Why bring in a reliever to, what, walk Judge?
Judge is amazing, but boy, he sure does take some Stantonian swings.
Perez could have done that.
Verdugo is fucking miserable.
The Martian oblique injury is just so painful (I mean, I bet it’s actually painful for him, but more for me).
2025 Yankees sans Verdugo and Gleyber is going to be so nice.
How do you pull Tonkin?!!?
Why is this total POS 174/482 last 28 days, 125/285!! Last 7 days before today batting 4th?? WTF is Boone thinking (Boone thinking is an oxymoron).
Why isn’t Wells 250/921 last 28 batting cleanup. As a matter of fact when Stanton’s back Trents should play over him.
It’s fucking LUDICROUS for Verdugo to be batting anywhere higher than 6th or 7th.
Okay, Macdonald gave a good answer there about the sleeves. He still annoys the shit out of me. My wife asked if the guy was playing a character.
That’s a painful Wells DP, as he hit it hard.
The bunt was a bad idea, anyways.
You CANNOT be SERIOUS!
(in honor of the Wimbledon final today, I suppose)
If some cashier asked me who I was “standing up for” when I tap my credit card, I’d wonder why we were having that conversation at all.
It’s good that I have no idea what you’re talking about, right?
They better pinch-hit LeMahieu in the 9th. He can at least get hit by a pitch.
The bunt was stupid in front of Volpe, Trent, Waldo and Rice. That was bad luck but Wells is the third best hitter on the team and probably outside of the big 2 the only Yankee who doesn’t suck.
Carey, you can’t actively root for a fucking home run, dude.
Man, remember how fucking annoying Carey was in the 2009 playoffs?
Soto is such a shitty defender.
RAB to former boy genius Cashman .224/.264/.353 in close to 300 PA since May 1st, doesn’t run anything out. Stop doing other teams a favor by taking on their problems (Verdugo, Donaldson, etc.).
I hate how they’re using Verdugo, but I think the trade made perfect sense, as a fill-in until The Martian was ready. The Martian just got a fluke injury. Shit happens.
Yeah, the Verdugo trade was fine, it just really sucks that Dominguez injured himself again.
Unless Vertigo was as bad as he’s become, which I didn’t expect, Martian would still be in Scranton.
Why in the world is Jake Cousins being used here?!?
It’s weird how far Mullins has fallen.
Yes!
Something… worked!
RAB on phenom: Volpe’s approach these days is “throw the bat at the ball and hope the BABIP gods smile down on me.” I’d rather have last year’s version. Homers > singles
At least last year he was a power threat. Young players never seem to develop here
Almost never. So frustrating.
Agreed that he doesn’t seem to ever have an approach at the plate. What is Rowson even DOING?
It’s especially frustrating because Volpe does have a good eye. So he SHOULD at least be taking walks, but his current put everything in play approach is killing off one of his more consistently demonstrated skills.
Did Mullins get a hand in there?
Maybe. Hard to tell through the dust.
Man, if Blake has always developed COUSINS?! They should give the guy a Nobel Prize.
Now they can cut Caleb Ferguson when they make a trade for a reliever.
Magic can be sent down when Effross is ready.
But if he can’t stop the Yankee hitters from sucking what does it matter? If Rodon and Stroman suck and Nestor is erratic what does it matter.
Great Yankee Hope at the plate.
Verdugo’s OPS is 75 points lower than his career. Gleyber is having the worst year of his life. DJ is awful. Volpe has regressed. Do Boone and Rowson not deserve some share of the blame?
Ah, just a DP opportunity.
What was that? Certainly zero interference with the catcher.
The umpire interfered. This is nonsense.
Wow, what the fuck kind of bad luck is that?!?
There’s just NOTHING there. Cabrera did nothing. What is this?
Ump interference. Tough call, but there’s nothing you can do about it.
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RICE!!!!
RICE!!!!!
Maybe Rice wasn’t ruined by Rowson.
give it time.
Fair. Rice wasn’t ruined by Rowson…YET.
OMG my wife just turned on the radio and boom! They’ve dragged us back in. But I’m not looking forward to the bottom of the 9th
The ROKU feed is so slow I got an RAB tweet notification before the home run.
But I’ll gladly take it.
The Yankees were listless until the ump interference motivated them. It was stupid of the umps to give them that motivation.
Just let Cousins close it out.
Judge still missing a lot of pitches he shouldn’t – and swinging at some he really, really shouldn’t.
Yeah, he looks like Stanton out there nowadays. Which sometimes means massive home runs.
I think we all knew that Soto and Judge would make outs, while Trent, Waldo and Rice would come through.
Man, Holmes is SO FUCKING FRUSTRATING.
Is there ever a time you feel confident in Clay Holmes coming in to close out a game?!
I’d love to have a better closer.
Why is a sinkerball closer living on the top of the zone?
So Henderson walks it off?
Again, why is a sinkerball closer living at the top of the zone?
fucking hell
Ugh.
Do I actually hate baseball?
I’ve been watching it so long…
Is anything the sinkerballer throws, you know… sinking?
(Except our ship?)
What a pitch!
Wait, it was a sinker that sunk and a strike! Why doesn’t he do THAT?
Yes, like that. Whew. For F&*(&’s sake.
How many games has Holmes lost when the yanks were one out away from a win?
Holmes doesn’t know where it’s going. It’s so fucking annoying.
Two pitches to Henderson coulda gone either way but they were good pitches.
All these pitches outside and not down.
Are you fucking KIDDING ME, HOLMES?!
This is what a closer’s supposed to do, right?
A$$hole.
That was lucky – hung right up at hitting level. What the hell?
Holmes is so fucking bad.
Oh. my. Lord.
I mean, really?
mother fucker
Insanity. Fucking insanity.
I knew I shouldn’t have listened!
The balls that sunk were great. All three of them. Oh…
oh…
oh my God.
cut Verdugo right now.
Don’t even let him back in the dugout, just pile his shit out on the street.
At least that’s it for Roku this season, right?
Chokiest chokers ever
Really Tonkin has to close until they get somebody better.
It was an awful performance by Holmes, but, I mean, come on, he had the game won TWICE if not for his shitty fielders.
If the bases weren’t loaded for no f*ing reason, those guys wouldn’t even have batted.
Put another way, which is more likely: those screw-ups by Volpe and Verdugo, or Holmes screwing up the 9th? Not really a contest, in my view.
I’ve been talking for a while now about how Verdugo makes some of the most insanely bad reads.
I mean, what the chances are that both Volpe and Verdugo screw up like that I can’t imagine, but you could just NOT load the F**ing bases to start things off
It’s a team effort.
And man is this team just insufferable.
Well, headed into the ninth, we thought it would be a one-run loss, it just turned out to be a different kind of one-run loss.
Hardest award to decide for 2024: which was the Worst Yankee Loss of the year?
This one definitely takes the cake for now.
Don’t know but of the 40 or so games I’ve watched I’m pretty sure I’ve seen all of them.
With Holmes pitching I can’t watch but fucking phenom who can’t hit a fucking lick.
Kirschner says that that Mullins flyball had a 99% catch probability.
What. the. Fuck.
It was basically hit just behind where Verdugo was standing. He fucking fell down.
He broke in then fell. 99%! HOLY FUCK!
Volpe and Verdugo compensating for hitting like two POSs. When Stanton’s back put Grisham in center and Judge in left.
can’t wait for Boone to wave away this shit show
Volpe and Verdugo with two plays that would make you think they’re throwing games, that’s how bad they were.
It took not one but THREE YANKEES Holmes, Volpe and Verdugo to turn a great win in to one of the worst losses of the season.
Holmes now tied for most blown saves. But he’s the closer.
All Star closer!
In all seriousness, two inexplicably terrible defensive plays is a bit easier for me to forget about than had Holmes, like, just gotten crushed.
This was basically the 2021 blown game heading into the All Star break where the Astros scored, like, 9 in the ninth to walk the Yankees off.
Wow! Just turned in, so for the first time in years I turned on the Yankees post game broadcast, and they are killing Volpe and Verdugo. So, everyone knows but CashBoone. I said a month ago I was fed up with Volpe, hes an arrogant young man, and they should ship his a$$ to AAA tonight.
What’s making Holmes’ blown saves stand out so much more is that the Yankees have been getting EXCELLENT production out of the OTHER dudes in the back of the bullpen, so it’s extra painful when they do their job, only to see Holmes then suck at his job.
You’re telling me you wouldn’t feel more confident with Tonkin or Cousins closing right now instead of Holmes? Of course you would, and Holmes isn’t even BAD, per se, he just isn’t reliable.
Pull him [Holmes] from the closer role, he’s nothing special right now. Your closer can’t be walking people.
And the key thing is that it wasn’t like Holmes was some hot shit guy before he became the closer, he was basically the Tonkin or Cousins of 2021, ya know?
If anything, the Yankees are stubborn as heck, to the detriment of the team. How many games with lousy hitting has Volpe cost the Yankees since last season? And two weeks ago, when asked about his approach at the plate, he says he’ll wait until the season is over to look into his approach. Send his a$$ to AAA.
Yeah, the stubborness of keeping Verdugo in the top of the order is definitely maddening. As if he is this ten-time All-Star that you just have to wait for him to turn things around, and not a dude who ROUTINELY disappears for months on end in his career. He was a fine guy to have for the #7/8 spot in the lineup, and a hot start made them convince themselves he is something better than that.
Poor Ben Rice. That was such a great moment – until it turned into something hideous.
But I don’t know, the one Holmes gave up in Boston… I think there have been about 5 losses this year so ridiculous we had no doubt the were Worst Loss of the Year.
And yet here we are.
This is definitely the worst loss of the year, but yes, the Boston loss was a worse performance by Holmes.
Worst loss because they won the first two, had the Rice HR to take the lead, and Holmes walks a couple, and the phenom and Verdugo crush the soul with bad plays. Awful, gut-wrenching loss.
I really dislike the pointless campaign to label a guy arrogant who seems remarkably humble, a good teammate, with a good attitude, and based on one annoying thing he said in one interview, but you can’t play him forever if I doesn’t hit.
It also made it so that the Orioles only need to win a single game in their September matchup to win the tiebreaker.
Waldman says Verdugo is still sitting in his locker with his uniform on. Meanwhile, whither Volpe?
Good ot should hurt and then get over it next game.
Trevino with a grade 2 hamstring, so he’s gone for a while.
Yeah, that was clearly a bad injury for a guy like him. Thank goodness Boone didn’t pinch run for him there.
Seriously, though, we wanted Wells to play more, and now he will. Narvaez is apparently a good defensive catcher, also, so that’s good.
Kischner: Aaron Boone: “The reality is we’re starting to turn a corner here and compete in a really good way. We just weren’t able to finish one off today.”
Seriously, though, that SHOULD be the takeaway here. They’re a game out of first place. That’s not a bad place right now. Rodon is still a moron, but at least he knows enough to not start off every game trying to establish his fastball, which should help with his results going forward.
What can you do with Verdugo just making a horrendously unlikely fuckup?
I don’t think winning one series is turning the corner. The rotation is shaky. Infield offense is weak. Holmes is a mess. We’ve been terrible the last ~25/30 games.
Whether it actually IS a turnaround or not, if you’re Boone, that certainly has to be your takeaway. Gil rebounding is the best news they’ve had lately. Wells has been hitting. Rice’s big home run. Stanton will be back in a couple of weeks (to struggle while getting healthy for the next month, but still), and they’ll be adding guys via trades.
There is reason for optimism with these guys.
And even Holmes is less of a problem when the other back of the bullpen guys have been all pitching really, really well, so if you need to make a move, it isn’t like when Chapman struggled and there was no real alternative to him in 2020.
How much of Volpe’s hitting struggles are mental and will this game affect him going forward. He seems like a sensitive kid. Jeter would feel terrible but get over it. I don’t think this will affect Verdugo going forward. But Volpe?
Vivas to Scranton
Jorbit, we hardly knew ye.
Didn’t know ye at all, actually.
Excellent burn of one option.
Katie Sharp
Clay Holmes last 10 appearances:
9.2 IP
12 runs
3 blown saves
Yankees 3-7 in the 10 games
Yankees now have 4 losses when leading by multiple runs in the 9th inning or later.
That’s the most in MLB
But, and in spite of a couple of walks today, he should have had the save.
Team effort
Maybe he “should have had the save,” *IF* he didn’t put the team in a position where nobody else could do anything wrong.
But you’re not going to say that’s the same as pitching well, are you?
He most certainly didn’t.
Holmes is not a BAD pitcher, but they should just do a committee approach to the closer position.
If Weaver is doing well, just let him close it out. They trusted Cousins with a runner on third and one out, but not to let him finish it? Why?
Really, Holmes has something of a rep as a real closer, I’m sure, by this point. All-Star! Seriously, they should trade him. Got to be a reasonable haul if they do. Do it now, I say.
You think Holmes will bring a haul? I gotta see the team doing that.
MLB draft upcoming. And who thought it is a good idea to give a bonus pick to the teams that had a Rookie of the Year? Talk about stretching things. Naturally, the O’s are benefitting and get pick #32 in addition to having pick #22.
It was meant to incentivize teams calling up their elite prospects instead of trying to manipulate service time. Too early to know yet if it’s going to be effective.
Following today’s game, the Yankees returned RHP Scott Effross from his rehab assignment, reinstated him from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Additionally, the Yankees designated RHP Cody Morris for assignment.
I’d like to keep Morris in the organization, but he hasn’t shown ANYthing in the minors. I imagine Effross is essentially going to continue to rehab in AAA, right?
An interesting approach would be to say, “Hey, Effross was closing when he got hurt in 2022, so he’s just returning to his job, we’re not demoting Holmes.”
They can’t win anything with Rodon in the rotation so that’s really got to be the order of trade deadline business. Maybe we’ll get lucky and get an ace like Frankie Montas
I think Rodon could be serviceable as a fifth starter, but yes, they should be looking to add a real #3 playoff starter, because it sure ain’t Nestor, Rodon, or Stroman (Cash was right back in 2019 when he said that Stroman wouldn’t even be a playoff starter for the Yankees).
Yankees take a talented but slightly raw college pitcher with injury history and concerns.
With the 26th pick in the 2024 Draft, the @Yankees select @AlabamaBSB right-handed pitcher Ben Hess, No. 44 on the Top 250 Draft Prospects list.
First time the Yankees have taken a pitcher in the first round since Clarke Schmidt in 2017. MLB Pipeline says he “has the upside of a No. 2 starter but will need to throw more strikes to reach it.”
Illinois’ top high school prospect in 2021, Hess turned down overtures from pro teams in order to attend Alabama. The Crimson Tide produced just two first-round picks (Joe Vitiello, Taylor Tankersley) in the first 59 Drafts, but Hess has the stuff to become the third. He has stayed healthy this spring after missing time in each of his first two college seasons, though his control has regressed and probably will knock him out of the top 30 picks.
Hess’ best offering is a four-seam fastball that sits at 92-96 mph and reaches 99 with run and carry up in the strike zone. His mid-80s slider with two-plane depth gives him a second plus offering and he can turn it into a shorter, harder cutter. He also can employ an average mid-70s curveball to give batters a different look but has lost faith in a fading mid-80s changeup that showed flashes of becoming a solid offering in the past.
Built along the lines of Lance Lynn at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, Hess posted a 49/8 K/BB ratio in 36 1/3 innings as a sophomore before his walk rate nearly tripled this year. His strong frame and clean delivery should lend themselves to durability, but he repeatedly has had health issues that included a stress fracture in his back in high school and a flexor strain in 2023. He has the upside of a No. 2 starter but will need to throw more strikes to reach it.
https://www.mlb.com/prospects/draft/ben-hess-696292
#2 Bryce Cunningham Vandy sits in a somewhat low velocity band as a right hander, but he’s able to reach back for as much as 97 mph on occasion. His squarely built 6’5” frame gives evaluators hope that he can bump his sitting velocity up a few notches, which would make it a significantly better weapon in on hitters’ hands. #63 on top 250 list.
Cunningham had sporadic success in his first two years at Vanderbilt, recording a 6.33 ERA as a swingman. He was much more effective as a starter in the Cape Cod League, making two all-star game appearances and winning a pair of championships with Bourne. The summer version of Cunningham has shown up more often this spring as he has taken a step forward with his stuff and command, secured a rotation spot and worked his way into the top two rounds.
While Cunningham’s mid-90s fastball velocity with a peak of 97 mph is nothing new, he’s doing a better job of locating his heater and keeping it off barrels with carry up in the zone. It plays extremely well with one of the best swing-and-miss changeups in college baseball, a hard upper-80s cambio that plummets at the plate. His sweeping mid-80s slider is an effective third offering.
Improving his strength and athleticism has helped Cunningham do a better job of repeating his clean delivery. He’s throwing more strikes and maintaining his stuff deeper into games. He exhibits the upside of a No. 2 or 3 starter and unlocking a better slider could help him get there.
https://www.mlb.com/prospects/draft/bryce-cunningham-701480