From Bill Ladson:
Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón had a season to forget in 2023. He dealt with injuries and, quite frankly, struggled when he was able to pitch. His 6.85 ERA in 14 games that year is proof.
Rodón’s low point came in his final game of the 2023 season against the Royals. The date was Sept. 29. He didn’t retire a batter and allowed eight runs. Even worse, Rodón turned his back on pitching coach Matt Blake during a mound visit, then later brushed past manager Aaron Boone after he was taken out of the game.
“I was obviously frustrated with my performance, even the attitude leaving the season,” Rodón said. “It made me hungrier going into the offseason. All I want to do is win. I want to perform for my teammates. I don’t want to let my teammates down.”
Boone noticed the positive change in Rodón once he arrived at Yankees camp this Spring Training. That positive vibe carried over into Wednesday night’s 9-5 victory against the Twins at Yankee Stadium. It was Rodón’s sixth consecutive win.
Is it me or does Rodon’s excuse sound kind of fucking stupid? “I was frustrated with my performance, so I was a dick to my pitching coach”? Not cool, dude.
Rodon was fantastic tonight, even if he ran out of some steam towards the end. I think Dennis Santana might have leapfrogged Michael Tonkin in the race to be DFAed when Clarke Schmidt returns from the IL (or even when Nick Burdi returns).
Another great win.
The featured image is Rodon celebrating a great catch by Alex Verdugo. I swear, Rodon smiling is so unsettling to me.
go rodon, go
Volpe 3-4, over 800 OPS. So cool.
Rodon with the strikouts is extremely encouraging. I’m guessing Brian’s ready to (happily) eat his offseason refrain of “D-U-N”!
The amazing thing is that there’s still a number of important places this team could realistically improve. Significantly.
hands on
This is definitely the first start this season where he looked like the Rodon we thought we were getting…and even here, he fell apart in the seventh. If he could do this again, I’d be very happy and think he might be back.
exhibit a, cronin
also, Brian, how’s rortvedt doing these days???
Thankfully he has sucked recently! That makes me quite pleased.
Ben Rice off to a strong start in his 1st AAA game, 2-4 with 1 HR and 2 RBI.
As much as I like Rizzo as a person, I think his days as a professional baseball player are about done. It’d be great if the Yankees can get production out of Rice.
hands off
If rice can play 1b that would be great.
Last night YES stat; 63 straight games of starting pitcher going 4+ innings. Tied for Longest streak in Yankee history. Let’s break it tonight!
thumb up
O’s lose.
Whiny Jays try but fail to blow a 6-1 lead and beat the O’s 6-5.
Trent in, Vertigo sits, Judge’s first home game in left.
Over under on Trent’s hits 0.5
I thought I saw the line was 0? I’ll take the under
Not bad.
https://www.mlb.com/news/royce-lewis-pays-tribute-to-derek-jeter-in-yankee-stadium-debut
There just isn’t enough complaining around here.
How many days has it been since Judge hit a home run?
Cairo is gone
Still have a few relief pitchers who stink
Middleton out for the season. Cash dodged a bullet nicely there.