From Bryan Hoch:
Is it possible that the baseball world is underestimating this historic Juan Soto season, one playing out almost as a real-time background piece?
The thought crossed at least a few minds as Soto tracked his drive toward the right-field seats in the seventh inning on Tuesday night, flipping his bat before beginning his third trot of the night in the Yankees’ 4-1 victory over the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. Aaron Judge casts a large shadow in the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award race, but even he can’t take his eyes off Soto.
“That’s who he is. That’s why he’s the greatest hitter in the game,” Judge said.
Celebrating the first three-homer game of his illustrious young career, Soto responded by tossing a verbal bouquet toward the Yankees’ captain, saying that Judge’s 42 homers and 107 RBIs make him “the greatest hitter in the world.”
It IS pretty awesome when your two best players can legitimately have debates over which one of them is the best hitter in baseball.
It was also nice to see Nestor Cortes pitch a brilliant game, granted against a shitty team, but hey, the much better Luis Gil fucking SUCKED against that same shitty team the night earlier, so we should give Nestor his flowers, especially since Will Warren will likely give up eight runs tonight.
Mark Leiter and Tommy Kahnle had bad games, but Jake Cousins came through in the ninth for his first save (and I wonder if it should be something we see more from Cousins). Scott Effross looks like he’s finally dealt with his TJS and back injuries, and he is doing well in the Minors (since July 27th, 8 innings, 1 run, 7 ks, 2 walks), so he might be an answer in a little bit (can the Yankees manipulate his service time by not bringing him up until September?), and Ian Hamilton looks like he’s on the way back, as well.
De Los Santos’ days on the team appear to be numbered, which is nice. When Michael Tonkin goes back to being the low man on the totem pole, that’s a decent bullpen.
Yawn. Wake me up when Judge homers again.
exactly
Tonight! In Chicago! The rubber game battle of two baseball team titans! Yankees v. White Sox, in a heavyweight contest! Only one team can emerge victorious!
Tonight’s Yankee starter future Name That Yankee pitcher era 11.17 but he was much better in the minors 6.11 era.
Prior to tonight’s game, the Yankees made the following roster moves:
•Recalled INF Oswald Peraza (#91) from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
•Recalled RHP Will Warren (#98) from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
•Placed INF/OF Jazz Chisholm Jr. on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to 8/13) with a left elbow sprain.
•Designated RHP Enyel de los Santos for assignment.
Additionally, RHP Lou Trivino commences a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset.
It’ll be interesting to see who gets called up after Warren gets sent back down.
As for the lineup tonight, why fix what’s very, very broken? Verdugo continues to lead off.
OBP since May 1, ~279. Our leadoff hitter. Cashman the Saboteur.
Name me a serious team that would do this.
Could have been worse (LeMahieu).
I presume that a mere backdated 10-day IL assignment is merely to free up a spot and preliminarily to moving him to the 666-day IL (after assuring us for a month that it’s nothing and he’s day-to-day)?
Sounds about right.
Chase Hampton back on IL Groin
Just a cursed organization.
Soto is stealing Judge’s HR’s.