From Bryan Hoch:
Juan Soto stood on second base as he glanced into the home dugout, pointing at his eyes, then thumping his chest and sending his index fingers skyward. As the Yankees returned to action following the All-Star break, their superstar outfielder put on a show.
“Man, he’s worth the price of admission, to say the least,” said ace Gerrit Cole. “What a magnificent hitter.”
Soto enjoyed a four-hit performance to help support Cole’s strong outing in a 6-1 victory over the Rays on Friday night at Yankee Stadium. Soto singled twice, including a bunt, then added a pair of doubles — including a so-called “Little League home run” that saw him waved home after a couple of errors.
Juan Soto really is an amazing hitter. Give him all of the money, Hal!
Gerrit Cole, meanwhile, is also an amazing pitcher. Looking back, they probably should have just let him rehab a few more games, so his ERA wouldn’t be so high right now, but it’s amazing that he has it under 5 already. This is the real Cole, the guy with amazing stuff who knows exactly where to put the ball at all times. It’s really remarkable just HOW smart he is with the baseball most of the time.
On the downside, DJ LeMahieu looks totally washed, and Alex Verdugo is a piece of shit, so, well, the offense needs some help. I assume Carlos Narvaez will be making his catching debut tomorrow, so it might be nice for the Yankees to DH Wells (by the way, this whole “Why did the Yankees get rid of Luis Torrens?” stuff is so silly. The dude washed out of, like, seventeen different organizations, and the Yankees were promoting catchers with actual futures, there was no room for him. The idea that they should have somehow foreseen that he’d perform well in the Majors is just foolish).
Nestor at home on Saturday, let’s hope his home cookin’ is good again.
Featured image is Cole absolutely fooling Palacios. It’s rare to have a Yankee starter who can actually routinely get guys to swing and miss like that.
It’s just bizarre that JT Brubaker has had a setback in his recovery, Jon Berti has had a setback in his recovery, Lou Trivino has had a setback in his recovery, Nick Burdi has had a setback in his recovery, and…okay, it’s just those four guys, but that’s a LOT, right?
Dominguez too
Oh, he’s had a setback coming back from the oblique? If you’re just referring to the oblique, that really isn’t a setback, is it? It was just a whole other injury after he had been activated from the injury list.
But yes, it was also SUPER SUPER SUPER unfortunate timing.
Had he been activated? I thought it was just before his rehab time was up.
I think we determined that he hadn’t, so – sure. But Brian’s point is that it wasn’t a setback in his recovery, it was a new and separate injury.
Let’s say it is September and the Martian is healthy, and so is Stanton (Stanton is probably hitting .100 since his return from the IL, of course), who plays left field? Judge or the Martian?
I doubt Judge – if he’s healthy – would want to be made a DH more than occasionally. And if doesn’t want it, it won’t happen.
But why wouldn’t your outfield be Dominguez, Judge and Soto, with Stanton at DH?
I mean, this seems like a pretty impressive line-up:
Rice 1B
Soto RF
Judge CF
Dominguez LF
Stanton DH
Wells C
Volpe SS
Torres 2B
Brian Cronin 3B
My prediction and not what I want Judge in CF, Martian and Verdugo platoon unless the Martian is killing it. I assume when Stanton’s back Judge will be the everyday CF and Verdugo in left like before.
So, think 5 days or so not swinging violently helped Soto’s hand?
The Yankees, for an organization dealing with athletes, have frighteningly little sense of even the most blindingly obvious aspects of how the human body works.
Wells cleanup this afternoon 1pm, Vertigo 6th.
Re previous thread I’d rather see Waldo up hitting left handed 662 than DJ 537(482 overall)
A non home run for Brice
Why don’t they just walk Judge? Wells can hit into a DP also
That’s why.
Yankees can’t win this unless Cortes and three relievers combine for a shutout.
No video of Rice’s double, but they do have a video of Judge’s strikeout.
Solid line drive to right center.
Thanks )
Can’t hide Verdugo. Maybe Gleyber should’ve run on the first pitch to prevent a Verdugo first pitch double play.
Nestor walking an 080 hitter. Not good.
DJ, swing lower than you think!
Rather you do that than hit a ground ball.
But don’t swing at pitches a foot and a half above the strike zone.
Again, what a terrible call. How is that a strike?
Umpires are such a stupid idea. I mean, in 1913 you could understand it.
I’ve never before heard of a 36 year old baseball player losing it. But Boone said we’ve got to stick with him. Since June 15 Verdugo has the lowest OPS in baseball, DJ the third and Volpe the 4th worst. But there nothing we can do. Except let Waldo play more against RHPs where he’s clearly better than DJ. And when Stanton is back give Grisham more PT and Verdugo less.
Cortes has now walked the Ray’s two worst hitters.
He’s not wrong:
https://www.mlb.com/news/luis-severino-yankees-joke-about-subway-series
This rotation is not good, Gil and Cole and pray. This offense in Severino’s words has two good hitters. Somethings gotta change. This is not a playoff team right now.
Two great hitters. Two maybe fair to good hitters, MAYBE, and a bunch of crap. One great starter, one generally unhittable starters, and three starters you just hope don’t totally suck. This team is a total mess.
Don’t bring in Tonkin.
What a depressing game.
Let’s go back to the all-star break.
Swing at least half a ball lower than you think, DJ.
RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE.
3-2 pitch. No matter how much it moved, you can’t NOT SWING. It’s RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE ON A 3-2 COUNT!