Pitchers and catchers for the New York Yankees have arrived at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, as spring training finally gets to a start. The position players will arrive shortly. Although this season will be as bizarre as last season, hopefully, it will be far from normal. In an almost empty training complex, the pitchers and catchers wander through the stadium’s halls with masks on and greeting each other with a wave instead of a traditional huge after not season each other since the end of the season.
New York Yankee manager talked to the media yesterday in his first spring training press conference. He was certainly upbeat, liking many of the moves the team made over the offseason.
“Talk is always cheap at this point, but I really liked the winter that we’ve had,” Boone said. “Some of the additions we’ve made, I think are going to be impactful. The makeup of this team is of championship caliber. That’s what we’re here to try and accomplish. Hopefully this is the year we get to the top of that mountain.”
Boone also announced that Clint Frazier would be his starting left fielder this season. Frazier has had a long journey getting to be a regular player for the Yankees; he has spent more time the last few seasons on the Scranton shuttle than playing baseball. There is no question that the kid has a live bat and can hit the ball; his often lousy defense has kept him from a permanent place in the lineup. But somewhere out of nowhere last season, he became a Gold Glove-like defender and earning an everyday job with the Yankees.
“Clint has come a long way in every aspect of his game,” Boone said. “He certainly earned his place last year when nothing was given to him. He had to earn everything. Really, the last couple of years he’s been a contributor, going back to the first year I was here [in 2018]. Last year, I think he really proved that he was ready to grab an everyday role on this team.”
Last season for the New York Yankees Frazier slashed .267/.394/.511 (149 OPS+) with eight homers and 26 RBIs in 39 games last season. His defense was so good that he became a finalist in the Glove Glove voting. The 2021 outfield will be rounded out with the Aarons, Aaron Hicks in center, and Aaron Judge in right field.
The New York Yankee returning pitcher Domingo German has added a new episode to his perplexing social media posts. On his Instagram account last night, he posted a cryptic message that said in Spanish, “everything is over.” That could be a sign that he still isn’t stable, or it could just be a mixup in his thinking, meaning his off-the-field bad behavior is over. But then, to make it more confusing, he deleted all of his previous posts and posted, “I’m ready to go.”
For those that have not been following the drama with German (Her-mon), after pitching to an 18-4 record for the Yankees in 2019, it came to light that he had broken the domestic violence protocol by slapping the mother of his children at a dinner in the Dominican Republic. The reason I say the mother of his children is that it is not exactly known if he and Mara Vega are legally married.
MLB investigated the matter, and the result was the MLB suspended German for 81 games for his bad behavior. That suspension didn’t start until the postseason in 2019. But he was not allowed to continue to pitch while the investigation was ongoing. Due to the suspension, he did not pitch at all during the 2020 season. He is now okay to pitch in the 2021 season, but during 2020 he made some strange Instagram posts.
At one point, he issued a post that said, it’s over. I’m retiring from baseball. He wrote, “If I decide not to return, I will be proud of my effort in my 11-year career,” leaving Yankees fans with the feeling he was at least thinking about leaving the game and the New York Yankees. The following night he posted an apology for the “unsettling” post.
“To my teammates, the Yankee organization, and our fans, I am very sorry for last night’s unsettling post. This past year has been very tough for my family and myself, for which I take full responsibilty. Not being with my teammates as they as they get ready for the season, knowing that I have let them down, has taken a toll on me, and last night I let my emotions get the best of me. Baseball is my life and I promise I am not walking away. I am using this time to get stronger and become a better man and father, and I can only hope I will be able to join my teammates once again and make them proud. Thank you to everyone and especially the Yankee organization for their support. Please forgive me for this mistake.”
Now with his suspension behind him, the question was would the New York Yankees allow him to rejoin the team. Early in the offseason, Yankee owner Hal Steinbrenner made it very clear that Domingo would have to prove to him that he was a “changed” man before he would be allowed to return. That has apparently been accomplished. It is not known whether he had directly spoken to Steinbrenner, but he did have meetings with general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone, and coach Mendoza.
Boone, in a conversation yesterday, said:
“We know he’s paid a significant price from a career standpoint, really having missed a full season-plus now,’’ Boone said in a Zoom call on the day pitchers and catchers reported. “Hopefully, that’s behind us. We feel like he’s in a good place coming in and now it’s on him to go out and kind of resurrect his career and compete for a spot on this team. … It’s been a very long year coming back.”
Boone also clarified that “nothing is guaranteed,” he will have to show that he can still be effective on the mound and stay out of trouble off the field. His latest cryptic post may show that his emotions are getting the best of him again. Only time will tell, but you can be sure that EmpireSportsMedia.com will continue to follow the story.
For the New York Yankees, today is the day that pitchers and catchers are supposed to arrive at the George M. Steinbrenner Training facility in Tampa, Florida. Some have already arrived and set up house in the area around the Stadium. It marks the first day of baseball in a still infected coronavirus environment. This will be a season like no other, but far from the bizarre season that fans saw last year. Many normal baseball rules will return to 2019 while still dealing with health protocols.
Forget all the rules and that stuff, the major change this season is its length. Last season fans saw only 60 games, this year is planned to be different. Fans and players will see 162 games, almost three times as many games. Although fans and players alike will be happy to see and play that many games, it presents bigger challenges than most realize. The fact is you don’t go from 60 to 162 games seamlessly.
Last year you had spring training that was cut off early, then a two-month gap before the second spring training (summer camp). That was followed by a regular-season of just 60 games. Forget the pitchers that only pitched one inning or even no innings, even pitchers who got ten starts last season are going to be expected to start 30 games. Folks it just isn’t going to happen for most. This will be a season of being careful with everyone, rest, days off, in order to keep players someone fresh for a postseason run. It will be a challenge.
Aaron Boone to address fans today
Team manager Aaron Boone just a day before the pitchers and catchers have their first workout, and five days before all the players report, will address fans and the media today. It’s difficult to know exactly what he will have to say. You can be sure it will be positive about the upcoming season, but he will also address some of the challenges ahead.
He will undoubtedly speak to the challenges ahead for the pitching rotation and how to keep pitchers fresh by limited innings while adjusting to the strain of a 162 games season. It will be a bigger challenge for the Yankees because only Gerrit Cole pitched only 91 innings last season, that’s about a third of what he will be expected to pitch this season. Boone hopes he can hold up as he is one of the most durable pitchers in the game. As far as Corey Kluber, Jameson Taillon, and Domingo German are concerned between the three of them they only pitched in a single inning last year. Boone will have to be really careful with them while getting games pitched. Luckily for Boone, the Yankees do have many arms to fill in including a return of Luis Severino mid-season.
He will likely spend some time discussing the bullpen that will also have a far different look than last season. He also isn’t going to want to burn them out before the postseason. With Tommy Kahnle and Adam Ottavino gone from the group. Fans will likely see Adam Warren and Nestor Cortes jr. in the mix with Luis Cessa and Johnathan Loaisiga in relief early. That will be followed by Chad Green, Daren O’Day, and Justin Wilson setting up for Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman. Also, different this season is don’t expect Boone to automatically go to Chapman to close games.
He most certainly will talk about the lineup and the hopes for bounce-back seasons from Gary Sanchez, Gleyber Torres, and others. He will probably address the hope of fewer injuries this season. He may speak about the powerhouse of Aaron Judge, Luke Voit, and Giancarlo Stanton who came on strong in the postseason for the New York Yankees. He might also address how Robinson Chirinos will augment the catching staff. EmpireSportsMedia.com will fully cover the address.
Will Boone be the 2022 Yankee manager?
The quick answer is yes! However, there are questions to his leadership that will undoubtedly be discussed before signing him on for another contract. This is the last season of his four-year contract with the New York Yankees. Boone has stood up to the challenges of unprecedented injures bringing the Yankees into the postseason every year of his tenure. The problem is that his management has failed each year to get into the World Series.
In 2018, his first year as management he beat the Oakland Athletics in the Wild Card but then only won one game against the Boston Red Sox losing in the ALDS. In 2019 he did a bit better taking the team to the ALCS but again lost, this time to the Houston Astros. In 2020 he lost the AL East but advanced to the Wild Card with the Cleveland Indians who he made quick work of, sweeping them two games. Then in the ALDS he again fell short losing to the AL East winners, Tampa Bay Rays.
The question for the Yankees will be are they satisfied with the New York Yankees reaching the postseason, but exiting early without a long-awaited 28th World Championship. They will debate if the reason for their losses were because of the pitchers and hitters, the injuries, or was it his lack of leadership that led up to those losses.
The New York Yankees and the other 29 teams will be subject to new stricter rules for 2021. MLB has released new health protocols (operation manual) for spring training just a week away. These measures have been agreed upon by both the teams and the players. By players, I mean the MLBPA (players union). Last year you saw manager Aaron Boone wear a gaiter last season along with other managers and staff. A gaiter is a scarf-like cloth worn around the neck and can be pulled up over the mouth and nose. That type of mask is outlawed under the new protocol. Boone this season will wear a regular mask as outlined in the protocol.
“Neither gaiters nor masks with exhalation valves meet the definition of a face covering for purposes of the requirements in this Operations Manual,” the document reads. “Gaiters may continue to be worn on the field by players.”
The team will also play differently in spring training. The units located on the west coast of Florida will only play teams located there, and the west coast teams will play only teams on that coast. That means teams will be playing more games with fewer teams. For the Yankees, it means they will only be playing exhibition games between them and the Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers, and the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are all located from St. Petersburg south to Fort Myers, as noted by MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.
If it remains in place, the plan is to promote more safety by eliminating overnight stays and long bus rides where players and staff are jammed into buses. As it is, many veteran players use their own cars anyway.
Major League Baseball’s 2021 Operations Manual, collectively bargained with the MLB Players Association, will have many of the same rules as in the 60 game shortened season in 2020. However, there will be no universal DH in baseball. The rules adopted by both sides will be the seven-inning doubleheaders, the runner on the second base after nine innings, a 26th roster spot, and no spitting. Anyone watching baseball knows that the no spitting rule wasn’t really followed or enforces. This year the agreement will feature several new regulations, including the exclusion of gaiters as an acceptable face covering for non-players in uniform. Below are some of the latest wrinkles in the agreement. Each team will have an enforcement officer who will have their hands full enforcing these rules.
After hitters complained last year about the lack of in-game video, they will receive access to that through MLB-issued iPads “in a format that cannot be used to steal the catcher’s signs” via selective editing and/or pixelating. Don’t even think about it, Astros or Red Sox.
Players, managers, and staff (designated as “Covered Individuals”) who test positive for the coronavirus must isolate for at least 10 days. A Covered Individual identified as having been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID must quarantine for seven days and must test negative on the fifth day or later to be cleared. Last year’s agreement didn’t feature a specific amount of days, instead of relying on two negative tests to be allowed back. To enhance contact tracing, all Covered Individuals will wear Kinexon devices while on team property or traveling with the team.
Stricter rules are in place, as per a league-wide “Code of Conduct,” to govern the movement of players, managers, and coaches (qualified as “Covered Individuals”) outside the ballpark. They can’t attend indoor gatherings of 10 or more people; eat at indoor restaurants, bars, lounges, or go to fitness or wellness centers, entertainment venues, or casinos. During spring training, Covered Individuals and their households must quarantine at their homes with the exceptions of outdoor dining, individual outdoor physical activities, and a doctor’s visit as well as going to work. Those who violate the Code of Conduct will be subject to pay forfeiture for the days they are in quarantine due to their forbidden actions.
Each club must appoint at least one “Facemask Enforcement Officer” whose job will be to ensure everyone is wearing a mask when required (all times at the ballpark besides playing in the game). A third violation and every subsequent one of this rule will result in a $150 fine, sent to a charity mutually agreed upon by MLB and the MLBPA.
For exhibition games held between Feb. 27 and March 13, the defensive manager may call an inning “complete” before the third out if his pitcher has thrown at least 20 pitches. Also, in this time frame, games can be shortened to as few as five innings if both managers consent. Starting on March 14, games can be downsized to as little as seven innings.
There will be no overnight trips for teams during spring training. Most Florida-based clubs typically do at least one of these a spring. For road games, players will be encouraged to drive their own cars (a choice most veterans typically make anyway) to avoid crowding on a bus.
On March 17 (15 days before Opening Day, as the schedule currently stands), commissioner Rob Manfred will determine whether the Triple-A level of minor league ball will begin in concert with the major leagues. If Manfred declares that Triple-A ball won’t start on time, then the “Alternate Site” model from last year will resume. Either way, each team will designate an alternate site to be ready for usage.
Mental health resources will be provided to players and staff.
The New York Yankees, in their illustrious 119-year history, since they were the Baltimore Orioles, have had some of the most impactful players, some of the greatest games played, and some outstanding managers. In my Top 10 columns, I have covered almost everything Yankees except for the Yankee managers. Today we delve into the subject of who was the best Yankee manager of all time. In my biased selection, I have considered tenure, winning percentage, how many World Championships they recorded, and their ability to develop players.
The Yankees have had 35 managers over the years, some for a long duration, and some that didn’t even manage a season. Some managed more than once in different years. Billy Martin managed five times. In one year, he was fired and hired back again by owner George M. Steinbrenner. Dick Houser managed for two stints, but only one game in one season. The worst ever Yankee manager was Kid Elberfeld in 1908; he won only 27 games as Yankee manager. The Yankees have only had a losing percentage in 13 seasons, the best record in baseball.
10. Bucky Harris 1947-1948
Bucky Harris only managed the Yankees for two years. But in his two years, he brought the Yankees to four playoff wins and a World Championship with his .620 winning percentage during his tenure. Only six other managers had a better winning percentage.
9. Joe Girardi 2008-2017
Joe Girardi was an average hitter but an excellent game caller as a catcher for the New York Yankees. He caught Dwight Gooden’s no-hitter and David Cone’s perfect game. In 2006 he took over the management of the lowly Florida Marlins and brought them to heights they had never experienced. He was named MLB manager of the year. In 2008 he took over managing the Yankees; his hard-nosed style brought the Yankees to their last World Championship in his second year of management. Girardi had a kind heart but was a demanding manager. He lost his job because many of the new baby bombers couldn’t adjust to his management style. But that style gave him a winning percentage of .562 with 28 playoff wins. That’s the most playoff wins than 32 other Yankee managers.
8. Aaron Boone 2018-present
Aaron Boone has not won a World Series in his three years of New York Yankee management, but he places number 8 on this list for winning the most wins in his first two-year tutelage than any other manager that has managed for only two years. He also had 103 wins in 2019 while having more injured players than any other Yankee baseball season. He also has had the youngest players to mentor. As the years’ pass, Boone may still rise above his number 8 placement.
7. Billy Martin (various)
Billy Martin is undoubtedly the most controversial Yankee manager being hired and fired five times by Yankee Owner George Steinbrenner. He also oversaw the “Bronx Zoo,” a great upheaval period in the clubhouse that has spawned books on the rivalries and fights. Billy was known as “Casey’s Boy,” a favored player by manager Casey Stengel. Martin managed five different teams before his death in 1989. He last managed for the Yankees in 1978. Many fans liked his confrontational type of management, particularly his penchant for arguing with umpires. Martin won only one World Championship for the Yankees but had a .590 winning percentage.
6. Bob Lemon 1978-1979
Bob Lemon replaced Billy Martin in his final exit as Yankee manager. Lemon’s quiet demeanor was in sharp contrast to Martin’s management style and restored some sense of order to the team and clubhouse. In 1978 he won his only World Series Ring. Although only managing for a year and a half, his .617 winning percentage coincidently places him number six all-time for the Yankees and sixth on this list.
5. Ralph Houk 1961-1963
Ralph Houk is another two-year manager in Yankee history. Houk has the distinction of having the best winning percentage of any Yankee manager. In his two years, he had a .637 winning percentage. He is also fourth on the list of World Championship managers to two to his credit. In his two-plus years, he also won the AL pennant three times. He was quick-tempered, but at the same time, he was known for being a “player’s manager.” He was just as quick to protect his players and was ejected 45 times for doing so. Houk also managed from 1966-1973 far less successfully.
4. Miller Huggins 1918-1929
Miller Huggins is tied with Joe Torre for each having an eleven-year tenure as Yankee Manager. Although with the 162 game season, Torre has 150 more games. Huggins had a .594 winning percentage and won 3 World Series for the Yankees. Much of what is remembered about Huggins is that he had the “Murder’s Row” teams of the ’20s. Huggins did not initially want the job because the Yankees were a lousy team but eventually was convinced to take the job. He was all about the fundamentals of baseball and made immediate personnel changes. His all-business approach took the Yankees to their first two World Series.
3. Joe McCarthy 1931-1946
Joe McCarthy has the distinction of being the longest-tenured Yankee manager, managing the team for sixteen years. He is tied for the most World Series wins (7) with Casey Stengel to his credit. He is lower on this list due to making the accomplishment in 500 more games. His winning percentage of .627 is tied with Aaron Boone. His most successful years were between 1936 to 1943, while he racked up seven pennants in eight years. His detractors say he was only valid because he had fantastic players like pitchers Lefty Gomez and Red Ruffing. He also had Bill Dickey, Frank Crosetti, Joe DiMaggio, and Charlie Keller on his roster. He is one of the few baseball managers that never played in the Major Leagues. Joe McCarthy was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1957.
2. Joe Torre 1996-2007
Joe Torre is my pick for the second-best New York Yankee manager ever. He had four World Series wins in his eleven-year managership. That’s one more than Miller Huggins and with an impressive 76 playoff wins, to Huggins eighteen. Torre is one of the winningest managers in the postseason than any manager in baseball. Torre had a .605 winning percentage for 8th on the all-time list. Torre had a calming effect on the team as he was reticent and seldom criticized players unless it was in private. Torres won four Championships in five years, in a time that was called the last Yankee Dynasty. The now 80-year-old Torre would go on to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014. He served as MLB executive for baseball operations. He is now a special assistant to the baseball commissioner.
1. Casey Stengel
Casey Stengel is my pick for the best-ever New York Yankee manager. The seven-time World Champion has the third-highest winning percentage in Yankee history. He accomplished his seven-wins in 500 fewer games than the tying Joe McCarthy. He also won the second-most playoff wins, second only to Joe Torre.
The glory days of Casey’s management would begin along with the future dynasty of the Yankees. Stengel tried to keep a low profile during the 1949 Yankee spring training. Still, there was considerable media attention as Stengel shuttled rookies from one position on the field to another and endlessly shuffled his lineup. He had the advantage of diminished expectations, like DiMaggio, the Yankee superstar, was injured few picked New York to win the pennant. Gaining media attention and not wanting the media to know what he was doing, he started his “Stangleaze,” the ability to talk to the media, answer questions and leave the media wondering what he actually said.
In the 1949 World Series, Stengel’s first as a participant since 1923, the Yankees faced the Brooklyn Dodgers; The Yankees would win the series in five games. In 1949 he was Manager of the Year, and his low-key days were over. In the years to follow, the Yankees would win the Series in 1950-51-52-53, a five-time consecutive World Series streak that would not be repeated ever in baseball. After not winning in 54 or 55, the Yankees would again win in 1956. In 1958 the World Series was again against the Dodgers, who won the first two games at Ebbets Field. Stengel lectured the team before Game 3 at Yankee Stadium, and the team responded with a victory then and in Game 4.
For Game 5, Stengel pitched Don Larsen, who had been knocked out of Game 2, and who responded with a perfect game, the only one in major league postseason history. The Yankees took the series in seven games, their seventh World Series win under Stengel, making him the most World Series winner. Stengel was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966.
Casey Stengel is one of the few managers in all of baseball to testify before Congress. During baseball anti-trust hearings, Stengel used his “Stengeleaze” to filibuster famous anti-mob Senator Estes Kefauver. His testimony frustrated and confused the Senate, much to the Senate gallery’s delight that often laughed during the proceedings. I have chosen the interview below as an example of “Stangeleaze.”
EmpireSportsMedia.com’s William Parlee is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research. Follow me on Twitter @parleewilliam
The free-agent market has been slow developing this year, as expected due to COVID-19. The New York Yankees have prioritized the signing of DJ LeMahieu, but negotiations continue to move forward, slowly.
Recent reports have indicated that DJ will begin negotiating with alternative options, as multiple clubs have stated their desire to bring him on. Notably, the Toronto Blue Jays have been outgoing in their aspirations to sign the star infielder, but the Yankees are close to finding a middle ground, as he is approximately $25 million away from signing a new contract.
Whether that means the Yankees are offering him a year less or too little money per season is yet to be seen, but the Bombers are still heavily favored to keep the best hitter in baseball from the 2020 season.
If it were up to manager Aaron Boone, DJ would already be locked into a long-term contract, but Cashman is waiting out the hot stove months to find out his market value. They are trying to save every dollar this off-season, so gauging what other teams are offering will give the Yankees an opportunity to match any higher offers.
“I think it’s no secret that he is probably our number one priority to bring back this winter,” Boone said Tuesday afternoon during MLB’s winter meetings virtual media availability. “I know [GM Brian Cashman] is working on that. And hopefully, at the end of all this, DJ is a Yankee for a long time.”
The New York Yankees are begging Cashman to do what must be done:
Every player, including Boone, has voiced their desire for LeMahieu to stay in pinstripes, considering his professional mentality and exemplary Yankee mold. He is a player you want in the locker room and hitting in clutch situations whenever he has the opportunity, and it would be impossible to supplement his quality if he walks.
“There’s not much more to say about DJ other than, I think if we look over 2019 through 2020, and did a two-year MVP in the American League, it’s probably him,” Boone said. “His play completely speaks for itself. Then you couple the fact that he’s this really great teammate that’s been, despite his quiet reputation, a tremendous leader for us and an influential person by the way he goes about things.”
From the way Boone describes LeMahieu, I would be surprised if they didn’t solidify a deal in the coming weeks. I wouldn’t get too worried about his departure based on the fact that other teams clearly haven’t offered anything more, otherwise, DJ’s representatives would be all over it.
The New York Yankees are headed for a 2021 season with many perceived needs, but Yankee manager Aaron Boone is positive on the upcoming season on many fronts. Boone, who often paints a rosier picture than that reality reveals, seems more positive than usual of late. Yankee fans seem worried about the direction the Yankees are going in the offseason by not doing much with free agency and trades to improve the team.
Boone seems ready to imply to fans that the situation is better than it might seem. He spoke about re-signing DJ LeMahieu and the need to have him on the team.
“I think it’s no secret that he is probably our number one priority to bring back this winter,” Boone said Tuesday afternoon during MLB’s winter meetings virtual media availability. “I know [GM Brian Cashman] is working on that. And hopefully, at the end of all this, DJ is a Yankee for a long time.”
LeMahieu hit .364 last season and won the baseball batting title for the American League, being the first baseball player to do that in both leagues of baseball. LeMahieu is an integral part of the New York Yankees lineup and must be resigned. The Yankees, according to reports, are $25 million and a year apart on getting the deal done. It appears the GM Cashman is waiting to see LeMahieu’s true worth on the open market before making a final offer.
When asked about his involvement in the LeMahieu negotiations, he said he hasn’t been involved to date but would reach out to him before Christmas, indicating that a deal with LeMahieu might not be completed until after the first of the year.
“I’ll probably reach out to him here before Christmas at some point just to touch base with him and talk to him,” Boone said. “But as far as getting into the recruiting process with him, I haven’t really gone there. … Usually, you don’t have to have a lot of words with DJ, but I’ll hopefully connect with him more than my normal touch-base before Christmas and talk through anything from my perspective.”
Meanwhile, manager Boone is hopeful that Domingo German will be returned to form and ready to pitch at the start of the Yankees’ 2021 season. It appears, according to Cashman, that owner Hal Steinbrenner has given his permission to allow German to return to the team after serving his suspension for breaking the MLB’s domestic violence policy.
German is pitching in the Dominican Winter League with some struggles that are expected not to have pitched in over a year. But Boone feels with German getting in some innings; he should be expected to be ready for spring training. He also revealed that the team has spoken to German about the whole situation. He indicated that it was positive for the team and German that he is pitching in the Winter League.
“I think there’s a lot of value in that,’’ Boone said. “For him to get innings under his belt is really valuable. My hope is he can come in and impact us like he had obviously in ‘18 and ‘19, especially in ‘19 with the step he made. I’m hopeful and optimistic of that, but it’s something that’s months away from coming to fruition.’’
Boone said Tuesday afternoon that he is mostly happy with the rotation behind ace Gerrit Cole, saying that he feels there are many good arms in the young Yankee prospects that are up and coming but also added that he would like to see an addition to bolster the rotation.
“And I’m certainly excited about the people we have behind Gerrit Cole; from a depth standpoint, from a number of young guys getting opportunities to pitch this year and showing a lot of promise. We still have a couple of months for the offseason to unfold and I know Cash is working hard to try and add pitching where he can. But you never know how, in the end, that’s going to flush out, so you’ve got to be prepared to go in with what you have.”
Boone spoke about shortstop GleyerTorres and the fact that he was not fully ready to play after the New York Yankees 2020 second spring training and had to play catchup during the shortened season this past year. He also said that that is not an issue this year as Torres is in excellent condition and has faith in his offseason preparations.
Boone also spoke briefly about catcher Gary Sanchez and pitcher Deivi Garcia who are also playing in the Winter League in the Dominican Republic. He stated that Sanchez is mostly playing DH, trying to get his swing back. He also said that he has been working with catching coach Matt Blake. He has also been working with hitting coach Marcus Thames and assistant hitting coach P.J. Pilittere on some hitting adjustments. Although the competition in the Dominican league is not as fierce, he is getting in his hitting. A week ago, he was 5-for-11, 2 HR, 2 2B, 4 SO, 2 BB, .454 BA, and 1.720 OPS.
Deivi Garcia is also getting in some innings on the mound in the Dominican and building on what he started last year when he made his Major League Debut. The New York Yankees hope Deivi will be ready to take an active role in the middle of the Yankee pitching rotation in the upcoming season. For the most part, Boone is proceeding as if there will be a normal spring training that will start on time but is also aware that may not be the case.
The New York Yankees suffered a defensive and offensive setback yesterday when the third baseman Gio Urshela went under the knife. Urshela, during September, was bothered by a bone spur in his elbow. He went on the 10 IL but later returned to the team after the rest. However, a setback caused him to need surgery to remove the spur. This was announced by the Yankees yesterday, saying that he will miss as many as three months.
Team physician Chris Ahmad performed Friday’s surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. The Yankees indicated that he should not miss any of the regular season and that the timeline for his return to the team would be sometime in the middle of spring training if the current timing is held to. Last season spring training was cut short, the beginning of the season was delayed until the end of July.
Aaron Boone expected to be around for a while
“I’ve had three managers,” the Yankees’ general manager said, on the Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends,” while rappelling down the Landmark Building in Stamford, Conn alongside Boone and FNC’s Will Cain. “Ten (years) with Joe Torre, 10 with (Joe) Girardi and hopefully 10 more with Boone.”
Those were the words of New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. Cashman has reaffirmed his support for Boone as he has done before, this indicating he hopes that Boone will be his manager for 10 years just like his two predecessors also hired by Cashman. The Yankees exercised the team option on their original three-year agreement with Boone, who has posted a 236-148 record in three years on the job. That includes the coronavirus 60 game season this year.
The Yankees Cashman is known for his charity events to support downtown Stamford, CT. Has also recently slept overnight in a sleeping bag at Yankee Stadium in support of homeless youth. This is not the first time that the scared of heights Cashman has done the repelling. Outside of his support for manager Boone, Cash did not tip his hat on any upcoming team changes.
“I’m not going to get a text at 6 or 7 a.m. today that says deal,” Cashman said. “We’re open for business when we find mutual common ground with clubs or players and their representatives, so we’re ready to rock and roll at anytime, but it just takes time unfortunately.”
Jordan Montgomery looking to build off 2020 season
Jordan Montgomery, an important part of the 2020 rotation with Luis Severino out with Tommy John surgery and 2019’s best pitcher Domingo German was suspended for breaking the MLB’s domestic violence policy. He made 10 starts on the shortened season going 2-3 and posted a 5.11 ERA and 3.87 FIP. He got to pitch in the postseason. He started game 4 in the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays, which he ground through for a Yankee win.
Montgomery hopes to build off that win and his season with the Yankees.
“I’m excited for the opportunity,” the Yankees left-hander told The Post on Thursday, before participating in a Zoom call with New York special needs student-athletes. “I’ve been working three years to get a playoff start. I’m just going to keep building off of that. I’ll be ready for it.”
The fact that New York Yankees‘ manager Aaron Boone hasn’t been able to win the World Series yet, or the ALDS Game 2 fiasco involving Deivi Garcia and J.A. Happ, have certainly turned some people against him. However, the Bombers’ general manager Brian Cashman remains on Boone’s side.
The GM offered his support to his manager once again in his latest public appearance. He remains confident that Boone is the man that will help the New York Yankees get their elusive 28th World Series trophy.
“I’ve had three managers,” the Yankees’ general manager said, on the Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends,” while rappelling down the Landmark Building in Stamford, Conn alongside Boone and FNC’s Will Cain. “Ten (years) with Joe Torre, 10 with (Joe) Girardi and hopefully 10 more with Boone.” Here is the New York Post link of the story.
The Yankees’ long-tenured recent managers
Torre’s stint was very successful, as he was the primary manager in the Yankees’ dynasty of the late 90s. Girardi then came along and won the 2009 Fall Classic. Boone took over the position before the 2018 season, after the painful elimination in the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros.
The Yankees exercised the team option on their original three-year agreement with Boone. The former Yankee third baseman has accumulated, to this point, a 236-148 managerial record in his three years in charge.
While some of his decisions have been questionable (bullpen management in the 2018 postseason, the mentioned Happ situation in 2020) he has managed to keep the Yankees competitive and is seen with good eyes in the front office.
The Yankees are expected to be contenders once again in 2021 in a very tough AL East division. Boone will enter next season with excellent support from Cashman, who seemingly wants his stay with the Bombers to be a long one.
The New York Yankees are thin in their starting pitching rotation after losing Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton, and JA Happ to free agency this off-season. While it is possible they still bring back Tanaka or Paxton, the Happ train has certainly left and will not stop again in New York.
Nonetheless, the Yankees don’t necessarily have a number two pitcher behind Gerrit Cole, which was a problem during the 2020 season as a bullpen was forced to pick up the slack at times, forcing significant fatigue on the unit.
If the Bombers can’t find a solid pairing with Cole, they will be facing a similar problem in 2021, one that pops up every year and ultimately drags down the efficiency of the team and their World Series aspirations.
However, the Yankees will be gaining back Luis Severino and potentially Domingo German, depending on if ownership provides him with a second chance in pinstripes. Severino, though, was expected to be the team’s ace before going down in 2019, pitching just 12 innings. He has now missed two full years of baseball and is expected to make a return in 2021, but there will certainly be hiccups along the way.
Field manager Aaron Boone spoke with the media this past week, indicating they feel confident with their young developing pitchers.
“We do feel really good about our depth and some of the experience guys were able to gain this season,’’ Boone said. “But it’s a long way between now and spring training.’’
Severino’s return will provide the Yankees with support and reinforcement, but it could happen after the start of the 2021 campaign.
Boone stated that Luis Severino is “doing well in his recovery,” but he’s still quite a ways away from seeing the mound in a professional game.
Severino hasn’t even begun throwing off a mound, and the Yankees will “certainly be conservative’’ with his return, “especially a guy as valuable and important as Luis is to our team.’’
There is a long journey ahead for Severino, who is working his way back slowly. Back in 2018, he finished with a 3.39 ERA, 19 wins, a 41.1% ground ball rate, and 10.35 strikeouts per nine. Overall, he was fantastic and was trending toward ace status. If he can regain his old form, the Bombers will have their number two arm, but that’s a big “if.”
