Bronx Bombers

The New York Yankees played the J.A. Happ situation perfectly

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New York Yankees, J.A. Happ

One of the most pleasant surprises for the New York Yankees this year has been J.A. Happ. The expectations were not high for Happ given how bad he was during the 2019 season. Last year the Yankees‘ weakness was starting pitching.

Despite that being an obvious weakness, Happ didn’t start in the postseason because of how bad he was in 2019. 12-8 with a 4.91 ERA, a WHIP of 1.295, and giving up more than 30 home runs doesn’t earn you a spot in the postseason rotation.

Going into the shortened 2020 season, the Yankees were going to do everything they could to prevent Happ from vesting his option. No way did the Yankees want to be on the hook for $17 million in 2021 after what they had seen from Happ.

However, Happ has surprised everyone this season with his pitching. So far this year he’s pitched to a 3.25 ERA and a 2-2 record. However, if you take out his first two starts, Happ has pitched to an ERA of 1.93 which is absolutely incredible.

The Yankees got the best of both

The Yankees re-signed Happ after he looked great for them in the 2018 season. The market was fierce so the Yankees had to give Happ a 2 year deal at $17 million per year with a vesting third year option. The Yankees were hoping for the best of Happ, but only for two years.

Well, with the shortened season, it looks like they are going to get their wish. Happ is pitching the best the Yankees could have hoped for, and his option doesn’t appear likely to vest. Happ needed ten starts or 61.1 innings pitched. Happ is at eight starts and 44.1 innings pitched right now.

With the amount of games left, Happ will only get one more regular season start with the Yankees. Thus, his option is not going to vest and he will be a free agent after this year. The third Yankees starting pitcher that will hit the market this offseason (James Paxton and Masahiro Tanaka).

The Yankees have played this perfectly. Happ is pitching at his best, and the bombers know that they won’t be on the hook for $17 million. Happ’s pitching is good enough to get him another 1-2 year deal with someone, but it won’t be for $17 million, and it won’t be with the Yankees.

The biggest start of Gerrit Cole’s Yankees career comes tonight

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Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees

When the New York Yankees agreed to a record deal with star pitcher Gerrit Cole back in December, expectations were set astronomically high for the right hander’s first year in pinstripes. Granted, Cole had been arguably the best pitcher in the AL over the last two years.

The Yankees were craving a World Series title, having gone their first decade without a championship since the early 1900’s. Cole was seen as the missing piece that would put the Yankees over the top and bring a title back to the Bronx.

Well, so far it hasn’t been smooth sailing. While Cole has shown flashes of his dominant self, he’s struggled to keep the ball in the ballpark. He’s allowed a MLB leading 13 home runs in just nine starts this year.

Overall, Cole’s numbers are not terrible as he’s pitched to a 4-3 record with a 3.63 ERA and a WHIP of 1.096. Still, we have yet to really see that signature Yankees moment for Gerrit Cole. He has his chance tonight.

Inside Cole’s Crucial Yankees Start

Over the past month, the Yankees have been horrendous. They’ve gone from a first place team to a team that was on the verge of falling to fourth. The team hot on their trail is the Baltimore Orioles, who come to the Bronx tonight.

Cole’s last start came against the Orioles where he looked sensational for five innings. However, he completely hit a wall in the sixth and the Orioles plated five runs. Cole has his chance to get this one back for the Yankees.

After losing five straight, the Yankees finally beat the Blue Jays last night. It was a complete win as the offense looked good, Deivi Garcia looked good, and the bullpen looked good. It felt like it could be a turning moment for the Yankees.

Tonight needs to be the night the Yankees keep it going. They have Cole on the mound, and it’s the biggest start of his young Yankees career. He needs to come out and dominate so the bombers can keep the ball rolling. Perhaps a hot streak could be right around the corner.

 

Yankees’ Gary Sanchez doesn’t think he should be benched

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New York Yankees, Gary Sanchez

I’m not sure that there’s anyone more unpopular right now with the New York Yankees than Gary Sanchez. Well, maybe Aaron Boone takes the cake there, but they are in a heated battle for the most disliked among the fans.

Sanchez has all the talent in the world, yet he’s arguably been the worst catcher in baseball this year by a long shot. Sanchez has been pitiful defensively, and shockingly, he’s been better defensively than he’s been offensively.

The Yankees catcher is batting .125 on the season with 7 home runs and 15 RBIs. In 118 plate appearances this year, Sanchez has struck out an astonishing 49 times. He’s been so bad that Yankees manager Aaron Boone decided to bench him. A decision Sanchez didn’t agree with.

Yankees Internal Drama?

In a Zoom call, the Yankees catcher stated, “I wanted to keep playing, I’m always ready to play and I wanted to keep playing to find a way out of it. But he (Boone) came and told me (I was being benched).”

It was clear based on the tone that Sanchez was not happy about having his chance taken away. However, what were the Yankees supposed to do. I’m going to be honest in saying Gary Sanchez has sucked this year. There is no way around it.

The Yankees catcher did state that it’s been difficult on him personally. Sanchez told reporters, “It’s been tough for me not to be able to get the rhythm… A lot of our teammates have been down for a while with injuries, and not to be able to contribute and help the team. It’s been hard.”

While the Yankees have been spiraling out of control, they have desperately needed Sanchez to step up, but he has completely failed. In his first game back following the benching, Sanchez went 0-4 with a strikeout showing no improvement whatsoever.

I’m honestly at a loss with Gary Sanchez. There are some people who are saying the Yankees shouldn’t move on until he plays a full season in 2021. I would remind those folks that he’s hit under .200 since 2018 so these struggles are not something new.

While the Yankees catcher believes he should be given the time to figure things out, I think the bombers need to look elsewhere after this season is over. I wish they could move on now to be honest with you.