Chad Green

New York Yankees: 3 Major takeaways from 2nd loss to the Red Sox

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New York Yankees, Chad Green

Last night the New York Yankees lost their second game in a row blowing any chance of taking a series from their rival Boston Red Sox. In the process, they slipped below the Toronto Blue Jays and into fourth place in the AL East, 5 1/2 games out of first place. They are now 3-9 in their last twelve games scoring only 2.4 runs per game.

Jameson Taillon fails to execute

The New York Yankees starter Jameson Taillon didn’t pitch horribly but failed to execute key pitches that gave up runs. Taillon threw 76 pitches, 54 of them strikes while striking out only 3 Red Sox. Last night was Taillon’s third no-decision in his last four starts for the Yankees. In an after-game interview, Taillon said it was not the called pitches, it was his failure to execute them.

Taillon pitched satisfactorily until the sixth inning when he clashed with Rafael Devers. Devers who has always been a problem for Yankee pitching hit a two-run single breaking a tied game. When Taillon left the game after 5.1 innings, he left a runner on base, that runner scored off reliever Jonathan Loaisiga, contributing to Taillon’s final line. Taillon has a 5.09 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 58:16 K/BB across 53 innings this season. Taillon has been the Yankees’ least productive starter as he tries to regain his 2018 form.

Bullpen fails to get the job done

The normally dependable Yankee bullpen imploded last night as Chad Green gave up four runs in only 2/3rd of an inning while striking just one. Two of those runs came from a 2 run home run by Rafael Devers. He took the loss in the game and now has an 0-4 record. Even though he officially took the loss the game was already lost after starter Jameson Taillon allowed three runs in his 5.1 innings of work. After Green was pulled from the game, Wandy Peralta and Brooks Kriske combined for 1.1 scoreless innings.

Chris Gittens added to bolster the lineup

The New York Yankees finally have called up first baseman Chris Gittens. This call-up solves two problems immediately. Gittens, .283/.486/.585 at the Rail Riders this season can take over first base and move DJ LeMahieu back to second base. It also replaces no production from a first baseman to a good hitting performer.

The Yankees have had a hitting problem that doesn’t seem to want to go away. During the last three years since Aaron Boone was hired as manager of the team, they have scored over an average of 5 runs per game. This season they are scoring under 4 runs a game and during the present slide only 2.4 runs per game over the last twelve games. Part of the reason for this is that they haven’t been getting production from left, centerfield, and first base. With the addition of the hard-hitting Gittens, the problem may at least be solved at first base. Last night in his major league debut he went hitless. He struck out once and walked once. With his batting average of .268, he is definitely an upgrade over Mike Ford.

Other hitting problems include the consistency and timeliness of hitting. When the Yankees do hit they fail to bring those runners home. In the last four games, they are 2 for 23 with runners in scoring position. Another problem the hitting coach Marcus Thames must fix is getting the lineup to get the ball up, they have far too many ground balls that lead into double play outs.

 

New York Yankees: Takeaways from the day the Yankees couldn’t sweep the Astros (video)

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New York Yankees, Gleyber Torres

Last night in the Bronx, the New York Yankees failed to get a sweep to the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium in what could be best described as a competitive and exciting game that didn’t go the Yankee’s way. The game had just about everything, including how to score from first base on a single. It was a game that the nearly perfect Yankee bullpen failed to hold down the Astros.

All this while some surprising things were going on around the country. One of the most iconic baseball players in the history of baseball turned 90 years old. Willie Mays celebrated the milestone. Many Yankee fans weren’t even alive when Willie hit his 660th home run. President Obama said of Mays and Jackie Robinson; you guys paved the way for me to be president of the United States.

In other stunning news, the Los Angeles Angels released future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols, designating him for assignment. Also, this is the first time in ML history that no team at this point of the season (30 games) has accomplished 18 wins or reached .600. By the way, Yankees fans, t The lowly Boston Red Sox, are the number one team in all of baseball. Also, the month of April marked the first time in baseball history that both New York teams (Yankees/Mets) have had the pitcher of the month in their respective leagues.

Gleyber Torres scores from first on a single

The New York Yankees couldn’t complete the sweep of the Astros last night, but for baseball fans, there was some pretty exciting stuff in the game, not all to their liking. One of the most exciting was when Gleyber Torres scored all the way from first base on a single by Aaron Hicks. This can all be summed up by saying the Astros were kicked in the butt by their own right field shift and a myriad of other mistakes.

With Hicks at the plate the Astros put on the shift, Hick smoked one to the third baseman that was near second base. Torres took off for second, Bregman bobbled the ball. Torres saw daylight, no one at third, and took off for third; as he approached third, he saw catcher Maldonado jogging to cover third. Torres rounded third, and Maldonado tried to reverse, and Torres tumbled home ahead of the catcher, bringing the Yankees just one run short of tieing the Astros. The shift and with Maldonado running for third. Bregman froze as he had no one to throw the ball to. Astounded, Pressly the pitcher also froze when he should have been covering home plate.

Ace Gerrit Cole left the game with the lead

After the game in an interview, Aaron Boone stated that Gerrit Cole didn’t have his best stuff but ground through six innings and left the game with the lead. Cole, in his interview, seemed to differ with that explanation, saying that he made some good pitches and was a victim of the home plate umpires tight strike zone. As an observer, I would have to say both statements were true. Cole didn’t seem as comfortable on the mound and was a victim of giving up two home runs in his six innings of work. Cole had the smallest number of strikeouts since he pitched with the Pirates during 2017. He did get an amazing 10 ground outs.

But the bottom line was that Cole was not the problem; the usually almost perfect bullpen totally fell apart trying to keep the New York Yankees in the lead column over the remaining 4 innings. The usually outstanding Chad Green gave up a very disappointing 3 run home run to Jose Altuve, much to the displeasure of Yankee fans. It was the first time in Green’s career that anyone had hit a home run off his high out pitch. Green took the 7-4 loss. In the ninth, Justin Wilson gave a 2 run homer to catcher Maldonado, who hadn’t had an RBI in his last 75 plate appearances.

Other stuff

  • Yankee Giancarlo Stanton continued his torrid play. He hit safely in his 12th straight game. He had a monster home run and leads the team in both home runs and RBI’s.
  • Other than Gleyber Torres’s amazing score caused by Aaron Hicks single, every other run scored was via the home run for both teams.
  • Aaron Hicks has had a plodding start for the 2021 season, keeping him on the interstate (below .200). Last night he went 3 for 3 and increased his batting average to .202.
  • Is the 2020 batting king DJ LeMahieu in a slump? Last night he went 0 for 5. In the Astros three-game series, he has gone 3 for 12.
  • Last night in the eighth inning, star third baseman Gio Urshela made an amazing stop with a diving catch. He landed on his knee; he made a failed throw to first but remained on his knee, apparently in pain. He was removed from the game and sent for an MRI. The outcome of that MRI is unknown at the time of this writing. The Yankees will take a hit if he has to go on the IL, being one of the Yankees’ most productive players. It could be an avenue for Miguel Andujar to return to the team.

Today the New York Yankees start their final series of the homestand against the Washington Nationals at 7:05 pm. The Yankees Jameson Taillon will take on the Nationals’ Patrick Corbin.

New York Yankees Recap: Yankees lose a hard fought battle in the 10th at Baltimore

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In today’s matinee, it was the finale of the New York Yankees Baltimore Orioles four-game series. The Yankees’ Jordan Montgomery faced the Orioles, Jorge Lopez. It was a mostly cloudy ski at Orioles Park at Camden Yards with a game-time temperature of 79 degrees with only a slight chance of a passing shower. The Orioles won the first game, and the Yankees won the last two games holding down the Orioles to just one run while the Yankees scored 12 runs.

At the top of the first inning, DJ LeMahieu led off by grounding out to short. Giancarlo Stanton flew out to center field. Gleyber Torres ground out to third with the Yankees going down in order for Lopez. At the bottom, with Jordan Montgomery on the mound, Cedric Mullins singled past Urshela at third. Austin Hays had a sac bunt moving Mullins to second. Trey Mancini singled, driving in Mullins for the Orioles early lead. Franco hit into a force at second for the second out of the inning. Severino, with two outs, hit back to the pitcher to end the inning. Orioles 1 Yankees 0.

Gio Urshela led off the second inning for the New York Yankees by lining out.  Rougie Odor struck out, Aaron Hicks walked. Hicks moved to second on a passed ball. Gary Sanchez lined to left. At the bottom, Mountcastle singled to center. Stewart hit into a double play with Odor tagging Mountcastle and throwing to first for the out. Urias walked. Valaika flew out to Hicks. Orioles 1 Yankees 0.

At the third, Clint Frazier lined out to first base. Brett Gardner popped out to short. LeMahieu blooped one into center. Stanton lined to short for a single. Torres went down looking to end the half.  Mullins, at the of the third, lined out to Odor. Hays flew out to Hicks. Mancini singled, and Franco flew out to end the inning. Orioles  Yankees

Gio Urshela ground out to start the fourth inning. Rougie Odor was hit by a pitch and advanced to first base. Hicks got to first on a force out of Odor. Gary Sanchez had a base hit to left. With two on and two outs, Frazier hit to the right-field wall, but it was caught to end the half and leaving two on base.  Severino led off the bottom hit to the right-field walls, but Frazier’s quick heads held him to a single. Mountcastle flew out to a diving catch by Frazier.  Stewart flew out to Gardner in left. Urais ground out to Torres to end the inning. Orioles 1 Yankees 0.

The fifth inning saw Brett Gardner at the plate singling to left field. LeMahieu walked, causing a pitching change. Adam Plutko faced Giancarlo Stanton, who singled to no man’s land in center field loaded the bases with no outs. Torres popped out to first, holding the runners. Gio Urshela struck out swinging. Odor ripped one slowly into right field while Gardner and LeMahieu scored for the Yankees. Hicks grounded out to end the inning, but the Yankees picked up two runs on the great situational hitting by Rougie Odor. Pat Valaika led off the bottom by grounding out. Mullins struck out swinging. Hays flew out to Hicks to end the inning. New York Yankees 2 O’s 1.

At the top of the sixth, Gary Sanchez walked. Frazier hit into a double play for two outs in the inning. Gardner ground out for a fast inning for Plutko. At the bottom, Montgomery entered the inning with 71 pitches facing Mancini, who promptly tied up the game with a homer over the left-field wall and knocking Montgomery out of the game. Chad Green (0.68) took over for Monty, facing Franco, who popped out to second. Severino popped out to  Sanchez. Mountcastle struck out swinging, and Green got out of any further damage. Tie score at 2.

The seventh inning was led off by LeMahieu, who flew out to Mullins. Stanton hit his third hit of the day, a single to left. With that hit, Plutko was out of the game. Torres faced Travis Latkins Sr. With one on and one out, he hit into a double play ending the half, leaving Stanton stranded at first base. At the bottom, with Green still on the mound, Stewart struck out swinging. Urias struck out on a foul tip. Valaika struck out swinging. Yankees 2 Orioles 2.

Gio Urshela walked to start the eighth inning. Aaron Judge came in to pinch hit for Odor. Judge struck out, so the strategy failed. Hicks struck out. Sanchez popped out to second again, leaving a man on base. The bottom of the eighth saw Darren O’Day on the mound for the Yankees against Mullins, who walked. Hays moved to third base on a ball that got away from Sanchez as Mullins, with good speed, scored, giving the Orioles a one-run lead. Mancini grounded to Torres for the first out. Franco popped out to the infield. Severino lined out to left, but the Orioles took the lead. Orioles 3 New York Yankees 2.

At the top of the ninth inning, with last licks on the line for the Yankees, the number 8, 9, and 1 hitter faced the Orioles closer, Cesar Valdez, on the mound. Pinch-hitting for Frazier, Mike Ford walked. Gardner struck out. LeMahieu walked. Giancarlo Stanton struck out. With the Yankees final out at the plate in Gleyber Torres, he doubled to left, tieing up the game at 3 apiece. Ushela lined out to end the inning tied at 3. The bounce into the stands was bad luck for the Yankees as the ground-rule double prevented LeMahieu from scoring.

At the bottom of the ninth, the Yankees sent their closer to the mound, Aroldis Chapman. He faced Mountcastle, who stuck out on the 8th pitch at-bat. It was 101 mph. Stewart struck out looking. Urias struck out for a 1-2-3 put down by Chapman. On to the 10th inning.

At the top of the tenth, Tanner Scott took the mound for the Orioles with ghost runner Gio Urshela at second base; Tyler Wade led off for the Yankees, who failed to get a bunt down. Aaron Hicks chopped back to Scott for out number two. Gary Sanchez was intentionally walked. Mike Ford at the plate went down on strikes as the Yankees failed to take the lead in the game.

At the bottom of the tenth, Jonathan Loaisiga was on the mound for the Yankees facing Valaika with ghost runner Urias at second. Valaika sac bunted Urias to third base. Cedric Mullins had a sac fly to left, scoring Valaika for the Orioles win. The Yankees split the four-game series with the Orioles. The final score was the Baltimore Orioles 4 and the New York  Yankees 3. The winning pitcher was Tanner Scott the loser was Jonathan Loaisiga.

 

 

New York Yankees Recap: Yankees avoid the sweep with gutsy win in the 10th

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Today the New York Yankees faced the Tampa Bay Rays in the finale of a 3 game set. The Yankees have lost the first two games, with the Ray shutting out the Yankees Yesterday. Today the Yankee’s Jordan Montgomery faced the Ray’s Brent Honeywll Jr. Montgomery was coming off his first game of the season in which he was totally dominant. He shut out the Orioles 7-0, striking out seven and walking none. Honeywell made his Ray’s Major League debut after not pitching for 3 and a half years due to several surgeries.

DJ LeMahieu started off facing Honeywell and flew out to right. Aaron Judge ground out. Aaron Hicks ground out to first for an excellent start for Honeywell. At the bottom, Montgomery faced Yandy Diaz, and he walked. Randy Arozarena hit into a double play, two outs. Monty plunked Austin Meadows. The Yankee pitchers have hit several Rays in this series. Manuel Margot ground out for the last out. No score.

Giancarlo Stanton led off the second against Honeywell. He struck out looking. Gleyber Torres down on strikes Rougned Odor flew out for another quick inning for Honeywell. The Rays lead off with Mike Brosseau, the player that caused Chapman’s suspension. He singled to left with a hard-hit line drive. Brandon Lowe flew out to Judge on the warning track. Willie Adames flew out to Gardner in left field. Mike Zunino hit a home run into the left-field stands. Kevin Padlo struck out, but the Rays picked up two runs. Rays 2 Yankees 0.

Michael Wacha took over for Honeywell in the third inning. Gary Sanchez walked. Gio Urshela hit a long home run over the center-field wall to tie the game at 2 (457′). Brett Gardner singled up the middle. LeMahieu doubled on a ground-rule double. Aaron Judge walked to load the bases with no outs. Hicks hit into a double play, but Gardner scored. Stanton ground out to third. Yankees 3 Rays 2. Montgomery faced the top of the order at the bottom of the third. Diaz singled over Torres’s head. Arozarena homered, bringing two more runs for the Rays. Meadows struck out. Margot doubled to center. Brosseau ground out to Urshela. Lowe chopped back to DJ, but the Rays regained the lead. Rays 4 Yankees 3.

Gleyber Torres led off the New York Yankees fourth by walking. Odor flew out to left. Torres stole second. Sanchez ground out to third base. Urshela stuck out, leaving Torres stuck at second. At the bottom, Adames struck out. Zunino flew out to Hicks. Padlo struck out for a fast 1-2-3 inning for Monty. Rays 4 Yankees 3.

Gardner led off against Wacha in the fifth by striking out. LeMahieu hit into a double play. Judge made it 1-2-3 for Wacha. At the bottom, Diaz ground out to Urshela. Arozarena followed, doing the same. Meadows got hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. Margot ground out to Odor to end the inning. Rays 4 Yankees 3.

Hicks led off the sixth by comebacking to the pitcher. Stanton struck out for the 3rd time. Torres struck out for 9 in a row for Wacha. Brosseau led off the bottom by walking on Monty’s 82nd pitch. Lowe against Chad Green ground out. Adames ground out to DJ, but Brosseau made it to third base with two outs. Zunino struck out. Rays 4 Yankees 3.

Odor led off for the New York Yankees in the seventh grounding out. Sanchez walked on a hit-by-pitch. Urshela singled up the middle to put two on for the Yankees with one out. Gardner walked to load the bases. Thompson replaced Reed. LeMahieu hit into a double play for the second time in the game. Yankees leave three on base. At the bottom Padlo against Green and stuck out. Diaz struck out, and Arozarena popped out to DJ in foul territory. Rays 4 Yankees 3.

Aaron Judge led off the top of the eighth by walking. Hicks flew out to the far left-center. Stanton walked giving the Yankees two on with one out. Mike Tauchman was brought in to run for Stanton. Torres got an RBI single to left to tie up the game. Castillo came in to replace Thompson. Odor popped out, two away. Sanchez flew out to center but the Yankees were able to tie up the game.  Green was out again for the bottom of the eighth. Meadows lofted to Gardner in left. O’Day came in to replace Green. Margot ground out to Torres. Tsutsugo pinch hit for Brosseau and struck out for the 1-2-3 inning for Darren O’Day. Yankees 4 Rays 4.

Leading off the ninth was Urshela he doubled up the middle. Gardner walked, first and second with no outs. DJ LeMahieu goes to second on a bad throw by Padlo. (E5), Gardner got caught between third and home and was tagged out, and Judge ground out as the Yankees left two on base in the ninth in a tied game. The Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman came in to hold the Rays at the bottom of the inning. Lowe struck out as did Adames. Zunino doubled to Gardner. Padlo struck out to bring it to the 10th inning. Score tied at 4.

At the top of the tenth Judge was on second (man on second rule after 9) with Hicks at the plate. Hicks was hit by a pitch going to first. Two on no outs. Tauchman bunted and the runners moved to second and third. Gleyber Torres had a slow roller, and Judge was called out trying to reach home. “Rougie” Odor with men on the corners and two outs, he became a Yankee hero in his first game as a Yankee, he popped one into no man’s land in center that scored Hicks for the Yankee lead. Sanchez singled bringing in Torres for the two-run lead. Urshela line drove to center bring in two runs for the Yankee 4 run lead. Urshela moved to third on the error by Margot. Gardner stuck out. Yankees 8 Rays 4.

In the bottom of the 10th with last licks on the line for the Rays, Albert Abreu came out to pitch for the New York Yankees. With Pedlo on second, Phillips struck out. Arozarena struck out. Meadows flew out to Hicks to end the game and give the Yankees an 8-4 win over the Rays as they avoided the sweep. The winning pitcher was Aroldis Chapman the loser, McHugh.

 

 

 

 

 

New York Yankees: FanGraphs says the Yankees already have the best bullpen

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The New York Yankees this offseason made it a priority to re-sign DJ LeMahieu, and they were finally able to do that, signing him to a six-year deal for $90 million. They also signed Cory Kluber, a two-time Cy Young Award winner. Besides those two deals, the Yankees haven’t done much except to bring back relievers Adam Warren and Nestor Cortes Jr. Many fans believe the Yankees have to sign a quality arm to replace Tommy Kahnle that went with the Los Angeles Dodgers. FanGraphs says the Yankees already have the best bullpen in baseball.

The total bullpen WAR is 3.7, .3 ahead of the second-place Chicago White Sox that have been building up their bullpen for the last couple of years. Despite the Yankee fans thinking that Aroldis Chapman fails far too often when it counts, he is third in baseball with 13.2 strikeouts per nine innings. Of course, stats mean nothing at the moment; everything depends on that next pitch.

But looking at the New York Yankee bullpen, there are some surprising stats. As I said, the closer Chapman has the best strikeouts per innings of any Yankees. Multi-talented Chad Green allows the fewest walks per nine innings. Chapman also has the lowest ERA (3.11), and the fewest home runs allowed. In pitchers that have pitched over 50 inning Jonathan Loaisiga has the lowest walk rate of any Yankee relief pitcher.

Regardless of the stats the New York Yankees would still like to see improvement especially considering this will be a 162 games season after the bullpen has only played in 60 games over the last almost two years. Thre is no question the the likes of Clarke Schmidt, Micheal King and Albert Abreu will play some part in added arms to the bullpen at some point in the season. But the bottom like is that the Yankees would still like to add  a pitcher with similar tools as the departed Tommy Kahnle. They will also hope that Adam Ottavino can refind his form.

Another option to get pitching help is to move the $9 million contract of Adam Ottavino off the books and use that money to acquire another pitcher. That would involve a trade and they Yankees might have to share in some of his salary to make a trade possible, because after two subpar seasons any club willing to take him would have to believe he could return to being one of the best relievers in baseball.

Pitchers and catchers will report to spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida on February 15, and the position players on February 21st. So the Yankees have plenty of time to engage with the bevy of free agent pitchers and to decide what trades make sense for the Yankees.

It’ also worth noting the position on the list of best bullpens for the other teams withing the Yankee division.  The Toronto Blue Jays are number 19, the Boston Red Sox are #16, the Baltimore Orioles are #18, and the Tampa Bay Rays are number 5 on the list. Also of note the Houston Astros are number 20.

 

 

 

New York Yankees News/Rumors: Teammates talk the need for DJ LeMahieu

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New York Yankees, DJ LeMahieu

The New York Yankees have made it a priority to re-sign batting champ DJ LeMahieu, but more than two months into the offseason and the Yankees and DJ have not been able to strike a deal. The Yankees would like a deal that gives LeMahieu three years with the Yankees and $75 million for his bank account. LeMahieu wants more security than that, requesting five years and $110 million or more, according to Joel Sherman.

Recently LeMahieu has reported his frustration with the Yankees and how they have dealt with his contract demands. He has suggested that the Wasserman group, his agents, re-engage with the other teams that have shown an interest in the star player. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, the Toronto Blue Jays, and even the crosstown New York Mets have expressed varying interest levels in the 2020 batting champ.

The New York Yankee front office and even his fellow teammates have been relatively quiet on the negotiations. But that is changing now, with several players expressing that the Yankees should get the deal done because the team needs his bat in the lineup and defensive skills. Earlier Clint Frazier pointed out the need to resign him. Chad Green has chimed in, wondering what’s going on.

“I personally haven’t texted him, but I’ve definitely texted guys who are really close to him and have been like, ‘OK, what’s the deal with DJ? Are we signing him back or what’s going on?’

“So, I personally, I’m just going to leave him alone. But I’ve definitely asked some other guys what’s going on. I think the other guys have said too, they’ve just kind of left him alone about it and let him make the best decision for himself.”

Now first baseman and 2020 home run leader Luke Voit is sending a clear message to Yankee owner Hal Steinbrenner when he spoke with NBC’s Bruce Beck on Tuesday.

“We need him, I think he’s the best hitter in baseball. I’m literally sitting next to a printer right now and it makes me think of DJ because he’s a freaking machine. We need him! I think DJ deserves a lot and I know he wants to be a Yankee,” Voit said. “But I’m sure there’s 4 or 5 other teams that would love to have him too.”

Many fans and probably the New York Yankee front office thought it would be difficult for LeMahieu to repeat his stellar 2019 season, but he did and did it with even better results. The 32-year old second baseman slashed .364/.421/.590 with 10 home runs and a 177 wRC+ in 2020, winning a Silver Slugger Award and the best batting average title, besting his 2019 and showing the Yankees that he still has a lot in the tank.

Yankee players seldom speak out on these kinds of issues, but it’s becoming more and more obvious with each day that passes, and the stalemate continues that the players like the fans are just as frustrated as LeMahieu. It appears that LeMahieu because he wants to stay in New York, would take less money than other teams might offer if the Yankees would give him the five years of security that he wants. The Yankees should get it done before another team offers him something he can’t refuse.

 

 

 

New York Yankees: Chad Green is wondering what’s going on with DJ LeMahieu’s negotiations

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New York Yankees, Chad Green

The New York Yankees want to retain free agent DJ LeMahieu. Their general manager, Brian Cashman, has gone on the record saying that it remains the team’s top priority this offseason. However, so far, there hasn’t been much progress in talks and the infielder is reportedly getting frustrated, telling his agents to engage with other teams that offer something closer to what he wants: five years and more than $110 million.

Fans are definitely puzzled that they haven’t been able to come to terms. Now, fellow players are starting to get worried, too. After all, LeMahieu was the Yankees’ leading contributor in fWAR the last two seasons.

The 32-year old infielder slashed .364/.421/.590 with 10 home runs and a 177 wRC+ in 2020, winning the batting average title in the process.

The Yankees players are respecting his privacy

New York Yankees reliever Chad Green talked on SiriusXM’s MLB Network Radio channel with Jon Morosi and Ryan Spilborghs on Tuesday, and said that he has given his teammate space and hasn’t asked about his future, but he is, no doubt, curious.

“I personally haven’t texted him, but I’ve definitely texted guys who are really close to him and have been like, ‘OK, what’s the deal with DJ? Are we signing him back or what’s going on?’

“So, I personally, I’m just going to leave him alone. But I’ve definitely asked some other guys what’s going on. I think the other guys have said too, they’ve just kind of left him alone about it and let him make the best decision for himself.”

LeMahieu’ season with the Yankees earned him the third place in the American League MVP voting process, just behind winner Jose Abreu and Jose Ramirez.

On Sunday, Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports reported that LeMahieu has become “dismayed” with the Yankees’ approach towards his free agency.

New York Yankees Postseason Recap: Yankees bounce back with 5-1 win, evening the series (video)

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New York Yankees, Gleyber Torres

Last night in San Diego, the New York Yankees facing elimination in the ALDS, bounced back with a 5-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. The got reliable pitching from Jordan Montgomery, Chad Green, and Zack Britton. Aroldis Chapman closed it out for the Yankees, and the win was accompanied by a few home runs.

The Yankees won the ALDS’s first game at Petco Park against the Rays but then lost two games in a row when pitching and hitting both failed. In game one, Gerrit Cole didn’t have his best stuff but held back the Rays for the 9-3 Yankee win.  In-game two, and attempt to have an opener game backfired. Deivi Garcia started the game giving up one run and was replaced by J.A. Happ, who didn’t have it giving up four runs for the eventual 7-5 loss.  On Wednesday night Masahiro Tanaka failed miserably in the Yankee 8-4 when the bullpen doubled the damage.

In both of the New York Yankees losses, the big bats were relatively silent, and hitters left the player on base, contributing to the losses. The only Yankee player that was hot, was Giancarlo Stanton, who hit two homers in the first loss and a two-run long ball in the second loss.  That all changed last night Luke Voit and Gleyber Torres both hit home runs.

Jordan Montgomery started the night out by throwing only eight pitches in the first inning and striking out the incredibly hot Randy Arozarena. Ryan Thompson, the Tampa Bay Rays starter, matched Montgomery in the bottom of the frame by striking out he equally hot Giancarlo Stanton. Montgomery got through the first two innings throwing only 19 pitches.

At the bottom of the second inning, the Yankees erupted for two runs. Luke Voit first struck by hitting a solo shot, for his first home run of the postseason. Voit was the regular-season home run leader in all of baseball. DJ LeMahieu delivered a sac fly driving in Brett Gardner for the second run of the inning. At the top of the third inning, “Monty gave up a walk, and Brandon Lowe got an RBI, as the Rays scored a run. The game then remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning.

Montgomery went four innings giving up just the one run while striking out four Rays. Chad Green came in in relief and pitched two shut out innings. He was replaced by Zack Britton who pitched 1.2 innings, striking out three.  At the bottom of the sixth with Brett Gardner on, Gleyber Torres stepped to the plate and homered into the fourth deck of the Western Metal Supply Company that Petco Park is built around. Yankees 4 and the Rays 1. The final run of the game for the Yankees was scored by Torres when catcher Kyle Higashioka drove him in the bottom of the eighth. Aroldis Chapman closed it out for the Yankees throwing fastballs at 101 mph.

The winner was Chad Green, the loser Ryan Thompson and Chapman got the save. The New York Yankee win saved them from elimination and forced a winner take all game tonight at Petco Park. The Yankees will send out ace Gerrit Cole on three days rest, and the Tampa Bay Rays will, on only two days rest, send Yankee killer Tyler Glasnow to the mound.  It is doubtful either starter will go very deep into the game, and the bullpens of both teams may decide the 2020 ALDS.

 

 

New York Yankees: These two bullpen arms are crucial to the team’s success

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New York Yankees, Chad Green

Everybody knows that, for a few years now, the New York Yankees have prioritized a super-bullpen, one that is clearly above the rest. They like to shorten games for opposing teams, sending one strong reliever after another in order to shut them down. Quite frankly, that hasn’t been the case this shortened season.

According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, the New York Yankees’ bullpen has been quite mediocre this season, with a 4.54 ERA. That number is just enough to rank the club in the ninth spot out of 15 American League teams, far from the super units the Bombers had in 2018 and 2019.

We know that Aroldis Chapman is an elite reliever and, save from a few hiccups when he was thrown into the fire after recovering from a positive COVID-19 test, has pitched as such. He has a 3.09 ERA and a 2.93 FIP in 11.2 innings, with a 48.9 K% and an 8.9 BB%.

Zack Britton is the other surefire candidate to keep opposing batters at bay in the late innings. The lefty groundball specialist had a 1.89 ERA and a 2.61 FIP in 19.0 regular season frames. He filled in admirably for Chapman as the closer in the early going.

The Yankees need Ottavino and Green to bring their A-game

However, if the Yankees want to shorten games for their rivals, they need Adam Ottavino and Chad Green to perform to the top of their respective abilities.

Green finished with a good 3.51 ERA in 25.1 innings. He was his usual dominant self, with a 32.0 K%. However, the fact that he allowed four homers in a span of two outings and two frames reminded us that he can be very prone to the long ball. He made adjustments and pitched well down the stretch, and for the Yankees to get past the Indians, they will need Green at his best.

The same goes to Adam Ottavino. The righty of the $9 million-per-year contract had a 5.89 ERA in the regular season. That is not going to cut it, but he is a very talented hurler capable of much more. His 3.52 FIP also tells us another story.

The Yankees have other useful arms in Jonathan Loaisiga, Luis Cessa, Jonathan Holder, and more. But the X-factors in the bullpen will be Ottavino and Green.

Yankees relievers discuss struggles; Ottavino and Green generate only one swing-and-miss in 58 pitches on Monday

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New York Yankees, Adam Ottavino

By now, the struggles of the Yankees‘ bullpen have been well-documented. A few days ago, we discussed the subject that the unit wasn’t elite by any means. And that was before a depressing series of games in which the relief corps just haven’t been able to come through performance-wise.

Last night, against a direct rival no less, the unit was once again tasked with the responsibility of getting 12 outs to lead the Yankees to victory vs. the up-and-coming Toronto Blue Jays. It’s fair to say that the relievers didn’t deliver.

Chad Green and Adam Ottavino could only get one out in what turned out to be a 10-run inning for the Blue Jays. A total of 13 foes went to bat in that half-inning, which last almost 45 minutes.

“I’ve never had an inning quite like that before,” Ottavino said according to MLB.com. “It’s the worst feeling in the world. You let your team down. It hurts a lot.”

The Yankees could miss the postseason

The Yankees are now 21-20 and in danger of missing the playoffs.

“We’re going through a lot collectively right now,” Boone said. “We’ve got to find a way to continue to lean on each other and pick each other up. We trust that the work we’re doing behind the scenes will start paying off for us.”

Green incurred in a rare walks spree, including the first hitter of the inning. “The leadoff walk came back to kill us,” he said. “Once we have a four-run lead late in the game like that, we expect to win those games. For whatever reason, we’re not getting it done right now.”

Ottavino’s performance was downright awful. He faced six hitters and couldn’t retire a single one of them.
Between the two Yankees’ relievers, they generated only one swing and miss in 58 pitches thrown, which Ottavino found “bizarre.”

“We’re both above-average swing-and-miss pitchers,” Ottavino said. “It’s an indication that either my stuff wasn’t good, my location wasn’t good or that they had something on me – they had a great approach or knew what was coming. I don’t have any of those answers right now. All I know is that I didn’t get it done.”