DJ Lemahieu

Will the New York Yankees resign Didi Gregorius next offseason?

by
New York Yankees, Didi Gregorius

The New York Yankees are sitting in a comfortable position in the ALDS as they lead the Minnesota Twins, the league’s best home run hitting team, 2-0 on the series. Two home games for the Bombers in a dynamic environment at Yankee Stadium have fueled them to a fantastic start.

Manager Aaron Boone’s side has put up a whopping 18 runs in the first two contests of the postseason. Their long-ball centric mentality has not failed them, racking up three since the inception of the series, but their run support in other categories has also been stellar.

The New York Yankees are firing on all cylinders:

To help the solid scoring production, the Yankees have had great pitching performances from James Paxton and Masahiro Tanaka individually, putting up nine innings total with four earned runs. Tanaka’s performance on Saturday night was magisterial, blanking the Twins for the most part over five innings, but the biggest play of the night came off the bat of Didi Gregorious, who smashed a deep Grand Slam to the second level in right field.

Gregorius turns 30 in February, and his contract expires after the playoffs, meaning the Yankees will have to make a difficult decision on his future with the club. This season, Didi hit .238 after returning from a significant injury to his throwing elbow. However, he’s one of the leaders on the team and clubhouse favorites, similar to Brett Gardner. He certainly can still play an influential role, and if he’s willing to accept less money to feature on the Yankees, they shouldn’t think twice about extending him.

Home runs like the one showed in the clip prove his worth, and justify the Bombers resining him as a rotational infielder. Having a secondary shortstop to fill in due to injuries is always a good idea. Considering his qualities, Didi can be what Troy Tulowitzki never was for the Yankees in 2019.

Gregorius did have a cold streak towards the end of the season, and he responded by saying, per Sports Illustrated:

“I’ve been doing the same work I’ve been doing since I got here,” Gregorius said when asked about a late-season slide. “I didn’t try to change anything, just try to swing at strikes. That’s one thing for me right now and be patient. I’m just all over the place swinging at almost every ball. I think that’s one thing, and be aggressive in the strike zone. That’s what I’m trying to do right now.”

Considering the Yankees’ inevitable bout of injuries next season knock on wood, LeMahieu can always move around the infield to fill spots of need, Torres can move back to second base, and Gregorius can be plugged into the shortstop role.

The New York Yankees could be facing a team-wide injury

by
New York Yankees, Gleyber Torres

The New York Yankees have struggled with significant injuries this season, something that nobody saw coming.
They have lost starting catcher Gary Sanchez multiple times, Giancarlo Stanton for a majority of the season, and starting pitcher Luis Severino until just two weeks ago. The Yankees were recently swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in a two-game series at Tropicana Field.

Their offense was lackluster, scoring just one run in two contests. However, their pitching was solid, which is an excellent sign for the team moving forward.

The New York Yankees have relied on their hitters all season:

The Yankees’ offensive run production has been the catalyst behind their successful season. With a 102-57 record, they own the third-best record in the league. Only the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers have higher winning percentages. But the Yankees are in a much more difficult position than both of those teams for the postseason, as their offense has run stagnant and their pitching is still unproven.

Gaining back Severino will undoubtedly provide a significant boost, but he has only pitched in two games and isn’t yet up to speed and capable of facing premium talent in the playoffs.

The lack of run production recently could be a hint at something far more dangerous than just personal injuries. Team-wide fatigue could be settling in, especially for the players that have remained healthy throughout the year and have supplemented the loss of injuries.

Players such as DJ LeMahieu, Brett Gardner, and Gleyber Torres have helped compensate for the loss of talented starters this season. Torres stated last week that his legs felt weak and when he slipped in the outfield and missed the next two games, it was a sign of fatigue for the team and what could plague them during the postseason.

The Yankees, however, clinched a playoff spot weeks ago. Now, they are just fighting for home-field advantage. There is no question that they want to win more games, but they don’t need to. That is the difference between giving their all and resting before entering elimination rounds. There are seven days from playing a meaningful game and must be cautious with their starters, ensuring they rest them as a precaution.

The New York Yankees receive amazing Gio Urshela injury news

by
New York Yankees, Gio Urshela

As if the injuries couldn’t get any worse for the New York Yankees, starting third baseman Gio Urshela went down with seemed like a significant injury on Tuesday night.

After being plunked on the left hand by a Diego Castillo fastball, Urshela was forced out of the game in the seventh inning on Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay rays. DJ LeMahieu moved over to third base and Luke Voit took over at first base while Gio was tended to in the clubhouse.

Immediately after he was hit, the injured hand began to swell up and turned black and blue indicating a potential fracture.

In an alternative universe where Urshela’s injury wasn’t simply a bruised hand, LeMahieu would be the starting third baseman and the Yankees would have to pray for good health during a potential run. However, losing their best defensive player and their star on the hot corner would have been catastrophic to the defensive quality of the infield and they would lose a significant bat in the lineup as well.

The major concern in regards to the hand was how quickly it swelled up and the immediate color change.

Check out the picture for below to see how swollen the hand actually was:

X-rays came back negative after the ailment and Gio was diagnosed with a bruised hand, he will likely miss a few days but should be back in the lineup soon.

Additional New York Yankees injury updates:

One of the more prominent injuries to the Yankees the past few weeks was the loss of starting catcher Gary Sanchez. After straining his groin sliding into second base, Sanchez was forced out of the game and his availability in the postseason was in jeopardy.

“Right now with everything I’ve done, I feel better,” Sanchez said after a full workout day at the Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa on Monday. “Hopefully in the next few days, with all I have to do, and after working with the trainers, I can feel the way I feel now.”

Luckily, Sanchez is hopeful that he will be able to return for the playoffs and help his team move beyond the first round where they failed to succeed just a year ago. The Yankees need all of the firepower they can get in the batting order if they are forced to carry-on without Urshela’s abilities at the plate.

 

New York Yankees: Tyler Wade drops the “F” bomb on live television

by
New York Yankees, Tyler Wade

With the New York Yankees earning their 100th win of the season and clinching the top spot in the AL East on Thursday night, a celebration commenced. On the eve of an unfortunate Domingo German suspension, the Bombers had a positive thing to enjoy, however, losing one of their top pitchers will undoubtedly hurt them during the postseason.

We should expect to see more of CC Sabathia in a bullpen role for the playoffs, and the starting pitching rotation will now land on Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, and James Paxton. A capable trio of pitchers that can excel when in rhythm, but the lack of live-action from Severino and the inconsistencies throughout the season from Tanaka and Paxton present issues.

Despite the uncertainties of the pitching corps, utility player Tyler Wade was full of excitement and positivity following the Yankees clinching of the top spot in the AL East.

The Bombers have one of the more exciting and youth-oriented teams in the league, which not only makes them fun to watch but to listen to as well. Wade has been in and out of the active roster this season, but he was happy to be a part of the clinching squad the week.

While Wade was popping champagne, top offseason signing DJ LeMahieu was poised and professional, answering questions with focus.

https://twitter.com/deflategator/status/1175041106653974529

LeMahieu, who is hitting .329 on the year, is one of the Yankees leaders and top offensive producers. His influence has been significant in the success the team has enjoyed this year while battling injuries. He will be needed for the team to succeed during the postseason and beyond.

Extra New York Yankees news:

The return of Giancarlo Stanton will help bolster the lineup, especially in regards to the team’s run production and home run totals. Sabathia will work out of the bullpen in a relief role, and Gary Sanchez will likely return this season to play beyond the regular season.

New York Yankees: An Ideal Starting Lineup for the Post-Season

by
New York Yankees shortstop, Didi Gregorius.

Aaron Boone, the manager of the New York Yankees, has a fun, but challenging task of creating a lineup for the postseason.

The Yankees currently have the best record in baseball at 95-51, are 7-3 in their last 10 games, and have an 8.5 game lead on the Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees have one more two-game set against the Rays, at Tropicana Field, near the end of the month (MLB.com).

With the recent news of Hicks possibly needing Tommy John surgery and Tauchman being out the rest of the season, that opens up some spots in the outfield on the postseason roster. Stanton is the candidate to get the starting spot in left once he comes back off the IL. Clint Frazier could see an increase in playing time as well and will most likely make the postseason roster with all of these injuries.

What should the Starting Lineup Look Like in the Post-Season?

Once everyone comes back from injury, an ideal lineup would look like this: Lemahieu (3B), Judge (RF), Sanchez (C), Encarnacion (DH), Stanton (LF), Voit (1B), Torres (2B), Gregorius (SS), and Gardner (CF). Even for the Astros pitching, that would be a tough lineup to get through.  The balanced hitting of Lemahieu and Judge will set up the middle of the order, where all of the power comes from. Then, the sneaky home run leader, Torres, will add value to the bottom-third of the lineup. Gardner, a player that always seems to make something happen, whether it’s drawing a walk or stealing a base, is a perfect nine hitter to set up the top of the lineup.

Some key players off the bench would be: Gio Urshela (3B), for his electric plays on defense and consistent bat, Cameron Maybin (OF), for his veteran presence and ability to everything he asked to do at a high level, and Austin Romine (C), for his ability to lead as a veteran and come up clutch in big moments at the plate. He also seems to bond well with the pitchers and gives them extra confidence the mound.

Also, for the ALDS, Boone should most likely have Paxton start game 1 with his recent success. Tanaka game 2, Severino game 3, and German open up game 4, with Sabathia and/or Happ, right behind Severino or German. Severino will need some time to get back to his full durability audit may not be this season. German has also thrown a lot of innings this year and they should be careful with his arm. This plan would allow The Yankees could be smart to utilize all of their options to keep everyone fresh out of the bullpen.

Using this strategy, Boone can help lead the New York Yankees to their first World Series in a decade.

New York Yankees: DJ LeMahieu Walks it off with Style in the 11th

by
New York Yankees, DJ LeMahieu

August 31, 2019. The game is tied 3-3 between the New York Yankees and the Oakland Athletics. It’s at the bottom of the 11th with no outs and the count is 0-0. DJ LeMahieu, who was 0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts on the afternoon, faces the RHP, known as Lou Trivino. The atmosphere is tense, the crowd is on edge and the players are optimistic. LeMahieu stands in the batter’s box, remaining calm and collective. Can the potential MVP candidate save the Yanks from 5-straight, agonizing defeats to the Athletics, or is this game a lost cause? Let’s dive into that subject, shall we…

What a fantastic ending to a mediocre game. The Yankees, who have struggled severely against the Athletics this season, claimed the crown with a final score of 4-3 in extra innings.

Domingo German, who pitched 5 solid innings, gave up 4 hits, 2 runs and struck out 5 batters on 90 pitches. The Yanks also had an absurd amount of pitchers toe the slab, including Adam Ottavino, Aroldis Chapman, Chad Green, Corey Gearrin, Jonathan Loaisiga, Tommy Kahnle, and Zack Britton. If you needed adequate time to catch your breath reading all of those names, I don’t blame you.

Gary Sanchez obliterated 2 solo shots on the afternoon, recording his 31st and 32nd homers on the season and rode a marvelous stallion into battle. That stallion was his baseball bat and the power he generates within himself. In the bottom of the 2nd, El Gary hammered a missile into the second deck in left field, traveling 436-feet with an exit velocity of 109.4 MPH. The A’s were not so amused by this glorious shot. In the top of the 4th, Matt Olson answered right back, ripping a 2-run homer into right field and giving the A’s a 2-1 lead.

The Sanchino delivered yet again in the bottom of the 5th, demolishing a solo shot to right-center field, traveling 396-feet with an exit velocity of 106.3 MPH. As the A’s replied with a solution of their own in the 4th, they repeated upon this in the top of the 7th. Matt Chapman, who has struggled in August in terms of offensive production, smashed an RBI double down the left-field line, granting the A’s with a 3-2 lead.

Although the RBI double was considered fair and was not challenged by the Yankees, there is clear and factual evidence that shows the baseball was foul. Take a quick glimpse for yourself.

As the collective moans and groans could be heard all across Yankees Twitter, in which they had every right to do so, the game continued per usual. Aaron Judge broke the A’s control of the game in the bottom of the 8th, smoking a solo shot to right field and traveling 371-feet with an exit velocity of 101.9 MPH.

This is where the real magic occurred. The ballgame went into extra innings, which included a gut-wrenching save by Judge, robbing Chapman from a possible go-ahead homer in the top of the 10th. Last, but certainly not least, the cherry on top of the icing was established. In the bottom of the 11th, a struggling LeMahieu redeemed himself by blasting a walk-off homer into the right-field porch, granting the Yanks with a 4-3 victory over the stubborn Athletics.

Throughout August, the Bronx Bombers collected a mind-boggling, 74 homers, including a walk-off to add some spice. That’s an incredible achievement to accomplish in just one month. The Yankees now possess an 89-48 (.650) record, which is the best in the American League and the majors in general. I also somewhat predicted that LeMahieu would end the game in a blaze of glory. A prediction I’ll pride myself on for years to come.

 

The New York Yankees Launch Four for the Win, Sweep Mariners

by
New York Yankees, Aaron Judge

Everything about today’s pitching match up screamed pure poetry. The battle revolved around James Paxton and Justus Sheffield, who made his major league debut with the New York Yankees last year and was traded for Paxton as a package deal after the 2018 season. Before today’s game, Sheffield only had pitched 7.0 innings this season, accumulating a 6.43 ERA and a 6.35 FIP. Although this is an extremely small sample size to criticize, Sheffield hasn’t had much success outside of Triple-A.

In 4.1 innings pitched, Sheffield was responsible for giving up 6 hits, 5 runs and struck out 5 batters on 92 pitches. He now has racked up a 7.94 ERA, 6.56 FIP, and a 2.29 WHIP. The Paxton blockbuster deal was well worth the price of admission. Speaking of the man himself, Paxton collected another solid performance on Wednesday afternoon. In 5.0 innings pitched, he was accountable for giving up 1 hit, 2 runs and striking out 4 batters on 86 pitches. However, Paxton ran into some issues with his pitch location later down the road, walking 5 batters and raising his BB/9 from 3.30 to 3.53.

Gary Sanchez positioned the Bronx Bombers with an early, 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st. Sanchez ripped a blast into deep left field, traveling 434-feet with an exit velocity of 112.0 MPH. Paxton dealt with flawless precision through the 1st 3 innings, recording 3 strikeouts in the process. Sanchez possessed another trick up his sleeve, throwing out two different base runners in back-to-back innings. The Kraken truly displayed his arm accuracy and strength, which is nothing new to the average Yankees fans.

Paxton was responsible for allowing a 2-run mammoth off the bat of Kyle Seager in the bottom of the 4th, evening the score up to 2-2. The tie was not prolonged, as the Yanks powered in a 4-run, 5th inning. Mike Ford, who has been a scorching-torch with the bat as of late, broke the tie by drilling a solo shot to right field, traveling 356-feet with an exit velocity of 94.8 MPH. “The Machine,” known as DJ LeMahieu, cashed in an RBI single to left field.

Aaron Judge rounded off the 5th inning rally, hammering a towering, 2-run moonshot to right field. This preposterous no-doubter traveled 376-feet, 106.5 MPH and possessed a ridiculous 42-degree launch angle. Everyone recognizes just how muscular Judge is, but obliterating a 376-foot homer at a 42-degree launch angle is just absurd and requires strength beyond the average human’s comprehension.

Chad Green relieved Paxton in the bottom of the 6th, racking up a solid 3 strikeouts in 2.0 innings pitched. Adam Ottavino also took the slab in the bottom of the 8th, allowing no hits on 1.0 inning pitched. In the top of the 9th, LeMahieu recorded and annihilated his 23rd homer on the season to deep right field, traveling 421-feet with an exit velocity of 108.6 MPH.  The Seattle Mariners acquired their final run in the bottom of the 9th. Dylan Moore cashed in an RBI single to left field.

The former Mariner, known as Corey Gearrin, closed out the game and granted the New York Yankees their first sweep since the Baltimore series in mid-August. The Pinstripes now own an 88-47 (.652) record, which is the best in the American League and the majors as a whole. They are also 20-8 and have crushed 66 homers in August. I forgot to mention that I was noticed by Senpai today. I don’t know about you, but that’s a pretty big deal.

New York Yankees close to getting back two essential sluggers

by
New York Yankees, Edwin Encarnacion

The New York Yankees haven’t been able to avoid the injury bug all season. Losing both starting-quality first baseman surely didn’t help in their quest for success, but luckily they’ve been able to supplement their loss in production with other players.

However, they’re close to getting both Luke Voit and Edwin Encarnacion back from injury. Voit is expected to start a rehab assignment next Friday.

“The way we have it mapped out, there is a chance he could join us that Friday when we start the homestand,” Boone said, according to the NY Post.

Encarnacion, on the other hand, has been hitting off a tee and scooping ground balls, a good indication that he’s inching closer towards a potential return. The Yankees desperately need his bat in the lineup and his ability to hit homers in critical situations.

According to Aaron Boone, Edwin is progressing nicely:

“From my understanding that went well,’’ Boone said of Encarnacion, who was participating in physical activity after a fractured wrist.

There’s no timetable for return regarding Encarnacion, but Boone stated that the Yankees are expecting him back.

“No, but certainly expect him back. Hopefully he is not too far off,” as per Boone.

Edwin is hitting .240 on the season with an impressive 30 homers and 76 RBIs. He was an integral part of the Yankees lineup and is the favored designated hitter. The Bombers have been working utility man DJ LeMahieu into the ground with the absence of their two starting first baseman.

Gaining them back will be extremely important for a playoff run, and their run support will be welcomed with open arms. Health is the primary catalyst for success when it comes to the Yankees. They’re also scheduled to have starting pitcher Luis Severino and relief option Dellin Betances return right before the post-season rolls around.

 

New York Yankees: When will Luke Voit return to the lineup?

by
New York Yankees, Luke Voit

With DJ LeMahieu covering for Luke Voit at first base, the New York Yankees have had to tailor their approach towards winning. The Bombers’ utility man has done a decent job filling in for the injured Voit and Edwin Encarnacion, but his ability to move around the infield and provide players with time to rest was essential before the injuries.

The Yankees have had severe issues with injuries all season, and I imagine the contagion won’t take a minute off from forcing minor league players into starting roles. Lucky enough for manager Aaron Boone, players like Gio Urshela and Cameron Maybin have risen to the occasion.

When will the New York Yankees get their starting first baseman back?

Boone, who stated that the injured Voit could come off the injured list next Friday, is still working through his minor league rehab assignment.

“The way we have it mapped out, there is a chance he could join us that Friday when we start the homestand,” Boone said, according to the NY Post.

Part of keeping players healthy and minimizing fatigue is giving them time off, and forcing a natural second baseman in LeMahieu to play first is not ideal. Success in the playoffs depends on health and consistency, so gaining Voit back should provide a significant boost to the team.

Before Voit hit the IL, he was batting .278 with 19 homers and 54 RBIs. He was/is an integral part of the lineup and team, offering immense power and a supplement to the other power-hitters inconsistencies. With Giancarlo Stanton out and Aaron Judge struggling, Voit’s return will be significant for the continued success of the team.

New York Yankees: 3 Biggest Impact Players This Season

by
New York Yankees, Giovanny Urshela

The New York Yankees seem to always have different guys every night contributing to the team’s success. However, the following players have been MVP type caliber for the Bombers.

Domingo German

After Luis Severino was placed on the 60-day IL, many believed that the Yankee rotation would lack this season. Then Domingo German stepped up and not only has been the Yankee ace but has proved to be one of the premier pitchers in the major leagues.

German leads the MLB in wins (16) and holds the highest winning percentage (.889). Every time he takes the mound he shows utter confidence and passion. General manager Brian Cashman said that they are not limiting German’s innings, so he’ll be a huge impact in the postseason.

 

DJ LeMahieu

Already winning a batting title with the Rockies in 2016, DJ LeMahieu is flashing the same kind of play this season with the Yankees. He leads the league in batting at .339 and every game LeMahieu is doing something different to help the team win. It seems that every big inning is started by LeMahieu or encompassed around.

Gio Urshela

An unexpected impact player, Gio Urshela started this season in the minor leagues. After he was given his shot when Miguel Andujar went down with a season-ending injury, Urshela hasn’t disappointed. Urshela is just behind teammate Lemahieu for batting average at .336. He’s hit a career-high 26 home runs this season with 66 runs batted in. Urshela is another guy in the New York Yankees lineup who seems to be in the mix of big innings and impact plays.