DJ Lemahieu

New York Yankees: Will DJ LeMahieu make a push for the batting title?

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New York Yankees, DJ LeMahieu

D.J. LeMahieu, an infielder for the New York Yankees, has the chance to be the first player in the modern era to win the batting title in both leagues.

LeMahieu won the title with the Colorado Rockies in 2016. He would make Yankee history by joining: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio (2x), Snuffy Stirnweiss, Mickey Mantle, Don Mattingly, Paul O’Neil, and Bernie Williams. All of these players are big names in Yankees franchise history (Baseball-Reference). For LeMahieu to be possible on this list, he would be considered on the greatest all-around hitters when it is all said and done.

Lemahieu is currently batting .339, which leads the big leagues. Michael Brantley (.333) and Rafael Devers (.332) are not far behind (MLB At Bat). Today, August 18th, LeMahieu added to his average by going 2 for 5, with a home run and 3 RBIs. He can also be involved in the American League Most Valuable Player conversation. Where would the Yankees be in the standings without him? With nearly 20 players being placed on the IL this season, Lemahieu breaks out, leading his team in multiple categories this season. He is undoubtedly the leader and player the Yankees need and should be signed long term.

The Key to Lemahieu’s Success at the Plate

According to MLB.com, at a minimum of 500 swings, LeMahieu is first in the league in the highest rate of hard-contact per swing percentage at 22%. Hard contact is considered when the baseball’s exit velocity exceeds 95 miles per hour. Mookie Betts is second at 20.8%. He increased his swing rate to 45.8% from 41.7% last season as well.

Similar too many Yankee hitters, Lemahieu can hit with power to the opposite field which is an unfair advantage in Yankee Stadium. All of these factors are leading to the surge of Lemahieu’s stats this season. The Yankees need him to continue this superstar performance in the playoffs, while everyone comes back from injury.

Should the New York Yankees try and trade Miguel Andujar next season?

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New York Yankees, Miguel Andujar

The New York Yankees managed to stumble upon a Gold Glove-caliber third baseman this past offseason. His defensive qualities only scratch the surface of his potential, though, as he’s hitting .335 on the year over 331 at-bats.

The simple reality is, Gio Urshela is a great candidate to win the AL MVP award this season. Before this campaign, Urshela’s highest batting average was .233, well below-average and not even deserving of an opportunity at the professional level. However, he turned the tables on everyone including himself, blossoming into the potential third baseman of the future for the Yankees.

The question this poses: What should the New York Yankees do with Miguel Andujar?

One of the more promising offensive threats for the Yankees is infielder Miguel Andujar. While his defense is nowhere near as impressive as Urshela’s, he has a solid bat and can turn a game on its head. Hitting .297 in 2018 with 47 doubles and 27 homers proved he could be an impact player at the plate, but a partially torn labrum that ended his season this year has thrown a wedge in between him and the starting third base role.

His inadequate abilities in the field make him expendable if the Yankees are keen on keeping Gio as their long-term solution. They could always retain Andujar and keep him as a reserve option, but it can’t hurt to explore a potential trade given his value.

There’s little doubt his stock took a hit after the injury, but next season could allow the Yankees to work him back up to form and deal him mid-season to address vulnerabilities. There were rumors this past offseason that Miguel was on the trading block, but the Yankees’ needs at the pitching position stacked the leverage against them.

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How surprised were the New York Yankees at the emergence of Urshela?

“Nobody thought Gio would be this guy,” Yankees GM Brian Cashman told Yahoo Sports. “What he is doing now was not anything we felt we were tapping into.”

While DJ LeMaheiu has overshadowed him in the hitting department, Cashman originally wanted Gio to play a similar role.

“We had been trying to acquire him for a while,” Cashman said. “We daydreamed about him being a very versatile utility player. We loved his glove. We were very fortunate that we ran into him at the proper time of his development.”

It seems as if the Yankees got the best of both worlds. Both players are first and second in the AL batting title race and have been equally impactful for the Bombers this season. If Urshela continues to produce at this level, Andujar could find himself in an interesting position moving forward.

New York Yankees Weekly Recap + ESM Yankee Players of the Week 8/5-8/11

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New York Yankees, Gio Urshela

Weekly Recap:

After coming off a four-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees made short work of the Baltimore Orioles with a sweep at Camden Yards. The bombers outscored the last-place Orioles 32-12 in three games, now sitting at 13-2 against their division rivals. This also includes a perfect 10-0 record at Camden Yards. The last time the Yankees lost to the Orioles was on March 31, the third game of 2019 for both squads.

From Baltimore, they traveled to Toronto, though did not fare as well against the Blue Jays. Despite winning the opener 12-6, they would drop the next two by scores of 8-2 and 5-4. In the finale, the Yankees would take the lead in the fifth on a Brett Gardner ground-rule double but had to endure a 13-pitch battle between closer Aroldis Chapman and Blue Jays rookie Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to scrape away a 1-0 victory.

On the week, the New York Yankees finished 5-2 as they continue to lock down the A.L. East and look towards October. Here are the division standings entering Monday:

A.L East Standings (As of 8/12):

New York (A.L.): 77-41

Tampa Bay: 69-50, 8.5 Games Back

Boston: 62-58, 16 Games Back

Toronto: 49-72, 29.5 Games Back

Baltimore: 39-78, 37.5 Games Back

Gary Sanchez returns from I.L.:

The New York Yankees’ lineup received reinforcements on Saturday when catcher Gary Sanchez was activated from the 10-day I.L. Sanchez had been on the I.L. since July 24 with a Grade 1 Groin Strain, his third groin injury in the past two seasons. In his two games back last week, Sanchez went 1-for-7, his one hit being a 426-foot solo home run in Toronto.

Injury Updates on Severino, Betances:

Sanchez isn’t the reinforcements the New York Yankees will receive, as both Luis Severino and Dellin Betances are making significant progress in hopes of making their 2019 debuts. While in Toronto, Severino threw a 29-pitch bullpen, reporting that the session was “better than I expected.”

Severino’s session was the first time he has been on a pitcher’s mound since March when he went down with right shoulder inflammation, followed by a Grade 2 Lat Strain. This comes after signing a four-year, $40 million extension that has him under team control until 2022.

Betances meanwhile threw a 20-pitch session, reporting similar results. The four-time all-star went on the I.L. in March with right shoulder impingement. He had initially resumed throwing in early June but soon was shut down again after an MRI revealed a low-level lat strain. Betances was set to be a free agent at the end of the year, but his absence may result in a short term extension.

And now, it is once again time for…

Empire Sports Media’s Yankee Players of the Week:

Gio Urshela:

5 games, 9-20 (.450), 5 HR, 10 RBI, 8 Runs Scored, 1.300 SLG %

Mike Tauchman:

7 games, 10-24 (.417), 5 HR, 10 RBI, 5 BB, 7 Runs Scored, 1.125 SLG %

For the second straight week, ESM presents your CO-Yankees of the Week! This time, the honor goes to Mike “the Sockman” Tauchman, as well as Mean (Woo!) Gio Urshela.

Despite starting the week recovering from a pair of pitches fouled off of both legs in the series finale against Boston, Urshela made up for lost time with back-to-back multi-homer games against Baltimore and Toronto. Entering Monday’s doubleheader against Baltimore, Mean Gio is hitting .323 with 17 home runs, 61 RBI, and a .940 OPS.

The Sockman had a very similar week in terms of production, also hitting five dingers and driving in 10. Entering Monday, Tauchman is batting .300 with 12 home runs, 41 RBI, and a .960 OPS.

Honorable Mentions (Not In Order):

Brett Gardner:

6 games, 9-23 (.391), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 5 Runs Scored, 1.243 OPS, 1 Interesting Ejection

Another solid week is in the books for the longest-tenured Yankee, though it came with some fireworks. During game two of the four-game series with Toronto, many in the Yankees dugout were chirping at home plate umpire Chris Segal over questionable strike calls. The result was Segal throwing out a player who wasn’t involved, namely Gardner.

Upon realizing what had happened, the veteran outfielder stormed out of the dugout and had to be restrained by Aaron Boone as he ripped the young umpire.  Gardner did hit his bat into the dugout ceiling but never said a word to Segal before the ejection.

But the ejection itself was not the source of Gardner’s anger, but rather what came of it. After his ejection, Aaron Judge, who was in the midst of a slump, was brought in as a defensive replacement.

“The whole thing is Judgey finally getting a much needed day off,” Gardner said after the Yankees lost 8-2 that day, “He has to go into the game in the fourth inning because of what happened. That makes me madder than anything. The last thing I would do is intentionally get thrown out and him having to come off the bench like that.”

Two days later, Gardner got his revenge thanks to an RBI ground-rule double in the fifth, the only offense for either side in a 1-0 bomber victory.

Masahiro Tanaka:

Vs. Baltimore (8/5): ND, 5.1 Innings, 10 Hits, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO

Vs. Toronto (8/11): W, 8.0 Innings, 3 Hits, 4 SO

Despite giving up five earned runs in his previous start against Baltimore, Tanaka Time in Toronto was a good time Yankee fans. Through eight shutout innings, he allowed only three hits and struck out four. For his career, Tanaka is now 13-5 with a 2.69 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 123.2 Innings against Toronto.

James Paxton:

Vs. Baltimore (8/7): W, 6.2 Innings, 5 Hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO

Typically when James Paxton had a quality start this year, the offense couldn’t back him up. That wasn’t the case last Wednesday in Baltimore, as the bombers put up 14 runs in a 14-2 victory. That was more than enough for the Big Maple, who would allow only one run and strike out seven through six and two-thirds innings. This start ended up being Paxton’s second straight quality start.

D.J. LeMahieu:

7 games, 9-28 (.321), 1 HR, 5 RBI

Cameron Maybin:

5 games, 8-22 (.364), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 6 Runs Scored, 1.119 OPS

New York Yankees: Is Brian Cashman a genius or a fool?

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New York Yankees, Brian Cashman

Before the MLB trade deadline, the New York Yankees were in a very tough situation with their starting pitching rotation. Most believed they would strike a deal to bring in a quality pitcher to supplement injuries and inconsistencies. However, the Yankees and general manager Brian Cashman fell silent and the trade deadline passed over with no deals being completed.

Most saw this as a serious issue, but the Yankees have lost just one game since the July 31 deadline. They proceeded to sweep the Boston Red Sox in a four-game series and then sweep the Baltimore Orioles immediately after. They have scored 72 total runs in their last nine games.

This begs the question, is New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman a genius or a fool?

At this point, Cashman seems more like a genius, but the sample size is small. The postseason, which the Yankees will undoubtedly make, will pose a different set of challenges, especially for the starting pitching rotation against more productive batters.

Several injuries, including catcher Gary Sanchez, outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, reliever Dellin Betances, and two starting pitchers in Luis Severino and CC Sabathia are all working their way through treatments to return and contribute towards a potential World Series appearance. Recent injuries to both starting first basemen Luke Voit and Edwin Encarnacion have forced the Yankees to dive deeper into their minor-league system and pull up Mike Ford. Also, utility man DJ LeMahieu will have to compensate for the loss of their offensive production and defensive prowess.

The starting pitching woes will have more of an immediate impact against better quality teams in the postseason. If the Yankees are forced to face off against a team like the Houston Astros, they could be in over their heads and Cashman could look like a fool for sitting quietly during the trade deadline. The Astros currently have Justin Verlander, Zack Greinke, and  Gerrit Cole as their primary starters.

There is still time for the Yankees to rehab Severino back to full health and get their starters trending positive before the postseason, but it is impossible to say if they will be prepared to handle better offensive teams.

New York Yankees: The Embarrassment of Riches

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Mike Tauchman, New York Yankees

The sensational year that the injury-riddled New York Yankees are having could not have been predicted by the organization.

Most of the credit has to go to the Yankees front office, principally General Manager Brian Cashman. Considered to be one of the best general managers of all time, Cashman has worked his magic yet again. He is famously known for turning unknowns into stars when they come to the Bronx. Looking back to last year, the trade for Luke Voit was just the beginning. His pure power and ability to hit to the opposite field turned him into a star, using the short porch in right field. 

Fast forward to this year, the Yankees add Mike Tauchman (from trade), DJ Lemahieu (free agent signing), Gio Urshela (free agent signing), Edwin Encarnacion (from trade), and Cameron Maybin (from trade). The big question is: with all of these guys producing, who is going to be left out? The notable Yankees Luis Severino, Dellin Betances, Luke Voit, Aaron Hicks, Edwin Encarnacion, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gary Sanchez will all slowly make their way back in late August through late September. It will be tough benching players who have proven their worth at the MLB level. Players like: Mike Ford, Breyvic Valera, Kyle Higashioka, and Tyler Wade will most likely be optioned to Triple-AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre when everyone comes back. However, all of these players have contributed to the team at some point during the year. 

The Significant Contributions of the Yankees’ Newcomers

The stats for some of the newcomers to the Yankees are something that would be seen in a video game. Mike Tauchman has been a pleasant surprise while replacing Giancarlo Stanton. He is batting a career-high .299, with a .371 on-base percentage, and .934 OPS (Baseball Reference). DJ Lemahieu is having an MVP-caliber season for the Yankees. He is leading the American League in batting average at .336, a career-high in home runs with 18, and runs batted in with 76. He has also been able to play multiple positions at a high level, which makes him even more valuable.

Before his offensive surge, Gio Urshela was remembered for making a costly error for the Cleveland Indians in the 2017 ALDS. His numbers this year have made everyone forget that ever happened. He is slashing with a .314 batting average, .522 slugging, and a .882 OPS. Urshela is currently nursing a leg injury and is day-to-day (Baseball Reference). The Yankees acquired Edwin Encarnacion in a trade with the Mariners. He was leading the AL in home runs until Mike Trout’s unreal July home run surge. He has 30 home runs, 76 RBIs, and 57 walks. A fractured bone in his right wrist led to his placement on the 10-day IL. Last but not least, Cameron Maybin, the veteran leader the Yankees needed, has been a clutch performer as well. He has shown speed on the bases as well with 10 stolen bases. 

Despite all of the production from the “next man up”, the Yankees have a good problem heading into the postseason. Cashman and Boone now know they can trust any of these hitters on the roster to fill their role, whether as a starter or off the bench. As long as the starting pitching can keep their earned run averages down to four, the Yankees should be fine with all of the “savages” in the box.

The New York Yankees have a huge problem at first base

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New York Yankees, Luke Voit

As if the starting pitching rotation wasn’t enough the New York Yankees are now dealing with significant injuries at the first place position, a spot that has been relatively healthy this season.

Edwin Encarnacion who the Yankees traded for a few months back, fractured his right wrist and was placed on the 10-day injured list. He will miss a chunk of time which puts the position in jeopardy. Luke Voit, who suffered a sports hernia during a loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks will also be out for quite a while, potentially the entire season.

There is no timetable for a turn in regards to either player, so the question is, who will step up and supplement the loss of two productive players?

Thus far, Mike Ford has been the player of choice along with DJ Lemahieu, who played 18 innings at the position against the Boston Red Sox in a double-header. It’s expected that LeMahieu will be the primary option, but he doesn’t have the experience necessary to handle the corner if the Yankees make a deep post-season run.

They need either Voit or Encarnacion to return before that reality hits them in the face. Aide from Ford and LeMahieu, third baseman Gio Urshela is also capable of playing at first, which would be a last resort situation.

“That’s our first basemen right now [Ford],” Boone said. “Obviously, Gio can go there if we’re in a pinch and need something, but right now, going forward, DJ and Ford would get the bulk of the reps at first.”

Ford, who has looked the part offensively, will fill in on off days for DJ. The former Rockie has been fantastic moving around the infield as a utility player, compensating for injuries or poor play. Hitting a monstrous .336 while playing multiple defensive positions is impressive, and the Yankees will need his help down the stretch.

However, LeMahieu is coming off a minor groin injury and will need to proceed with caution.

“The fact DJ was able to avoid the IL was a big thing and we wanted to be mindful too that he is coming back from something and we want to make sure that we take care of him as well,” Boone stated.

 

New York Yankees: DJ And Gardy Are Back And Healthy

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New York Yankees, DJ LeMahieu

On Friday, New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner and infielder DJ LeMahieu reappeared for the team after missing time due to injuries. Gardner was briefly on the IL with knee inflammation, while LeMahieu was dealing with a groin strain but never went to the IL.

Both have had an impact on the team, but LeMahieu’s has been obviously more significant. Gardner has just been very inconsistent.

To make room on the roster for Gardner, Tyler Wade was sent back to AAA. JA Happ was also placed on the paternity list, and Stephen Tarpley will fill his spot until Happ’s scheduled start on Sunday.

The Yankees took the first game of four from the Red Sox prior to the doubleheader on Saturday. The Yankees have won their second in a row as Boston has lot their last five.

New York Yankees: DJ LeMahieu escapes injury bug

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New York Yankees, DJ LeMahieu

With the New York Yankees pitching struggling as much as it is, it’s essential they have their premier hitters to compensate for the number of runs they have given up. The Bombers have allowed 38 runs in three games, all against the Boston Red Sox who absolutely thrashed a porous Yankee team.

However, without supreme hitter DJ LeMahieu, the offense struggled to get much going, scoring just 13 runs compared to the Red Sox’s 38. However, the injury news regarding the team’s top hitter is better than expected.

After receiving MRIs for a strained groin, DJ’s results were positive — only a minor strain that will keep him out a few days. He will not go on the injured list and will likely try to push through the pain in the coming games.

“There’ something small in there,” Boone said. “So I think we’re still kind of evaluating if it’s something he can grind through. He said he feels pretty good and that he can grind through this and it’s an acute situation in there. So we’ll kind of get our arms around it the best we can the next 24 hours and we’ll try to make a good decision.”

The Yankees will face off against the Red Sox once more next weekend at home. It’s very possible they will have a new pitcher to add to the rotation after the July 31 trade deadline. Gaining LeMahieu back, though, should be a major help to a struggling team. He’s arguably been their most effective hitter and MVP, hitting a league-best .332 with 15 homers and 71 RBIs in 95 games.

His defense is also stellar, due to his ability to jump around the infield and play multiple positions. He’s spent time at third base, second, and first base this season.

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LeMahieu said he thought he could have played Saturday, but it “probably wouldn’t have been the best thing to do.”

Being cautious with your best player is usually a good idea, especially when the Yankees have a tough few weeks ahead of them.

New York Yankees: What Aaron Judge has to say about Gio Urshela

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New York Yankees, Gio Urshela

Just one year ago New York Yankees third baseman Gio Urshela was batting .233 for the Toronto Blue Jays. Fast forward to the present and he’s hitting an astounding .302 with seven homers and 41 RBIs.

When it comes to the Yankees, average players suddenly become stars. How? Only the baseball gods really know. My assumption is the history and expectation that comes with being a Yankee.

If you like to win and want to be around players that care, coming to the Bombers is the right choice. For Urshela, it ended up being a career-changing move.

Even star Aaron Judge knows how amazing the first-year Yankee has been, stating (NJ.com):

“We wouldn’t be in first place right now if we didn’t have Gio,” Judge said.

The emergence of not just Gio but DJ LeMaheiu has set the tone for the season. Sitting at 59-and-32 on the year, the Bombers are on pace for another 100-win season, on the backs of unexpected players due to injuries.

The fact that injuries haven’t derailed this team yet is beyond me and most fans, and it attests to the culture GM Brian Cashman has built and the methods he’s used to extract value out of his players.

In the Yankees’ latest victory, Urshela drove in two runs with a second-inning single and made another defensive gem at third. A great slide in the bottom of the fifth really stole the show, though, avoiding the tag in a matrix-style move.

Both teams were talking about the slide after the game:

“It was crazy good,” Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman said.

“I was trying to sneak around the glove,” Urshela said.

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Struggling earlier in his career might have been a product of low confidence or misuse, but manager Aaron Boone knows why he’s succeeding:

“When he was coming up through the minor leagues, he was always a guy who made good contact, which can be a really good sign and sometimes take a while to blossom.,” Boone said. ”I’m sure that there were a lot of people that followed his minor-league career that aren’t surprised that he’s starting to swing the ball now at the major league level.”

New York Yankees: Taking a look at the mid-season MVPs of 2019

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New York Yankees, DJ LeMahieu

The New York Yankees continue to be one of the best teams in baseball despite being faced with injuries galore. A ton of players have stepped up but these four guys in the running for the midseason team MVP have stood out above the rest.

The top 4 mid-season New York Yankees MVPs of 2019:

4th place: Gleyber Torres 

Torres has been one of the best players on the Bombers this season. With guys like Didi and Judge normally taking a lot of the headlines in the past, their injuries and slow returns have allowed for breakout players. Gleyber has been one of the best hitters on the team this season and is deserving of consideration for best player.

With a .292 average and a .360 OBP with 19 HRs and 50 RBIs, his sophomore season has been, to this point a huge success. He has been vital to the Yankees success and will continue to be essential throughout the remainder of the season. 

3rd place: Aroldis Chapman

The Cuban Missile is on fire this year. Having easily his best season in pinstripes and one of his best seasons ever. Chapman has a 1.82 ERA and 24 saves (1st in AL). Chapman has been clutch with 24/27 save opportunities seeing success. Chapman continues to show his dominance and as he heads back from another all-star appearance, big things are coming for Chapman as the season wears on. 

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2nd Place: Gary Sanchez

Gary Sanchez was written off by many last season, including myself. He’s won Yankees nation back over this season with a dominant year to this point. Slashing .245 with 24 HRs and 57 RBIs and a .315 OBP. He appeared in his second career all-star game and has been the true definition of a cleanup hitter this season. He’s enjoying one of his best seasons and his success is encouraging for the upcoming and long term future. 

WINNER: DJ LeMahieu

A guy who seemed like the odd man out for the lineup early in the season was called upon to step up in the wake of injuries. LeMahieu has since then stepped up and become one of the best players in all of baseball. With a .336 average (1st in AL, 3rd in MLB), 113 hits (2nd in MLB), 65 runs scored (5th in AL), 63 RBIs (4th in AL) and a .383 OBP (8th in AL) LeMahieu is having a phenomenal year. On the field, LeMahieu has been spectacular, but his presence in the locker room is unmatched as well. LeMahieu has been unequivocally the best player in all of baseball and is easily the most deserving of Yankees MVP at the halfway point.