Gio Urshela

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: Gio Urshela Owns His Old Team

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New York Yankees, Giovanny Urshela

New York Yankees’ star third-basement Gio Urshela absolutely dominated his old team, the Toronto Blue Jays, this past series. Urshela went 9-15 with three bombs against the team who traded him away because he “couldn’t hit.” With ten runs batted in, the Blue Jays just couldn’t figure out how to get him out.

Not only did Urshela flash the maple this series, but he also flashed the leather as well. In Sunday’s matchup, he made a diving play on a hard-hit line drive down the left-field line to save extra bases. You can take a look at this highlight using this link: https://www.mlb.com/video/urshela-s-diving-catch-x1154

Known for his stellar defense, Urshela has proved himself at the plate this season too. He’s batting .323 which is currently in the top batting avengers in the American League. With a career-high 17 home runs, he’s knocked in 61 runs as well. For a guy that got buried in the Blue Jay’s organization last season and didn’t see much major league action, it’s remarkable how tremendous Urshela is playing.

Urshela’s value with the Yankees club is extremely high. Expected to be behind Miguel Andujar this season, Urshela has been a key factor this season once Andujar went down with his injury. The Yankees value Urshela just as high as any other superstar on the team. His teammates have huge confidence and respect him as well. After taking the two foul balls to each of his knees, Aaron Judge had this to say about Urshela, “He’s gonna hit a home run her. The whole crowd was chanting his name. … He’s tough.”

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.

 

How did the New York Yankees unlock the best in Mike Tauchman?

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Mike Tauchman, New York Yankees

What could the New York Yankees possible have done to unlock the best in Mike Tauchman?

Battling injuries and incompetence from the get-go, the New York Yankees have had to take ill-advised measures to supplement the loss of players and talent.

Signing Mike Tauchman was probably never on their list of things to do, but he has become of the more integral parts of this blossoming team. The 74-and-39 Yankees are in a position to run away with the AL East title and make the playoffs with ease, leaving the Boston Red Sox over 15 games behind.

The riddle general manager Brian Cashman had to solve goes a little something like this:

“You leave home, make three left turns, and return home, where you find two men wearing masks. Who are they?”

The answer is the catcher and the umpire; however, I’m convinced it’s Tauchman and Gio Urshela because they’re certainly robbing everyone of their sanity. Career average to below-average players aren’t supposed to be batting over .290. Both Tauchman and Urshela are doing just that, but there’s more to their insane seasons.

Both are playing exceptionally well in the field as well. Tauchman made an incredible catch against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night. Check it out below.

The 28-year-old has been a ghost at the top level since his inception, but his offensive prowess this season has proved one thing. Every player is capable of more. Tauchman, who doesn’t even seem to know how he’s managing such success, stated:

“Yeah, kind of just realizing what is important,” Tauchman said Tuesday, according to the NY Post. “Things you really have to stay on top of. It’s nothing like reinventing the wheel or anything. It’s probably what most of us talk about. I just got a little bit better at it. And more comfortable with it.”

The success Tauchman is enjoying seems to be entirely mental. His fundamentals haven’t been changed, and his technique remains the same, but the passion for the game and producing for his team is the priority. The Yankees have done something special this season, and while the injuries have been troublesome, they’ve built careers around unknowns.

New York Yankees: Reasons Why The Team Should And Shouldn’t Trade Andujar

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New York Yankees, Miguel Andujar

There has been a lot of debate recently on weather New York Yankees third baseman Miguel Andujar should be traded or not. Today we discuss both the pros and cons of trading him.

Pros:

Rough Around The Edges:

Miguel Andujar is a developing star, and still has a lot of improving to do. He isn’t anywhere where he needs to be defensively, and was one of the worst defenders in all of baseball in 2018. His base running smarts can improve, but a lot of that just comes with more experience. His offense is right where it needs to be, he just could cut down the number of pitches he chases.

By trading him, you could avoid more developing time and stick with Gio if he continues to prove himself.

A Lot In Return:

Since Andujar has all-star potential, a trade could see the Yankees getting a lot back for the present and the future. It would be more important to get young prospects in my opinion. Those prospects could take a few years to develop and start to make their way to the MLB once the current guys on the Yankee roster age or leave the team.

Cons:

Losing A Star:

By trading Andujar, you eliminate a player that will make a huge impact on the team down the road. But, Gio Urshela is a rising star and could end up being better than Andujar.

More Pressure On Gio:

That being said, if the team gets rid of Andujar, their faith is in Gio Urshela for the future, and some pressure comes with that, especially in New York. He has handled the pressure perfectly thus far, and the team wouldn’t be in first place without him.

What I Think:

I think that the Yankees should keep Andujar for now. Gio Urshela could be having a fluke season on offense, and we need to have a different plan if he doesn’t pan out next season.

If Urshela continues to rake in 2020, maybe you pull an early season blockbuster and trade Andujar.

 

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: Top 3 surprise players up to the All-Star break

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New York Yankees, DJ LeMahieu

The New York Yankees have been plagued by the injury bug this year that has affected nearly every unit on the team. The starting pitching has been hit very hard as well as the bullpen, but luckily the run support has been fantastic for the Bombers as they have the second-best record in baseball.

Up to this point just before the All-Star break, the Yanks have been saved by various players that have emerged to supplement the deficiencies on the team.

Here are the New York Yankees top 3 surprises:

1.) Gio Urshela

As a career .227 hitter before coming to New York, Urshela is having easily his best season this year with a .309 batting average. Seven homers and 39 RBIs has helped the Yankees crawl out of tight windows and win close games when the pitching has lacked ineffectiveness.

In addition, his defensive abilities at the hot corner have been stellar. He’s been a major upgrade defensively over Miguel Andujar and his offensive production has been just as good if not better. The emergence of Urshela couldn’t have been better timed, as he’s been a true impact player for the Bombers this season and will be needed during an expected playoff run.

2.) DJ LeMahieu

While the former Colorado Rockies infielder was already a quality player before putting on the Pinstripes, his influence for the Yankees has been more than impactful. Hitting .336 on the year with 12 homers and 63 RBIs has easily earned him an All-Star selection and reason to believe he could be in the lead for the MVP award.

A two-year, $26 million deal is looking like a steal at this point and I would even expect GM Brian Cashman to extend the contract after this season. His ability to move around the infield and play at every position is extremely beneficial and valuable for a team that struggled with injuries in the infield.

Hitting .461 with runners in scoring position is the best in the MLB for players with a minimum of 15 RISP at-bats, and he’s had an impressive 75.

He once again came up clutch against the Tampa Bay Rays a few nights ago, hitting a game-sealing single that drove in two runs and captured the league. He was 0-for-4 before earning his first hit of the night. The clutchness he’s brought to the Yankees has been unbelievable.

“I feel like it’s my turn to make a mark on the game,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity to put runs on the board. I keep saying the approach doesn’t change, but I think there’s a certain level of focus there in situations like that.”

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3.) Cameron Maybin

While Maybin is currently on the 10-day injured list with a grade 2 left calf strain, his influence this year has been impressive. Another average player that has flourished in Pinstripes. As a .250 career hitter, Maybin is batting .314 with the Yankees and was previously on a home run streak before his injury.

His authority in the absence of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton was exactly what the Yankees needed. The injury bug gave the opportunity to multiple players to show their value and make a difference for a team with World Series hopes and potential — the former Mariner and Marlin has taken advantage of that reality.

Cameron’s defense has been equally impressive to his offense, allowing zero errors over 41 total games this season. To put that into perspective, Clint Frazier had three errors in 29 total games. That’s a big reason Frazier was sent back down to the minor leagues and Maybin was retained on the active roster.

His return will give the Yanks a solid cushion while Stanton works his way back from his latest ailment.

New York Yankees: Has Miguel Andujar become a trading piece?

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New York Yankees, Miguel Andujar

The current New York Yankees team has proved to be one of the most resilient and exciting in baseball, especially with the emergence of Gio Urshela at third base and DJ LeMahieu as a rotational infielder.

One question that crosses my mind — is Miguel Andujar expendable now after they’ve found answers in the infield? There are two sides to the argument.

Does Yankees’ Miguel Andujar’s defense make him a liability?

The Yankees’ youthful third baseman had a fantastic rookie campaign at the plate, hitting .297 with 27 homers and 92 RBIs. His fantastic offensive production immediately made him the expected starter for the future at the hot corner for the Bombers, however, his defensive issues have presented a dilemma.

Are the Yanks better off trading Andujar for a starting pitcher? Or should they hang tight and see where his future takes them?

He tallied three errors in four games earlier this year before being transferred to the 60-day injured list with season-ending shoulder surgery. The fact is, his value is at an all-time low, but he’s in a similar situation to Clint Frazier. Both are offensively solid but struggle on the defensive side. The difference being, Frazier has more of an attitude and privileged mentality compared to Andujar who seems to be a true Yankee.

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I see the Yankees sticking with their young gun for the future, considering Urshela is a one-year wonder at this point — as a career .227 hitter currently batting .303 on the season, probability-wise, he’s not going to enjoy this success in future years. Keeping him around, though, isn’t a bad idea.

Andujar will need some time to recover and catch up to his former self. At this point, it seems destined that he will remain a Yankees for the foreseeable future based on his potential and likeness in the club-house. LeMahieu, who’s been solid at third base when Urshela is off, is a far better second-baseman – his natural position. There’s no need to test the waters with inexperience when continuing to develop Andujar is an option on the table.

New York Yankees: Gio Urshela has been a blessing from above

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New York Yankees, Giovanny Urshela

After averaging a putrid .233 during the 2018 season, New York Yankees current third baseman, Gio Urshela, has seen the light. He’s now hitting .312 on the year over 173 at-bats. What happened to the once forgotten infielder? He put on the pinstripes, a factor that some don’t mention.

The expectation from the Yankees is large, and it often brings the best out in players, in addition to the responsibility they placed in the hands of the unexpected star.

It seems as if the Yankees are never hit with reality. They always seem to escape inadequacy by the skin of their teeth, as they’re neck-and-neck with the Tampa Rays for first place in the division. Having 19 players on the injury list at one point didn’t stop them from going on an eight-game win streak and dominating on the road. Reserve options have stepped up and performed at a level not even the most die-hardiest of fans could have predicted.

The New York Yankees have been blessed by the baseball gods:

The influence of Urshela, though, has been phenomenal. A player that not only has been a positive contribution on the field but in the locker room as well. Imagine one year ago I told you that Miguel Andujar would be out for the season and his replacement was performing at an even higher level, and his name wasn’t Manny Machado. You probably wouldn’t believe me.

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Instead of dropping $30 million-per-season on Machado, the Yankees and the wizardry of Brian Cashman added both Luke Voit and Urshela for under $1 million. Talk about stealing, Cashman really put his last name to good use.

The number of times we’ve seen Urshela, let alone Voit, come up clutch and propel the Yanks to victory has been countless. It’s now imperative that the Yankees provide Urshela with everything he needs to continue playing at a high level, as the options behind him will not be able to replicate his extravagant production.