Luis Severino

Series Opener: Yankees Power to win behind Luis Severino, Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge

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New York Yankees, Luis Severino

Giancarlo Stanton’s two home runs powered the offense and Luis Severino led the pitching staff with a superb game in the Yankees 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

Stanton’s two homers gave him his third multi-homer game of the season. Coming into this series in the last 6 games, Stanton was hitting .227/.313/.455, going 4-19 with 10 strikeouts, three walks and four RBIs.

With his two home run performance, fans hope that Stanton will keep producing at a higher pace throughout the series.

Severino was strong through 7.1 innings, giving up two runs on six hits, striking out 11 and leaving with a 2.21 ERA.

Despite an elite performance against the hot-hitting Red Sox, Severino received a no decision in the game. Dan Martin of the New York Post wrote that:

“It was still an impressive night, since right-handed starters — including Severino — were 1-15 with a 7.48 ERA in 26 starts against the Red Sox before Tuesday.”

And Severino told Martin:

“I was grinding through,” Severino said. “It was hard.”

Severino struck out Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez and when they did get hits off him, they stayed in the park and didn’t result in RBIs. The only scoring with Severino in the game came on an Andrew Benintendi single—-made possible by Gary Sanchez’ inability to locate the ball on strike out victim Eduardo Nunez, who reached base.

Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports that Boone said after the game:

“It’s blinders on,” manager Aaron Boone said. “We’re playing good baseball, doing it a lot of different ways. Tonight was tough. Boston is really good. They battle, battle, battle; kind of hung around. It’s just nice that we’re racking up some wins here. Good to get this series off on a good note, and hopefully we can get one tomorrow.”

When Boone says “tonight was tough,” he may have been referring to the way the team made it tough on itself in beating Boston—Glebyer Torres had an uncharacteristic error and was also caught out at home after being sent home in a controversial decision by third base coach Phil Nevin.

There was also the previously mentioned Nunez strike out ball that got by Sanchez allowing him to reach first and later score to cut the Yankees lead to 2-1.

There was an element of sloppiness on defense, except where the outfield was concerned. Aaron Judge made a stellar play, showing off his powerful arm by throwing out Christian Vasquez, who made the poor decision to try to extend his hit to right field into a double.  (Check out the video out at: https://www.mlb.com/video/judge-nabs-vazquez-at-second/c-2021305383?tid=51231442)

It was power all around that vaulted the Yankees to the victory on Tuesday night, Severino and Aroldis Chapman’s overpowering fastballs, Stanton’s slugging over the walls, and Judge’s arm. The Yankees outmuscled the Red Sox to take the first game of the series.

At the start of play today, the two teams are evenly matched at the top of the division at 25-10. The bats of Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks, Miguel Andujar and Didi Gregorius have yet to come to life in the series—but no doubt these quiet bats will not remain quiet.

The pitching matchup for tonight features Masahiro Tanaka (4-2, 4.39 ERA) against Rick Porcello (5-0, 2.14 ERA) in what promises to be another American League East dogfight—this time to stand alone at the top.

Preview: Yankees v Red Sox And A Look At LHP Drew Pomeranz

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New York Yankees, Aaron Judge

On the mound for the Boston Red Sox Tuesday night opposite New York Yankees‘ Luis Severino is lefty Drew Pomeranz, 29, a Collierville, Tennessee native and former first round draft pick of the Cleveland Indians in 2010.

Pomeranz was traded by the Indians before ever playing for them and has played for the Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics and San Diego Padres in his seven year career in Major League Baseball.

An All-Star in 2016, Pomeranz was traded by the Padres to the Red Sox after the All-Star break in ’16. Since coming over to the Red Sox, Pomeranz has thrown 257 innings (49 games) with a 3.82 ERA, 1.3 H/9, 3.5 BB/9 and 9.1 K/9.

After beginning the season on the disabled list with a forearm strain, Pomeranz has just begun to find his way on the mound in 2018. Ryan Chichester of Locked on Yanks writes:

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“After a pair of clunkers, Pomeranz rebounded in his most recent start to toss six innings against the Royals, allowing three earned runs on eight hits. It was certainly an improvement over his first two starts of the year, where he allowed seven runs over 8.2 innings of work.”

Pomeranz currently has a 1-1 record with a 6.14 ERA, 1.8 H/9, 3.7 BB/9 and 8.6 K/9, well off his career marks, however, as noted above, he has been better of late and the Yankees will be catching him on an upswing.

With a roster that included Chris Carter, Chase Headley and Matt Holiday, the 2017 Yankees team saw Pomeranz five times and hit .274 off him with 5 homers—hit by Carter, Headly, Holliday, and two by Gary Sanchez.

Despite having a 3-2 record at Yankee Stadium with a 3.12 ERA, Pomeranz is in for a surprise as this year’s Yankee lineup features two of the league’s hottest hitters in Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar, along with the already dangerous power hitters Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez, who has experience taking Pomeranz long.

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Brooks Baseball reports that in 2018 Pomeranz has relied:

“primarily on his Fourseam Fastball (89mph) and Curve using a Knuckle Curve grip (77mph), also mixing in a Sinker (88mph) and Cutter (85mph). He also rarely throws a Change (83mph).”

Brooks Baseball describes Pomeranz’ curve as having “exceptional bite” and his four seam fastball as having “slightly below average velo.” Look for Yankee batters to take advantage of Pomeranz’ fastball, to lay off the curveball and to victimize him with the long ball tonight.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, The Yankees (24-10) and the Red Sox (25-9) haven’t met in a series with the two best records in baseball since June 2, 2002.

The stage is set for a good old fashioned American League East knock-down-drag-out matchup tonight. Severino will be looking to even up his record against Boston this season with a win today and the Bombers have shown lately that they’re never out of a game and never give up.

New York Yankees: Luis Severino “Shoved It” And Giancarlo Stanton Raked It In 4-0 Win Over Astros

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New York Yankees, Luis Severino

After Wednesday night’s complete game shut out by the Yankees Luis Severino, Houston Astro’s third baseman Alex Bregman paid Severino the ultimate compliment, at least I think it was a compliment:

Severino took command of the Astros lineup early and never let up through nine.  He was throwing heat, giving up only five hits and getting Astros players out with 98-100 mph fastballs for his first complete game shutout. “He was legit, man.”

Severino, in short, was the epitome of an ace. He exuded confidence and elite stuff, and was at ease negotiating the most difficult lineup in baseball. The Astros heavy hitters were held in check by Severino—Jose Altuve went 1-4 on the night and Carlos Correa 0-4 with a strikeout.

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Severino also appreciated the offensive firepower of Giancarlo Stanton who had a two run homer, a solo shot over the wall and a double in the Yankees 4-0 win.

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After the game, reports Randy Miller of NJ.com, Severino made a stand for Stanton and a prediction:

“At the end of the season, he’s going to hit 50 home runs,” Severino said. “I don’t care what anybody says. He’s a great hitter and he’s going to continue doing good stuff.”

Fans saw Stanton break out on Wednesday night—in Monday’s and Tuesday’s games against Astros pitchers Charlie Morton and Justin Verlander, Stanton had gone 0-4 with three strikeouts—either he was due for a breakout or he was an imposter—it was time.

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Yankee fans have seen flashes of Stanton’s power, but not with enough consistency to keep the boo birds at bay.  Fans are eager to cheer Stanton on with regularity—every day, if that’s not too much to ask.

Not according to Stanton who told Ken Davidoff of the New York Post:

“There are breakout nights, but you’ve got to go back to the drawing board and get it going. You need breakout weeks,” Stanton said. “One day ain’t going to do it. But this put us in a good place, and we’re set up to win the series. Put it away tomorrow.”

Stanton needs to string successful at-bats along successive days and his batting average will climb from .240, where it currently stands, towards .281, which is where he left off last season—and with any luck, beyond.

Stanton had the distinction last night of being the first Yankee to ever homer off of Dallas Keuchel, per James Smyth:

This, surely, is just the beginning of many such distinctions for Stanton as a Yankee this season.

Stanton and Severino teamed up for a pair of historic firsts against the Astros on Wednesday night and have pumped up the momentum going into the final game of the series today.

CC Sabathia is bringing his “big dog mentality” to the Yankees recent success

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New York Yankees, Yankees, CC Sabathia

CC Sabathia’s passion and elite performance were the biggest highlights of the Yankees 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday night—-not to mention Gary Sanchez’ two run homer.

But Sabathia is so assured and confident on the mound that even when he gets in a jam, as was rare last night, there is the clear sense that he is in charge and he literally wills the out.

On January 18, Sabathia spoke to the MLB Network and said:

“Last year, we were the team that everybody loved, that feel-good story,” Sabathia said Thursday on MLB Network. “But getting Giancarlo [Stanton] just brings us back to being that hated team. That’s what we like. We want to go out there, put the best team on the field and crush everybody every game.”

I keep coming back to this statement again and again this season when I think of Sabathia.  This is spoken like a true leader—a battle-ready one at that.  It cries out for his teammates to take up the cause and follow him in crushing “everybody every game.”

He leads the way with elite performances, such as the 2-1 gem he put together last night against the Angels, giving up five hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, 1 run, 1 wild pitch—only throwing 97 pitches.

Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports said of Sabathia:

“Sabathia has turned himself into a pitcher — I’d even say he’s crafty now — working the corners and working his way into year three of a lovely late career renaissance with the Yankees that could very well put the icing on the cake of a Hall of Fame career.”

Sabathia could arguably be the ace of this staff with his 1.71 ERA in five games with 16 strikeouts in 16 innings pitched. Luis Severino‘s ERA of 2.62 in six games seems bloated by comparison.

Sabathia also showed his passion in last night’s game when home plate umpire Angel Hernandez and he exchanged words after the third inning.  Sabathia was reported by Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports to have said to Hernandez “Don’t talk to me.  Call f–king strikes.”

When asked what the heated exchange between he and Hernandez was about, Sabathia replied: “Thought I was throwing strikes.”

To me this demonstrates Sabathia’s “big dog presence” in the game, which he told Mike Mazzeo of the New York Daily News back in January he wanted to establish:

“We want that big-dog presence back where we can go out and try to beat everybody every night.”

Sabathia has a take-no-prisoners attitude, a big presence on and off the mound, and a successful start to power this team forward this season.

New York Yankees: Andujar, Severino And The Youth Movement Continues

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New York Yankees, Miguel Andujar

The New York Yankees took three out of four from the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend and won their first series since the beginning of the month against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The infield transformed into the infield fans were promised before spring training—Gleyber Torres made his major league debut at second base, finally joining fellow prospect and third baseman Miguel Andujar.

Luis Severino was the ace fans expected, negotiating trouble spots with ease, going seven innings and giving up three hits, one run, one home run (to Teoscar Hernandez) two walks and six strikeouts. He lowered his ERA to 2.32. Yankees manager Aaron Boone told MLB.com’s Danny Knobler:

“To get us through seven was huge,” Boone said. “That’s what an ace looks like.”

Severino is now tied with Patrick Corbin, Rick Porcello, and Max Scherzer for the American League lead in wins with four.

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The story of this game was Andujar’s four hit day against Marcus Stroman and the Jays bullpen—scoring a pair of doubles and two infield singles on the day.

Andujar told Knobler after Sunday’s game:

“To me, it’s about getting an opportunity and doing your job,” Andujar said through an interpreter. “I’m getting a great opportunity.”

Andujar is not only getting opportunities and making the most of them at the plate, he’s begun doing so on a consistent basis. In the last six games, Andujar is hitting .308. He has gone 13-25 with seven doubles, a triple and two home runs.

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While Torres went 0-4 on the day, he looked comfortable in the field and no doubt will relax at the plate and get the bat going soon.

It was a game in which every Yankee player was under 30:

with Austin Romine being the oldest player in the game at 29. Yankee fans can look forward to the energy, elite skills and enthusiasm that this young team brings to the game every night.

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What’s next up? The Yankees meet the Minnesota Twins at the Stadium. RHP Masahiro Tanaka (2-2, 6.45 ERA) takes the mound against RHP Jake Odorizzi (1-1, 3.38 ERA).

New York Yankees: The Ellsbury Effect

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Decisions, Decisions, Decisions…

With the start of the Major League regular season a week away, the New York Yankees have a decision that needs to be made:

Who is making the roster to replace the oft injured Jacoby Ellsbury? Jacoby was at one time and six hours North of the Bronx a very productive Major League ballplayer. However, throughout his time in the pinstripes, Ellsbury has been less than a shell of his former self.

Ellsbury has played for the Yankees across four seasons, in that time he has only managed to have one season above “replacement level” production (2014), according to Baseball Reference’s OPS+. 2014 was Jacoby’s first season in the Bronx and his last truly productive season.

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Now, with Ellsbury set to begin the season on the shelf, this opens up a spot on the 25-man roster to “Break Camp” with the team heading North. Manager Aaron Boone told members of the media that Tyler Wade has made the ball club. Many believe that he will be the starting second baseman on Opening Day in Toronto on March 29th.

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The Yankees current roster consists of:

Catchers: Gary Sanchez & Austin Romine
First Baseman: Greg Bird
Second Basemen: Tyler Wade & Neil Walker
Third Baseman: Brandon Drury
Shortstop: Didi Gregorius & Ronald Torreyes
Left Fielder: Brett Gardner
Center Fielder: Aaron Hicks
Right Fielders: Aaron Judge & Giancarlo Stanton
Starting Pitcher: Luis Severino, Mashiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, Sonny Gray & Jordan Montgomery
Relief Pitchers: David Robertson, Dellin Betances, Tommy Kahnle, Chad Green, Adam Warren & Chasen Shreve
Closer: Aroldis Chapman

Who Gets A Shot ?

That gives you 24 out of 25 players to start out the 2018 season for the New York Yankees. The injury to Ellsbury leaves an opening. Some who have thought that it could have been someone like Tyler Austin who was having a tremendous Spring, but he was reassigned back to Minor League camp on March 21st before the Yankees game against the Orioles. This however does leave the opening for the starter in the same game…. Luis Cessa.

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Cessa has been up and down for the Yankees since his acquisition by the Yankees in December of 2015. Cessa has pitched 106 innings for the Yankees to the tune of a 4.49 era. Luis will have an opportunity to show what he has earlier in the season as the Yankees will have five straight games to open up the start of the regular season.

The injury to Ellsbury could have been the golden ticket to the Bronx for a premium talent like Clint Frazier, however, they both went down at similar times and have stayed out recovering. Clint won’t be getting that opportunity.

This season will be a defining point for Clint Frazier, as with the number of outfielders already on the Major League roster and an impending free agent who hasn’t been shy about stating his fandom for the Pinstripes looming. Frazier once healed up from his concussion must set the world by storm, if he has any hopes of staying in Pinstripes.

Lasting Impression:

Jacoby, much like Clint Frazier, has seen the writing on the wall. And while his contract is rather cumbersome, it’s not impossible to think GM Brian Cashman can sell his talents to another team and move his monetary obligations elsewhere.

Ellsbury’s injury will be a foreshadowing of the potential future the Yankees will have. If the first few weeks of the season pass and Ellsbury has not returned vying that 25th spot on the roster, he may be replaced by a rising prospect.

Jacoby Ellsbury will have a major effect on the Yankees success this season; when healthy he could be a productive fourth outfielder, if unhealthy his spot will provide the launching pad for the top prospects in the top sixth farm system in all of baseball.

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New York Yankees Player Preview: Luis Severino

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New York Yankees, Luis Severino

Luis Severino lived up to all the hype last season. Sevy was phenomenal  and proved why he is the ace of the New York Yankees staff. He had a shaky start in his first career playoff start, but was picked up by the offense. The star pitcher bounced back in his next two  playoff starts and showed that the future is bright for the young stud.

Severino’s numbers last season:

2.98 ERA, 14 W, 6 L, 260 K, 51 BB

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Background:

Sevy was signed by the Yankees on December 26, 2011 out of the Dominican Republic. The Yankees had to convince Sevy to sign with them. He had original agreed to a deal with the Rockies, but the Yankees matched their offer and the charm of New York brought the Dominican to the promise land.

Yankees Ace:

Severino debuted for the Yankees in 2015 on August 5th against the Red Sox. He pitched very well to finish out the 2015 season and opened up the 2016 in the Yankees rotation. To begin 2016, Sevy had a tough stretch and ultimately went down with a inflammation to his right tricep. When he was healthy again he was called up on July 25 and was used as a reliever to finish the season. Sevy was dominant as a reliever and many thought he should take the gig full-time.

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Cashman said that was not an option and that Sevy would be used as a starter in 2017. That was the right choice as he was dominate in ’17 and finished third in CY young voting.  Sevy also represented the Yankees at the All- Star Game in Miami.

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Sevy had a tough beginning to his playoff career. The Twins roughed him up for three runs in the first inning of the Wild Card game and he was pulled after only recording one out. He bounced back against the Indians and Astros. He had a decent postseason, but will look to prove he is an ace when he is given the opportunity to pitch in the postseason again.

He was announced as the Yankees as the Opening Day starter against the Blue Jays for this season.

Sevy has a bright future ahead of him and if healthy will be the Yankees ace for a long time. He has the passion and fire to be a great pitcher. When he received lessons from Pedro Martinez in the 2016 off-season on how develop his changeup, that really helped him. Sevy wants to be the best and if he continues at the rate he is going nothing will stop him.

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