Miguel andujar

Yankees bring back three controversial players, avoiding arbitration

by
yankees, gary sanchez

The New York Yankees had a few difficult decisions to make this off-season, with multiple players headed toward arbitration. Instead of carrying their contract negotiations into the new year, general manager Brian Cashman tendered three players, retaining a bit of depth after allowing Clint Frazier, Tyler Wade, and Rougned Odor to walk this off-season.

Three players the Yankees signed to one-year deals:

1.) Gary Sanchez

One of the most controversial players the Yankees have is slugger Gary Sanchez. The catcher has been wildly inconsistent as an offensive player over the past six seasons, hitting .204 with 23 homers and 54 RBIs in 2021.

Sanchez hit a measly .147 in 2020 during the Covid abbreviated season, with his last positive campaign coming back in 2017.

Ultimately, Sanchez has not developed into the player the Yankees hoped he would be, and Cashman has already indicated he is doing research about potential catching options in case they need to make a change for the 2022 campaign.

While Sanchez’s defense has improved in some areas, he posted just a 17% caught stealing rate this past year, the lowest of his career by a significant margin.

Interestingly, Sanchez will earn $8 million for the 2022 season, earning far above his production levels.

2.) Luke Voit

After winning the home run title in 2020, Luke Voit barely made an impact with the Yankees in 2021. Over just 213 at-bats, Voit posted a .239 average with 11 homers and 35 RBIs. Cashman went out and acquired Anthony Rizzo at the trade deadline to replace Voit after suffering multiple injuries early in the year.

At this point, Voit seems to be a designated hitter or reserve first baseman, so bringing him back for one season wasn’t a bad move.

3.) Miguel Andujar

Another player that has failed to live up to his potential is Miguel Andújar.

Andújar has tested his abilities at multiple spots, including first base, outfield, and third base. Unfortunately, his defense is simply a liability, and his offense isn’t good enough to make up for his lack of balance.

This past season, Andújar enjoyed just 154 at-bats, recording a .253 average with six homers and 12 RBIs. After posting an incredible .297 average with 27 homers in 2018, his progression has stalled significantly.

While the Bombers offered him a new one-year deal, his value comes as a last resort after failing at multiple defensive alignments.

New York Yankees news all in one place, what you need to know

by
Josh Breaux, yankees

Yankees could lose key prospect:

The New York Yankees made several moves to protect key prospects from the Rule 5 draft, but the bottom line is that they couldn’t protect all the players they might have wanted to, one of them is up and coming catcher Josh Breaux.

Losing a pivotal prospect to the Rule 5 draft can be serious, even devastating when they lose one to a division rival. Last season in the draft, they lost Garrett Whitlock, and that came back to haunt them in the season and Wild Card, that the Yankees lost to the Boston Red Sox. He became Boston’s best bullpen piece in 2021, posting a stellar 1.96 ERA in 46 regular-season appearances. Whitlock’s dominance continued in the playoffs, with a 2.16 ERA in five appearances.

The 24-year-old Breaux was a second-round pick of the Yankees in the 2018 draft by the Yankees. Since then, he has been making a name for himself. Here is MLB Pipeline’s scouting report:

Breaux has a lofty ceiling but is a long ways from reaching it. His well-above-average bat speed and strength coupled with an extremely aggressive approach give him the raw pop to deliver 35 or more homers per season.

Breaux is enticing because he has well above-average raw power and an arm that was once clocked up to 100 mph when he took the mound. Other than that, he is very similar to catcher Gary Sanchez, both in build as well defensive and hitting skills. Due to his progression through the minors, the Yankees won’t want to lose Breaux.

Who will be non-tendered?

The Yankees have three players that may be considered to be non-tendered. Miguel Andujar, Luke Voit, and Gary Sanchez. The Yankees already have rid themselves of three other players that they believe have little returning value going forward. Clint Frazier, Tyler Wade, and Rougned Odor have already been shown the door through assignment.

Of the three, Miguel Andujar is the most likely to be non-tendered, as the Yankees really don’t have a place for him to play. After losing his job at third to Gio Urshela, the Yankees have tried him in the outfield and even at first base. Unfortunately for Andujar, he underperformed.

CBA draws closer, an actual agreement doesn’t

The Baseball Collective Bargaining Agreement deadline is this coming Wednesday, and the sides are still far apart. Commissioner Rob Manfred stated last week that a lockout is not out of the picture. It’s all about the money, how much the players get and how much the owners get to keep.

One of the most significant sticking points seems to revolve around young players being paid more and earlier than the previous agreement allowed. The owners have pretty much had their own way with the players in the last several agreements, and the players are determined to get the upper hand this time.

Yankees just watching, Mets taking action

If you browse social media, Yankee fans are getting very frustrated with Brian Cashman seemingly sitting on his hands as other clubs are making moves to improve their teams, some of them big splashes.

What is most concerning to fans is that the cross-town New York Mets went on a Black Friday spending spree. The Mets’ new GM, Billy Eppler, picked up infielder and switch hitter Eduardo Escobar to a two-year deal reportedly worth $20 million, according to MLB Network. They signed first baseman and outfielder Mark Canha to a two-year deal worth $26.5 million, according to the New York Post. And late Friday night, they agreed to a four-year deal with outfielder Starling Marte knocking him out as a Yankee target at center.

Centerfield is still a question, Taylor or Buxton?

With Brett Gardner gone, at least for the moment, and the question looming, can Aaron Hicks remain healthy? Centerfield remains an area to be addressed.

Hicks, with the Yankees for six years, has only played in 100 or more games in two of those years. Last season was dreadful, with him only playing a few months due to a wrist injury and surgery, demonstrating the need for some solid backup in center.

The Yankees have reserves, but with the loss of Gardner,  Greg Allen, and Tim Locastro, it only leaves Joey Gallo and Aaron Judge to back up Hicks. Both of them are much better performers at the corners. Chris Taylor has often been mentioned, but in the trade market, the Yankees could go after Byron Buxton of the Twins. Possibly not a priority, but the Yankees clearly need help.

Buxton is an intriguing fit at center. His defense is not in question. This season, the dynamic, two-way center fielder hit .306/.358/.647 with 19 home runs, 50 runs, 32 RBI, and nine steals in just 254 plate appearances. Add to that his contact hitting from both sides of the plate, and the Yankees have the perfect fit if they want to trade for a quality centerfielder.

In other news of interest

After the 2021 season, the Yankees fired third base coach Phil Nevin. In one of the few moves the Yankees have made, they replaced him with ex-Mets manager Luis Rojas. The Los Angeles Angels have since hired Nevin as their new third-base coach replacing Brian Butterfield.

MLB Network’s Jon Heyman has reported that the Yankees are interested in the Baltimore Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins, It is also reported that the O’s will listen to offers. If the Yankees are interested, they won’t be alone. The Phillies, Rangers, Astros, and Giants are also interested in the O’s star.

If the New York Yankees are still interested in superstar Carlos Correa, they will have to fight for him, as the Detroit Tigers seem to have the edge on procuring his services.  It would also match up Correa with his old cheating scandal manager A.J. Hinch.

Yankees News: Bad injury news for Zack Britton, Miguel Andujar fighting his way back

by
zack britton, yankees

The New York Yankees are preparing to take on the Atlanta Braves on Monday evening in the first game of a two-game series which will conclude on Tuesday. Starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery will take the mound, hosting a 3.77 ERA with 9.13 strikeouts per nine this year. Over 22 games, Montgomery has pitched 119.1 innings, more than his past three seasons combined.

In Jordan’s last outing on August 17 against the Boston Red Sox, he lasted 4.2 innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs, striking out six batters. Over his last five starts, Montgomery has given up just four runs, which has helped the Yankees tremendously in their quest to make a comeback in the AL East.

However, the Bombers are dealing with a few injuries this week, as they placed left-handed pitcher Zack Britton on the ten-day injured list with a left elbow sprain. Britton hosts a 5.89 ERA this season over 22 appearances.

This has been his most tumultuous campaign to date, recording a career-high 6.87 walks per nine and 0.98 home runs per nine. Unfortunately, his fastball is being delivered 2+ mph less compared to his 2020 FB. Hovering around 92.6 mph, a drop in speed has allowed batters to take advantage.

In Britton’s place, the Yankees reinstated right-handed relief pitcher Clay Holmes from the COVID-19 list. They also recalled outfielder Jonathan Davis from Triple-A Scranton.

Utility player Miguel Andujar returned from a rehab assignment and was transferred to the 60-day injured list. With Giancarlo Stanton finally taking reps in the outfield and Tyler Wade playing supplementally at third base, Andújar will have a tough time cracking the roster once again.

Consistent injuries have derailed his career and momentum, but he will be looking for another opportunity if injuries arise once again at third/second base or in the outfield.

The Yankees made the following moves prior to Monday’s game against Atlanta:

•Placed LHP Zack Britton on the 10-day IL (retro to 8/20) with a left elbow sprain.

•Recalled OF Jonathan Davis (#36) from Triple-A Scranton/WB.

•Reinstated RHP Clay Holmes (#35) from the COVID-19 IL.

•Returned INF/OF Miguel Andújar from his rehab assignment and transferred him to the 60-day injured list.

Yankees News, 7/10: Cole explains reason for slump, Luke Voit, Miguel Andujar injury update

by
yankees, gerrit cole

Over the last seven games this season for New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole, he’s earned a 4.69 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. During that frame, he has allowed 37 hits and 21 earned runs over 40.1 innings.

On the season, Cole features a 2.91 ERA, but the last few games have elevated his numbers significantly, making him look human after an alien-like start to the season. After the MLB banned sticky substances, which helped increase spin-rate and velocity, a number of pitchers began to see their stuff degrade, including Cole and Aroldis Chapman.

“At this point it has nothing to do with the rule enforcement four or five weeks ago. There’s ebbs and flows to your delivery as the game goes on throughout the season and we’ve got to tighten up some stuff and I’m trying to do that here and I’m trying to do that against good teams. So that’s where my focus has been and that’s what we’ve identified as a group as what needs to pick up a little bit.”

While Cole is quite confident he’s simply going through a lull, the timing is ever so conspicuous. We will have to monitor the rest of the season for the ace, but there’s no question his inability to use spider tack has made an impact, as his velocity is down and spin-rate is clearly struggling to a degree.

Injury updates on Miguel Andujar and Luke Voit:

Andujar is dealing with a strained hand and wrist and could be headed toward the injured list in the coming days. Andujar is hitting .253 this season, his best since 2018, over 45 games. Having spent the majority of his time in left field this year, he has smashed six homers and 12 RBIs, featuring a 17.3% strike-out rate. Losing his offensive prowess will undoubtedly have its impact, but the Yankees emerged victorious nonetheless against the Houston Astros on Friday by a score of 4-0.

Miggy could be added to the IL, but skipper Aaron Boone has not yet decided:

“We’ll see,’’ Boone said on Friday before the win over Houston. “We’ll have to make a call after [Friday]. We’ll see if he’s available.”

As for slugger Luke Voit, he recently returned from any injury before being plunked in the hand by a wild pitch. Voit is safe from any serious damage on the HBP but is taking a day off to make sure he doesn’t aggravate his injury.

“He’s gotten a little bit beat up this week, so I just felt like it felt like it was a good day to get Rougned in there,” Boone said. “(Voit) should be good to go for the next two games.”

The Yankees will take on the Astros over the weekend to finish a three-game series. Cole will feature on the mound against Zack Greinke on Saturday night at 7:15 PM.

New York Yankees beat the Angels 11-5, here are the major takeaways from the win

by
New York Yankees, Aaron Judge

After a four-game losing streak last night, the New York Yankees delighted fans worldwide with a big 11-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels. They showed fans and detractors alike that they can be the Bronx Bombers of old. The big question is can they maintain that energy and success?

Don’t let Jameson Taillon fool you

Jameson Taillon earned the win last night in the Yankees 11-5 win over the Los Angeles at Yankee Stadium. It was his third win of the season against four losses in fifteen starts. But don’t be fooled. Taillon didn’t win the game the Yankee lineup did. Taillon gave up all the runs the Angels would score. Taillon is still the lousy pitcher he has been all season. With the Yankees only scoring about 3 runs per game, giving up five runs would normally be a loss for any starting pitcher.

Jameson Taillon was a better-than-average pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirate before his series of injuries. He had two Tommy John surgeries. But with him working his way back, the New York Yankees thought they could take a chance on him to be a number three or four starter for their revamped Yankee rotation.  Now halfway through the season for Taillon, that seems like a pipe dream. He has shown some bright spots this season, only to go out and erase them in the next outing.

The good pitching news from last night is not Taillon; it’s Nestor Cortes Jr. that stepped in and saved Taillon last night. Cortes Jr. has proven that he is a dependable option for Aaron Boone whenever he is needed. Last night he pitched 1.2 innings of one-hit ball. In his last 8.1 innings of relief, he has allowed only three hits and no runs. Call-up Albert Abreu closed out the game for the Yankees, pitching two hitless innings.

Yankees score a season-high 11 runs

The New York Yankees that have been playing all season did not show up last night; the “Bronx Bombers” we all know and love performed last night like Yankee fans have not seen all season long. There were several high points last night. One is scoring a season-high 11 runs. Every Yankee scored last night, and the Yankees hit three home runs in the game.

It was a hit fest for the New York Yankees last night. Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge, and Miguel Andujar all hit home runs in the game. In addition, Sanchez, Luke Voit, and Miguel Andujar all had extra-base hits. The Yankees also never let up the pressure on the Angels. LeMahieu, Judge, Andujar, Sanchez, Voit, and Gleyber Torres all had two out RBI’s.

Turnaround or giant tease?

The morning after, many New York Yankee fans wonder if last night finally signaled a turnaround for the Yankees. Others may be wondering if it was just a giant tease that has seen the Yankees take a step forward and then two steps back. The Yankees have, for the most part, have had a roller-coaster season with more downs than ups.

At the start of the season, most industry analysts predicted with the Yankee’s strong lineup and newly revamped pitching rotation that they would be the team to beat all the way to the World Series. However, Yankee fans and analysts alike have been totally puzzled by the exact opposite. The Yankees appear to be a lifeless unenergetic team that can’t get out of its own way, often failing on baseball’s basics. If you believe that the Yankees will stop hitting into double plays, stop making running errors. And that the team will all of the sudden start hitting across the lineup, then the Yankees have now turned it around. If you are like so many sports sites, even New York ones, you believe the Yankees are done for it.

Last night New York Yankee general manager Brian Cashman for the first time, threw the Yankees under the bus while showing his continued support of Boone and the coaches.

“I know they urgently want to get on track, but I also know that we suck right now, as bad as you can be,” the general manager said Tuesday. “Trying to knock ourselves out of that is the effort, but until we get online and start playing high again, it’s gonna look bad. It plays bad and it stinks to high heavens. Right now, we gotta own that. I gotta call it like I see it: It’s pretty bad right now.”

Just one week ago, the New York Yankees had crawled back to just four games out of first place, but now a week later, even after last night’s game, the Yankees are back to 7 1/2 games out, with only the Baltimore Orioles playing worse ball. I am not going to join the bandwagon saying that the Yankees are through this season. They still have time to turn it around, but they must start doing it now, and in a big way, anything less will disappoint.

Tonight the New York Yankees will face the pitching and hitting sensation Shohei Ohtani,  that many compare to Babe Ruth. If Domingo German and the Yankees can win this game, it will go a long way to say that a turnaround may be in the offing.

 

 

New York Yankees Recap 6/29: Yankees pummeled the Angels 11-5

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New York Yankees, Miguel Andujar

Tonight the New York York Yankees had their second game of the four-game set with the Los Angeles Angels. Last night he lost the first game of the series 5-3, their fourth loss in a row. On the mound for the Yankees tonight was Jameson Taillon and for the Angels Andrew Heaney. The Yankees have been looking to turn things around as they slip further away from the top of the AL East.

Jameson Taillon, the Yankee’s least dependable pitcher, took the mound for the first inning facing the Angel’s David Fletcher, who flew out of left. Shohei Ohtani flew out to Aaron Judge. Anthony Rendon got a two-out double to left-center. Jared Walsh struck out for a good inning for Taillon. At the bottom, DJ LeMahieu faced the Angels Andrew Heaney, and he ground out. Aaron Judge went down on strikes. Then, Gary Sanchez hit a long home run into the right-center field stands for his 14th home run of the season. Giancarlo Stanton walked. Luke Voit went down looking, but the Yankees got ahead in the game on Sanchez’s sole shot. New York Yankees 1 Angels 0.

Max Stassi doubled on a bobbled play by Andujar in left. Rengifo hit into the force, with Stassi taking third. Iglesias got a two-run homer to left. Schebler struck out. Taylor Ward, with two outs, flew out to Gardner to end the half. At the bottom, Gleyber Torres popped out to short. Gio Urshela walked. Miguel Andujar singled, moving Urshela to third base. Brett Gardner sac flew out to left with Urshela scoring. Andujar moved to second. LeMahieu got a long single to right driving in Andujar for the Yankee lead. Aaron Judge got a two-run homer (434′) into Monument Park. Gary Sanchez flew out. Yankees 5 Angels 2.

Fletcher in the third grounded out to third. Ohtani hit his second home run in as many nights. Rendon singled to left. Walsh hit into the force out. Stassi ground out to end the half. Giancarlo Stanton led off the bottom by walking. Luke Voit flew out to deep center field. Torres continued his slump, striking out. Urshela went down looking. Yankees 5 Angels 3.

At the top of the fourth, Renfigo flew out to Judge in right. Iglesias singled. Schebler went down on strikes. Ward flew out to end the half. Miguel Andujar led off the bottom of the fourth by homering to the short porch in right. Gardner walked. With a new pitcher on the mound, LeMahieu faced James Hoyt, and he flew out to right. Aaron Judge flew out to left. Gary Sanchez doubled driving in Gardner from first. Stanton walked. Luke Voit doubled, driving in Sanchez as the Yankees poured it on in the inning. Torres got a two-run single driving in Stanton and Voit as the Yankees went double digits. Urshela struck out to end the inning. New York Yankees 10 Angels 3

Fletcher led off the fifth inning by singling to center. Ohtani hit his second home run in the game and his third home run in the series. Rendon walked. Walsh struck out. Stassi hit into a round-the-horn double play to end the half. Andujar led off the bottom and popped back to the pitcher. Gardner walked. LeMahieu walked. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Judge walked. Sanchez, with the bases loaded and one out hit into an inning-ending double play.  New York Yankees 10 Angels 5.

Rengifo flew out to open the sixth. Iglesias singled to left, and that was the night for Jameson Taillon. He was replaced by Nestor Cortes Jr. Schebler was pinch-hit for by Gosellin, who struck out. Ward singled but got run down at second to end the inning. Stanton led off the bottom and struck out. Voit ground out to third. Torres singled to center. Urshela faced the new pitcher Jose Quintana and singled, moving Torres to second. Torres stole third. Andujar with men on the corners and two out doubled going 3 for 4 in the game. Torres scored. Gardner struck out to end the inning. Yankees 11 Angels 5.

The seventh inning was led off by Fletcher, who struck out. Ohtani, who has homered twice in the game, flew out to Gardner in center. Rendon struck out to end the half. At the bottom, LeMahieu ground out to right. Aaron Judge ground out to short. Gary Sanchez popped up to the catcher to end the scoreless inning.

At the top of the eighth, with Albert Abreu on the mound, Walsh walked. Stassi struck out swinging. Rengifo flew out to Judge. Iglesias hit Abreu, but he recovered and fired for the out. At the bottom, Stanton, against new Angel pitcher Alex Claudio flew out. Voit flew out to left. Torres walked. Urshela struck out. Another fast scoreless inning.

With last licks on the line for the Los Angeles Angels, Gosselin took to the plate and ground out to Torres at short. Ward went to first on a hit by pitch. Fletcher sent a bullet down, first caught by Voit. Ohtani ground out to Voit to end the game. The final score was 11-5. The winner was Jameson Taillon, and the loser was Andrew Heaney. With the win, the Yankees broke their four-game losing streak.

 

 

 

New York Yankees: 3 Major takeaways from home run powered win

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Last night in Minnesota, the New York Yankees entered a second game against the twins after taking game one 8-4. They hoped with Yankee ace Gerrit Cole on the mound; they could take the series from the Twins. At the end of the night, they got the 9-6 win, but it wasn’t always pretty. The Yankees hit four home runs in the game.

Cole made a statement while under allegations

New York Yankee ace Gerrit Cole took the mound in Minneapolis last night after being accused of using stick stuff to aid his spin rate and get out more batters. The allegations came from the Twins’ own Josh Donaldson, who talked about pitchers using pitching aids and particularly named Cole in that conversation.

Cole let his pitching do the speaking for him. When Donaldson came up second in the lineup, Cole swiftly struck him out. Donaldson struck out for the second time against Cole. In the sixth inning, still facing Cole, Donaldson flew out to right field. Although Cole said nothing but the obvious stare in at Donaldson each time he stuck out spoke volumes. Donaldson ended up the night going 0 for 5.

Cole seemed more comfortable on the mound last night. He went six innings using 94 pitches, 66 of them strikes. He gave up five hits, two earned runs, striking out 9 Twins hitters, and walking no one.

The win wasn’t the prettiest this season, even though they scored 9 runs. The usually solid Yankee bullpen again faltered in the game. However, Luis Cessa did his job pitching two scoreless innings in relief of Gerrit Cole. With the Yankees ahead 9 to 2 in the ninth, Brooks Kriske took over for Cessa and allowed four earned runs to finish off the game.

Yankee hitting comes alive big time

The Yankee hitting that has often been lacking in most games came alive for the second night in a row. The Yankees got 15 hits in the game, four of them home runs. It was the first time this season that the Yankees got double-digit hits three games in a row.

Giancarlo Stanton was last night’s MVP hitting two long balls in the game. Aaron Judge and Miguel Andujar also homered in the game. It was the tenth time that both Stanton and Judge homered in the same game. Stanton and Judge also doubled in the game. Brett Gardner and Rougie Odor also had extra-base hits. Meanwhile, DJ LeMahieu had another unproductive night going 0 for 4.

Giancarlo Stanton heating up again

At the beginning of the season, the hottest hitter was Giancarlo Stanton; then, he injured his quad. He was out for 13 games. Upon his return, it appeared that Stanton had lost his timing. Manager Aaron Boone was easing him back into the lineup, causing him to miss every other game.

But, now in his last two games in a row, it seems his magic is back. He had two hits on Tuesday and exploded last night with two home runs and a single driving in five runs. It speaks well of the Yankee hitting when Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are together. Even with his time in the IL, Stanton has a .267 batting average with 11 home runs and 29 driving in.

 

Yankees’ Miguel Andujar is showing his best version offensively

by
New York Yankees, Miguel Andujar

By now, it’s becoming clear that Miguel Andujar wasn’t fully healthy in 2020. His strength hadn’t come all the way back after 2019 labrum surgery, as the New York Yankees’ infielder/outfielder wasn’t hitting the ball hard at all, both in average and max exit velocity.

The evidence suggests that now, Andujar is back to feeling like his 2018 self, at least regarding his ability to hit the ball hard. His average and max exit velocities in 2021 (89.8 mph, 110.2 mph) are right in line with his 2018 marks of 89.1 mph and 110.4 mph, respectively.

We don’t need to remind Yankees fans that Andujar was the 2018 Rookie of the Year runner-up by hitting .297 with 27 homers and 76 extra-base hits.

A horrific start of the 2021 campaign is still dragging Andujar’s line, which is currently .247/.256/.393 with four homers. But the truth is he is, besides Gary Sanchez, the hottest hitter in the New York Yankees’ roster.

Andujar is hitting .296/.321/.741 with four homers since May 31. That’s about what he can offer as a major leaguer: a solid average and some power, but with a low OBP.

The Yankees have a flawed, but talented player in Andujar

Andujar has many flaws as a baseball player. He is slow, he doesn’t play good defense anywhere on the diamond (and Giancarlo Stanton is clearly the starting designated hitter) and he doesn’t draw walks.

However, if he regains his 2018 form at the plate, which is seemingly happening, he may have his use on an injury-riddled Yankees team that has been struggling offensively and could use all the hot bats there are, even if it means playing Andujar in left field and first base with some regularity.

As long as Andujar keeps hitting and producing, the Yankees will likely find at-bats for him even if it means sacrificing defense. And that appears to be the case right now.

New York Yankees: 3 Major takeaways from the Yankees huge win over the Twins

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New York Yankees, Miguel Andujar

The New York Yankees went into last night’s game in Minnesota after losing four straight games against the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red with the hope of turning it around with Jordan Montgomery on the mound at Target Field. Instead, after being nearly dead for days, the Yankees lineup exploded, scoring eight runs. The final score was the Yankees 8 and the Twins 4.

Montgomery kept the Yankees in the game

Jordan Montgomery has had a strange season so far this year. He often seems to struggle, and more often than not, he doesn’t get the decision in a game. Last night was no different, he went 5.2 innings, but Jonathan Loaisiga got the win. However, so far, he is the Yankees’ second most successful pitcher. The New York Yankees have won 9 of his 12 starts.

Last night in the bottom of the first, Kyle Garlick led off, and he struck out. Josh Donaldson lined to third, Urshela knocked it down but couldn’t make the play. Polanco skied to Gardner. Miguel Sano singled to right, moving Donaldson to third. Ryan Jeffers lined down the left-field line for a two-run lead in the game. Trevor Larnach struck out, but the Twins took the lead Minnesota Twins 2 the New York Yankees 0.

The score remained that way through the end of the fifth inning as Montgomery settled in. But in the sixth, with two outs, ex-Yankee Rob Refsynder came to the plate, drawing a mound visit from Aaron Boone, but Boone left Montgomery in, and Refsynder hit a home to run into the left-field stands, and that was the end of the night for Montgomery.

Yankee hitters erupt, but all is not good

The New York Yankees will take a win any way they can get it. Last night they got it with an eruption from the Yankee lineup that has been so quiet in recent games and through most of the season so far. As a result, the Yankees are at the very bottom of baseball, scoring only 11.6% of the time. This is the lowest figure since the 1969 expansion San Diego Padres.

The Yankees are certainly happy to score those eight runs, but some of the things they have suffered from all season were present last night as well. At one point, the opposing pitcher Michael Pineda put down eleven straight Yankees. Then, in the fifth inning last night, the Yankees loaded the bases with no outs and could bring in only one run when Aaron Judge walked. They also went 2 for 15 with runners in scoring position. So although they scored a lot of runs, they could have scored many more with more timely hitting.

The good news is that two of the struggling Yankee hitters had home runs last night. Gary Sanchez led the charge with a 449′ dinger to left, and Miguel Andujar followed with a home run of his own. This could signal that the two players are getting hot. Another good sign is that the underperforming DJ LeMahieu doubled in the game for the first extra-base hit for last year’s batting champ.

Sticky situation for Gerrit Cole again

Here we go again. Gerrit Cole has again been criticized for using sticky substances to increase the spin rate. Going into a 3 game series with the Minnesota Twins, Twins Josh Donaldson has suggested that Cole is suspect with sticky stuff. He cited how Cole’s spin rate dropped considerably after an AP story stated that four minor leaguers were suspended for using foreign substances.  Manager Aaron Boone responded to the allegation.

“I don’t make much of it, Gerrit, as well all of our staff members, I believe are mostly above board and will be able to handle this situation in the right kind of way,’’ Boone said. “And it’s not gonna affect the kind of pitchers they are.”

MLB owners met last week and agreed on the need to crack down pitchers that potentially increase their spin rate with greater revolutions using illegal and prohibited foreign substances. So tonight in Minnesota, Gerrit Cole will face Donaldson. Of interest when Cole was asked about it, he didn’t deny it he simply said I don’t know how to answer that.

 

 

 

New York Yankees Recap: Yankees explode in win against the Twins

by
yankees, gary sanchez

Last night the New York Yankees started a 3 game series with the Central division Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis. Going into the series, the Yankees were 31-29 and hoping for a win to turn things around against the last place in the Central Twins. Jordan Montgomery faced the ex-Yankee Michael Pineda in the contest. The game-time temperature was 95 with cloudy skies. The Twins had a huge crowd at Target Field.

In the first inning Pineda face the Yankee’s DJ LeMahieu, he doubled to center off the wall. Aaron Judge lined out to third. Gleyber Torres ground out to third. Giancarlo Stanton tapped out to the infield, fielded by the catcher to end the half. At the bottom, the Twins face Montgomery. Kyle Garlick led off, and he struck out. Josh Donaldson lined to third, Urshela knocked it down but couldn’t make the play. Polanco skied to Gardner. Miguel Sano singled to right, moving Donaldson to third. Ryan Jeffers lined down the left-field line for a two-run lead in the game. Trevor Larnach struck out, but the Twins took the lead Minnesota Twins 2 the New York Yankees 0.

At the top of the second, Sanchez lined out. Odor flew out to short. Miguel Andujar lined out for a quick inning for the Yankees. Ex-Yankees Rob Refsnyder singled. Willians Astrudillo flew out. Andrelton Simmons lined out to Judge in right. Garlick was lined out, and Donaldson was called out on strikes for a quick inning. Twins 2 and Yankees 0.

The top of the third showed Undujar getting sharply out at third. Gardner also lined drive to third. LeMahieu struck out for Pineda’s ninth put down of the Yankees in a row. At the bottom, Jorge Polanco ground out to LeMahieu. Sano lined out to Judge. Jeffers singled to right in front of Judge. Larnach ground out to second to end the inning at the Twin 2 and New York Yankees 0.

At the top of the fourth, Judge stuck out swinging. Gleyber Torres popped out to short. Stanton singled to left. Urshela reached on an E1 that Pineda could not handle. Sanchez hit a sharp on directly to the shortstop, end the half and leave two Yankees on base. The bottom saw ex-Yankees Rob Refsynder at the plate; he ground out to third. Astudillo popped out to short, and Simmons ground out to short to end the inning. Twins 2 Yankees 0.

Roughie Odor led off the fifth, and he ground into the shift for out number one. Andujar drew a walk. Gardner hit a blooper to center, moving Andujar to second. Lemahieu singled to left to load the bases for Aaron Judge. Judge drew a walk to drive in the first Yankees run. Torres is facing the new Twin pitcher Jorge Alcala and the bases are still loaded. A wild pitch scored Gardner for a game-tying ground out. Torres lined out to short. Stanton also ground out to short, but the Yankees picked up two runs Tyings the game. The Yankees picked up another run in the sixth, and the Twin answered with one for themselves, tying it up again at 3 apiece.

Montgomery pitched into the sixth inning for the Yankees. Then, at the top of the eighth inning, the Yankees came up big with two more runs. First, Frazier pinch-hitting singled getting the Yankees started. Then, Andujar singled, a sac fly put two on for the Yankees, an infield ball put the Yankees up 5 to 3.

At the top of the ninth inning, the Yankees scored 3 more runs. It was a big inning for the Yankees. Gary Sanchez (449′) and Miguel Andujar both homered in the inning. Sanchez’s homer was a two-run smash. At the end of the inning, it was the New York Yankees 8 and the Minnesota Twins 3.

At the bottom of the ninth, the Twins picked up a run on a Yankee throwing error, but they ground out to end the inning and break the Yankee’s four-game losing streak. This was the largest win for the Yankees since mid-May and the first time they hit multi-homers in the same inning. The final score was the New York Yankees 8 and the Twins 4. The Yankee bullpen pitched 3.1 innings of one-run ball. The winning pitcher was Jonathan Loaisiga, and the loser was Tyler Rogers.

Tomorrow at 8:10 pm, the New York Yankees will send out their ace Gerrit Cole to face the Twins ex-Yankees J.A. Happ, looking for their second win and a series win over the Twins.