Anyone else watching the Yankees....

[GeoWar]

Originally Posted by knightdreamer2k

The offense has been atrocious. i have no idea how they can be so unproductive. They will get swept the way they are playing. There is no reason they should be losing some of these games. The lineup has too many of these low batting average players. Stanton should be higher and so should Rizzo. JD may just be too old for someone with his injury history.

I know I may be in the minority when I say this but they should let Judge walk as well and just rebuild. I don't see how you can turn this around unless you spend a lot of money which the modern Yankees do not seem willing to do. Let the kids play, and hopefully have a true contender in 4-5 years.

The pitching just needs to get healthy , you can not pay for potential . You must have them on the hill .
The Yankees need to go back to teaching "driving through the ball " and not just upper cutting for the homerun .. get Judge, Stanton, A. Ben , Rizzo (must hit through the ball) Torres ( must hit through the ball ) , D.J, and Trevino back as a core --- and work in young players . They will make mistakes but let them work through them.
The Yankees have the talent ( look at the former Yankees on other teams ) but the Yankees must do a better job of development.

*** Austin Wells has a good bat but is not going to be a major league catcher . Yankees need to have him work at first base or left field. Badar if healthy maybe an outfielder. **

I like IKF but he needs to improve with the bat ( much like Ozzie Smith - not much power but slap the ball around and keep the offense moving ) -- Donaldson's best years are past him (the glove is still great) -- Locastro , Hicks , and Gonzalez have been taking roster space (IMO).

.The Yankees may be saved by the expanded playoffs this year .

[Déjà Bru]

The caption for this photo was "No Yankees-Astros series is complete before a photographer gets a shot of Judge standing next to Houston’s Jose Altuve."



But the occasion for the photo was a New York Times article that I have gifted free (available 14 days; does not count toward other free NYT articles):

At 6 feet 7 inches — and 282 pounds — Judge is the tallest person in baseball history to have a 50-homer season, and he has done it twice. In fairness, fewer than 150 players of that height have reached the major leagues, the vast majority of whom were pitchers.

As front offices weigh how much it will take to sign Judge, they must ask themselves how much he is worth and for how long. He turns 31 next season, around the age when players traditionally begin to decline. (Superstars, though, are often the exception to this.) With Judge, there is the added complication of his size.

A prevalent belief around the game is that large players break down faster than their smaller peers. But it is worth asking: Is that true?

The reasons for baseball having so few players of Judge’s size are debatable.

“Maybe there haven’t been so many guys this size is not only because of the injury stuff but also because of performance,” said Glenn Fleisig, the research director at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Ala. “Hitting a baseball and throwing a pitch, this takes perfect or excellent coordination to do these things. And the bigger your body parts are, the more potential you have, but the more challenging it is.”

Judge thinks it might be something else. The reason there aren’t “100 more of me” in M.L.B. “is because they’re either playing basketball or football,” Judge said.

According to Baseball Reference, only seven position players have been listed at 6-foot-6 or taller and 250 pounds or heavier. They are Adam Dunn, the former slugger known as the “Big Donkey,” who amassed 462 career home runs; Frank Howard, the former Washington Senators star, who smashed 382; Judge; and the former outfielders Kyle Blanks, Brad Eldred, Steven Moya and Val Pascucci. Of the seven supersize position players, only three have appeared in more than 300 career games: Dunn (2,001), Howard (1,895) and Judge (699).

[GeoWar]

Judge's new contract should include a bonus (if under the cap) - two years * then opt out -- Third year and fourth year * then an opt out with a team buyout option if he does not have XXX at bats - Fifth an mutual option, Sixth mutual option , Seventh mutual option ,,,,,,,,,,

After the years will Judge be traded around to other teams " as a draw " .... Aaron, Ruth , Mays , and others were ...... Fan attraction counts .

[Déjà Bru]

Wow, what a charade the first three months of this season was. They can't buy a hit, other than Judge.

Almost literally; he had two of their three hits last night. From dominant to pathetic and exposed as true under-achievers.

The lead is down to four games. If the Rays overtake them, it's going to be interesting to see where they stand in the wild card race.

[Déjà Bru]

Here is part of the story, but of course it happens to every team to some extent. So it is just a bit of frustration that I bring it up here.

LF Andrew Benintendi went on the 10-day IL with right wrist inflammation after getting hurt on a swing Friday. Boone said there will be additional tests to narrow down what the injury is.

Here is the frustration part: You swing a bat for a living for the better part of 20 years; how in the heck can you injure yourself doing so?

[dsvitak]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Wow, what a charade the first three months of this season was. They can't buy a hit, other than Judge.

Almost literally; he had two of their three hits last night. From dominant to pathetic and exposed as true under-achievers.

The lead is down to four games. If the Rays overtake them, it's going to be interesting to see where they stand in the wild card race.

Cardinals swept them. We really couldn't figure out what the fuss was about. This was before everyone realized that the Cards, currently are one of the finest teams in all of MLB.

[Westheim]

What *is* the biggest lead over a non-playoff spot ever blown in the wild card era?

[dsvitak]

Originally Posted by Westheim

What *is* the biggest lead over a non-playoff spot ever blown in the wild card era?

Dunno..but the Yanks tank job is the best I have ever seen.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Westheim

What *is* the biggest lead over a non-playoff spot ever blown in the wild card era?

CBS Sports has an answer for you in an article titled How can Yankees snap out of slump? Four things New York needs to avoid historic collapse

The Yankees, meanwhile, are trying to avoid blowing the largest division lead in baseball history. The "record" is a 13-game blown lead by the 1951 Los Angeles Dodgers. The Yankees led the AL East by 15 1/2 games on July 8. After dropping two of three to the Tampa Bay Rays this past weekend, New York's division lead has been whittled down to only five games.

"If we don't dig ourselves out, you'll have a great story to write," manager Aaron Boone told reporters.

Take a look at this:



Incidentally, the four things are:

1. Get healthy

2. The veterans must perform

3. The kids must contribute

4. Take advantage of home field

Look, I can take most of the injuries. They happen, and at this level of play, even a toe injury like LeMahieu has can affect his performance. Same thing with Rizzo and his back issues.

What I don't accept are guys who repeatedly injure themselves (Severino, Stanton) or who do so under ridiculous circumstances (Benintendi, breaks a bone swinging a bat; Chapman, suffers a leg infection from a bad tattoo).

Two top relievers out for the season; trade a quality starter for a guy on the DL for months; trade for what you think is a quality starter who looks like a deer in headlights in New York; throw in regular playing time for proven under-achievers (Gallo, Hicks, Donaldson, Torres) and what you have is not only reversion to the mean but revelation of mediocrity or worse.

That Judge is doing what he is doing in the midst of this lineup is truly remarkable. I am surprised that teams are not giving him a free pass four times a game. Yet.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

CBS Sports has an answer for you in an article titled [URL="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/how-can-yankees-snap-out-of-slump-four-things-new-york-needs-to-avoid-historic-collapse/"][B]

So the paper assumes the Yankees can hold on to a wild card?

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Chapman, suffers a leg infection from a bad tattoo).

That's such a Mets injury

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

What I don't accept are guys who repeatedly injure themselves (Severino, Stanton)...

Today:

DH Giancarlo Stanton was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth after fouling a ball off his left foot in the sixth. Stanton grimaced and was unable to put any weight on his left foot. Boone said he's not sure whether Stanton will be available for Tuesday night's game.

The guy really is pathetic. The Yankees should cut him loose, but they won't.

[Amazin69]

CBS needs better proofreaders:

The Yankees, meanwhile, are trying to avoid blowing the largest division lead in baseball history. The "record" is a 13-game blown lead by the 1951 Los Angeles Dodgers.

Nope, still in Brooklyn then, kids. Try harder.

For Pinstriper fans wondering about 1978, the Yanks may have overcome a 14-game deficit to Boston, but the Sox never had a lead that large on the division; when the Yanks were in their doldrums, they were in 3rd place, trailing Milwaukee. The Crimson Hose only led the Brew Crew by 10.5 at their largest advantage, IIRC.

I doubt there's much to worry about, though. It's not as if you're being chased by the defending World Champions who pluck kids out of AA and never lose…

Say, if we both choke away the bye week (and get swept out by Seattle/San Diego/whomever in the first round) maybe we can play some games against each other for charity?

I can see it now…The Schlubway Series!!!

[dsvitak]

Are we to the point of saying Judge is the greatest power hitter ever?

If he hits 62, then he WILL be the legitimate all time single season home run champion. No asterisks..especially if he does it in 154 games.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by dsvitak

Are we to the point of saying Judge is the greatest power hitter ever?

If he hits 62, then he WILL be the legitimate all time single season home run champion. No asterisks..especially if he does it in 154 games.

My asterisk will be that he hits half of them into a fat lady's tote bag in the third row of the cheap seats in rightfield that feel like they're 280 feet from home plate at most.

Yes, I like to be *that guy*.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by dsvitak

Are we to the point of saying Judge is the greatest power hitter ever?

If he hits 62, then he WILL be the legitimate all time single season home run champion. No asterisks..especially if he does it in 154 games.

I certainly agree with your second statement (see that other thread) but as to your first, time will tell. After all, Maris is not known as the "greatest power hitter ever" despite his single-season record.

But a great thing about Judge is that he also hits for average, particularly this year. None of this .192, leads league in homers but also strikeouts stuff. Plus, here's a guy 6 foot 7 and 280 pounds, playing centerfield!

[cephasjames]

Originally Posted by dsvitak

Are we to the point of saying Judge is the greatest power hitter ever?

No. One season does not make someone the greatest. Sure, Judge averages 30+ homeruns a season. But he only has 212 through age 30. He's got a long way to go be "great" let alone "greatest." He is currently very good but he's got to play quite a bit longer to progress beyond that.

Originally Posted by dsvitak

If he hits 62, then he WILL be the legitimate all time single season home run champion. No asterisks..especially if he does it in 154 games.

That is an opinion to have, sure.

[Westheim]

What's with that surrender lineup?

[dsvitak]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

I certainly agree with your second statement (see that other thread) but as to your first, time will tell. After all, Maris is not known as the "greatest power hitter ever" despite his single-season record.

But a great thing about Judge is that he also hits for average, particularly this year. None of this .192, leads league in homers but also strikeouts stuff. Plus, here's a guy 6 foot 7 and 280 pounds, playing centerfield!

I should have qualified the first line for a single season. Clearly, unless he repeats this for at least 6 more seasons, he's not the best all time, career wise.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Westheim

What's with that surrender lineup?

That's what you get when almost everybody else has a stubbed toe.

Even so, all hail (for one day) the Oswald(o)'s! But, for God's sake, stick a fork in Estevan, please.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

That's what you get when almost everybody else has a stubbed toe.

Even so, all hail (for one day) the Oswald(o)'s! But, for God's sake, stick a fork in Estevan, please.

He's had at least three in his back already, but he keeps walking around. Slowly. Mostly on pops into not-too-shallow center.