Sigh. Wishing for the lockout to end is like wishing I could fast forward through February all the way to May. Once the lockout does lift however, it will be like Black Friday back in the day- squeezing through the doors to get to the best deals of the day. The frenzy for players after the lockout will be fierce—how will the Yankees fair in the showdown?
The New York Post layed down the gauntlet: "Steinbrenner should feel pressure. Of one title this century. Of one division title in the past nine years. And of a shadow — no, not of his late father, George, but from Steve Cohen across town. He might just take the Mets’ payroll to $300 million. Steinbrenner could act like he would be indifferent to the attention that would draw. It would be that: an act."
To fall to second best to the Mets is just unthinkable. Second best in the Big Apple just doesn't feel right and it isn't right. The Yankees have settled. They have spread their money around since signing Gerrit Cole and it has not served them well. It has not served them anything. And if they don't change their ways, they will be shut out of the frenzy that is certainly coming.
Reports the Post, "The simplest solution to complete the positional group would be Anthony Rizzo at first and Andrelton Simmons at short through free agency. Both offer high-end defense. Rizzo provides a lefty bat and big-game pedigree. Gio Urshela is around as a regularly used utilityman who could, when necessary, hit late for Simmons, then play short. Of the 159 players with at least 1,000 plate appearances between 2019-21, Simmons’ 71 OPS-plus is the second-worst." Absolutely none of this is appealing, except maybe Rizzo who the Yankees appeared to take a hard pass on.
Will the Yankees even be part of the frenzy? Could they, would they spend a dollar? Will they, can they buy a player? Don't mean to go all Dr. Seuss on you but the concern is real. And the actions so far are ridiculous. The Yankees need so much and unless they pounce when the bell rings, I fear that 2022 is just an extension of the last three years with nothing to say for yourself but that you were second to the Mets.
--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for commenting on Bleeding Yankee Blue.