Bleeding Yankee Blue: BOONE TALKING ABOUT HICKS IN LEFT FIELD IS NONSENSE

Sunday, January 22, 2023

BOONE TALKING ABOUT HICKS IN LEFT FIELD IS NONSENSE

I am so elated that the Yankees have parted ways with Aroldis Chapman. And that momentum has given me hope that the Yankees would pass on giving Aaron Hicks an opportunity to land a job as the starting left fielder. But once again, Aaron Boone does not disappoint. He is backing his veteran and says he is the likely starting corner outfielder for the 2023 Yankees.

“I feel like Aaron Hicks has a chance to really bounce back. We saw what Oswaldo Cabrera can do when we threw him into a lot of different scenarios playing the outfield really for the first time and handling himself so well. We’re really excited about him," reported NJ.com.

Although Boone admits that the field is wide open, with four to five possibilities, the fact that he really thinks Hicks can bounce back is just ridiculous.

According to CBS Sports, "Hicks, who is on the books for $29.5 million through 2025, continued his downward trend in production in 2022, slashing .216/.330/.313 with eight home runs and 10 stolen bases across 453 plate appearances. The 33-year-old suffered a left knee injury Oct. 18 that sidelined him for the remainder of the Yankees' postseason run, but after telling reporters at that time that he would require a six-week recovery period, he's likely back to full health at this point."

This kind of crap is what makes hot shots like the Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero Jr. think the Yankees are the easiest team to beat. In his latest words to Sports Illustrated on Friday, Guerrero Jr. took another shot at his Division rival Yankees by answering a young fan's question about the easiest team to beat in 2022. He didn't hesitate in announcing the Yankees but alas I laugh at him because the Yankees' record against Toronto in 2022 was 8-11. But still, with guys like Hicks demonstrating that we are beatable through lackluster defense and just inconsistent offense, it is laughable that he is even being considered as an outfielder starting frontrunner.

Source: AP

Beside Hicks, there is Cabrera, Estevan Florial, non-roster vet Willie Calhoun, and Rafael Ortega, another experienced corner outfielder who is on the minor league roster. Of course the Yankees could still make a trade, but that is unlikely by the start of the season but much more likely before trade deadline. Of course, if things don't work out the way the Yankees hope for the start of the season.

The Yankees seem fine with status quo, which has bit them in the ass over the last several seasons, waiting too long to make moves that would strategically land them in a more competitive spot in the postseason. "The Yankees' lack of activity in the outfield market this winter is nonetheless a positive development for Hicks, who would have been on the outside looking in for a starting spot had New York not allowed Andrew Benintendi to walk in free agency," reports CBS Sports.

So while I had a day or two to revel in celebration with Chapman's departure, now I am left with that pit in my stomach that Hicks has created over the years through is inability to perform—and look like he's not even trying. I think the Yankees are shooting themselves in the foot by letting Hicks go out there and fight for a job. If we have not seen anything spectacular with him 'til this point, what makes this Hicks's year?