CHAD GREEN FLIES THE COOP TO CANADA!

Source: The New York Post

This was not the news I wanted to hear. The Yankees pitching staff already needs a facelift and it's not even spring yet. On Tuesday we learned that free agent Chad Green will head up north, signing a two-year $8.5 million dollar deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Green was one of the Yankees more reliable relievers. The fact that he is going to be pitching for a division rival is not the fresh start I was hoping for this Yankee team as we grow closer to Spring Training. 

"Green’s Tommy John surgery, which he underwent with the Yankees, will keep him out through the early months of the season, but the second half is full of possibility. Working with a typical recovery timeline, which can stretch from 12 to 14 months or longer, Green could return to pitch down the stretch in ’23, just as the Blue Jays would be hoping to make a postseason push. If it all breaks that way, Green would represent a major addition," reported MLB.com.

As a Yankee, Green bailed the Yankees out of their share of messes since he first joined the team in 2016. The 31-year-old made 272 appearances and 24 starts with a career record of 33-22, a 3.17 ERA. He also had 11 saves, often coming in with runners in scoring position, and setting up the team's closer.

"Green bounced between the bullpen and rotation in his earlier days with the Yankees, but he has thrived as a reliever. Over his past three seasons, Green owns a 3.18 ERA with 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings, a key number for a club that’s actively targeted more swing-and-miss pitchers," reported MLB.com.

Green also can eat up innings, which is enticing to any ball club. Toronto is betting on Green to support them in their postseason run. When healthy, Green is lethal, which is why the Yankees have held onto him so long. 

The Yankees didn't protect Green and now he is gone. Will he be the Green we saw before his injury in 2022? He could very well be which will be difficult for the Yankees playing head to head division games with the Jays. Who will the Yankees have in that role in 2023? It is anyone's guess, but as I said, this is not the news I wanted hear. I hope it does not come back and bite the Bombers in the butt. 

YANKEES BATTLE IS MORE THAN JUST AGAINST OTHER TEAMS

The Yankees have experienced more trauma this August than I ever remember any team in history experiencing in one season, let alone one month. From a tattoo infection, to paternity leaves to slumps and more than their share to the IL, the Yankee skid is more than their offense not performing. One could say that this is all part of the game, but I think the Yankees have battled harder and fiercer than any other team I have ever seen. This battle is more than just against your average opponent; it is a battle against themselves.

Source: AP

“Thank God August is done,” he (Gleyber Torres) told NJ Advance Media. “It’s September right now. Just, really, mentality-wise, I’m staying really positive to (make) an adjustment really quick and try to hit better.” Torres basically shared the sentiment of the entire team—thank God that part of the season is over, now let's hone in and get it done. But can the Yankees rev their engine or even start the car for that matter if they have lost their keys?

On Monday's game against the Twins, Brendan Burke calling the game with John Sterling on WFAN said it is hard to replace your keys when there is no replacement. So essentially how are you replacing Giancarlo Stanton with Oswaldo Cabrera? It is simply not doable. It is a good point. I hadn't considered that. My mentality is sort of the college football mentality—next guy in. But it is not like that in baseball. It takes time to learn the game, play with confidence and maneuver through the mental part of the sport. 

Source: NJ.com

"Ultimately, the Yankees will only go as far as veterans like Judge, LeMahieu, Rizzo, Stanton, and Torres take them. They do have to get something from the kids though. Cabrera and Peraza can't just be along for the ride. Cabrera's at-bats have been solid despite the lack of results, and he had two three-hit games early in the club's road trip," reported CBS Sports. 

Source: CBS Sports

With both the Rays and Blue Jays creeping up on the Yankees, the team sent Anthony Rizzo to the IL due to his lower back issues, DJ LeMahieu is still feeling the impact of his sore toe, Giancarlo Stanton is not 100% back and Josh Donaldson is a shell of his former self and causing more stress on this team due to his horrendous temper. Plus if you add the pitching injuries of Chad Green, Michael King, Luis Severino and the revolving IL door of Clay Holmes and Jonathan Loáisiga to the mix, you have a broken down team with no replacement parts. 

Source: NY Post

"It's time to roll," Stanton told MLB.com over the weekend. "I mean, we know where it's at. We've got to keep pushing and get it tomorrow. It's still ours. We're not where we want to be, but we're still in a fine opportunity. It is definitely ours for the taking," reported CBS Sports. 

The Yankees have 27 games left in the regular season, and 15 of them will be played at home. Their home record far exceeds their road record, even in the August skid. And these two series against the Twins (double-header scheduled for Wednesday) followed by the Rays are do or die for the Bombers. But again, their battle is not just against other teams; it is the battle to be injury-free, to stay healthy and to mentally be prepared go after it. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

QUIETLY, THE YANKS GRAB RIGHTY ARM SCOTT EFFROSS

The Yankees made a move... very quietly, without alot of fanfare. Gotta love the stealth move by Brian Cashman.  

The New York Post writes:

"With their bullpen weakened by the loss of Chad Green and Michael King — as well as the recent struggles of Clay Holmes — the Yankees added another reliever on Monday, acquiring the right-handed Scott Effross from the Cubs.

The trade came at a cost, with the highly-regarded right-hander, Hayden Wesneski, heading to Chicago...

Lately, Effross has pitched in middle-to-late-game situations and picked up his first save, so he could spell Holmes in the closer role. Holmes has now blown three of his last nine chances, including in Sunday’s loss to the Royals."

Welcome Scott. I look forward to seeing you in Yankee pinstripes.

WHAT MICHAEL KING'S INJURY MEANS FOR THE YANKEES

The Yankees have been playing from their knees during these last two series since coming back from the All-Star Break. The first was a doubleheader with Houston, where they failed miserably. And they are in the midst of the second, against Baltimore, which has been a horrible showing for this Yankee team. To add salt to the Yankees' wounds, hitting them while they are down, Michael King suffered a season-ending, hard-to-watch pop in his elbow on Friday night. What does this injury and King's absence down the stretch mean for the Yankees? Here are my insights.

Source: New York Post

"Before the injury, the 27-year-old was having a breakout season and was a pivotal part on the back end of the Yankees bullpen, posting a 2.29 ERA and a career-high 66 strikeouts through 51 innings pitched. As the Yankees seek to continue rolling throughout the season, MLB’s upcoming trade deadline could be the time to find another relief pitcher. With King’s absence, the Yankees called up Clarke Schmidt from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Schmidt had posted a 3.00 ERA in 24 innings in MLB this season," reported SI.com. 

Although many contemplated that the Yankees would go for another bat and outfielder to fill the gap for their non-performing peers, they are going to be forced to find two great arms to take the helm for King and the floundering Aroldis Chapman. Chapman simply cannot pitch and King will be unable.

Prior to last night's news that King would be sidelined for the rest of the season with a fractured elbow, Sports Illustrated predicted, "The Yankees are World Series contenders and are on pace to win 111 games, but King’s injury could impact New York’s position heading into the playoffs if he’s unable to pitch again this year." 

So who is available for the Yankees to pick up in a hurry, before the looming trade deadline in August? According to MLB Insider, "Reds right-hander Luis Castillo is the best starting pitcher available on the market, and certainly won’t come cheap. Regardless, the Yankees rotation has recently experienced some turbulence, and lost Luis Severino to the IL with a low grade lat strain. That’s why MLB insider Buster Olney believes Castillo should be the big move that they make ahead of the deadline." That could solve the starter issue but there is still the gaps in the bullpen. Sure the Yankees can try to plug that hole with current prospects but so far, that approach has been lackluster.

Are the Yankees in trouble? Yes, without a doubt. They have the rubber game in Baltimore and they have an upcoming short series with the Mets this week, in Citifield. King's injury coupled with Severino, Miguel Castro, Ron Marinaccio and very early on Chad Green, has put the Yankee in a very challenging position. Could Zach Britton be back? How about Deivi Garcia? These are still questions for the Yankees. Do the Yankees have another diamond in the rough out there? If so, I would like to know. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

CAN CLAY HOLMES STEAL CLOSER ROLE FROM CHAPMAN?

Source: Associated Press

It is a pleasure to watch the Yankees over the last few weeks. They are scoring runs. They are swinging the bat well. Their defense has been spot on, including their pitching. My only anxiety is when I see Aroldis Chapman warming up in the pen. Chapman seemingly has picked up where he left off from last season—unable to focus when he puts a runner on first then loading up the bases with walks. He throws hard but when he is not on, he loses games the Yankees should have won. Yet, on the flip side, when I see cool and calm Clay Holmes take the mound in a challenging situation, I see someone who is ready, focused and unfazed by anything other than the batter in front of him. He is already making a difference in his secondary closer role, but what if he was the closer. Can Clay Holmes steal the closer role from Chapman?

“I think in a lot of ways, he’s simplified things,” Boone said. “We talk about intelligence and he’s a smart guy that understands all the tools available to pitchers these days, how to take that stuff and how to apply it and how to benefit from it. Some guys get overwhelmed by it. Some guys don’t apply it the right way. I feel he’s done all that," reported NJ.com. Boone is referring to the work that Holmes has put into his pitching, which is paying off in a big way for the right hander. 

This season, Clay Holmes has just been stellar. In fact, he’s been one of the most consistent relievers in baseball going 4-0 with an 0.44 ERA. He also has one of the nastiest pitches in the sport— 96-to-98 mph slider. I have been incredibly impressed with his presence when he comes into the game, which as a set up man, is often a situation with guys on base threatening to score. He has command and poise, staring down hitters and performing his craft with great accuracy and precision. 

Source: Sports Illustrated

"A problem for opposing hitters, Holmes might be stealing the Yankees’ closer job from Aroldis Chapman, who had a couple of bad slumps last season and recently has fallen into another. Chapman is a free agent after the season and no lock to return, while Holmes, 29, has two more years of team control. Thus a switch in roles this year for Holmes could last at least a couple of years," wrote NJ.com. 

Source: NY Post

The transformation of Holmes is similar to what we are seeing in his counterpart in the starting rotation, Nestor Cortes. Ironically, Holmes saved Cortes's game in Saturday's 7-5 win over the White Sox. Essentially,  Holmes went from a .5.57 ERA when he was with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2018-21 to virtually unhittable with the Yankees thanks to tweaks to his mechanics that have kept the walks out of his stats and built more confidence to just mix up his stuff, including his lethal sinker.

Source: Sports Illustrated

Holmes will likely see more action with Yankee bullpen ace Chad Green on the IL. And as he steps in more regularly, he will build even more confidence, which is all part of the package of a closing pitcher or for any pitcher for that matter. This is an area where Chapman has really suffered, hurting his performance and his dependability out of the pen.

Source: MLB.com

Can Clay Holmes steal the closer role? Yes. That may very well be the plan with Chapman likely exiting next season. If Holmes can stay healthy and can keep dealing his nasty stuff, we may very well see him in more and more closing stints this season, setting him up for a great future as the regular closer and potentially an All Star this season. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

PITCHING IN THE BRONX IS STELLAR BUT NOT BECAUSE OF COLE

Source: N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg

Gerrit Cole is the unofficial ace of this Yankee team. He has been since signing with the Bombers prior to the 2020 season. And although he seems to have found his groove, he is not the star of the pitching staff. Watching guys like Michael King and Nestor Cortes makes me feel like that Yankees have found themselves the gritty pitchers who can carry this team. Pitching in the Bronx is stellar this year but it is not because of Gerrit Cole.

"The Yankees’ offense has rightfully grabbed much of the spotlight during the seven-game winning streak they brought into Saturday’s game against the Royals, but they haven’t done it alone," wrote Dan Martin of the New York Post on Saturday evening. And he is right. The positive spotlight on the Yankees offense is completely warranted. It is about time actually. But I can't help but get giddy about Cortez and King. Their work flies under the radar for the most part, and maybe that is good because it enables them to just focus on their work, without the additional the contract stress that follows Cole.

Source: Yahoo Sports

“He’s competitive,’’ Boone said. “I love the way he competes. You can tell he really likes playing the game. There’s a fearlessness to the way he plays the game [and] a joy to the way he plays the game. He wants the ball,” said the Yankee Skipper. 

Michael King has been the other king of the pitching staff. He comes out there confidently and executes. No stress. No nonsense. Just baseball. And good baseball at that.

Source: Boston College Sports

His coach from Boston College, Mike Gambino, is not surprised at King's performance. “I always thought he would be a big league starter,” Gambino said, “and pitch in the big leagues for a long time. But nothing phases him. Ever. People used to mistake his smile and baby face and how nice he is for not being tough and competitive. But on the mound, he’s a killer. No one prepares like he does, and he loves pressure. So what he’s doing so far doesn’t surprise me at all,” reported Mike Lupica for MLB.com.

King entered Saturday night's game against the Royals with a 2-0 record and 20 strikeouts in his 13 innings. Lupica called the Yankee bullpen "the band" and King was just supposed to be a member of this band. "The Yankees' big band in the bullpen features the likes of Aroldis Chapman, Clay Holmes, Chad Green, Jonathan Loáisiga, Miguel Castro and Clarke Schmidt. King, so far, has been the best of them all."

Source: Jason Szenes, New York Post

Excited to continue to watch Cortez and King pitch like superstars this season. They have been nothing short of impressive and they take my mind off Cole who has not shown me his true worth since coming to the Yankees two years ago. Pitching in the Bronx is turning heads; and it is band members King and Cortez leading the way and enabling the Yankees to keep climbing the charts!

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

YOU CAN'T DENY NESTOR CORTES, BUT BOONE DID

The Yankees should have won that game yesterday behind Nestor Cortes. It just made sense. I mean the guy had 12 strikeouts through 5 innings. And then what happened? He was relieved by Chad Green with no score in the game in the bottom of the 6th...and after that? Everything fell apart.  Who do you blame? I know who I blame... and the dude doesn't play anymore... It's Boone.

Pinstripe Alley writes:

"The Orioles finally put the game away in the eighth inning. Jonathan Loáisiga never really had it, loading the bases with one out and bringing up lefty pinch-hitter Rougned Odor while southpaw Lucas Luetge was hot in the bullpen. Aaron Boone made the decision to leave Loáisiga in, Odor singled up the middle, and it was 2-0."

 

The Yankees would eventually lose 5-0. Boone dismissed the fact that Cortes was on fire... pitching an immaculate inning, the 39th in history and even bridging to Green when you cannot stop watching the highlight of  Tim Locastro, the animal in the outfield saving an extra base hit with a diving catch. I'll say it again... the Yankees were supposed to win that game yesterday.

And look, it's April, but games against division teams matter regardless. We gotta be able to beat teams like the Orioles!  We did not... that sucks.

Let's tighten it up!

THE TRADE PROPOSAL INCLUDING JASSON DOMINGUEZ THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND!

All I can say is "woah!" It's been a frustrating and slow offseason. The Yankees have sat back and done a lot of observing, which is never what fans want to see. I think the Yankees will make improvements to the roster, but I think it is done by trades rather than free agent signings.

You have to give something to get something good in return, even more so when it is higher valued talent. I have been salivating for the Yankees to get Matt Olson in pinstripes but it is going to cost a lot. It may cost more than what the Yankees really want to spend. This is where my "woah!" comes into play.

MLB insider Joel Sherman had an interesting trade proposal HERE but you have to be a paid subscriber to see it. His proposal includes Jasson Dominguez, Luis Gil and Chad Green for Elvis Andrus and Olson. Hence my "woah!" I mentioned before.

I believe Olson is our long term solution at first base and Andrus would be the stopgap at shortstop until  Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza are Major League ready. That all makes sense but...would trading Dominguez now be a mistake?

I know prospects are just that....prospects. They are not guaranteed to live up to their hype or even become a productive big leaguer. He may not accomplish what Matt Olson already has. It's a gamble and Dominguez is supposed to be a once in a lifetime talent. He's supposed to be the real deal, the player every single team dreams about. He's the Yankees number two prospect and ranked 17th in all of baseball. Then there's Gil who is the Yankees top-ranked pitching prospect at number four and 94th overall. Green also has his own value, he led the Yankees in appearances in the 2021 season.

I think the Yankees improvements this winter will come from trades instead of spending big bucks on free agents. I'm okay with that as long we get good pieces and if it Dominguez is part of a trade it better be a damn good superstar piece but even that I would think twice about. Actually, maybe three or four times.

If Dominguez had to be part of a trade package to get Olson or anyone else on your wish list would you do it? Comment and tell us.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

JONATHAN LOAISIGA NEEDS TO STAY RIGHT WHERE HE IS

Source: AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

The General Managers meeting has been going on all week in Carlsbad, California as Brian Cashman begins to hunt and gather key components for the 2022 team. The Yankees need to win this year. I mean we say this every year, but 2022 has to bring more victory and celebration than defeat and deflation. And as Cashman seeks to find the next best Yankees, one Yankee pitcher has to be off limits: Jonathan Loaisiga. 

"We’re going to continue to reinforce, and we’ve got a lot of teams asking about our bullpen at the same time,” general manager Brian Cashman told reporters according to MLB Rumors. I would agree reinforcing the current bullpen, particular with the inconsistencies we saw in Aroldis Chapman is key. But Loaisiga needs to be coached, nurtured and protected as an up and coming reliever for the Yankees.

Source: AP Photo/Gregory Bull

"Cashman likely would be loathe to give up right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga, who broke out with a 2.17 ERA in 57 games last season. The 27-year-old righty struck out 69 batters in 70 2/3 innings and won’t be a free agent until after the 2024 season," reported MLB Rumors. He needs to more than loathe it, he need prevent any movement on Loaisiga. Period.

Source: MLB.com

The Yankees and lefty reliever Joely Rodriguez agreed to a one-year deal reportedly worth $2 million. This is a step in the right direction for sure. And I would like to see the Yankees keep Chad Green and Clay Holmes as well. I know the Yankees need to weigh their options between free agency and forming trade partners, but I hope the Yankee protect Loaisiga like they do Aaron Judge. He has a future and I want that future to be in pinstripes. 

As the winter trading and free agency market heats up, it is clear the Yankees need to support their foundation with functional players who can add value and chemistry to the team. Let's hope they keep Loaisiga and groom him for success, right here in the Bronx. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

OCTOBER BASEBALL 2021, NOT 1978

Source: Associated Press

The drama was set the moment the Yankees dropped two against Tampa, setting up the one day playoff, the modern day Wild Card, in Fenway Park on an early October night in Boston. The Massachusetts Lottery numbers on Tuesday were 1978. Bucky Dent was in the ballpark. Gerrit Cole was on the mound. The stage was set. All the Yankees needed was stability and control. They got just the opposite. 

Hanging fastballs, and walks set the tone of the game on Tuesday night. Cole seemed to have lost his command following his recent hamstring strain and it showed. The Yankees Ace was knocked out of the game in the third inning after giving up three earned runs. Things quieted down with the bullpen battery that followed, but the game was getting late and the innings clicked by, putting more and more dramatic twists into an already heightened game. 

Chad Green came into the game in the 7th and gave up a double to Alex Verdugo putting the Red Sox up by five, with a lead of 6-1. This performance has been the Yankees Modus Operandi (MO) for 2021: Sloppy pitching and no offense. In 1978, it was just the opposite. Ron Guidry gave the team stability. Reggie Jackson gave the Yankees home runs. And the Yankee lineup produced runs, consistently. Not this team.

The Yankees were not patient at the plate. They did not take pitches and as Alex Rodriguez repeatedly reminded us, when the Yankees draw walks, they win. Instead they came out swinging and overanxious  and it did not help them. No walks. No baserunners. No runs.

2021 was a season of twists and turns, failures and victories, and highs and lows. In a word, the Yankees were streaky and it hurt them more than it helped them. The season for this team has come to close with a 6-2 final in Fenway. The drama is now gone. We can say that next season is another opportunity. And that would be true, except...that if the Yankees come in with the same mediocrity, approach, coaching and yes, Gary Sanchez, then it will be the same outcome. Changes need to happen. Many tell me they won't happen. And if that is the case, we are reliving the Don Mattingly years again, a hamster wheel of repeated activity with no forward progress. I for one hope the hamster wheel breaks and we see a different team in 2022. But for now, you can join me at the Hallmark Channel for the rest of the fall. Good night, baseball. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

MICHAEL KAY CALLS YANKEES JEKYLL & HYDE

Source: NJ.com

The ups and downs of this Yankees team is truly a novel; not a best selling one, but a novel at the very least.  As a person who did the required reading when asked, the last half of this story is a tough one to get through given the roller coaster plot that keeps you on your toes. Perhaps Yankees Play by Play Announcer Michael Kay said it best on Sunday when he called this Yankee performance a "Jekyll & Hyde" season. And given the suspense that the team is putting us through with the different flavors of baseball they are playing, it is going to be a thriller with the potential of an unhappy ending. 

Source: NJ.com

“It’s all in our hands,” Aaron Judge said. “If we go out there and take care of business, do what we need to do, we’re going to be where we want to be in October,” reported MLB.com. But this on again/off again team can't keep consistent, makes senseless errors, oh and there is Gary Sanchez.

Source: Newsday

“Sometimes because Gary is the lightning rod that he seems to be sometimes, a play or two torpedoes some of that or changes that narrative,” Boone said. “I think it’s important to acknowledge the strides that he has made in every facet on the defensive side while also acknowledging a couple of big mistakes this week.” MLB.com. 

For instance, over the last week or so, Sanchez missed a tag at home plate against the Mets, let two wild pitches go in Baltimore, and totally misjudged a pop up against Cleveland. But Sanchez is not the only offender. 

Source: SI.com

Joey Gallo has had a tough start to his Yankees career and his most recent neck injury adds him to the Jekyll and Hyde roster. Gleyber Torres, DJ LeMahieu and Luke Voit are all part of the cast of characters. And coming in from the bullpen in starring roles for this Jekyll and Hyde remake is Aroldis Chapman and Chad Green. Their lack of consistency from the pen is noteworthy of a special award. 

This season has been nothing short of dramatic. Between injuries, and errors, this team has played with no sense of urgency, losing to bad teams and giving up opportunities to not only take the Division but eek into the Wild Card. I can't not root for the Yankees but to be honest this has been a tough team to watch, even when we win. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof