THE PARROT FLIES TO THE WINDY CITY

A quick note...

Edwin Encarnacion and the Chicago White Sox have reached an agreement on a one-year deal for $12 million. In 109 games last season, Encarnacion batted .244 with the Mariners as well as the Yankees. With just the Yankees, he hit .249 with 13 home runs and 37 RBIs in 44 regular season games.

His new deal also includes a club option for 2021 at $12 million, coming after Chicago signing of 2015 Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel.

Nearing his 37th birthday, Encarnacion is still capable of top-notch hitting. Even though Suzie Pinstripe says, "the White Sox are the team players go to to die," could this be what the team needs to add some power to their line up?

What do you think? Are you sad to see him go? Comment.

--Missy O'Rourke
BYB Contributor
Twitter: @missy_orourke

FREE AGENTS THE YANKEES CAN'T AFFORD TO GIVE UP

Source: San Diego Union-Tribune

As the Yankees head into November, so much is up in the air with regards to pitching, sluggers and more specifically free agents.  It is very clear that if the Yankees don't bring in big name starters, yes plural, they will not be able to close the deal and head to the World Series.  We saw the importance of pitcher Stephen Strasburg who was named World Series MVP as the Nationals beat the Astros in seven games.  The Nats starting pitchers were consistent and they ate up innings, unlike the Yankees' starters who could barely make it to the fifth inning, taxing the bullpen and depending on offense late in the game to lift the team to victory.

Source: USA Today

Austin Romine: The infamous Yankee back-up catcher, Austin Romine has contributed so much to this Yankee team.  "An argument can be made that Sanchez hasn’t lived up to the hype, and with every passing year plagued by injuries and postseason draughts, his potential takes a deafening hit. For the Bombers to make a splash in the postseason and reach the World Series, they desperately need Sanchez to play his best baseball." reported Empire Sports Media.  A second argument is that Romine has stepped up despite not getting as many swings at the plate or time in games. Losing him would be devastating.  Trading Sanchez would be a better option.  We need a catcher that can lead and support starting pitching.  If the Yankees go for Gerrit Cole, having Sanchez behind the plate is a liability.  "Romine doesn’t have starter Gary Sanchez’s power or throwing arm, but he’ll likely get multiple multi-year offers because he works so well with pitchers and he has a reputation as a clutch hitter. A good landing spot for Romine could be the Los Angeles Angels because they need a quality receiver and he’s a Southern California native who lives close to Anaheim," reported NJ.com.

Brett Gardner: The passionate heart of the New York Yankees, Brett Gardner is coming off his best season as a Yankee, blasting 28 home runs and 74 RBIs.  "His 2019 season mostly as a fill-in starter was very good– maybe the best of his career – and the Yanks not only want him back, but they need him in 2020 to be their starter in center field until Aaron Hicks returns in June, July or August from Tommy John surgery. The Yanks also greatly value Gardner’s leadership," reported NJ.com.  Sign him...very simple, even if Hicks was healthy.

Source: NJ.com

Didi Gregorius: The infield leader and ultimate player-coach, Didi Gregorius is a must-sign.  He is the pulse of the team.  He gives the team life.  In 2020, Gregorius starts the season at 30-years-old.  He is an incredible athlete and although he started the season late due to his 2018-season ending surgery, Gregorius came back and hit with power in so many clutch situations in 2019.  "The Yanks could opt to go with Gleyber Torres at shortstop and play DJ LeMahieu at second base next season, but they’d be much deeper with Gregorius returning. It’ll probably come down to money.

According to spotrac.com, Gregorius has a market value of three years and $40.7 million, and that may be too pricy for the Yankees’ liking," reported NJ.com.  The Brewers are in need of a starting short stop.  As much as I want to him, the Yankees may not agree and use the money for starting pitching.  In my book, he stays, without question.

The rest of the free agents are guys like Edwin Encarnacion (who was given a 5 million dollar buyout but could come back at a discount just before the season), Dellin Betances, Cory Gearrin, and Cameron Maybin.  Let's hope the Yankees make smart deals in this off season when it comes to free agents and save some cash for premier starters who include Strasburg who will also be testing the market.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

THIS SHOULD BE THE YANKEES ALCS STRATEGY!

We all know that games can be won or lost based on a manager's decision. The players have to do their part of course, but strategy is important and that falls on Aaron Boone. The Yankees are in a tough spot right now. The Yankees are down two games to one, and Boone needs to make some adjustments to change the momentum here.

It's easy to sit behind a computer screen and talk about what's wrong, we've already seen that. We need solutions, not just pointing out what went wrong. So that being said, here's what I would do:

1. Give Austin Romine a shot

As much as we love Gary Sanchez's bat, its not working right now. He's got a power outage. He's pressing too hard at the plate and he just looks lost. He has only three hits since returning at the end of the regular season from his groin injury. I don't think permanently benching Sanchez is the answer here because I still believe in Sanchez when he is healthy and productive but that's not happening right now. Maybe a breather for Game 4 will help Sanchez regroup and Romine calls a good game from behind the plate. Maybe that will help our pitchers and keep Houston off balance a little. It certainly couldn't hurt.

2. Bench Adam Ottavino, utilize Chad Green!

I think Green was pulled way too early the other night. He was on point and the Astros were off balance. He had no signs of struggle at all but he only faced six batters and threw 21 of 26 pitches for strikes. Ottavino has been so important to the Yankees this season, but the more looks a hitter gets at a pitcher the better advantage the hitter has. Houston has seen Ottavino plenty of times between the regular season and now in EVERY GAME of the postseason. Houston knows what to expect. Ottavino has faced 18 batters and 10 of them have reached base. He has given up six hits and three runs in just 2 1/3 innings.  The guy who once said "I would strike Babe Ruth out every time" can't seem to strike out his opponents just one time. He needs a breather, and even though Boone sounds like he will continue to use Ottavino in high leverage spots it's not to the Yankees advantage anymore.

3. Put the right bats in the right place! 

The heart of the order needs to be tweaked. I like spreading the left-handed bats out in the lineup but Tuesday's lineup made no sense. No offense to Brett Gardner but, he shouldn't be batting third and protecting Aaron Judge in the #2 slot. The guy that SHOULD be protecting Judge is Gleyber Torres and hopefully Edwin Encarnacion wakes up offensively and gets some better pitches to hit if he continues to hit fourth.

4. Push EVERYONE

This isn't just for Boone to fix, it's a team weakness but still important. I think Boone can be too soft at times. He gave the bullpen some extra rest during the end of the regular season to get them ready for extra work in the postseason. That extra work is here, and the bullpen is already feeling it. The Yankees COULD have four games in a row now thanks to yesterday's postponed game. The Astros already got a good look at our bullpen. It's time for the starters to step up and do their jobs! The bullpen has pitched more innings than the starters have. In fact, Masahiro Tanaka is the ONLY Yankee pitcher to pitch more than five innings in the postseason since 2012 and that's just not acceptable. Our starters need to set the tone and get deep into games. We already know Tanaka can do it, but now we need that extra push from both James Paxton AND Luis Severino who really struggled on Tuesday.

The Yankees have their work cut out for them and it won't be easy....but it is possible with the right strategy and execution. Let's get a win and get back on track today!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

WHO DO YOU PLAY AT FIRST BASE?

There's been a ton of injury surrounding first base for the Yankees.  Both Luke Voit and Edwin Encarnacion have been back and forth on the IL.  Mike Ford is solid and having the time of his life, but there are questions as to if he's the answer.

Love this article from Empire Sports Media. It spells out a lot:

"The options including Encarnacion, Luke Voit, and Mike Ford, are a tricky bunch to sift through, despite the midseason trade acquisition likely filling in as a designated hitter. In that scenario, it ultimately boils down to Voit and Ford, both of which have had their ups and downs this season. Voit, who suffered a sports hernia and was on the injured list from July 31 to August 29, has been working through a significant slump. Just in September, Voit is hitting .194 (14-for-72) with only two homers, eight RBIs, and a .673 OPS over 22 games. More recently, he is 1-for-32 at the plate. 

Even if Encarnacion makes his return from an oblique strain, the first base position remains wide open. Ford has been the better option lately considering his .259 batting average and 12 homers through 50 games. The first baseman has proven he can be a quality hitter at the plate and serviceable in the field. In September alone, Ford is slashing .364/.447/.727 with three homers and 10 RBIs. His play this month has proven he can be a quality option."

I have to tell you... I tend to give Ford his shot as well. I lean Ford! Put Voit or Encarnacion at DH and call it a day.

Whatever the case, I am really looking forward to this ALDS. It's going to be exciting, fun and stressful. As we all know, being a huge team all season means nothing going into the playoffs.  Yanks just need to be tougher in a short series.  Very excited to see. Can't wait.

Go Yanks!

EDWIN ENCARNACION COULD BE READY SOON!

I feel like I always write that headline. Ridiculous right?

Edwin Encarnacion has been fun on the Yankees. We all love the parrot thing now, where before he was on our team we hated it. And when we needed him, he's been a good player for us. But... he's also been hurt a lot.

Now he looks like after his latest injury, he could be back just in time. That comes from Bryan Hoch. Check out his Twitter:

Edwin Encarnacion’s return to the lineup is likely to come during the Rangers series. Boone said Encarnacion won’t be ready Tuesday at TB ... Wednesday is a possibility.

— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) September 22, 2019

Looking forward to this dude back in the lineup!

YANKEES SWEEP, BUT AT WHAT COST?

Thanks to weather this season, the Yankees have played seven doubleheaders. This is the most in a single season in almost 40 years, however, the Yankees have posted a 13-1 record in the 14 games.

Just an odd fact, but the Yankees are the first team to sweep as many as five doubleheaders in a season since the 1996 Reds and sweep six doubleheaders in a season since the Orioles and Pirates in 1979. They are also the first Yankees team to play as many as seven doubleheaders since 1982.

Despite the sweep, we suffered three losses. Edwin Encarnacion left with a strained left oblique, J.A. Happ with bicep tendinitis, and Gary Sanchez with groin tightness.

"It's something I've had in the past," Happ said. "I feel like I can manage it. I have been able to manage it."

Aaron Boone did not seem like he was too worried about Encarnacion's injury.

"He felt it in his first at-bat. Obviously homered in his second at-bat, and my understanding was he was fine swinging," Boone said. "We hope it's minor and we got ahead of it but we won't know until we get him checked out."

Sanchez said he exited the game before anything got worse.

Source: NJ.com

"Running toward the dugout I felt fine," Sanchez said. "Then I put on my equipment and once i squatted behind home plate, that's when I felt it tightening up. I thought it was the smart thing to say something to prevent it from getting worse."

These are three key players on the Yanks, so safe to say it is okay to feel worried. However, nothing seems to be too serious we should have them for the more important games coming up. 

"Obviously those are really key people we're talking about," Boone said. "I'm optimistic, frankly, on all three of them. We'll hope that the news we get back in New York and the treatment moving forward makes these things not long term."

--Missy O'Rourke
BYB Contributor
Twitter: @missy_orourke

DESIGNATED HITTER ROULETTE: WHO'S IN? WHO'S OUT?

Source: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

Spinning the wheel and winning is pure luck, despite what gambling folks say.  And the Yankees are gamblers any way you slice it.  They take risks, they give guys chances and they certainly try different scenarios.  But something that is going to be particularly interesting is the Yankees' ability to play the right players at the right time in the impending post season that likely awaits this team.  And one of the slots that needs to be filled with a big cannon is the designated hitter position.  Spin that wheel...and hope it does not land on Giancarlo Stanton!

Source: NY Post

“We’ll see. I don’t know yet. I do feel like he’s getting close to really start ramping it up in game situations,” Boone said about Stanton. “So I think it’s reasonable to think that he can get a decent amount of at-bats here late in the year. But we’ll just see,” reported the New York Daily News.  And Boone has also said that Stanton would not automatically be slotted as DH.  He could play the outfield, which is equally concerning considering the team we currently have on the field that includes Mike Tauchman, Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge. Backing them up are Cameron Maybin, Clint Frazier and potentially Aaron Hicks if his latest set back doesn't impede that.  Where does Stanton fit in to this mix?

Source: NY Post

"There was an encouraging sign from first baseman Luke Voit, who smashed a long double to dead center field in his fourth time up" in last night's game against the Red Sox.  "To that point, Voit was 4-for-22 with just one extra base hit in seven games since coming off the injured list, missing a month due to a sports hernia," reported NJ.com.

Source: The Seattle Times

Also encouraging was Edwin Encarnacion who absolutely crushed a two-run home run way over the Green Monster into Lansdowne Street in the 4th inning.  He walked the parrot later smashed a double to lift the Yankees to their victory against the Sox.  He is a better contender for the DH slot than anyone else on this team and will likely also platoon with Voit at first base.  Stanton certainly can't play first base.

Source: Newsday

If Gary Sanchez's bat stays hot, he would contend for DH from time to time as well. Austin Romine will likely take on some catching duties with back to back games and rough series against both AL and hopefully one NL team to decide the championship.

Source: Elite Sports

So even though Stanton is an expensive commodity with 8 years left on his on his 13-year $325 million deal, will he even be up to speed to be lethal at DH let alone defend in the outfield?  He has played a mere 9 games this season and he has less than a month left to get ready.  Let's not put the Yankees' post season hopes in jeopardy.  Right now, Stanton is really only a crap shoot.  We don't what we are going to get from him and to take him on the roster for an unknown contribution is a serious liability.  Stanton in my mind is out! Who's in and who' out of your post season roster?

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

WHEN WILL EDWIN ENCARNACION RETURN?

A lot of players are starting to come off the IR these days.  And what it does is provide a log jam, especially because the fill-in guys have been doing such a great job, and now there will be roster moves, some even being sent down to AAA. Not because they haven't performed, but because there's just no room.  We will have to see what happens at first base next, because Edwin Encarnacion could be returning.

Newsday writes:

"Edwin Encarnacion is tantalizingly close to returning to the Yankees, having completed his rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre about a month after landing on the injured list with a fractured wrist. Aaron Boone said Monday that Encarnacion could be reinstated Tuesday, though he said he’d have to check with the first baseman/DH first. 

Encarnacion confirmed the end of his rehab assignment to the Scranton Times-Tribune, saying: 'I feel good. I feel healthy. I feel 100 percent.'”

Stay tuned for this one. It could affect Voit or Ford. We will see.

TORRES IS DAY-TO-DAY! HIP-HIP HOORAY?

I'm starting to believe the Yankees use the same doctors that also cleared Kevin Durant to play in the NBA finals. If you don't follow basketball, I will save you the research and tell you that decision didn't turn out well.

In a bizarre turn of events, Gleyber Torres will avoid the disabled list....for now and Thairo Estrada will go back to Triple-A. Yes, I say for now because I am skeptical. None of this makes a lot of sense. The Yankees have already had a season plagued with injuries with 25 different players landing on the disabled list at some point this season. Torres was going to be 26, but now he's not. I should be happy about that and I want to be but....nobody knows what is going on.

MLB has a good story on this HERE, Aaron Boone tried to quickly pass this off as a sigh of relief and good news, but I don't buy it. How is it possible that after rounds of tests doctors have no explanation for the core pain Torres has experienced? It's not a sports hernia, or a strain but we don't know that is isn't anything to worry about either. This could be a premature celebration.

It just doesn't add up. Torres was pulled from Sunday's game but tests didn't show anything that night. The Yankees used him as a DH on Monday. He reported no pain, and said he thought his core pain was caused by swinging too hard. I guess that's not far-fetched but then on Tuesday he was once again pulled from the game in the third inning and was sent for tests again. Nothing showed up in those tests.

The Yankees have been winning despite a ton of injuries all season. It makes you wonder if we should be questioning our conditioning staff and our doctors. If we don't understand what Torres is dealing with, how can we treat him and get him healthy again? How can we do that with our other injuries? Are we correctly treating the injuries that Aaron Hicks, Edwin Encarnacion, Giancarlo Stanton and Luke Voit have? There are too many unknowns here to feel confident with going forward.

But for some reason, Boone feels good about this. When asked if he was concerned about Torres' condition he said "I guess a little bit, sure, but we're also encouraged that we don’t think it’s serious, nor does he, for that matter." How can we really say we don't think it's serious when we don't understand what is causing his core pain? "I guess a little bit" doesn't sound like we are out of the woods with this.

I've been skeptical all season. I just think something doesn't add up. Torres is a gamer, all of these guys are. They are going to try and play through their pain and say it isn't serious because they don't want to miss any time. They want to be their for their team. I can admire that, but getting healthy is more important as we get closer to the postseason.

There has to be an answer here. Are these doctor just not being thorough? Are they not running the right tests? Are the Yankees taking too much risk by handling Torres on a day-to-day basis?

I want to feel good about this "encouraging" news....but I don't. Not yet.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

YANKEES WOW US TO THE MOON AND BACK

Source: The National Geographic

50 years ago this week, three Americans took to space and landed on the moon.  At 9:32 a.m. EDT Apollo 11 lifted off from Pad A, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Believe it or not, it was an incredible milestone in American history and success for its space program.  Apparently, I was one of the millions of spectators who tuned in from their living rooms to listen and watch this moment.  I was 8-months old.

Source: SNY

The Yankees seemingly wanted to commemorate this milestone as a crew of four players, Edwin Encarnacion, DJ LeMahieu, Aaron Judge and Didi Gregorius, launched moon shots to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-3 on moon day.  The incredible Yankees continue to wow crowds across the nation, and even if you don't like the Bronx Bombers, you can't help but be impressed with what this team has accomplished this season.

Source: NY Post

Much like the fascination with space and love affair of what it represents with regards to inquiry and discovery, the Yankees truly are writing their own fair tale story this season as they look to also meet a milestone: taking part in the World Series in every decade since their humble beginnings.

Source: BRAD PENNER/REUTERS

"They last competed for a title 10 years ago—a blip for most teams, but an eternity for the most successful franchise in North American professional sports. If they fall short again, it would mark the first calendar decade the Yankees failed to appear in a World Series since the 1910s—before Babe Ruth, numbered uniforms and their ballpark in the Bronx," reported the Wall Street Journal.

Source: JOHN RAOUX/ASSOCIATED PRESS

In a land where Failure is Not An Option, the Yankees have to live up to the expectations set by not only their fans but their administration who are in the game to win. "Steinbrenner expects the Yankees to vie for a championship every season. Anything less constitutes failure. That means for almost a decade, the Yankees have failed," according to WSJ.

Let's hope that last night's win is a foreshadowing of things yet to come for this battling team, in this last decade to keep the streak alive.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

ARE THE JUDGE'S CHAMBERS BACK OPEN?

Source: WNEP-TV

Are the chambers back open tonight? After missing over 50 games for the Yankees, it seems like Aaron Judge is headed back to the Bronx and will hopefully be in the lineup tonight or at some point this weekend.

On Tuesday night Judge was looking a lot like his old self, hitting an opposite-field bomb during his Triple-A rehabilitation game. Following the Yankees’ win against the Rays the same night Boone said "it's certainly possible" that Judge can rejoin the big league squad as soon as Friday. Not only are we ready to have our star back with the squad, but Judge himself feels ready.

Source: ESPN

"I've been ready," Judge told reporters, "It's just about getting the reps in and making sure this thing stays healthy and I have no issues. And there haven't been any issues, so I’m ready to go. But those guys are rolling up there, so I don't know if I can crack that lineup. We'll see."

Source: Newsday

With Giancarlo Stanton and Judge about to be reunited in the outfield, what does our lineup look like going forward?  DJ LeMahieu has been thriving in the lead off spot since being placed there in April, hitting .462 with RISP, so it is unlikely he will be moved down in the order. The same can’t be said for Aaron Hicks. Currently he is hitting .198, so maybe a bump down the order is necessary at the moment.

Source: NJ.com

Judge could be placed in the second slot, he’s most comfortable in the top of the order and it is where he has hit for most of his career.

3B DJ LeMahieu
RF Aaron Judge
1B Luke Voit
C Gary Sanchez
LF Giancarlo Stanton
SS Didi Gregorius
DH Edwin Encarnacion
CF Aaron Hicks
2B Gleyber Torres

Could this be how our weekend is looking? Quite a list - glad to have them all at the party in the Bronx as the Yankees battle Houston for the last time until, hopefully, October!

--Missy O'Rourke
BYB Contributor
Twitter: @missy_orourke