The Yankees are about to get some infield relief and hopefully another lethal bat in the lineup as DJ LeMahieu makes his official 2024 debut after three misstarts. LeMahieu came to spring training and played in games up until he took a foul ball off his foot on March 16th. Then LeMahieu began his first rehab attempt on April 23rd, only to pull back after one inning when he still experienced soreness. After some games with the Rail Riders, where things went a lot smoother, DJ LeMahieu made his way to Anaheim to join his team. Finally, on May 28th, DJ is back. Yes, the season starts today for DJ LeMahieu. And I am rooting for him.
"Manager Aaron Boone has said LeMahieu will be the Yankees’ starting third baseman, taking over for Oswaldo Cabrera (and the now-injured Jon Berti), who did a solid job filling in over the first two months of the season. The Yankees will still likely ease LeMahieu back into full-time action, but his arrival should make the Yankees’ lineup even deeper as he slots into the seven- or eight-hole," reported The New York Post.
Source: NY Post
I think Boone is aspirational if he thinks LeMahieu will be able to take over for Oswaldo Cabrera who has been absolutely stellar on the hot corner for the Yankees. Cabrera has also played some first base and filled in for Gleyber Torres who quite frankly could take a seat ahead of Cabrera in my mind.
"Torres’ defense remains polarizing — he makes some terrific plays but also has seven errors, including a crucial one Sunday that turned into a four-run inning in the 5-2 loss to the Padres. “After every error, you have to clean it up,” Torres said. “It’s a long season,” reported The Post.
I see LeMahieu, if he can get himself going and stay consistently healthy, playing more second base and giving Anthony Rizzo some days off at first base. To make the decision to replace Cabrera at third base without any data to support that is to me, ridiculous. And certainly, he should not displace Anthony Volpe as the leadoff batter with Volpe batting over .300 with a hitting streak. Although I don't think that is even on the table.
Best case scenario, LeMahieu kicks off his three-game series with multiple hits and impactful defense complimenting the Yankees already strong lineup. Worst case scenario, the Yankees rethink how they will use LeMahieu and keep playing the players who have been contributing to this Yankee "dawg" momentum. But for now, it's opening day for LeMahieu- wishing him luck and hoping for the best!
Here's what I have to say. The Houston Astros are not that great, but they have a great manager in Dusty Baker. They have taken advantage of the Yankees' bad decisions, bad offense, bad leadership and overall bad baseball. If I am honest, the Phillies, who are the likely winner of the National League Championship Series, will steam roll right over the Astros as the more dominate team. And if not the Astros, then certainly the Yankees, if they could come back after what has been the most disappointing set of losses in the postseason since 2004. Recall that the Boston Red Sox came back from an 0-3 deficit to beat the Yankees and claim their first World Series since 1918. Yeah, that was bad. This performance is equally bad.
To hear the words, desperate, outmatched, and lifeless as the unfamiliar TBS analysts frame the Yankees to the postseason audience is embarrassing. I want to call the Stadium and see if someone, anyone can find the Yankee team that started off 2022. That team is clearly not this team. And it does not appear they are coming back.
"Even in the latter half of October, manager Aaron Boone is scrambling to adequately fill in the lineup around Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo. In Game 2, he moved Harrison Bader, the club’s hottest hitter, into the leadoff spot and bumped Gleyber Torres, batting .148 in October, to the No. 5 slot. Bader and Torres helped create the Yankees’ runs and opportunities for more, but if anything the shuffle accentuated just how unsettled the bottom half of the lineup remains," reports Yahoo Sports.
Even in front of the media the Yankees don't have a united front—not having each other's back, pointing fingers, and making excuses. The biggest offender is the Yankees' skipper Aaron Boone and guess what he looks like the biggest jackass of them all. Sure, the Yankees look terrible on the field, but Boone makes it worse with bad decisions and even worse excuses. Fans have taken to Twitter to share their disappointment in this Yankee team.
Even with their Ace on the hill Saturday, the Yankees could not back him up with proper defense or God forbid, hits. And this is the game that was supposed to turn things around for the Yankees, well, according to ESPN in their article "4 reasons not to count the Yankees out yet."
"The series starts anew in Game 3. No, you obviously can’t wipe away that the Astros are up 2-0 in the series, but there’s nothing the Yankees can do about that right now. All they can do is focus on what’s next, and the truth is this: Houston just used their best two starting pitchers, and the Yankees are about to use their two best starting pitchers." Doesn't matter how well you pitch. If your team doesn't back you up with offense, you don't win. Ask Jacob deGrom. He knows that story all too well.
The facts are these: the Yankees struck out more than 38 times and only drew five walks in this entire series. Their defense has not done them any favors in the Bronx last night. And they have not had any offense at the DH position nor has their leadoff batter done anything to help them. The Yankees injury-ridden team has been exposed and unless they can somehow wake up and get fired up, this series, and this season is over for them.
What a crazy series in Kansas City. Amidst soaring temperatures, long games, trips to the IL and new guys in the lineup, the Yankees have proven that anything can happen. And that means they need to "Grit it out" as Yankee announcer Ryan Ruocco shared at the opening of Tuesday night's game against the Royals. Aaron Boone also stated to reporters that “You’ve got to roll,” when asked about the long list of positive cases of COVID-19. Cobbling together lineups and wins are keeping this team afloat.
Source: Vincent Carchietta/USA Today Sports, via Reuters
"While most of the Yankees’ positive tests have been so-called breakthrough cases in which a person tests positive despite being fully vaccinated, (Anthony) Rizzo’s vaccination status was unclear. In June, as a member of the Chicago Cubs, he told reporters he was not yet vaccinated, saying he was “taking some more time to see the data” in what he described as a “difficult decision,” reported The New York Times.
Source: New York Daily News
This and other Yankees on the IL have given other Yankees an opportunity to lead and play positions that they are not accustomed. Although Giancarlo Stanton was groomed an outfielder he has only had five starts out there this season, most coming more recently. Rougned Odor is a second baseman playing third as Gio Urshela recovers from the virus. And with Gleyber Torres out with a sore thumb, the Yankees have brought up Andrew Velazquez to make his debut in grand style. Then there is Luke Voit, who is making things interesting with Rizzo out for an undetermined time.
But here's the thing, this cobbling that is happening right now will soon be a distant memory. Take a look at the stacked lineup the Bombers will have once the team recovers.
1. DJ LeMahieu, 2B
2. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
3. Aaron Judge, RF
4. Giancarlo Stanton, DH
5. Joey Gallo, LF
6. Gleyber Torres, SS
7. Gary Sanchez, C
8. Gio Urshela, 3B
9. Brett Gardner, CF
A lineup that NJ.com calls out with glee: "Can you find many more accomplished top five hitters in any lineup in the sport?" Then there is the starting rotation which not only will bring back Gerrit Cole but likely Luis Severino and Cory Kluber.
So September is shaping up to be an amazing month if the Yankees can continue to cobble together lineups and wins to keep the engines running through the dog days of summer.
Right around this time of year, it's insane. Right now there is so much going on in my family as they are becoming older, more mature, and of course the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, my work schedule and the burst of both very busy Yankee news... and then nothing news. Trust me when I tell you, BYB was looking all over the place since this morning to try and find a few nice nuggets to report about in the Yankee world. But we didn't find anything, or should I say, anything too important to report. And so, for a bit today, BYB was silent.
When that happens, and yes, it's rare here at BYB... I think it's always good to just hold a forum of my grievances and/or happiness about this year and our rich past and all that we have accomplished and love. More than that, it's about perspective. And so, there are a variety of things going on, we wanted to share. Check it out...
I was touched by these photos coming to me from Australia the other day from my bud Joey Moses and his lady Samantha who recently were at a Sydney Blue Sox baseball game. Of course, Bleeding Yankee Blue represents because Joey never lets me down.
You gotta love that in 6 years, the BYB brand is slowing creeping around the globe. It's refreshing and it's a wonderful thing to see.
Thanks Joey!
We are family. I know it seems ridiculous, but it was my intention at the beginning of this Bleeding Yankee Blue thing. I promised the reader that we weren't gonna be another Sabermetrics Yankee site and debate stats and all that crap on the regular. I mean sure, we do tackle statistics once in a while. BYB Contributor Ike Dimitriadis loves to do it, and I let him because he's one of the best at presenting it. And BYB newbie Barry Millman does it, but again... he handles it in a manner that isn't overwhelming and nerdy.
Over this past year we have made donations to a few organizations, even schools trying to help out the less fortunate with the little we have here. I even just shipped off a package to a school in New York of BYB gear... wristbands... just to keep kids smiling around this time of year.
I am hoping @CANiPETTITTE will expand on that in a story about our good deed and we'll publish the story here on BYB for all of you to read real soon.
We've seen high level Yankee writers move on t his year. Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News (Read IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL LIFE, MARK FEINSAND) and Wally Matthews bolted ESPN for NY Sports Day.
(Aug. 11, 2016 - Source: Drew Hallowell/Getty Images North America)
We saw "Munson--like" Brian McCann not be so "Munson-like" and end up in Houston... both Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira finally retired, and we watched Aroldis Chapman leave New York, win the whole damn thing with the Cubs, and then re-sign with the Yankees for a whole lot of money. Life's good, huh?
You, the reader saw BYB slow down with news items once in a while, only to speed up again, and part of that is utter exhaustion between my writers and I as well as our busy life schedules getting in the way of our work here at BYB. But through all of it, we are still here for you no matter what... on social networks, Facebook, Twitter. Hell, some of you have my cell. That's true bonding between BYB and our readers. We love you! Don't ever forget that.
Bleeding Yankee Blue has gone over the hump this year. I actually think it happened 2 years ago, but for us right now, I have seen a change for the better. You are wearing our items, even going as far as buying for Christmas for loved ones. We are also happy to report that we're being carried at variety of important places on the web. I just gotta give them all a quick shout out:
Sportspyder.com. Thanks for the help. We are featured there quite often and we love the work they do. Hell, sometimes we even find news items there. A great go-to.
Bleeding Yankee Blue started the BYB Hub 2 years ago, and while not insanely popular it's getting there. That's a one stop shop of all the Yankee and baseball news. We have Section 36, Notes from the Sally, Bullpen, Baseball & Sock Talk and the Traveling Baseball Babes as well. All non-Yankee sites, but specific sites all involving baseball. We have plenty Yankee stuff on there as well. It's a terrific young site, but special to me because it truly gives the beginner sports blogger a chance to be read. It's a long process to get popular, but things are slowly happening and I'm proud of that creation.
(Tim Holle | Brevard County Manatees)
One of the more incredible things we have seen since BYB's birth in September 2010 is the transformation of old to young. The Yankees have some gems in our farm system. Clint Frazier. Justus Sheffield. Gleyber Torres. We saw kids like Jacob Lindgren catch a bad break and be let go.... and we watched Ty Hensley get signed by the Tampa Bay Rays. And while all this change is tough to keep up with as fans, I've been pretty clear about what it means. I try to help give my thoughts to these young players and help give my opinion, getting into the heads of these youngsters...like Ty for instance.
With every team, no matter where they are, it's about opportunity. I see it in my own 14 year old. He's gone from team to team trying to find the right one. He finally did and is valuable for who he plays for now. But it's about timing too. Look at Hensley. Ty's had a few tough breaks... but Ty Hensley's a hardcore dedicated worker. He will succeed. Granted, it didn't happen fast with him with the Yanks, but there is no question it will with the Rays. The Rays NEED him... the Yankees have layers, and it's much harder to break in. It's about making it, not the uniform.
Ultimately, change is a wonderful thing. No, not at the time it happens. When you are thrown change and not ready for it, it can sometimes be overwhelming. But sitting back and taking a deep breath and seeing opportunity... you decide right then what the plan is... and then you execute. Hey, do you think when BYB started back in 2010 I thought we would become what we have now? I never imagined it and the transition and evolution was scary, but the reality is, kindness, hard work and friendship always wins, and when you look at our body of work today... the interaction, the love of the game, the Yankees and each other... it's no wonder we are as successful as we are. It's amazing actually.
This holiday season has been insane for us at BYB this year, personally and publicly. We're trying to keep you up to date on any new Yankee moves, we're still trying to give you updates as large or small as they are, we're trying to cut through the B.S. but still balancing our lives.
Right around this time of year, we're all busy, even you guys! That's because we're all human and many of us have loved one, or children in our lives. In short, we're like all of you. We have to do alittle shopping for the family, we're visiting friends, getting our kid's lists to Santa prepared and shipped off and trying to enjoy our families alittle more than usual. It's the Holiday season. It's what you do, it's what you SHOULD do. Again, you need to sometimes put life in perspective. The holiday season is a great time to do that.
My kids and I have tried to have some family time. We must of watched ELF about 18 times in the past 2 weeks. We find it equally hysterical every time we watch it.
We've gone to the batting cages, the movies, bowling... and in between that I'm trying to shop, write alittle, get a dinner date with my wife, ALONE and still manage to work and make alittle money. The pressure is enormous. My youngest even drew that picture above. While it's supposed to say, 'I went to the batting cages', the picture says it all with that drawn smile, and that makes me happy.
The point is, BYB is about humanity, family, love, conversation and yes, the New York Yankees... all of that. Thankfully we have an audience that does what we do and gets it, and so, if there is no real Yankee news, maybe we take a day off, kind of like today. This allows me to hold court for 5 minutes and rattle off some stuff that's on my mind. I won't shy away from what we do here and it's refreshing that on a day like today, a rainy raw Sunday in the Tri-State area, I can sit here with a fire going and a glass of wine (yup, it's Sunday after 1pm and I'm drinking a glass of wine) and write for you. It's America, I have the right to express myself... and hopefully, you will read and enjoy it.
The Yankees will always be apart of this site. No one is changing that... but it's clear as you read through this post that we're expanding big time. We have new friends, new writers, new ideas. We're not shying away from the old us, but we're adding and it's great.
Hell, every year we get new photos of you guys loving and supporting BYB. Here's our friend Nicole Hart...
Yet, we still have some of the old classics of when we first started. Here's Mikal and Doug.
BYB is a family. A true BLUE family, and it's a place for news and commentary, even when there ISN'T Yankee news. Even when all of us are mad busy to write or read or really sit still for a few seconds. No matter... Bleeding Yankee Blue is always here.
Thanks for letting me ramble today. I am reporting that today, there's not much going on in the Yankee Universe, so we kept it light. You wanna know how light? My youngest kids are sitting in the bay window waiting for Santa Claus to slowly pass by our house in a fire truck, stop, walk up to the door and deliver a few candy canes.
That's Americana right there... that's Norman Rockwell... that's joy and happiness and yes... that's family. And for me, this holiday season, that's putting life in perspective. I love every minute of this time of year.
More stories tomorrow... a slight day off for all of us today.
As always, thank you for supporting us at Bleeding Yankee Blue. Thank you for reading us, sharing up and loving us. We love you too.
Thank you for being the best family ever.
--Robert Casey BYB Chief, Managing Editor & Head Writer @BleednYankeeBlu
I am a fan of getting feeback and info from the Arizona Fall League. My buddy Dave Goode loves it too. He's in Arizona and checks in with me every year because he tries to go to games and get a few quotes for us at BYB because Goode's been a BYB fan since the beginning. In fact, we even interview Goode here a while back because he was a vendor at Yankee Stadium a million years ago, (I kid), and so I wanted to see what he saw in the old Yankee Stadium.
"New York Yankees right-hander James Kaprielian,
their 2015 first-round pick out of UCLA, was outstanding in his AFL
debut Wednesday night, his first outing since he went down in April with
an undisclosed arm injury. He was 94-97 mph with a hard cutter-like
slider that was 85-89 early but slipped a little in his third inning,
and he showed a plus straight changeup with great arm speed at 82-87."
Mike Rosenbaum of MLB.com writes of newly acquired Gleyber Torres:
"Gleyber Torres
may be one of the younger players in this year's Arizona Fall League,
but you would never know it based on the 19-year-old shortstop's
impressive showing in the season's first week.
'I don't try to put too much pressure on myself,' Torres said. 'I
just want to show everybody my abilities and go out there and have some
fun.'
The Yankees' No. 2 prospect
accomplished both of those on Friday night as he delivered a bases
loaded walk-off single to lead Scottsdale past Glendale, 8-7, at
Scottsdale Stadium."
The future of the Yankees looks bright, folks. Here are 2 more examples of that. Gotta love the youth movement.
Keep looking back here for future updates from the AFL, be it actual reporting or some exclusive nuggets from my friend Dave Goode! He'll do his best to try and get exclusive and unique info from the Yankee players for the BYB readers! Thank you Dave!
It looks like Aroldis Chapman could become a Cub at any moment.
Looks like every Yankee fan who bought that No Runs DMC novelty shirt, while nice at the time are now looking at it like it was a waste of money... kind of like my parent's old 1982 World's Fair Tennessee shirt.
You wonder why you bought it in the first place.
Anyway... Word is the Yanks and Cubs are hammering out a deal. Chapman would go to the Cubs, SS prospect Gleyber Torres would go to the Yankees, and they may even throw in more.
Yahoo Sports guy Jaff Passan just tweeted this:
Sources: Aroldis Chapman to Cubs looking likelier. Multiple pieces from Cubs, including Gleyber Torres, are agreed upon. Still not done.
Now you gotta wonder if a guy like Adam Warren would be brought back to New York. After all, Yanks could use alittle pitching too, especially if Chapman goes.
Look, I'm going to sleep. I'm tired. If the Yankees make this deal, we will inform you for sure in the morning. But I at least wanted to share this latest bit of news. Things are happening folks... things are happening.
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