SECRETLY THE YANKEES DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIGASHIOKA

Look, I love that Kyle Higashioka as one of the Yankees catchers, but it was very evident to me that the Yankees don't have confidence that he can take the reigns as their back up or even top catcher if someone like Gary Sanchez gets hurt.

And trust me, with Gary's track record, he's gonna get hurt.

The Yanks came out and said they were satisfied with Higashioka in the backup role, but then, remember what they did? They picked up a crap load of catchers, many veterans with that experience of a backup… Erik Kratz, Chris Iannetta and Josh Thole.

To me, that's a red flag. To me, that's the Yankees saying they're not comfy with Kyle back there.  Hey, it could be me speculating, but I think I'm right about this one.

Anyway, I love Kyle's confidence regardless, and I know that he can probably prove the doubters wrong and I appreciate and respect that. George A. King III of the New York Post writes a great piece on Higashioka and here is some of it:

"Romine’s departure ensured Higashioka, 30, would be Sanchez’s backup in 2020 and, barring a spring training injury, he would be on a big-league Opening Day roster for the first time in his career on March 26 in Baltimore against the Orioles. 

'[March 26] would have been my first major league Opening Day. But, to be honest, I didn’t really think about it during the day,’ Higashioka told The Post’s Ken Davidoff for a Yankees diary entry in March...

Like Romine, Higashioka has a good relationship with pitchers and worked smoothly with Gerrit Cole in the right-hander’s final spring training outing March 10. The true value of a backup catcher is solid defense, because hitting in the big leagues is hard enough for everyday players, never mind those who play once a week. 

However, being Sanchez’s backup the past three years also entails stretches as the No. 1 catcher. Romine handled that well and was considered among the best backups in the game. Now, it’s Higashioka’s turn. 

'He has improved every year and has worked hard at it,’ an NL talent evaluator said. 'Each year he does more. He has a little power and receives the ball well. This past spring training he threw better than he did last year.’"

Look, here's the real situation when it comes to Higashioka. Spring is an early experiment. No harm if things doesn't work out, that's why those other catchers are there. If Kyle does well, those other guys eventually fall by the waste side. If Kyle flounders, you got guys like Thole or Iannetta that can jump in at any moment with that veteran grit.

In the back of my mind I think that Higashioka can prove that he's a terrific back up and hey, maybe even eventually be a starter.  Not sure about the Yankees, but somewhere.

Be sure to read the rest of that King article, it's great.

Happy Friday everyone. Be safe.

CASHMAN DOES IT AGAIN! YANKS ADD MORE DEPTH!

It's not a big splashy move, but it is a low risk move and I can dig it. The Yankees just signed ex-Mets catcher Josh Thole to a minor league deal.

The New York Post writes:

"Thole, a career .242 hitter, joins Chris Iannetta and Erik Kratz as the Yankees’ catcher signings since Austin Romine signed with the Tigers. The Yankees are likely hoping none of them make the major leagues and will provide insurance behind Gary Sanchez and Kyle Higashioka."

Thole would make $600,000 if he makes it to the majors. Thole has not played in the major leagues since 2016 and has since spent time in the minor-league systems of the Tigers, Dodgers and Angels. The Yankees hope they won't have to use him but they definitely aren't taking any chances with their catching depth....and they shouldn't. I think the Yankees are going to miss Romine, he did play in 72 games last year because Gary Sanchez couldn't stay healthy. I like that the Yankees are being extra cautious now.

The Yankees should explore all options behind the plate. Romine's departure means Kyle Higashioka is most likely the Yankees new backup catcher unless something crazy happens in Spring Training. If he is, that leaves a lot of holes in the minors and adding both Iannetta and Kratz gives the Yankees the depth they have been lacking and Thole would be extra insurance. The Yankees filled a major need, so Brian Cashman just made another smart signing.

And who knows....maybe the Yankees aren't sold on Higashioka as the backup catcher all year. It's hard to imagine anyone besides Romine there honestly, so if nothing else this just creates some healthy competition for the season. There's nothing wrong with a little healthy competition, it will keep the guys hungry. We all have high expectations for this team now, so a little extra motivation can't hurt.

The Yankees are rebuilt, retooled and ready for a championship this season. Cashman is doing everything he can to give us the tools we need to succeed and I dig it. Nice move, Cash!

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

WITH A HUFF & A PUFF... THE YANKEES WIN!

In a game that had all the earmarks of an extended battle, Alfonso Soriano put to rest any thoughts of extra innings with an eighth inning blast to the left field seats off Blue Jays hurler RA Dickey that gave the Bombers a 4 – 2 win.

In the first four innings of the contest, Adam Warren limited the Toronto offense to four hits and two runs, yielding two walks and striking out four.  But, after giving up a lead-off home run to Josh Thole (his first of the season) and then hitting Kevin Pillar with a pitch in the fourth, Joe Girardi brought in 28 year-old left-hander David Huff.  From that point on the Blue Jays would manage just one hit off Huff – a chop over the mound by Brett Lawrie. 

The value of what Huff gave the Yankees bullpen cannot be put into words as the group had been worked heavily in yesterday’s double-header sweep.

The blast by Soriano was his ninth as a Yankee (this season) and ruined an otherwise brilliant pitching performance by Dickey who remained sitting in the dugout until well after the game’s finish.

An early highlight of the game for the Yankees was Ichiro Suzuki’s 4,000^th hit (MLB and Japanese baseball combined).  Following a signature single to left, the game was halted to recognize the great hitter’s accomplishment.

For a majority of the game Dickey seemingly owned our boys in pinstripes, but from the fourth inning on Huff matched scoreless innings with the 2012 Cy Young winner.  Both Huff and Warren proved that the Yankees have depth at starting pitching should they need it.

In spite of working both games yesterday, the great Mariano Rivera took the mound in the ninth inning and struck out Mark DeRosa before giving up a double down the left field line to Rajai Davis. 

Mo responded by picking Davis off second, then striking out Edwin Encarnacion to end the game.

Also having a big night – yet again – was Robinson Cano.  The second baseman went 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored.

The excitement of tonight’s win is tempered by the fact that the team lost Jayson Nix for an extended period with a broken hand.  He was hit by a Dickey pitch in the second.  What move the Yankees make to fill in the hole that is left with the loss of Nix is yet to be determined, but David Adams might want to stay by his phone.

The Yankees hope to finish a sweep of the Blue Jays tomorrow at 1:05 when Andy Pettitte takes the mound.  For now, the team is on a roll and has won its fourth consecutive series. 

Final: Yankees 4 - Blue Jays 2

Anyone else feeling 1978-ish?


    
--Steve Skinner, BYB Guest Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1

 

The Bleeding Yankee Blue store is opened! CLICK HERE TO START SHOPPING! Also, follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue (Official) on Facebook, just type it in.

LOOKS LIKE THE BLUE JAYS ARE CLOSE ON RA DICKEY

Damn... talk about getting dicked, right? RA Dickey totally treated with disrespect by the New York Mets, Dickey defends himself and he's called selfish by the Mets.  Well, screw them Dickey, glad this trade may work out in your favor!  Finally, when all is said and done, it looks like the spat between Dickey and the Mets may be over. 

It's being reported that the Mets are trading Dickey to the Blue Jays along with Josh Thole, and a prospect for 3 Toronto players, John Buck, Travis d'Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard.  All this information is coming from Ken Rosenthal from FOX Sports, HERE.

Here is the kicker though; The Jays have a hard window of trying to lock Dickey in with an extension. If they don't do it by Tuesday at 1pm, the deal falls apart most likely.(HERE)

Stay tuned for this. Sure, you may not care about RA Dickey, but you should care about the Blue Jays if you're a Yankee fan, they're stacking themselves to be contenders.

 Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.