THE YANKEES JUST LANDED JASON PARKER

Remember when Luis Cessa and Justin Wilson were shipped to the Red for a player to be named later? The Yankees got their player. It was announced last night.

Yahoo Sports writes:

"The Yankees have acquired RHP Jason Parker as the player to be named later in the deal that sent Luis Cessa and Justin Wilson to the Cincinnati Reds back in July.

Parker, 23, went 4-3 with a 4.05 ERA (80.0 IP, 63 hits, 33 walks, 91 strikeouts, 7 homers) in 19 games (18 starts) in his professional debut with Low-A Daytona this season."

And Red Leg Nation writes more about Parker so you can get to know him:

"This season Jason Parker spent all year in Low-A Daytona where he made 18 starts and one relief appearance for the Tortugas. He was not rated among the Cincinnati Reds Top 25 Prospects. He posted a 4.05 ERA in the Low-A Southeast in 80.0 innings pitched. While there he gave up 63 hits, walked 33 batters, hit 10 others, and struck out 91 of the 337 hitters that he faced.

A quick scouting report has Jason Parker throwing a fastball, slider, and a change up. His fastball worked 88-91 MPH and topped out this season at 93.4 MPH. He relied heavily on his slider – throwing it more often than his fastball at times – and it worked in the 78-82 MPH range. He would also mix in a change up in the low 80’s."

I would have been fine with a bucket of balls. Anyway... the deal is done. All good however... we have some time to develop him. I have no problem with this move!

Welcome Jason!

A LIST OF AWFUL YANKEE LOSSES

This is a classic post. Our guy Doug Solomon with a breakdown of all the awful Yankee losses this year.  Very, very interesting stuff. take a close look.

I don't always post here at BYB... but when I do, I like to share some glaring concerns I have. The latest is this list of horrible losses by the New York Yankees... and it keeps growing. These are the ones that stand out so far this year, although there were others too. Check it out.

April 7th vs. Baltimore: 

After Baltimore scored the Manfred Man in the 11th, the Yankees got theirs to 3B with 1 out for LeMahieu, who hit a line drive to right. But it was caught by Santander, who threw a strike to home and nailed Gio trying to score the winning run to end the game. Any loss to Baltimore hurts.

April 14th vs. Toronto: 

Bo Bichette hits a walk-off dinger off Chad Green leading off the bottom of the 9th in a 4-4 game to end it.

May 28th vs. Detroit: 

The Yanks took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 10th and somehow were using Justin Wilson to close it out in the 10th. Wilson got the first out and appeared to get the second out on what should have been called strike 3 to Robbie Grossman, but it was called a ball. The next pitch, Grossman hits walk-off homer and the Yanks lose 3-2.

June 10th vs Minnesota: 

The Yanks were going for the sweep of the Twins and took a 5-3 lead to the bottom of the 9th. Chapman entered the game with a 0.39 ERA, but gave up a single and a game-tying HR to Josh Donaldson. Then another single, followed by a walk-off 2-run homer to Nelson Cruz.

June 30th vs. Angels: 

Yanks led 8-4 in the 9th after scoring 7 in the first inning off Ohtani. Chapman walks the leadoff batter, then after a forceout, walks the next 2 batters to load the bases. Boone leaves Chapman in and he proceeds to give up a game tying Grand Slam to Jared Walsh. Chapman is pulled (too late) and Luetge replaced him and he walked the first batter, then gave up a single sending the go ahead run to 3B. After a strikeout for the 2nd out, he gives up a 2-run single to Luis Rengifo and Angels take a 10-8 lead and win 11-8.

July 4th vs Mets: 

The Yankees led 5-4 going to the 7th of a 7-inning game. Despite Chapman’s meltdown vs. the Angels 4 days earlier, he comes in for the save and immediately gives up the game-tying HR to Pete Alonso, then puts the go ahead run on base by hitting Conforto. After a walk to McNeil, Chapman is pulled and replaced by Luetge, who promptly allows a single and (after a strikeout) a go-ahead double to Jose Peraza to essentially win the game (Yanks didn’t score in the bottom of the 7th). Mets win 11-5 with 7 runs in the 7th inning.

July 11th vs. Houston: 

New York was going for the sweep in their first series in Houston since the controversial 2019 ALCS. Yanks had a 7-2 lead going to the bottom of the 9th and tried to allow Domingo German to start the inning after 2 innings of relief. After first 2 batters reached on German, Green was brought in and promptly gave up a 2-run double to Chris McCormick to make it 7-4. Then Abraham Toro doubled in McCormick to make it 7-5 and Castro singled to put runners on the corners before Green got the first out. But with 2 on and 1 out, Altuve ended it with a walk-off HR off Chad Green. Houston had scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 9th to win 8-7.

July 22 vs. Boston: 

The Yanks took a 3-1 lead to the 9th and brought in Chad Green. After a strikeout, Verdugo singled and Dalbec singled, but then Plawecki flied out, so the Yanks were 1 out away. But Enrique Hernandez doubled off the wall and both runners scored to tie the game. Yanks were able to score the Manfred Man in the top the 10th to take a 4-3 lead, but Yanks (with Loaisiga out due to COVID), had to turn to rookie Brooks Kriske in the bottom of the 10th and Kriske was terrible. He walked the leadoff batter, then threw 2 wild pitches allowing the tying run to score and the winning run to move to 3B and a Hunter Renfroe SAC Fly ended it.

July 25 vs Boston: 

Yanks had a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the 8th in this one and Domingo German had a no-hitter through 7 innings (including having struck out 4 batters in the 7th). The no-hitter was broken with a leadoff double by Verdugo and Loaisiga came in and promptly allowed a double to Renfroe, scoring Verdugo to make it 4-1. Vazquez singled --- 4-2. Cordero singled and then Enrique Hernandez doubled to make it 4-3. Britton came in to try to save it and got a groundout, but that scored the tying run 4-4. Bogaerts then hit a SAC Fly to make it 5-4 Boston and they held the Yanks in the 9th to win 5-4.

August 12 vs. White Sox: 

The Yanks have an amazing comeback in Iowa after training 7-4 with 2 outs in the 9th. Judge 2-run HR makes it 7-6, and after a walk to Gallo, Stanton hits a dramatic go-ahead HR into the cornfield off Liam Hendricks to make it 8-7. Britton comes in for the save, but after getting the fist out, walk Danny Zavala after starting out ahead 0-2. Tim Anderson then promptly hits a walk-off 2-run HR for a 9-8 White Sox win.

And why are these losses happening? 2 things... bad decisions & a shaky bullpen.  Think about it.

--Douglas Solomon

   BYB Guest Writer

DO THE YANKEES HAVE ALL THE RIGHT PIECES TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS?

Source: Newsday

I loved this line in our noble leader Robert Casey's latest post (here) about acquiring Andrew Heaney seconds before the tradeline deadline hit, "It's pieces like this that make it better for the Yanks." The "pieces" he is referring to are Joey Gallo, followed by Anthony Rizzo, and now Heaney. But the real question is "Do the Yankees have all the RIGHT pieces to make the playoffs?"

Source: New York Post

The New York Post's Ken Davidoff did not give the Yankees high marks for their pickups because he felt they gave up too much in Luis Cessa and Justin Wilson "in order to stay under the $210 million luxury-tax threshold and couldn’t find a taker for Luke Voit." I will be honest, I felt that giving up Cessa was a real loss, given our lack of consistency and depth in the bullpen. Wilson on the other hand has been ineffective. But it is not just pitching that is on the hook for the pickle the Yankees are in right now. 

The Yankees simply cannot leave runners in scoring position like they did so blatantly in the game against the Marlins on Saturday evening. Gary Sanchez, although more effective in more recent weeks since dropping that leg kick, still can't seem to consistently knock in runs with the bases loaded. This is just a mere example of the kind of disadvantage this team puts themselves in when they leave runners on the pond, and unless these new pieces can do something about that, the Yankees will not move any closer to the post-season in 2021.

The other point I'd like to make here is that this has to be a team effort. No one can do this alone. It is not Gerrit Cole's role to lead this team, nor is it Aaron Judge's or Rizzo's. It is a collective effort- no one on this team stands out ahead of the rest, even if some have loftier contracts than others. They are all responsible to produce. And when they don't, it is the team's fault. 

So, my question is have the Yankees done enough? Do they have the depth to get things done? With the dog days of summer now, here as we step into August, have the Yankees put themselves in the winners' column? Can they turn this disaster of a season around? It is up to them. The ball is in their court. And collectively, they either go for it and give it everything they have or it is back to the drawing board for Brian Cashman or maybe even the unemployment line. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

CESSA & WILSON ARE GONZO

It was fun... but now it's over. Both Luis Cessa and Justin Wilson are gonzo. They were just aquired by the Reds.

MLB Trade Rumors has this:

"In a surprise transaction, the Yankees announced they’ve traded relievers Luis Cessa and Justin Wilson to the Reds in exchange for a player to be named later. Cincinnati designated Ashton Goudeau and Edgar García for assignment to open 40-man roster space....

                                                               In Photo: Ashton Goudeau

Goudeau bounced around waivers throughout last offseason. He now seems likely to wind up back on the wire after making five MLB appearances for the Reds this year. He’s tossed 31 innings across eight appearances (five starts) with Triple-A Louisville, working to a 4.65 ERA with a below-average 16.1% strikeout rate. García has also spent most of the campaign with the Bats. He’s been quite good in Triple-A but hit hard over his five big league outings.

From the Yankees perspective, the deal frees some payroll space and clears a pair of spots on the 40-man roster."

And that's it... which makes you wonder what will happen next?  Are that Yankees about to make a big pickup somewhere?

Stay tuned.

SIGH, SOCKMAN SENT TO SAN FRAN

Source: The New York Times

The news broke just before first pitch and the chatter on Twitter was fierce. But it was all true. I am sad to see Mike Tauchman go across the country as the Yankees appear to be covering for lackluster starting pitching with a middle reliever and a player to be named later.

Yankees pick up Wandy Peralta, a 29-year-old left-handed pitcher who is 2-1 with two saves and a 5.40 ERA in 8.5 innings of play this season. Peralta is the third left-hander in the Yankees' bullpen after closer Aroldis Chapman and Justin Wilson. Recall that Zack Britton is on the 60-day IL following elbow surgery and is expected back in June. The Giants appear to have gotten the better end of the deal as Tauchman has been a great pinch runner with his speed, plays all outfield positions and began training at first base after Luke Voit's injury. Voit is also expected back in June. 

"The Giants were in search for an outfielder with Mike Yastrzemski -- who like Tauchman also bats left-handed -- dealing with an oblique injury. Yastrzemski had an MRI on Monday, which revealed "a very mild oblique strain," according to manager Gabe Kapler," reported ESPN.

To fill the void left by Tauchman's exit, the Yankees recall Tyler Wade from their alternate site. Wade who can play both outfield and infield positions, has been a great defensive replacement in the late innings. Wade also puts some speed in the Yankee lineup but he simply cannot hit, which has been a liability for the Bombers. 

Source: NJ.com

Well, the Yankees beef up their bullpen but lose one of the good guys, and hard workers. He will be missed, particularly by my son, who always felt that the Sockman got a raw deal and little opportunity to play with Clint Frazier and Brett Gardner splitting time in left field. Good luck, Mike. I hope you do well out in San Francisco and you get a lot of playing time. I look forward to catching you when you play on the east coast against the Mets and the Phils and be sure I am rooting for you from the stands.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

YANKEES GIFTED A WIN THANKS TO THE BRAVES

Source: AP Photo/Kathy Willens

I have been quite vocal about the Yankees' performance over the last three weeks of the season. Honestly, that's just it. It has been only a few short weeks since the 2021 season began. But the holes in this team's clubhouse are dense. From poor defense to lackluster offense, this team is struggling. It took the small ball and poor Braves' pitching to lift the Yankees to a 3-1 win over Atlanta and an end a pitiful five game losing streak.

"The days of Aaron Judge hoisting up Ronald Torreyes or “Savages in the batter’s box” feel like a different generation. The word that keeps resonating with me is “stale,” like there was a stay fresh date that has expired on this core. Maybe a binge of homers will change it or a benches-clearing incident like early in 2018 at Fenway when that seemed to stir a sleepwalking team toward 100 wins," wrote Joel Sherman of the New York Post. 

This Tweet by a reader continues to ring in my head as I watched the Yankees last night. "Can we all agree that the problem with the @Yankees IS Boone & the fact that he places so much emphasis on being a “power hitter” instead of the defensive side of the ball & being a skilled position player?" I would also like to add that Aaron Boone cannot manage pitching either. Not sure why Boone chose to take out Chad Green when he did last night after a great performance in relief in favor of Justin Wilson. It worked in the Yankees' favor but Green was terrific, as is most of the bullpen this season. They have had to pick up a fair share of innings due to the Yankee starting pitching appearing to be more like senior citizens, brittle and broken than pitchers for the most decorated ball team in baseball.  The only diamond of the starting pitching rotation is Gerrit Cole. The rest...sigh. We don't even have the consistency and grace of Masahiro Tanaka. I really miss him.

The Yankees really needed last night's win. And I am glad they got it. But it does not change anything about this team. They have talent but they need a manager that can lead that talent and make decisions based on more than just analytics and past practice. Sometimes you have to manage based on the situation, based on your knowledge of the game and based on your gut. And that means making difficult decisions, demoting players who are not performing and placing hitters in the lineup where they belong, not always dictated by the opposing pitching or data. 

The Yankees take on the Braves again tonight and then usher in the Cleveland Indians to round out the weekend before heading to Baltimore next week. These next five games are not only important but critical for the Bombers. Let's hope the Yankees snap out of this bad dream and start playing baseball the way they not only are expected but capable of playing. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

THE YANKEES INJURY BUS IS GETTING FULL

Enough with the injuries. Everyone's getting hurt. Except for Giancarlo Stanton, which is crazy to me, but whatever.

The latest few victims are Justin Wilson and Asher Wojciechowski. I hate when pitchers get hurt, and it's happening a lot lately. Just recently it was Zack Britton. It sucks.

The New York Post writes: 

"Injuries aren’t good at any time, but particularly not right at the end of spring training. Southpaw reliever Justin Wilson left Monday’s game with left shoulder tightness, and is set for an MRI exam Tuesday morning. Wilson’s fastball velocity was slightly down, but that can vary game-to-game in spring training under normal circumstances. Boone said Wilson “had a hard time getting loose” and that “there’s a chance it might not be that big a deal.” Given that the Yankees are already missing Zack Britton, losing another high-leverage reliever could be a substantial challenge to overcome."

And then of course there's Asher Wojciechowski. WFAN writes about him and his lat:

"Asher Wojciechowski left Sunday’s Yankees-Blue Jays game in the bottom of the seventh inning after feeling something in his right lat muscle. With one out in the seventh, Wojciechowski immediately reached for his right arm near his bicep after throwing a 1-0 pitch to Teoscar Hernandez.

Wojciechowski, 32, was a non-roster invitee to Yankees camp after signing a minor-league deal this winter. "

The Yankees are dealing with a lot, but they are winning and ultimately are looking good, but injury can kill a franchise... and we have to figure out why this is happening so often. 

YANKEES GET ELBOWED WITH THEIR FIRST MAN DOWN

Source: USATSI

Sigh. Injury. Sigh. Tough news coming out of Yankee camp on Tuesday and it will certainly impact their bullpen. 33-year-old relief pitcher Zach Britton will undergo surgery to remove a bone chip from his elbow and will likely miss the first two to three months of the regular season. The Yankee pitcher will fly back to New York where he will have surgery in the coming days.

Britton went 1-2 with a 1.89 ERA and eight saves in 20 appearances during the shortened 2020 season. He is a treasured part of the bullpen and his presence will be sorely missed as the Yankees look to make a quick seize on the AL East in the early part of the 2021 season.

Source: SB Nation

"I appreciate the support from everyone. We all have daily challenges we have to overcome in order to reach our goals," Britton tweeted. "Just have to keep pushing ahead! I will get this taken care of during the upcoming week and be back as soon as I can," as reported by ESPN.

Britton actually has not made a game appearance this spring and only discovered the injury after a bullpen session that left the Yankee pitcher sore. He was looking to make up for lost time as he suffered from a case of COVID-19 that set him back in January.

Source: NBC Sports

The Yankees added depth to the bullpen this offseason by picking up former teammate Darren O'Day, and former Met Justin Wilson. Perhaps the blow won't be as bad given these deals but still, Britton has been consistent and a great stand-in when Aroldis Chapman is not available. 

Source: NY Post

Injuries are never welcome but perhaps this time, the timing is actually on point. Yankees third baseman Gio Urshela underwent surgery to remove a bone chip from his arm in December and after a couple months of rehab seems to be a full strength. We could see Britton in early June if all goes well and until then, the Yankee bullpen depth will have to get them through. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

JUSTIN WILSON ADDS DEPTH TO THE YANKEES ROTATION

Source: USA Today

With Yankee phenom Clarke Schmidt shockingly shut down due to elbow soreness, Brian Cashman pulls another rabbit out of the Yankee magic hat. The Bombers sign LHP Justin Wilson to a one-year contract on Tuesday with a potential for an extension in 2022. Adding Wilson gives the Yankee much needed depth to a new rotation which could prove to be a winning rotation if carefully managed.

According to MLB.com, "Wilson, 33, spent the 2020 season with the Mets, going 2-1 with a 3.66 ERA (19.2IP, 8ER) and 23K in 23 relief appearances. Overall, he held opponents scoreless in 18-of-23 outings, allowing more than 1ER in just two appearances." He could be stretched out and utilized as a starter, an opener or a long reliever, giving the Yankees some additional flexibility.

"I’m really excited about him. He’s somebody that I think we kind of early on in the winter time identified as someone that could potentially impact our club,” Boone said. “We think he’s going to be another good complement to what we hope is a really special bullpen," reported the Associated Press. Wilson will pair nicely with a veteran bullpen which includes Aroldis Chapman, Zack Britton, Chad Green and newly signed Darren O’Day. 

The Yankees have made some key moves this off season, but will they be enough? The team needs time to gel of course, and the talent is there, so now it comes down to performance. Time will tell but hopefully the additional depth will give the Yankees an opportunity provide adequate rest for their pitchers leading to better outings and more wins. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

THE YANKEES HAVE THEIR EYE ON MORE THAN ONE RELIEVER

So while we are left to wonder if the Yankees will make a late move and bring Brett Gardner back I am also watching which reliever the Yankees are going to sign. I really expected to have this answered last night.

So you already know that the Yankees have been watching David Robertson and I am all for David Robertson: Part 3 but the Yankees also have their eye on Justin Wilson, another former Yankee. It is rumored that Wilson "prefers" to return to the Mets but....who knows.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are in "serious" talks with Wilson according to cbssports.com so this could come down to the battle of New York. Which NY team could lure Wilson? I have to admit it would be nice to have another lefty reliever as long as the Yankees can get Wilson's control issues under control. That is the one area that really concerns me about Wilson. He can serve as more than just a lefty-on-lefty match up. 

The Yankees are very familiar with both of these guys. I would love to see Robertson come back and rebound from the last two seasons. He did well here before and he can handle the pressure. If he can rebound and help the team win again then it would be a fantastic reunion story.

I'm interested though to see how this Wilson connection pans out. He's pitched well for the Mets the last two seasons and the Mets are a different team now with new leadership and new faces. It is an exciting time to be a Met, so I wonder if the Yankees can sway him.

Spring training is here, it's THIS week so free agents are going to come off of the board very quickly. I am just intrigued to see what Wilson chooses. It's the rebirth of a New York rivalry already, and I kind of dig it.

  --Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

     BYB Managing Editor

    Twitter: @nyprincessj

BOONE LOGAN? I'LL STAY!

Are the Yankees reuniting with Boone Logan?

Good Lord I hope not, but it sounds like the Yankees and the Mets are going to try and "out do" each other to try and land him. Normally, I hate to lose to the Mets but in this case I would be thrilled to. I may do a cartwheel even! Please Mets.....offer him a crazy contract and sign him.

Hold on to your Yankee hats, according to the New York Post HERE New York really wants Boone Logan to move back east. Both New York teams aren't the only ones interested, Seattle and the Rockies are also interested in re-signing him after an impressive 2016 season. The free agent list of available starting pitchers this season is pretty pathetic. It may be the worst in the last decade so teams are going to look to bolster their bullpens to make up for it. I smell a bidding war in the making.

I just hope it isn't the Yankees. On paper, Logan had a good season holding opponents to a .166 BA in 66 games but I am not convinced that this wasn't just a fluke. I want to give Logan the benefit of the doubt here and say he reformed his game but I am also looking at disappointing seasons in 2014 and 2015 where he had ERA's of 6.84 and 4.33 respectively. Then of course....I can't stop thinking about how much we constantly called him the lefty specialist that couldn't get lefties out while he was a Yankee. There are just too many bad memories for me so yes I am skeptical.

I know we need pitching, a lefty especially after we traded away Justin Wilson, Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller but how desperate are we here? I am still haunted by August 15, 2013. The Yankees and Angels were playing. The bases were loaded and Chris Nelson was at the plate and hit a grand slam. That wouldn't have stung as bad if it was Mike Trout but....really? Nelson? A guy we had for about five minutes to fill a temporary need. That is a tough pill to swallow. Oh what I wouldn't give to erase this memory from my brain.

Between all of the inconvenient injuries during his time with us and his sloppy pitching after awhile I changed his name to Boob Logan and thought of him as the new Sergio Mitre... the forever thorn in Casey's side and the reason Bleeding Yankee Blue was created. It's good to see Logan finally have some success with the Rockies, but maybe that has to do more with who he is playing for. The Rockies are also rebuilding but it's not the same pressure as playing in New York. Nothing is, and that is why I think the Yankees should review all of the previous aggravating game replays and just pass.

Once was enough for the Yankees. Go ahead and take him, Mets!  The left handed reliever market is actually pretty good this season. Why try what has already failed and look at someone else.....like Brett Cecil perhaps? That I could get behind. Just because you make the call it doesn't mean you pull the trigger.....right? I'm just going to answer my own question and say yes to make myself feel better. I guess we will wait and see what happens.

 --Jeana Bellezza, BYB Senior Writer & Editor
  Follow me on Twitter: @NYPrincessJ