THREE YANKEES WE MAY SAY FAREWELL TO

Of course, it is never nice to think about your players leaving your team to play for someone else but it is the reality of baseball. After this 60-game stint, it is safe to say that these three Yankees have probably played their last game in the pinstripes. 

The first player that is probably leaving the Yankees is Masahiro Tanaka. After returning from the scary hit from a line drive during Summer Camp, Masahiro started tweeting what felt like farewell messages. After he said that they were meant to celebrate the end of a seven-year deal, but it did not feel like that. Nothing is official, of course, but right now it's all about the vibes, and the vibes say Tanaka will not be returning.

James Paxton is next on the list of Yankees we may be saying farewell to. The Yankees are growing stingier, so the first issue is if they are willing to pursue Paxton without the guarantee that he won't need Tommy John surgery in the future. Along with that, even though the pitcher's numbers have been great (never posting an ERA over 4.00 in a season), he's never made more than 29 starts in a season. It seems likely the Yankees may pass on him due to the risk based on his health outlook.

It seems as if most people know that Gary Sanchez was never supposed to be in the Bronx long-term. I think it will be easy to say goodbye to Sanchez, especially after watching Kyle Higashioka successfully take over the behind-the-plate duties for ace Gerrit Cole. 

Sanchez had an incredible run in 2016, and an All-Star year in 2017, but after that began to underwhelm in the '18 and '19 seasons. He was usually on the IL due to groin issues and when he actually could play, he did nothing but strikeout. This continued into 2020 and I think it is safe to say fans have been ultimately disappointed with the once amazing catcher.

What do you think? Are we going to say goodbye to these players in the offseason? 

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

THE YANKEES NEED TO STEP IT UP IF THEY WANT A LONG POSTSEASON

If the Yankees want their postseason to last more than a few days, then they really need to step it up. The latest series against the Blue Jays has turned the team from the wild-card-round hosts to the wild-card-round visitors. This season has definitely been a rollercoaster ride with tons of highs and lows. However, ending on a low would not put the Yankees in a good spot to begin their postseason. 

“We obviously are going to have to play better if we’re going to advance in the postseason,” Aaron Boone said. “Hopefully [this] can springboard us into playing some clean baseball this weekend. Hopefully, get the bats going a little bit and head into the postseason.”

Another postseason concern for the Yankees would be playing most of it away from their home. It is proven the Yankees play better in Yankee Stadium, so it is a concern for the players.

“We always seem to play well at home and obviously on the road is a little more of a challenge. Playing on the road and then heading out to the West Coast hopefully [for the American League Division Series and Championship Series, it’s] definitely something we have to turn the page and try to block out. Play our best baseball no matter where we’re at,” said Brett Gardner. 

The Yankees are good enough to win and we as fans know that. However, there are a few Yankees that need to step it up for their team if they want to make it past the wildcard. 

To start off, Aaron Boone needs to get his team back into shape. They went from a 10-0 stretch of games back to the sloppiness that made us nervous to see. Boone needs to light a spark under the butts of the players and get them driven to finish off the season strong. 

Aaron Judge has hit .185 since returning from the IL with 10 strikeouts. He has not hit a home run, and only driven in one run. This is not the Judge we know and love. With only three games left in the regular season, it would be nice to see him show some resemblance of his former self. 

J.A. Happ seems most likely to pitch Game 3 of the Wild Card round for the Yankees...if they make it that far. After a rough start to the season, Happ got it together and has a 1.93 ERA in six starts. If he can continue staying hot, it could be really great for the team. Hopefully, with his past postseason experience, Happ can make it happen. 

--Missy O'Rourke

BYB Contributor

Twitter: @missy_orourke

IS GIANCARLO STANTON BACK?

Before I write this I am going to knock on wood as to not jinx the fact that Giancarlo Stanton might finally be back. He was activated once again on Tuesday after missing 32 games due to a strained left hamstring. Before getting injured Stanton was hitting .293 with seven RBIs and three homers, so he did start the season off strong, and looks like he will finish that way too.

Last night Stanton was on the first on the field before the first pitch getting ready with new stationary stretches that are part of a new warmup introduced to ensure he can stay healthy. This also includes a mid-game routine. It makes me happy to see him taking the injury seriously and taking steps to avoid it happening again.

He really is a valuable asset to the team. Just last night he went 4-for-5 against the Blue Jays, finishing the game just a triple short of the cycle. It was hist first four-hit game since July 23, 2018. 

"Definitely my balance and timing felt much better today than the first game I played," Stanton said. "Just gotta keep feeding off that, keep working off that and keep it rolling."

Last night's big night for Stanton was needed after doubts during his 0-for-4 performance on Tuesday night. During the bottom of the first he launched a 111.2mph line drive for an RBI single to get the night started. 

His next time at bat an almost homerun earned him a double. Then the following inning he made up for his last at bat and smashed a homerun. He wasn't the only one to do so either, four other Yankees hit homeruns to earn the Yankees a new franchise record.

Now that Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres are back as well, the Yankees are looking like a scary good team once again. 

"With all of us in there at once, it’s something special," Stanton said. "Something fun to be a part of and I’m looking forward to it. Coming together at the right time."

Not only are fans seeing the effort Stanton is making, Aaron Boone is seeing it as well. He admires the work the slugger has been doing to get back onto the field as quickly as possible while also working to prevent any future injuries.

"He’s been preparing, he’s been getting his mind ready for this and he’s focused," Boone said. "Obviously a lot of great at-bats for him tonight."

Now the Yankees have eight wins in a row after a bad streak, and things are starting to look up for the post season. Let's hope the Yankees can keep this amazing momentum going.

--Missy O'Rourke

BYB Contributor

Twitter: @missy_orourke

THE YANKEES NEED TO FIGHT THROUGH ANOTHER INJURY PLAGUED SEASON

Last night Aaron Judge left the second game of a doubleheader against the Braves due to a right calf issue. 

“We are waiting on the results but it seems like a recurrence of what he had before. Pretty much the same spot and everything,’’ Aaron Boone said Thursday on WFAN. “It does seem minor in nature again, but it is something that could turn into an IL stint again. It tightened up on him, which was a little bit similar to before. I think he understands, hopefully minor, but a setback. I think he is obviously frustrated.’’

Even though the Yankees' star is struggling with an injury-plagued season, there is some positive news about DJ LeMahieu that could mean him getting off the IL soon. 

“DJ hit on the field live [Thursday] with Giancarlo [Stanton] and DJ is going to get some at-bats [Friday] in Scranton and be back this weekend,’’ Boone said of LeMahieu.

Another positive note regarding Judge's injury is that after he was removed on Aug. 11, the team won five games straight with him out as well as Stanton, LeMahieu, and Gleyber Torres. The team can still do it without their best guys. However, it would be great to see our guys really step up the plate and go above and beyond during this tough time. 

Gary Sanchez is hitting .139 in 23 games. Five of his 10 hits have been homers though, meaning when he does hit it usually ends up being worth it. In 21 games this season, Brett Gardner is hitting .172 with a .290 on-base percentage, 52 points below his regular-season career average. Aaron Hicks is hitting .192 in 23 games with two home runs and 15 strikeouts. 

The Yankees really need to start hitting like we know they can, especially during the Subway Series this weekend, and especially with the plague of injuries that is once again haunting this team. 

--Missy O'Rourke

BYB Contributor

Twitter: @missy_orourke

HAVE THE YANKEES MET THEIR MATCH?

Going into this season, it was safe to assume that the Yankees' biggest issue was going to be COVID-19. It turns out that their biggest issue is actually the Tampa Bay Rays. After this series against the Rays, the Yankees are 1-6 against the team, making them the team's new nemesis. They have also been knocked off their first-place perch, falling half a game back from the Rays.

Not only did the series against the Rays take our number one spot, but it also took some of our players due to injuries. Zack Britton was placed on the IL due to a strained left hamstring and was joined by Gleyber Torres who also had tightness in his left hamstring. Worst of all, James Paxton is out with left elbow and arm discomfort. 

“Adversity’s coming our way, whether we like it or not,” Aaron Boone said. “That’s part of this game. That’s part of being a major league athlete and player, and I don’t care how great of a season we have and we expect to have a great season and hopefully finish with a championship.“But adversity, we know, is inevitable. It’s going to come in different ways, unexpected ways, and certainly, in 2020 it’s been a lot of unexpected ways. I do feel like we’re uniquely equipped to handle it and deal with it, and that’ll be the expectation as we grind through a tough spell here with some injuries and a tough series.”

The battle is not even close to being over as the Yankees have three more series to play against the Rays. They might have more luck against their new nemesis if Aaron Judge, DJ LeMahieu, and Giancarlo Stanton can get healthy for the next time up. Not going to lie, this feels like a bad repeat of what happened to our players last season, and I'm not the only one who thinks that.

“It’s crazy it’s happening again,” Luke Voit said. “But you know what? We’re going to fight through it.”

Now, the Yankees' next game against the Mets has been postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests from their opponents. Meaning that there might not be any New York games to watch this weekend. However, the Yankees could benefit from a few days off to hopefully recover some injured players as well as reset mentally. 

Let's hope they can because this is starting to feel a lot like the last season when we lost so many players. The losses against the Rays are not helping morale either. It is time for the Yankees' to turn this adversity around and come out stronger!

--Missy O'Rourke

BYB Contributor

Twitter: @missy_orourke

IT'S TIME FOR THE YANKEES TO EXTEND DJ LEMAHIEU

DJ LeMahieu is locked in this summer. After recovering from COVID-19, the 32-year old has been making a difference for the Yankees. According to an NL scout, LeMahieu is smart because he can easily predict what a pitcher is about to throw. His numbers definitely back this statement up with a .431 bathing average and .479 on-base percentage.

“I feel pretty locked in right now, just part of a really good lineup and try to do my part to get on base,’’ LeMahieu said after a four-hit game Wednesday night from the leadoff spot. “If I get on base I feel like we are in good shape to score runs.’’

With how well LeMahieu is playing in just 18 games and his over .400 average, the Yankees need to keep him around in the future. After this season's World Series, he will be a free agent and I can tell you he will be in demand. 

“He is a special hitter, a guy who uses the whole field,’’ Boone said of LeMahieu. “He has pop, handles righties and lefties. He is a great hitter, tremendous bat-to-ball skills. He does a great job of laying the bat head in the zone for a really long time.’’

LeMahieu's first season for the Yankees is another reason they need to extend his contract. In 145 appearances he achieved .327/.375/.518 and a career-high 26 home runs and 102 RBIs. He was also an All-Star, Silver Slugger, and finished fourth in the AL MVP voting. All of this earned him the nickname "LeMachine." All of this just to improve in 2020. 

If you were not convinced enough already on why the Yankees need to resign him, he proves himself valuable by being a versatile player who can play numerous positions. He is a valuable leadoff hitter because he consistently gets on base. Brian Cashman also considers LeMahieu to be the "de facto" captain of the team and Ken Rosenthal said he would find is inconceivable that the team would let him walk.  

So Yankees, it is time to extend DJ LeMahieu's contract! It would be silly not to. 

--Missy O'Rourke

BYB Contributor

Twitter: @missy_orourke

THE YANKEES ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE PHILLY

It is safe to say that the Yankees' past series against the Phillies has been a rollercoaster ride. The series started off strong with the Pinstripes winning 6-3 on Monday, then they dropped the first game of the Wednesday doubleheader losing 7-11, picked it back up Wednesday night going 3-1, and then split the series Thursday night losing 4-5. 

That's not the only reason the team is ready to leave Philadelphia. Even though there are no fans allowed at games, that did not stop the "Phandemic Krew" (a group of Phillies' fans named after the pandemic and Bryce Harper's son Krew) from going outside of the stadium to cheer, even going so far to hire a drumline. 

During their Thursday night game, it came as a big distraction when they began blowing airhorns and hitting cowbells every time the Yankees tried to hit. Aaron Boone ended up talking to the umpires to try and see if there was something that could be done about the distraction. 

“It sounded like a horn was going off as the pitch [was thrown],’’ Boone said. “In the environment, we’re in, it’s almost like a golf environment. I thought there was a timing element to it, maybe,’’ Boone said. “Obviously, I didn’t think [the umpires] would be able to do anything about it. I didn’t necessarily know who or where it was coming from, but it was at least something I wanted to point out.”

The players were not as bothered by the noise, but they also were not very surprised that the Phillies fans would go to such great lengths to be a distraction. 

“You could hear it,’’ Mike Tauchman said of the noisemakers. “It was pretty loud. Philadelphia is known for having a pretty passionate fan base. Those guys want to find a way to support their team even though they can’t get in the stadium. And that’s how they chose to show their fandom tonight.”

What do you think? Was it messed up for the Philadelphia fans to do this against the Yankees? Or is it a smart move on their part?

--Missy O'Rourke

BYB Contributor

Twitter: @missy_orourke

AARON JUDGE IS THE HERO AGAINST THE ORIOLES

Last night was a long one for the Yankees and the Orioles with a few rain delays reminiscent of Yankees Opening Day, but this time the game was able to be finished.

At this point, the Yankees have had a 17-game win streak over the Orioles, and it was looking like it was going to be an easy 18. Luke Voit's grand slam helped put the team in the lead 5-0, but J.A. Happ gave up a pair of two-run homers, then Jonathan Loaisiga gave up another two-run shot which let the Yankees trail behind.

Aaron Judge wasn't going to let his previous strikeouts get to him, and knew he needed to make a big play. With the go-ahead runners on base, he gave one big swing.

“I knew this was my time to come up and forget about the past and come up big for my teammates,” Judge said on a Zoom call from Baltimore. “They were counting on me. It’s times like that you got to get the job done.”

His second home run of the year saved the Yankees and earned them their 18th straight win over the Orioles. Judge said he was inspired by watching DJ LeMahieu's single to the opposite field, putting him and Gio Urshela in a good spot to get the lead. 

“I had a good view of DJ’s base hit to right field. A lot of pitches, I was kind of pulling off, not really staying through it in the middle of the field,” Judge said. “Kind of seeing a nice swing from DJ locked me in. I just had to come up big.”

Next up, the Yankees are headed back home to play their rival Red Sox. Even though they won't be able to have fans to cheer them on, the team is looking forward to being back in New York.

"This team loves to play in New York, so we’re excited about that,” Judge said. “It’s definitely going to be different, Yankee home opener with no fans. That’s one thing I always look forward to every single year is that place gets rocking on Opening Day for us. During the intros, everything like that, it’s something special."

--Missy O'Rourke

BYB Contributor

Twitter: @missy_orourke

THE YANKEES TAKE THE FIRST WIN OF 2020

After waiting four months for baseball to start, the Yankees were not even able to get a full game in against the Nationals thanks to some insane weather, however, the Yankees were able to secure the first win of 2020. Through five innings the Yankees were up 4-1 with some great plays by the team.

Thankfully with the extra time to prepare for the season, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, and Aaron Hicks were able to heal from the injuries that would've otherwise kept them out of the beginning of the season. 

Sadly before the tarp was rolled out, the Yankees had runners on the corners with just one out but they were able to make some great plays before that. Stanton launched a two-run home run in the first inning off of Max Scherzer scoring Judge. Love this for the outfield duo.

The 2-0 lead was lost when 12 pitches into Gerrit Cole's New York career Adam Eaton hit a homerun. Cole was not too happy about this and was seen yelling into his glove after walking off of the field. On Wednesday Cole said he has actually had some trouble sleeping leading up to his Opening Day start due to the excitement of finally playing on the team he loved growing up, so it is understandable why he was irritated. But, the team was able to continue supporting Cole by taking advantage of a few mistakes from Scherzer to bring their lead to 4-1. 

It seems almost fitting that 2020 can't just let us win by letting us get a full game last night, but it is so exciting to finally have the sport we all love back. 

--Missy O'Rourke

BYB Contributor

Twitter: @missy_orourke

THE YANKEES ARE GETTING READY FOR OPENING DAY

Good news! Aaron Boone and Matt Blake are feeling good about Masahiro Tanaka's first bullpen session back since getting hit by a Giancarlo Stanton line drive on July 4. Even though Tanaka is looking crisp, Boone warns that he might not be ready to pitch his first start.

“I probably would be a little bit surprised if it was the first rotation through,’’ Boone said of Tanaka, who threw 30 pitches in the pen workout. “And then again, it is seeing how his next bullpen goes, seeing how facing live hitters go and what is the best decision for us and Masa as far as do we want to build him up entirely at the big-league level or do we want him to continue to build up and get to a point where he is built up more like a starter? Those will be conversations that we have internally and with Masa, for that matter.’’

Blake was impressed with the way that Tanaka recovered from the scary hit. The most important part is to make sure that Tanaka doesn't feel hesitant to be back on the mound and can understand that it could possibly happen again.

“I think he has been really good about how he has processed it all. He spent some time talking to Chad Bohling, our mental skills guy, just to make sure they are going through the necessary steps in terms of how he is processing that moment and what it means going forward,’’ Blake said. 

Now for some other Yankees updates!

Aaron Judge was back on the field and working out with the Yankees after being scratched from an intrasquad game last week. 

Gerrit Cole will have his final start today ahead of his Opening Day start. 

“We will probably keep him similar. I think he threw 85 [pitches] the last time. We will probably keep him around there,’’ Boone said. “He pushed pretty hard the last time on a pretty hot day. We will keep him there with the idea he would obviously go on the sixth day.’’

Lastly, since fans won't be in the crowd during the games, the Yankees will be playing crowd noises and music into the stadium. Reliever Tommy Kahnle thinks that this will help keep the players positive. 

“Some kind of noise, even when you are playing, it gives you a big adrenaline boost. I think it will give a better situation than just being out there with no sound, you could hear people talking. It is a good idea to do that but I did see a video today and it looked like the noise was a little too loud but I am sure they are just kind of working with it right now.’’

Even with noise and music playing, the team will still have to be cautious when it comes to any foul language and talk in the dugouts since the microphones will be able to pick up on more.

Get excited everyone, baseball is ALMOST back...finally!

--Missy O'Rourke

BYB Contributor

Twitter: @missy_orourke

OBSTACLES CLINT FRAZIER WILL HAVE TO OVERCOME TO GET ON THE YANKEE ROSTER

I know this isn't the most popular opinion, but I have a soft spot for Clint Frazier. I've written about it before and I think it would be great to see him back in the upcoming season. But right now, Frazier is in baseball limbo.

When spring training originally began, many Yankees still had injuries they needed to nurse back to health, giving Clint Frazier the chance to potentially take a spot in the outfield. However, since the season has been delayed because of COVID-19, many of our injured players such as Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, and Giancarlo Stanton were able to heal up. Now, Frazier is buried back under a number of other names that are more proven in the outfield position.

The first obstacle Frazier needs to overcome is a case of plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of a thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes, but it does not seem to be having too much of an effect on him according to Aaron Boone.

“Clint has had a little plantar fasciitis, but it really hasn’t held him back,. We have held him back in the early going of getting him out in the outfield,’’ Aaron Boone said on a Zoom call.

The next obstacle Frazier will face is going to try to get onto the 30-man roster, which will then dwindle down to a 26-man roster. With only a short amount of time of training left, he will have a precious amount of time to prove himself against Miguel Andujar most likely taking either left or right field. 

Even if Frazier does earn a spot in the lineup and roster, keeping the spot is going to be another obstacle. Last season, he had many ups and downs, but the ups were really great. During the first 18 games of 2019, he had a .324/.342/.632 and six home runs. He helped the Yankees through a tough April and then ended up on the IL himself. 

Lastly, Frazier needs to make sure he can keep his relationship with the media positive. When he was making all of his mistakes last season, Frazier refused to talk to the media and created a lot of tension which was just not a good look for the Yankees and for himself. 

This season Frazier does not have time to afford a health setback or media tension. If Clint could get a chance to get hot this season, it would definitely make for some fun games. I hope that Yankees give him a chance to prove himself in the upcoming short season!

--Missy O'Rourke

BYB Contributor

Twitter: @missy_orourke

GERRIT COLE TAKES THE MOUND AT YANKEE STADIUM

As spring training part 2 begins for the Yankees, Gerrit Cole is already throwing close to triple digits. The ace took the mound in an empty Yankee Stadium, not donning the classic pinstripes, but a Nike shirt and shorts to try out his new home.

“He is pretty close to game speed. I think it was 95 to 99 [mph], so we are in a game-ready velocity,’’ first-year pitching coach Matt Blake said on Zoom "Now it is kind of fine-tuning it and sustaining over longer pitch counts. I think he feels good about where he is, and obviously, he is always a critic of himself, kind of tightening things up whether it is a certain pitch to a certain location."

Cole has been working since COVID-19 shut the MLB down in March so he could be ready for whenever he was called back to play. Judging by the work he put in yesterday, Cole is jumping right into things. 

“He looked good today. He’s moving right along [with] his progression so we actually went three [innings] today and kind of set the bar for what we’re going to build on,” Matt Blake said of Cole being ready for the regular season in three weeks.

Being in good shape is important if Cole is able to start against the Nationals on July 23. The Yankees know that their ace has been the talk of all social media since he has been signed, and teased his performance on social media. 

Since the normal spring training is six weeks long, the concern about the health of the players is definitely heightened during this shortened period. 

“I think the biggest thing with taking inventory of all these guys as we were going along and making sure we knew the pulse of how they were training and how consistent it was being so we weren’t asking something of them that they hadn’t been doing over the last 30 days or two weeks coming into camp,” said Blake.

Blake has also mentioned that the Yankees plan to hold their pitchers to a 50-60 pitch limit during the hiatus as to not push their arms. By the season start, he plans to have the starters ready to throw four-six innings. 

It's happening people... baseball is coming back!

--Missy O'Rourke

BYB Contributor

Twitter: @missy_orourke

THINGS TO FIGURE OUT BEFORE OUR YANKEE SEASON STARTS

On July 1st, the Yankees will begin "spring" training... take two. Before this happens, Aaron Boone will have some decisions to make. With only 60-games this season, figuring out how to run the roster is get the most wins while keeping everyone healthy is incredibly important. If he can accomplish this, the Yankees have a great shot at the World Series.

Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks, and James Paxton should be all set for Opening Day. The only missing piece is Aaron Judge. On social media, Judge keeps saying how excited he is to get back to baseball, but at this point, it is safe to just be cautiously optimistic about his return. If we don't have him back at the beginning of the 60-games, we may have him by the end.

A big question is: what is Miguel Andujar's role this season? During Spring Training, Andujar was practicing to take over the left-field as Hicks was supposed to be out to the All-Star break, and Brett Gardner was going to take center-field. Now Gardner will be moving back to left-field with center-field going to Hicks. Since Stanton might be the team's DH, Andujar is left in limbo. With a great bat going to waste, Boone will have to fit him somewhere into the line-up.

It is hard to predict the 30-man roster, but with extra men, Boone will have to figure out where to put them. The bullpen is a safe bet to create more depth so they don't burn out their starting pitchers. The bench will be a good place to but Andujar in case he needs to be put into the game.

As for the fifth starter, Jordan Montgomery is looking to be the favorite but was never officially named since the Yankees were trying to figure it out still. Clark Schmidt is still in the running since he looked great at Spring Training, so it will up to Spring Training pt. 2 to decide who will win the spot.

--Missy O'Rourke

BYB Contributor

Twitter: @missy_orourke