LUIS GIL IS BETTER THAN EVER!

The Yankees are proving that they can face challenges head on and overcome them. The first challenge of many has been the loss of their ace CY Young pitcher Gerrit Cole, moments before the 2024 season kicked off in late March. Each of the Yankee starters and their bullpen have responded in an impactful way. But no one could have guessed that their youngest starter, Luis Gil would have had the kind of performance he has had this season, most especially on Saturday as he threw 14-strikeouts breaking a previous rookie record held by the beloved El Duque and dominating the Chicago White Sox in a 6-1 win. Yes, Luis Gil is better than ever! And the Yankees team are better for it but what happens next?

"Gil allowed just one run on five hits and a walk. He generated a game-high 22 swinging strikes, including 12 on his four-seam fastball and seven on his changeup. Gil's heater averaged 96.9 mph on the afternoon and maxed out at 99.7 mph," reported CBS Sports. "The Yankees' rookie record previously belonged to Orlando Hernández, who struck out 13 batters in August 1998 against the Texas Rangers. Hernández, known as "El Duque", coincidentally threw out the ceremonial first pitch ahead of Saturday's contest."

Source: MLB.com

If that is not ironic enough, it has been Cole who Gil affectionately calls "Professor Cole" who has been the pitcher whisper, holding class with Gil and the other Yankee pitchers, providing insight into their craft and coaching to support improvement. Cole has been impactful for the Yankee pitchers who have been mostly untouchable the team's 31-15 record but hopefully he will be impactful from the mound in the coming weeks.

Before Saturday's game, Cole threw off the mound and is expected to throw to live batters as early as next week. But what does that mean for the rotation? And who will need to step out of the rotation as result?

Source: AP

"The obvious candidate for a demotion is 26-year-old Luis Gil, who simply has less experience than his peers. This is Gil's first season with meaningful reps and a consistent role. Unfortunately, that could come to an end in a few weeks when Cole returns. If pulled from the starting crew, Gil would either transition into a long relief role or go back to Triple-A Scranton," reported Fansided. 

Gil has rebounded from injuries, exceeded expectations and has been the Yankees second best pitcher this season, with a 2.51 ERA before Saturday's stellar performance. To lose him would be a tragedy, but how will the decisions the Yankee pitching staff make in the coming weeks impact his player development? What is best for Gil in the long run?

Source: NJ.com

Honestly, I think Gil should stay in the rotation, but I know that the Yankees will likely favor the veterans over him due to their experience. So, in the long run, sending him down to continue to develop is likely best from Gil. I wish we could do a 6-man rotation- something that is not utilized much but giving Cole an extra few days off between starts would not be a bad thing to do given his delicate injury.

It will be an interesting decision that the Yankees will be making sooner rather than later. But for now, let's celebrate Luis Gil and all he has done to give the Yankees their best start in years. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

BOONE, DON'T BE A BONEHEAD! GIVE NESTOR THE BALL!

What else can we possibly say about Nestor Cortes that we haven't already? We love him, he's the true ace of this pitching staff but the Yankees will never admit that. It's time for the Yankees to give Nestor what he has earned. It's time to give him the ball for the ALDS....but for Game 1.

Saturday's game against the Orioles was nice to see, and we are used to it by now. Another thing we are used to is hearing Gerrit Cole wear the "ace" title but give up too many home runs. He's the Yankees white whale that we waited to get.... but he hasn't panned out to what we wanted exactly. He's been consistent at giving up big hits and that's just not gonna work in a tough postseason.

I give credit where credit is due and I acknowledge tying Ron Guidry's Yankees single-season strikeout record is a huge accomplishment is a big deal. Kudos to Cole, but he's also given up 32 home runs this season which can't be ignored. And what about the bad memories I can't shake with Cole tanking in playoff performances? I can't forgive and forget that easily. Thank goodness we won't be losing to the Red Sox in the postseason this year because I wouldn't be able to handle that.

So is there a chance that Aaron Boone could pull a Joe Torre from 1999? It happened once it could happen again.....maybe. Torre made the right call by starting El Duque in Game 1 instead of Roger Clemens because it worked out. Too bad Boone doesn't think like Torre did because Boone has already committed to starting Cole, read more HERE. 

So it sounds like Boone is gonna go with the pitcher that costs the most money instead of the pitcher that has had the better season. I don't like it....but the Yankees are blinded by the big dollar signs attached to Cole. They are too blinded to think that maybe giving Nestor the ball for game one would like a fire under Cole and motivate him a little more.

Maybe Boone will change his mind, but I am not gonna hold my breath. Hopefully, Cole proves me wrong and pitches like the ace he is supposed to be. I just want to win!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj 

NASTY NESTOR GETS HIGH PRAISE FROM AN MLB LEGEND

And rightfully so, he deserves it. Nestor Cortes is the real deal. When it's his turn to start I am counting down the hours and minutes until game time. I haven't been this excited about a pitcher since Andy Pettitte was on the mound. He's finally getting the recognition he deserves....

There are no other words to describe what we saw yesterday other than "nasty" because it's true. He makes it look easy and he leaves everyone watching in complete awe. Nestor looks like an ace out there. No offense to Gerrit Cole at all, he just looks dialed in.

Nestor gave the performance I was hoping we'd see after a disappointing loss on Saturday. He retired 15 straight batters from the first inning until the sixth, and he got 13 swings and misses. He didn't give up a run until an eighth inning solo home run and only gave up three hits and walked no one. He's the steady and consistent gamer that the Yankees have needed for a long time. He's the guy that gets the job done and takes pride in it without the huge salary. He's the savior we have been waiting for. 

Aaron Boone knows how good Nestor was and called his outing "special" but Boone's comments aren't surprising, we all know what we saw was amazing. Boone's comments may not be interesting but someone else gave Nestor some high praise HERE.

Leave it to Pete Caldera to find the real interesting nuggets. It's nice to hear high praise from a legend like Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez who was able to recognize Nestor's strengths and encourage him to be true to the pitcher he is.

"I saw a lot of me in (Cortes)," said El Duque. "His work ethic, his professionalism – going about his craft when few people believed in him. When I saw that, I said, ‘I’ve got to get behind this guy.’ (Because) we have a similar pitching philosophy – you don’t have to throw 95-plus-mph to get batters out."

He was in Nestor's corner and helped him get to where he is now. His journey to the big leagues may not have been as fast as he wanted, but he's learned a lot to help him be successful now that he is here. I can't wait to see what else Nestor does this year.

So far, he's just plain NASTY!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

AND ISN'T IT IRONIC...

Oh how funny the Opening Series is for both New York teams this year. The baseball gods are laughing because this couldn't have been scripted to be any funnier. If this is a sign of things to come then Yankee fans better hold onto their seats because 2016 could be another crazy year.

I don't pay much attention to the Mets because let's face it.....most of my life they have been irrelevant. As I was looking over the Opening Day results I laughed when I saw that both the Mets and the Yankees opened up against the teams that killed their postseason run last year. The Mets had Matt Harvey take the mound yet again but did not get their revenge against the Royals.

 

The Yankees took on Dallas Keuchel once again and well.....it wasn't the ending that we all hoped for. Baseball is funny like that I guess.

So the Yankees started this season with a loss just like they ended last season. More irony, but I am not going to panic. A win last night eases that.



I can't help but think back to how when I was younger the Yankees had some miserable years. The Eighties were not kind to the Yankees. Meanwhile, the Mets were the team to follow. In 1986 the "Lets Go Mets Go" VHS tape was watched regularly in my house and Dwight Gooden, Gary Carter, and Darryl Strawberry were icons to many Mets fans including my dad.

On the other hand, the Yankees took over in the 90's. The Yankee farm system was finally showing off some of their best prospects and the Core Four was born. Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte helped bring winning baseball back to the Bronx and a dynasty was born. The Mets were just the other team on the other side of the city now. The tables had changed and all of the buzz about the Mets I had been hearing was suddenly gone.

Last year was the first time since I was born that the Mets started to steal some of the Yankees thunder again. As our team continues to carry some lengthy contracts on some older players the Mets continue to get younger and start to bring up their own kids, just like we did.

So what will this year bring? I never like to draw similarities about the Mets and the Yankees but I realized last night that the Mets already have a strong identity. They have a starting rotation that could be championship caliber. In fact, their rotation reminds me a lot of the Yankees 1998 rotation where Andy Pettitte, David Wells, David Cone and "El Duque" Hernandez were a powerhouse rotation. This year, the Mets have a killer rotation. Great pitching rotations help win championships. The Yankees had that great rotation in 1998 and won it all......could the Mets be next? Is this their year?

These teams couldn't be anymore different. The Yankees have a veteran lineup and will have a strong bullpen. On the other hand, the Mets have a younger team and their starting pitching is their strength, The Subway Series is going to be very interesting this year.

I can appreciate irony, it keeps things interesting. I believe that you can't predict baseball and just when you think you have it all figured out baseball throws a curve ball at you and you swing and miss. I have a feeling this season will be filled with irony. I choose to leave on this high note though.....the Yankees may have lost the Opening Day game for five years in a row now, but there is this one time in 2009 where we lost the first game of the season but won the championship. Something to think about because if it happens again, wouldn't that be ironic?

 
   
--Jeana Bellezza, 
BYB Senior Writer and Editor
Twitter: @NyPrincessJ 
 





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THOSE SPRING INSTRUCTORS ARE A PROSPECT'S DREAM COME TRUE

I was never a pro prospect. I was scouted by several colleges, mostly D-3, and played for a couple years but I didn't hit enough to be a real solid college ball player. I had a fantastic high school coach was taught by some great baseball people over my years. I even coach with several great coaches now and learn on a daily basis. But what I would give to spend an hour, a day, a week or an entire spring with the Yankees and their coaches and instructors.

 

 

Every year the Yankees bring in special instructors to help the youngsters, and veterans for that matter, prepare for the grueling season and help the Yankees get a return on investment. I see stories and pictures and videos of former stars coming in to help and if I were a prospect, I'd be in awe and would soak up every ounce of content thrown at me.

The entire core four has helped out with spring training over the past few years with Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter making appearances. Jeter even has a special get together called The Captains Camp where he talks to and instructs young players on how to be get to the Major Leagues and how to stay there. It doesn't get much better than that!

 

 

Ron Guidry is in camp this year and was photographed recently working with fellow lefty Jacob Lindgren. Guidry, who some think should be a Hall of Famer after compiling a 170-91 record with a 3.21 from 1975-1988, brings a wealth of experience to the table, not only as a pitcher but also as a guy who spent his entire career with the Yankees. Any developing pitcher should do their damndest to shadow him while he is in camp.

 

 

Even El Duque was seen in the bullpen recently, supposedly observing, but I would assume he had some feedback for some of the youngsters. Vets, such as Carlos Beltran, also act as instructors and mentors to some, in particular Aaron Judge, who the vet asked to have his locker next to. The list of people helping out goes on and on.

As a young prospect trying to work your way up the organizational chain, a young veteran or even a vet who may be winding down his career, listening to these former stars would be a huge bonus to everyday instruction. Not only is getting to the Bigs is a tall task, so is staying there and adapting to yourself as you get older. A player will not be as quick and able to naturally do what they did at 25 when he is 35. Adjustments and regimens become more important, in my opinion, at that point.

 

 

Up and coming stars like Jorge Mateo, Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, James Kaprielian and others need to take the next six or so weeks to soak up info and learn how they can get their game to the next level and how they can help the Bombers win their next title.

While I'm no longer looking to play the game I love, I do want to continue to improve as a coach and a person. So if anyone has the hook up to get me into Spring Training at Steinbrenner Field, let me know. I'll buy the first round afterward. But for the young men in the clubhouse, the quality of instruction could not be better.

Let's hope the results follow suit.

 

 

 --Dan Lucia
BYB Senior Writer
Twitter: @DManLucia




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WHO WILL BE THE NEXT GREAT YANKEE FROM CUBA?

With the United States and Cuba re-establishing diplomatic relations over the past year, MLB is beginning to embrace the opportunity to tap into talent that, in the past, had only been available via dangerous boat-rides across the volatile waters between Cuba and Florida.  Players who successfully made it to the States, could never return home, and more often than not, failed to fulfill their dreams.

Over the past week, a group of players and representatives from MLB spent three days in Cuba as part of the effort to open up the prospects to “bigger” things for the sport in that country.  As Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported:

"MLB has applied to the U.S. government for the right to do business in Cuba. A regular-season series, which has not happened since the revolution in 1959 and the U.S. embargo that followed, is also being discussed. “Pie in the sky,” said Hall of Famer Joe Torre, the commissioner’s office ambassador on the trip, is that baseball helps improve diplomatic relations.

The largest advancement that both sides believe they can make is how players get from Cuba to the majors, a system that now involves the murky, dangerous waters of human trafficking."

So, with the improving relations in the sport between the two countries, teams like the Yankees will eventually establish a regular scouting network for the area that ultimately feeds talent into the club’s system.  Historically, the Bombers haven’t had many rags-to-riches stories from Cuba, but for me there is one that comes to mind:  Orlando Hernandez – “El Duque”.

Without going into all of the details of his journey, Hernandez was one of the defectors from Cuba who did make the harrowing trip to freedom in a boat.  After a wildly successful amateur career (in Cuba), as a free man he signed with the Yankees at the age of 32, and became an integral part of the team’s greatest season in 1998, as well as the subsequent championship seasons in ’99 and 2000. 

Over six seasons with the Yankees, El Duque posted a 61 – 40 record with a 3.93 ERA.  Many would point out that those aren’t truly “special” stats, and honestly, he offered up many home runs to opponents (including 34 round-trippers in 2000).  In fact, during his time in the Bronx, his ERA was lower than 3.50 just twice and he won more than 12 games just once – in 1999 (he won 17).   Yet, I consider him one of the most important Yankee pitchers – alongside the likes of Pettitte, Clemens, Cone, Rivera etc. – for that run of trips to the World Series between ’98 and 2001.

The great ones all have a certain characteristic.  The “Core Four” all had it.  Jeter had it.  Pettitte had it.  Rivera certainly had it.  “It” is that unteachable ability to raise the level of your play when the stakes are higher.  For any team to win a championship, it has to have players with that makeup.

Orlando Hernandez was such a player.  In 15 post-season series over the course of his career, his record is 9 – 3, with a 2.20 ERA.  In virtually every category, El Duque was dramatically better in the post-season.  I know, as a fan, whenever I saw that he was starting a game in October my confidence level in the Yankees jumped.  I’m sure it did for his teammates too.  I always thought that his accuracy and velocity seemed to reach different levels in the playoffs and World Series. 

The numbers back those thoughts – though, I really didn’t have to refer to the numbers to know that.  All I had to do was watch.  It was clear that El Duque could pull from deep within himself to carry the team when it needed him most.  I’ll always consider him to be one of the foundations the “Core Four” built itself upon.  He made it easier for them to succeed – he had their backs.

Hopefully, the Yankees can find another El Duque that up-and-coming stars like Greg Bird, Slade Heathcott, Gary Sanchez, Didi Gregorius, Aaron Judge, and Luis Severino can have to cover their backs as they one day march to a title.  It would appear that Major League Baseball is going to make it easier for them to do so.


    

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


    

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THE YANKEES ROTATION IS NO LONGER OLD

You now us here at BYB.  We will rank on the Yanks for being old and the need to bring up the kids. That's important to us.  Well, I was reading LoHud, and Chad Jennings had a terrific piece out about how the Yankee rotation isn't that old anymore. Reading through it, I didn't realize it, but I gotta tell you, it made me smile... Damn you Jennings!

Anyway, check this out:

"The Yankees have plenty of rotation issues, but age really isn’t one of them. Aside from CC Sabathia, the Yankees don’t have a starting pitcher in his 30s. Really, their rotation is built around four guys who are 26 or younger (counting Masahiro Tanaka, who turns 27 next month). That’s not to say the Yankees have a rotation as good as the Mets, only to point out that the Yankees’ rotation is probably younger than it seems...

Luis Severino -- 21
February 20, 1994

Noah Syndergaard — 23
August 29, 1992

Steven Matz — 24
May 29, 1991
 
Nathan Eovaldi — 25
February 13, 1990

Matt Harvey – 26
March 27, 1989
 
Michael Pineda – 26
January 18, 1989

Masahiro Tanaka – 26
November 1, 1988

Jacob deGrom – 27
June 19, 1988

Adam Warren – 28
August 25, 1987
 
Jon Niese – 28
October 27, 1986

CC Sabathia – 35 
July 21, 1980

Bartolo Colon – 42 
May 24, 1973"

Look, it's just one of those things that I needed to point out to our audience. I mean sure, there were some championship Yankee teams where rotations were old and more experienced than above, but in the realm of youth and "building" again so to speak, it's interesting and refreshing to see.  Check out our 1999 Yankees rotation in comparison for instance:

Orlando Hernandez-- 33
David Cone-- 36
Andy Pettitte-- 27
Roger Clemens-- 36
Hideki Irabu-- 30

Ages were much different, older, but experience was key for that 1999 team.  All I'm saying is we have a good thing going with youth coming up Yankee fans.  Like we see with the Mets for instance, if the Yankees allow time for growth for these young pitchers we have, there is a huge opportunity for us in our future. And you know what?  It's damn exciting.



 
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THIS CUBAN STAR WANTS TO PLAY WITH ALEX RODRIGUEZ

One of the top international prospects in the world wants to play for the New York Yankees, alongside Alex Rodriguez. At least according to the New York Post.

Yulieski Gourriel, a Cuban native, told Yahoo Sports "This is the dream of all players - to play at the maximum level of baseball in all the world." Gourriel was asked which team he would play for and his immediate response was the Yankees, where he could play alongside his favorite player, ARod. But, there is a catch!

Gourriel will not come to the United States until the embargo on Cuba has been lifted, and he receives permission from the Cuban Government. I had to do a little bit of research on this. I wasn't born when President Kennedy put the embargo in place, and by the time I was born, it was kind of a social norm that was accepted and not really discussed. Heck, I'll be real honest here... I didn't even know why the embargo was in place, or what the heck it was until today. Thanks for this assignment, Casey. The more you know, right? I suck at History... sue me! But I'll get back to this in a minute.

Gourriel, who has played in Japan, seems to be an incredible player. His BA is well over .300, with plenty of power behind his bat. Eric Nadel, broadcaster for the Texas Rangers, saw him play in Japan and said

"Every time you see Gourriel, you see something special...

"Just look at what he did in Japan last summer. He hit over .300 with power. He's going back there this summer. He's legitimately a major-leaguer in any league."

Okay, so what's stopping him? The embargo restricts trades, but it also restricts Americans from spending money in Cuba. Honestly, it's a lot of political crap, brought on by some hostile relations between the two countries, in the early 1960's after Fidel Castro took control of Cuba. The government is now working towards changing this, but it will take time. For a better explanation, go HERE.

We've seen a steady amount of baseball player's simply defecting from Cuba. Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, for example. But those players have to establish residence and get "unblocked" by the U.S. Treasury and... again, politics, politics. This year, Yoan Moncada was allowed to leave, and signed with the Red Sox. But then the question of compensation comes up. Japan gets compensation when their players leave for the U.S., so the idea that the U.S. would compensate Cuba is not entirely outlandish.

Gourriel is not going to defect. He wants an end to the embargo, as do many people... or so I have been reading.  Lifting the embargo will open  many opportunities, including the pool of free agents available to the MLB. There are players like Gourriel who are ready and willing to play once the embargo is lifted.

Defecting is a personal choice, and it comes with many of it's own obstacles, and risk. I don't think any of us know for certain that the embargo will ever be lifted, and maybe there are some that wish for it to stay in place permanently. All I know is that there are many great "could-be-major-leaguers" being held back by a policy that is more than 50 years old.

Now, someone please tell me what the Cold War has to do with any of this? And why didn't they just get a blanket if they were cold? Why the war?  Heh. 

--Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer 
Twitter: @e_morales1804

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