RYAN LAMARRE IS NEWEST YANKEE HERO

When the Yankees start to groove, they groove. And when stale, high paid athletes can't get it done, sometimes you need a spark to get it all going. A few weeks ago I said that about .200 hitting (minor leaguer) Derek Dietrich and how I was annoyed that the Yankees were letting him go to the Nationals. He was a perfect example of that "spark". No, his average doesn't say anything... but his energy did. And sometimes? Sometimes that's all you need to get a team going.

Tim Locastro was another great example. Not the best player, but a former D3 kid that made it to the majors... and the willingness and energy to make things happen.  He helped the Yanks during his short stint before his injury... an injury he went the extra mile more. It was worth it... and he'll be back.

Now you got a guy like Greg Allen. Fast and fun to watch. No one knows this guy... he's not getting 10 years and $340 million. He's just happy to be out there and play a kid's game in a Yankee uniform... and it's working. Energy high... wins start to happen.

Enter Ryan LaMarre, the latest Yankee hero. A nobody journeyman who just became a fan's favorite player. Why? Here's why...

"The Yankees made some questionable pitching decisions, the Phillies played bad defense, but at the end, the Yankees won 6-5 in extras, thanks to Clutch Hitter Ryan LaMarre’s walk-off single...

With Sánchez at second, Gleyber Torres laid down a sac bunt, and Ryan LaMarre came in to pinch hit."

That was SB Nation. And so I ask you... how can you not be romantic about baseball?

The Yankees have won 4 in a row. That's a winning streak folks. Let's keep going!

Never... NEVER give up on the underdog.

YEAH, I'M ALL IN ON GREG ALLEN

Source: The Day

I barely know this Yankee team. From new starting pitchers to position players making their debut, the Yankees are making it work in the new normal following a COVID-19 spread across the team after the All Star Game last week. One shining star has to be Greg Allen who went 3 for 6 over the weekend against the first place Red Sox. The Yankees snagged two out of three against Boston, giving the team a much needed lift after players went down to injuries and the virus. Allen is in the center of it all and he's loving getting a shot at the big leagues after being shepherded for this moment by one of baseball's greatest players.

Source: WNYC

“Coach Gwynn had a monumental impact, and it was one that I probably unfortunately didn’t even realize the true impact of until I was no longer at San Diego State,” Allen said. “But it was an incredible blessing just having a chance to be there. Having this chance to be under his tutelage ... he was just a phenomenal coach, but even a better person. He loved his players, loved his family and loved to try and make everyone better. And he loved the game of baseball, loved to compete,” said Allen as reported by NJ.com. 

Allen was recruited by San Diego's finest, Tony Gwynn, who at the time was the head coach for San Diego State. Recall that Gwynn died at the young age of 54, but lived to see his protege get drafted in the sixth round by the Cleveland Indians in 2014. Many of the qualities of Gwynn are found in the 28-year-old Allen who has been lighting it up since stepping in for Aaron Judge and the rest of the outfield on the IL pretty much indefinitely this season.

“He can really defend in the outfield,” Boone said. “He can run obviously. He’s given quality at-bats from both sides, even at-bats that haven’t ended in a result necessarily. It’s a big league at-bat. It’s competitive. It’s not a lot of chase. “He can help us,” reported NJ.com.

And help is what the Yankees need. From speed to small ball to quite frankly, consistent offense, the Yankees need to break away if they are going to be competitive and catch the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox for a shot at the post season. 

Right now Rougned Odor, Gleyber Torres, Ryan LaMarre and Greg Allen are holding up this Yankee team. And although I see these new numbers and strange guys in pinstripes right now, I am all in as they seem to be the spark the team needed to get things going. Let's go Yankees! 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

NO ONE IS SURPRISED ABOUT HICKS, BUT DOES ANYONE MISS TAUCHMAN?

 

Do you remember this?
"I definitely see myself hitting 30 plus. That's what I want to do and that's what I believe I can do. If I get 500 plate appearances, I'm definitely going to hit my mark with those numbers." - Aaron Hicks

I do and I liked the enthusiasm, but just like we said in CAN AARON HICKS HIT 30 DINGERS? he's never healthy. Here we are in a new season and Aaron Hicks is injured AGAIN. It's a disappointment for sure but, it's predictable. We knew it was coming and we would need a backup plan but now that backup plan that we once had ISN'T predictable.

We always knew that If and when Hicks went down that we had Mike Tauchman waiting in the wings and he could fill in. That is until the elephant in the room finally showed up because while I was PREDICTING THE ODD MAN OUT it became clear that Tauchman just didn't fit on this roster. The Yankees had to make a move, and now he's gone. What's done is done and while some of us may miss Tauchman, it does nothing to help this situation we have now with needing the right person to fill in while Hicks is out. Missing Tauchman right now is pointless and he's not exactly killing it with the Giants, either.

And how long will Hicks be out for? Who knows right now but if Hicks does indeed need surgery for his wrist, read more HERE he could be out for most of the season. That is really hard to swallow right now. I hope that isn't the case, and maybe it's not as it could be BUT....we've seen this injury before. Remember what happened to Mark Teixeira? Yeah, same injury folks. He never came back to be the productive guy we needed him to be. Maybe I am a little haunted by that. I get that everyone's body is different and blah blah blah....

But this is Hicks we are talking about. He's made of glass and doesn't have a good track record at all. The facts don't lie, here are games played per season:
2018 - 137 games
2019 - 59 games
2020 - 54 games (Pandemic shortened 60 game season)
2021 - 32 games so far

And this is the guy that Brian Cashman gave a 7 year / $70 million contract to. He's our new Jacoby Ellsbury. That may be a bit harsh but it's how I feel right now. Sure $10 million average annual value sounds like a decent deal for the Yankees....but at seven years that's a long time to pay for a guy that hasn't proven that he can play 130+ games a season.

And now we have to get creative in the outfield while we play the 'wait and see' game with Hicks and hope for some good news. I hope Ryan LaMarre will be the sparkplug we need but I'm tired of rolling the dice and hoping we get lucky. Do I want to see Estevan Florial play in the Bronx? Absolutely! Problem is I really don't think he is ready. He was just promoted and needs more time in Triple-A.

Hicks latest Injury is just more proof that the Yankees really need to overhaul their player development team because outside of a few small notable exceptions, they have missed the mark. I hope we get good news on Hicks, but honestly....I will never feel comfortable with Hicks in the outfield without fitting him for his own personal suit made out of heavy duty bubble wrap. Even that doesn't make me feel super confident.

  --Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

     BYB Managing Editor

    Twitter: @nyprincessj