I gave myself a day to reflect on what could possibly be the worst loss of the season so far, and no matter how much I think about it - it was a bad game, and a tough series that should not have been so tough. The offense, for the most part did what they do best - score runs. In a three game series, they put up 24 runs and clubbed twelve home runs. TWELVE. The entire series, however, the pitching was very shaky. Tanaka, even though he earned the win in the first game, was not very sharp. He still gave up four runs and two long balls. German had another poor outing, and Sabathia couldn't make it out of the 5th before imploding... maybe it was the Texas heat? Who knows... but this was a series the Yankees should not have lost.
I'll start off and talk about the good things...
How about Gleyber Torres... yeah he's not going anywhere any time soon. That dude is on fire, and he plays a very sold second base. Over his last 7 games he's hitting .333/.448/.958 with 5 HR and 10 RBI - he's been very consistent since his call-up and has all the makings of a superstar. Monday, Torres became the second youngest Yankee to ever hit two or more home runs in a single game, second to this guy you may have heard of... Mickey Mantle. Torres then homered in each of the next two games, becoming the youngest Yankee to ever homer in back-to-back-to-back games, the youngest MLB player to do it since a 20-year old Giancarlo Stanton did it in 2010, and he's the third youngest AL player ever to homer in three consecutive games (the guys that did it at a younger age: #2 Babe Ruth and #1 Ted Williams - ever hear of them?) this kid is fun to watch.
Speaking of fire, Austin Romine reminded Yankee fans that he's more than just a back-up catcher. This season he's batting .340/.415/.968 in 47 at bats, and over his last 7 games played .450/.500/.900, making me think "Gary Sanchez who?" - I kid, it's unrealistic to think Romine could keep up this type of production consistently for the rest of the season. However, considering how long Romine has been with the Yankees in the back-up role, I am glad he is playing well and hope he can keep it going for a while.
Both Aaron Judge and Didi Gregorious have been slumping of late (Didi much more than Judge) showed some signs of life in this series against Texas. Judge, went 4 for 13 (.308) with two long home runs, one was an absolute bomb measuring 471 feet. Didi went 3 for 14 (.214) in this series with a home run - don't let that average deter you, because coming into this series Didi was in the midst of a horrific 1 for 43 slump. Hopefully, he is at the tail end of his slump and this series was the start of an upwards trend.
I think - unless the Yankees make a move, or until they get Jordan Montgomery back, they need to make the 5th starter spot in the rotation a "start by committee" - and piece the day together maybe three innings at a time. To me, it feels like the Domingo German as a starter experiment may have run its course, he has given up 12 runs in his last two starts, totaling 8.2 innings pitched. With the way Boston is playing right now, they can't afford to run an inconsistent starter that cannot get them innings out there. Until Justus Sheffield gets healthy and gets more innings under his belt, they don't really have a starter ready in AAA that can legitimately step into the number 5 spot. Sheffield has pitched well in three starts for AAA Scranton/Wilkes Barre, (0-1, 1.46 ERA, 12.1 IP, 14 SO) but has yet to throw more than 5 innings per start, and just came off the 7-day DL on Wednesday. He could be an option down the line - maybe come mid-June and July, but not today. What do you think? Do you think there is an in-house option that is ready to take on the 5th starter role?
Hopefully, the Yankees used the off-day yesterday as a day to put the last series behind them. They start a six game homestand tonight with three games against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and then three games with the Houston Astros.
Before gameplay today, the Yankees made a couple moves - trading C Erik Kratz to Milwaukee for a player to be named later, signed C Wilkin Castillo, and they released 1B/OF Adam Lind (for the second time this season). The Kratz trade doesn't mean too much, however releasing Adam Lind tells me that Greg Bird will be joining the team very soon. That the Yankees are very confident in his health. Releasing Lind likely means they will send Tyler Austin down to AAA to be the every day first basemen, sliding Neil Walker into the back-up role for when Bird's return is officially announced. Austin had heated up a little bit about a week ago, but has since cooled, hitting .214/.233/.536 in his last seven games. He has done an admirable job at first base - filling in - but the Yankees are hoping to get consistent left-hand production from Bird. I would maybe anticipate Austin getting one more start against the lefty Andrew Heaney tonight, and then see Bird on Saturday.
I know some people think Bird will have to work his way back into Yankee fans good graces, since it has been a while since we have had him healthy and productive. I am feeling very optimistic about it, as I have mentioned before he is the left-handed bat the Yankees need sandwiched between Judge and Stanton. Bird has fantastic plate discipline, and could see some really good pitches to hit batting there. I don't think Yankee fans will be disappointed - I think he is a much better hitter than his career line of .227/.316/.477 reads.
All of those looking forward to seeing the Yankees face-off against Ohtani (the pitcher) this weekend are going to have to wait. It was thought that Ohtani's next start would be in the Bronx, and potentially line up against Tanaka, but it now looks like they could have him start on Monday in Detroit. With that said, it means he won't even DH against Tanaka - sad...
So, the Angels (28-22) come into town tonight, and they kind of slowed up a bit since their hot start this season. In their last ten games, the Angels are 4-10 (vs. Houston, Tampa Bay, and Toronto - respectively) and it seems like all of their big hitters (Trout, Upton, and Pujols) have been slumping of late - will the Yankee pitchers take advantage? Kind of felt the same way going into the series against Texas.
Anyways, here are the scheduled pitching match-ups for the series - as you can see the Angels have yet to announce a starter for Saturday's game:
Friday: ANA (Andrew Heaney 2-3, 3.35 ERA) @ NYY (Luis Severino 7-1, 2.35 ERA)
Saturday: ANA (TBD) @ NYY (Sonny Gray, 3-3, 5.48 ERA)
Sunday: ANA (Garrett Richard 4-3, 3.31 ERA) @ NYY (Masahiro Tanaka, 5-2, 4.95 ERA)
With that said, tell me your thoughts about the series against Texas, and your thoughts about Greg Bird potentially coming back, as well as a possible Tyler Austin demotion.
I am also curious to hear what you all think about our 5th starter situation - do the Yankees get creative? Call up Sheffield? or start looking at making a trade?
Side note - Boston cut ties with 1B/DH Hanley Ramirez today, designating him for assignment. The move was a little bit of a surprise, as Boston needed to clear a spot on the roster for the return of Dustin Pedroia. Ramirez was apparently in the midst of an 0 for 20 slump and Boston must have grown tired of his inconsistent play. Where do you think he ends up? Think a contender like Houston or Seattle picks him up?
Please share your comments below!