The Pinstriped Baseball Lane

It is very unfortunate, but the New York Yankees have had multiple seasons that were plagued by the injury bug. It has been one thing for a while where injuries were only impacting the Yankees’ starting pitchers, but now it would seem that the team’s outfielders are suffering from the injury bug’s bite.

Following what was a brutal ALDS loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, the Yanks now head into their offseason with GM Brian Cashman looking to plug some gaping holes heading into 2021. It hurts me to say this as a Yankee fan, but it sucks that this team has so many sluggers that can’t stay on the field.

As I am awaiting the start of the 2021 baseball, I have been watching the Yankees closely to see how the organization will be plugging those holes and I will be honest, I have been an “armchair manager“.

According to the latest reports, the Bombers are acquiring veteran outfielder Greg Allen in a trade with the San Diego Padres, who designated him for assignment last week. I get it, the outfield of the Bronx Bronx have been known to be plagued by injuries, but why are we not focusing the organization’s time and time what matters. That’s right, everyone associated with this team know the starting rotation has been a problem, so why are we not going after key arms to solidify it.

Are we really going to let TANAKA walk? I mean Masa has proven his worth since signing the organization and he wants to win another championship with us. With the exception of Cole, I wouldn’t say that the probable staring  roster of pitcher is the want in a playoff or postseason competition. Don’t get me wrong Deivi Gracia has has definitely shown glimpses of a Pedro Martinez comparison, as the media has drawn that connection to the youngster in his handful of Major League starts.

I know it is a bit early, but the talk of baseball will be once again be upon us.

February is the month the baseball athletes are usually preparing,

With 2021 here, in the baseball owners and Players’ Association we must trust.

Last year, Major League Baseball had determined a plan of action,

And the 2020 season gained traction.

I was glad to see some baseball action…..

After such a long debate, the baseball world finally had a starting date.

2020 saw baseball start late, but here in 2021,

There is talk of an on time opening of the baseball gates.

To that I say, “Have faith everyone, baseball is back and let us hope things stay on track.

Unfortunately, new baseball laws will still have to be adhered to because of COVID-19.

On the bright side, the grass outside will soon again be so green.

With that said, the sport we love so much certainly doesn’t look like it will be starting late.

Oh!, To Joy, Baseball will be played. That Is Great!!!

Last year, a 60-game length was implemented,

And oh for the game of baseball, the sport got really dented.

2021 baseball will FINALLY be here, and just like last year, it will certainly will be moving at a fast pace.

Hopefully, baseball fans can see the traditional 162 games, as we all hope there won’t be high COVID-19 traces.

Each team will try to live up to that hype, but as always, I personally want all the glory to be showered upon the team wearing pinstripes.

YES!, You read that right.

I want my pinstriped wearing Yankees to be this year’s reigning champ,

Especially because they were victims of the Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox, who I believe are both scamps.

Yes, the past few years weren’t great and 2020 didn’t help,

But I am turning the page to 2021 and I am hoping that the New Year will give us a sense of a new beginning.

With this year’s baseball being short and intense,

I hope the virus won’t be rapid among everyone in the game because that would be a terrible outcome and the season would be left in suspense.

Veteran Free Agents That Could Possibly Put The Yankees Over The Top

As we turn away from the pandemically fractured baseball season of 2020, everyone in the baseball community is turning their sights on the free agency market that could possibly impact teams in the upcoming 2021 season.

As always, you already know I am personally interested in what moves the the New York Yankees will be making in their offseason. Like any other teams’ fanbase, followers want elite athletes manning each position on the baseball diamond. As a Yankee fan, I know I want star studded athletes playing at each of the positions on the team.

I think I can speak for everyone in the Yankee fan universe when I say, “The resigning of DJ LeMahieu is and MUST be a top priority. In the grand scheme of things, the current team that the Yankees are rolling with on the major league roster is a great one on paper, it is just a matter of consistent execution. The way I see it is, aside from one game-breaking starting pitcher (and LeMahieu), the Yankees really don’t have to make a whole lot of transactions.

With that being said, I think it is safe to say that everyone would agree with the a few veteran additions that would address key needs on the offensive and defensive. When it comes to does two needs, I know I am speaking for my entire Yankee family when I say, “DJ LeMahieu is a veteran asset and instrumental factor to what the Yankees are trying to accomplish.”

Aside from LeMahieu, who practically can play anywhere in the infield, the Yanks NEED some infield depth on their major league roster. Other than the infield, Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner need to do what they can to plug the holes they have on the starting pitching front and possible help behind home plate. It is has become an unfortunate reality, but beside the constant starting pitching issues that this team that gone through, the catching position has become more than a thorn in the organization’s backside. It is sad to say, but Gary Sanchez was once a force to be reckoned with on the defensive AND offensive side of diamond, but now I see him as a shell of his former kraken self.

Looking in from the outside at the Yankees’ organization, I think there may be a number veteran athletes that could be added to the current quad to help the overall team in the upcoming season. After all, the yearly goal for this ballclub is to make a push for a shot at the World Series and it is important to note back in 2009 when the Yanks won their 27th championship, that roster wasn’t  lacking eccentric veteran voices.

Currently, the way it is looking, the Yanks want LeMahieu back and it seems that the feeling is mutual on DJ’s part, but like everything in business, the price tag has to be what both parties want. I have no doubt that DJ will choose the Yankees as his 2021 landing spot, but until that happens, lets take a look at the other possible options the Bronx Bombers have on the open free agent market for other positions that the team needs to address.

I could see these three guys wearing pinstripes in 2020. Again, these are my predictions, not anything pertaining to MLB trade rumors. So without any further delay, lets get down to it:

1. A Possible Reunion With The ToddFather

I am just playing around with this idea of actually reuniting Todd Frazier with the Yanks, but assuming that Tyler Wade would be kept around for the depth of the middle infield, they’re going to need some reinforcements at the hot corner. After all LeMahieu probably isn’t going to want to keep switching positions frequently, even though he is a stellar performer where ever he plays on the diamond.

In 2017, the Yanks had Frazier for a short 66 games (and a playoff run to the ALCS) after coming over in a trade with the White Sox. Watching him play that season made it clear that his veteran presence played a role in helping this team beat the odds. I got to say, it was fun watching him in Game 5 of the that ALDS series the Yankees played against the Indians in Cleveland.

For the short 66 game stent that the Toms River native spent with the Yanks (and a playoff run to the ALCS), after coming over in a trade with the White Sox, he had a sure-fire impact on the way the Yankees played ball. An example of one part of his game that made or broke the way he impacted the way the Bronx ball club did against the opposition was his baserunning in Cleveland which helped lift the Yankees in Game 5 of the ALDS. From a fan’s point-of-view, I was impressed to see another pinstriped veteran other than Gardy play the game with grit and passion.

I wouldn’t mind having the ToddFather back in the Bronx again. After all he is your classic “Jersey guy”. In my opinion, he is one of the few veterans that actually can fit the unique Yankee culture.

2. Jon Lester?

Hmmm….all Yankee fans know by now that the starting rotation is an organizational issue that hurts us in big games. Pitching, Pitching, PITCHING!!! It is what wins ball games, in my opinion, and at the moment with the exception of the Tanakas and Coles of the Yankee universe, the current starting rotation could use another big arm. I want to believe that out of all the pitchers in upcoming free agent class, Jon Lester would make the most sense as another veteran pitching piece, but what would be the cost and what exactly would his role be with the club. Now I know Steinbrenner and Cashman are going to be in the free agent market for starters, but Lester would be an intriguing piece to have as a bullpen asset. I believe he would make sense only as a cheap one year deal piece, as he would serve as the balancing force of a right handed heavy starting rotation with his hard throwing left hand.

It is worth noting that the Cubs have tried to relieve him of pressure in trading for Jose Quintana and signing Yu Darvish, but Quintana never worked out and Darvish was a late-bloomer, not performing until this past season. So the way I see it is, get him as a mentor, alongside the Cole Train to help the youths you have in the cusp of the starting rotation role. With Gerrit Cole and Lester at helm of the starting rotation, I have no doubt that young arms like Jordan Montgomery, Deivi Garcia, and Clarke Schmidt would benefit from the two elite pitchers’ mentorship. There is a possibility that if Cashman were to actually give the role to Lester, it could possibly help the veteran get back to his inning eating ways. That would be something to see, especially because Lester has not been that strikeout artist that fans know him to be since 2016.

Now those of you that know me, you know that I am a Yankee fanatic that doesn’t care for the Mets or the Red Sox, so you know I want a possible Lester acquisition to actually happen. Wouldn’t that be something!?! Now, if that could actually become a real conversation among Cashman and Lester, I could see the lefty being intrigued by the idea. Lets just say it were to happen and the 36 year old lefty found his pitching mechanics again, I know I would be laughing and bragging to all my Red Sox friends because we would have a former Red Sox vet to push us to a World Series birth. Man, oh, man; what a way that would be for Lester to show up the Sox for trading him. I know I wouldn’t mind having another southpaw veteran pitching for us, whether he fills a roll in the stating rotation or contributes as a pen piece.

3. Resolving The Catching Issue

With Sanchez being a shell of his former self (player wise), who can we turn to for help at the backstop position? From my point of view, I have supported Kyle Higashioka as the better catcher compared to the current state of Sanchez. By now, the conversation of the Yankees’ catching position has been discussed over and over, but I think we need a fortified veteran at the backstop. With that being said, Yadier Molina has to be the catcher that Cashman targets this upcoming season. As far as the backstop position across baseball, I want to believe that during this era of baseball, Yadi has got to be one of the most decorative and most skilled players at the position. I would even go as far as to say, “He has got to be ranked #1 at his position, and I don’t normally talk up other teams’ players, but Sanchez isn’t who he use to be when he was first brought up by the Yankees organization.

While with the Cardinals, Yadi did more than take on the role of the backstop, he became a clubhouse leader and the fact that he was outspoken, well that was the very reason why the Cards paid him the big bucks during the last few season, but now he is a free agent prized catcher for the 2021 season. I am probably not the only one thinking this, but Yadi would most likely solve the team’s problems with Gary Sanchez behind the plate. Molina would be able to play a huge role in mentoring the young rotation and his desire to play two more seasons fits the Yankees’ championship window.

I want to say that out of everyone I am talking about today, Yadi has got to be the most expensive option on the free agency market. All things considered, we could essentially get Molina into pinstripes and give him one last shot at a championship run before he hangs up his baseball cleats and heads down the retirement path. By far, I think he would be worth every Yankee dollar because he would provide an aggressive contact bat and lets not forget that he has racked up a lot postseason experience behind home plate, which is obviously what the Yankees need right about now.

The Pinstripes were shining in the bright lights of Broadway last night, as the Bronx Bombers were impactful on the offensive front and out on the mound at Yankee Stadium.

LET’S keep it rolling on the home stand as we take on the Jays in game 2 of a 3 game set. It would seem that this is the momentum that the Yanks needed to find their way back, and hopefully it is the turning point that will keep them on the winning track towards another postseason push.

I know I am one of the Yankee fans that would love to see a “rise from the ashes” type of blueprint be utilized to march into the postseason. We have seen glimpses of it, from the team losing five straight to winning five straight and now the Yanks come into tonight’s game with a six game winning streak. I am very excited to see what they do next, after a very up and down start to the season.

I believe the Yankees have what it takes to go all the way this season and they believe so too. Do you believe it as well?

After a stellar start to this series on the mound by Garcia, Aaron Boone will look forward to handing the baseball to his ace in Gerrit Cole for game two of this pivotal match-up between the two American League East rivals. Cole, to this point, has accumulated a 5-3 record and has managed to stabilize an ERA of 3.20. Throughout his starts in 2020, he has collected a total of 79 Ks.

In opposition of the pinstriped ace, the Jays will send Tanner Roark to the mound in hopes of collecting a W in this series.

Since joining the Jays from the Nats due to free agency in 2019, Roark currently holds a 2-1 record in this 2020 unorthodox season. So far he has accumulated an ERA of 3.20 and has accumulated 79 Ks per nine. It will be a veteran interesting duel of veteran righties on the mound tonight.

Base on game one of this series, both of the pitchers on the mound tonight better make their pitches with due diligence.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees, 9-15-2020, Free MLB Picks And Predictions

Toronto Blue Jays (26-20) @New York Yankees (26-21)

MLB Baseball: Tuesday, September 15, 2020 @7:05 PM (Yankee Stadium-Bronx, New York)

Taijuan Walker (RHP,3-2, 2.95 ERA,36 Ks) vs. Deivi Garcia (RHP, 1-1, 3.06 ERA, 18 Ks)

The New York Yankees look to pull out all the weapons at their disposal for one of their most important games of the season. The way it is looking right now, the Jays are a half a game ahead of the Yanks in the American League East for the second playoff spot. With that being said, holding down the fort in a home stand in the Bronx, the Yankees will be looking to secure themselves a postseason seed in these games, as it is an “All In, Must Win” type of attitude that the team will have to adhere by to propel into the 2020 postseason picture.

With less than one-quarter of the shortened baseball season remaining, this Yankee-Blue Jay series ought to be an interesting one to watch unfold.

We already know that the Jays are brimming with confidence ahead of this Tuesday night’s opener against their American League East division rivals. Props to the young Jays’ team for winning or splitting its last nine series (a season-high six games over .500), but I have confidence in my Yankees going into this series. Yes, I know that the Yanks sputtered at times during this season, but they are currently riding a five-game winning streak.

How much more unorthodox can this season get, barring a collapse by first-place Tampa Bay in the East, the Blue Jays and Yankees are set to battle for second spot and a seeding between fourth and sixth in the AL. A third-place finish in the division would likely result in a seventh or eighth seeding and a tougher playoff match up against a top-two seed.

Weird, I know, but I am just glad my Yankees found a way to get on a winning streak again and I hope they can keep it alive to get a title shot.

Well, like it always has been, this is just another interesting season for the New York Yankees. Amid all the injuries and the health concerns, this COVID-19 plagued season has been one heck of a ride for the team. With two weeks left in the 2020 regular season, all I could say is, “Boy, ohhhh, Boy!” If you have been following this team lately, then you already know why I am saying that.

I got to tell you, the Yanks desperately needed that four game sweep against the Baltimore Orioles. After a five game losing streak, they shutdown the Os and head in a well deserved day off on Monday (September 14). Losing five straight and then managing to win five straight, that is cause for a major confidence booster in the Yankee clubhouse, especially because they are doing everything to maintain a playoff spot.

Not to mention, with two weeks left in the 2020 regular season, the team are looking ahead in the distance and some major piece to the ball club are on the horizon. For more on all the updates, click on the New York Yankees hyperlink above. I personally can’t wait for guys like Stanton, Judge and Urshela as major reinforcements.

In the opening weeks of the season, it looked like the Dodgers and Yankees would run away with the best records in the NL and AL. As a Yankee fan, it sucks to see that the Los Angeles Dodgers are holding up their end of the bargain. Hypothetically, if the 2020 MLB postseason were to kick off today, the New York Yankees would find themselves in very deep trouble.

So if the 2020 postseason were to open up today, where would the Yanks being sitting?

Most likely, they would probably find themselves in the No.8 seed within the American League East. What does that mean? Well, it means that they would be filling in the eighth and final spot of the AL post-season alignment.

It is a terrible thing to say as a Yankee fan, but with the way they have been playing lately, their postseason contention is very far out of their reach. I just hope they get out of their losing slump and get rid of their current injury bugs before postseason action actually gets underway this year.

I know I am probably not the only one with the mindset that the catching position should be covered by a veteran athlete. Now, I may/may not get a mix of disputes about my opinion in today’s articles, but I feel like someone has to voice their opinion what is happening with the backstop position on the New York Yankees. I will be brutally honest, when Jorge Posada retired in 2013 from the backstop position on the Yankees, I felt like Gary Sanchez was rushed up to fill the void on the team.

Yeah, yeah, I was fed into the hype of Sanchez’s hot bat and a gun for an arm, but I still had a part of me that doubted his readiness for the majors. I mean I was and still am one of the fans that is frustrated that we gave up a great veteran backstop in Austin Romine and focused all the attention on a youth that still had to fine-tune his skills as an overall player.

I for one wanted to see Romine take over the everyday backstop position after Rivera left, but Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman followed the building from within blueprint. Still to this day, I still don’t get why you would replace a veteran catcher (Rivera) with a rookie, especially if you had a veteran catcher as a backup player at the position.

I will tell what, they better not rush anymore catchers up to the majors or else they will end up with the situation they are in with Sanchez.

Sanchez  is not in the lineup for today’s matchup (a Sunday matinee) and manager Aaron Boone said Sanchez’s benching could last a few days, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports. Right now they have a career prospect in Kratz, they better keep him as the everyday catcher because we seen him call games so far with these young prospects on the mound.

After wearing the Golden Sombrero on Saturday, Sanchez unfortunately collected 11 strikeouts during his last five games in the batter’s box. His .130 batting average would be the lowest in baseball by 40 points, if he had enough plate appearances to qualify. The way it is looking, Boone will have to pencil in Erik Kratz and Kyle Higashioka to man the catching duties until the Yanks deem Sanchez ready to return.

I say that is the way it oughta be, a veteran manning the backstop and a youngster as a backup catcher. I know I regret trading away Romine, and hope that won’t be the situation for the veteran Kratz when Sanchez returns.