The Pinstriped Baseball Lane

If you have been following the New York Yankees from the start of the season, then you know they had a pretty strong start to the 2020 year. In the past two weeks though, they have been hard to watch because after running out of the gate with one of the best starts in franchise history, injuries once again struck the team and has certainly become a strong contributor to cooling down the hot start the Yankees began the season with. As a fan, it is pretty upsetting to watch the Yankees drop 10 of 14, many of them coming in close games where the team had held a lead in late innings.

Coming into 2020, I am sure that I wasn’t the only fan to think that the Yankees would continue their flourishing momentum from 2019. We saw a Yankee club plug every injury hole to climb to a 103-win season last season, but how long will that method work in this 2020 shortened season?

From having to deal with some very unorthodox bullpen troubles (both in the starting and back end of the pitching staff) to dealing with offensive troubles, the Yankees can’t quite figure how to get another hot streak going. It would seem that the offensive part of the club is not the same without its two top strugglers in Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge.

I don’t want to, but I have to say the following. To add deep insult to their abundance of injuries,  the Yankees were thoroughly bashed by the  Rays this year, falling four back in the loss column heading into the weekend. With just three weeks left in the season, catching the Rays will be a challenge to say the least, and the way this year has worked out, the Yankee-Boston has gone into the background and the Yankee-Rays rivalry has come to the forefront of the AL East standings.

By far, 2020 has brought upon us a very weird season that forced us to be witnesses to painful losses, absorb struggles that root from delays, and at times there have been serious doubts. Aside from those things, the 2020 season has brought many other weirdness, from doubleheaders galore to drone delays. It also brings the expanded playoff format and the likely playoff bubble format to the game, which most likely would put all teams in a neutral site when the October festivities begin.

 I am sure that I am not the only one to think that the normal postseason has to be one of the best blueprints in the world of sports.

This year, there is very little advantage to winning the division, as there is no Wild Card Game. Instead, there is just a three-game series at a neutral site, meaning that the battle for home field will be a subject to debate.

The way it is looking at the moment, the Yankees would face Cleveland in the first round, which of course wouldn’t be easy given that Shane Bieber will likely be getting the ball in game one, but Mike Clevinger is now in San Diego, and it would be a winnable series if the Yanks get some of their wounded weapons back by then. Of course, there are other competitors besides the Indians. The other opponents consist of the banged-up Astros and the White Sox, which should be winnable match-ups for the Yanks.

Honestly, all these series are in the Yankees reach when they all get back to full health.

Going forward, the Yankees have remaining games against the Orioles, Marlins and Red Sox, all beatable teams, even not at full strength. Two series against the Blue Jays won’t be easy, but that schedule certainly makes a top-five finish in the league well within reach, all while taking time to get relievers like Aroldis Chapman and Zack Britton back on track after missing time in an already shortened season. Hopefully we will also have some fiery bats back in the lineup soon. With the return of  Judge, Stanton and Torres off the IL, I would like to think that the offense will start clicking on a consistent basis again.

I think I speak for all Yankee fans when I say that we have seen a lot of ugliness during these past few seasons because they have come just with reaches of gain another title shot. Now, they are yet again facing another set of ugliness in last few weeks of this year’s regular season. As always the Yankees organization run on a World Series-or-Bust mentality, but if they don’t start winning a ton of games soon, then the team may be looking at a Wild Card contention game plan and that won’t guarantee a thing.

New York Yankees‘ outfielder Brett Gardner has been the team’s longest tenured player, but now, the Yankees can’t afford to wait for Gardner to snap out of a slump at the plate, especially with the impressive plays of Mike Tauchman and the return of Clint Frazier, both significantly younger players.

For now Frazier is getting a shot because Stanton is on the injured list, but he will have to face the reality of getting send down to the minors again when Giancarlo Stanton returns. Frazier never fully can break into the majors because the team has a packed outfield, but what if there is a loophole that can make everyone happy.

The only way for Frazier to get a full-time position on the team is if the Yanks shed contracts, and right now Gardner looks like he is the odd man out. At the moment, the Yanks have him on the payroll with a 1 year/12,500,000 contract.

During this pandemically-fractured season, in 75 at bats, Gardy has managed to accumulate 13 hits; 3 homeruns; and a .173 batting average. Along with those numbers, he put together 9 runs; knocked in 6 ribbies; stole 3 bases; and currently is slugging at a .333. Over his career, he compiled a WAR (Wins Above Replacement) of 42.5, had 5295 at bats, stole 270 bases, and launched 127 long balls.

Brett Gardner is currently my favorite baseball player, but honestly as much as it hurts me to say it, the time has comes Gardy to step off the field as a player and take on the role of a coach or a manager. Like many fans, “Brett The Jet”, is the nickname I like to call him by. Throughout his career as a Yankee, “BTJ” has become known for his slick speed on the base pads and for that reason, I would like to believe that it makes perfect sense to have him take on an advisory role with the Yanks.

By far Gardner has earned the title when it comes down to being more superior and by far more gritty, but even with his tough at-bat approach that works pitchers into tough pitching counts and his respectable presence as a veteran outfielder, I think it is time that he passes the torch onto a younger athletes that can offer the position more pop.

Whatever way you look at it, the Yanks are committed to keeping their longest vet in the lineup, despite his rapid decline in production at the plate, and some slight decline in his outfield play. Throughout his career with the club, the Yankee universe has seen Gardy be one of the most grittiest outfielders that ever put on the pinstripes, so how do you keep him in the Yankee uniform after this season?

Lets not forget, even though Gardy is not known much for his homerun power, he is really great at putting together disciplined at bats. That aspect of Gardner’s game can serve well to the up and coming youth in the Yankee farm system, as he could serve as special advisor/hitting coach after he retires.

I know I will probably get some heat for this, but he would certain be a pick for manager or some type of special advisor in my book

Well, if you are a fan or a member of the New York Yankees, then you know that the pinstriped organization was on championships that are obtained because of talented acquisitions.

Whether the Yanks sign big name baseball players to big contract or acquire stellar- young stars as prospect that develop in the minors, the Steinbrenner family has gone after the best talent in baseball. As a matter fact, the team has developed a reputation for having one of the deepest minor league system in baseball. In a Sunday afternoon game at Yankee Stadium, Deivi Garcia became another example of just how effective the team’s far system really is.

In the second game of the Yankee-Mets doubleheader, Deivi Garcia got his debut shot and he proved his worth as one one of the young studs that has one of the best breaking ball in the Minor Leagues. The pitch has come to be known for its high- spin curveball effect that has so much depth. With that being said, Garcia does have some difficulty landing it into the catcher’s mit for a strike, but he also whiffs bats with a fastball that ranges from 97-99 mph with high spin rates that allows it to ride upward in the strike zone.

Garcia acquired a line of 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 Ks in his debut, but unfortunately he didn’t come away with the W against the Mets. The 5-2 W went to Jonathan Holder instead of Garcia, but to me the youngster did well in his debut.

The No. 3 prospect rated by MLB Pipeline told the media that he was not nervous through a Spanish interpreter and I believe he made the right self-evaluation of his performance. He also added in a statement to the media,”I definitely understood the task in front of me, and I wanted to do the best I could to help my teammates.” Even though he didn’t get the W, I really do believe he has what it takes to wear the pinstripes in the majors and he certainly has the work ethic to eventually become a mai stay on the major league roster.

Personally, it was fun watching him as the 29th man for Sunday’s twin bill, García became the first pitcher in Yankees history to debut with least six or more innings with no earned runs and no walks. Man, it was interesting to watch him showcase that sneaky fastball and a terrific curveball in his Prime-Time debut, scattering four hits across a 75-pitch performance.

“Nothing really seems to faze him,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He was having fun tonight the whole time. You’d see him walk in after an inning like it was no big deal. He’d kind of smile and make some jokes. It was fun to watch him compete.”

For me, I have to agree with our pinstriped manager, it was fun to watch Garcia pound the strike zone. I sure hope the Yanks do everything to block a guy like Garcia from ever having to wear another team’s uniform, just like they are doing everything to now prevent Clint Frazier from becoming a trading chip.

It goes without saying, Garcia performed at his best in his first major league outing off 2020, but don’t just take my words and run with it. Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez had some words to say about Garcia. The notorious Yankee rival said in a tweet, “Congrats to 21-year-old Dominican pitcher Deivi Garcia on an excellent debut for the Yankees. He did a great job at mixing his pitches…” The HOF continued saying, “…His body looked stable and fully extended. I was impressed with the way he commanded his pitches.”

Garcia must of felt proud to be compared to someone in Cooperstown, but he earned comparisons to Pedro Martinez long before reaching the majors. Quite frankly Martinez didn’t seem to have a problem with that.

According to the sports’ section of fashionmodelsecret.com:

Garcia was promoted to majors for Sunday’s doubleheader against the Mets, and was in line for win, before Luke Voit’s two-base fielding error helped the Mets tie the game. Garcia, who is two inches shorter than the diminutive 5-foot-11 Martinez, threw 74 pitches (51 strikes), while striking out six and walking none.

Martinez also wrote in his tweet that he thought Garcia presence on the mound was outstanding, and he thought the same about his balance on the mound.

I believe Garcia has a bright future beyond this COVID-19 season

It looks like Red Thunder will be in the weather forecast for a while, as Clint Frazier is making the most of his 2020 opportunity in the majors.

Boy, I knew this guy could hit, but what he is doing this year is amazing. In my book, he has proven his worth because he has some stellar defense and man, that bat swing is so sweet to watch.

When Frazier addressed the media on Wednesday afternoon for the first time this season, one day after being called up from the Yankees’ alternate site, it was obvious that the outfielder was bursting with confidence. 

“I feel like I’m the best player right now than I’ve ever been,” he said as a smile crept across his lips. “I’ve worked on a lot of things and I’m ready to show it off.”

I know that there are people who don’t really trust in the outfielder’s abilities, but when we first acquired him from Cleveland, I just knew that he would be something for the Yanks. As a fan, I am really glad to see him doing well in the majors and I wish him all the success in his future endeavors.

Frazier’s 2020 debut featured three hits, including a home run in his first at-bat, as Red Thunder finished a triple shy of the cycle in a 6-3 win over the Atlanta Braves.

Despite all the uncertainties that face Clint, after the damage he inflicted on the Braves and the Red Sox, I am convinced that that he could be a vital component in the Yankees’ Chase For 28.

Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees, 8-14-2020, Free MLB Picks And Predictions

Boston Red Sox (6-13) @ New York Yankees (12-6)

MLB Baseball: Friday, August 14, 2020 @ 7:05 PM (Yankees Stadium)

Colten Brewer (RHP,0-0, 3.60 ERA, 10 Ks) vs. Gerrit Cole (RHP, 3-0, 3.22 ERA, 26 Ks)

The Most Intense Rivalry In Sports Is Back In Bronx

Well, if you know about the New York Yankees–Boston Red Sox, then you know that tonight will be one filled with intensity.

The Yankees will be the home team tonight and they will be be welcoming the Red Sox to Yankees Stadium for a weekend series.

The Yanks are now 12-6 on the season and all they have been doing is hitting the baseball into the seats. On the opposition, the Red Sox are sitting toward the bottom of the American League East with a 6-13 record. Just to put things into perspective, the Baltimore Orioles(who aren’t normally postseason contenders), are currently holding a 10-7 record in third place in the A.L East and the Sox are in last place.

The Yanks will have the opportunity to watch another stellar performance unfold by Cole in pinstripes. Even though the Yankee ace recorded double digits in strikeouts for the first time as a Yankee in his last start, he believes that he is not in mid-season form as yet. That to me that he is has high expectation for himself. In his last start against the Rays, he whiffed 10 batters over 4 2/3 innings of work in a no-decision at Tropicana Field. According to Cole, he saw “good improvement” in the effort, which was his 26th consecutive start without logging a lost. The streak dated back to last season and is the fifth-longest in big league history.

The Yankee ace will be opposed by Colten Brewer. The Red Sox righty will be coming out the gate, as the Sox will tab him with a bullpen start. This will Brewer’s first career. He has pitched two innings; which resulted in him giving up two runs, over three appearances at Yankee Stadium.