NY Yankees News, Information & Community

Fan Confidence Poll: February 19th, 2018

February 19, 2018 by Mike Axisa Leave a Comment

Spring Training Record: 0-0 (0 RS, 0 RA)
Spring Training Schedule This Week: Fri. vs. Tigers (YES), Sat. @ Pirates, Sun. @ Phillies (MLBN)

Open Thread: February 18th Camp Notes

February 18, 2018 by Mike Axisa Leave a Comment

Position players were due to report to Tampa today and, as far as I can tell, everyone arrived without incident. No visa issues or other late arrivals. Giancarlo Stanton was in camp and I gotta say, he looks pretty darn good in pinstripes. Can we fast forward to the start of the season please? Anyway, here’s the latest from Tampa:

Jordan Montgomery, Chance Adams, Dillon Tate, and Justus Sheffield were among those to throw bullpen sessions today. Sonny Gray and various minor leaguers, including Jonathan Loaisiga, threw live batting practice. I do believe Gray is the first MLB starter to face hitters this spring. He’ll probably get into a game sooner than everyone else in that case. [Bryan Hoch]
Aaron Judge is progressing well following offseason shoulder surgery and he will take full batting practice on the field with the rest of the position players tomorrow. Good news. [Erik Boland]
Jacoby Ellsbury confirmed the Yankees never asked him to waive his no-trade clause over the winter. He was diplomatic when asked about his role, saying, “I know I have a lot of baseball left. Just excited to go out there and play.” Ellsbury added “you want to play (but) winning” is the priority. [Jack Curry, Boland]
The Yankees haven’t announced anything, but it appears lefty Trevor Lane is in camp as a non-roster invitee. He threw live batting practice today and there are photos of him in big league camp. Lane, 23, was the team’s tenth round pick in 2016. He had a 1.52 ERA (2.37 FIP) with 26.5% strikeouts and 5.8% walks in 65.1 Single-A relief innings last year.
And finally, if you’re interested in such things, the coaches have numbers now. Hoch has the list. Bench coach Josh Bard is wearing No. 59, first base coach Reggie Willits has No. 50, and third base coach Phil Nevin has No. 53.

This is the open thread for the rest of the day. The Olympics are on, the NBA All-Star Game is on (8pm ET on TNT), the Devils are playing, and there are a few college basketball games on well. Talk about anything here that isn’t religion or politics.

Stepping Up: Aaron Hicks in 2018

February 18, 2018 by Matt Imbrogno Leave a Comment

I’ve been a part time player, so to speak, a lot in my life. Before landing a full-time job in the summer of 2016, I was something of a migrant teacher. In Connecticut, between April of 2013 and June of 2016, I taught in five schools, never for more than a year at a time, as a long-term substitute. I taught every grade from 7-12, with the exception of 8th, going through myriad curricula, from creative writing to world literature, and everything in between. And all the while, I never felt settled until I got my chance at a full time job. If you’ll allow me a stretch–as you so often do–the situation I was in is vaguely analogous to that of Aaron Hicks.

After missing all of July and having a very ‘meh’ return to the field in August and beyond, Hicks is slotted to be the Yankees’ center fielder this year from the jump, as opposed to having to play a bench role or usurp an established starter as was the case in 2016 and 2017. Hicks is a switch hitter and a solid defender, bonuses on top of his youth relative to his competition, not counting Clint Frazier (who’s not really competition anyway); he still has upside left, unlike Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury.

Despite appearing in every season since 2013, Hicks has never had more than 361 PA in a season, which he notched both in 2016 and 2017. In 2016, that came in 123 games; last year, it came in only 81, showing the trajectory of his career from bench player into starter. This year, barring injury, he’ll pass both of those marks, assuming health.

Hicks brings a patient approach at the plate and adds pop, too. He also plays a good outfield and has a rocket for an arm. This is just about everything you’d want in a center fielder. Additionally, if his Instagram account is anything to be believed, Hicks has worked incredibly hard this offseason to make this a healthy and productive season.

All of this is a long way to say that Aaron Hicks is a player we can all be rooting for to take the spotlight in 2018. Though he can–and hopefully will–produce, the pressure won’t necessarily be on him to do so, given the other bats in the lineup. After injuries and waiting in line, Hicks is in a good position to enhance his career and take a big step, just like the club he’s a part of.

Open Thread: February 17th Camp Notes

February 17, 2018 by Mike Axisa Leave a Comment

The spring clubhouse is about to get a lot more crowded. Position players are due to report to Tampa tomorrow, with the first full squad workout scheduled for Monday. The first Grapefruit League game is Friday. Can’t wait. Here’s the latest from Tampa:

Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, Dellin Betances, Chad Green, and Aroldis Chapman were among those to throw bullpen sessions today. Jordan Montgomery, Chance Adams, Justus Sheffield, and Dillon Tate threw live batting practice yesterday, among others, and if they’re already throwing live BP, it’s a pretty good indication they’ll pitch in the first few spring games. [Brendan Kuty]
Aaron Boone said that while Green will be stretched out as a starter this spring, it would “take a lot” for the Yankees to stick with him in that role. He was too good as a reliever. They’re stretching him out now just to see what he looks like as a starter, and also because it’s easier to go from starter to reliever than vice versa. [Jack Curry]
Clint Frazier said he can play center field. He said he told Boone, “Don’t get too caught up in the advanced metrics. Just use the eye test … He said he would. At least, he shook his head, so I don’t know what that meant.” Heh. Also, Jabari Blash will play some first base this spring. He played the position a bit in winter ball. [Randy Miller]
Tyler Wade made some adjustments to his hitting mechanics over the winter, specifically with his hands and knees. “You learn from failure. I failed, and I think it kind of worked to my benefit because I changed up a lot of things in the offseason,” he said. Don’t sleep on Wade. [Miller]
Boone confirmed he sees Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton hitting second “most or all of the time.” Not a surprise at all. I’d bet on Judge hitting second more often than Stanton because Judge is the better on-base player. [Curry]

This is the open thread for the evening. The NBA All-Star Game Skills Competition is on tonight (8pm ET on TNT), plus the Rangers are playing right now and Devils are playing tonight. There’s also a bunch of college basketball on, and the Olympics are still taking place. Talk about anything here that isn’t religion or politics. Thanks in advance.

Saturday Links: Judge, Captain’s Camp, Farm System Rankings

February 17, 2018 by Mike Axisa Leave a Comment

Position players will report to Spring Training tomorrow and, one week from yesterday, the Yankees will play their first Grapefruit League game. Can’t come soon enough. Here are some links to check out on the final weekend without Yankees baseball until (hopefully) November.

Judge takes over Captain’s Camp

Now that Derek Jeter has jumped shipped to the Marlins, the Yankees turned to Aaron Judge to lead Captain’s Camp, reports Brendan Kuty. Judge took Jeter’s place at the annual steak dinner in which the prospects get to ask questions and pick the brain of a big leaguer. The second year player has taken on a role as a veteran leader. Neat.

“It’s great looking back on it,” said Judge to Kuty. “The whole thing is, those are my teammates, my future teammates. Got to talk with them, get to know them, and ask about what their experience in the minor leagues has been and tell them about what I went through. It was a fun evening … I’m going to kind of keep it to them. But any way I can give back to future teammates, I’m going to do it.”

Judge one has one year (and two months) of big league experience, but he carries himself like a ten-year veteran, and obviously the Yankees believe he is someone their young players should emulate. And hey, being the reigning Rookie of the Year and MVP runner-up sure helps too. Judge has the credentials and the personality. Maybe one day Captain’s Camp will be named after him?

Yankees rank fourth in BP’s farm system rankings

A few days ago the crew at Baseball Prospectus released their annual organizational rankings. The Yankees placed fourth behind the Padres, Phillies, and Braves. Both Baseball America and Keith Law had New York’s system second behind the Braves, for what it’s worth. Anyway, here is the blurb from Baseball Prospectus:

The Yankees drop a bit as they switched to deadline buyers this year—as if slipping on an old pair of comfortable slippers you lost under the bed for a while. They also traded for Giancarlo Stanton, but that barely moved the needle on system flush with young Latin talent. Gleyber Torres is one of the best prospects in baseball and it was only a UCL tear on his non-throwing arm that kept him from graduating (or perhaps being the best prospect in baseball. They only put five names on the Top 101 this year, but Miguel Andujar just missed, and the balance of their top ten would have landed in the next 50 names. There’s substantially more risk in the Luis Medinas and Matt Sauers of the world though.

I was pretty shocked to see the Yankees second on the Baseball America and Keith Law lists. A chunk of their depth is tied up in risky lower level arms, and I figured that’d knock them down a peg, like it seems to have done with the Baseball Prospectus list. Either way, the Yankees traded and graduated a bunch of prospects last year, yet they still have a top tier farm system. That is pretty darn cool.

Several Yankees among top 100 just misses

Both Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus posted a collection of “just missed” players for their annual top 100 prospect lists. The Yankees landed six players on Baseball America’s top 100 and five players on Baseball Prospectus’ top 101. Here are the others who received consideration:

Baseball America: RHP Domingo Acevedo, SS Thairo Estrada, RHP Luis Medina, OF Everson Pereira, RHP Matt Sauer, RHP Dillon Tate
Baseball Prospectus: Acevedo and 3B Miguel Andujar

In the Baseball Prospectus write-up, it notes the gang who put together the top 101 were split on Andujar. Some wanted him on the main list and some wanted him on the outside. Ultimately, those who wanted him outside won out. So it goes. That the Yankees had six players on Baseball America’s top 100 and six others considered for the list is pretty damn amazing.

Thairo Estrada shot in hip during botched robbery

February 17, 2018 by Mike Axisa Leave a Comment

Infielder Thairo Estrada, the No. 10 prospect in the Yankees’ farm system, was shot in the right hip during a botched robbery in his native Venezuela last month, the Yankees announced yesterday.

“The situation there is not very safe. As baseball players, it makes you think about (not going back) anymore,” said Estrada during a press conference. “It was unbelievable. I was getting ready for spring training and all of a sudden you’ve been shot. But I feel good now.”

Estrada explained he was ordering food with his wife when two young men approached and demanded cash and his cell phone. He had neither on him, so they shot him. His wife was unharmed. Estrada spend three days in the hospital and the bullet is still lodged in his hip. Apparently there is no surgery planned to remove it.

“Of course it’s something I thought about,” said Estrada when asked whether he thought his career might be over. “But I think I can come back to being 100%.”

The situation in Venezuela is very dangerous right now, especially for ballplayers and athletes given the money they make. The mother of Pirates catcher Elias Diaz was kidnapped a few weeks ago and, thankfully, rescued unharmed a few days later. Many players and their family members have been robbed or kidnapped and held for ransom in recent years. Scary stuff.

As for the baseball side of things, Estrada is currently in camp doing upper body exercises. He is expected to begin riding a stationary bike next week. Aaron Boone confirmed Thairo is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, but the Yankees expect him to play the “bulk of the season.”

Estrada, 21, was added to the 40-man roster in November and was slated to compete for an infield spot in Spring Training despite having never played above Double-A. He hit .301/.353/.392 (107 wRC+) with six homers and a 10.3% strikeout rate in 122 games with Double-A Trenton last year.

Open Thread: February 16th Camp Notes

February 16, 2018 by Domenic Lanza Leave a Comment

A few notes from the last two days of Spring Training:

Giancarlo Stanton arrived in camp today (he’s a Yankee now, by the way) to begin adjusting to a different environment and new teammates.
Other position players arriving today include Tyler Austin, Tyler Wade, and Clint Frazier.
As per Jack Curry, Clint Frazier had his hair cut once a week during the off-season, and is getting another haircut tonight. This, in response to the inane controversy from last Spring.
Sonny Gray had his first bullpen session yesterday, and Sweeny Murti discussed the expectations for his first full season in pinstripes.
CC Sabathia’s first full session was today, courtesy of Bryan Hoch.
Thairo Estrada sustained a gunshot wound during an attempted robbery (!) when he was at home in Venezuela in January. He was shot in the right hip, and the bullet is still there (and is likely to remain there), with no further surgeries expected. The Yankees believe that he’ll be able to play the majority of this season – and he’s already doing upper body workouts in camp.

This is the open thread for this evening. The NBA all-star break started today, but you can catch the Celebrity Game (on ESPN at 7 PM EST) and Rising Stars Challenge (on TNT at 9 PM EST) tonight. There’s also an Islanders game tonight, and the Winter Olympics are in full swing. And, as always, you can discuss anything that doesn’t involve religion and/or politics here.