4/1: Gil vs. Nelson

[jon abbey]

NY continues their opening week road trip with three at NL champs ARI.

Interestingly, ARI was another team (along with HOU) who NY beat in a series down the stretch last year, the ARI series was the final week of the regular season before ARI went on their impressive postseason run. NY is now 9-1 against those two teams since the start of Sept, admittedly 7-0 of that is HOU.

Luis Gil has missed most of the last two seasons coming back from Tommy John, but he was quite impressive this spring, with the best stuff of any Yankee starter. He has a window here with Cole out and Will Warren waiting in AAA, hopefully he takes full advantage.

ARI will send out 26 year old righty Ryne Nelson, who was in the ARI rotation most of last season with crazy home/road splits:

Home 8.25 ERA (55.2 innings)
Road 3.46 ERA (88.1 innings)

Neither team's hitters has seen the other pitcher much, except Juan Soto was in the NL West last year and homered twice off Nelson.

Torres 2B
Soto RF
Judge CF
Rizzo 1B
Stanton DH
Verdugo LF
Wells C
Berti 3B
Cabrera SS

Giving Volpe another day as Boone said he was in bad shape, Cabrera doesn't deserve to hit 9th but there are five lefties in the lineup and it's hard to split them up enough otherwise. I was already sick of the Gleyber leadoff experience but then he did a spectacular job scoring the winning run today, so he can start there again.

9:40 PM EST, on YES as are the seven games after that, huzzah.

 

[jon abbey]

View: https://twitter.com/mike_petriello/status/1774785390093668633?s=46&t=0GHHaPVUX26Io0V2HIcS0g

 

[Wingack]

View: https://twitter.com/Yankees/status/1774797677793853516?s=20


This dawg thing is a little lame, BUT it is the exact opposite vibe of last year. So if that is gonna be the tagline for this season, I am cool with it.

 

[jon abbey]

Pitches seen per Plate Appearance by team

1. NYY - 4.19
2. TBR - 4.12
3. BAL - 4.09
4. PIT - 4.07
5. WSH - 4.07
6. LAA - 4.06
7. SEA - 4.02
8. CHC - 3.98
9. ATL - 3.97
10. TOR - 3.96

 

[EvilEmpire]

The AL East is so much fun.

 

[jarules1185]

This dawg thing is a little lame, BUT it is the exact opposite vibe of last year. So if that is gonna be the tagline for this season, I am cool with it.

What would you say the vibe animal was last year? Legitimately asking, as much as that question can be legitimate, haha. I don't even remember the specifics of this time last year that well.

In all seriousness, I feel like we've all seen a bunch of cycles of this kind of thing. Walk-off face pies, Torreyes tonight interview cam, weird Met fan thumbs down, savages in the box, etc. If they win it will be cute and if they lose it's just annoying. The talent and approach definitely feel better right now

 

[jon abbey]

Both players of the week just announced will be playing in this game, Soto for the AL and Lourdes Gurriel Jr for the NL.

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

What would you say the vibe animal was last year? Legitimately asking, as much as that question can be legitimate, haha. I don't even remember the specifics of this time last year that well.

In all seriousness, I feel like we've all seen a bunch of cycles of this kind of thing. Walk-off face pies, Torreyes tonight interview cam, weird Met fan thumbs down, savages in the box, etc. If they win it will be cute and if they lose it's just annoying. The talent and approach definitely feel better right now

I have a theory I've been working on for awhile now that I feel will bear out a little bit this year and that is that the Yankees lost some of their soul when they got rid of Urshela, Sanchez and Torreyes. The Athletic had a story on Cabrera the other day talking about how Soto is the "Latin leader of the clubhouse" and how much of an impact he is having. Now, obviously, Soto's words carry a lot of weight because of his talent, but it just felt like there was a purposeful move away from Latin players and then a bit of a leadership vacuum there.

No matter what, though, the team this year seems more loose, more fun and way, way more competitive.

 

[jarules1185]

I have a theory I've been working on for awhile now that I feel will bear out a little bit this year and that is that the Yankees lost some of their soul when they got rid of Urshela, Sanchez and Torreyes.

Maybe so, but there were other silly culture guys. Didi, Todd Frazier. Role players always go in and out. I think its part just a goofy sport played by guys mostly in their 20s who have to hang out together a lot, and it's especially fun and easier to be silly when you're winning.

 

[jon abbey]

Torres 2B
Soto RF
Judge CF
Rizzo 1B
Stanton DH
Verdugo LF
Wells C
Berti 3B
Cabrera SS

1 2B Gleyber Torres
2 RF Juan Soto
3 CF Aaron Judge
4 1B Anthony Rizzo
5 DH Giancarlo Stanton
6 LF Alex Verdugo
7 SS Anthony Volpe
8 C Austin Wells
9 3B Oswaldo Cabrera

I almost got the lineup right, but Volpe is back in there after one day sick, nice to see and hope he's ok.

 

[jon abbey]

NY is trying for their 5th 5-0 start in team history:

1927
1933
1988
1992

Yankee haters may be intrigued to know that 1992 was the last time NY ended a season under .500, 76-86.

 

[Murderer's Crow]

NY is trying for their 5th 5-0 start in team history:

1927
1933
1988
1992

Yankee haters may be intrigued to know that 1992 was the last time NY ended a season under .500, 76-86.

Those teams didn't start 5-0 against teams who were in the LCS though!

 

[Murderer's Crow]

I have a theory I've been working on for awhile now that I feel will bear out a little bit this year and that is that the Yankees lost some of their soul when they got rid of Urshela, Sanchez and Torreyes. The Athletic had a story on Cabrera the other day talking about how Soto is the "Latin leader of the clubhouse" and how much of an impact he is having. Now, obviously, Soto's words carry a lot of weight because of his talent, but it just felt like there was a purposeful move away from Latin players and then a bit of a leadership vacuum there.

No matter what, though, the team this year seems more loose, more fun and way, way more competitive.

I may have said the thing about Torreyes a few times. I was extremely bothered by the fact that they traded him. Torreyes was that kind of underdog player who was just barely good enough but somehow was clutch and involved in big moments so everyone loved him. Nobody else ever seemed as likeable or clutch. Winning Yankees teams have always had those types of players on the bench. Your point could be more correct though, that it has to do with Latin players not having their own leadership and identity on the team.

 

[jon abbey]

I disagree with both of those positions, for the record. NY's problem last year was that four of their SPs went down in the spring and then Judge tried to run through concrete in the middle of the season. Soto helps the team in a million ways and I agree that he is a good focal point for the young Latino position players (although NY did still have Stanton and Gleyber), but I think he is inspiring everyone on the team, not just the Latinos and not just the position players.

And mourning the loss of Ronald Torreyes is hilarious to me, the only reason he got any playing time after NY finally dumped him in 2018 was that Joe Girardi gave him 344 PAs on a mediocre (82-80) Phillies team in 2021. He was 29 at the end of that season but basically has not played since, majors or minors. If he was so good for dugout morale, bring him back as a bat boy.

Something I do agree with though (that I've seen elsewhere) is that Soto would be great to have around for Jasson Dominguez' career, both Dominicans.

 

[Murderer's Crow]

My position isn't that the Yankees never won because Torreyes wasn't on the team, it's that they need personalities and clubhouse guys. There was a point in that era of this team where the clubhouse chemistry was wild, Frazier, Gardner, Torreyes, fire breathing Chapman and Severino...It kind of all continued to fizzle after awhile.

 

[jon abbey]

Yeah, I think they started to address that with Judge and Cole kind of taking charge last year, but it's hard when half the roster is fringe players. Josh Donaldson was a 'personality', but sadly he was no longer a competent baseball player.

 

[jon abbey]

Also I think an ongoing theme all season will be all of the position player FAs in NY's lineup: not just Soto but Gleyber and Verdugo and potentially Rizzo ($17M team option, $6M buyout), plus Kahnle and Loaisiga and Holmes at the back of the bullpen.

Those guys are of course all trying to impress in their walk years but also Verdugo especially is in danger of losing his spot to Dominguez mid-season, Pereira and Spencer Jones circling too. If Dominguez comes back and no one else goes out, I could even see NY trading Verdugo mid-season. He did not hit much against HOU (made some very good defensive plays, in the gap especially). Verdugo is from Tucson, so this is an especially big series for him, I guess.

 

[jarules1185]

I may have said the thing about Torreyes a few times. I was extremely bothered by the fact that they traded him. Torreyes was that kind of underdog player who was just barely good enough but somehow was clutch and involved in big moments so everyone loved him. Nobody else ever seemed as likeable or clutch. Winning Yankees teams have always had those types of players on the bench. Your point could be more correct though, that it has to do with Latin players not having their own leadership and identity on the team.

I think you mostly want to time things right with role players. Torreyes had a combined WAR of 0 after leaving the Yankees, so it's not like they timed it wrong.

26 man (25 at the time he was traded) roster spots are just too valuable to be used on good luck charms that aren't actually strong bets to contribute. Not that the Yankees have always gotten this right, they've had plenty of crap bench players, but I think the Torreyes thing was an example of a time that they generally did get it right.

I think the biggest reason why Soto is such a great role model in the tiny sample we've had so far is more that he's maybe the best pure hitter in the world. I'm sure he's a nice / fun guy, but is he as nice / fun as he is good at hitting? Culture is going to follow more from talent and success than vice versa in my opinion (with exceptions for extreme good guys and extreme assholes)

 

[jon abbey]

Yankees need to jump on Nelson, Gallen and Kelly in the next two.

 

[jon abbey]

The dream in this one would be for Gil and Luke Weaver to get through 7 between them. No Loaisiga or Holmes tonight, Ian Hamilton presumably the closer if needed.

 

[jon abbey]

100!!

 

[Murderer's Crow]

keep it going soto

 

[jon abbey]

53 pitches for Nelson through 2.

 

[Wingack]

Guys, Volpe is looking crazy good right now.

 

[Wingack]

Little League!

 

[jon abbey]

Volpe!!

 

[jon abbey]

Guys, Volpe is looking crazy good right now.

He has only swung and missed twice so far this season.

 

[jon abbey]

Cone is raving about Gil, understandably.

 

[jon abbey]

Throw strikes, Luis.

 

[jon abbey]

Cone said Gil was on an 85 pitch count, he is at 51 through 3.

 

[jon abbey]

Once Judge gets going, he is not going to stop, but that is not yet.

 

[jon abbey]

Damn, Rizzo hit a bullet but right at the RF.

 

[jon abbey]

ARI's only hit was on a changeup, just throw fastballs in the zone until they hit one.

 

[jon abbey]

Wells with a nice frame to get the 3-1 call on Moreno and eventually get him to ground out.

Gil is at 75 pitches through 4.

 

[Wingack]

Volpe is going to be a HEADACHE for other teams this year.

 

[Wingack]

I think Boone lets him go past 85 if he is close to getting out of the inning.

 

[jon abbey]

I think Boone lets him go past 85 if he is close to getting out of the inning.

I thought so too but they pulled him at 84 after getting the first two.

 

[jon abbey]

NY would love to have Weaver take this through the 7th or 8th.

 

[Wingack]

NY would love to have Weaver take this through the 7th or 8th.

I really hope they do. I kinda want to see him pitch, since his stuff is supposedly improved. Let's see what we have here.

 

[jon abbey]

Nice play by Rizzo, let’s tack on.

 

[cromulence]

I feel like the ump has been bad in every game this season.

And he just called one much further off the plate on the same side to Suarez. OK.

 

[jon abbey]

Moreno with a leadoff triple, the bullpen scoreless streak in serious jeopardy.

 

[jon abbey]

Weaver over 40 pitches, just gotten 4 outs.

 

[jon abbey]

OK, you have to get Weaver out of there now, come on. You dodged a bullet.

 

[jon abbey]

I'm wrong, nice job getting Carroll to pop up.

 

[jon abbey]

Two bullets right at the corner OFs, but Weaver keeps it at 5-2 after 7.

 

[EvilEmpire]

A little luck is good.

 

[cromulence]

Weaver rides his luck. We'll take it.

 

[cromulence]

Getting pretty excited about Volpe.

 

[cromulence]

Wow. More Weaver.

(nm - do they look alike or is it just me?)