Tag: New York Yankees

New York Yankees and Their New House of Horrors

Maybe it has to do with the timing of our trips to Lake George. Maybe it’s because they are spending too much time on South Beach in August. Whatever it is, the New York Yankees have a new house of horrors and it is the most unlikely of places. Loan Depot Park, home of the Miami Marlins, has turned into a graveyard for the Yankees as their last two trips down to South Florida can attest. These games have resulted in a couple of hard to believe defeats and overall lackluster play. How can this be, since 65% of the building is filled with Yankee fans? Their journey down in 2023 was during a rare playoff miss for New York and a rare playoff appearance for Miami. 2025 can’t be a repeat, can it?

The Marlins have made Loan Depot Park a nightmare for the Yankees. Credit: USA Today

On Sunday, August 13, 2023, we were driving home from Lake George. The Yanks and Marlins split the first two games, as New York won Friday night by a score of 9-4. Sandy Alcantara tossed a complete game on Saturday for a 3-1 victory, setting up the rubber game on Sunday. The Yankees amazingly blew a 7-1 on that drive home, as a Clay Holmes throwing error allowed two runs to score before a Jake Burger single drove in the winning run with a single. Fast forward to this past Friday night. The Bombers surrendered leads of 6-0 and 9-4 but managed to push across two runs for a 12-10, 9th inning lead. Incredibly, another error, this one by Jose Caballero, helped the Fish score three times for a stunning 13-12 victory. Ironically, the Saturday game was another gem thrown by the Miami’s pitching staff (much like 2023) as three pitchers held New York to only two hits for a 2-0 victory. The drive home Sunday was much less dramatic than two years ago, but no less infuriating as the Marlins swept the Yankees into the Atlantic Ocean by a score of 7-3.

After the game, there was this stat thrown about how the Marlins are the only team with a winning record against the Yankees. More insults. Perhaps in 2027 when we again go to Lake George, we schedule it around the Yankees’ trip to Loan Dept Park. Maybe Major League Baseball can do us a solid favor and make that series in April.

MLB Trading Deadline: We Are Lucky

With the Trading Deadline almost over, I decided to have the “talk” with the three kids. Namely, I had to remind them that they are lucky that each of their teams spend most trading deadlines as buyers as opposed to sellers. This indicates that the New York Yankees, New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies are in it to win a World Series year after year. This, as opposed to teams I highlighted earlier in the week that, despite having good, controllable players, are willing to move them, punting on this season and potentially next season.

Ryan McMahon, now a Yankee. Credit: Sports Illustrated

For most of this decade, all three of our teams have decided to make moves to try and enhance their playoff chances. The one exception was the Mets in 2023 when they dealt David Robertson, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander among others at the deadline during a lost season. It is an exciting time for all of us, as we each discuss what our teams need and what players we would be willing to give up. We scour mlbtraderumors.com for the latest news and potential deals. I get asked sometimes how certain deals sound as they are pitched to me. Most of the time, they are lopsided in favor of their teams. In Matthew’s opinion, what the Mets gave up for Tyler Rogers earlier this week was fair, even though Drew Gilbert was included. He was the outfielder that came to New York for Verlander two years ago.

In addition to Rogers, the Mets added fellow relievers Gregory Soto and Ryan Helsley. The Yankees have acquired Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario and Austin Slater. The Phillies got on the board by adding Jhoan Duran. See, all three teams are active. Whether they contribute to a World Series Championship or not remains to be seen. At least all their teams are giving them reasons to be excited.

Brian Cashman and the Meaning of Going to Town

Brian Cashman, the longtime General Manager of the New York Yankees, recently used a phrase that is sure to be remembered for a long time. When asked about his plans for the upcoming trade deadline, Cashman declared, “We’re going to town”. The implication is that the Yankees are ready to make a significant move or moves to try and return to the World Series. With the Yanks now 6.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays after their third consecutive defeat today and with Aaron Judge now on the injured list, Cashman has to make good on those words.

Brian Cashman hope to “go to town” We shall see. Credit: Sports Illustrated

Let’s look at the first trade made and determine if it was “going to town”.

On Thursday, the Yankees made a deal for Colorado Rockies’ third basemen Ryan McMahon. He has an excellent glove but his bat is suspect. He was hitting .217 while striking out at a clip in excess of 33%. Part of that can be attributed to being part of a Rockies’ franchise that has been arguably the worst over the past two seasons. That being said, McMahon was not the top third baseman that is rumored to be on the move. That would be Eugenio Suarez of the Arizona Diamondbacks who has hit 36 home runs. Now, it’s true that the D’backs may not actually trade Suarez until the right offer comes along. But did Cashman seriously engage in talks?

If Arizona asked for Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr., the organization’s top two prospects, then of course trading for just Suarez is out of the question. However, would it be worth it to trade Jones or Lombard for Suarez and Merrill Kelly, Arizona’s best starting pitcher? I would strongly consider that. If the D’backs starting point was Ben Rice for Suarez straight up and Cashman said no, is that really “going to town”? Not even close. Again, this is hypothetical and we have no knowledge at the moment of what, if anything was discussed or even if a conversation took place. If Cashman didn’t even pick up the phone to find out what it would take to get Suarez, then he didn’t go to town, he didn’t even get in his car.

I am willing to give it until Thursday to determine the merits of Brian Cashman’s “going to town” quote. The early return is not promising. At least McMahon shores up the infield defense. If Cashman is not willing to part with Ben Rice to land a big piece, then this trade deadline will be a failure. We have five days to find out.

I Have Never Seen a Play Like Cody Bellinger’s Catch and Throw

The New York Yankees salvaged the finale of their Subway Series on Sunday, defeating the New York Mets by a score of 6-4. The Yanks jumped out to a 5-0 lead before the Mets started to fight their way back. The most important play occurred in the bottom of the 7th inning and the Mets threatening. With Francisco Lindor on first base, Juan Soto hit a sinking shot to left field toward Cody Bellinger. What followed was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen on a baseball diamond.

Cody Bellinger’s great double play helped out the Yanks. Credit: Yahoo Sports

Bellinger managed to catch the ball on his shoetips. As if this catch wasn’t amazing enough, Bellinger managed to keep his feet and uncork a strike to double Lindor off first. It was the play of the game. Any momentum the Mets had was snuffed out by Bellinger and allowed the Yankees to win their first game in the month of July.

As for the play itself, I have never witnessed anything like that. It should easily land as the Play of the Week when the next edition is shown on MLB Network. In fact, it should be the Play of the Year. This is not to disparage any of the other gems we have seen so far this year such as Denzel Clarke scaling the wall. We have seen the home run robbery, the backhand in the hole and the crashing into the stands. Many times. However, have we ever seen a left fielder charge a ball, catch it literally an inch from the ground, compose himself and then fire a bullet to first to complete a double play? I mean, have you ever seen a 7-3 double play? And if you have, was it as spectacularly executed as it was by Cody Bellinger? I would say the answer to that is a hard no.

If you haven’t seen the catch and throw, please click on the video below. See for yourself. I’ll bet you have never seen a play like this in your life. It is worthy of being the 2025 MLB Play of the Year, in this humble fan’s opinion.

New York Baseball Is Short on Fireworks

As I sit here on this lovely Fourth of July, the New York Mets and New York Yankees are facing off in the second Subway Series of 2025. The Yanks are currently ahead 5-4 but given how these two teams have played lately, no lead is safe. Both the Yanks and Mets started today out of first place, something that has not occurred in almost three months. The Mets have seemingly placed a pitcher on the injured list every day this week while the Yankees did nothing right in getting swept out of first place by the Toronto Blue Jays. July 4th represents celebrations, fireworks and good times. Unfortunately, our New York baseball teams are in short supply of all three.

Aaron Boone is looking for anything to spark the Yankees. Credit: Yahoo Sports

The MLB season is more than halfway complete. In the course of an entire season or even a half, bad baseball is going to happen for a period of time to all teams, no matter how good they are. The Yankees and Mets just happen to be going through their rough patches at the same time. Right now, it feels like neither team is going to return to the playoffs. The Blue Jays have surpassed the Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays have pulled even with them. The Philadelphia Phillies’ lead over the Mets feels a lot larger than just one game. The Yankees arguably suffered their worst loss of the season Wednesday night, getting behind 8-0, tying it at 9 and then losing 11-9 with Aaron Judge in the on deck circle. The Mets have won two games in a row but the last time that happened, they were blasted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in their next series. Anthony Volpe can’t stop making mistakes in the field, Mark Vientos looks lost since he returned from the IL. The rotations (minus Max Fried) can’t go past five innings, the bullpen can’t hold leads. Mental mistakes are happening all over the diamond and the managers can’t stop the bleeding. Other than these “minor” issues, everything is just swell with the Yankees and Mets.

There are still another three months left in the season. Both teams desperately need to get to the All Star Break. Management has to evaluate the greatest need for each of their respective organizations. The good vibes that existed all of last Summer for the Yankees and Mets have evaporated on this special day. The array of fireworks that began the season have turned out to be duds. It’s not too late to turn them back into Roman Candles.

Detroit Tigers Will be a Pain for the New York Yankees

I realize that it might be humorous to make assumptions for the New York Yankees. This current stretch is by far their worst of the season, having lost seven of their last eight games. However, I’ve been around long enough to realize this too, shall pass and that the Yankees will win the American League East. Despite the other four AL East teams narrowing the gap, I do believe the biggest threat to the Yanks repeating as AL champs lies outside of their division. In fact, it is a team that does have a history of thwarting New York in the playoffs.

Tarik Skubal and the Tigers pose the biggest threat to the Yankees. Credit: Sports Illustrated

The Detroit Tigers can easily derail the Yankees this October.

When the Tigers made their run last year to the divisional round, it was assumed that outside of Tarik Skubal, they were a bunch of no names that got hot at the right time. If that’s your vision of them in 2025, you need a crash course. A pair of former number one overall picks are fueling Detroit’s rise to the largest lead in any of Major League Baseball’s six divisions. First baseman Spencer Torkelson is on pace to set career highs in all offensive categories. He provides a solid #2 option behind CF/LF Riley Greene who will make his second All Star team. Javier Baez, miserable in his first three seasons in Detroit, has moved to the outfield and is hitting close to .300. Old friend Gleyber Torres is thriving outside of the glare of New York, posting a career best .385 on base percentage. As for the other overall #1 pick, Casey Mize is proving to be a tremendous weapon after the lefty Skubal. The right-hander Mize is 7-2 with a 2.96 ERA in 12 starts. Reese Olson, currently on the injured list, will be back within two weeks giving the Tigers another starting pitcher with an under 3.00 ERA. That is a solid rotation heading into any postseason series.

Before the Houston Astros became the Yankees’ playoff kryptonite, there were the Detroit Tigers. Three times (2006, 2011 and 2012) Detroit got the better of New York, ending each season in painstaking fashion. 2006 saw Kenny Rogers and his sticky fingers embarrass the heavily favored Yankees (Alex Rodriguez batted 8th in Game 4). In 2011, Doug Fister and a young Max Scherzer helped hold the Yankees to two runs in a series clinching game 5 win at Yankee Stadium. The Tigers then swept the Yankees in the following year’s ALCS with Derek Jeter missing the entire series with an ankle injury. These teams are far different now than they were then. No one remains from either set of teams so it’s not truly a rematch. However, there will be some painful memories dredged up by the networks should they meet again in October.

I do not take lightly the other teams in the American League East. It won’t be easy for the Yankees to hold on to their ever shrinking lead. Ultimately, I believe they are the best team in the division. Their road back to the World Series will have to go through the Motor City.