Author Archive
Starlin Castro, Didi Gregorius Trades Turned Spare »
It was the first week of the season, a little early for bold statements. But Starlin Castro was already off to a great start with the New York Yankees, so why not? "We want to be the best middle infield we can be," Castro said, referring to his new partnership with shortstop Didi Gregorius. "We want to be the best middle infield in the major [...]
Luis Severino Under Immense Pressure to Become »
The New York Yankees are doing this right with Luis Severino, trying to lessen the pressure on him to be great right away, even if that pressure is his reality. They're doing this right, even if there is an argument to be made that the 22-year-old will be their best starting pitcher. Severino didn't start Tuesday's Opening Day game [...]
Nathan Eovaldi and His 100 MPH Fastball on Cusp of »
Nathan Eovaldi was just one inning into his second start of spring training, but New York Yankees television analyst John Flaherty was impressed. "He looks locked in already," Flaherty said on the YES broadcast Wednesday night. An inning later, Flaherty was bemoaning Eovaldi's high pitch count, which would force him from the game after just two [...]
Yankees’ 2016 Playoff Hopes Hinge on Breakout »
It's spring training, so everyone can dream. And the biggest dream shared in the early days of New York Yankees camp was the one about Michael Pineda. "I want to throw 200 innings this year," Pineda said, per Erik Boland of Newsday. "That's my goal." Everyone can dream, even a guy who has had so much trouble staying healthy he has totaled 408 [...]
Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez Will Be Critical Big Bats to »
The New York Yankees have the right idea. The bigger question is whether they have the right players. The Yankees are trying to rebuild without rebuilding, to get younger and better without coming close to any charge of tanking a season. The process is difficult enough that they haven't won a playoff game since 2012 but so far painless enough that [...]
Why 2016 Season Could See Revival of Yankees-Red Sox »
Of ESPN's first 10 announced Sunday Night Baseball telecasts for 2016, five feature either the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox. Three feature the Yankees and the Red Sox. You can't blame the television guys, even if neither of those teams has won a playoff game in the past two years. ESPN shows the teams they know you'll watch, and no matter [...]
Will Chapman-Miller-Betances Trio Really Mask »
For most of the last two years, the New York Yankees specialized in acquisitions that were anything but flashy. Many were useful and some were surprisingly good, but none of them screamed, "Look at us!" Trading for Aroldis Chapman did. That's a Yankee move. He's the type of player you expect them to get, and the over-the-top bullpen of Chapman, [...]
How the Yankees Can Come out of the Winter Meetings as »
For years, the New York Yankees won the winter the traditional way. They bought it. The Yankees are different now, and if you didn't believe it when they wouldn't enter the bidding for David Price or Zack Greinke, perhaps you will when you hear (per Joel Sherman of the New York Post) that they never bid on Jeff Samardzija, either. Maybe they're [...]
Yankees Need to Find a Middle Ground in Plan to Build »
A few years back, a general manager of a limited-budget team shook his head while talking about the New York Yankees. "Sometimes it seems like they're trying to operate like us," he said. "If we had their money, we wouldn't operate like us." The Yankees are far from having a limited budget, with a payroll that has exceeded $200 million in seven of [...]
Yankees Face October as $200M Underdogs in 1st »
Alex Rodriguez said they were underdogs, and for once we didn't laugh at the thought. The New York Yankees as underdogs? It's a crazy concept, given their $200 million-plus payroll and their history. It's fair to say the Yankees never should be underdogs to make the playoffs, but it's just as fair to say that this year they were. And it's even [...]