SU stayed up until 1 am last night watching the Yankees – Royals game so you wouldn’t have to. It was actually quite a game – not exactly the poster child for great relief outings – but it went down to the final pitch in the bottom of the 11th inning. It’s only one game out of 162 but SU has a few observations to share:

1. Luke Voit is on a mission. I mean, the dude swings too hard all the time but he cares. The Yankees traded for Rizzo who started red hot both at the plate and in the field, and apparently Voit was almost traded right before the deadline. He would still be in Scranton today if it wasn’t for Rizzo testing positive for COVID (he is not vaccinated btw). Voit looked terrible on Sunday in big situations and owned it in his post-game comments. He acknowledged that he is aware of almost being traded and that Rizzo is there to play first base. So, last night, after striking out with a man on 3rd and only 1 out early, he knocks in a run with a single, hits a home run in the top of the 9th to give them the lead, and then lines out to deep left in his last at bat. SU says good for him and he has put Boone on notice that he is deserving of playing time. He is a streaky hitter (like most of the Yankee sluggers) and SU says he needs to be out there somewhere every day – and that should continue once Rizzo returns.
2. And that brings us to Stanton. He has been better of late but not hitting for power really. Under Boone, Stanton doesn’t have to earn the at bats. He just has to stay healthy. The question is once Rizzo returns, who plays? The best line up has Voit at DH, Gallo in center field and Stanton in left field. If you don’t want to do that, and you want to play Gardner in center field or Allen (oh wait, we sent him down to the minors so this guy Davis can play???? That is called “over-GMing”), then who sits? SU says you sit the guy who is not producing and if that is Stanton, check your ego at the door and do better. Play the hot hitters. Do it.
3. Rizzo has to play. He is a gold glove first baseman and a left-handed hitter. So does Gallo although SU is not sold on him as of yet. So many strikeouts and while no one cares about that anymore, SU does.
4. Tyler Wade was huge last night and the new shortstop, Velazquez, looked good in the field and is a switch hitter. Torres is out a few weeks now and let some of the young guys play.

Let’s be clear: the Yankees are not a lock to make the Wild Card. Oakland, Boston and Toronto are not going away. The hot hitters need to play and others need to earn their at bats. Let’s see how Boone manages this.