What a difference a month makes! Check out the comments from yesterday’s SU. SU subscribers are excited about the Yankees and are (finally) enjoying the 2021 season. Of course, SU is as well but there are still 6 weeks to go and this will go right down to the last series in September.
A few challenges for Aaron Boone to navigate:
- What do you do when the injured players return? Now, truth be told, so many guys have gone down with injuries and COVID this year that they may never be fully healthy and that will make this go more smoothly. But Urshela will come back soon and so will Gleyber Torres. Odor is now a fan (and SU subscribers’) favorite and he may actually be the odd man out of the line-up. Velazquez has injected energy into the line-up and is a great story. He is also a better fielder than Gleyber and a switch-hitter. Luke Voit wants in and has earned his at bats. But as we saw last night, the contact hitters make the team perform better – amazing how putting the ball in play allows good things to happen? Do not underestimate Boone’s ability to screw up the line-ups and just put in all big boppers.
- For SU, Joey Gallo can only thrive in a line up like this one. He is not a guy that you can count on. I mean, does he ever hit a single? He can bunt against the shift and should do that more often. But he seems to strike out 3 times a game. Great arm though. Bat him 7th and expect nothing. Do not put him in the 3 or 4 hole – makes no sense to SU.
- SU checked the upcoming schedules for the Rays, Red Sox and the Yankees (you see? We do it all for you). The Red Sox have the easiest schedule down the stretch, and the Rays have some tough games and finish in Houston. The Mets are going to be factors – they play both the Yankees and the Red Sox. The Yankees are done with the Rays – did not know that. Everyone plays Baltimore and the Yankees have not done as well as they need to against them this year. Yankees finish on the road in Toronto and Boston. Not at all easy here.
- The bullpen will continue to be a daily unknown, and Boone will have to push the right buttons. SU says the most important thing is to not let Chapman work out of trouble in the 9th. Don’t hesitate to pull him.
- Next week will be interesting for the Yankees. On the road against the red hot Braves and then 4 in Oakland where they usually do not play well.
Bottom line: love the meaningful games, love the energy on the field and in the dugout and love the balanced line-up (who would have thought that might be a problem this year?). I will enjoy the ride but they are not a lock.
SU subscriber, M. Susser, had this comment yesterday and wants to hear from you:
“Regarding Torres- I think similarly to many of the slumping Yankees who are now excelling (see Judge, Stanton, DJ, and even Torres right before his IL stint)- he was pressing because everyone around him was slumping and the stress mounts to carry the load. The post-July 6 Yankees are doing it together (and even stealing bases in the process- leading the league since the All Star break) and no one single player has to carry the burden of hitting one out every at bat. This version of the Yankees will be highly beneficial and play to Torres’ strengths (see 2018 Yankees when Torres thrived and was just ‘one of the guys’).”
Is Torres still part of the solution? Can he regain his form from a few years ago? Do you go with Velazquez and take the defense over offense?
Sports Update Intergalactic 
I like Torres but I don’t like him at SS. This is a roster problem driven by the Yankees relying on how they originally scouted Torres (as a SS) rather than the Torres they saw succeed every day with their own eyes (as a 2B). But since this has become a roster problem (they have 3 guys who seem to fit in best at 2B) I’m not sure how it resolves itself.
As far as Odor goes, everyone seems to love him. That’s fine. The world is full of fun, wonderful people who aren’t in the startling lineup for a Major League Baseball team. Maybe the Yankees can pay his salary so he can hang out with all the players and keep them happy and loose. Call him a trainer. A coach. A muse. Whatever. I just think he’s one of the odd men out when the injured players return.
Tell the SU research department to check the October schedule- Yankees and Rays finish up against each other at the Stadium.
Ahhhh! I thought the season ended in September. Well, that could be a meaningful series and it’s also why they likely won’t have Cole for the Wild Card game if they are trying to win the division in that last series of the regular season. I will pass that feedback along to the research staff.
PEOPLE….. YOU ARE ALL OIVER THINKING THE CURRENTLY SCENARIO. IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT.
This is not the time to experiment anymore. You not only ride the wave with Velazquez but he is a contact hitter and a switch hitter. Throw that into his gold glove type of performance how can you take him out of the lineup. Gallo should bat 7th. I completely agree with that. He is the ultimate all or nothing batter. Great fielder but needs to prove himself more at bat. Voit should be playing almost every day most likely as the DH. Rizzo is the real deal offensively and defensively. Odor is another all or nothing hitter and should be on the bench once Urshella comes back.
Judge in center. Stanton in right and Gallo in left. Torrez will find some spots to play but unless he proves himself at bat there is no reason to play him. I think he might be trading value for some great prospects or another stud pitcher. Wade will have to go back to the bench as well. Its a good problem to be this deep.
If Stanton, Judge and Voit continue to take quality at bats like they are now watch out… WILL YOU LOOK AT THAT LINEUP !!! Where’s their weakness? Gallo? Valezquez in the 8th or 9th spot? Imagine if LaMiehu got hot. He’s overdue.
I’m not worried about the relief pitchers. i think all these teams have the same issue. With most champions there is usually some luck attached. Just ask Eli in their last Super Bow win or the Mookie with his ground ball to first base. I’m sure Babe Ruth and Yogi Berra would disagree.
And with all the unsettled weather wouldn’t be surprised if there are makeup game issues to contend with as well at the end of the season- maybe the SU meteorological department can weigh in on that.