Yankees 2021 Season Thread

[jacksonianmarch]

Loaisiga is dominating. German has been dominant. Barraclough and Luetke have been lights out. Good problems to have, but ST stats are always taken with a mine's worth of salt. Reports on all 4 have been very positive with their stuff and command.

[jacksonianmarch]

Luetge has apparently worked over the past year to add to his spin rate. His FB spin rate is up 200 rpm while the breaking balls are up 600 rpm on previous. He’s got a leg up to start the year in the bigs.

 

At this point, these are my projected pitchers, assuming 13 make the roster

 

1. Cole

2. Taillon

3. Kluber

4. Montgomery

5. German

6. Chapman

7. Green

8. Cessa

9. Loaisiga

10. O’Day

11. Wilson

12. Luetge

13. Barraclough

 

The rest have options, so King, Nelson, Kriske, Garcia, Schmidt (when or if healthy) can all work on their craft in AAA. If Luetge or Barraclough fade, they can easily be replaced. If they truly have found something then they stick until Britton comes back.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Loaisiga is dominating. German has been dominant. Barraclough and Luetke have been lights out. Good problems to have, but ST stats are always taken with a mine's worth of salt. Reports on all 4 have been very positive with their stuff and command.

 

Personally, I think positives in ST mean a lot, certainly to the individuals working on improvement and progress. Martin Perez has looked great, too... so far. Anyone who doesn't think early success can build the confidence needed for a career year isn't an athlete.

[Bellhorn04]

Anyone who doesn't think early success can build the confidence needed for a career year isn't an athlete.

 

This is a tough one. I would say for a pitcher, being healthy and having good velocity in spring games would certainly bode better for their season than vice versa.

 

As for hitters, I don't think a hot or cold spring has much correlation with regular season performance, but I'd be happy to be proven wrong - by good old historical numbers.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

This is a tough one. I would say for a pitcher, being healthy and having good velocity in spring games would certainly bode better for their season than vice versa.

 

As for hitters, I don't think a hot or cold spring has much correlation with regular season performance, but I'd be happy to be proven wrong - by good old historical numbers.

 

I wasn't talking about numbers -- otherwise, based on the standings, the Sox will be fighting the Yanks and the Jays for the best MLB record this year... and Tampa is doomed.

 

Ask any player if he feels better about his season if he gets off to a hot start. There are plenty of slow starters that insist they'll heat up. But there's a reason guys who start on fire think they'll never cool off.

[Bellhorn04]

I wasn't talking about numbers -- otherwise, based on the standings, the Sox will be fighting the Yanks and the Jays for the best MLB record this year... and Tampa is doomed.

 

Ask any player if he feels better about his season if he gets off to a hot start. There are plenty of slow starters that insist they'll heat up. But there's a reason guys who start on fire think they'll never cool off.

 

It's just that I seem to recall a few springs where JBJ's bat was on fire, and then when the season started his bat was ice cold.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

It's just that I seem to recall a few springs where JBJ's bat was on fire, and then when the season started his bat was ice cold.

 

Ya, there's no doubt hitters in ST get at bats against minor league hopefuls and major leaguers working on new pitches. Then again, there's always the old adage that pitchers are ahead of batters in the beginning. But of course, Bradley was notorious for his streaks, anyway...

[Bellhorn04]

Ya, there's no doubt hitters in ST get at bats against minor league hopefuls and major leaguers working on new pitches. Then again, there's always the old adage that pitchers are ahead of batters in the beginning.

 

Great quote from Earl Weaver on that, said with a smirk of course: "The pitchers are ahead of the hitters this time of year...or is it the other way around?"

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Great quote from Earl Weaver on that, said with a smirk of course: "The pitchers are ahead of the hitters this time of year...or is it the other way around?"

 

I don't believe that's a Weaver quote unless you edited out all the colorful elaboration and typed in a censored version.

[jacksonianmarch]

It's just that I seem to recall a few springs where JBJ's bat was on fire, and then when the season started his bat was ice cold.

 

One spring, Enrique Wilson hit .450 and everyone was like, wow, he is gonna snag the starting job. He lost the job in a month once he returned to being Enrique Wilson. Hitters can be ready for a season from report date to opening day in 2-4 weeks (younger guys 2, older guys 4). They dont need all 6 weeks of the spring. Spring is for the starting pitchers. Relievers need about 4 weeks to build up arm strength from report to games, starters need the whole 7 weeks.

 

I think a good spring for a young pitcher is important. If their stuff pops and they are making batters look silly, that is more translatable, IMO, than much of anything else in the spring. We are nearing the 2 week mark before opening day. That is when performance needs a little less salt as the detritus has been demoted and guys are really in the final phases of readiness. If these guys vying for spots are still blowing people away these last couple weeks, then we are in for a treat

[jacksonianmarch]

Now, to counter that. When guys who have success have a bad season, it’s great to see them exploding in ST. Sanchez looks amazing right now. He was in between last year and clearly seemed to be in his own head. Never lacked the talent. If he can hit to his capability, this lineup is dirty

[notin]

Personally, I think positives in ST mean a lot, certainly to the individuals working on improvement and progress. Martin Perez has looked great, too... so far. Anyone who doesn't think early success can build the confidence needed for a career year isn't an athlete.

 

I disagree when it’s made as a sweeping generalization.

 

Players - especially pitchers - don’t always seem to go all out or be in games during ST. And I’m sure they have to know the bulk of the hitters they face won’t be in the same uniform come April.

 

Back on that other board, every spring I awarded a player the Jeff Bailey Award, which was given to the player who had an outstanding spring but we all knew or should have known was not going to last, even in Pawtucket, something Bailey did every year. And even after him, there was some Pedro Ciriaco/Chris Carter/Jon Van Every type who just lit it up for March, and that was their season’s highlight. Once April rolled around, it was back to Eastern League Obscurity..

[notin]

One spring, Enrique Wilson hit .450 and everyone was like, wow, he is gonna snag the starting job. He lost the job in a month once he returned to being Enrique Wilson. Hitters can be ready for a season from report date to opening day in 2-4 weeks (younger guys 2, older guys 4). They dont need all 6 weeks of the spring. Spring is for the starting pitchers. Relievers need about 4 weeks to build up arm strength from report to games, starters need the whole 7 weeks.

 

I think a good spring for a young pitcher is important. If their stuff pops and they are making batters look silly, that is more translatable, IMO, than much of anything else in the spring. We are nearing the 2 week mark before opening day. That is when performance needs a little less salt as the detritus has been demoted and guys are really in the final phases of readiness. If these guys vying for spots are still blowing people away these last couple weeks, then we are in for a treat

 

 

There’s also the story from March, 1986 when George Steinbrenner was watching Dennis Rasmussen get lit up in a spring training game. Reportedly he turned to GM Clyde King and told him that Rasmussen should be cut and King better start looking for a new pitcher.

 

Rasmussen went 18-6 3.88 that year...

[bkzwhitestrican]

German's stuff has been looking really good. Has not allowed a run yet over a few appearances and has 13Ks over 9 innings.

 

Do they give comeback player of the year awards after returning from domestic violence suspension??

[jacksonianmarch]

I’d assume they wouldn’t.

 

German has always had lightning stuff. His issues have been with the longball, which is interesting since he’s a sinker baller. His best pitch is a mid 90s two seamer, but he’s been guilty of leaving it up in the zone at times. If he’s worked on keeping the sinker down, utilizing a 4 seamer up and tightening his command of the slider and change, he’ll be dynamite. He’s got front of the rotation stuff

[notin]

I’d assume they wouldn’t.

 

German has always had lightning stuff. His issues have been with the longball, which is interesting since he’s a sinker baller. His best pitch is a mid 90s two seamer, but he’s been guilty of leaving it up in the zone at times. If he’s worked on keeping the sinker down, utilizing a 4 seamer up and tightening his command of the slider and change, he’ll be dynamite. He’s got front of the rotation stuff

 

I think we all know German has other issues that are far more dangerous than just giving up the occasional home run...

[mvp 78]

I think we all know German has other issues that are far more dangerous than just giving up the occasional home run...

 

Absolutely bodied.

[jacksonianmarch]

Clearly. The off the field s*** isn’t going away. I’m just talking about the on field stuff

[notin]

Clearly. The off the field s*** isn’t going away. I’m just talking about the on field stuff

 

But it is the off the field stuff that can keep him, well, off the field...

[jacksonianmarch]

But it is the off the field stuff that can keep him, well, off the field...

 

If he does it again, it goes without saying

[Bellhorn04]

German has Chapman as a mentor. Aroldis will show him the way.

[notin]

German has Chapman as a mentor. Aroldis will show him the way.

 

Because every mentoring session should begin with the question "Do you own a gun?"

Edited March 17, 2021 by notin

[Bellhorn04]

Because every mentoring session should begin with the question "Do you own a gun?"

 

And don't forget the garage. Very important.

[mvp 78]

And don't forget the garage. Very important.

 

Chapman: "No, I said IN THE GARAGE, not in front of the team again you silly goose!"

 

The rest of the team: "I understand that German shot that girl at a charity gala, but everyone is deserving of third and fourth chances and he's been pitching really well for us. We can tell you that he's on the thinnest of thin ice!"

[notin]

Chapman: "No, I said IN THE GARAGE, not in front of the team again you silly goose!"

 

The rest of the team: "I understand that German shot that girl at a charity gala, but everyone is deserving of third and fourth chances and he's been pitching really well for us. We can tell you that he's on the thinnest of thin ice!"

 

Cashman: That incident at the charity gala is particularly disturbing and you have become a troublesome stain on the proud legacy and brand of the New York Yankees. We are going to have to recommend some serious counseling and rehab sessions.

 

German: I'm 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA.

 

Cashman: Counseling completed!!

[jacksonianmarch]

Justin Wilson down with a shoulder strain. Damn

[notin]

So now that I have already seen two pitchers on my fantasy team get injured, I a m thinking I might have to pick up Jameson Taillon to replace one of them. Thus ensuring his season is filled with injuries and disappointment.

 

Sorry, Yankee fans. I haven't had one of your pitchers on my team since I extended Luis Severino to a max contract prior to the 2019 season. (True story!!)

[jacksonianmarch]

Taillon has been good, but he’s still a tick off his FB from pre TJS days. I hope he gets that back. He’s still got a live FB, but I was hoping to see him topping out at 99 again.

 

Yanks pen seeing some injuries. Britton is down for the next 3 months and now Wilson is down and getting an MRI. Not sure if it’s dead arm or if there is something structural, but he’s expected to have a big role with Britton down for a bit.

 

In their stead, the Yanks still have a solid pen. Green slides into setup role. Chapman still closes. O’Day becomes a big middle innings guy as well. Loaisiga and Cessa are going to be key cogs out there now. The wild cards here are the two veterans who were pitching well until their last outings in Luetge and Barraclough. With both setup lefties down, Luetge looks like a lock to make the squad. I also wonder if this opens up a spot for Michael King as a swing reliever.

[jacksonianmarch]

Wilson’s MRI was clean. He will resume his throwing program next week. If he comes through it well, he could be an option mid April. Shoulders are notoriously tricky, so until he’s firing mid 90s again, I’m going to be skeptical.

 

Yanks are looking to deal Tauchman. With Gardy back, there’s not much of a role. Apparently the market for his services is strong. We shall see what they get, but they’re running out of time to move him.

[bkzwhitestrican]

Voit out for a couple of months with a partial meniscus tear. Nice to see 2021 starting just like every other season.