N.Y. Yankees: Brian Cashman Trades a Dozen Prospects in Last Twelve Months

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

What more can he do?

New York Yankees: If Bronx Bombers Fall Short, It Won't Be Brian Cashman's Fault.

I've said this before ...

Regardless of what happens moving forward, Brian Cashman is having his greatest season as general manager of the Yankees, which also speaks to a successful rebuild and various acquisitions leading up to this year.

The Yankees might still be a starting pitcher short, and there's only so much you can do about injuries.  But his youth is serving him well, in more ways that one.  Cashman has packaged a platoon sized element of minor league prospects in order to keep the Yankees in a highly competitive state.

If you go back to last year's trade deadline, Cashman trades James Kaprielian, Dustin Fowler, and Jorge Mateo in order to secure Sunny Gray from Oakland.  During the off-season, he sends Jorge Guzman and Jose Devers (and Starlin Castro) to Miami in exchange for Giancarlo Stanton. 

Leading up to this season's non-waiver trade deadline, Cashman acquires pitcher J.A. Happ from the Blue Jays for Brandon Drury and Bill McKinney, and also picks up Zach Britton from Baltimore in return for Dillon Tate, Josh Rogers, and Cody Carroll.  But Cashman still isn't through.  He now acquires Andrew McCutchen (who clears waivers) from the Giants in time for him to qualify for the postseason roster.  The Giants receive Abiatal Avelino and Juan DePaulina.  And in his most recent transaction, Cashman picks up shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria for a PTBNL or cash considerations.

All told, Brian Cashman has transacted twelve minor league prospects over the course of one full calendar year in order to built, maintain, and refortify a team presently playing 35 games over the .500 mark.

And as promised he's keeping Hal Steinbrenner under the luxury tax threshold, to boot.

N.Y. Yankees: Cashman Acquisitions Overshadowed By Aaron Judge Injury

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Brian Cashman Shores Up Pitching With Two Savvy Transactions

New York Yankees: Jury Remains Out on J.A. Happ and Zach Britton Deals Until Judge Returns to Lineup.

The true measure of Brian Cashman's trade deadline acquisitions will be Aaron Judge.  For now, his wrist fracture renders the Yankees newest pitchers somewhat inconsequential, as A.J. Happ and Zach Britton were meant to enhance the team, not supplant their best layer.

A tip of the cap is nonetheless owed Brian Cashman for masterfully restocking the Yankees farm system with an abundance of young talent.  Some prospects have earned regular work with the big club, others remain parked at Scranton, while yet another handful have been traded in order to procure active major league talent.

If you include last season, Brian Cashman has literally traded away a small minor league team within a year's time.  On July 31, 2017, Cashman acquires Sonny Gray from Oakland in exchange for James Kaprielian, Dustin Fowler, and Jorge Mateo.  During the off-season, he ships Jorge Guzman and Jose Devers along with second baseman Starlin Castro to Miami for Giancarlo Stanton.  Now he sends Brandon Drury (originally acquired from Arizona) and Bill McKinney to Toronto in exchange for starter J.A. Happ, which comes on the heels of acquiring Zach Britton from Baltimore in exchange for Dillon Tate, Josh Rogers, and Cody Carroll.  All told, that's ten minor league players other general managers found interest with.

By the same token, successfully rebuilding the big club according to his own design without ever falling below .500 is nothing short of remarkable.  Even more remarkable is how Cashman fit Giancarlo Stanton, A.J. Happ, and Zach Britton into the budget all while satisfying Hal Steinbrenner's mandate for staying under the tax threshold, with room to spare.  Meanwhile, Boston president Dave Dombrowski is spending John Henry's money like a drunken sailor on leave, just as he did at Detroit.

The Yankees entered the weekend already owning a slight pitching advantage in ERA and BAA over the Red Sox.  But by adding another sorely needed quality southpaw, the league's best bullpen just got better.  Not only is Zach Britton not a member of the Red Sox, he now brings the Yankees a step closer to reducing any game against the pinstripes into a more desperate five inning affair.

However, Brian Cashman's primary need was a starting pitcher, and he landed one.  J.A Happ, a 35-year old veteran of both leagues, is another lefty who seemingly should fit right in at Yankee Stadium.  His 4.18 ERA is presently the highest its been in four years, but his WHiP, H/9 average, and K/9 average are all improved over last year.  More importantly, he owns superlative numbers against the Red Sox.

Conversely, the Red Sox already own distinct advantages at the plate over the Yankees even with Aaron Judge in the lineup.  They've established a +36 run differential over the Yankees, and lead the American League in runs scored, total bases, team average, and OPS.  Meanwhile the Yankees lead the Red Sox in home runs, slugging, and strikeouts.  The latter should improve while Judge misses the next three weeks to a month.

Until his return, the jury remains out on J.A. Happ and Zach Britton.

N.Y. Yankees: The Red Sox Strike Back

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Series tied 1-1

I - NYY 8; BOS 1

II - BOS 9; NYY 0

GAME THREE

RED SOX

vs.

YANKEES

FROM

River Avenue Grounds

BRONX

New York Yankees: Red Sox Counter With Left Hook.

There's a saying on the city streets: you do me bad, I'll do you worse.  A night after the Yankees felled the Red Sox with a flurry of big blows in Friday's series opener at the Stadium, Boston countered with one big left hook and a series of overhand rights of their own.

Red Sox southpaw Chris Sale climbed the bump Saturday at hot sun drenched Yankee Stadium and delivered a gem.  In increasing his record to 11-4 and helping even the series, Sale faced 24 Yankees batters, threw 101 pitches with 72 (71%) going for strikes.  He allowed the mighty Bombers but a single hit and one walk through seven full innings of work.  He struck out eleven batters, his final victim being Gleyber Torres during his last inning of work.

Yankees starter Sonny Gray was, in a word, terrible.  He surrendered six earned runs on seven hits and a walk in just 2.1 innings of work.  In the first inning he surrendered a grand slam to third Boston baseman Rafael Devers and the Red Sox never looked back.  Forced to cover the remaining 5.2 innings, the Yankee bullpen surrendered another five runs on ten hits and a walk.  Sonny Gray has now surrendered twelve runs in just 5.1 innings against the Red Son this season.

Catcher Sandy Leon also homered for the Sox driving in a pair, and designated hitter J.D. Drew went 2 for 4 with two RBI.

The Boston Red Sox are back atop the A.L. East by a full game over the Yankees.

A.L. EAST Standing

• 1)  Red Sox   56-28 (.667)  *
• 2)  Yankees   53-27 (.663)  1

The Red Sox own a 129+ runs differential.
The Yankees sit at 101+ Runs differential.

N.Y. Yankees: Congratulations, Nonetheless

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

A Season To Be Proud Of

91-71 (.562)

WILD CARD

WINNER ALDS

New York Yankees: Young Bombers May Have Come Up Short, But Fans Have An Awful Lot To Look Forward To.

The Yankees are coming!

Not only did the young Bombers arrive ahead of schedule, but they knocked off the defending American League champions to boot.

The regular season also demonstrated just how slim the margin of difference is between the Yankees and Red Sox.  It looks like the American League East is a two team division again.  Both teams are young, and still upcoming.  Their respective farm systems are also well stocked.  Meanwhile, the Orioles, Blue Jays, and Rays, are all trending downward; all three finished the regular season below par.  In any event, the rivalry between the Yanks and Sox appears back on, and with potential to last for many years to come.

That's good for baseball.  It's also fun to watch.

Losing, however, is never fun.  Saying the Yankees and their fans should be proud of themselves despite losing to the Astros is easier said than done.  I know.  I root for the Mets.  When you get that close to the prize, one wants to win badly as ever.

Congratulations, nonetheless.

The BTB Top Three Concerns:

I)  Joe Girardi's Contract 

With most of the top managerial candidates being quickly gobbled up, it's unlikely the Yankees would risk parting with Girardi at this juncture.  Teams would line up to hire Joe should he become    available.  I'm sure if Girardi, or the Yankees front office, had any intentions of parting ways, we would have already known.

However, I can certainly see Hal Steinbrenner insisting Girardi come at a reduced price.  That in turn may put Brian Cashman in a pickle if, and when, he negotiates a new pact with Girardi.

As a Mets fan, I'll throw this into the mix - what if the end of season exit interviews go horribly wrong?  We Mets fans were under the impression Collins was well liked in the clubhouse, partly because the media defended him all these years.  The same media then kicked Collins when he was already down and on the way out with a scathing expose rife with anonymous sources.

II)  Gary Sanchez is a Defensive Liability Behind the Plate

That was made painfully clear, if not confirmed, against the Houston Astros.  Three particular instances stand out when he was unable to cleanly receive a rely throw to the plate, thus allowing a potential out to score safely.  All three plays directly affected the outcome of three respective games.  Joe Girardi makes no secret of his displeasure with Gary's defense.

III)  Yankees Got All The Pitching in the Post-Season They Could Have Hoped For

Luis Severino posted a fine regular season, and may have simply tuckered out the playoffs.  Masahiro Tanaka is signed through 2019, but can opt out.  He is clearly a better pitcher with extended rest.  Starters make one appearance a week in Japan.  Here, pitchers start every fifth day.  It's a somewhat taxing situation, which makes his potential price somewhat prohibitive.  Jordan Montgomery is up and coming, and the acquisition of Sonny Gray helped, but to what extent remains to be seen.  He is arbitration eligible.  The Yankees may potentially need another replacement in the starting rotation.  CC Sabathia's contract is finally coming off the books.  Capt'n Crunch is now a free agent to be.  He is 37-years old, and just might be asked back on a one year deal with an option.

In other words, questions abound.

N.Y. Yankees: Onward to Cleveland

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

YANKEES AT THE GATES!

Wild Card Final

TWINS        4

YANKEES   8

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

GAME ONE

New York Yankees

vs.

Cleveland Indians

FROM

Progressive Field

OHIO

New York Yankees: October is Tax Season.

Tuesday's Wild Card game against Minnesota took a heavy toll on the Yankees bullpen that could have a potential negative affect on their readiness level entering tonight's ALDS series opener against the Indians in Cleveland, despite yesterday's day off.

Against the Twins, reliever Chad Green pitched two innings, David Robertson 3.1 innings, Tommy Kahnle tossed 2.1 innings, and Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth inning.

Let's just say with Sonny Gray starting Game One for the Yankees, there's every chance Joe Girardi will require length from his bullpen yet again.

Upon his acquisition from Oakland, Gray started 11 games down the stretch in which he posted a 4-7 record with a 3.72 ERA and 1.255 WHiP.  He issued 27 walks, fanned 59 batters, and allowed 55 hits (11 home runs) in 65.1 innings with the Yankees.

Sonny last pitched a week ago, Sept, 28, in a losing effort against Tampa, in which he allowed six earned runs on six hits (two home runs), six walks, and fanned two, in just 4.2 innings of work.  After which, Jonathan Holder, Chasen Shreve, Ben Heller, and Giovanny Gallegos, all appeared in relief of Gray.

On Sept. 29 against Toronto, David Robertson pitched one inning in relief of Masahiro Tanaka, Dellan Betances threw just eight pitches, and Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth.

On Sept. 30, the same foursome that appeared in Tuesday's Wild Card game against Minnesota, closed the door on a 2-1 victory over Toronto.  Chad Green threw 1.1 innings, Tommy Kahnle threw eight pitches, David Robertson threw an inning, and Aroldis Chapman made a second straight appearance.

On Oct. 1, the Yankees played their final game of the regular season, in which Adam Warren, Domingo German, and Ben Heller, pitched in relief of starter Jordan Montgomery.

The Yankees were off on Monday, then played the Twins on Tuesday.  The bullpen at least got a day's rest yesterday, and then here we are - Game One of the American League ALDS.

Point being, the Yankees bullpen may not be as taxed, at the moment, as some of the panic suggests.

However, what Joe Girardi and the Yankees can not afford, is a start mimicking, or even remotely resembling Luis Severino's against Minnesota.

Cleveland is sending Trevor Bauer to the bump in Game One.  He's no surety either.  His 17-9 regular season record simply means the Indians overcame his 4.19 ERA and 1.367 WHiP.  Bauer allowed more hits than innings pitched this season: 181 hits (25 home runs) in 176.1 innings of work.

So, there's that for the Yankees bats to look forward to.

Otherwise, conventional wisdom says all the pressure is on Cleveland to win; because of their 102 regular season victories they are burdened with expectations, particularly on the heels of last year's World Series loss to the Chicago Cubs.

About that ...

Terry Francona dissipates pressure perhaps better than any other manager in the game today.  The Tribe has unfinished business, and that's the way they'll be approaching this.

Meanwhile, the Wild Card Yankees are back in the post-season picture way ahead of schedule; the last remaining vestiges of their 2009 world series championship are CC Sabathia and Brett Gardner; and therefore are weighed down by little to no expectations.

I guess there's something to be said for youth, exuberance, and inexperience.  It just might work in their favor.  But, Joe Girardi is the pit bull terrier of baseball managers.  I'm sure the team understands the magnitude of the moment.  With one look at Girardi's face, how could they not?

Aaron Judge vs. Trevor Bauer 

coming to a bleacher section near you.

WILD:

Great job by veteran Brett Gardner.  The only Yankees position player with a ring went 2 for 4, with a huge second inning home run against the Twins.  Moreover, I feel he displayed exemplary leadership in Tuesday's game.

Didi Greorious continues to be such a phenomenal acquisition.


Play ball!