The Yanks acquired Britton and Happ since I last posted, and I’m supposed to be heartened by that. I’m pleased we got a starter and a premier reliever, really I am, but I’m still reeling from the loss of Judge. His injury could have been worse – a fractured wrist is better than, say, a torn ACL – but when they say he can’t swing a bat for three weeks, that means rehab afterwards, then getting his timing back, then playing some minor league games, etc. We won’t see him for awhile – and this is occurring during a crucial stretch in the season.
As for Happ, he only gave up a solo homer at the Stadium yesterday so his debut in pinstripes was a success, and the Yankees won the finale in the series with the Royals. Britton will add to an already strong bullpen, so that’s all good.
But what’s up with Severino? Talk about going through a slump. He’s been awful the last couple of times out. I wonder if he’s hurt, thrown too many pitch and has “dead arm” or it’s something else? We need him desperately to be our ace, as Sonny Gray is unpredictable, CC is CC, Tanaka tends to alternate really good outings with not-so-good ones and Cessa isn’t cutting it.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox hardly ever lose, and it’s going to be tough to catch them and win the division. We have head-to-head series coming up and I’m nervous about those contests. Boone will be tested to see how he handles this tricky time in his rookie season.
Hey good morning, Jane. What do you make of the moves of Warren and Austin yesterday for international money and Lynn? I’m scratching my head about Warren still because it was a subtraction in the middle of a playoff race and he’s always been a reliable solid reliever. I won’t miss Austin but Lynn is an uninspired acquisition as he walked too many guys this year and has that bloated ERA above 5. I have to wonder if we will make more moves as rumors are that we are in on Granderson or McCutchen in light of the recent Judge injury. I believe we also checked in on Archer but he’s going to cost more than he’s worth. Harper is also “available” but I doubt we make a serious offer for him or if the Nationals are truly going to sell while they have their core intact.
Hi Leo. A head scratcher is right. Exactly the way I felt when I read about the moves last night. I don’t mind losing Warren. I don’t think he’s been the Warren of old and we have a solid relief corps without him. He had more value in the days when he could double as a long reliever and spot start. I’m sorry for Austin, because I think he really hoped to make the club and stay up in the Bronx. But Lynn????? Why oh why did we get him? He seems so mediocre so I don’t get the reasoning at all. I do believe the rumors about getting another slugger because of Judge. Maybe Granderson, but I wouldn’t rule out Harper. He’s made his unhappiness with the Nationals plain, as well as his desire to be a Yankee. It’s inevitable, so why not do it now. I’m not sure what we’d do with all the outfielders.
Harper would be fantastic to have on this team but are we willing to pay the price for him? The Nationals are smack in the middle where they could still theoretically contend so it would take alot to get him. Tough decision for Cashman to make as Harper is going to be a free agent this offseason and will just cost money at that time. I wouldn’t worry too much about the too many outfielders on the off chance we do get him. As we saw just recently with a Judge injury, Frazier concussion, Ellsbury MIA, and McKinney trade and just like that all of a sudden, the OF depth was depleted. Perhaps Gardner isn’t re-signed next year or even better, maybe Ellsbury is finally released for good! He’s a sunk cost at this point. Might as well eat the contract and get an additional roster spot for a better player.
I can’t tell how much Cashman wants Harper. George would have gone after him, but Hal and Cashman? Not sure. On the other hand, they sure did pony up for Stanton.
Jane, I’m not sure how much more I can take of Sonny Gray. Almost every start of his seems to be a guaranteed automatic loss because he digs such a deep hole with all the runs he gives up. But what’s the solution? I guess Lynn or Cessa for now could bide some time until Sheffield is ready. Hopefully sooner than later. But Gray can’t pitch in the rotation anymore. We are in the middle of a divisional race. The RISP problems with the bases loaded were annoying but if Gray hadn’t dug such a hole in the first place, 5 runs can be enough to win games.
Yesterday’s game was an abomination, Leo, to the point where I couldn’t even blog about that series. Gray is so depressing. He’s bullpen bound for sure and I guess Lynn will function the way Warren used to: as a spot starter or long reliever. Cessa doesn’t give me confidence but if he’s only throwing a few innings until the bullpen takes over, it may be ok. We need to tighten up our defense too! But this series with the Red Sox? I’m just hoping it won’t be brutal.
Last night was an even bigger embarrassment than the Orioles game. On any given night, 7 runs should be more than enough to win a game for you but the pitching was atrocious. It started with CC not being able to give us length which has been a problem recently with our starting pitching. Holder was awful last night. He’s been really good overall but giving up 6 runs without even recording an out was just terrible and embarrassing. Green had to clean up the mess and Cessa had to be called to give us some length to save the rest of the arms. And now we’ll be scrambling to find a replacement for Saturday which was lined up for Cessa. Supposedly it’ll be Chance Adams but asking a rookie to navigate and hold down a strong lineup like the Red Sox is just asking for trouble. Severino HAS to pitch better tonight and give us length if we even want to salvage this series.
Leo, last night was such a disaster that it made the game against the O’s a nothing, as you said. Everything was atrocious – the pitching, the defense, the lack of timely hitting and the lack of fight to the end. And Chance Adams? Come on! Cashman should have listened to me and gotten Cole Hamels! Basically, the division title is gone and we just have to hope for a wild card entry. Very, very disheartened.