Luis Severino Archives

Welcome Back, Matt Holliday!

September 4, 2017 2 Comments

Just having a little fun with the name, but did the Yankees ever miss the bat of Matt Holliday. He came back not a moment too soon – contributing mightily to the crucial series win over the Red Sox. Now we have a true DH or even a first baseman, if necessary.

Chase Headley’s hot streak at the plate also comes at the perfect time. And how about Severino’s pitching in this series? Inning for inning, he bested the great and powerful Chris Sale. Good for him and good for the Yanks. CC is showing what a crafty pitcher he’s become too. His spat with Nunez over the bunt on Friday night was comical – as was Jim Rice’s retort to him – but it doesn’t matter now since we won’t play the Sox again (thankfully). I was happy for Judge’s homer last night, but he really has fizzled out. Which is, again, why Holliday’s offense is so important.

Too bad Hicks is now gone with an oblique strain. He had cooled off lately, but he’s had his share of injuries this season.

So now? We have the always-difficult Orioles to deal with. I hope there’s no letdown and the Yanks keep playing great baseball. I want the division, not the Wild Card!

A Series Split

August 6, 2017

After the miserable first two games in Cleveland, I was afraid we’d get swept by the World Series aspirant Indians. But – hoorah – we squeaked out the win on Saturday (thank you Headley for hitting that go-ahead homer and Chapman for notching the save despite making me sweat). Today’s game wasn’t a squeaker but rather a good old-fashioned bashing. Severino was brilliant against a great offensive team, and Ellsbury – the poor, maligned Ellsbury, who is constantly being grouped with the Yankees’ worst free agent signings – had a clutch triple. I’ll bet the boys feel good about themselves at least for the moment.

On the troubling side is the Gary Sanchez story. As I’ve been writing, his defense has been suspect for awhile – from passed balls to errant throws – but Girardi finally saw enough in Cleveland. He benched Sanchez today in favor of Romine and said he intends to use him sporadically as DH until he can work through his catching problems. Cashman offered the theory that muscle weight gain has made Sanchez less agile behind the plate. Girardi seemed to question Sanchez’s work ethic. It must be tough for the kid who burst into the majors late last season, slugged his way to being a fan favorite and now must take a step backward. But that’s the reality if he wants to succeed in pinstripes.

Also of note is Holliday going on the DL for back trouble. He hasn’t been right since the virus that was never diagnosed, but he was giving us a big offensive lift early in the season. I hope he comes back healthy and ready to contribute.

In the meantime, all hail Severino for a stellar pitching performance today.

Aborted End to Yanks-Royals

May 25, 2017

Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The finale in the four-game series was postponed, but there’s still lots to talk about regarding the past few days – primarily the starting pitching. Wow. It was great throughout. Pineda, Montgomery and Severino were spectacular with Severino going his deepest – into the eighth inning. Bravo to all. If the bullpen hadn’t blow Game 2, Montgomery would have had the win, but that’s an area the Yankees will have to address: middle relief. It’s shaky. Betances, on the other hand, has been terrific filling in for Chapman as our closer. (Take that, Randy Levine!)

There was just enough offense (Gardner and Didi have been hot and Sanchez seems to be coming around), and the defense was superb for the most part. The bad news was losing Ellsbury. I didn’t see his collision with the wall in real time, only the replays, but I winced each time. Big-time ouch. And now he’s out with a concussion. I wish him a speedy recovery and in the meantime we have Hicks…and Refsnyder, who will get another chance to prove he’s Major League worthy.

Next up is Oakland this weekend. More rain is forecast on and off, so we’ll see how much baseball we’ll get in. Ditto for the Memorial Day matchup at Camden Yards against the O’s. I’m sure the players don’t mind getting a rest. Some of them are pretty banged up. And Tanaka could really use the extra time to figure out how to pitch like an ace.

Record Shattering!

May 8, 2017

Full disclosure: there was no way I was staying up to see the end of last night’s game at Wrigley. I hate ESPN games, as I’m sure the players do, and I went to bed before Chapman blew the save. I thought the Yankees had things under control. I thought we were bound for the broom.

And then – surprise! – we did need the broom for the sweep but it took 18 innings to get there. Wow. I mean wow. Six hours. A record number of strikeouts. More than 500 pitches from 15 pitchers. What didn’t surprise me when I woke up was that Aaron Hicks was in the thick of things. A-Rod compared him to Bernie on Fox on Saturday, and I agree. He’s got the speed and the bat, and he can field his position too.

What shouldn’t get lost is that Severino went toe to toe with Lester, no easy feat, rebounding from a poor pitching performance last time out. And almost all the relievers (they really should DFA Tommy Layne) have been great. Also of note, every game, with a few exceptions, is exciting, has a spark, makes me want to keep watching. This team is flat-out entertaining the way they keep coming back.

I can’t imagine they’ll be feeling perky against the Reds tonight, so if they lose I’ll let them off the hook. But they could surprise me again and play out of their minds. What fun!

Tanaka Vs. Sale. We Win.

April 28, 2017

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola) (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Last night’s finale in the rain-shortened series at Fenway was so satisfying. I wasn’t optimistic going up against Sale, who’s always murdered the Yankee offense, and it wasn’t as if he had an off night. It was just that he was bested by Tanaka, who not only blanked the Red Sox but pitched a complete game. (I would not have been happy if Girardi had pulled him for Layne, a Red Sox castoff, or Chapman, who’d thrown a million pitches the night before.) He was brilliant, and the Yankee hitters scratched out just enough runs to make me exhale between innings.

And then there was Wednesday night’s game. Severino was brilliant too. He seems to have shaken off last season when he was so mediocre and come back strong. And enough can’t be said about Judge. Even when he strikes out or grounds out, he’s such a badass presence at the plate, not to mention when he’s diving over a wall to make a catch. I’m still waiting for Bird to get hot. And with Didi coming back for this weekend’s series against the O’s, I hope he’s not rusty. With Gary Sanchez waiting in the wings to return off the DL (it was nice to see him join the others in the dugout last night), we’re slowly settling into a picture of what this team will look like and how it will perform. I’m encouraged. I really am.

First Sweep of the Season!

April 14, 2017

And the “Babe Ruth” in last night’s game wasn’t Aaron Judge but Aaron Hicks with two homers against the Rays. Joining him in heroics was Luis Severino, who hadn’t won a game in forever, but had 11 Ks to dominate. And Chapman got another chance to be lights out. Well, not quite lights out – he did give up a hit and some of the at bats took awhile – but the man does bring the heat.

Brett Gardner got shook up in a collision at first base the other day so he’s shaky, but Greg Bird is back. Now if he could start hitting maybe we’d be in business.

It’s too early to tell what to make of this version of the Yankees, but when they win, they’re as much fun to watch as any Yankee team. What continues to trouble me is the number of empty seats behind home plate – the expensive seats. They’re practically bare in the early innings and gradually fill in during the game, after the Legends Suite holders finish dinner, I guess. But there’s a wide shot from the centerfield camera that shows just how embarrassing the situation is – at least to me. Yes, it’s April and the cold nights aren’t for everybody. Here’s hoping it warms up and either the Yankees drop their prices or fans decide to pony up.

Post Subway Series, Now What?

August 5, 2016

We saw Gary Sanchez get his first major league hit and serve as DH. We saw the successful return of Luis Severino out of the bullpen. But the Yankees held fast to their tendency to play .500 baseball with a series split against the Mets. They’re a different team but their results are the same. And so be it.

The big question everyone’s asking going forward – and Girardi is getting peeved about being asked day after day, can’t blame him – is what’s to be done with A-Rod? He gets no playing time. He’s just….there. I read an article in the NYT the other day about what a great mentor he’s been to the younger players and how baseball-smart he is (we could see that from watching his commentary on the TV playoff coverage). So what happens to him?

My guess is the Yankees organization will retain him for the duration of this season and then release him (unless the Marlins are willing to take him). And then he’ll either play for another year (again, for the Marlins most likely) to reach his milestones, or settle into the broadcast booth. As I said, he’s good in front of the camera when talking about the game as opposed to himself.

Meanwhile, the Yanks take on the now-powerhouse Cleveland Indians this weekend and that means facing Andrew Miller. It’ll make me sad to see him in their uniform.

Why Even Pitch to Ortiz?

May 9, 2016

I’ve never understood the Yankees’ strategy against David Ortiz, who hits homers at Yankee Stadium the way I hit this computer to write about it, which is to say: a lot. Last night’s two homers in the series finale against Boston was a case in point. Severino, who hasn’t exactly been Cy Young this year and will probably be sent back to the minors, is over-matched when facing a guy like Ortiz. So why not walk him?

Moreover, why not walk the guy every time he’s up? He kills the Yankees – particularly at the Stadium, as I said – so isn’t it a waste of everybody’s time to sit there and watch him go deep?

Ok, rant over.

Now I’ll start on the Yankees’ inability to hit knuckleballers. Aside from Tim Wakefield in his later years, knuckleball pitchers baffle Yankees hitters and Steven Wright, last night’s starter for Boston, was no exception. We managed – what – a measly three hits? I’m not saying it’s easy to hit a ball that’s dancing all over the place, but there must be videotape to watch, tips from the hitting coach, something. Having said that, why don’t the Yanks have a knuckleballer of their own?

And what’s up with all the injuries? Last night’s casualty was Darlin’ Starlin with an oblique. Sigh.

On a brighter note, the first two games of this series ended in victory for the Yankees, and it seemed as if they were finally getting on track. Maybe whoever’s healthy will be inspired against the Royals in the series that starts tonight. KC is a really good team, obviously. Sometimes the Yankees play up to the competition. I’m hoping this series will be one of those times since I’ll be at the Stadium on Wednesday night and don’t really want to shiver in the cold and see them lose.

So Much For Joy in Blue Jaysville

April 15, 2016

After winning the first game in the series in Toronto, I thought…Eh, maybe this’ll work out. But then came Games 2 and 3 and a lost series.

Eovaldi wasn’t shelled but he didn’t inspire a lot of confidence. And while Pineda was encouraging the previous night, Nova in relief was anything but. The starting pitching is and will probably continue to be a problem for the Yankees, but I hope I’m wrong.

What’s up with A-Rod? Is it really what Girardi says – that old guys take longer to get hot at the plate? If that were true, how come Beltran has done ok? And how come A-Rod started off last season, after being away from the game for so long, with a torrid offense? If he continues not to hit, he’ll be a liability in the lineup and retirement will loom large. But it’s early. At least that’s what I tell myself.

I’m really rooting for Severino to have a good start tonight in the Bronx and give everybody a lift.

News & Notes from Tampa and Elsewhere

March 23, 2016

As the spring training season winds down, there’s actually stuff going on! For starters, our President went to Cuba as everyone knows, and among his esteemed delegation was our own Jeets. I love the above photo. You can just hear them ribbing each other about their golf games. Jeter did an interview with ESPN that day and reiterated his desire to buy a baseball team. Are the Tampa Rays be on his radar? I would think so unless MLB is planning to move the team to a bigger market and more hospitable stadium.

Meanwhile, in Tampa, A-Rod told ESPN’s Andrew Marchand today that he would retire after his contract is up in 2017. Not exactly a shocker, unless he planned on playing for another team, but at least he put a finite end to his career, which allows him to have some version of a victory tour in ’17. Of course injuries could derail his plans, but if he’s still productive for the next couple of years and conducting himself as he did last year, good for him.

Starlin Castro has created a buzz at camp, so I’m eager to see him play in the Bronx. And Luis Severino continues to impress. CC, on the other hand, has been having his problems on the mound. Will he end up in the bullpen? Stranger things have happened.

In the feel-good department, there was a terrific story today in Tampa! If anyone needs a lift – and given the horrors in the world this week, who doesn’t – just read this.

Not Happy About This

December 2, 2015

I figured the Yankees wouldn’t touch Price, given how much money he’d command. I just hoped he’d wind up in the other league. Or even another division in our league. But no. The Red Sox needed an ace and they got one, and paid dearly. (“The seven-year, $217 million deal is the richest awarded to a major league pitcher and the largest in Red Sox history,” said Peter Abraham in the Boston Globe.) So now we’ll face Price a zillion times. Swell.

Where does that leave the Yankees in terms of a starting rotation? In the same place we were in last year. We’ll have Tanaka (arm trouble), Evo (doesn’t go deep in games), Nova (inconsistent), Pineda (inconsistent), Severino (prodigy or fluke), Warren (so-so) and CC (who knows). Is there an ace in that group? If healthy, Tanaka’s still my go-to guy, and I’m betting Severino will only get better. The others are question marks for me, but they’re ours for better or worse.

I’m wondering if Cashman intends to make any deals to strengthen this team. I get that he’s hamstrung by bloated salaries that are still on the books, but this is the Yankees we’re talking about. It’s not in our DNA to stand pat and do nothing. Or is it? Will Cashman really wait a few years to spend on Bryce Harper, etc? Doesn’t he have a Stadium to fill in the meantime?

I wouldn’t mind a shiny new player under my Christmas tree. Just saying.

Our New Ace?

September 27, 2015

With Tanaka still recovering from his injury (will he be healthy enough to start the Wild Card game on October 6th?), is it possible that rookie Luis Severino will get the nod in the do-or-die one-game playoff? Evo’s gone. CC’s been better lately but inconsistent. Ditto: Warren and Nova. Severino, with just a couple of exceptions, has been a revelation and appears to be able to handle the stress of a pennant race. I guess it’ll all depend on how each pitcher matches up to the competition and how many days rest they’ve had. Right now, it’s voodoo math to me and I’m glad I’m not the one to have to figure it all out.

The one thing I do know is that with today’s win over the White Sox (they scored some runs – yay), the Yankees are counting down to October 6th. I’ve marked the date on my calendar, that’s for sure. I would have loved to win the division and avoid what promises to be a heart attack-worthy night of baseball, but they couldn’t overtake the Blue Jays. So here we are.

I’m still worried about the offense. It’s been pretty anemic. And against any team’s best pitcher, it’ll be tough to crank it up a notch. But again, here we are. These are our guys, and we just have to hope they’ll rise to the occasion on the 6th and play the game of their lives.

Beltran: For Better or Worse

August 16, 2015

Carlos Betran was the hero of Games 1 and 2 of this weekend’s big series at Toronto and the goat of Game 3. (Well, not the goat exactly. There were many reasons the Yankees lost, but his misplay of the ball in right field certainly was entertaining.) His homers were thrilling and important and just what the team needed to climb back on top of the division in what promises to be a seesaw battle the rest of the way, not only with the Jays but throw in the Rays and O’s too, plus the Red Sox, who seem to be playing with understandable passion after the news that John Farrell has cancer.

Severino, while win-less since being called up to pitch in the majors, has proven he belongs. The kid’s good. And Tanaka was spectacular on Saturday, giving the bullpen a much-needed break by pitching his first complete game of the season. How his fragile arm will hold up after that outing is anyone’s guess. Evo, too, has been dependable, more each time he takes the mound.

I honestly don’t know where the Yankees will land by the end of September. Maybe they’ll peter out. Maybe they’ll go on a tear. Maybe, as I wrote above, they’ll continue to seesaw with the other teams. I really hope they hang in, because it makes this year’s pennant race truly exciting.

I’ll be there to cheer them on against the Twins tomorrow night. I’ll be wearing my purple Yankees cap to celebrate the great work of the Alzheimer’s Association and to honor my dear friend Peter Grad, who died suddenly two weeks ago. Peter and his wife Laurie co-chaired their annual “A Night at Sardi’s” benefit in LA for many years and raised millions for Alzheimer’s research and treatment. If anyone would like to make a donation in Peter’s name, go here.

CC Comes Roaring Back

August 7, 2015

I was switching back and forth last night between the finale of Yankees-Red Sox and the Republican debates (I’m a political junkie in case no one figured that out by now), but I did catch a lot of the game. CC looked fired up (thanks to the home plate ump), threw with conviction and resembled his old self. I hope it wasn’t a fluke.

Ellsbury, too, came out of his slump and delivered. And I have to say that Didi has not only shown terrific defense (what an arm!) but improved so much at the plate.

Overall, it was a good series win, despite the Red Sox’s limitations this season. The first game was another offensive juggernaut with a good performance by Tanaka. Severino, the much-heralded rookie I was looking forward to seeing, lived up to expectations for the most part but was bested by Boston’s talented knuckleballer. I wish the Yankees had gone back and watched video of how their teammates handled Wakefield back in the day, but they seemed completely at a loss. And then came last night.

It’s heartening to keep winning series and I just hope the trend continues right into the fall. How cool would that be?