Luis Severino Archives - Page 2 of 2

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?