Will there be any SP Exhibition games?
Many New York Yankees fans are wondering if the YES Network will be televising any of the spring training games. The answer is no one knows, not even the YES Network. I found out why in a conference call with Yankee general manager Brian Cashman. He was asked that question, and he responded that the owner will still be discussing if there would be any exhibition games. I doubt there will be any, as Cashman added, that the Yankees would not be interested in any road games.
Here are the personal milestones that can be reached in this short season
Albert Pujols would have a record-breaking year even with the shortened season. He is just five home runs short of breaking Willie Mays record of 661 home runs, which would make Pujols 5th all-time. Pujols is also just 12 RBI’s short of 2,087. If he accomplishes that, he will pass New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez’s record for 2nd all-time.
Other milestones that can be accomplished is for Angel’s outfielder Mike Trout. If he hits just 15 home runs in the short season, he will reach the magic 300 number. Los Angeles star pitcher Clayton Kershaw is just thirty-three strikeouts from the 2,500 plateau. New York Yankee Aaron Judge is just 13 hits away from 400 in his short career.
COVID-19 testing starts today at Yankee Stadium
Today is the first day that New York Yankees players were to report at the Stadium in the Bronx. For the next two days, they will undergo coronavirus testing. After that, it is my understanding the all the players and workers at the Stadium will be tested twice weekly. The entire staff will have MLB temperature checks every day upon arrival at the Stadium.
Yesterday in a conference call with GM Brian Cashman, he stated that he had the 101-page health protocol that was issued by MLB. He said that the Stadium crew has been working for days to sterilized everything at the facility. He made it clear that they are making every effort to have all of the health protocols in place by the time training starts on Friday, July 3rd.
Brett Gardner will be the starting left-fielder
General Manager Brian Cashman indicated yesterday that Giancarlo Stanton would be the obvious choice to start the season as the DH. If that is the case, it appears that Brett Gardner will be in left, with Aaron Hicks in the center and Aaron Judge in right-field.
If Aaron Judge is not recovered enough from his fractured rib to play in the outfield, that leaves manager Aaron Boone with the options of using Clint Frazier or Mike Tauchman in his place. Cameron Maybin filled in for Judge last year, but he is now with the Texas Rangers.
One curious point of interest is that with this alignment, it puts Miguel Andujar in an odd position. That position is none, nowhere to play. The Yankee will want Andujar’s bat in the lineup, so they are going to have to resolve how to accomplish that before the regular season starts. Originally the thought was that Stanton and Andujar would alternate in left field and being the DH. That now seems not likely with Cashman saying Stanton would be the DH.
Manager Aaron Boone to have a conference call with the Media
This writer will take part in a conference call with New York Yankee Manager Aaron Boone at 2 pm this afternoon. It is hoped we will learn more about Aaron Judge’s ability to be ready for the beginning of the regular season.
Other areas the writers will be looking to clarify is whether there will be MLB exhibition games during this spring training 2.0. They will also want some guidance as to what the situation is with Giancarlo Stanton. Boone in his news conferences, seems to be more open and thoughtful than Cashman, so hopefully, we will learn much more about spring training and his hopes for the shortened season.
Derek Jeter talks about the lack of trust between players and owners
Last night on Line Drive ex-Yankee and Miami Marlins owner talked about the recent MLB negotiations:
“It was disappointing. It was embarrassing at times. There’s a lot of trust — there is no trust (between MLB and the MLBPA), I should say, is the best way to put it,” Jeter said. “Hopefully things will change moving forward. It was pretty sad to see the back and forth being played out publicly at a time like now. So many people filing for unemployment throughout the country — over 30 million people, 40 million people — with no jobs. They really don’t want to hear owners and players going back and forth about how much money they deserve and how much money they need.
“I get it. I was a player,” Jeter added. “I feel as though players should fight for everything that they feel as though they should have. I’ll always support them in that sense, but in this particular case, I think something should have been done behind the scenes.”