Is the new medical staff as inept as the old?
The New York Yankees medical staff missed the boat last season when Aaron Judge diving for a catch in the outfield popped a rib. Judge told the medical staff that he heard a crack and a pop when he hit the ground. The Yankee medical staff rested him for a day, clearly not doing the tests needed. Judge was in touch with the Yankees during the offseason, and they were aware that he was suffering some type of problem with his shoulder.  When he reported to spring training, he was still suffering the soreness. Yet the response was to rest him. If this staff doesn’t do needed tests first instead of last, we may expect more prolonged injuries again this season.
The status of Minor League COVID-19 patients
At about the same time that MLB canceled the remainder of the spring training season, a minor leaguer in the separate training complex in Tampa just a short distance from George M. Steinbrenner Field testest positive for coronavirus. A couple of days after that, another tested positive. Both only had mild symptoms. The first, Denny Larrrondo, according to Aaron Boone, was released from quarantine yesterday, and the second who was never named will be in the coming days.
Will a Yankee World Series win be legitimate?
When the New York Yankees season finally starts, and if they win the World Series, will they be stripped of bragging rights? Former Yankee Hall of Fame reliever Mariano Rivera chimed in on the subject recently on the Michael Kay show. Rivera intimated that if the season is too short, it will have an asterisk attached to it and not be considered with the same bragging rights if the season was whole.
What’s new on the Yankee health front?
New York Yankee Manager Aaron Boone has said that Giancarlo Stanton (calf strain) is recovered and ready to go it the season started today. Aaron Hicks (Tommy John surgery) is now throwing and will be prepared according to when the season begins. James Paxton (back surgery) is another player that the loss to the team will be lessened by the season pushback. He is recovering as expected. Aaron Judge, who was initially supposed to be ready, now may not be ready even if the season starts in May or June while healing fro a rib fracture. The Yankees have been unusually silent on Gary Sanchez’s back soreness.
Yankee neighbors will be playing catch together:
During the offseason, the New York Yankees acquired pitching ace Gerrit Cole for the largest contract in MLB history for a pitcher. Cole, while settling in for his nine-year contract, purchased a beautiful home in Greenwich, CT, that’s just over the New York state line and near manager Aaron Boone’s home. Over the weekend, Cole and his wife Amy made Instagram fame by releasing a video of them playing catch at their home. Manager Aaron Boone said that he and Gerrit cole have shared a game of catch at Cole’s home and may again while they wait for the start of the season.
This day in Yankee history:
In 1951, during a spring exhibition game against the University of Southern California at Bovard Field, Mickey Mantle, batting left-handed, hits a home run off Tom Lovrich, which is estimated to travel 650 feet. The 19-year-old rookie’s performance, which includes a single, triple, and another homer, is one of the highlights of the Yankees’ first-ever West Coast trip.
On this day in 1957, Yankee manager Casey Stengel is arrested and released after posting a $50 bail. He allegedly kicked a member of the media during a spring training game in St Petersburg, Florida.