New York Yankees News: Yankees need to be smart, Cuomo says go, and more

New York Yankees, Aaron Judge
Mar 3, 2019; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) runs the bases after hitting a two run home run during the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

Yankees will be hyper-focused on player health

The New York Yankees. if a deal can be reached between MLB and the players union are ready to start a baseball.  There will be a lot of pressure on manager Aaron Boone to bring another championship to New York.  However, after last year’s an unprecedented number of injuries, the organization will be hyper-focused on keeping the team healthy.

With the coronavirus this season, it has complicated matters tri-fold.  In a perfect season you have a normal spring training and then go on to play 162 games, and have a postseason that you hopefully win.  This year spring training was halted and the season delayed.  Some players remained at the camp, yet the majority went home with no starting date in view.

This unusual situation presents health concerns as pitchers and players alike will have to ramp up again.  Boone and coaches will care less with wins in the training regiment, and will likely proceed with caution to avoid injuries from ramping up too quickly.  Each player in their own way has tried to stay active and ready but it’s not the same as live games at camp.

Hitting coach Marcus Thames has remained at the George M. Steinbrenner Training complex throughout the delay working with the players that have remained at the complex by have workout three times a week.  He has particularly worked getting already injured players rehabbed. They include Gary Sanchez and Giancarlo Stanton who are now ready to go and Aaron Judge, who will still be rehabbing for some time, healing his fractured rib.

The cost of ramping up too quickly could cause long term implications in the shortened season.   The Yankees must keep players injury-free, particularly new ace pitcher Gerrit Cole.  The New York Yankees and the Met have both said they will start the second half of spring training in their Florida locations as the virus affects less per capita in those locations than back in New York.  With Cole, you might see him in only a few starts for fewer innings to start. That may even continue into the regular season.  After last year’s injury mess, wins are important but keep the team healthy will be a priority.

Good news for the New York Yankees and sports teams in New York City

The MLB plan calls for baseball this season to be played in home parks if a deal to start can be accomplished.  New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo is all good with that encouraging The New York Yankees and other teams to start training in local fields without fans in the stands as long as they can assure steps have been taken to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 virus.   In a statement Cuomo said:

“Starting today, all the New York professional sports leagues will be able to begin training camps. … I believe that sports that can come back without having people in the stadium, without having people in the arena — do it! Do it! Work out the economics, if you can. We want you up. We want people to be able to watch sports. To the extent people are still staying home, it gives people something to do. It’s a return to normalcy. So we are working and encouraging all sports teams to start their training camps as soon as possible. And we’ll work with them to make sure that can happen.”

Cuomo, a sports fan himself, is ready to see some games even if only on TV.  He has stated several times that it will be good for New York and fans that have been shut in for weeks.

Starved for baseball?  Watch James Paxton’s no-no!

The New York Yankee’s James Paxton has had a checkered injury history that has kept him from enjoying the stardom that pitchers with his ability to tend to get.  Paxton last season had a decent first half, but an outstanding second half winning his last eleven games in a row.  This season he is coming back from back surgery.  The delay in the start of the season has helped his rehab and he now appears ready to start when the season finally starts.

When Paxton is on and good he is really good.  If you would like to see him at his best, today, MLB.com and Mariners.com will be streaming his no-hitter at noon Eastern time and at 9 am Pacific time.  Paxton shut out the Toronto Blue Jays 5-0.  The May 8, 2018, game was one of Paxton’s best games, taking 99 pitches to complete the outing.

Gerrit Cole will head up the New York Yankee rotation, and if Paxton is ready as it is assumed he will be slotted in second or third place in the rotation along with Masahiro Tanaka.  With Luis Severino out for the season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, J.A. Happ and Jordan Montgomery will be shoring up the remaining spots in the rotation.  There may also be chances for Jonathan Loaisiga and Clarke Schmidt to get some starts.  Whatever the case, the Yankees will depend on James Paxton to have a good year.  Both Paxton and Tanaka will be free agents at the end of the 2020 season.