It can’t be understated the dire situation the New York Yankees are regarding Domingo German. And I’m not talking about if he is or isn’t guilty of domestic abuse. Well, there’s a little to be said about that, but what do the Yankees do if Domingo German is facing any kind of suspension for violating the league’s domestic violence policy.
What his loss would mean for the Yankees
Domingo German had the best record for the New York Yankees as a starter. In his 27 games pitched, 24 of which he started, he completed 58.8% of a 9 inning game. By comparison, Tanaka completed 63.2% of a 9 inning game, but was 11-9 with a higher ERA than German, making German more efficient. German also walked fewer batters over 9 innings than Tanaka, struck out more per 9 innings than Happ and Paxton, and looked better than CC when healthy. A one, two punch of German and Severino would be formidable. (baseball-reference.com)
What the Rotation Looks Like Without German
There’s no knowing if German will get suspended, as we’ve been waiting for a few months now for baseball’s ruling. If he is suspended, there’s a likely probability some of the suspension will be a factor out of the time he already served in suspension back in September. But he’s what it would look like if he’s serving a suspension opening day, through April as Aroldis Chapman did in 2016:
Luis Severino (hasn’t pitched a full season since 2018)
Masahiro Tanaka (who’s getting worse in the regular season over the last 3 years)
Jordan Montgomery (hasn’t pitched a full season since 2017)
You need security for the chance that German won’t be there for any amount of time.
A Note About Domestic Violence
This issue transcends baseball and wanting what’s best for one’s team. Domestic abuse/violence is a serious issue that deserves all the attention in the world. The Yankees I feel have handled this situation with the class and severity that it deserves. As much as I want to see the Yankees field the best team possible, if German is found to be guilty, I hope he accepts his punishment and learns something from it.