A daily look at New York Yankees News and Rumors of interest to Yankee fans
Gerrit Cole number 3, really?
MLB Network has released its top 10 pitchers on their “Shredder” report. They have given Gerrit Cole the number three spot on the list behind Jacob deGrom and Justin Verlander coming in second. First of all, I know they factor in the analytics, Statcast data, and traditional statistics for the last two years in the placement. Further, I am trying not to be biased, but I see Cole on the top of that list, if for no other reason than he has the best postseason record of any of the three. In the past two seasons, deGrom was 21-17, with a combined ERA of 2.07. Cole was 35-10, with an ERA of 2.69, nevertheless looking at the postseason performance, I give the nod to Cole. Verlander was 37-15 with a combined ERA of 2.55 but lost three of the four games in the last postseason, so I still give the nod to Cole.
Others on the list in order are Scherzer, Ryu, Grienke, Flaherty, Corbin, Clevinger, and rounding out the list, Buehler. My question here is, how do you pick Jack Flaherty over Stephen Strasburg, who is not on the list at all. Jack Flaherty was 19-17 with an ERA of 3.05; Strasburg was 38-13 with an ERA of 3.53. Also, Flaherty is 2-4 in the postseason, and Strasburg is 5-0, so I give his position to Strasburg easily. Forget the fact that he almost single-handedly won the World Championship for the Nationals. I fully understand all of these pitchers get varying run support, but from what I see, these are still two errors in the “Shedder” report.
Mendoza new bench coach works with Andujar:
Carlos Mendoza has recently been promoted to Aaron Boone’s bench coach. One of his primary duties in this preseason is to work with Miguel Andujar. So far, he has been trying him out in the outfield and at first base. He is also testing him at third, even though General Manager Brian Cashman has said that it is Gio Urshela’s position to lose. Upon Andujar’s shoulder injury last year, Urshela stepped up and provided Gold Glove type defense at the hot corner. He surprised the club with some pretty potent offense as well, although that slowed late in the season.   Mendoza recently said of Andujar: “He’s getting work everywhere, From third base to first base to the outfield. Third base is the priority, and every other day he’s alternating positions.” He also said that Andujar’s shoulder appears to be one hundred percent. “He’s full-go, throwing-wise,” Mendoza said. “He’s throwing from the outfield and third base with no issues so far.”
What made the Yankees decide on Happ?
A short while ago, Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman announced that J.A. Happ would be the fifth starter in the rotation. Previous to that, many thought it was an open competition between Happ and Jordon Montgomery. The reason Happ is in the rotation is a win-win situation for the Yankees. Happ, regardless of his rather poor performance last year, is a qualified veteran pitcher, as expressed by his $17MM per year contract.
If Happ performs as they hope he will, it’s a win for the Yankees. If he doesn’t, and they have to send him to the bullpen, they keep the MLB Pitchers Association off their back. You see Happ, in order to be vested for 2021, must either start 27 games or pitch 165 innings, if he doesn’t and isn’t given a chance too, it would cause anger from the players union. The Yankees already have a situation with the union in refusing to pay the money owed to the always injured Jacoby Ellsbury. Ellsbury used a non-approved training outlet that the Yankees claim breaks his contract.
However, it should be pointed out that Happ has reached the 27/165 threshold only twice in the last four years and only four times in his entire career. By the Yankees starting him in the five spot at the start of the season, it at least gives him a chance to attain one of the two. By giving him this chance, Happ wins, and the Yankees win.