A daily look at New York Yankee News/Rumors of interest to Yankee Fans
Paxton out 3-4 months after surgery:
New York Yankees pitcher James Paxton will be out for 3-4 months, according to the Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman, after having back surgery. Paxton was supposed to be the number 3 starter for the Yankees. Paxton underwent a microscopic lumbar discectomy and also had a peridiscal cyst removed. Dr. Andrew Dossett in Dallas performed the surgery. According to Cashman, Paxton started having some back problems at the end of the past season but responded well to treatment until a setback last month. The surgery on his back was performed yesterday.
Last season Paxton, 31, went 15-6 with a 3.82 ERA in 29 starts, his first with the Yankees. He won his previous ten starts in a row. He was 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA in three postseason starts, allowing five runs in 13 innings.
This dramatic announcement further utilizes the Yankees depth. J.A. Happ that was to take the five spot in the rotation now will move up, and Jordan Montgomery will surely hold up the end of the rotation. The Yankees must look at this as a return to last year when they had an unprecedented number of players injured while being hopeful that they won’t have to deal with that again. The Yankees will now start the season with two fewer pitchers, Paxton and last years 18-4 ace Domingo German who is under suspension for violating the domestic violence policy.
Steinbrenner, a time to heal!
Baseball Commission Rob Manfred issued his report on January 13, that convicted the Astros of illegally, electronically stealing signs at Minute Maid Park during the 2017 postseason against the New York Yankees. Heretofore Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner has remained silent on the scheme. However, at the baseball owner’s meeting, he made his first statement: “When (Rob Manfred’s) report came out, I was (as) upset as anyone, clearly there were direct implications to my organization, our team, our 2017 team.
He went on to say: “But at some point, I think we all, for the sake of the game and the good of the game, need to move on. Everyone needs to make that decision themselves as to when that point is. Me, standing here on February 5, I am moving forward, looking forward, up the hill that is the 2020 season. That’s my focus right now.”
In other news regarding the owner’s meeting, Jim Crane, owner of the Houston Astros, was not in attendance. It is assumed that he already feels the animosity other clubs continue to hold toward the Astros and their sign-stealing scheme. Upon the release of the Manfred report, Crane immediately fired the general manager and the field manager, A.J. Hinch. Crane, in a move to restore the reputation of the club, hired longtime highly respected Dusty Baker to manage the 2020 team.
Gleyber Torres receives the Thurmon Munson Award:
Michael Kay hosted the 40th Annual Thurmon Munson Dinner at Chelsea Piers in New York.  With Diana Munson in attendance, Gleyber Torres was one of the honorees. The honor is given to recognize success and inspiration on the field of play as well as community spirit off the field. Torres, upon receiving the award, said: “I will continue to do my best for the New York community”. Also receiving the award was former Yankee and longtime big league player and manager Lou Piniella. Piniella played in the outfield for the Yankees between 1974 and 1984 and managed the club from 1986 to 1988.
The Thurmon Munson Awards Dinner was set up after the death of the famous Captain of the Yankees. Munson died in a crash of his own plane he was piloting near his home in Ohio forty years ago, in 1979. The dinner benefits a not-for-profit organization that supports programs for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Torres has been active in the community. He has visited schools and made a significant donation to students at PS. 55 in the Bronx that allowed each student to receive a Christmas gift. This past spring, he spent time with Zack Schwartz, a 13-year-old, making his dream come true as part of the Make-A-Wish foundation.