If you told me in March that the Jays would be going into a pivotal series against the New York Yankees in July with a 58-41 record and three games up on them for the division, I’d have assumed you were talking about your most recent season on MLB The Show 25 with the ‘approved all trade offers’ button turned on. But here the Jays are, having won ten in a run at home, having gone 16-4 in their last 20 games.
The most significant series in that run was a four game sweep of the Yankees that put them
up one game at the top of the division. Now the two teams face off again, and a sweep either way could dramatically alter how each team goes into the trade deadline.
The Yankees are 55-44, second in the AL East and 3 games behind the Blue Jays in the division.
I reached out to Pinstripe Alley and Joshua Diemert, a regular visitor to BBB agreed to answer a few questions.
1. There’s been a lot of vitriol over the last few years regarding our President Mark Shapiro, GM Ross Atkins and Manager John Schneider, but compared to PSA, we’re minor leaguers at slagging the team’s leadership. What is the general tone of the fans on the Yankees ownership and management?
I think the main problem fans have with the leadership group is how entrenched they are. This is Brian Cashman’s organization every bit as much as it is Hal Steinbrenner’s, and Cashman will have a job as long as he wants. Aaron Boone is the handpicked liaison between the FO and dugout, and he seems similarly a permahire. I think there is a perception that no matter what happens, the Yankees won’t change the brain trust, and that leads to a lot of frustration. I think John Schneider could be fired, or Atkins in the right (or wrong, I suppose) circumstances. I’m not sure the same is true for the Yankees.
2. The Yankees always seem to have the capacity to swing hard to address their needs at the deadline. What does a realistic haul look like from this FO?
The big problem with the trade deadline is the Yankees need a little bit of everything - a better hitting third baseman, a reliever or two, and a starter. I think they can manage 2/3, probably in a package deal - the rumoured Zac Gallen/Suarez package from Arizona, for example. If teams are targeting pitching prospects, the Yankees can probably get a lot done. If position players are the coins of the realm, I’m not sure they can be as active.
3. What’s the general consensus on the Yankees draft results this year, especially with picking quite late?
My personal policy on this year’s draft is I start caring about it three years from now, so I’ll directly quote Dan Kelly, who watches Yankee prospects closer than anyone I know:
“I think there was a realization that the Yankees didn’t have many cards to play in the draft, so expectations were low… top pick dropped 10 spots, no 2nd round pick, lowest bonus pool to work with… Kilby is a solid pick… everyone else after that will be a player development success story if they make the majors”.
4. Which prospect are Yankees fans most excited for that might debut this year or next?
I don’t think anyone of real note will be called up this year - Spencer Jones is the best hitter in MiLB right now, but the big-league club has such a logjam in the outfield and DH that there’s just no at-bats around. George Lombard Jr. is probably the most-hyped guy in the system this year, but he’s at least another year away from making MLB noise.
5. Who is your favourite member of the team to watch right now?
I mean it’s Aaron Judge, because he’s maybe the best right handed hitter of all time, and likely the best since integration. Ben Rice when he’s on is both terrific and gorgeous. But the biggest surprise this year has been Carlos Rodón, who’s finally pitching like the co-ace the Yankees thought they were getting three years ago, and there’s just something fun about left handed power starters with wipeout sliders. It’s an aesthetically pleasing kind of pitching to watch.
6. Finally, just a fun little exercise, if you could choose any player who debuted with the Yankees at any point in their history and drop them into this team at their rookie position and with their rookie year numbers, who would it be?
Once again, the chalk pick is Judge, give me his 8.7 fWAR Rookie of the Year 2017. That’s not very fun though. Joe DiMaggio and Thurman Munson both had five-win seasons as rookies, but I’m not sure catcher and center field are the biggest current needs for the team. The curveball that I’ll throw is Dellin Betances, 3.0 fWAR, 1.40 ERA, 31 percent K-BB%, and 90.0 innings in the bullpen in 2014. The relief corps of this team makes me very uneasy, Peak Dellin would be the ultimate antacid.
Thanks Joshua!
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- Blue Jays mid-term report card: Grade Teoscar Hernandez’ first half
- One bad inning costs the Blue Jays
- Around The Nest - Blue Jays Minor League Podcast - Week 14
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