What follows is the transcript of a press conference convened in the early hours of Monday, July 10, in the Yankee Stadium press room. The press had gathered to hear from Hal Steinbrenner, chairman and managing general partner of Yankee Global Enterprises; Brian Cashman, general manager of the New York Yankees; Aaron Boone, field manager of the New York Yankees; Aaron Judge, team captain of the New York Yankees; Derek Jeter, Hall of Fame shortstop and Captain Emeritus of the New York Yankees; Jason Zillo, vice president of Communications and Media Relations for the New York Yankees; and Hank Waddles, writer for the New York Yankees blog, Bronx Banter.
Zillo: Ladies and gentlemen of the press, thank you so much for being here on what should be a rare off day for all of you. With that in mind, I’m going to hand things over immediately to Mr. Steinbrenner.
Steinbrenner: Thank you so much, Jason. I think everyone here knows that success and failure here is measured by only one metric. My wife and I were vacationing recently at a villa in Northern Italy, and I just couldn’t take any more of these reports I was getting from the states. The losses. The struggling offense. I knew that my father wouldn’t have been able to stomach it. You know, people don’t think I hear the criticism, but I do. I know that people think I’m not my father, that I don’t want to win the way he did, but let me tell you… So I got Cash on the phone, and I told him enough was enough.
Cashman: I can confirm all of that. Mr. Steinbrenner — this Mr. Steinbrenner — wants to win just as badly as his father did. Even more so, I think sometimes. So we’re making some changes at the organizational level. It’s unusual for any team, especially for this organization, to make sweeping changes in the middle of the season, but here’s why…
[Cashman takes a large championship ring off of his finger and forcefully bangs it on the table in front of him before continuing.]
Cashman: This is ring #27, from 2009. I look at this ring every night before I go to sleep, and I can’t believe it’s been fourteen years since our organization won this ring. Four. [click] Teen. [click] Years. [click]. And it’s not good enough. So I decided to look in the mirror, and I realized that I have to take some responsibility. Maybe I have to step back.
Jack Curry: Are you resigning?
Steinbrenner: Brian is not resigning, and he hasn’t been fired. We’re just reimagining things. I think I’ve come up with a way to help the office run more smoothly. We’ll have co-general managers going forward.
Brian Hoch: How can that possibly work? Who’s in charge? Is this new guy the assistant general manager, or the assistant to the general manager?
Steinbrenner: Again, these are co-general managers. Brian will be in charge of big picture decisions (budget, salaries, scouting) and his co-general manager — this morning we’re introducing Hank Waddles — will be in charge of the day-to-day stuff. Trades, roster decisions. He’ll also consult with Boone on lineup constructions and bullpen usage.
Curry: I’ve got two questions for Waddles. One, what makes you qualified for this position? Two, when can we expect to see some changes?
Waddles: Thanks for that question, Jack. First of all, I’m more than qualified. I’ve been watching Yankees baseball for more than forty years now. My entire life has been preparation for this moment. But really, this isn’t rocket science, which brings me to your second question. I’ve got some changes to announce right now.
First, we made a few transactions just a few minutes ago. Josh Donaldson has been designated for assignment. I don’t think I should have to explain that move to anyone here, but I will because it highlights a major change in this organization. If you look at the back of his baseball card, you’ll see that Donaldson was once a great player, but that’s no longer the case. I actually had a conversation with Boone about this. He keeps saying that Donaldson has had just one bad month, but it’s been more than bad. It’s been historically awful. In 99 at bats, he has ten home runs, five singles, and 31 strikeouts — balanced against just eleven walks. And this idea that this is just one bad month? In 132 games last year he was actually worse with an OPS of .682. This organization can’t have a player like that taking up roster space, so his locker is empty right now. I wish him well.
Next, we’re sending Billy McKinney and Franchy Cordero back to Scranton. We’re considering trade options for them, but you won’t see them in pinstripes again. They both filled in when they were needed, but I just don’t believe that they have anything else to offer. We’ve seen their ceilings. And just so you know where we’re headed, there are a couple other players you won’t be seeing in the Bronx any time soon — Willie Calhoun and Jake Bauers.
We’ve also called up Oswald Peraza from Scranton, which might not be that much of a surprise. Also, releasing Donaldson opens up a spot on the 40-man, and we’re filling that with Estevan Florial. He’ll be joining the team in Colorado and starting in left field. He’ll continue in that spot at least through the end of July.
Hoch: Can you explain your rationale for those moves?
Waddles: You know the rationale for those moves. First of all, we can’t continue to play D.J. LeMahieu every night and just keep telling each other that he’s better than what he’s shown. Well you know what he’s shown? He’s shown us exactly who he is, and there’s no sense putting him in the lineup every night just because of who we’re wishing he could be. Peraza has been playing third down at Scranton, and now he’s gonna play third for us up here. Just like Florial, he’ll have a thirty-game stretch to show us what he can do. We believe he’s gonna be great.
And Florial? That’s the easiest of all these decisions. This is a kid with a .985 OPS. I mean, NINE-EIGHTY-FIVE! What is he even doing in Scranton when we can’t score any runs in the Bronx? What else does this kid have to prove?
Cashman: To be honest, I had completely forgotten he was even in the organization until Hank reminded me this morning.
Steinbrenner: It really is the perfect example of big-picture-little-picture.
Waddles: He probably still strikes out a bit too much, but here we are at the all-star break and he’s got 21 home runs and 18 steals. There aren’t too many players in baseball with that type of a power-speed package, and since we’ve got a glaring hole in left field, this move is obvious. The organization placed bets on all these guys multiple times over the years when they decided against signing any of those marquee free agents, decided against including them in deadline deals that could’ve helped us in the short term. You can only hold your cards for so long. I believe it’s time to lay our cards on the table and see what happens. It’s been working well so far with Anthony Volpe, and we believe — I believe — it’ll work with this group as well.
Curry: What do these moves mean for Isaiah Kiner-Falefa? And is this a rebuild?
Waddles: This might surprise you, but I’m a big IKF fan. We’re lucky to have him. Booney and I have been talking, and I think he’ll still be in the lineup somewhere at least four or five nights a week. But this is definitely not a rebuild. We’re here to win games and win championships. Period. But what have we been doing so far in 2024? Who here feels like the old model was working?
Curry: A question for Aaron Boone. How do you feel about all this? It seems like you’ve lost some of your autonomy.
Boone: You know, that’s not how I see it. Hanky and I spent some time this morning…
Waddles: Never call me that.
Boone: Sorry about that, it’s just a tendency. Hank and I spoke this morning for a while when we met, and here’s what strikes me about him. I really like his compete. You know, he’s gonna get after it. I’m not worried about this at all — our working relationship or this team in general. I mean, I’m excited! Right? We’re in a position to get everything we want. It’s all right there in front of us, and with our rotation coming together — for the first time really — gosh, I’m just excited! And Hank’s got some great ideas.
Waddles: And here’s another one. Giancarlo Stanton is our right fielder. End of discussion. We’ll get him off his feet a couple times a week and give him a DH night, but he’s our right fielder. So through the rest of this month and into August, here’s the lineup you’ll see:
C Higashioka/Treviño
1B Rizzo
2B Torres
3B Peraza
SS Volpe
LF Florial
CF Bader
RF Stanton
DH LeMahieu
But we’ll roll IKF through second, third, and the outfield spots to give guys time at DH. I’d imagine IKF will start more games than D.J. Doesn’t that sound about right, Aaron?
Boone: Yes, that’s what we talked about. Again, I really like the looks of this lineup.
Waddles: Oh, and another thing — the Martian will be landing on September 1st, guaranteed, and he’ll be playing. It seems like the Yankees have been the only team in baseball that’s afraid to bring up young prospects, but that stops now. I mean, the only reason he isn’t coming up right now is that we’ve got Florial and Peraza ready to contribute. But you can mark your calendars right now — Jasson Dominguez will be in the starting lineup on September 1st. To help move him along, we’re moving him up to Scranton today.
Hoch: And what about when Judge returns? How will he impact all this?
Judge: Maybe I should answer that. What everyone knows but is afraid to say out loud is this — I don’t know if I’m gonna be back out on the field this season. No one knows. This team can’t afford to wait for me, they’ve got to get out there every night and compete, and this line up gives us the best shot at that. If I can get back sometime in August or September, I’ll just fit in wherever and whenever Hank and Aaron — hey, did you hear that? Hank… Aaron? Anyway, I’ll be happy to jump in wherever they feel like I can help the team.
Curry: I’m wondering something else. Derek, why are you here this morning? What’s your role in all this?
Jeter: No reason, really. No role. They mentioned that I was always Hank’s favorite player, so I thought it would be cool to stop by and say hello.
Waddles: Yes. It’s been very cool. Now let’s get to work.
Heh. But yeah, this team needs a shake up.
I can imagine this striking you, Hank, as either a criticism or a compliment -- rest assured it's the latter:
What makes this sad alongside the funny is that there isn't anything outlandish here. You're saying out loud what millions of observant fans would say more or less off the top of their heads (with some excellent next-level flourishes to be sure).
Someone needs to present this post to the real Cashman at a presser and demand: Well, why isn't this happening?
Only thing to add:
"Also, the Yankees have today filed suit against the Dodgers for letting their dumpster of a facility rob our captain and reigning MVP of two-thirds of a season. We will accept compensatory judgment in the form of player personnel at our discretion."
I think that was generally my point — in this imagined fairly tale, I’m speaking for the masses. We all see what’s going on.
What is with all the Rangers starting in the all star game?
[4] +138 run diff. Unlike the Yankees, they can hit.
Hank, this was great. Thank you!
"Since Judge went out with a toe injury, the Yankees have scored the second-fewest runs in MLB, ahead of only the 26-65 Kansas City Royals. Their average is the worst over that span and their on-base percentage is second-worst. Welcome to the Bronx, Sean."
Nothing that the Yankees have ever done in the 60+ years I’ve been a huge fan is as offensive as the new Starr Insurance patch. It’s an absolute desecration of the most famous uniform in all of sports. I’ve never heard of Starr but fuck them to the moon and back.
[8] That really does burn me up.
3.03(j): No part of the uniform shall include patches or designs relating to commercial advertisements.
It is beat-your-head-against-the-wall baffling that the entire sport just pretends one of its own rules isn't there anymore.
In addition to the whole thing being tawdry as you observed.
[0] "Boone: You know, that’s not how I see it. Hanky and I spent some time this morning…
Waddles: Never call me that."
Awwww ... you have heard ME!
HUGS!!!
(0) Fantastic Hank!! 100% accurate and hysterical.
I’m already tired of hearing about Sean Casey and it’s been half an inning. But the Rockies…just what we need for a hot start to the second half. Stanton 455ft so easily.
Oh, and I’m so excited about the new insurance company latched on the Yankee uniforms! Maybe that revenue will go towards singing Ohtani!!
Josh Donaldson is literally DHiing..at what point do any of the official Yankee media start questioning Cashman and Boone about these awful lineups??
Kris Bryant is on the Rockies?? He’s a good player l, how’s he end up there??
Rodon doesn’t have it tonight..Sigh….
[14] Hey ... OK!
[11] "Maybe that revenue will go towards singing Ohtani!!"
Oh, my sweet summer child ...
Hi cult! Man, I’d embrace a patch for Eddie Moscone’s Bail Bonds if they go get Ohtani and Soto!
Sadly, this team isn't about winning ... it's about winning "enough"
And right ... it's not even about *that*
Rodon giving up a bomb to a Rockie Reject….
May switch to Astros-Angels shortly…
Is there buzz about Ohtani over there ... in a general sense?
For sure, all his games are shown on the national network, and he had a lot of endorsements. Even Mrs.Jazz and the Jazz Princess here know him (and they can ‘maybe’ name two other baseball players, Arron Judge and possibly Derek Jeter..)
My bet is the Dodgers > Giants > Mariners > Padres
In that order.
I don't think the Yankees will mount anything resembling a serious pursuit of Shohei ... not after signing Judge.
This team is trapped in a purgatory of their own making.
In for the end. I have seen a few games at Coors field. 20+ years ago. Amazing place to see a ball game. Also, donaldson fucking sucks.
Who are the most hated Yankees of the last 20+ years? Has Donaldson surpassed Carl Buttocks Pavano?
[26] How soon he forgets Joey "Bats" Gallo ...
(27) Gallo was bad but he want HATED that much was he? Cause seems an ok guy, wherea even his own teammates done like Douchelson
[28] Maybe not here, but in other places Yankees fans congregate ... YES, he was.
Watching this team is as fun as getting a colonoscopy.
FART NOISE!
Booooooooooooooòòoooooooooo!!!!!!!!!
I’ve got Angels-Astros ok now while getting into some house chores. No one on the Yankees I really want to watch play other than Cole, Judge and Stanton
[33] At least with the pitch clock, the Yankees suck for a shorter amount of time each night ...
[0] Wow. Maybe your best post ever, Hank.
Made my day.
Thanks.
Donaldson DH'ing? Is this upside down world? I don't think Stranger Things have happened.
Ah, well ... see y'all tomorrow.
I see Booney has already thrown in the towel by pitching Double A.
Last place! Basement Bombers. Woo-hoo!
Donaldson is batting **cleanup**.
I ... just ... siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh
This is about where I'm at ...
https://youtu.be/6lDE2Q8wZv4?t=45
[39] When I saw Donaldson in the lineup for yesterday's game, I was legitimately surprised to see his name. You know, because I had released him a couple days before.
[39] Obviously, the problem was that you didn't release him, drive a stake through his heart, feed his body into a wood chipper and then burn the bloody remnants in an oil drum using diesel fuel and phosphorous.
It's the attention to detail that make for a great assistant, if I can offer some advice ...
Ooops, that was supposed to be for [41]
I guess that'll do ...
Yay?
No hits ... one run ... on a balk.
Sigh.
I know folks are upset about the ad patch on the shoulder, but looking at these Rockies costumes I’m reminded of a much bigger travesty — some time next year or the year after, the Yankees are going to have to wear these ridiculous City Connect uniforms. Oy.
GLEYBER TIME!
That two-strike swing by Gleyber was a thing of beauty.
[47] They ARE ghastly.
That two-strike swing by Stanton was also… not bad.
FRANKENSTANTON!!!!
I mean, he was actually a bad idea and he'll never be worth it, but could he PLEASE have a 2nd half like an AROD 2009?
Are we actually gonna win a game?
Ixnay on the inxjay
Sweet baby Jebus, FranK ... you look more the Frankenstanton when you run than when you hit FFS!
Is that Jeff Nelson in the booth? He's great. What a breath of fresh air.
Calling Stanton out on his Zombie base running.
I am so tire of the main YES crew, who are afraid to say anything even vaguely critical of the Basement Bombers.
LOL ... Nelson is about my LEAST favorite announcer ... I can't stand this crew ... I'm listening to the Rockies' announcers.
[58] Wow. I would say he's easily my favorite, since Kenny tired.
The world has room for all perspectives. Thanks for being honest. I love the Banter.
Volpe has the best non-Judge WAR (at 2.1)
Clarke has the 2nd best ERA of our starters.
[56] Stanton should be barred from lifting weights, and do an hour of Yoga every day. He has got to be the 'stiffest' player in MLB.
Do you think Boone snuck Bader in the line-up after McKinney so we would keep watching after DJLM makes an out?
[60] Why do you think my nickname is FRANKENSTANTON ... he looks like a collection of three different bodies (head-n-neck, upper torso, lower torso) stitched together by a mad scientist!!!
Watch him the next time he bats ... ALL THREE of them are independent parts!!!
"Volpe has the best non-Judge WAR (at 2.1)"
That is so very, VERY sad.
Here’s a serious question — do you think there’s ever been a cleanup hitter hitting .143 this late in the season?
Wait ... did Donaldson come up gimpy???
[64] How about a hitter? ;>) It's called the Mendoza line for a reason.
Doink!
By the way, are you guys all playing Immaculate Grid? Incredibly fun.
Rockies announcers just confirmed FranK looked like he tweaked something running to 1st last inning.
Can we cut McKinney sometime soon?
That was Donaldson, I think. Not Stanton.
[71] Yes.
I got it right the first time ... distracted co-watching Thai street food cooking ... more interesting than this team.
But Donaldson going gimpy would be perfect.
Look ... Pa Ka Prow ... droooools
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg24fJ6g73M
Noice grab!
[73] What I was thinking, but would not print. ;>)
[74] Yummy.
Nice start my Schmidt.
"The Yankees got their first win of the second half last night, but as Matt noted in the recap, they might have lost a hitter in the process. Josh Donaldson was DHing and got hurt on a groundball in the seventh inning. After the game, manager Aaron Boone said that Donaldson will undergo an MRI and noted “it wasn’t great.” If this is an IL situation, then keep your eyes peeled on the ol’ transaction transom because Oswald Peraza is the only other infielder on the 40-man roster and might need to fly west."
I then read this ... and frankly it about sums up the current state of Yankees management:
```Donaldson initially tweaked his calf a couple weeks ago and has often been limited to designated hitter of late as a result. He felt something in the calf again Saturday during his final plate appearance and will undergo testing. ```
So the Yankees kept running a guy, who has been absolutely awful at the plate, out there ... in the DH slot, because ... reasons?
Unreal.
It’s official. Donaldson to the IL, Peraza up.
But Peraza isn’t in the starting lineup. Hopefully tomorrow.
[82] Don't worry Hank, Boone-y will find a way to only play Peraza 3 or some times a week, never in the same position and never on consecutive days, you know, so he can get settled and in a rhythm on the field and at the plate.
Because that's how this clown show rolls ...
Oh ... and NEVER at shortstop because, well, then it might the golden boy look bad.
Great at bat FranK
Sigh.
Yankees can't touch one of the worst pitchers in baseball, their guy hitting .117 (or whatever) takes Cole deep.
DERP!
Derpy, derpy, derp.
Bases loaded.... Rizzo swings at Ball 4.
[88] See [87]
I just has a nice long nap, seems like the offense is still asleep.
WHY DON'T WE EMOJIS ON BANTER, ALEX ... I WANT TO USE THE VOMIT EMOJI RIGHT NOW!!!
[90] Poke it with a stick ... it could just be dead.
[92] Or pining for the Whitey Fjords?
FALAFEL!
Only mostly dead.
Of fucking course.
Well walking the terrorists worked.
[96] I blame myself for leaving when we were up 3-1 to go make dinner, figuring, we got this, right?
The bullpen isn’t as vaunted as Flash thinks.
I suppose it's the most "vaunted" part of the team, relatively speaking.
At least Volpe starts on 2nd.
And scores!
Going to the bathroom helped as well.
Let's hope the Nick Ramirez Save Experience goes to plan ...
Uh ... no ... sorry John ... that was NOT "popped up"
Oh for fuck’s sake
Flaherty really said, “Popped up.” Wow.
Impossible. The Keystone Cops in Yankee uniforms. Sooooooo hard to watch.
"Let's hope the Nick Ramirez Save Experience goes to plan ..."
Narrator: It ... did NOT.
People complain about Boone... but I think he deserves and award for watching these games and not committing seppuku.
Thanks Flaherty ... great call.
Bad game for Flaherty.
Awful game for the bullpen.
Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!
[110] Funny, when I was on the toilet earlier, when the Yankees were down 5-4 in the 9th, I literally thought to myself, if the Yankees lose *this* one, Boone-y ought to do the honorable thing and commit seppuku.
This just has to be the very first time in baseball history that pitchers have given up game-leading, game-tying and game-winning HRS, all to the first batters they faced. Figures.
Meet the second half ... same as the first half!
But ... honestly?
I'd rather the Yankees lost early and often in the next 2 weeks, I'll be more than pissed if we trade *anyone* of value to rearrange deck chairs on THIS year's Titanic.
Another fine outing by the ace is wasted
Honestly... this feels like a bad dream. I know we have a shot at the WC, but it feels like the season is over.
[119] Oh, I can still imagine things getting worse.
Like, we bring Judge back too soon (and instead of getting his surgery done now to be ready for next season) and he either makes the injury worse, or injures something else compensating for the ongoing discomfort.
If Judge has to DH full time the rest of this year, that means Stanton has to play the field full time ... I can only assume he'll last about a month before spontaneously combusting.
"According to Elias Sports, it was the first time the Yankees ever lost a game in which they had multiple leads of two-or-more runs in the eighth inning or later.
The game should have never come to that, but the Yankees spent five innings failing to score off Chase Anderson, who entered the game with a 6.89 ERA this season and an 18.23 mark over his last four starts."
What is this deviltry???
Peraza leading off???
o o
O
The Athletic is reporting that Donaldson could be done for the season, which would not make me sad.
Nice at bat OP!
Yay!
KAY AND CONEY!!!
Putting the OP in OOPS!
1 for his last 27.
Seems like Severino isn’t pitching to the same strike zone as Canning.
And the zone only seems to be getting wider for Canning.
Peraza’s last three at bats:
RBI single
10-pitch walk
8-pitch single
The ump loves a feel good comeback story. C'mon, Rizzo!
Rizzo is ... yeesh.
Someone needs to find out if Rizzo is healthy or not. If he isn’t, they need to sit him down and get him healthy. I can’t imagine a healthy Anthony Rizzo can go 43 games without accidentally hitting a home run, especially considering his home run rate as a Yankee prior to this stretch.
Does anyone else remember when Rizzo was up with 2 outs and RISP, and actually got a hit? Ah.... those were the days.
Rizzo’s slugging by month:
April — 485
May — 535
June — 227
July — 182
Nice play by Bader to barehand that hop.
[133] I think he is so anxious to do better, that he is swinging at balls he used to take. You posted his Slugging... how about his Walks?
This dude has the Yankees so confused. If he came back against any other team he'd be losing by now.
Good lord, 9Ks in 4 innings.
Sheeesh.
[137] I just would like to know Rizzo's slash stats since he "tweaked" his neck on that play at first.
I imagine it would *not* be a pretty sight to see.
Rizzo’s walks:
10/8/10/6
So not much change there.
Wait .. is Peraza at SS now?
Or is Kay just losing his mind again?
Nope ... it's Peraza ... huh.
10Ks
Cone is freaking killing me with The Munsters! Lol....
[130]
"Peraza’s last three at bats:
RBI single
10-pitch walk
8-pitch single"
Gonna need an update!
Peraza ... 24 pitches seen
Rest of the team ... 72
I'm having Pedro Martinez flashbacks. It's hard to hit a pitcher who can do whatever he wants with 4 different pitches. Ugh.
Well, that's his last inning, he's at 100 pitches, so cheer up!
If there’s any silver lining, it’s the patience and the long at bats. Maybe there’s hope for this offense.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand, of course it's 2nd and 3rd no out.
Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh.
Is anyone else here just to see Ohtani and Peraza (as a Yankee fan)?
They have not disappointed.
[153] Pretty much.
Hey Hank you at the game, or any the next two?? How is the Big A these days, looks a bit dumpy…
Severino looking sharp?
[148] Remember when the Yankees' team was always in the top 3 of seeing pitches?
Actually, it's too hot in Tokyo to leave the house, so I might as well watch the game. Right, Jazz?
The dumbest play in baseball. I thought only the Yankees used that one.
This Neto kid is good
Boat, I just came back and ten mins outside was exhausting!
[156] How old do you think I am?! ;>)
[157] Awwww, what was your Heat Index today?
Mine was 114 and tomorrow is supposed to be hotter.
[160] Minako will not be stopped. I dunno how she does it. I'm tryin' to convince not to volunteer at the local school festival next week.
ATOM BALL!
Yikes. That looked like a salami.
Cult, ‘only’ 106, but humid…!!
[162] 111, but that started at 9 AM.
I mean, the actual silver lining is that Severino looks like an actual pitcher tonight.
[166] Must be cooler down in Yokohama. I, for one, am not leaving our leafy neighborhood. It's way hotter in central Tokyo.
[168] Right? I thought he was toast.
Not at the game. We were gonna go tonight, but my son isn’t feeling well. The plan is to go Tuesday and Wednesday. Fingers crossed.
What is this conversation from Kay?? It’s not ‘psychological’, the team is not good! Rizzo May be done!
Meanwhile, Canning doing his best Gerrit Cole impersonation. And did you know he won the Gold Glove in 2020?
Boat, I’m near the water so do get some breeze at least. But the mid-day dog walk ain’t happening!
They keep talking about Canning, but he's facing one of the worst hitting teams in baseball.
[172] He's a company man.
Were you guys around when Mussina was pitching, and Joe Torre started walking on the field towards the mound... and Moose told Torre 'GO BACK', and Torre turned around and went back in the dugout?
Loved Mussina! So glad he made the HOF
A hit with runners on!!!
Unlucky there. IKF would’ve scored easily.
I stepped away from the game to take a whiz. That's why the runs happened.
Apparently, I'm not allowed to see runs.
That Mussina-Torre exchange was after Mussina lost his perfect game with two outs in the ninth. Torre started out, but Mussina yelled at him to stay before he got to the top step of the dugout.
[181] Embellishment for entertainments sake...
Hey ... me going to buy booze is just as good as rbj walking his terrorists!
Ohtani will win this one for the Angels.
Well, if I take credit for the 2 runs while gone, I have to own the 1 run (so far) in this half of the inning.
You know the *next* Yankee I want to see blow a tire running to first?
Trevino.
Thanks for that half season last year ... now ... begone.
[180] We'll have to A/B test this at a later date ... Boatzilla's whiz break vs cult's booze run!
[142] I think my confusion stemmed from Volpe being so far shifted that Peraza WAS essentially playing SS.
Carry on.
3 walks for OP!!!
Meanwhile, once again for FranKKK
Nice work, Gleyber.
Thank heavens for a fly ball ... I bet we would have seen another "contact play" massacre at home plate on a grounder.
So Peraza is looking like an enormous upgrade over Donaldson. No surprise. Just imagine if Florial were also up!
[153] I'll be honest, there is SO much of this roster I NEVER want to see in a Yankees uniform after this year.
[193] Imagine if Donaldson didn't do us a solid and gack his calf, we'd STILL be watching him gimp around uselessly!
I’ll always be happy with a Gold Glove behind the plate. Treviño doesn’t bother me. I mean, if Rizzo hadn’t disappeared, a lot of these other issues wouldn’t be issues.
[193] Who do we have to kneecap to get Florial up? ;>)
[196] But Higgy is nearly as good with the glove and, at least this year, better at the plate.
We traded for Rordtvedt [sic], why the hell not give HIM a shot, he ALSO is a LHB.
And Rizzo? Rizzo isn't to blame for ALL of this mess ... not with DJ cratering, management deciding that IKF is someone who can bat 6th, Volpe mostly flailing about, Stanton being FranK rather than Frankenstanton, and the motley collection of half-assed has beens that are McKinney, Bauers and Weird Willie ... we need people who can actually HIT.
Just watch the batter ... Shohei knew ... 3-3!
Is anyone surprised? I just told my daughter — “Watch. They should be walking Ohtani, but they aren’t. I guarantee he hits a home run.”
Not. Surprised. At all.
Dang. That was beautiful.
Why is Kay saying he's not a bat flipper? Nonsense. I've seen dozens of Ohtani bat flips this year. Doesn't fit Kay's narrative, I guess.
I’m not blaming Rizzo. Just pointing out that any production from anywhere would change this whole mess.
Hank I told my son the same!!!
This guy..trade any and everything to get him, whatever it takes
Why would anyone pitch to Ohtani with Trout on the IL? It’s preposterous.
I remember when Michael King was pretty good.
[172] Agreed, this is not a well built or managed team.
It's old, injury prone (and playing with bad injury luck) and frankly not very talented.
[203] You DO know it's NEVER going to happen, right?
A) We can't trade for him because, guess what ... our farm system is NOT loaded.
AND
B) Hank wouldn't pay the going price, even IF Shohei wanted to go to the East Coast.
B) Obviously means in the upcoming offseason.
Regarding pitching to Ohtani, I think it’s an analytics problem. People are so afraid of putting guys on base that they ignore what their eyes should be telling them. They had it right with Bonds, but even last year with Judge I was surprised people were still pitching to him. And now the same with Ohtani. Maris’s record stood for 61 years; Judge’s will last for twelve months.
[207] Yes. Not on your life.
1. Yankees have nothing to offer.
2. The Angels have a lot of reasons to keep him. Optics. Gate. Ad revenue, etc. Can't blame management so much if he's lost to free-agency.
3 walks for Peraza ... 3 Ks for Volpe.
Hmmmmmmm.
[211] Was thinking the same thing. We had the wrong guy all along.
[210] Sure, but as I have said elsewhere, Shohei has had a front row seat to the Angels wasting the career of ONE superstar, why should he choose to stick around and waste HIS career watching them make it TWO?
He's GONE ... the only question is where.
The Angels are playing a riff from BlackPink's "How You Like That" as strike out music. I'm probably the only here who noticed or cares.
[212] I'll be honest ... I agreed with the decision to give Volpe the shot out of ST, but ... I would have swapped him and Peraza sometime in May.
But that's the Yankees, they made a decision that was seemingly correct, but then needed to be corrected and they obviously felt they couldn't do it without being second guessed, so?
You get this ongoing mess.
Oh, yay ... leadoff walk.
BRING IT ON BASEBALL GODS!!!
At this point, all I really want to know is why Boone chose to pitch to Ohtani. Really hope someone asks him after the game.
It is 11:32 at night and it feels like 93 degrees ... YAY!!!
[217] Why? He'll just Boone-y the answer, won't be held accountable and most reporters are hacks to one degree or another, so ... I'm not sure what you're expecting here.
[217] We all know what he'll say. He'll mumble something, about "we just liked the match up in that situation."
Maybe the question to Boone should be, "Were you surprised when Ohtani hit that home run?" Also, it will be interesting to see what they do when Ohtani leads off the ninth. No matter what happens in this top of the ninth -- zero runs, one run, or multiple runs -- I'm suggesting that they walk him.
4 WALKS!!!
Meanwhile, Peraza has been on base all five times tonight. I'm not ready to sit Volpe, I'm ready to play them both.
34 pitches seen for OP!
[223] I'm ready to sit Volpe as soon as we have someone better than him to play, DJ and Cabrera aren't exactly lighting it up, either.
Well, this game is about to be over.
So ... what are the odds Shohei walks it off here, if allowed to swing the bat?
Ramirez???
Also, the Angels announcers -- who aren't as bad as they used to be -- are still gushing about Ohtani's home run, with repeated replays. "The bat flip that will live in immortality!"
I don't believe.
What I just saw!
Ramirez!! Never a doubt
WOW!
And Ohtani looks like he tweaked his back ... sigh.
Hank, is that Jack Buck? The Kirby Puckett game??
Yeah, Jack Buck. But I think it might've been when Ozzie Smith hit a home run in the playoffs to beat the Dodgers. But that time he was screaming, "Go crazy, St. Louis, go crazy!" So you might be right about Kirby Puckett.
If Ohtani had launched one, it would be considered a mercy killing.
Now we have to watch Old Yeller continue to suffer.
I don't have the stomach for it.
[233] Actually, here it is...
https://youtu.be/w6JTyWMN_x8
[236] You have to switch been the Yankees game and YouTube cooking videos!
This game is painful.
Ah, Kirk Gibson!! The Kirby Puckett homer was ‘See you here tomorrow night’. Those old announcers were so great
[239] Yeah, I remember that one, too. I was at a party at a friend's apartment in San Francisco, and only a couple of us were paying attention to the game that was on in the background, one of them a friend from Minnesota. Good times.
I'm SO not used to umps being young and fit and NOT lumbering dinosaurs staggering about the field.
[238] Right now I'm watching:
Tasty Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs - Los Angeles Street Food
[239] And yet here we all are, fellow gluttons for punishment.
Just for fun, I asked ChatGPT to create a conversation between Aaron Boone and me. Somehow the AI installed me as pitching coach. Here's our talk...
Hank and Aaron Boone were sitting in the dugout, discussing the upcoming game against the Los Angeles Angels. Hank was the pitching coach, and he had some concerns about facing Shohei Ohtani, the talented two-way player.
Hank: Aaron, we need to talk about Ohtani. I don't think we should pitch to him.
Aaron Boone: (Curious) Why's that, Hank? He's a great player, but we've faced tough hitters before.
Hank: I know he's a great player, but he's been on fire lately. His hitting and pitching are top-notch. I'm worried that he'll hit one out of the park against us.
Aaron Boone: (Nods) You're right, he's been impressive, but we can't just avoid pitching to him. We need to face the best to challenge ourselves.
Hank: I get that, but it's a huge risk. If he gets a home run or a couple of RBIs, it could cost us the game.
Aaron Boone: (Pauses) I understand your concern, Hank, but we can't let fear dictate our strategy. Our pitchers are talented too. We'll study his weaknesses and come up with a plan.
Hank: (Reluctant) Alright, but I think we should be careful. Maybe we can mix up the pitches or try some different approaches.
Aaron Boone: (Encouragingly) That's a good idea, Hank. We'll be smart about it, but we can't just walk him every time he's up to bat. We have a great team, and we'll do our best to face the challenge.
Hank: (Slightly reassured) Alright, I'll trust your judgment, Aaron. Let's hope our guys can handle Ohtani and come out with a win.
Aaron Boone: (Smiling) I know they can. We'll stay focused and play our game. Thanks for looking out for the team, Hank.
Hank: (Nods) Of course, that's what I'm here for. Let's go out there and give it our all. Go Yankees!
Aaron Boone: Go Yankees! Let's get this win!
I'm not a negative fan, but I don't feel good about this game. Not in the least.
4 walks for OP ... 4 Ks for Volpe
I feel like I know how this game is going to end.
Oh Volpe has a grand total of 3 walks this month.
[244] Really? That's not awful.
It does sound like a Hallmark movie, though.
I'll say this -- I'm really glad I'm sitting on my couch right now and not in the stadium.
Jeez... maybe when he has 2 strikes, Volpe should swing a little harder.
[250] Tasty Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs???
[249] A.I. is creepy. It pretty much got Boone's personality down perfectly, right?
[252] But only when bailing out into a bucket and yanking his head off the ball?
Sigh….
[252] Well, you probably couldn't get bacon wrapped dogs outside of Angels Stadium.
And there it is. The walk-off we all knew was coming.
[254] You ain't seen *nothing* yet ...
This team fucking sucks.
WHAT A SURPRISE!
Thank you Angels ... kick this team when it's down ... please.
And ... GREAT GAME OP!
Hope you keep it up!
So the best case scenario for this road trip against two struggling teams in 3-3. But given who the Yankees are right now, this shouldn't be that surprising.
[261] Frankly, I want them to lose every game.
My wish is for the management to call this year and take a new approach. Try to build a younger core around Judge.
I wish for Cash to lose his job.
If wishes were horses...
Jack Curry making a lot of good (but obvious) points regarding Ohtani. Walk him in the fifth to load the bases, but not willing to walk him in the seventh to put two runners on. Okay, I'm done talking about this now.
[262] Here's a philosophical question I've been wondering. The Yankees clearly have decided that they're never going to rebuild. There's just too much money on the table, so as long as there are some big names on the roster -- Judge, Stanton, Cole -- there will always be fans in the stands and viewers tuning in to YES.
But then you've got the Red Sox, who ARE willing to jettison popular players and rebuild. They're okay finishing last one year to build a contender for the next year.
So would you be comfortable if Yankee management conceded every other year like Red Sox do? I don't know the answer, I've just been wondering.
Question: You had walked Ohtani in the fifth, did you give any consideration to walking him in the seventh?
Boone: No, not there.
And no follow up question.
So actually there was a follow up, but Boone just reiterated what he had said before. He didn't want to put a runner in scoring position. (What he disregards is that Ohtani is in scoring position when he steps into the batter's box.) And the reporter who followed up even dropped this: "Did you consider the roll that Ohtani's on, with 19 home runs in his past 32 games?" But Boone was adamant. Okay, good night, everyone. I promise never to speak of this again.
⬆️Boone is more and more insufferable, keep repeating it and maybe we can will his firing into existence?
Time for another round of ‘can the Yankees beat an awful team?’ Anyone out there to hang here a bit?
[268] Hey OK ... I'm here to be a beacon of optimism!
⬆️Is the beat getting to you there, cult?? I’m always up for optimism, but…..!!
Slightly more ‘normal’ summer day here so hopefully the extreme wave is over!
Concussion protocol?
[270] We have another couple of days before it gets back to just "normal" miserable Texas summer heat ...
How's that for optimism ... 2-0
Loooong home run by ‘who??’ I’m going to actually focus on work, there’s just nothing intersting about this team right now
I'm a glutton for punishment. The game was close for 2 batters at least.
Hi Ara! I had on Dodgers-Orioles before, both those teams are so much more vibrant and fun than our guys
Even Kay is talking some smack right now.
[275] LOL ... fun and vibrant ... the antithesis of the 2023 Yankees.
Hi Mr. OK JT. I was watching the Braves - Dbacks game earlier. Currently 13-13 in the 8th. The Braves are amazing. I caught a Dodgers game the other day as well. Nice watching non-suck teams.
Well, that was fun and vibrant ... solo shot, of course.
Gleyber still a mystery, is he good or not..
Stanton batting .200 is certainly no es bueno…
Ara, the Braves are too good, I dislike them intensely except for Acuna
Watching Stanton right now is ... NOT.
[280] What a disappointment he turned out to be, sadly.
I thought he was going to be a star.
Turns out, he's merely cromulent.
(283) Yeah, still a great Cashman trade to be fair, getting him for half a season of Chapman. But he was hyped as a superstar and he surely ain’t that..
[264] Good question. Very hard to answer. But this year seems like a repeat of last year, and I'm confident call it a lost cause. What I don't want to see Cash keep trading away prospects at the deadline for broken down vets beyond their sell-by date.
I would be happy, if they did nothing this year (no trades or additions) and gave a chance to Florial and Peraza, and perhaps Rortvedt (spelling?) just to see what happens.
Walking the bases loaded. Whoo-hoo!
Boat, I just wish they’d trade for Lars Nootbaar!
[284] He looked it for a couple of seasons, but ever since then ... fart app.
Yikes.
[287] I just like saying (and typing) Nootbaar.
[286] He's be a good fit in left field.
Sigh.
4-1
Ohtani hits triples, too. Wtf!?
Guys?
I'm beginning to think this Yankees club is ... not very good.
[293] 7th!
Just an awful team on offense now, unwatchable.
This whole team is like Casey At The Bat and in fact the hitting coach is named Casey.
⬆️I’m so annoyed by the whole Sean Casey hype
OPS+.........2023 / Career
Stanton....... 98 / 141
LeMahieu...... 85 / 101
Rizzo........ 103 / 127
Bader......... 93 / 97
Oswaldo....... 63 / 84
Trevino....... 58 / 74
However, Higgy and IKF and playing slightly better this year.
[297] PR spin. Keep the story moving. Deflect attention from the key issues, which will not be changed without a entire top-down realignment.
Stanton now below the Mendoza Line.
Our old buddy, Andrew Velazquez is in the game.
Almost eager for Boone’s press conference tonight, what cliches can he summon after this offensive ‘performance’ ?
Do you all want to see something MORE pathetic than the 2023 Yankees???
I dare you to watch ... this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxM9czYsRfo
Wow, Loverboy!! Respect, still out there rocking out
I wonder what it's like to root for a team that scores runs. Must be fun. Samples from around the league.
Giants 10
Mets 11
Dodgers 10
Orioles 3
Guardians 10
Pirates 1
D-Backs 16
Braves 13
Nationals 3
Cubs 17
Tigers 10
Royals 11
[305] Well, *I* wouldn't exactly call that *rocking* ... unless you meant how the lead singer was "rocking" the half-mumu ...
[306] Hey!
That's not fair!!
We can score 10 runs ... in a week!!!
[303] Jay-sus! Mick Jagger he ain't. I gave them props for making an effort. Although, Mike Reno should be doing ads for Krispy Kreme.
[305]
I HATE "awaiting moderation", let's see if I can baffle Algy ...
I'm a little afraid to think of the AARP only backstage o.r.g.y. after the show ...
C.o.c.a.i.n.e, V.i.a.g.r.a. and multiple defibrillators!!!
[311] To which the guy who posted the video linked replied ...
By which you mean Mike Reno halfheartedly attempting to m.a.sturbate in his trailer, giving up after 3 minutes and heading to the catering tent for a triple bacon cheeseburger.
Kay is turning on this team ... Coney just called them "boring"
Kay and Cone sounding fed up too..wonder where they’ve had for some entertainment after the game, Hank can you tell us the good spots in Anaheim?
Bring on the losses, boys ... I'll be here if you keep sucking (at least until this last month of my MLB.TV subscription is valid!!!)
[311] "boring" really? Dang, I missed that.
[314] Anaheim? Probably none.
Now, I can give you some ideas some ideas on the coast, but not Anaheim.
[316] But YOUR [314] this is why I hate "moderation" (which doesn't happen) ...
MY feed include my comments "awaiting moderation" and yours does not, so every comment reference I make with [] doesn't make sense.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.
I LOVES you Alex ... but can't we just move to a damn Discord server???
Why I’m glad these are later time zone games. Perfect excuse to ignore them.
Not only did I not go to last night's game, I didn't watch a single pitch. We started dinner at just a few minutes before first pitch, and when we were done my daughter asked if she could use the PlayStation. (Hogwarts Legacy is excellent, by the way.) I relented.
I was still tracking the score, and I've just perused the thread here, so it's clear I made a good decision.
Oh, I filled the time by finishing Jack Curry's book on the 1998 Yankees. (I'll likely post a review here in the coming days.) That team was much more fun to watch than this one.
So we've got a late afternoon game today, and my son and I are definitely going. I've made the trip to Anaheim for much worse Yankee teams, if you can believe it, so I'm at least kind of looking forward to it. The good news is that -- surprise, surprise -- ticket demand is down. I won't have to pay quite as much as usual.
They can't lose every night, can they?
"They can't lose every night, can they?"
I mean, are you *challenging* them???
Oh, great ... Franchy is back.
Strewth ...
Game over.
2-0 ... GO ANGELS!!!
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww ... c'mon ... fer fuck's sake.
Sigh.
Vaunted base running. Vaunted.
Thrown out at 3B?? Why is this team so dreadful at fundamentals??
Is Rodon just still recovering from injury? He’s got nothing…
I don’t even know what to say about this shit that I’m watching.
The worst part is knowing — absolutely KNOWING — that we’re going to be baking in the sun for the next two hours and this isn’t going to get better. But at least we’ve got great seats. Fifth row, midway between first and the foul pole.
⬆️And cold Modelo lager! Please send a pic, even just a vendor is fine! Thankfully though our heat wave finally broke here, windows open and no air con this morning here for first time in awhile
Honestly, this road trip should lead to Boone getting a pink slip and Cashman to be out on warning..if Hal was awake and/or cared
And the Orioles are tied with the Rays.
⬆️ Hi rbj, I may switch over to that, likely way more enticing than this garbage….
In the standings I mean.
Ah! Yes of course. Both teams so much better than the Yanks, not even close now..
The Modelo comment is funny. It’s one of my favorite beers. A couple innings ago the beer guy came by offering Modelo and Coors Light. Guy behind me chose… poorly.
But what’s the tone coming from the booth? This is an absolutely pathetic display.
⬆️ They’re being pretty blunt about the terrible O, horrendous baserunning and overall lack of energy
A tater!! They’re on the board!
Oh man, Rodon blew a kiss to the booing Yankee fans at the Big A…not going to be a warm welcome back in New York of that spreads around
Not as bad as Jack McDowell.
Sorry, fellas ... I fell asleep after the 1st inning.
[340] Another!
[322] Franchy, I owe you an apology.
Coney! with the Ice Cube reference!
Coney now talking hip hop concerts!
My score card tells me all you need to know about this game. Ten walks for Yankees pitchers, fifteen strikeouts for Yankees hitters.
Might as well with *this* trash ass team ...
Cabrera knocks the ball on one hop into the stands for a double ... cue the clown music.
Ouch ... ever since Peraza got 4 walks ... OOF!
LOL ... *this* team!
Sorry, Hank ... that had to be miserable.
I’m going to ‘hate watch’ the post game presser while ha boo ng lunch here. Over/Under on cliches from Booney: 15
It’s never a bad thing to go out to see a game, and at least there were some semi-interesting moments in the last few innings. Also, I’m seeing that Rodon blew a kiss to Yankee fans who were heckling him? That isn’t a good sign. That’s like throwing meat to the wolves. If he doesn’t figure things out, the Stadium crowd will be merciless.
One other thing. Stanton was the lone Yankee out early to stretch and jog, and when he finished his routine he spent about ten minutes signing autographs. It was nice to see.