Once upon a time, when the Yankees routinely flexed their financial advantage by outbidding foes for free agents. When Cuban defector José Contreras chose the Yankees instead of the Red Sox, Boston president and CEO Larry Lucchino threw a fit and famously declared that the Yankees were the Evil Empire.
In light of what the Dodgers are doing now, that seems rather quaint, doesn’t it? After signing Shohei Ohtani prior to the 2024 season, surprising no one, they signed the best pitcher on the market, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, also surprising no one. After winning the World Series that year, they signed Roki Sasaki, the best available pitcher during that off-season, again surprising no one. This past off-season — after winning another World Series — they picked up the best available hitter, Kyle Tucker, and the best available reliever, Edwin Díaz. Again, everyone knew these deals were coming. Everyone. (There were also a slew of other minor signings that would been headline deals for most other teams: Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and others.)
Given that track record, I’m certain that no one in baseball (executive, manager, coach, player, or fan) was even the tiniest bit surprised when the Dodgers unloaded three prospects yesterday to acquire Tarik Skubal, assuring that no matter what happens in the next 24 hours, the Dodgers have won the trading deadline the way they win everything else.
Yankee fans will howl (have been howling) that George Steinbrenner wouldn’t allow this to happen, or that Brian Cashman needs to get off his hands and Hall Steinbrenner needs to open his wallet. But here’s the thing. Those Yankee fans need only look across town to see how inept an open wallet can be when decisions go wrong.
And things could’ve gone wrong for the Dodgers. They looked ready to lose to the Padres in the divisional series in 2024, and they should’ve lost last year’s World Series to the Blue Jays. But they didn’t, did they?
The Dodgers have an ATM machine that never stops, the best farm system in baseball, and decision makers that don’t miss. This isn’t an evil empire, it’s so much more than that. Like it or not, the Dodgers are untouchable. They may or may not win the World Series this year, and we may or may not have baseball next season, but this is where we are.
Austin Wells is wearing catcher's gear that's a tribute to Thurman Munson, who died on this day in 1979. His retired number is on the back along with what appears to be the back of a baseball card listing his stats. It's pretty much the coolest thing a catcher has ever worn.
Man. 6 and 4 on a 10 game road trip where they gifted a few games. Wowza.
[1] Cool tribute.
[1] Very nice of Austin.
I remember that day, coming in after spending the day mowing half the lawn. Hot day. WABC News. Yes, I turn the news on first thing. So I’m a nerd.
I went to the game today. I can't believe that the leadoff walks to PCA didn't come around to score. We were lucky to get out of there with a win. Thanks Jose! I also went to Thursday's game. The Yankee pitchers did awesome and got out of some jams. The offense needs to pick it up though Jasson could have helped himself by not flying past third base.
2-0 3 batters into a Cam start. Sigh.
Disappointing trade day. The needed catching help and left side of the infield help. Instead they walked it back just like the off season. With next season being lost to a strike they’ve essentially wasted Judge and Cole’s best years. What else is there to say but the annual complaint for the past 12 years that Cashman needs to go.
Sorry I jinxed the starting pitching. I can't believe their top starter is getting knocked around.
Hot damn. What a rocket from Garcia Jr.! Kaboooom!
Chivilli has really just given up seven runs in the blink of an eye. Sigh.
That top inning was something.
The Lombard Era begins tonight. Wonder what that means for the Volpe Era.
I wish the best for Volpe on another team. As for GL Jr. Good luck, kid. I hope you have a long and impressive career as the new Yankees shortstop.
Lombard’s big league tryout. I hope he passes, and yes, Cash should flip Volpe. Maybe a couple of good relievers.
The Yanks big trade was for Heliot Ramos, a RH batting corner OF'er. He has a career OPS of .73 (109 OPS+). Should we be thrilled by this?
We have scored 30 runs in our last 13 games.
Both Lombard Jr. and Volpe spent 4 years in the minors. Lombard's OPS was .763 and Volpe's was .862. I know we don't judge minor leaguers by their numbers as much as by their 'look', but.... here's hoping Lombard can be better than average at SS.
Hot damn! Kid's got a a quiet stance. Then.....KABOOM!
Welcome to the Bronx, young man!
Huh, maybe they didn't need to trade for a bat.
Congrats to Lombard!
For those not watching, this is a big day for the Lombard family. George’s younger brother made his professional debut in Low A ball in the Marlin’s system. He also hit a home run!
Is Bednar turning into a Real Closer?
A couple of four-out saves this week, impressive ones.
The new guys are doing their jobs, which is great, but the bottom line is, this team can not win with McMann and Wells in the line-up as automatic outs or, even worse, DPs. Those were the biggest holes in the line-up and Cashless failed to do anything about it.
Boston moves into 2nd place this week, no doubt.
Wells has been pretty good since June. It sure doesn't feel like it.
I hate when the Yankees get into these phases where any opponent run feels like game over.
Geez, can we talk about roster construction here?
Down two in the ninth with two out and a man on third. Sending Wells and his .167 average to the plate feels like giving up. He miraculously doubles. Homer Bush is not walking through that door. The only position player left on the bench is the other catcher.
Kudos to them for tying it up, but this would’ve been a slam dunk come from behind nine inning game before Cash and Boone got fat and happy.
We need to accept that Wells has been the best hitter in the lineup over the last two weeks.
This was maybe the most improbable win of the season.
I forget which Yankee announcer said that Mel Hall took the Magellan route to the ball, but I’ll invoke it tonight in that they got to the win eventually but it was a wild path to get there.
That was a helluva win.
I've seen enough from Lombard, Jr. I'm ready for him to be the shortstop for the next ten years. The home runs are nice, don't get me wrong, but it's the defense that I love. If he hits .250, his defense is good enough to keep the job. Volpe might become a passable second baseman, but he can never play shortstop for this team again.
I'm with Hank [30] on Lombard, man he is fun to watch.
And I feel like he has a little bit of Judge in him, like, this is fricken serious, this is my job... then afterward he's all smiles.
(I also think his dad is cool, not to mention is grandma.)
But I'm also with knuckles [25] on having a drawer full of relievers and a paucity of position players on the bench. I'm sure they've analyzed it, but it sure feels wrong.
Also, whew, I was worried about Ben.
The offense is looking less offensive today. Jones and Lombard are leading the way!
Yeah turns out we didn't need to trade for a bat.
Not to jinx anything, but when Judge and Bellinger return... this is a very good lineup.
I wonder what Anthony Volpe is thinking about this evening.
[34] Neither Texas nor Florida has a state income tax . . .
Great back story for Volpe, but we’re here to win championships. Not sentimentality.
There should be a special rule, saying that if Cam pitches this well we can win the game even if we don't score any runs.
Okay, third time through the order, time to cash in, right?
:0
So far so good!
Yeesh.
Unfortunate. Nice struck, but no chance to score on it. (The Ben Rice line drive I mean.)
*nicely struck
Maybe I'll just shut up.
What, the Yankees lost 2-1? How quirky and tiresome.
When was the last time we pounded out more that 7 hits?
"Since Judge went down, the Yankees rank 28th in the majors in OPS and 27th in runs per game. Their record in that stretch is 30-29."
I guess 30-29 ain't bad... all things considered.
It’s TBS but at lest I get to see a game tonight.
Not quite Willie Randolph, ball hit second base, bounce to Willie who made the play, but I’ll allow it.
Yeah, I wouldn’t have sent him home. Would be a pulled hammy.
So is Rice even playing first anymore?
[43] Three games on this week here in IL. Today, tomorrow on ESPN and Friday on Apple.
[47] ugh, I don’t have Apple.
Rats
The offenses are going to cure my insomnia
Game over, 1-0 loss.
Four runs in one inning???? I don’t even recognize this team.
[52] Witchcraft. And my family has a history of it . . .
They almost matched their August RISP hits in one inning 5 before this game and 4 in the 7th inning.