About Last Night: The Yankees Dimmed the Rays 6-3

About Last Night: The Yankees Dimmed the Rays 6-3.

By Tim Kabel

April 18, 2025

***

Thomas Wolfe was wrong. You can go home again. The Yankees played their first game in the new, temporary home of the Tampa Bay Rays, George M. Steinbrenner Field. It wasn't a pretty game, especially in the pitching department, but it was a victory. The Yankees were finally able to play in weather that seemed appropriate for a baseball game. It was a team effort and practically everyone contributed. The bullpen picked up Will Warren, who showed the inconsistency that is common among rookies. Again, it was not a work of art, but it is the type of game the Yankees will need to win if they hope to return to the World Series this year. 

Quick Stats – 

·       This was the Yankees’ first game against an American League East team in 2025.

·       The Yankees have won four games in a row and five of their last six.

·       The Yankees are now 12-7. Six of those victories are of the come-from-behind variety.

·       Oswaldo Cabrera became the first Yankee to hit a regular season home run in Steinbrenner Field.

·       Aaron Boone said that Giancarlo Stanton might be able to return by June. Wally Pipp could have returned from that headache too.

·       On April 17, 1925. Babe Ruth had ulcer surgery. Just imagine if he had listened to an Aaron Boone post-game press conference.

·      On April 17, 1951, Mickey Mantle made his Major League debut. He went 1-4. 

·      On April 17, 1976, Thurman Munson was named the first captain of the Yankees since Lou Gehrig.

The Big Story – 

The Yankees could be starting to get on a roll. They have won four in a row and five of their last six. The only thing that could stand in their way is the starting rotation. However, now that Clarke Schmidt has returned, the rotation may become somewhat stabilized. Will Warren is still feeling his way but, it is better to have him there doing that than a faded veteran clinging to a roster spot. The Yankees still have Carlos Carrasco and potentially Marcus Stroman to fill that role. Hopefully, the Yankees can acquire someone else to round out the rotation, even if they have to wait for Luis Gil. Until the starting rotation is fine-tuned, the Yankees may have to bludgeon their opponents on days when the starting pitcher is shaky. They seem capable of doing that.

Player of the Game – 

Ben Rice went 4-5 and is now batting .317 with 5 home runs and 3 doubles. Giancarlo who?

Notable Performances – 

Oswaldo Cabrera was 2-3 and hit his first home run of the season. He is now batting .308. DJ who?

Better To Forget-

Will Warren became Won’t Warren last night, throwing 53 pitches, including 38 in the second inning, and lasted only 1.2 innings.

My Take – 

I have some scattered thoughts about the Yankees at this early stage of the season.

·       It is exciting to see the young players getting opportunities and performing well for the Yankees. Austin Wells, Anthony Volpe, Jasson Dominguez, and Oswaldo Cabrera have all had their moments so far. Ben Rice is flourishing in the absence of Giancarlo Stanton. The best part about Rice's success is that it does not appear to be a temporary hot streak. He seems as if he has figured out what to do. That is a great thing and as we get deeper into the season, I'm sure his power numbers will increase. He also seems to have adjusted well to the leadoff position, as has Paul Goldschmidt.

·       Devin Williams seems to be settling into his role as the closer. Perhaps he had a little trouble adjusting to playing for the Yankees and in New York but, I'm sure he will be fine. However, Max Fried is hands down the best acquisition Brian Cashman made in the off-season, particularly considering the absence of Gerrit Cole. Imagine where the Yankees would be without Fried in the starting rotation.

·       Although it is very nice to see the youngsters playing and growing as Major Leaguers, I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. There are rumblings that DJ LeMahieu is slathering himself with Bengay and wandering onto the field. A minor league rehab seems imminent. If he manages to get through that without rupturing something or wearing a truss, he will eventually be ready to join the Major League team. We all know that Aaron Boone already has a special #2 pencil sharpened and waiting in the top drawer of his desk to write in LeMahieu’s name at third base. It will not matter how well Oswaldo Cabrera is doing. LeMahieu will play. And unless he injures himself, he won't go in for just a day or two. Boone will stick with LeMahieu until his decline becomes so obvious that Boone will have no choice but to remove him. However, at that point will Cabrera’s confidence be shot? We don't know. But we do know what Boone will do. I remember years ago; I went to a professional training on perpetrators of child abuse. The trainer was a police officer from West Virginia, and I remember him saying very clearly in his southern drawl, “Human behavior is consistent. People do what they do.” I have found that to be very true in almost every situation I have encountered or seen. If your neighbor never says hello to you in the morning when you see him, don't be surprised when he doesn't do it. Aaron Boone favors veterans over young players whether or not it is warranted.

·       Speaking to the point I just made, earlier in the week, Jasson Dominguez had a game in which he made a few very good plays in leftfield. Dave Sims commented on them repeatedly during the broadcast. One of the plays, catching a ball hit by Salvador Perez, was given a 60% probability of being made. Dominguez made an excellent play. He reportedly works very hard on his outfield play and is adjusting well to playing leftfield. Yet, in that game, Boone removed him again and inserted Trent Grisham into the outfield. Boone did the same thing the next night after Dominguez went 3-3, with the game-winning hit. His explanation for that was that Dominguez lost his contact lenses after his game-winning hit. Many people suspected that Boone was, to put it nicely, fibbing. All I know is that when I'm watching the postgame interviews and Boone says it is a sunny day, I look out the window. The catch that Dominguez made on Perez’s ball was among the best catches made by any Yankee this season. I have no doubt that Boone will continue to do this throughout the season because that is what he does. He prattles on about Dominguez’s growth but as a fielder but, actions speak louder than words. 

·       Based on the way that Aaron Boone has always treated young players, Will Warren should be looking over his shoulder when it appears that Marcus Stroman may be ready to return. Stroman was dreadful this season even before he was injured and does not seem to have much left. Neither does Carlos Carrasco but currently, one of those two has to be in the rotation. I bet that when Stroman is healthy again, they will both be in the rotation and Warren will be the odd man out.

·       Giancarlo Stanton is just a rumor at this point. There is some speculation that he might possibly be ready by June. When that happens, Rice will become a side dish. We can all think logically that it won't happen but, it will. Remember, human behavior is consistent. Aaron Boone is not even convincing when he talks about developing young players. He only does so when he has no other choice. Anthony Volpe was forced upon him and so were Austin Wells and Luis Gil last year due to injuries. If Jose Trevino were still on the Yankees, he would be pushing Austin Wells for playing time.

Next Up

The Yankees will play the second game of the four-game series against the Rays today at 7:05 PM at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Drew Rasmussen, (1-0, 0.60 ERA) will pitch for Tampa Bay. The Yankees will send Carlos Rodon, (1-3, 5.48 ERA) to the mound. Let's hope that Drew is not quick on the draw and the Yankees have a great Friday on Good Friday.