About Spring Training: Scattered Thoughts on Spring Training

About Spring Training: Scattered Thoughts on Spring Training

By Tim Kabel

March 8, 2025

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The Yankees will open the season in less than three weeks against the Milwaukee Brewers at home. Time is running out on Spring Training. There are decisions that need to be made and positions that must be filled. I have some thoughts based on what I have seen so far in Spring Training.

• Marcus Stroman pitched reasonably well yesterday but you have to believe that everything he does in Spring Training is an audition for another team. He has made it clear that he only wants to be a starter and will refuse to go to the bullpen. That is not a good look. In addition, the Yankees had no faith in him at the end of last season. What leads you to believe they have more faith in him now? Luis Gil is injured and will miss at least three months according to reports. That doesn't make Stroman any better. I think the Yankees would prefer to go with Will Warren, who has the potential to be better than Stroman at this point in their respective careers and is much less expensive. In addition, Warren is not a polarizing figure, which Stroman is. It is very good whenever Marcus Stroman pitches well in Spring Training, but it doesn’t guarantee him a spot on this team. In fact, the better he pitches, the more likely he is to be traded.

• Can someone please explain to me why I would look at the lineup for a Spring Training game and see Dominic Smith in left field? Dominic Smith is a mediocre Major League Baseball player who is a reclamation project. People are wringing their hands about the prospect of Jasson Dominguez playing leftfield because he has had some growing pains adjusting to that position after playing centerfield for the majority of his minor league career. I think he will be just fine. Dominic Smith will not be just fine in left field. I don't think he should be on the 26-man roster at any point in this season. Because if he is, he will play right into Aaron Boone’s hands as another veteran Boone thinks will be tremendous. He won't be. I will say this. If Dominic Smith is playing leftfield for the New York Yankees during a regular season game and Jasson Dominguez, Trent Grisham, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Mickey Rivers are not on the IL, the Yankees are in big trouble. Furthermore, I will guarantee that if Dominic Smith is playing left field for the New York Yankees during a regular season game this year and the aforementioned players are not on the IL, my television set will come down off the fancy bracket on the wall and sail out my door, across the deck and into Long Island Sound. Dominic Smith does not need to be on the team. The Yankees have better, younger options who should be playing. We all know that dangling a washed-up veteran in front of Boone is like dangling fig newtons in front of the Cookie Monster.

• I think Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt will be very solid additions to this team. I think they will both have good years. Whether or not they will be with the Yankees for more than one year remains to be seen. However, they will certainly help to balance the lineup this year.

• Speaking of the lineup, Aaron Boone has been batting Austin Wells in the leadoff spot frequently. I have some thoughts on this. First, prior to Spring Training, Boone went on the record to say that he envisioned Jasson Dominguez getting a legitimate chance in the leadoff role. I know a lot of people felt that might be too much pressure for a youngster but, this was Boone’s idea. This was his suggestion. What I find interesting is that Dominguez batted leadoff in the first game but as far as I know, he has not done so since. In that game, he did get on base via a walk. This is typical of Boone. He makes these grand announcements and declarations and then almost immediately abandons them. Whenever Boone is asked about his sudden course correction, he almost always says something to the effect of, “What? Who? Me?” As far as Wells batting leadoff, I'm not a big fan of that. I think Wells should bat lower in the order to have more RBI opportunities and to offer protection to Judge. In addition, if Wells does bat leadoff, he would not be available to warm up the starting pitcher in the bullpen for road gamers. That could be problematic because the pitchers may feel it is important to get their timing and feel for pitches down with the person who will be catching them during the game.

• As I was writing this, it was reported that Gerrit Cole will be undergoing tests on his elbow after surrendering six runs in his most recent Spring Training outing. That is never good news. I don't want to panic or read too much into this but undergoing tests on an elbow for a starting pitcher is much worse than not undergoing tests. No matter what it is, Cole is likely to miss time. Perhaps Marcus Stroman won't be going anywhere after all.

• Back to the lineup. As I said, I'm not in love with the idea of Austin Wells batting leadoff. Since I've never believed that it is fair to criticize something without having a suggestion as to how to do it better, here is my proposed line up:

Jazz Chisolm, Jr.-                             2B

Aaron Judge-                                    RF

Cody Bellinger-                                 CF

Paul Goldschmidt-                           1B

Austin Wells-                                     C

Jasson Dominguez-                          LF

Everon Pereira/Ben Rice              DH

Anthony Volpe                                   SS

Oswald Peraza-                                3B

A variation on that lineup would be to bat Judge third, where the Yankees could take advantage of his tremendous power and RBI potential. The lineup would look like this:

Jazz Chisolm, Jr.-                             2B

Jasson Dominguez-                          LF

Aaron Judge-                                    RF

Austin Wells-                                     C

Paul Goldschmidt-                           1B

Cody Bellinger-                                 CF

Everon Pereira/Ben Rice              DH

Anthony Volpe                                   SS

Oswald Peraza-                                3B

I actually prefer the second lineup because I think Dominguez would flourish batting in front of Judge and Chisholm and Dominguez in front of Judge would give him more opportunities to drive in runs. I also think Wells is going to have a very good season and hit for a lot of power. Having him as protection for Judge makes a lot of sense to me. I realize there is a better chance of me being named Mr. Universe than there is of Aaron Boone implementing the second lineup I proposed. But I think it makes sense.

• I want to revisit the topic of Gerrit Cole undergoing an MRI. Before we go completely off the rails, remember he had a similar situation at this time last year. While it is true that he didn't make his first start until June, it may be something that he will experience at the beginning of the season for the rest of his career. It may not be something catastrophic.  We will know better in a few days.

• As much as I love Opening Day, I am not a huge fan of having the Yankees open the season at home. I would prefer to wait a week or so, especially when Opening Day now occurs in March. Being in New York in March makes you feel like you're on the Shackleton expedition. I think the Yankees should open in a place that is either played in a dome or in warmer climes.