by Paul Semendinger
April 1, 2024
***
Okay... and a few dislikes, but the great stuff first:
There is no way, no way, I ever envisioned the Yankees sweeping a four game series, let along one against the Astros, in Houston, to begin the season. It's amazing. It's wonderful. It's great.
Those were four fun games. I didn't see all of them, but what I saw was great. The Yankees haven't been this fun to watch in a long time. And it's not just because they're winning. It's because they're fun! They're playing smart baseball. They're not swinging for the fences. They're running well. They're playing defense. It's great.
Juan Soto is showing everyone why he's so great. To all the detractors - enough about the defense. He's already made a few good plays. One ball was hit over his head, and I don't think most right fielders get that ball either. The man is a complete difference-maker. In the bottom of the 9th inning yesterday, he charged a base hit and kept the runner on first from going to third. He also made a very good catch in deep right center earlier in the game. The man can flat out play. And he is unbelievable as a hitter.
I heard from someone with direct knowledge of the team right now that Soto has been a difference maker in the clubhouse. We're seeing indications of that. On the radio the other day, Suzyn Waldnman noted that Oswaldo Cabrera delayed a radio interview with her to watch Juan Soto take batting practice. Great players bring a different aura about them. When Reggie Jackson came to New York he said something like, "I'm bringing my star with me." This is the type of player the Yankees have needed for years and years and years. This is what Bryce Harper would have brought. The Harper ship sailed a long time ago, but, now this is what Juan Soto brings. Swagger. Greatness. Energy. For as good as he was, Giancarlo Stanton didn't bring this. For as great as he is, Aaron Judge doesn't bring this. Theirs is (or was) a different kind of greatness. The Yankees needed a big time high-energy superstar. They should lock Soto up for the next century at infinity dollars - just make him a limited partner of the team. Get rid of the Starr Insurance patch and make it a Soto patch. Whatever they need to do.
Just to be clear, the above is not a knock on Judge or Stanton. Teams need all sorts of people and leaders. Aaron Judge seems to lead the way Derek Jeter led. Teams need that. Quiet excllence. Judge is great. Nothing should be read into any of this other than that Juan Soto is a different type of player and a different personality and he brings a different energy and a different enthusiasm that has been missing from the team for a long time.
Speaking of Aaron Judge, he had a bad series with the bat. This leads many, myself included, to wonder if he isn't where he needs to be physically. One thing the Yankees must do, must must must do, is have their players tell the team's manager and coaches when they're not where they need to be physically. This helps in the short term and long term. I love when people step up, and play through pain and all that. I do it myself. We're warriors. Blah, blah, blah... We've all played through pain,. But, for these guys, it's not worth a worse injury by playing through something when they shouldn't be playing. We've seen too much of that in recent years. This team can be something special, but only if they do the right things on and off the field. If Judge (or anyone) isn't where he needs to be physically, he shouldn't be risking a longer, more severe injury by trying to play through whatever it might be.
Four starts, four different starting pitchers, and four wins. Whew!
The Yankees play at 9:40 p.m. tonight. Couldn't this game have been the Apple-TV game? I dislike all games on streaming platforms and etc... but my goodness, this would have been a better one to put on that platform.
How about Gleyber Torres' steal in the top of the 9th yesterday? How awesome was that? He was on second before the throw seemed to leave the catcher's hand. Then, he was running on Soto's hit. Great base running makes a difference!
There is a different energy to this team. It's a positive energy.
Is it me or are there fewer TV shots of Aaron Boone during the games? I don't need to see the manager (of any team). Those shots are predicable and boring and trite and tired. Focus on the game not the manager's face. (This is especially true if the manager is blowing bubbles, which seem lessened as well.)
Years ago we saw clearly that Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton should not hit back-to-back in the lineup. When they're not hitting, they have the same holes in their swings. They swing at the same pitches down and away time and again. Having them even batting near each other in the lineup is bad practice. They make things too easy on good hard-throwing righties - especially out of the bullpen. They also make it too easy on the opposing manager. This is a fatal flaw the Yankees have been doing since 2018. It doesn't work.
In regard to Stanton, he should not be near the middle of the lineup unless he earns it through great sustained hitting (something I do not think he is capable of any longer).
What a start! Let's hope this great, high energy, fun baseball continues all season long.
Let's Go Yankees!
