JotCast | VF314 Live Chat

VF314 Live Chat - 4/28/2022

Derek

1:00

Hey everyone, excited to have another day game during my paternity leave. First pitch is in a few, but let's get started.

MBN

1:00

Has everyone calmed down now about the Yankees off-season "failures" - where they didn't sign any of the superstar shortstops, or add to their starting pitching?

Derek

1:01

I think you can be both: a) annoyed at a bad offseason and b) be happy about the team's performance thus far. No one ever said that this was a bad team because of the offseason.

MBN

1:01

Why is Miggy up here if here isn't going to be in the lineup regularly?

Derek

1:02

Only other 40-man guy worth putting in the majors right now with Hicks out.

Not gonna promote Peraza, Cabrera, Florial, or Pereira right now.

Moe Howard

1:02

DJ seems to be able to play just about anywhere in the infield and is fairly athletic. Any chance he could play LF or RF? That would allow some flexibility to get Torres in more often (assuming he continues to come around) and get Gallo out against tougher lefties.

Derek

1:03

I think the Yankees are covered in the outfield, and I'm not dying to get Gleyber more at bats right now. Besides, they can just sit Gallo against lefties if they really want to, DH Donaldson, and have DJLM/Gleyber both start.

Bart

1:03

The Orioles extended left field at their stadium and changed the dynamics of that field to be more pitcher friendly. The old Yankee stadium used to have a 450Ft center field until it was moved in. My question is -- is there any league approval process for changing stadium dimensions or can any team set their home field dimensions to whatever they want?

Derek

1:04

Pretty sure it can only be done between seasons, like Baltimore just did. I think Bill Veeck wanted to mess around with dimensions game to game decades ago. He was always up to weird things.

1:04

What's your sense of Adujar's future? With Gallo struggling I was hoping he might take some of his ABs, but Gallo is clearly starting to heat up a bit. Do you think he has a chance to play in the Bronx, or more likely he's part of a trade? (hopefully helped by the DH in the NL!).

Derek

1:05

I don't think it's here. The Yankees must be thrilled he's hitting well thus far though. Might rebuild a little bit of trade value.

James Lombardi

1:05

I don't understand why Miguel Andujar is not in the lineup today against a lefty when he has been so good in AAA. Don't you think he has suffered enough and should be given his release? Why keep him if you won't use him?

Derek

1:06

A release is too drastic. I agree a new opportunity would probably be best for him, but the Yankees are going to stash him for the time being.

I think this is his last option year anyway, so he'll have a chance somewhere, if not the Bronx, by next season.

JerseyJerry

1:07

Hi, I have 2 questions : 1) why did Holmes close last night? Was it a match up issue or did Boone just decide that he did not trust Chapman in that situation? 2) Based on current and likely continued performance, which Yanks make the All Star Game? My money is on Judge, Rizzo, King and Cortes! Thanks, Jerry

Derek

1:07

Chapman threw 24 pitches the night before, so maybe that's why.

1:08

On performance alone, I'd add DJLM to the names you listed.

1:08

What do you make of Gleyber's season so far?

Derek

1:09

Pretty bad so far. Really bad approach to many of his ABs. I know he's hit a little better of late, but it's been a couple years of not good stuff from him now.

Shannon

1:10

Gallo and Donaldson haven't hit much so far. The catching tandem hasn't either. How concerned are you about this?

Derek

1:11

I'm concerned about Gallo as I mentioned in my thoughts post yesterday ( Thoughts on the Yankee Letter, DJLM, Cole, and Gallo - Views from 314 Ft)

He's a 109 wRC+ since 2019, and that's buoyed by a huge June 2021.

1:12

I'm a little worried about Donaldson, but the guy is still crushing the ball. The weird thing is that he's whiffing and striking out way more than usual. Let me plug Matt's piece: April Breezes: On Josh Donaldson's Early Season Whiffs - Views from 314 Ft.

1:13

We knew the offense behind the plate would stink, so I guess not concerned in a sense that this is basically what I expected?

Jeb

1:13

Besides SS and C, what is your biggest concern so far with the 22 Yankees?

Derek

1:14

Good follow up to the last question. I suppose it's the bullpen workload over the long season. But the starters are going deeper now, and the rotation looks pretty damn good itself, so it may not be too big of a deal.

Dansby SwanSong

1:14

The current quad slash is .231/.307/.368/.675 What should MLB do to improve offense?

Derek

1:15

Fix the ball, for one. Other than that, pitchers are so freaking good nowadays.

Lower the mound maybe?

Pete

1:16

Any Chance the Yanks trade Green in season? While his advanced stats are typically fine, he isn't someone you can really trust in big situations anymore and it feels like he's fallen a bit out of favor. And they're currently loaded with pen options.

Derek

1:16

I actually thought they would trade him over the winter, but didn't. He's definitely much lower on the pecking order for me now. Would rather go JLo, Holmes, and King before him when bridging to Chapman.

Could see a case for preferring Luetge over Green too

Moe Howard

1:17

Long term future for King and Schmidt if they continue to excel in long relief? Think the Yankees would move either back to starting?

Derek

1:18

It definitely sounds like they're open to moving King back at some point, but in this era, multi inning relievers like him are pretty valuable. I can't imagine it happening this year given how good he's been in the 'pen so far. Maybe pre-2023. As for Schmidt, I think he will go back to SWB and start come May. But given his health history, the Yankees could just stick him in the bullpen once they are in need again.

Jake

1:19

Sending Sweeney to HV to begin the year tells me they think he'll be in the majors quickly . He got off to a good start before a short IL stint. If he gets to Somerset by August, a June 2023 debut in the majors is reasonable right?

Derek

1:19

Yeah, I could see him up by the end of next year. He can really hit.

Josh

1:20

What is your impression of Nestor Cortes? Can he stay an above-average SP all season?

Derek

1:21

He's pretty damn good, I think I'm sold at this point, so yes he can be.

I've been hesitant the last few weeks, but he just keeps shoving.

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