1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: Now there might be snow outside your window, but believe 2 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 1: it or not, spring training is right around the corner, 3 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:09,799 Speaker 1: and that means it's time to look at some of 4 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:12,399 Speaker 1: the storylines that we're gonna follow for the twenty twenty 5 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: five season. What can Luis Heal do as an encore performance, 6 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: Will Garrett Cole struggle with elbow issues once again? And 7 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: will Aaron Judge finally hit in the playoffs? All of 8 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:25,799 Speaker 1: these questions that will determine the Yankees twenty twenty five 9 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: season and more. This is Pinstripe Territory, one of to Cook. 10 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 2: That's all. 11 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 1: All right, Welcome back, everybody, Welcome back, Thank you for 12 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: joining me on this Thursday evening. My original plan was 13 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,320 Speaker 1: to do this as kind of a top ten countdown 14 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:51,720 Speaker 1: list and review ten storylines that we're going to be 15 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: following on the podcast throughout the whole season. And my 16 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 1: intention is to follow all of these stories throughout the season. 17 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: But as I was putting together my notes, I just 18 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 1: had so many things that I really wanted to pay 19 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: attention to, and so many things that you really need 20 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 1: to pay attention to if you want to maximize the 21 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 1: amount of stress that the Yankees give you. This year, 22 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: just like I do. I mean, if you really want 23 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: to test the limits of what your coronary arteries can take, 24 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 1: then you have got to worry about all of this stuff, 25 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: just like I do. So let's get to the top 26 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:29,399 Speaker 1: storylines that we are going to take a look at 27 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: this year. So here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna 28 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 1: take the main storylines that the Yankees are facing this year. 29 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 1: We're gonna go over that, but then we're gonna dive 30 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:45,679 Speaker 1: deeper into the individual players. Not everybody, but there's a 31 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: lot of interesting things to watch this year. So let's 32 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: begin with the Yankees. This is possibly Aaron Boone's final 33 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: year with the Yankees. I don't think it is, but 34 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: it is his final year under contract. Usually the Yankees 35 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 1: don't negotiate with people until their contract is over. Players, managers, 36 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: general managers. It's just kind of the way they do business, right, 37 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: So this isn't a huge surprise that they haven't signed 38 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 1: him to an extension. And since Brian Cashman is under 39 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 1: contract through twenty twenty six, I'll be shocked if they 40 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 1: don't bring Boone back for that year as well. A 41 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: lot of the talk this year is also going to 42 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 1: be about how the Yankees recover from an embarrassing World 43 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 1: Series loss, and then to add insult injury, Lon Soto 44 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 1: jumped ship and called New York a Mets town. How 45 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:40,639 Speaker 1: will the Yankees, the big bad Yankees, respond to that. 46 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:43,639 Speaker 1: I hate to be dramatic, but that kind of thing 47 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: just cannot be allowed to stand. Yankees have got to 48 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,800 Speaker 1: be all in this year to dominate the city, dominate baseball, 49 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: and dominate the Mets. And you know we're gonna continue 50 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: to see the youth movement this year. Dominga is finally 51 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 1: getting a shot. Austin Wells and Anthony Volpi are expected 52 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: to play much bigger roles on the team this year. 53 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 1: We'll get into their individual stuff later. But also, the 54 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: Yankees need to play better baseball this year. You know, 55 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: since they won't have the historic tandem of Judge and Soto, 56 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:15,679 Speaker 1: they're gonna need to tidy up their run prevention. They're 57 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: gonna need to play better defense, They're gonna need to 58 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:23,080 Speaker 1: be smarter on the basis, having Soto and Glaber and 59 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 1: Anthony Rizzo off the team should theoretically help their base 60 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 1: running by default addition by subtraction. But you know, Finally, 61 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: the Yankees, as has been the case for the last 62 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 1: eight years or so, will only make it to the 63 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: playoffs if Aaron Judge has a full and productive Aaron 64 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: Judge type season. But even if he does, the same 65 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: question is gonna linger all year long. Will he hit 66 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: in the playoffs? Will he finally hit in the postseason? 67 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: That's what it's gonna come down to. Can this guy 68 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: get it done in October? And last year it wasn't 69 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 1: so much that he didn't hit, it's that he radiated 70 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: a lack of confidence in the playoffs. I keep saying 71 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: it's a shame that the Yankees lost Game three of 72 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: the ALCS because that home run he hit off of 73 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: Emmanuel Classe would have been eternal. It probably would have 74 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:21,239 Speaker 1: turned his postseason around. But then it became a footnote 75 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:24,160 Speaker 1: because the Yankees lost. And if the World Series had 76 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 1: gone six or seven games, I think he would have 77 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: kept hitting. But because they fell apart in Game five, 78 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:31,679 Speaker 1: partially due to Aaron Judge dropping a fly ball, we'll 79 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: never know. Anyway, He's going for back to back MVPs. 80 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:37,600 Speaker 1: This would be the first Yankee to do that since 81 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 1: Roger Maris in sixty and sixty one. I am sincerely 82 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 1: hoping that his response to last season is to become 83 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 1: even more superhuman. Sixty three or seventy three home runs 84 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:54,279 Speaker 1: are not out of the question if he is playing 85 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:57,359 Speaker 1: with a chip on his shoulder, you know, but he 86 00:04:57,360 --> 00:04:59,280 Speaker 1: can't slump for a month to begin the year like 87 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,719 Speaker 1: he did last season. If he had a normal April 88 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:04,839 Speaker 1: last year, he probably hit sixty three or sixty four 89 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 1: home runs. And he's gonna be in right field again, 90 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 1: so less ground to cover. Should be easier on the legs, 91 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: but there's also more walls to contend with. Foul territory 92 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 1: at Yankee Stadium gets on you quick, and he's too 93 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 1: valuable to be running into walls. I want him to 94 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:24,359 Speaker 1: play a conservative right field, play deep, take away a 95 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:27,160 Speaker 1: couple of those pop ups that come down three inches 96 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 1: over the right field wall for a home run that 97 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:33,599 Speaker 1: were home runs last year, Hopefully they won't be this year. 98 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: Either way, it will be an interesting year for Aaron Judge. 99 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 1: I'm really interested in seeing how he's gonna respond to me. 100 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: That's the main storyline. One thing for sure. Nothing he 101 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: does in the regular season will be good enough nothing. 102 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 1: It'll all be viewed through the lens of yeah, well, 103 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: let's see him do it in the playoffs. Oh cool, 104 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: you had a seventy five game stretch where you hit 105 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:58,479 Speaker 1: four fifteen with thirty eight home runs. Awesome, do it 106 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:02,039 Speaker 1: in October. I've heard some people say that what Aaron 107 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:04,480 Speaker 1: Judge during the does during the regular season next year 108 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 1: doesn't matter. I want to point out that's not true. 109 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 1: It matters very much what he does during the regular 110 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:12,479 Speaker 1: season because the Yankees need him to have a big 111 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:16,039 Speaker 1: year to get to the postseason. But for his legacy 112 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 1: and for the fans, it is much more important that 113 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 1: this year he finally gets it done in October. I 114 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:26,040 Speaker 1: don't care if he has to go to a hypnotist 115 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 1: to trick his mind into thinking October is June. Whatever 116 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: you gotta do, Get it done, baby, get it done. 117 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:37,919 Speaker 1: There is this phenomenon in baseball where a lot of 118 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 1: guys struggle when their wives are pregnant, as Aaron Judge's 119 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:43,960 Speaker 1: wife is, and then they turn it on afterwards. It's 120 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: called dad muscles, and I stress, I stress, I am 121 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 1: scared to see what Aaron Judge looks like with dad muscles. 122 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 1: All right, let's talk a little bit about Anthony Volpi. 123 00:06:56,480 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 1: He is an offensive mystery to me. For the first 124 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:03,039 Speaker 1: six weeks of the season last year he looked like 125 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:06,359 Speaker 1: the perfect leadoff hitter and then he fell apart and 126 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 1: he never quite put it back together. Right now, the 127 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 1: Yankees don't have a set leadoff man. It could be Vopie, 128 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 1: it could be Domingus, it could be Bellinger, could be Jazz. 129 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 1: Who knows, but it would solve a lot of problems 130 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 1: if Anthony Volpe could take that spot and frickin run 131 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: with it. He did raise his average thirty four points 132 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 1: last year, and you know, to go from two nine 133 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 1: to two forty three is impressive. If he does that again, 134 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 1: and I know that's a big ask. He's at two 135 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 1: seventy seven and there's gonna be bigger expectations this year. 136 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 1: You know, the first couple of years, especially his rookie season, 137 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: it was, oh, he's a rookie. He only spent three 138 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 1: weeks at Triple A, let's cut him some slack. Last 139 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 1: year it was, well, this is his real rookie season, 140 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 1: because he skipped Triple A for the most part. This year, 141 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 1: it's okay, go out there and be the man. Go 142 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 1: out there and show us why you were the top 143 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 1: Yankees draft pick. Be that guy that the Yankees were advertising. 144 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 1: Training wheels are off. Let's talk a little bit about 145 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 1: the catching situation. Austin Wells is somebody that I find 146 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 1: fascinating because his swing is beautiful and it's compact. He 147 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 1: reminds me a little bit of Nick Johnson the way 148 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 1: he swings. Nick Johnson, of course, never worked out with 149 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 1: the Yankees, had some good seasons with the Nats. And 150 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 1: my cat is me owing in the background. Hopefully that's 151 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: not too loud. But I've seen a lot of swings 152 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 1: like his due damage in Yankee Stadium over the years. 153 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 1: For the last couple of months he struggled, but for 154 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: a couple of months in the middle of the season, 155 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 1: his OPS was over nine hundred. Before that, though, he 156 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: struggled again. Will he take that next step offensively and 157 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:50,559 Speaker 1: become a more consistently good hitter for the entire season. 158 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: I expect his power production to go up hitting in 159 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 1: Yankee Stadium. I expect him to hit twenty home runs 160 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 1: this year. He had thirteen last year. I think he's 161 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 1: gonna outpace that. Will he continue to make strides defensively? 162 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: He has gotten better defensively every year as a pro. 163 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:08,160 Speaker 1: And that was the biggest question mark that he had 164 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 1: after the Yankees drafted him. Could he throw behind the plate? 165 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 1: Could he block? Could he frame? And he's a Gold 166 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 1: Glove caliber catcher at this point. And with his swing, 167 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 1: if he puts it all together as everyone seems to 168 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,199 Speaker 1: think he will around baseball, he could be a Silver 169 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:28,439 Speaker 1: Slugger caliber catcher, you know, And that's an incredibly a 170 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:30,960 Speaker 1: guy who's that valuable at such a tough position on 171 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 1: both sides of the ball. That could be a big, 172 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: big deal. So you know, I also want to see 173 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 1: how he does with the new arms, you know, Max Free, 174 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 1: Devin Williams and others. It's never a guarantee that every 175 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 1: pitcher is going to be comfortable with every catcher. You know, 176 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:48,440 Speaker 1: so many guys could never throw to Gary Sanchez, although 177 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: that was more of a Gary Sanchez issue, I think. 178 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 1: And then you know, you had guys like Andy Pettitt 179 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:57,560 Speaker 1: who liked to throw to Jim Layretz and you know 180 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 1: and so forth. So there's you know, a j Burnet 181 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 1: didn't want to throw a pasada. There are always questions about, 182 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 1: you know, how certain pitchers feel with certain catchers. I 183 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 1: have seen nothing to suggest that Wells will give anybody 184 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 1: any problems, but it's never a guarantee. It's just something 185 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 1: to keep an eye on. One of the other storylines 186 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 1: I am excited to see this year, Jason Dominguez is 187 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 1: finally here as a rookie. He will presumably be on 188 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: the opening day roster the opening day, either left fielder 189 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 1: or center fielder. And last year nobody expected his defense 190 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 1: to be as bad as it was when he came 191 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:38,960 Speaker 1: up because he was a good outfielder in the minor leagues. 192 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 1: So one of the storylines will be following is whether 193 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 1: or not that was a fluke. Susan Walden was on 194 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 1: the radio the other day and she said that she 195 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: talked to Domingez personally and that he was working hard 196 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:52,320 Speaker 1: on his defense and on hitting from the right side 197 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:55,680 Speaker 1: of the plate this winter. Two areas of weakness, and 198 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: that's what I like to see. I like to see 199 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:59,439 Speaker 1: a guy working on his weaknesses, right. You want to 200 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: turn those weak This is in strengths. That's what Michael 201 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 1: Jordan always said he wanted to do. Where will he 202 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:08,080 Speaker 1: play left field or center field? Be interesting to find out. 203 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 1: I think he's going to have a good year. I 204 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: think a twenty twenty season is easy. It's a layup 205 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 1: for him. We'll see if he If he has two 206 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: fifty twenty home runs, twenty stolen bases or more, I 207 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: think that's a disappointment. Honestly, I think two sixty two 208 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 1: seventy with twenty seven, twenty eight home runs, thirty five 209 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 1: stolen bases is well within Jason Dominguez's reach, and I 210 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 1: think he's going to do it. And I think that 211 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: he's going to be a much bigger piece in replicating 212 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 1: the production we lost from mon Soto than people realize, 213 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:48,080 Speaker 1: because he's going to be a switch hitter with power 214 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:53,960 Speaker 1: right who's also a demon on the basis. Another storyline 215 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: that I'm paying attention to and that we all have 216 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: got to start paying attention to is John Carlos, who 217 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 1: is now just seventy one home runs away from five 218 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 1: hundred for his career, and if he hadn't been injured 219 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 1: for most of his Yankees tenure, he'd probably be there 220 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 1: by now. So if he gets thirty this year, you 221 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 1: know thirty next year, he maybe breaks it in his 222 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 1: final year as a Yankee. I'm hoping that he's or 223 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 1: he can just hit seventy two this year and that 224 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: would take care of it. Hey, but I'm hoping that 225 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:29,040 Speaker 1: he's beginning to embrace that slugging DH role. Maybe he's 226 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: gotten more flexible this winter. But I don't see any 227 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 1: scenario where he's in the outfield. As long as he's 228 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 1: healthy in the playoffs, I have confidence that he's gonna hit. 229 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 1: You just need him to kind of, you know, stay 230 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:42,319 Speaker 1: within himself during the season. Stop trying to leg out 231 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 1: those doubles. Just jog man. His legs go every time 232 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:48,440 Speaker 1: that he tries to take an extra base or it 233 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 1: turns it on to sprint. I think he sometimes he 234 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:53,400 Speaker 1: does it unconsciously reflexively because that's what he's always done. 235 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:57,080 Speaker 1: And you saw him being intentionally slower at the end 236 00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:59,080 Speaker 1: of the year and he got thrown out by like 237 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 1: ten feet in a p playoff game. I think that 238 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 1: as long as he's healthy, gonna hit thirty five forty 239 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: home runs. Can he play one hundred and forty games? 240 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 1: That's gonna be the big question. His bat speed has 241 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 1: shown zero signs of slowing, and he's been one of 242 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:20,560 Speaker 1: the most clutch Yankees I've ever seen. ALCS MVP. We 243 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 1: will see if that carries him confidence wise coming into 244 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:27,839 Speaker 1: this year. Last year, he's spent the offseason just trying 245 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:29,560 Speaker 1: to prove that he could play at the major league 246 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 1: level again. He hit one ninety one in twenty twenty three, 247 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 1: he hit two to eleven the year before that. He 248 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 1: was trending towards the DFA, and then he's ALCS MVP. 249 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:44,080 Speaker 1: That has to be seen as an accomplishment for Aaron, 250 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 1: for John Carlos Stanton. So, you know, can he hit 251 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 1: thirty five home runs? We'll see that's best case scenario. 252 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: Jazz Chisholm's first year as a Yankee is gonna be 253 00:13:55,920 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 1: another storyline that we are following. First of all, we 254 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 1: don't know where he's gonna play yet. Ken Rosenthal said 255 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 1: today that the Yankees are trying to deal Marcus Stroman 256 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 1: so that they can add another infielder. They've shown interest 257 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 1: in a number of different guys. Some of them are 258 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:15,320 Speaker 1: third basemen, some of them are second baseman. And whatever 259 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 1: Domino ends up falling, you'll probably determine where Jazz Chisholm plays. 260 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 1: Right now. I suspect the Jazz is going to be 261 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:27,240 Speaker 1: at second base, but we shall see. You know, Jazz 262 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 1: Chishlm is one of these guys who can. He's got 263 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 1: an enormous ceiling, right. I mean, this is the guy 264 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 1: who hit career highs last year in home runs and 265 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: stolen bases. He's one of the most athletic guys you 266 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 1: will ever see in your life. Is a thirty to 267 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 1: thirty season out of the question for him? I don't 268 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 1: think that it is, so I'm really looking forward to 269 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 1: seeing how his first full season as a Yankee develops. 270 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:58,520 Speaker 1: Will he stay healthy. He's only played one hundred and 271 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 1: twenty four games or more in a season twice, so 272 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 1: he's gonna need to stay healthy. Yankees need that left 273 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 1: handed back. Look, I don't know what to expect from 274 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 1: Jazz chism over the course of a full season. All 275 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: the those he was really exciting to watch down the stretch. 276 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 1: I could see him getting thirty thirty. I could also 277 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 1: see him regressing a little bit now that the excitement 278 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 1: of joining the Yankees has kind of died down a 279 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 1: little bit. But I feel pretty good about Jazz Chisholm 280 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 1: having a big year. We got two more position players 281 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 1: to get to. Let's get to Cody Bellinger. Will he 282 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 1: play center field? Will he play left field? The Yankees 283 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 1: have not confirmed it either way, but that's probably something 284 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 1: that's gonna be sorted out early in spring training. Two 285 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 1: years ago, he was amazing. Last year he was slightly 286 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 1: above average, which Cody Bellinger will we get in twenty 287 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 1: twenty five? And how will that affect his contract status? 288 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 1: He has an opt out clause. If he has a 289 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 1: good year, you know that Scott Boris is gonna put 290 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 1: him back out on the market. So this could be 291 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:02,640 Speaker 1: like it was with Juan Soto, a one and done situation. 292 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 1: I love having all these exciting guys on the Yankees, 293 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 1: but you'd like to see them stick around for more 294 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 1: than one season. Honestly, I digress. He's had some injury issues, 295 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 1: mostly from running into walls. Some advice. Though walls are bad, 296 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 1: it's even worse if you run into Aaron Judge, because 297 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: that's like running into a wall that's also running directly 298 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 1: at you. So avoid that at all costs. And let's 299 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 1: talk about Paul Goldschmidt. I was lukewarm on the Paul 300 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 1: Goldschmidt situation. I'm a little bit embarrassed by that now 301 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: because I went back and watched a ton of his highlights. 302 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 1: I clicked on all the dots on his spray chart 303 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 1: on Baseball Savant, and I'm convinced that in the second 304 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 1: half of the year, his swing changed, the position of 305 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 1: his hands changed, he was getting his foot down a 306 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 1: little bit quicker, his hips were a little bit different there. 307 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: I just think that he made the right adjustments and 308 00:16:58,040 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 1: he's going to have a very nice year. Was a 309 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:04,480 Speaker 1: much better hitter in the second half. Will playing in 310 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 1: a Pennant race reinvigorate him? You know, it would not 311 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 1: shock me if he hits two seventy five with twenty 312 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: five home runs, solid defense, solid leadership. He can help 313 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 1: develop one of the younger first basemen like Ben Rice. 314 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:21,400 Speaker 1: But I feel much better about Paul Goldschmid now than 315 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:24,680 Speaker 1: I did when I heard that they signed him. When 316 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:26,439 Speaker 1: I was in the middle of watching the MoU Fossil 317 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 1: Lion King movie and I had to run outside and 318 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:33,960 Speaker 1: make a video about it. Let's talk pitching here, Garrett Cole. Look, 319 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 1: I want to know if the playoffs took something out 320 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:38,120 Speaker 1: of him. In the fifth inning of Game five, we 321 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:40,959 Speaker 1: saw him reach back and go to levels with his 322 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 1: fastball that we really haven't seen from him in a 323 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 1: couple of years. I just also wish we wish we 324 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 1: had seen him cover first base. His stuff deteriorated a 325 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 1: little bit last year. Still not you know, bad, still 326 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:56,960 Speaker 1: pretty good, but not at the top of all of 327 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:00,359 Speaker 1: the charts like it usually has been since he joined 328 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:03,800 Speaker 1: the Yankees. But he's such a smart pitcher and his 329 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:06,720 Speaker 1: command is so good that I don't think he's ever 330 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:08,879 Speaker 1: gonna fall off a cliff, you know, even if his 331 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 1: stuff deteriorates, I don't think his numbers are going to 332 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 1: be that bad because even if he loses his fastball, 333 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:16,119 Speaker 1: stop throwing it and start throwing a sinker or a 334 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 1: cutter or whatever he needs to get guys out. Obviously, 335 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:25,119 Speaker 1: a lot of eyeballs will be on how healthy he is. 336 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:28,480 Speaker 1: Is the elbow one hundred percent? He missed half the 337 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 1: season last year. Let's hope that's not an indicator of 338 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: things that are to come. Another guy whose injury history 339 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:39,320 Speaker 1: can be a little bit concerning is Max Freed. Max 340 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:44,200 Speaker 1: Freed has been a concern health wise, and we had 341 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:47,199 Speaker 1: Sean Coleman on the show, you Know to kind of 342 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 1: go over a scouting report for Max Freed. He covers 343 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 1: the Braves with Hammer territory, and he didn't make me 344 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:54,639 Speaker 1: feel all warm and fuzzy about Max's health. But he 345 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 1: said he's a great pitcher, and he says said he's 346 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 1: a big gamer, which you know would go great in 347 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: I have no questions about him handling New York, but 348 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:07,200 Speaker 1: that's never a guarantee. I thought that Carlos Rodin would 349 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:09,680 Speaker 1: handle New York. Well, he's been a little bit shaky, 350 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:12,200 Speaker 1: not only on the field, but off it as well, 351 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 1: just the way you know he's handled you know, flipping 352 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:17,680 Speaker 1: off for blowing kisses as the fans and some of 353 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 1: the media stuff. 354 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 3: You know. 355 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:22,680 Speaker 1: I think that Max Freed will be a nice fit, 356 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:24,840 Speaker 1: but I've thought that before. I thought Sonny Gray would 357 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:26,280 Speaker 1: be a great fit, and you know, he had a 358 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:29,119 Speaker 1: relaxed disposition about him, and he was a mess. You know, 359 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:31,400 Speaker 1: the Yankees try to change him. Let's just let Max 360 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:33,879 Speaker 1: Freed be Max Freed. And I'm eager to see what 361 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 1: he'll do. I think he'll be a solid number two 362 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:41,440 Speaker 1: for the Yankees next year. Luis Heal, I'm really anxious 363 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 1: to see what he does this year. A lot of 364 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 1: guys are one hit wonders. They have one great year 365 00:19:46,760 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: and then either the wheels fall off or they get hurt, 366 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:53,199 Speaker 1: or for whatever reason, they never reach their potential. I 367 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 1: want to just kind of show his baseball savont page 368 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:58,240 Speaker 1: two for a second, because he just let you know 369 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 1: how good this guy is. We got Cole up. 370 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:01,480 Speaker 3: There we go. 371 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 1: Louis Seal's electric I mean pitching run value, breaking run value, offspeed, 372 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:12,880 Speaker 1: run value, velocity, K percentage with percentage extension, all near 373 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 1: elite levels. Twenty nine starts last year, one hundred and 374 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 1: seventy one strikeouts and one hundred and fifty one to 375 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:22,160 Speaker 1: two thirds innings, and also won the Rookie of the Year. 376 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:25,760 Speaker 1: What will he do for an encore? Can he improved 377 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:31,240 Speaker 1: his command? I look, the sky is the act absolute 378 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:34,240 Speaker 1: limit for Louis Seal, but I want to see him 379 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:37,399 Speaker 1: get better at throwing strikes. I want to see him 380 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:41,119 Speaker 1: continue to evolve as a pitcher. To borrow a phrase 381 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:47,199 Speaker 1: from Bull Durham, he has got an arm that was 382 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:53,160 Speaker 1: kissed by the gods. You know. The question is can 383 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 1: he put the ball where he wants it to be 384 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:59,560 Speaker 1: and can he stay healthy? Carlos Rodon it will be 385 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:05,440 Speaker 1: year three of Carlos Rodon you know, year one sucked obviously. 386 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:07,280 Speaker 1: Year two he bounced back, but he had a big, 387 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:10,679 Speaker 1: long slump in the middle of the year. Did recover nicely. 388 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:13,119 Speaker 1: I want to know what he learned from the twenty 389 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 1: twenty four postseason. We saw him make some adjustments to 390 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:19,160 Speaker 1: his energy levels. This is a guy who would expend 391 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:21,119 Speaker 1: a ton of energy early in the game. I felt 392 00:21:21,119 --> 00:21:24,000 Speaker 1: like he did that during the regular season two and 393 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:26,520 Speaker 1: it became more evident in the playoffs, and then he 394 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 1: tried to make the adjustment. I want to see him 395 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 1: carry that adjustment into the regular season and become more 396 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:37,240 Speaker 1: of a pitcher and less of a thrower. Right, you're 397 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:39,680 Speaker 1: not gonna be able to get ninety five by everybody. 398 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:42,080 Speaker 1: A lot of guys put that ball in the seats 399 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 1: too many. I want to see less home runs allowed. 400 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:49,200 Speaker 1: I want to see more pitching, more changing speeds. Use 401 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:52,959 Speaker 1: that fastball by setting it up with some off speed stuff. 402 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:56,120 Speaker 1: Four strikes. You know you can't throw the breaking ball. 403 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:59,640 Speaker 1: You know, ooh, and in the dirt, you gotta drop 404 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:02,199 Speaker 1: it for a scat strike. You know, you got to 405 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:05,520 Speaker 1: use your fastball in situations where it's gonna be most effective. 406 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:08,439 Speaker 1: You can't just pump fast after fast after fastball, and 407 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:10,960 Speaker 1: hope that guys don't catch on because by the fourth 408 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:13,800 Speaker 1: or fifth inning they typically do. I want to see 409 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 1: if he can take that next next step as a 410 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:20,359 Speaker 1: pitcher this season. Let's move on and talk a little 411 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:24,720 Speaker 1: bit about Clark Schmidt, another guy that I'm really anxious 412 00:22:24,760 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 1: to watch this year. Can he get deeper into games? 413 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:29,879 Speaker 1: That's the big storyline for him that I'm following. He 414 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:31,720 Speaker 1: had a lot of trouble getting past the fifth inning 415 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 1: the last couple of years. He did start to get 416 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 1: by that barrier right before the oblique injury that put 417 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:38,760 Speaker 1: him on the shelf, and then when he came back, 418 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:42,679 Speaker 1: he wasn't the same guy. Which Clark Schmidt will be 419 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,360 Speaker 1: on the mound for the Yankees first trip through the rotation. 420 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:49,120 Speaker 1: That's the guy I want to see. Also, the Yankees 421 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: have been linked to Roki Sazaki, and it's a non 422 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:56,320 Speaker 1: zero chance at this point that he signs now. They 423 00:22:56,359 --> 00:22:58,480 Speaker 1: won't happen for a couple of weeks, but if it does, 424 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 1: Sazaki's gonna be in the rotation. What does that mean 425 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:04,200 Speaker 1: for Clark Schmidt? Does he go to the bullpen, become 426 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:08,119 Speaker 1: a swingman? Do the Yankees then trade Clark Schmidt, just 427 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:12,640 Speaker 1: like they did with Mike King, to you know, maximize 428 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 1: the most valuable asset in baseball. Young, controllable, starting pitching 429 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:19,119 Speaker 1: with talent. But this could be the year that he 430 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:21,399 Speaker 1: puts it all together. The Yankees have liked his stuff 431 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 1: for a while. I think this could be the year 432 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 1: that Clark Schmidt takes the next step. Just a quick 433 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:32,040 Speaker 1: reminder before we get to the bullpen storylines that these 434 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:34,920 Speaker 1: podcasts take an incredibly long time to put together and 435 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:37,159 Speaker 1: a lot of effort to put together. Go ahead and 436 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 1: give me a like and a subscribe. It helps other 437 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 1: people find the channel. It helps reward some of the 438 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:44,200 Speaker 1: hard work we're putting in over here at Pinstripe Territory, 439 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:45,720 Speaker 1: not just me, but some of the other folks behind 440 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:49,600 Speaker 1: the scenes. Shout out to Frankie, Shout out to Aiden 441 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 1: Terrence and so forth. Let's talk about the bullpen. The 442 00:23:55,600 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 1: Yankees got Devin Williams this winter, seen by the Shredder 443 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:04,720 Speaker 1: on MLB Network at least as MLB's top reliever. And 444 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:06,719 Speaker 1: I'm anxious to see what that looks like, you know, 445 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 1: going from Clay Holmes, who led the league in blown saves. 446 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:12,640 Speaker 1: People laugh when I say this. The Yankees are probably 447 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:18,040 Speaker 1: five to six wins better just by swapping out Holmes 448 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:22,280 Speaker 1: for Williams. And though I'm concerned about the lost production 449 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:24,200 Speaker 1: from Soto, I think the Yankees are gonna be okay 450 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:26,480 Speaker 1: because they've made improvements in other areas, and one of 451 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 1: them is the bullpen, which is now deadly. They brought 452 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:32,399 Speaker 1: back Johnny Lasagna, who I think is gonna have a 453 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:35,359 Speaker 1: good year. I don't know if he can be healthy 454 00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:38,200 Speaker 1: for much longer. He's had some injuries, but he's pitching 455 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:40,560 Speaker 1: for one more contract at least. We'll see if he 456 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 1: can bounce back. But they need to get somebody who 457 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:45,119 Speaker 1: can get outs from the left side. That's gonna be 458 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:49,359 Speaker 1: a problem right now, no lefties in the bullpen. Let's 459 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:52,359 Speaker 1: talk a little bit about MLB storylines that we're gonna 460 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 1: follow as well, because there's a lot of things going 461 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:59,120 Speaker 1: on in baseball that you know, I'm keeping my eye 462 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:01,120 Speaker 1: on this year that we're gonna be talking about that 463 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:04,960 Speaker 1: you guys should know about. And obviously, you see Soto 464 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:06,680 Speaker 1: with the Mets, that's gonna be a big one. We're 465 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:10,280 Speaker 1: gonna follow how he does show. Hey Otani returning to 466 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:13,239 Speaker 1: the mound for the Dodgers. The Dodgers, as good as 467 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 1: they were last year, gonna be even better this year 468 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:18,919 Speaker 1: with Otani pitching. They're gonna have Tyler Glass now available. 469 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:21,960 Speaker 1: They made some other moves. They got Blake Snell. They're 470 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:26,200 Speaker 1: gonna be freaking nasty again. Right now. They're the preempitive 471 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:29,800 Speaker 1: or preemptive favorite to win the World Series in repeat, 472 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:31,600 Speaker 1: and they'd be the first team to repeat since the 473 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:35,520 Speaker 1: Yankees from ninety eight through two thousand when they had 474 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:39,360 Speaker 1: their three peat. A couple of big trade targets possibly 475 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:43,000 Speaker 1: this win this summer. Laddie Junior if the Blue Jays 476 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:46,159 Speaker 1: fall out of it, he is not signed. Vladdie Junior 477 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:52,479 Speaker 1: could be dealt Kyle Tucker. You know, could Kyle Tucker 478 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:55,879 Speaker 1: get dealt from the Cubs if they fall out of it. 479 00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:59,160 Speaker 1: That would be something the Yankees could possibly be all over, 480 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:02,320 Speaker 1: especially if they have any kind of injury concerns in 481 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:04,359 Speaker 1: the outfield at that point. Right now, they don't have 482 00:26:04,359 --> 00:26:07,240 Speaker 1: the spot, but we'll see how it shakes out. Tough 483 00:26:07,359 --> 00:26:11,960 Speaker 1: NL East and NL West this year. Red Sox have 484 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:14,680 Speaker 1: gotten better, Orioles are still gonna be tough. They got 485 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:18,160 Speaker 1: some youth. We're gonna see how Jackson Holiday advances. There's 486 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 1: some other things happening in baseball that I'm interested in. 487 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 1: We got the Sacramento A's this year. They're gonna be 488 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:26,040 Speaker 1: playing in a minor league ballpark that's supposed to be 489 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:29,880 Speaker 1: like just awful, So that's gonna be entertainment value anyway. 490 00:26:30,119 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 1: It's gonna be interesting seeing the Rays play at Steinbrenner 491 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:38,560 Speaker 1: Field all year. Look, the hurricane was horrible. It was 492 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:43,479 Speaker 1: just one of the worst hurricanes ever, and perhaps the 493 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:45,680 Speaker 1: only good to come of it is that we're gonna 494 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:48,200 Speaker 1: get to watch actual baseball on a baseball field from 495 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:50,359 Speaker 1: the Rays this year. It's probably the only positive out 496 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:53,320 Speaker 1: of the whole thing is that the trop was rendered unplayable, 497 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:57,640 Speaker 1: which is a net positive for Earth. But I just 498 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 1: it's gonna be weird seeing it at Steinbrederfield, but you know, 499 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:04,800 Speaker 1: it is what it is. Let's talk a little bit 500 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:08,800 Speaker 1: about the minor leagues here. There are some minor league 501 00:27:08,840 --> 00:27:11,920 Speaker 1: storylines that we need to follow. I'll take a look 502 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:15,520 Speaker 1: at the top prospects. But you know, Spencer Jones is 503 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 1: a guy that we're all going to be following. How 504 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:20,960 Speaker 1: does he look in spring training. George Lombard could be 505 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:23,040 Speaker 1: one of those guys who moves quickly through the minor leagues. 506 00:27:23,080 --> 00:27:24,680 Speaker 1: It might be one of the reasons the Yankees haven't 507 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:26,840 Speaker 1: gone out and traded for a bigger name infielder. They 508 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 1: don't want to block him. You know, twenty years old. 509 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 1: We saw Jackson Merrill make it a twenty years old 510 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:34,000 Speaker 1: last year, and Lombard could be the same type of prospect. 511 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:36,879 Speaker 1: Probably not as good, but you know, let's take a 512 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:42,600 Speaker 1: look at the front of US top prospects here. So 513 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:45,320 Speaker 1: you know, Clayton Peters a guy I'm keeping my eye on. 514 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:48,840 Speaker 1: Orbert Vivas. He had some injuries last year, he had 515 00:27:48,840 --> 00:27:52,680 Speaker 1: the orbital fracture. Be interested to see what he can do. 516 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:57,000 Speaker 1: A year older, a year more experienced. Henry Lalane, He's 517 00:27:57,040 --> 00:27:59,120 Speaker 1: a guy who could shoot up the minor leagues and 518 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:03,359 Speaker 1: advanced quickly. Would not shock me to see him pitching 519 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:06,400 Speaker 1: for the Yankees sometime down the stretch out of the bullpen. 520 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:10,440 Speaker 1: Ever since Pereira, can he bounce back? Ben Hesson, Bryce 521 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:14,679 Speaker 1: Cunningham two first round or two college pitchers that were 522 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:17,640 Speaker 1: taking in the first and second round, respectively. Brock Salvage 523 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:20,120 Speaker 1: a guy who've had our eyes on for years, Lefty 524 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:24,000 Speaker 1: Hampton Warren. How will these pictures continue to develop? And 525 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:29,240 Speaker 1: obviously Roderick Aria's top international prospect continues to advance as well. 526 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:36,080 Speaker 1: So a lot of storylines this year and I'm anxious 527 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:39,040 Speaker 1: to see how it all works out. And the final 528 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:43,280 Speaker 1: topic tonight is that the Yankees are actively trying And 529 00:28:43,280 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 1: you see the reflection on my head hair growing back, 530 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 1: and I buzzed it again, but it's growing back. Yankees 531 00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 1: are actively trying to deal Marcus Stroman has been rumored 532 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 1: for a while. Ken Rosenthal was on Fair Territory today 533 00:28:57,720 --> 00:28:59,760 Speaker 1: and he said that the Yankees are trying to move 534 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 1: because they don't really have the budget to go out 535 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:04,920 Speaker 1: and get an infielder right now unless they move Stroman. 536 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:09,440 Speaker 1: So the Stroman move will happen before an infielder happens, probably, 537 00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:12,280 Speaker 1: or at least Cashman's gonna have a trade lined up 538 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:16,880 Speaker 1: and the two moves will happen in short succession. Easy 539 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:21,400 Speaker 1: for me to say, but I'm looking forward to a 540 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:24,880 Speaker 1: really fun year. I know it's gonna suck not having 541 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:27,120 Speaker 1: Juan Soto at the top of the order, but hopefully 542 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:30,800 Speaker 1: we'll get some more productive at bats out of first base, 543 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 1: out of left field, Cody Bellinger will be fun to 544 00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:36,960 Speaker 1: see as a Yankee. Max Freed is gonna be great 545 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:39,800 Speaker 1: if he's healthy. The bullpen's gonna be dynamic. So I 546 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:44,600 Speaker 1: envision a lot of Yankee wins this year. And we 547 00:29:44,720 --> 00:29:46,760 Speaker 1: still got some voicemail to get to. We got one 548 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:49,960 Speaker 1: voicemail precisely, but I do have to run an ad 549 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:52,400 Speaker 1: real quick. This is a quick word on Hello Fresh 550 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:55,000 Speaker 1: from the guys over at foul Territory. I'll be back 551 00:29:55,040 --> 00:29:56,840 Speaker 1: in sixty seconds. Gonna get some. 552 00:29:56,840 --> 00:30:01,480 Speaker 2: More Figuring out dinner every night. Variety is not easy 553 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 2: when you're running around. 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Go ahead and check out the link. 578 00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:13,360 Speaker 1: It's in the description. And we got a voicemail here. 579 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:17,080 Speaker 3: Hey Derek, it's Nick from Las Vegas. I had a 580 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:21,240 Speaker 3: question about the lineup. I saw like people were putting 581 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:24,400 Speaker 3: up different examples of what it might look like. And 582 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:28,640 Speaker 3: one thing I really can't understand. Why would Wells be 583 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:31,440 Speaker 3: in the cleanup spot? Like I'm not saying like I 584 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:34,360 Speaker 3: know some people kind of say that they don't like 585 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:37,520 Speaker 3: him or whatever. I like Wells, but I just don't 586 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:40,000 Speaker 3: feel like he should be in the cleanup spot with 587 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:44,400 Speaker 3: a team that has Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, John Carlos, Stanton, 588 00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:47,480 Speaker 3: Paul Goldschmidt, Like I see him more as like a 589 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:50,240 Speaker 3: six hole hitter, do you know why? Like Aaron Boone 590 00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:55,360 Speaker 3: is so it's so like he wants him in that spot. 591 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:58,080 Speaker 3: Is there is there something that I'm maybe not seeing? 592 00:31:58,560 --> 00:31:59,480 Speaker 3: All right? Thanks? 593 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:02,960 Speaker 1: Like so last year, the Yankees weren't getting any production 594 00:32:03,200 --> 00:32:06,120 Speaker 1: out of the cleanup spot, so they tried Austin Wells 595 00:32:06,160 --> 00:32:09,960 Speaker 1: in that position, and for about a two month stretch, 596 00:32:09,960 --> 00:32:11,760 Speaker 1: he was great, and he was driving in a ton 597 00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 1: of runs and he turned it around and he had 598 00:32:13,560 --> 00:32:16,160 Speaker 1: success there. So that's why, I mean, that's why they 599 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:19,080 Speaker 1: ran him out there during the postseason, and you know, 600 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:22,640 Speaker 1: eventually he was moved out of that spot. But you know, 601 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:25,280 Speaker 1: as you can see from my lineup, and the actual 602 00:32:25,320 --> 00:32:27,280 Speaker 1: lineup may end up looking different depending on if the 603 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:29,920 Speaker 1: Yankees get another infielder who wins the leadoff spot. But 604 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:32,120 Speaker 1: right now, I've got Wells in the fifth spot. I 605 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:34,520 Speaker 1: like going lefty righty left you right, He left you right. 606 00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:36,520 Speaker 1: So Dominguz is a switch hitter. I've got him a 607 00:32:36,600 --> 00:32:38,920 Speaker 1: lead off Hopefully he'll get better from the right side. 608 00:32:39,560 --> 00:32:43,000 Speaker 1: The Yankees hit him fourth. I believe fifth in his 609 00:32:43,040 --> 00:32:45,680 Speaker 1: first game and then fourth in his next few games, 610 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:50,560 Speaker 1: And during his rookie season last year didn't really hit 611 00:32:50,720 --> 00:32:52,240 Speaker 1: up near the top of the order at all, so 612 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:54,200 Speaker 1: he might be in the bottom half. I've got him 613 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:57,360 Speaker 1: leading off. We'll see, but it could easily be Volpie 614 00:32:57,640 --> 00:33:00,280 Speaker 1: if he has a big spring, and that would change 615 00:33:00,320 --> 00:33:02,120 Speaker 1: the dynamic. Then maybe you go with a lefty in 616 00:33:02,120 --> 00:33:04,120 Speaker 1: the number two spot, which would be Built Bellinger, and 617 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:06,720 Speaker 1: then judge number three, and then a lefty in the 618 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:08,640 Speaker 1: number four spot, which would probably be Wells, and then 619 00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:13,560 Speaker 1: you go Stanton. YadA, YadA, YadA. It's very pliable at 620 00:33:13,560 --> 00:33:17,600 Speaker 1: this point, but I could see it working out any 621 00:33:17,680 --> 00:33:20,800 Speaker 1: number of different ways, and it could be different every day. 622 00:33:20,800 --> 00:33:23,000 Speaker 1: We know what Aaron Boone likes to do, where he 623 00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:24,560 Speaker 1: switches up the line up a lot. He got away 624 00:33:24,560 --> 00:33:26,320 Speaker 1: from that a little bit last year with Juan Soto, 625 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:31,080 Speaker 1: but this year, unfortunately, no Sodo. All right, ladies and gentlemen, 626 00:33:31,120 --> 00:33:33,320 Speaker 1: thanks for watching. Once again. Check out the Hello Fresh 627 00:33:33,320 --> 00:33:38,400 Speaker 1: link in the description, and stay safe out there. I 628 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:43,520 Speaker 1: wish you all a wonderful, wonderful weekend. Stay safe. I'll 629 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:49,000 Speaker 1: see you next time. Hey, While I've got you here. 630 00:33:49,080 --> 00:33:52,320 Speaker 1: Be sure to like the video and subscribe to the channel. 631 00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:56,840 Speaker 1: Pinstripe Territory is the official Yankees podcast of the Foul 632 00:33:56,920 --> 00:33:59,920 Speaker 1: Territory Network. We are home to the number one most 633 00:34:00,120 --> 00:34:04,000 Speaker 1: watched MLB postgame show on YouTube since twenty twenty one. 634 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:08,000 Speaker 1: We're here after every Yankees game and for reactions to 635 00:34:08,080 --> 00:34:11,799 Speaker 1: all the best news and rumors during the offseason. Be 636 00:34:11,920 --> 00:34:13,560 Speaker 1: a part of the show by calling in to the 637 00:34:13,640 --> 00:34:17,479 Speaker 1: voicemail seven one, eight, eight, nine, nine, ten sixty eight. 638 00:34:17,640 --> 00:34:19,719 Speaker 1: Try to keep it clean for me, and if you 639 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:22,480 Speaker 1: ever miss us on YouTube, be sure and subscribe on 640 00:34:22,640 --> 00:34:25,719 Speaker 1: all your favorite podcast platforms. Go ahead and rate us 641 00:34:25,800 --> 00:34:29,080 Speaker 1: five stars. It'll help other people find the show. Thanks 642 00:34:29,120 --> 00:34:29,640 Speaker 1: for watching. 643 00:34:30,080 --> 00:34:30,440 Speaker 3: See ya 644 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:00,600 Speaker 1: At