Yanks must make ‘Boss’ move before deadline
With a sparkling 62-33 record entering Friday’s Subway Series opener in the Bronx, rookie Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he expected his club to “go out and be great” in the second half of the 2018 season, and that there is the potential for Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, CC Sabathia and Co. “to have a special season.”
That was hours before Domingo German wilted in the top of the first inning, giving up three runs to the Mets on a walk and three doubles, an awful start that led to an early exit for the Dominican right-hander.
In a pinstriped world, Yankee fans interpret “special season” only one way – when the Bombers are hoisting a World Series championship trophy after the last game of the postseason has ended. What was it the late Yankee owner George Steinbrenner once said?
“Winning is second only to breathing.”
While Boone’s Yankees did plenty of winning in the first half – at this juncture last year, the Joe Girardi managed Bombers were a mediocre 48-45 – unless GM Brian Cashman and the front office make a splash and acquire at least one more starting pitcher, catching the American League East-leading Red Sox may prove to be unrealistic and World Series dreams may be only that.
After the Yankees’ 7-5 loss to the Mets Friday, German was optioned to Triple-A, and Boone said Luis Cessa will be called up to take German’s place in the rotation. German lasted just 3.2 innings and gave up four runs on five hits, which only underscores the fragility of the Yankee rotation. Meanwhile, Boston won in Detroit Friday night to go up five and a half games on the Bombers.
“We gotta take care of business. We gotta get rolling. I can’t look at the scoreboard and will it the other way, unfortunately,” Boone said.
But Sonny Gray – he of the 6-7 record and 5.46 ERA – takes the mound Saturday for the Yanks opposite Steven Matz. Not exactly reassuring for the Bronx faithful.
There was one pitcher in the Bronx potentially on the move last night – Mets closer Jeurys Familia – but the right-hander was possibly heading west to Oakland, and not across New York City boroughs.
Now that the Manny Machado sweepstakes are concluded and the stud former Orioles slugger joined the Dodgers in Hollywood in a blockbuster trade that unfolded during the All-Star break, the Yankees need to pivot and try to negotiate a trade for a starting pitcher. And
maybe a reliever.
Last year, it was Gray who Cashman acquired from Oakland at the trade deadline, and although the righty struggled with a 4-7 record during his first two months in pinstripes, Girardi guided his club to a postseason berth, and the Yanks made a surprising run that ended at the doorstep of the Fall Classic.
Gray’s struggles on the mound have continued this season, and he was booed off the Stadium mound June 30 after he got pummeled by Boston in an 11-0 loss. The Bombers’ farm system is so flush with blue chip prospects that a package required to secure a starter shouldn’t break the talent bank or even make a significant dent.
“I won’t be surprised with anything we do,” Boone said Friday before the game, when asked if he would be shocked if the Yankees stood pat at the deadline. “As I’ve said, we feel like the team we have in the room is capable of great things, whether we make a change, make a tweak or make a move here or not. That said, I know from (owner) Hal (Steinbrenner) to Cash they’re exhausting every option, having conversations with all the teams.”
Boston’s got All-Star Chris Sale and a resurgent David Price. Defending World Series champion Houston is cruising toward another postseason berth, and the Astros took care of some big business this past winter, adding All-Star Gerrit Cole to an already stacked rotation. Time for the Yankees to deal.
“This is about us right now. This is about us get/ting on a good streak,” said Boone.
Boone has the managing keys and the enormous expectation that he will get his club to the mountaintop. But unless the Yankees make a Boss-esque trade splash by the end of this month, the climb up the mountain may quickly turn into a greased hill.