By Ethan Semendinger
April 1st, 2024
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The Yankees have already won the season series against the Astros. Today is the first day of April. This is fantastic!
Quick Stats -
Winning Pitcher: Nick Burdi (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Losing Pitcher: Josh Hader (0-1, 3.00 ERA)
Save: Clay Holmes (3)
Home Runs (New York): None
Home Runs (Houston): Jose Altuve (1)
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Big Story - After three straight wins in Houston to start the season, it was clear this team was built differently. On Opening Day, the Yankees showed that they were willing to play small-ball in order to win. During game two, the Yankees showed that they are going to play the whole nine innings and not quit when ahead. In game three, the Yankees showed that they can win games by going for the long ball.
And, the Yankees aren't just winning because of their big names with the known big-names of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gerrit Cole injured or not producing much, at all.
Instead, it's been a little bit of some holdovers like how Oswaldo Cabrera has refreshed his image with an amazing first three games. Or, how Anthony Volpe has started to show confidence at the plate. And, Anthony Rizzo is showing that he is no longer concussed.
And, it's also been the come-ups of the new guys to pinstripes (or, I guess, sweaty road grays). Juan Soto has already exceeded my expectations for how exciting of a player he is and he immediately made himself a fan-favorite as a personality and a player. Alex Verdugo has come up with some big defensive plays, a bunch of new relievers have been lights-out, and the whole feeling of the team is promising and new.
Last year, the Yankees were too home run happy. They seemed to give-up at the end of games. They were boring to watch (though we watched anyway) and they lacked the "X-Factor".
What a difference four games has made. I think I'm gonna love the 2024 Yankees.
Here was the line-up for yesterdays Easter matinee:
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Player(s) of the Game -
Juan Soto: 3-5, RBI (Go-Ahead in the 9th), 1 K
Notable Performances -
Clarke Schmidt: 5.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 5 K's
Caleb Ferguson: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Nick Burdi: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, WIN!
Clay Holmes: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K's
Gleyber Torres: 1-4, 2 Runs, 1 BB, 1 SB
Anthony Rizzo: 2-4, Run
Jon Berti: 1-4, RBI, 2 K's
Jose Trevino: 1-4, RBI, 1 K
Better to Forget -
Aaron Judge: 0-4, RBI, 2 K's
Jonathan Loaisiga: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
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The Game - All around the offense, the team looks different, and I believe this is for the better. They seem to be less focused on trying to get the "big hit" and instead on just getting a hit. They are mostly willing to work long counts and not just swing at the first pitch. They have a confidence about them.
Yesterday, Clarke Schmidt pitched a great first 5 innings, making just one big mistake as Jose Altuve hit a home run in the 3rd. Unfortunately, the Astros started to hit him a bit in the 6th inning and he ended up with 3 runs earned against him when all was said and done. Overall, I would say that this was a solid start and exactly what was needed out of a back-end rotation guy. If Clarke Schmidt can give the Yankees a good 5-6 innings each start, they'll be in a great spot.
As for the game, the Yankees got on the board first off some great small-ball being played. Giancarlo Stanton hustled out a double in the 2nd, Alex Verdugo got him to third on a long fly-ball out to center, and then Jose Trevino got him in on a 2-out bloop pop-up that Jon Singleton was unable to field cleanly. A similar story happened in the 4th. Anthony Rizzo legged out a double before newcomer Jon Berti (in his Yankees debut) came up with a 2-out RBI single to get Rizzo in from second. In the 5th, the Yankees got their 3rd run through a Oswaldo Cabrera walk, Juan Soto single (advancing the runner to third), and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Aaron Judge.
The excitement and the plays were the biggest in the 9th. After giving up two quick outs in the top of the 9th, Gleyber Torres came up with a big single, got a huge lead and easily stole second before Juan Soto came up with a super clutch, super level, opposite field hit, to bring him in.
In the bottom of the 9th, the Astros immediately got two runners on with back-to-back singles. This brought up Jose Altuve, who nearly won the game...if not for Jon Berti making a great play at the hot corner to get the lead runner. A long fly-out to Judge came next. And then, Alex Verdugo made his second great defensive play of the series to bring in the final out of the game on a slide.
YANKEES WIN! YANKEES WIN THE SEASON SERIES AGAINST THE ASTROS! YANKEES SWEEP THE ASTROS!
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Next Up - The Yankees (4-0) start a new series against the Arizona Diamondbacks (3-1) tonight with a game starting at 9:40 PM on YES. It will be the first appearance for Luis Gil (a stand-out pitcher in 2022 who missed last season due to injury) as he goes against Ryne Nelson. The Diamondbacks come off a 4-game home series against the Colorado Rockies.
in these initial four games. the Yankee offense averaged ~5 runs/gm......given that two runs were unearned, the offense produced a tad less than 5 per
but they produced a bunch of 'traffic' on the bases
38 hits and 21 walks
throw in the hit-by-pitches and that's 15 baserunners/gm
they applied pressure to the other team's pitching staff, a relatively decent group, and the offense was effective.
the Yankee pitchers were a little bit better than Houston's. not much better, but a little bit.
they surrendered 8 earned runs over the 4 games
allowing 36 hits but only 12 BBs
It just completely amazes me of just how many people took Volpe getting better as a foregone conclusion but Oswaldo Cabrera as almost like an accident. Do what, if Cabrera had more of a minor league track record, or, he at least had 2022 on his MLB resume. Dillon Lawson was bad, with Cabrera just watching and trying the toe tap like Soto, that apparently this hitting coach didn't say no to, and look how he's been once he got comfortable with the mechanics of it.
As I've said previously, I respect Matt Blake's (& Druschel) knowledge of pitching, but Clarke Schmidt is a perfect example of why the Yankees need a real pitching pitching coach, who is allowed to…
Great article 👍👌, now if Cashmere the Trashman only had your hindsight, when trying to get free agents or trade partners, who by the way, automatically double the. Asking price, when the Yankees are involved, maybe people would understand what it's like, trying to put together a a playoff bound team, each and Every year !!! Surely we'd all like it to be the way you want, in Hindsight, but No one, has that benefit..
Kudos for getting Verdugo, he's much better than I expected, and he hasn't hit yet, id have preferred Bellinger, but he was asking a bit much, but he may yet be worth it, we won't know until we get to the Hindsight part at the…
The two words we always hear every year in April is "sample size". Right now, the Pittsburgh Pirates are also 4-0. And both the Detroit Tigers and the Milwaukee Brewers are 3-0. But I am sure loving the Yankees "sample size" so far. Somehow, I am not expecting the Pirates and Tigers to be anywhere near first place at the end of the season, and the Brewers will likely fall short of first place. But with the talent the Yankees have being far superior to those three, the Yankees have an excellent chance at finishing in first place. But always remember, in April, it's a "sample size".
I didn't express "gloom and doom" when Gerrit Cole, Aaron Judge, and DJ…