By Paul Semendinger
September 14, 2023
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I am getting off the hook in an easy fashion. One of our writers was unable to cover last night's game. I said that I would pinch-hit.
The Yankees were then rained out.
Nice. Easy. Simple.
***
The Yankees and the Red Sox will now play another day/night double header today.
The first game will start at 1:35 p.m. Michael King will pitch for the Yanks.
The second game will start at 7:15 p.m. Clarke Schmidt (who I believe should be shut down) will pitch for the Yankees.
As I check the schedule of our writers for September, I see that... On No! I'll be doing the re-cap for today's games as well.
Not so easy. Not so simple!
***
Clarke Schmidt innings by year as a professional:
2018 - 23.1 innings (minor leagues)
2019 - 90.2 innings (minor leagues)
2020 - 6.1 innings (for the Yankees)
2021 - 38.0 innings (minor leagues)
2022 - 90.2 innings (in the minors and for the Yankees)
2023 - 140.2 innings (for the Yankees)
In 2023, Clarke Schmidt has thrown more innings than his previous three seasons combined.
In economics, they talk about "The Law of Diminishing Returns." In short, there comes a point where more of something produces fewer and fewer positive results.
What good can come from Clarke Schmidt throwing any more innings (innings that do not matter at all) in 2023? None. None at all. There is no reason to pitch him for the rest of the year.
As Phil Cashier noted in yesterday's game thread, the Yankees have 14 players on the Injured
List. Why push Clarke Schmidt any more? He should be shut down.
***
The following (according to Fangraphs) are the Yankees who have spent time on the Inured List in 2023:
Tommy Kahnle
Ben Rortvedt
Carlos Rodon
Harrison Bader
Luis Severino
Luis Gil
Scott Effros
Frankie Montas
Lou Trevino
Josh Donaldson
Jonathan Loaisiga
Giancarlo Stanton
Aaron Judge
Oswald Peraza
Ryan Weber
Aaron Judge (again)
Nestor Cortes
Willie Calhoun
Jake Bauers
Josh Donaldson (again)
Jose Trevino (again)
Anthony Rizzo
Carlos Rodon (again)
Nestor Cortes (again)
Billy McKinney
Ian Hamilton (again)
Kenyan Middleton
Albert Abreu
Luis Severino (again)
Jasson Dominguez
Jonathan Loaisiga (again)
Simply put, that's not good.
***
Since coming back from his toe injury, Aaron Judge is batting .211. He's either injured or he doesn't know how to hit any longer. When he came back, Aaron Judge said he wasn't 100%. It seems he still is not healthy. His performance is proving that.
Why is he still playing? What good can come from Aaron Judge playing this year?
***
Heading into today's games, the Yankees and the Red Sox are tied for last place in the American League East.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
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