About Last Night: Yanks Lose 9-1

About Last Night: The Yankees Came Up Small Against the Giants 9-1

By Tim Kabel

April 12, 2025

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The Giants took extra batting practice yesterday. Oh, wait a minute, that was actually the first inning. Marcus Stroman came to Spring Training and announced that he was a starting pitcher and would not accept a move to the bullpen. Due to injuries to 60% of the starting rotation, he got his wish. I would like to request a do-over on that wish. Prior to last night's start, Stroman had not been very good. Last night, he reached a new high in lows, as Archie Bunker would have said. The game was over almost before it started. Thankfully, it was a rain-shortened affair. It was almost as if the mercy rule was invoked.

Quick Stats –  

·       The Yankees started the season 6-2. They are now 7-6.

·       The game was called due to the rain in the top of the sixth inning with the bases loaded and two outs. So, it actually could have been worse.

·       Marcus Stroman pitched to nine batters, recording two outs. He gave up five earned runs on four hits and three walks, and his ERA ballooned to 11.57. On the bright side, he got his work in by throwing 46 pitches.

·       The Yankees had two hits, including Austin Wells’ RBI double in the second inning which just missed being a home run.

·       The Giants scored five runs without recording an out for the first time since May 11th, 2006. 

·      On April 11, 1912, the Yankees, known as the Highlanders at the time, wore pinstripes on their uniforms for the first time. 

·      Yesterday was Mark Teixeira’s 45th birthday.

The Big Story – 

With Clark Schmidt due to return to the starting rotation sometime next week, there was a lot of discussion about who would be the odd man out. Prior to last night's game most of this discussion centered around Carlos Carrasco and Will Warren. I read a few reports that suggested Warren was more likely to be sent to the minors because he had options, and the Yankees didn't want to run the risk of losing Carrasco. At first, I thought that statement was a late April Fool's joke. It wasn't. Apparently, the Yankees are concerned that there would be a wave of offers for Carrasco’s services. There won't be. The Yankee should be concerned with winning games, not hanging on to washed up pitchers. If another team wants Carrasco, let them have him. Perhaps he will pitch against the Yankees someday, practically guaranteeing them a win. However, this may all be moot. Not only was Marcus Stroman dreadful last night, but he also complained of a knee injury after he left the game and went to the hospital for tests. Perhaps he injured it ducking. If he is injured, the Yankees may be forced to keep Carrasco in the rotation along with Warren when Schmidt returns. Either way, the performances of Carrasco and Stroman may force the Yankees to pull the trigger on a trade for a starting pitcher sooner than they would like to.

Player of the Game – 

 It was very slim pickings, but Austin Wells had one of the Yankees’ two hits and drove in the Yankees’ only run with a double.

Notable Performances – 

Ryan Yarborough was the only Yankees’ pitcher not to allow a run last night. He pitched 2.2 innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out three.

Better To Forget-

That the rain did not start a few hours earlier. If it had, we would have been spared from watching this debacle.

My Take – 

It is very early in the season. However, there are major concerns regarding the Yankees’ starting rotation. Right now, it is Max Fried and then Carlos Rodon and Clark Schmidt. Rodon and Schmidt are solid, if not spectacular pitchers. Will Warren is a rookie and therefore is prone to inconsistency as he develops. That is normal and natural. However, he looks as if he has potential. Carlos Carrasco is completely washed up and even if Marcus Stroman’s injury is not significant, he is totally unreliable. Remember, Stroman was banished from the roster during the playoffs last year. If the Yankees had not suffered all those injuries at the beginning of this year, he would have been traded.

If there is a real problem with Stroman’s knee, he will probably go to the IL, and may never return. Either way, the Yankees cannot continue to hand out losses like Halloween candy. There is no one in Scranton who is ready to join the rotation. The Yankees may have to bite the bullet and make a trade for a frontline starting pitcher. If they only intend to bring in a bottom of the barrel type of pitcher, they might as well skip that and go with what they have. The Yankees do not need any more Carlos Carrascos. Signing him was not a bad idea but the fairy dust of Spring Training wore off more quickly than anyone hoped. Anything can happen of course. If Carrasco remains in the rotation, he could pitch a gem in his next start, but the Yankees should not pin their hopes on that. 

I think the hope was that Clark Schmidt would rejoin the rotation and join Max Fried and Carlos Rodon to stabilize the rotation somewhat. Then, Marcus Stroman and Will Warren would hang in there until Luis Gil returned and then whichever one of those two was doing better would stay in the rotation. After last night's disaster, the Yankees cannot continue that line of thinking. Whether he is injured or not, Stroman cannot be relied upon, and neither can Carrasco. Elevating Will Warren to the fourth starter role would be putting a lot of pressure on a rookie. When it comes to minor league options, the cupboard is bare. I really see no alternative other than making a trade. Again, the trade would need to be for a quality starter, not someone running on fumes whose arm is being held on with Scotch tape. This needs to be done now because if they try to hang on until Luis Gil returns, it may be too late.

Next Up

The Yankees will play the second game of the three-game series against the Giants today at 3:05 PM at Yankee Stadium. Jordan Hicks, (1-0, 2.38 ERA) will pitch for San Francisco. The Yankees will send Will Warren, (0-0, 6.00 ERA) to the mound. Let's hope that Mister Hicks has no tricks, and the Yankees win the game.