About Spring Training: Meanderings of My Mind

About Spring Training: Meanderings of My Mind

By Tim Kabel

March 24, 2025

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Opening Day is three days away. The roster for the 2025 New York Yankees is just about set. It will change multiple times before the end of the season. Heck, it will change a few times before the end of April. There are a few players like Clarke Schmidt and Ian Hamilton who are not quite ready and will be staying in Florida to build up their stamina. Today is Monday and there are no regular season games to recap yet. This will be my last regularly scheduled “meanderings of my mind” until the off-season. During the season, I will only write them on days when there are no scheduled game or one is cancelled due to rain, or potentially snow. So, let's get to it. I will now flit from topic to topic like Snow White dusting the cottage of the seven dwarves. Since the dwarves in the new movie are CGI in an effort not to offend anyone, I wonder if they make actual dust. Or is it CGI dust.? That is a question that will plague mankind in perpetuity.

·      Some people thought I was too optimistic in my home run predictions for the 2025 New York Yankees. Perhaps I was. I believe what Winston Churchill said, “I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else.” Obviously, Aaron Judge is a given when it comes to offensive production and home runs. I believe Cody Bellinger will have a big year, particularly with Yankee Stadium as his home park. I also think Paul Goldschmidt will ride the adjustments he made in his swing at the end of last season and if he remains healthy, he will put up some big numbers. I am very excited about what Austin Wells, Ben Rice, and Jasson Dominguez will bring to the lineup on a regular basis. Jazz Chisholm, Jr. should flourish in a full season as a Yankee.  I'm not expecting a lot of home run production from either Anthony Volpe or Oswaldo Cabrera, but the Yankees don't need that from them. My numbers might be slightly off, but I don't think so. I will revisit them at the All-Star break and then at the end of the season and if I have to take my lumps, I will do so.

·      Speaking of taking lumps, or giving them, I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of George Foreman. He had an absolutely fascinating life. He was a self-proclaimed juvenile delinquent who learned how to box in the Job Corps and then became the Olympic Gold Medalist in 1968. After he won the Gold Medal bout, he walked around the ring waving a tiny American flag in his giant hand, which was still encased in a boxing glove. This was right after other US Olympians made gestures of protest when they won their medals. Foreman received criticism for what he did. He later said that if he could go back in time, he would have carried two American flags, one for each hand. During his first career as a boxer, he fell under the influence of Sonny Liston and was quite surly. He was also a devastating puncher. Howard Cosell’s call of “Down goes Frazier. Down goes Frazier”, will live on forever. Foreman said that he realized that his loss to Muhammad Ali in Zaire was the best thing that ever happened to him. Of course, he didn't say that initially but in retrospect, he realized how it led to changes in his life. He returned to boxing after a 10-year layoff, as a 38-year-old, overweight fighter. Initially, people treated his comeback as a joke. I remember seeing pictures of him training by putting a harness on and pulling a car and carrying cows on his shoulders at his ranch, and being impressed. Eventually, he became the heavyweight champion again in 1994 at age 45. He also became a jovial, approachable, and lovable fellow. He was embraced by the nation, and he became an entrepreneur, making a fortune selling grills, clothing for big men, and mufflers. Don King used to say, “Only in America”. I think that is true in the case of George Foreman. He will be missed.

·      The fact that JC Escarra made the roster as the backup catcher is very heartwarming. Beyond that, it looks like he can actually handle the job. It is a bit odd for the Yankees to have three players on the roster who can catch and all of them are left-handed hitters. Bernie Sanders would love the Yankees’ offense because there are so many lefties. I expect they will pick up a right-handed bat, probably an infielder, fairly soon. I think if they could, they would like to get a regular third baseman who is a right-handed hitter and then use Oswaldo Cabrera as a backup in multiple positions. However, I don't think they want just any right-handed batter. If that were the case, they would give the job to Oswald Peraza because of his slick fielding. I think the Yankees would prefer someone who is an offensive threat from the right side of the plate. Back to Escarra., you have to give him credit for following his dream this long. I certainly hope he stays with the team for the entire season and excels in his role.

·      I have come to realize that I am the only person in my household who is licensed to wash dishes. My wife has a learner's permit but needs to complete her “In Sink” training. My kitten, Clancy, seems to like the water. Perhaps I will train him to be my apprentice.

·      In typical Aaron Boone fashion, he announced to Suzyn Waldman and Dave Sims on Saturday’s broadcast that Will Warren will be in the starting rotation when the season begins. Boone admitted that he had not told Warren yet. The great communicator apparently did not tell Warren until Sunday. That is ridiculous. Why should I know that will Warren is a member of the starting rotation before he did? That is part of the problem with Boone. He was hired in part because of his great communication skills but it seems that he communicates very little to some of his players, particularly the younger ones.

·      Another thought regarding George Foreman. I read in several places comments he made about meeting famous people such as other athletes or musicians during the first stage of his career. Without naming names, the individuals he met were rude and dismissive. During George’s comeback, he learned from that and said that he always tried to be very accommodating to people because it didn't take much effort to be polite and friendly, which could really make someone’s day. I think that is a philosophy that many people need to embrace and follow.

·      My wife has developed the habit of talking to me from across the apartment. All I can think about is the Charlie Brown TV specials whenever they portrayed an adult speaking. I actually hear that noise when she talks.

·      The other day, I made my prediction regarding home runs for the Yankees. Now, I will make my prediction for the outcome for the season. Having lost Gerrit Cole for the year is a devastating blow. If Clarke Schmidt only misses one or two starts and Luis Gil returns in June, as predicted, the team could still win the American League East again this year. I predict they will win 93 games and will win the American League East. I think they will have enough offensive production spread throughout the lineup that overall, they will be better offensively than they were last year despite losing a major star in Juan Soto. I also think they will have another one of the lengthy swoons that they have had almost every year under Aaron Boone. I think this year, he may not survive it. I think if the Yankees go into a major tailspin again this year, they will replace Boone as manager, most likely with Brad Ausmus.

·      It was heartbreaking to read about Brett Gardner’s 14-year-old son, Miller, dying suddenly. That is terrible news. The loss of a child is something no parent should ever endure. My thoughts and prayers go out to Brett Gardner and his family.