An Optimistic Look At The Remainder of 2024

By Paul Semendinger

August 2, 2024

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As we begin the season's final two months, and as I look at the Yankees' prospects going forward, there is (much) room for some optimism.

I figured today, I'd look at the glass and determine that it is half full (rather than half empty) and look to the potential good...

• As of last night, the Yankees, with 65 wins, were tied for the second most wins in the Major leagues. Think about that. They played awful baseball for over a month, and only one team, the Cleveland Guardians (with 66) have more wins.

• The Yankees have won five consecutive games defeating two tough teams (the Red Sox and the Phillies)

• Going forward, the Yankees play a host of "second division" clubs. Their schedule, going forward, is much easier than the games they played to this point.

• Newly acquired Jazz Chisholm has brought needed positive energy to the ballclub.

• Over the last seven days, Ben Rice is hitting .294. This could show that he has figured out what is necessary to be a productive big league hitter. It's normal for a rookie to burst on the scene, slump, and then figure it out. There is hope that Ben Rice has figured it out.

• Over the last 28 days, Gleyber Torres is batting .264. That's not great, but it is an improvement from how he began the season. In his career, Torres has typically been a stronger finisher than starter. There's hope there.
  

• Anthony Volpe has returned from the All-Star Break in similar fashion to how he started the season. He's batting .333 with three homers since the break. It seems rest does him well. Maybe Jazz Chisholm can give Volpe some rest and slide to shortstop once every ten days or so.

• As a Yankee, Jazz Chisholm is on pace to bat .368 with 52 home runs. He's on pace to make Aaron Judge the second best hitter on the team!

• Also, thus far, and it's a tiny sample size, Chisholm has demonstrated that he can play third base. (Note - this could change - and fast - but this is an optimistic piece.)

• D.J. LeMahieu just had his best game of 2024.

• Over the last 7 days, Alex Verdugo is batting .400. A rising tide lifts all ships.

• Aaron Judge is... Aaron Judge. The man just might be the greatest baseball player that any of us see in our lifetimes. At least for a few season period, he is slugging at an elite (an extremely elite) level.

• Juan Soto is having an amazing year. He is already one of baseball's all-time greatest players at getting on base. He seems to have the ability to get better as the games get longer. He might love the coming playoff atmosphere in the Bronx and decide that this is the best place for him to spend the next 15 years of his life as he cements his own Hall of Fame case.

• Austin Wells is becoming the hitter so many predicated he would be and his defense has been light years better than anyone predicted.

• Trent Grisham has been playing stellar defensive centerfield - and he gets an occasional big hit.

• Giancarlo Stanton is no longer great, but he still damages the mistakes pitchers throw - and pitchers will make mistakes to him.

• Jasson Dominguez just might be a very good player and, if so, he'd be a huge boost to this team.

• Gerrit Cole isn't the same pitcher he was, but he still knows how to pitch, he's still a battler, and he still should have a few great games in him this season.

• Will Warren was not over-matched in his MLB debut.

• Clarke Schmidt will return soon. He will improve the rotation.

• Marcus Stroman, Carlos Rodon, and Nestor Cortes have excellent abilities and are due to put together some great starts.

• Luis Gil seems to be a legitimate above-average big league starter.

• Clay Holmes isn't great, but he is better, much better, than he's looked since June. He should have a good streak or two in him as well.

• Mark Leiter was a solid pick-up who should solidify the bullpen.

• While I would rather my team be the favorite heading into the post season, it is true that anything can happen in any series. Maybe, just maybe, this is the year that the breaks bounce in the Yankees' direction!

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