My Thoughts on Some Twitter (X) Posts (8/21/24)

By Paul Semendinger

August 21, 2024

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MY THOUGHTS - These two posts sum up a lot of what is wrong with the Yankees (and has been wrong for years). The Yankees have this inability to see, notice, and/or take action on a big problem. This year they are doing terrible against left-handed pitchers. Yet, they continually try the same platoon match-ups. If it's a lefty pitcher - Jose Trevino plays. If there is a lefty pitcher, D.J. LeMahieu plays. The Yankees have this loyalty to players who are past their prime and can no longer deliver.

Austin Wells was mashing the ball. He had seeminly finally solved the Yankees struggle to find a clean-up hitter. But, as soon as Jose Trevino came back, Wells has not been the starting catcher. The Yankees are so focused on having a platoon at catcher that they have started Trevino in three of the four games since he's been back. Forget how well Wells was doing, the Yankees cannot get beyond two ideas, "He bats left-handed and he's young." They immediately defer to the veteran (Trevino) and the platoon split.

This same dynamic is why they continually play D.J. LeMahieu. He is a veteran. He bats right handed. So, if a lefty is pitching, D.J. plays. The results don't matter as much for the Yankees, or so it seems. Rather, they have a plan that they believe they can defend, even if it does not work out.

MY THOUGHTS - That Tweet was from August 15. On August 16, Jose Trevino started at catcher. To be fair, 16 games is a super small sample size, but, at least for that time, it was working. As soon as Trevino came back, the Yankees went back to the old plan.

I see this as a problem. (The old plan wasn't working over a larger sample size.)

MY THOUGHTS - I have been asking this since 2017.

MY THOUGHTS - This is a good change of subject. I do love how the Yankees stick with their traditional hat (and uniform). Always. This is a great graphic. I hope to see more like this!

MY THOUGHTS - Short answer... YES!

MY THOUGHTS - Well, a secret Graig Nettles project sounds fun! I wonder when we'll learn what it is.

MY THOUGHTS - I love being a starting pitcher. I'd love to throw nine innings every game. I wish pitchers in the big leagues went deeper into games. But, I think this rule proposal is absurd. You can't make rule that says a pitcher has to pitch a specific amount of innings. That's just crazy. I'll have to do a longer article on this one day.

MY THOUGHTS - Ted Williams was one of the best. Ever. I love this tweet.