OPENING DAY: Game Thread

March 28, 2024

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It's here. It's time for baseball. YANKEES BASEBALL!

Our good friend Phil isn't available today. He'll be back tomorrow.

Here is today's Yankees lineup.

Two Quick Thoughts:

• Giancarlo Stanton has done nothing the last few years to be the team's clean-up hitter. This is an example of poor decision-making right at the start. It seems like the manager deferring to the (former) star player. In my opinion, Giancarlo Stanton should have to earn a spot in the middle of the lineup. It is this type of thinking, playing an unproductive player in an important lineup position that has hurt the Yankees for years. (Of course, if Stanton has a great game, I'll be happy to be wrong about this.)
  

• Why can't they just let Anthony Volpe alone and bat him ninth? He shouldn't be in a power-hitter's position. Volpe was a below average Major league hitter last year. He should bat ninth and gain confidence. They can move him up, preferibly to first (or second) in May or JUne once he establishes his competence as a hitter. He should be batting in a spot that asks for singles, not power.
  

• Also, for the record, on this site we will refer to lineup decisions, pitching change decisions, and other in-game decisions as the manager's decisions. A comment need not be posted that Aaron Boone didn't decide these things. He is the manager and it is ultimately his responsibility for those decisions.

Let's Go Yankees!!!