SSTN Mailbag: First Base, Schmidt, and Dominguez!

It's always interesting to hear a different perspective. I've been spending time with my wife's side of the family, many of whom are both baseball and Yankee fans, and we had a discussion the other night about the state of the game. Admittedly, the perspective at the other side of the table wasn't one to which I typically prescribe, given that I think the game has as much talent as it's ever had. I enjoy numbers and statistics, but I also believe very strongly that part of what makes baseball special are stories and people. I was confronted by the idea that baseball is very much losing the human element that makes the game more interesting to many people. The argument wasn't that the statistics are wrong or that performance wasn't being maximized; it was that it just wasn't as interesting anymore to the average fan.

It wasn't a perspective I expected to find persuasive, but I do think that baseball has to keep fans in mind as the game continues to change. In last week's Mailbag, I answered a question about some of the new proposed rules around starting pitchers. The more I think about it, and with some of my recent conversations in mind, I can't help but think that MLB might need to think about some artificial rule changes to give fans stories and people to whom they can latch and identify. The story needs to be front and center for the fans. People like me (and likely most of you who read this blog) should be allowed to enjoy digging down into the weeds, but everyone else should be allowed to enjoy the stories. The game can do both, and I think for fans to stick around, it is necessary for the league and the players to be very careful with the direction in which the games move.

As always, thanks for the great questions and keep them coming to SSTNReadermail@gmail.com. In this week's SSTN Mailbag, we'll talk about first base, Clarke Schmidt, and Jasson Dominguez! Let's get at it:

Brian asks: How would you handle first base right now? The Yanks must have the worst first base performance in the league.

It's pretty ugly right now, and there are no easy options. Jazz Chisholm presumably will return today, which means that 3B is effectively covered. LeMahieu has been so bad (honestly, a statistical argument can be made that he's the worst player in baseball), that I think he needs to be pinned to the bench. As bad as this idea sounds, I would split the reps between Oswaldo Cabrera and Ben Rice until Anthony Rizzo returns. As bad as Rizzo was this season, he might still be better than what the Yankees have rolled out at 1B since July.

I never thought I'd say that Rizzo gets his job back when he comes off the IL, but here we are.

Fuster asks: Is Schmidt the key to Yankee post-season pitching success?

do you see him returning in time to get tuned-up in order to serve as a third starter in the play-offs?

and, if so, does that allow the team to replace the inconsistent closer Holmes with Luis Gil?

Yes, I think he is very likely one of the keys to stabilizing the Yankees' pitching staff in the playoffs. He should have enough time to build up and be a key contributor out of the rotation, which should push someone to the bullpen. However, I'm not as certain that Gil is the guy to go to the back of the bullpen.

I understand that the bullpen has been horrific, but I am hoping that shifting one or two starters to the bullpen, such as Nestor and Stroman, will serve to stabilize the playoff bullpen. I'm also crossing my fingers that one or two injured relievers return to further lengthen the bullpen.

If healthy, Gil is one of the Yankees' three best starters. I want him in the playoff rotation, mowing guys down for 5-7 innings. He'll be more valuable starting for multiple innings as opposed to possibly never getting an opportunity to impact the game.

The Yankees need to spend the next 6 weeks getting Holmes right, because whether Yankee fans like it or not, he is one of the keys to getting this bullpen to succeed.

Bill C. asks: How would you handle Jasson Dominguez for the remainder of this season?

Alex Verdugo has been one of the worst players in baseball for the last 3 months. Dominguez quite literally can't be worse, and he's getting pitched around at AAA (and no, striking out 3 times during his cameo a week ago is totally meaningless in the grand scheme of things, and not indicative of how he is likely to perform).

I would give Dominguez playing time and see if he responds. The worst case scenario is that the team needs to pivot back to Verdugo before the playoffs.