Yankees: Four (More) Takeaways From Spring Training

The Yankees are moving into the final weeks of Spring Training. While some of the questions they had a few weeks ago have been answered, a few other have arisen to take their place.

In a few days, the Yankees will begin to make the cuts that will whittle their roster down to the 25 players who will make the trip North with the team. Many of these decisions will be taxing and could have far-reaching implications for the organization and the players involved.

The team finds itself in the position of excelling on the field in Spring Training games. But at the same time, what would be the difference if the Yankees were 3-12 instead of 12-3 as play starts today? Because the last time we looked, all 30 teams still have a record of 0-0 .

But for the Yankees, and especially this year, everything matters. And while other teams may look at them with envy at the players they bring to these exhibition games and the future they hold, too much of anything is not, necessarily, a good thing.

Recently, shockwaves were sent through the camp as two decisions were announced that completely reverse what was thought to be, with the repercussions of those decisions still to be determined. And, we’ll get to that later.

Two weeks ago, I published a similar article titled Four Takeaways From Spring Training (So Far). This is an extension of that theme with four new and equally challenging questions about the direction the Yankees are taking.

And with the understanding that spring Training is always about a team “finding its way”,  the direction of the Yankees will not be settled when and if these questions get answered. But, at least at the moment, they hit the top of the charts.

We’ll begin where everything begins, and that’s pitching.

The Holliday/Carter Log Jam Must Be Broken Up

When the Yankees signed Matt Holliday over the winter, there were universal cheers of approval from fans of the team. When they signed Chris Carter, there was universal uncertainty about the wisdom of the move.

Nothing has changed. And if Spring Training could last forever, there would be no need even to be talking about this. But, something’s got to give between these two players. And soon.

Joe Girardi, with his penchant for veteran players, appears to be openly campaigning for Holliday, telling NJ.com recently:

“He makes an impact on and off the field,” Girardi told NJ.com, “That’s what you want from players, especially with all the experiences that he’s been through in his career…playing in a city like St. Louis where you’re expected to win every year. I think he can have a huge impact on this club.”

As for Carter, you’d have to look wide and far to find a similar commendation. But, Chris Carter can hit home runs. And that’s the choice in a nutshell.

The trouble, though, is that even if the Yankees wanted to dump Carter at this point, it’s not going to be an easy thing to do.

And it narrows down to making a choice because keeping both Holliday and Carter on the roster virtually eliminates keeping Rob Refsnyder as a utility player and backup first baseman.

The trouble, though, is that even if the Yankees wanted to dump Carter at this point, it’s not going to be an easy thing to do.

Remember, before the Yankees signed him, Carter was unclaimed by all of the 29 other teams in the league. Passed over once, what are the odds a team would want him now.

Which leaves the team in a position with no alternative but to release Carter, eating his $3 million salaries for 2017.

Assuming Holliday stays healthy, he will get the bulk of the playing time at first base, leaving Carter as the team’s designated hitter, or not playing at all. Adding to the log jam, Gary Sanchez is not going to catch six games a week and he will command time as the DH when he is not catching.

Adding to the problem will be finding at-bats for Tyler Austin when he is healed from a foot injury.

Typically, a team would say, and the Yankees have said, that this is a nice problem to have. But it’s not, and no one can predict the fallout in the clubhouse when Chris Carter finds himself getting splinters from sitting on the bench five times a week.

The Yankees Could Have A Left Hand Right Hand Problem

The relationship between a team’s managing partner, general manager, and field manager is complicated and often tenuous.

It’s like making a pie where each ingredient is separate but crucial to the outcome. Put together the wrong mix, and you have a pie destined only for the garbage, not someone’s palate

And it’s always difficult looking at these relationships from the outside looking in, so there’s a need to be careful, and I will be.

But two events occurred yesterday that raise a red flag that at least begs the question, is there trouble brewing in the management offices of the Yankees, or can these developments be chalked up to “miscommunication”?

Is it simply a matter of the left hand not talking to the right hand before making decisions that affect the organization

The incidents I am speaking of are the announcement by Joe Girardi that Aaron Hicks is likely to replace Aaron Judge in right field on Opening Day. This, in spite of the fact that Hal Steinbrenner had already pre-ordained Judge for the spot. Read more on that story in a post that appeared on Yanks Go Yard on Saturday.

And second, there was also an announcement, again made by Girardi, that James Kaprielian would be appearing in a Spring Training game in 5-6 days. This despite a comment made previously by Brian Cashman only a few days before that Kaprielian’s rehab from an injury would continue to proceed at a “snail’s pace”. There’s more on that story too in a Yanks Go Yard post.

The immediate question becomes what to make of all this. Is it, for instance, Girardi making the last year hurrah stand in his final year with the Yankees? Not likely, but possible. Or, did Hal Steinbrenner speak out of turn when he anointed Judge, instead of leaving that decision to his baseball people?

Because if Hal was his father (which would be something new in his make-up), no one would flinch an eye and Aaron Judge would be the Yankee’s right fielder no matter what any said or tried to do.

Or, is it simply a matter of the left hand not talking to the right hand before making decisions that affect the organization, and certainly the team that will take the field in a few weeks on Opening Day.

Whatever it is, it’s not good. And the Yankees need to button this up, getting on the same page, or even more alarming, reading the same book. You can’t have this, and more importantly, you can’t have it when you are dealing with the fragile egos of the Baby Bombers, who need to know exactly what their role on the team is.

Minor League Coaches Will Have Their Hands Full

Why is Alex Rodriguez being featured on a page that is devoted to coaches in the Yankees minor league system? Good question. And as you might guess, I have an answer for you.

The title that has been given to Rodriguez, at least for the 2017 season is Instructor. For that, the Yankees are fulfilling the final year of his contract and paying him $20 million.

As such, the Yankees would be wise to get their monies worth from Rodriguez by politely asking him to be a roving ambassador throughout their system this season.

It would be fair to say that both Pedrique and Franklin, as well as their staffs, will be operating above their pay-grade this season

Because those coaches are going to need all the help, they can get.

Rodriguez has already demonstrated his knack for working with the Baby Bombers, even though his stay in camp lasted only two days. One on one, there’s nobody better than A-Rod when it comes to talking baseball and sharing the ups and downs of his big league career.

The Yankees can still be mindful of his broadcasting commitments, but other than that, Rodriguez belongs to the Yankees this season.

Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre manager, Al Pedrique, together with AA-Trenton manager Tony Franklin and their staffs need the help.

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• What on earth is going on with Yankees, Fernando Tatis Jr. and flight to New York?
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• Yankees top prospects butt heads after Giants’ gritty win over Commanders

They will be dealing with the likes of a few players like Clint Frazier, Gleyber Torres, and James  Kaprielian who, arguably, are major league ready talents right now. Egos will need to be massaged because eventually, there are going to be call-ups due to injuries. Who gets the call and who gets passed over is something the coaches in the minors will need to reckon with.

Another group of Baby Bombers will also be wearing a minor league uniform, and these players have a way to go in their development, meaning they will need to be taught new skills while refining others.

Miguel Andujar, Billy McKinney, Jorge Mateo, Justus Sheffield, James Montgomery, as well as a full battalion of others will need the same and, possibly, more.

Where is the help going to come from? Because it would be fair to say that both Pedrique and Franklin, as well as their staffs, will be operating above their pay-grade this season and next year as well.

All of the Yankees recently retired players have earned more than enough money during their careers to be interested in consultant pay for a few days here and there. And none of them, Rodriguez aside, owe the Yankees anything.

David Cone and  Paul O’Neill both have jobs at YES. Maybe someone like Ron Guidry would be interested if the Yankees can take the hunting rifle out of his hands for a few days here and there.

Or, facetiously, they could in invite Goose Gossage in to give these young kids a whopping about the good ole’ days.

Yankees: Four Takeaways From Spring Training 2017 So Far

Already, we've seen enough of the Yankees in Spring Training to reach some conclusions about the state of the team and its players.

Seriously, though, it’s a problem that the Yankees need to reckon with. And they can’t just send these kids down there and say, “Go out and play.”