The Boys of summer are back and this time for a full 162 game season after an illegitimate (for the game of baseball) 60 game sprint last season. MLB proposed starting a month later and playing 154 games with expanded playoffs like last season, but of course the union balked. One thing the league and union did agree on is that we would have 7 inning doubleheaders again, (not a fan of, seems like your doing things halfway) they’re keeping the runner on second to start extra innings, (again not a fan but start in the twelfth and I can live with it) also the universal DH is gone. (back to how it used to be for now). We know that the union and the league have an already frosty relationship and since they don’t want to upset the apple card for the CBA which expires after the season, this season will be played on egg shells with neither side wanting to do anything to upset the other. Whatever bad blood negotiations are going to go on between these two parties, should be kept behind closed doors. Know one wants to hear about money struggles in the midst of a pandemic when Fernando Tatis Jr. is singing $340 million extensions with San Diego yet 40+ minor league teams are being cut.
Let’s talk baseball. The grind of a 162 game season is back, with Covid protocols of course. Fans are back in a limited capacity this season, games at Yankee stadium will have capacity capped at 25% and I believe most spring training sites will be similar. Having fans in any capacity is important because players feed off of the fans energy and without the crowd you have to make your own energy, which can be hard. Crowds just look better too, even on T.V it feels like a real sporting event.
The Yankees did not make a ton of moves but they did make some. Probably the biggest move of the off season was bringing D.J LeMahieu back. Other than the pitching staff, this team is going to go to bat with what they had last year. Behind the plate Gary Sanchez is being given another shot, with the team and it’s fans hoping his struggles are behind him. Voit/Ford will be back at first, LeMahieu is your second baseman, at short Geyber Torres will be back and hopefully he can return to form after coming into the July summer camp, a little out of shape and at third Gio Urshela has kind of taken the bull by the horns and turned andujar into a utility player. In the outfield with Stanton playing a lot of DH, you're hoping Judge can stay healthy then you probably have Hicks in center and Clint Frazier in left. Outfield depth will be a concern but you can choose from Gardner, Jay Bruce, Greg Alen and Tauchman. As far as the pitching staff goes it’s a crap shoot behind Gerrit Cole. The back end of this rotation will consist of guys coming off injuries and haven’t pitched much of late such as Jameson Tailon, Corey Kluber, Luis Severino, (middle of the season) Clark Schmidt and Devi Garcia. Cole and whoever else is on your pitching staff will be tested coming off the 60 game season, not a lot of innings have been thrown and depth will be tested. I like this team; they just have to stay healthy and rely on their depth. The Yankees have to be the favorites in the American League, I am not buying Houston, I don’t think the White Sox are there yet, Toronto has made some moves with the signing of George Springer but they don’t have much on the pitching front and the Red Sox are still in shambles. Over in the National League the favorites probably reside in California, with the Dodgers and Padres. I am looking forward to the grind of 162 games in 2021, lets get excited for real baseball.
