As Opening Day attracts close to, the YES Community trio of Paul O’Neill, David Cone and Michael Kay fielded some Yankees questions from The Put up’s Steve Serby.
Q: How will Juan Soto leaving have an effect on Aaron Choose?
O’Neill: It impacts all people. What inning wasn’t enjoyable to look at when Soto and Choose hit back-to-back? I believe the Yankees have plugged so many holes by not having Soto’s wage, that total, they is perhaps a greater staff. Offensively, in all probability not. Little question in my thoughts he’s going to have a fantastic yr for the Mets. I believe team-wise, defensive-wise, every part put collectively, you’re going to be fantastic.
Cone: It actually was that magical. It was as if we were looking at Ruth and Gehrig. The Yankees rode all of them the best way to the World Collection. That World Collection in my thoughts was nearer than you assume. A variety of it was due to Soto, so with him gone, it’s an enormous loss. The one factor they might do is pivot and attempt to make up for it in a variety of completely different classes. I don’t assume the Yankees are completed but, however I believe the items they obtained have been excellent decisions.
Kay: I believe perhaps a little bit fewer RBIs, however Choose had a 62-home run season with out Soto. I believe they each benefitted from one another final yr. I believe he’s going to have one other massive yr. If something, he would possibly stroll extra, however a variety of that’s predicated on the fellows hitting behind him as nicely.
Q: What ought to Yankees followers count on from Choose?
O’Neill: He makes it look really easy. Everyone talks about his dimension and his energy, however what he provides to protection, and his instincts on the bases, he simply does every part proper. There’s one factor in his thoughts, and that’s to build up some World Collection wins to make his profession full.
Q: Who protects him this yr?
O’Neill: Aaron Choose has gotten excellent at realizing when he’s being pitched round, and having the ability to take walks and never annoyed to the purpose the place he leaves the strike zone. You’re going to need to have a lineup that individuals know their roles. Should you’re Aaron Choose, your position is to hit 50 residence runs and drive in 120. I don’t assume that there’s one man you can plug in behind Aaron Choose that’s simply going to only make a distinction day in and time out. You’re going to need to have a staff that scores runs day in and time out so that you get the ball to the bullpen.
Q: Cody Bellinger and the temptation of the proper subject porch?
O’Neill: Should you have a look at his swing, he can pull the ball, and clearly as a lefty that’s the very first thing that involves your thoughts. I simply assume he’s going to fill a variety of voids so far as he’s athletic, he can run, he can play a variety of positions for you. You bought a chance to play for the Yankees, you grew up enjoying within the playroom when your father (Clay) was on the team, I believe that’s going to be a giant problem for him to only attempt to management that and never attempt to do an excessive amount of.
Kay: I believe when he’s wholesome he’s an impression participant. You possibly can simply see the ball flies off his bat. They improved themselves defensively. His swing performs in that ballpark for positive.
Cone: Proper man on the proper time, doing the proper factor, sporting the proper uniform. Carrying his father’s quantity. His swing is constructed for Yankee Stadium. If he was ever going to strategy his MVP-type numbers that he had earlier in his profession with the Dodgers, it’s going to be as a Yankee in Yankee Stadium.
Q: With that brief proper subject porch, do you assume he’s a 30-home run candidate?
Cone: Completely. He has the power to get the ball within the air on the pull facet quite a bit, which means he can go down and get off-speed pitches which are away and hook them, and get them within the air, get them out of the ballpark.
Q: Paul Goldschmidt at age 37?
Kay: Properly the Yankees have had virtually no manufacturing out of first base for a very long time now. After Anthony Rizzo suffered that concussion when he bumped into (the Padres’ Fernando) Tatis Jr. at first, he was not the identical participant, didn’t have the identical impression. And albeit, though he was a former Platinum Glove winner, he was not nice defensively the final two years. If Goldschmidt has the season that he had final yr, and I believe he’s gonna have a greater season, I believe it’ll be a large plus for the Yankees.
O’Neill: There was a giant gap at first base and a giant void. This is likely one of the stuff you tackle I believe as a company and simply hope it’s the proper time and the proper match.
Cone: That’s one other man that I believe Yankee Stadium will assist. His energy’s the other subject, that inside-out fashion of hitting to get the ball the opposite means like Choose. He’s nonetheless a improbable athlete in improbable form, a fantastic defender, a extremely good base runner, a extremely nice affect within the clubhouse. Is he going to be his MVP self? He doesn’t actually need to be. If he’s above league common in all of these classes, that’s going to be a serious enchancment for the Yankees.
Q: Max Fried as an ace in New York with Gerrit Cole lost for the season?
Cone: I believe he’ll be fantastic. He’s been a big-time pitcher because the first time he walked on a mound when he was in Little League. He’s prepared for this. And he selected this.
O’Neill: He’s all the time been a winner. He’s a lefty, which may actually assist pitching in Yankee Stadium in opposition to different highly effective lefty hitters.
Kay: He’s obtained the stuff, he’s been an ace in Atlanta, he pitched massive video games and gained a World Collection for them. … New York, you’ll need to see. It appeared like he embraced it, he needed to return right here.
Q: What impresses you most about him?
Cone: I’m impressed with all of his weapons. He’s obtained quite a lot of other ways to get hitters out. It’s not simply by the strikeout or not simply by energy. Though he has energy. However he can actually keep off of the barrel, he can get a variety of floor balls, he can reduce it, he can sink it — he’s actually a motion specialist. An actual craftsman. He’s a enjoyable man to look at pitch.
Kay: He’s obtained so many alternative pitches that he instructions to each side of the plate, he’s good, his stuff is electrical. I don’t assume he will get afraid on the mound. The important thing to him is well being. He would have been a fantastic No. 2 for the Yankees, now he’s going to need to be a extremely good No. 1.
Q: Devin Williams and his Airbender?
Cone: He’s a unicorn, there’s little question about that. The factor that makes his Airbender, that changeup, so profitable and extra like a screwball actually is that it has such extremely tight spin on it.
O’Neill: Yearly there’s new pitches and new phrases. (Luke) Weaver was actually, actually good on the nearer’s position, so now you’ve obtained a bridge to top-of-the-line closers in baseball.
Kay: This is likely one of the high two closers in all of baseball, he or (Cleveland’s) Emmanuel Clase. Whenever you obtained a man that may nail down the ninth inning, after which you possibly can virtually have Luke Weaver really play the position of the 1996 Mariano Rivera, when he can pitch the seventh and eighth innings … after which the X issue goes to be Jonathan Loáisiga. He’s pretty much as good as any aid pitcher within the sport if he’s wholesome which he hasn’t been for a few years. I believe the Yankee bullpen stacks up with any bullpen in baseball.
Q: Center aid?
Cone: I believe having Devin Williams simply makes all people else that a lot better. Everyone strikes down a notch. I actually really feel like they’ve combine. I’m nonetheless a believer in numerous kinds that blend nicely collectively. How the items match collectively matter to me. That’s an actual artwork to assembling a pitching workers.
Q: The Anthony Volpe-Jazz Chisholm double-play combination?
Cone: That’s I believe going to be actually enjoyable for Yankee followers to look at, it’s simply the velocity and the athleticism across the bag.
O’Neill: Chisholm actually stunned me positively final yr when he came to visit. He exhibits he has a variety of energy, he’s obtained nice velocity, super arm. And now I believe he’s going to be much more snug going again to second base the place he’s used to enjoying. Volpe nonetheless has a methods to go to hit his ceiling the place he’s going to be one of many sport’s higher shortstops.
Kay: Brian Cashman instructed us on the “Sizzling Range” present on YES that he acquired Chisholm to play second base, however then Gleyber Torres refused to play third. He and Volpe have been inseparable throughout spring coaching, and Volpe is a Gold Glove-winning shortstop.
Q: Any concern about Oswaldo Cabrera at third base?
O’Neill: Defensively no. I believe that could possibly be sort of a platoon factor probably. If he will get a chance to play every single day and he runs with it, then it makes it very straightforward for Aaron Boone. Third base is a spot the place you want manufacturing offensively.
Cone: Sure, it’s. Oswaldo Cabrera deserves a shot to point out what he can do, he’s earned that proper regardless that he’s in all probability higher suited as a utility man enjoying all around the subject.
Q: DH with out Giancarlo Stanton?
O’Neill: I believe (Ben) Rice goes to get a chance. I don’t assume you’re going to have a man like Stanton, or like once we had Chili Davis, who was only a DH. I believe you’re going to sort of see a revolving scene across the DH so far as giving individuals relaxation and plugging in guys which are good matchups on that given evening.
Cone: I like Ben Rice. As soon as once more, I believe the theme with the Yankees goes to proceed to be much like what it was within the early-’90s and the place you’re constructing a Core 4, it nonetheless has to return from inside, you want the younger guys to proceed to step up. Ben Rice must be that man this yr, Will Warren must be that man this yr, amongst others.
Kay: They’re a little bit mild on right-handed hitting even when Stanton was wholesome. Proper now the DH turns into a revolving door. I believe it’s much less of a difficulty if Ben Rice is an impression participant.
Q: What impressed you about Rice?
O’Neill: His perspective, for one factor. He’s a contented child, you possibly can inform he was sort of in awe simply to be there. … He may even put catcher’s gear on if he has to. If he swings the bat, he’s going to get a variety of bats, particularly in opposition to righties within the DH spot.
Cone: He was by no means overmatched. Even when he was slumping on the finish, he by no means actually appeared like he was not answerable for the scenario or that the sport was above him. He all the time obtained good at bats. Hit the ball actually arduous when he did hit it arduous. I simply love the best way he swings the bat, I like his energy potential.
Kay: His plate self-discipline, taking pitches. I believe the league caught up with him a little bit bit, in order that affected him towards the tip, however I believe he’s made some changes, and likewise he’s placed on some muscle.
Q: Austin Wells?
Kay: The one knock in opposition to him developing was that he was not defender. He’s turn into of the highest framing catchers within the sport. He’s nonetheless doesn’t have the best arm, however I believe it’s serviceable sufficient that he can throw out 25 to 30 p.c of base stealers, which might be nice. I believe he’s going to be a drive offensively. I believe the Yankees have an actual diamond within the tough there.
Cone: So a lot better defensively than he was ever given credit score for developing by means of. He’s a frontrunner again there, he frames exceptionally nicely, all of the metrics say so. He throws actually common or higher. He’s each ends, protection and offense.
O’Neill: He places collectively good at bats. I like the best way he catches. He’s on the mark as being one of many higher defensive catchers within the American League. I don’t assume that he’s hit his ceiling but both. I believe it’s a extremely opportune time for him to take off and be an on a regular basis catcher.
Q: Jasson Domínguez?
O’Neill: You possibly can see his bat velocity and his total velocity, he’s able to doing a little issues. The whole lot you hear about him, examine him, he’s gonna be an offensive presence, and also you simply hope that, particularly younger guys, get off to good begins so that they don’t begin urgent and begin attempting to drive issues.
Kay: I believe he is usually a star on the plate, particularly in opposition to right-handed pitching. I believe he nonetheless has a methods to go batting from the proper facet. Protection is going to be an issue, however I’ve all the time stated offense is a good deodorant for protection.
Cone: They want him to be their man, they want him to be that switch-hitter with energy and velocity. He’s obtained to discover ways to play left subject, too, as nicely. I can really see him getting some DH time right here and there as nicely. His bat ought to play within the massive leagues, his velocity ought to play within the massive leagues. That is the yr they should discover out.
Q: Can this staff manufacture runs with its velocity?
O’Neill: I believe that the Yankees will probably be higher at it this yr.
Cone: You’ll have Jazz Chisholm for a full yr. He’s a reputable 30-30 man, and Volpe simply must get on base extra. As soon as he will get on base extra, he’s a superb base runner. He has a excessive aptitude. He’s swinging the bat with extra authority, hitting the ball more durable. These guys are going to be a drive for them defensively and offensively operating the bases.
Kay: In the event that they lead off Wells, they’re not going to have velocity on the high of the lineup, however they’ll have velocity from 3 on. A variety of it’s going to relaxation on how a lot Volpe can get on, as a result of I believe he’s a stolen base ready to occur.
Q: Do you want Wells within the leadoff spot?
Kay: I do, as a result of your No. 2 hitter is Choose. I don’t need to get anyone thrown out.
Q: The state of the rotation with Cole gone and Luis Gil shelved?
Cone: The Yankees must learn how many arms that they’ll develop. Among the younger guys actually need to step ahead.
Kay: To be frank, it worries me. The outdated saying Subsequent Man Up, nicely now you’re going not less than two males Subsequent Man Up into the rotation.
O’Neill: Groups win with out their finest gamers generally. That’s what’s going to need to occur. You simply transfer on. You determine a means, whether or not it’s to be a greater offensive staff day in and time out, or should you have a look at the best way they’ve performed baseball since I’ve been doing video games the previous 10 years, get to the center of the sport after which have a extremely, actually good bullpen.
Q: Crew protection?
Cone: We have to see Domínguez in left develop and see if he can deal with the place or not. Shifting Aaron Choose again to proper subject places him in his Gold Glove spot in my thoughts. Up the center the Yankees are robust, Goldschmidt’s a Gold Glove at first base, after which Cabrera’s excellent at third base as nicely. I count on the protection total to be higher.
Q: How do you see the division?
O’Neill: I believe the American League East will probably be extraordinarily aggressive and I believe the Yankees and the Crimson Sox can have that rivalry factor going once more as a result of each groups are robust.
Cone: The division is as tight as ever. It’s again to being the Beasts of the East for me the yr. … Boston’s obtained extra expertise than anyone by way of prospects proper on the verge. That’s why I say the Yankees’ younger guys actually need to match what’s happening. … The entire division’s sort of up for grabs in my thoughts.
Kay: I nonetheless assume they’re adequate to win the East. The groups that scare me can be the Orioles and the Crimson Sox. I’m not going to place lipstick on a pig and say dropping Cole just isn’t impactful, after all it’s. However you simply obtained to get it completed and discover a means. … No person on this league scares me. I might nonetheless say they’ll make it to the World Collection.
Q: Having come so near profitable the World Collection, how will that have an effect on this staff’s starvation?
O’Neill: It makes it an extended offseason, and also you simply notice if you go into Opening Day, that it’s not a given you’re going to get again there once more. Have they got the items? I believe so. … The Yankees, by moving into the playoffs, and attending to the World Collection, it’s solely going to assist them sooner or later once they get again to these spots. Each on occasion you simply have that good yr, that good chemistry, and who’s to not say that that’s going to be the sort of yr for the Yankees?
Kay: They actually have a variety of bulletin board fodder. The stuff that the Dodgers stated, I don’t know why they stated it … if that doesn’t present motivation that, “We knew they’d make errors, we knew they’d throw the ball away, they didn’t run the bases nicely” — it’s proper there.
Cone: The core guys, it’ll stick with them, it’ll encourage you. Whenever you’re on the dropping finish of one thing, particularly the best way it occurred, you haven’t any different various however to make use of it as motivation. They’ve actually had sort of the filth kicked of their face due to the final sport and the errors and the miscues and the baserunning and every part sort of mounting up on them, so that they’ve actually sort of had it rubbed of their face a little bit bit. To me, that’s even further motivation for them, to point out, ‘Hey, you realize what? We’re going to get again there once more this yr. Although we misplaced Soto, we’ve obtained sufficient right here to undergo the American League and get again to the World Collection.”
