When the prognosticators went through scenarios for which team would be the best in the AL East, the Yankees were seldom mentioned. Not anymore. After a 10-5 start we’re all rushing to say, “Told you the Yankees would be better than expected.’’
Who knows if the solid start will continue, but even with key injuries to shortstop Didi Gregorius and catcher Gary Sanchez the Yankees finished off a nine-game homestand with eight wins, then traveled to Pittsburgh for a weekend series.
GM Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi said in spring training that while the focus seemed to be on youngsters such as Aaron Judge, Greg Bird, and Sanchez, the success of the team would be dependent on the veterans. And they were right.
Jacoby Ellsbury has started strong (.302, four steals), batting in several spots in the order, including cleanup in an effort to break up New York’s lefthanded hitters. Chase Headley (.396, 1.146 OPS) and Starlin Castro (.368, .989 OPS) also have started well, which has eased some of the pressure on Judge, who has hit some tape-measure home runs and excited the fans with his potential. Judge was borderline to make the team out of spring training, with some believing he should get more at-bats at Triple-A. But Judge (5 homers, 12 RBIs, 1.018 OPS) has been a force and is already considered a player other teams have to fear.
While Bird (.135) went through a tough stretch (1 for 23), he ended it with a 454-foot homer. Ronald Torreyes has been excellent filling in for Gregorius, while Austin Romine (.321) has come up huge offensively, as well as defensively in place of Sanchez and handling a surprisingly good starting rotation and lights-out bullpen.
CC Sabathia (2-0, 1.47 ERA) has found his inner Frank Tanana, converting to a soft thrower. The 95-97-mile-per-hour fastballs have given way to 88-90, but Sabathia has mastered sinking and cutting his fastball to go along with his excellent changeup.
The Yankees can also thank Pedro Martinez for teaching Luis Severino an effective changeup. Severino used to watch video of Martinez throwing his, and when Martinez was told he asked for Severino’s phone number.
“I always considered Pedro the best righthanded pitcher I ever saw, and I know firsthand the damage he did to the Yankees over the years. So, I feel that Pedro owed us something,’’ said Cashman. “So if by working with Luis over the winter he was able to pick up something on his changeup, then we’re very grateful. I know Pedro didn’t do it for the Yankees, but he did it for one of his countrymen. And we’re happy about that.’’
Cashman also has been pleased with righthander Michael Pineda, who has found consistency.
Cashman said he feels good for Headley, who at this time a year ago was struggling mightily. Cashman remembers Yankees fans “getting all over him.’’ Recently, according to Cashman, when Girardi gave Headley a day off, the fan base “was up in arms.’’
While some couldn’t understand Cashman’s affection for Aaron Hicks, who lost the right field job to Judge, Hicks has taken off offensively in the outfield rotation.
“I got beaten up publicly when I compared Aaron’s skill set to Jackie Bradley Jr. and how the Red Sox were rewarded by being patient with him. I think we’re being rewarded now. We know what he is defensively, but he has hit,’’ Cashman said.
The bullpen has been as advertised. Aroldis Chapman has pitched 5⅓ scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. Adam Warren has allowed one earned run in nine innings. Cashman has liked the blend of old and new. He thinks Matt Holliday has had a big effect as a veteran DH.
You don’t hear the Jose Quintana-to-the-Yankees rumors anymore.
“We’re always open to listening on anything that will help our team get better, but if you can solve the issues from within, then that’s the best thing to do because you can hang on to your young talent, and I think people are pretty excited about that,’’ Cashman said.
Cashman said that while most baseball people don’t put a lot of stock in spring training, he felt it was important for the Yankees to establish themselves early with a changing roster and breaking in young players. The Yankees were 24-9 in spring training, the best record in baseball.
And after 15 regular-season games they have achieved what they set out to do — blend the old with the new and compete at the same time.
MAKE AN OFFER
Glavine in on bid for Marlins
Tom Glavine believes there are at least three groups who have made bids to Jeffrey Loria regarding purchasing the Marlins. Glavine is aligned with Tagg Romney, son of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, and a group of investors Glavine said he helped put together over the past year.
“It’s been a lengthy process,’’ said Glavine. “I was contacted a couple of years ago by some people to ask whether I’d have an interest in doing something along these lines, and I certainly did. This Marlins situation came about last summer. After casual conversations and kicking tires it became apparent we could put people together and raise money.’’
Derek Jeter is in another interested group led by former Florida governor Jeb Bush, and Glavine feels there’s at least one other group. It’s been reported that Joshua Kushner, the brother of Ivanka Trump’s husband Jared Kushner, could be heading that group.
Glavine said, “I feel very good about the offer we made.’’ The Billerica native would not disclose whether he made a financial commitment of his own but said his role has been mostly to woo investors.
Glavine, a Hall of Famer, lends credibility to the offer from a baseball point of view. What would Glavine want his role to be if his group purchases the team?
“That’s a good question, and I’m open-minded,’’ he said. “I certainly want a role. I’m not going to say I’m the GM, but I know the game pretty well. I understand it. There’s a lot on the business side that I don’t understand, so I’m open-minded about what the best role for me would be and what I like to do the most.
“On the one hand, I don’t want to be pompous enough to say I want to step in and run this thing, but at the same time I want to be looking for where I would be best served for the organization if it happens.’’
Given that bids have been made and are being reviewed, Glavine believes Loria wants to sell. Glavine, Romney, and others in their group met with Loria prior to making their bid.
“Our indications are that Jeffrey wants to get out of it,’’ said Glavine.
Concerning a possible time frame, Glavine, who assumes Major League Baseball also is studying the bids, said, “It’s one of the things that if it happens it could happen very quickly, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it drags on.’’
Apropos of nothing
1. I think Roger Clemens belongs in the Hall of Fame, but he did himself no favors in an interview last week with Matt Snyder of CBS in which he said concerning the Mitchell Report, “I’d like to find out if [Rep. Henry] Waxman had a referral fee from [former Sen. George Mitchell]. I think Mitchell got paid, before my name got put in there, I think he got paid close to $40 million. It’s shameful what Mitchell did. I passed every test, I opened up my life to them. I told him, ‘Come check whatever you want.’ They spent a lot of our taxpayer dollars. We did it the right way, we wanted to deal with facts, and we dealt with facts.’’
2. Heard a good Josh Donaldson story. A couple of years ago when the Blue Jays were struggling, Jose Reyes said of the team’s slump, “It’s not like we’re not trying.’’ This sent the fiery Donaldson through the roof. He told Reyes, “This isn’t a trying business, this is a do-it business.’’
3. The Fan’s Commish, Rick Swanson, makes a good point about Brandon Workman, saying the righthander should be the next reliever the Red Sox consider bringing up. Workman pitched in the 2013 World Series but has spent a couple of years recovering from Tommy John surgery. At Triple A Pawtucket, Workman has struck out 10 and allowed only two base runners in seven innings.
4. The Players Association introduced “Infield Chatter,’’ a new mobile destination where players and fans can chat. More than 1,000 players already are registered users. “Every player understands how important it is to connect with the fans,’’ said Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant. “They’re the main reason this game is so special. The fact that ‘Infield Chatter’ was built with this interaction in mind as the top priority really helps us share and connect in ways that we haven’t been able to anywhere else.’’ There will be regular video chats players and fans, sharing photos, videos and music, and contests and competitions.
5. How about that 458-foot homer Travis Shaw hit on Thursday?
Updates on nine
1. Chris Young, OF, Red Sox — As Hanley Ramirez’s shoulder issues continue to delay his season debut at first base, I recently asked John Farrell, “Why not Young?’’ Farrell said that job would be Josh Rutledge’s when he returns from his rehab assignment. Young has never played first, but he’s a very good athlete who would likely fare well. The Red Sox say they have no plans to experiment with this. This would also get Young more at-bats. So much for positional flexibility.
2. Coco Crisp, OF, free agent — As teams begin to suffer injuries, Crisp could provide an answer. The ex-Red Sox outfielder still wants to play, but he did not receive any major league offers to get back into the game. He’s reportedly selling his $10 million estate in Rancho Mirage, Calif., and downsizing as he begins his retirement phase if a team doesn’t sign him.
3. Bryan Price, manager, Reds — Price is being very creative with his bullpen, almost replicating what Indians manager Terry Francona did with Andrew Miller in the playoffs. In a game against the Pirates, Price summoned Michael Lorenzen in the third inning with the Reds leading, 5-1, feeling that was the point of the game where the Reds needed to stop any momentum. Lorenzen pitched three innings. He’s had three one-inning appearances since. Price isn’t afraid to look outside the box, but it works only if the bullpen isn’t spent. Heading into Friday’s games, the Reds had 77⅓ starter innings and 66⅔ reliever innings. The Reds also have a 13-man pitching staff, so they may be able to accommodate this philosophy for a while.
4. Manny Pina, catcher, Brewers — An under-the-radar guy to watch is Pina, a 29-year-old who is suddenly playing well beyond his résumé. Sounds like Sandy Leon, doesn’t it? Pina entered Friday 13 for 30 (.433) with a 1.085 OPS and had thrown out four of nine would-be base stealers. One scout said that Pina has been the highlight of the Brewers’ young season.
5. Eric Thames, 1B, Brewers — In spring training one scout commented that Thames couldn’t catch up to a good fastball, but that changed when the season began. Thames put up big numbers in Korea — 124 homers and 382 RBIs in three seasons. Korea isn’t Major League Baseball, but the stocky Thames’s readjustment to the big leagues has been relatively seamless. This was a good scouting job by the Brewers.
6. Todd Frazier, 3B, White Sox — OK, he’s off to a poor start and the Mets have plenty of free-swinging offensive players. But third base is an issue. Jose Reyes isn’t cutting it. So maybe they solve it internally and move Asdrubal Cabrera there and give top prospect Amed Rosario the shortstop job. Frazier, meanwhile, is being paid $11 million this year and will be a free agent next winter. If the Mets can handle the money with help from the White Sox, wouldn’t this make sense? The thought of David Wright returning to the Mets and playing third seems remote.
7. Justus Sheffield, LHP, Yankees — You can’t find anyone in scouting who has one negative thing to say about Sheffield, who was obtained in the Andrew Miller deal with Cleveland. In fact, one evaluator who saw Sheffield recently characterized the 20-year-old nephew of Gary Sheffieldas “special.’’ Sheffield is 1-0 with a 0.77 ERA in 11⅔ innings (two starts) for Double A Trenton, striking out 10. The scout felt Sheffield likely wouldn’t be in New York this year, but it wouldn’t surprise him, either. The scout is also high on Trenton reliever Domingo German, who is throwing in the mid-90s consistently.
8. Edwin Encarnacion, DH, Indians — A Blue Jays official theorized that one of the reasons Encarnacion has struggled is that the Indians play in cold weather early in the season, and Encarnacion hates the cold. In Toronto, he was protected by the dome, so he didn’t experience as much of it in his years there. The slugger, who signed a three-year, $60 million deal with Cleveland, entered Friday hitting .218 with two homers and five RBIs.
9. Josh Donaldson, 3B, Blue Jays — Would the Jays really deal Donaldson if things continued this bad? He would be their major chip in trying to rebuild the organization, but he’s the player fans flock to see. There are some people in baseball who feel the Jays are going to blow it up and rebuild if their struggles continue, but others are skeptical of building a team without Donaldson.
Extra innings
From the Bill Chuck files — “The White Sox recently started Avisail Garcia in right field, Leury Garcia in center field, and Willy Garcia in left field, the first time in MLB history that a team has started three outfielders with the same last name. None are related. Avisail went 2 for 4, Willy went 1 for 4, and Leury went 1 for 2.’’ . . . Happy birthday, Rheal Cormier (50).
Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickcafardo. Material from interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.
