Pinstripe Alley Jul 5, 2022
The Yankees’ team defense has made a huge leap in 2022
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports The team’s infield defense has been especially remarkable this year. The Yankees have had improvements all around the field this season. The offense and pitching have led the charge when it comes to public narrative, but the defensive improvements have been especially noteworthy. After the acquisitions of Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa and re-signing of Anthony Rizzo, Brian Cashman reiterated time and time again the positive impact these three would have on team defense. In today’s game, evaluating defense can be extremely...
Pinstripe Alley Jul 2, 2022
NYY News: The Joey Gallo problem
Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports Yankees running out of options with Joey Gallo; Josh Donaldson thinks his slump is almost over; Lucas Luetge’s resurgence boosting bullpen; the chances of besting the 1998 team NJ Advance Media | Brendan Kuty: Joey Gallo’s struggles with the Yankees are simply not getting better. While he was bad after being traded from Texas last year, this season he’s hit a nadir, and he hit .138 with 32 strikeouts over the month of June. That’s just unplayable, but the Yankees don’t really have any good options without a replacement for him....
Pinstripe Alley Jun 28, 2022
Rivalry Roundup: Blue Jays, Twins strike early and often
Photo by Vaughn Ridley/ Toronto and Minnesota both picked up wins over competition after taking control early and never looking back. While it was not quite as dramatic as Sunday’s game, the Yankees required another late inning comeback to beat the Athletics in their series opener in the Bronx. After falling behind 5-1, they clawed their way back, and eventually took the lead in a six-run seventh inning that saw multiple catcher’s interference calls and big RBI hits from Josh Donaldson, Jose Trevino, and Marwin Gonzalez. The victory took the Yankees to a remarkable...
Pinstripe Alley Jun 20, 2022
Josh Donaldson and his weird year
Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports What is going on with Josh Donaldson’s performance at the plate? As Sam noted a month ago, Josh Donaldson has had somewhat of a weird year with the Yankees so far. Even with a good homer yesterday, he has been merely OK at the plate and especially off since returning from the IL on June 3rd. Back in May, Donaldson started pulling the ball more and hitting a ton of fly balls. Those two factors combined to help Donaldson post a triple slash line of .279/.371/475 with an .846 OPS. Those are excellent numbers that portended great things to...
Pinstripe Alley Jun 19, 2022
Yankees 9, Blue Jays 10: Bullpen meltdown snaps winning streak
The Yankees were set up with a big lead, but the bullpen blew the game. The Yankees entered today’s game flying high, seeking a sweep of their division rivals and their 10th win in a row. Although Luis Severino had strikeout stuff and the offense was able to pounce on Yusei Kikuchi, the bullpen simply couldn’t hold the 8-3 lead and allowed Toronto to sneak away with one win in the series. After DJ LeMahieu flew out to right to begin the game, Aaron Judge worked a walk off of Kikuchi. Josh Donaldson was then hit by a pitch and slammed his bat into the dirt in annoyance,...
Pinstripe Alley Jun 18, 2022
Gleyber Torres and the All-Star second base aspirants
Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports Does Gleyber Torres have a shot at making the AL All-Star Team? After a down season in 2021, Gleyber Torres has played like a potential All-Star, and the Yankees thought well enough of him to list him on their ballot at second base, pushing DJ LeMahieu to third and Josh Donaldson to DH with Giancarlo Stanton freed up in the outfield. However, the second base competition for an All-Star vote in the American League is particularly fierce. It’s going to be an uphill battle for Torres to make it to the All-Star Game, and that’s not even...
Pinstripe Alley Jun 16, 2022
In praise of the mandated off-day
Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/ Load management is working, even if we grind our teeth. Every afternoon, the Yankees Twitter account posts the lineup for the day’s game, and someone that 27 MLB teams would fall over themselves to sign is sitting on the bench. Once a week its Giancarlo Stanton, then the next day it might be DJ LeMahieu, and after that Josh Donaldson. This is a deliberate and calculated choice. Part of it comes down to the Yankees having so much talent that it’s just too hard to get them all into starting slots — you only have nine...
Bears Blog | Chicago Breaking Sports Jun 13, 2022
Yankees’ Josh Donaldson’s 1-game ban upheld by MLB and fine is cut to $5,000 for ‘Jackie’ remark to Tim Anderson
Major League Baseball has upheld Josh Donaldson’s one-game suspension, a penalty that was assessed after the New York Yankees third baseman made a remark to White Sox star Tim Anderson about Jackie Robinson.
Minneapolis Star-Tribune Jun 8, 2022
Josh Donaldson doesn't regret time with Twins, but fine with being traded to Yankees
Injuries and losses marred Josh Donaldson's two seasons in Minnesota before his trade to New York in March. "Our record speaks for itself," he said.
Minneapolis Star-Tribune Jun 7, 2022
Josh Donaldson doesn't regret time spent with Twins, but enjoys Yankees' winning ways
Injuries and losses marred Josh Donaldson's two seasons in Minnesota before his trade to New York in March.
Pinstripe Alley Jun 7, 2022
NYY @ MIN: Jameson Taillon vs. Cole Sands
Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via The Yankees hit the road to play some familiar faces in Minnesota. The New York Yankees find themselves exactly one-third of the way through their 2022 schedule. And what a 54-game stretch it was. The Bronx Bombers sit alone atop the American League East with the best record in baseball. Now, as the club advances deeper into the marathon of a full season, they find themselves in Minnesota to play the Twins, a frequent Yankee punching bag and 2021 off-season trade partner. Josh Donaldson makes his return to Minnesota, and the Yankees...
Pinstripe Alley Jun 7, 2022
Checking in on Gio Urshela and Gary Sánchez
Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/ With a series against the Twins coming up, it’s time to check on a couple of former Yankees. If one had to pick the single most consequential move of the Yankees offseason, it’d almost certainly be the mid-March trade with the Minnesota Twins. The deal that sent Gio Urshela and Gary Sánchez to Minnesota for the services of Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Ben Rortvedt spoke volumes not only by the departures and arrivals but also by what they meant. It became clear that the Yankees were going to prioritize defense...
