CHICAGO – Surveying a club that had lost three straight series to non-playoff contenders, Yankees GM Brian Cashman provided an unsurprising assessment.
“I don’t think we’re playing up to our abilities recently,’’ Cashman said Friday. “I think everybody would acknowledge that.’’
Ahead of a three-game series at Wrigley Field, against a Chicago Cubs team on the fringe of an NL wild card race, Cashman said “it’s crunch time’’ for the Yankees.
“It’s been crunch time,’’ said Cashman, with his team a half-game behind the division-leading Baltimore Orioles as the weekend began.
“The ultimate goal is to win the American League East first and foremost and we have a shot to do that,’’ Cashman said. “But we’ve got work to do.’’
Why is Jasson Dominguez still in the minors?
According to Cashman, switch-hitting outfielder Jasson Dominguez is “doing everything he needs to be doing right now,’’ but Alex Verdugo is the organization’s choice in left field.
The conversations and evaluations continue, and “we’re always in a position to change our minds at some point, too,’’ said Cashman. “Right now, we’re staying put with what we’ve got.’’
Since Aug. 14, Dominguez was batting .363 (29-for-80) at Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre entering Friday, with five homers. Over his last two games, he’s 5-for-9 with two homers.
In his last 11 games since Aug. 24, Verdugo is batting .341 (14-for-41) with a double and a homer.
“Verdugo’s playing better baseball recently,’’ said Cashman, adding that if Dominguez were to be called up, “he’s got to play. He’s not going to come up and just sit.’’
Fast summary : The Yankees could easily carve a spot for Dominguez by making him their everyday left fielder, putting Verdugo in a reserve role. Verdugo's diminished value as a bench player might be a factor. But with Dominguez hitting well at Triple-A, his looming presence puts added pressure on Verdugo to keep up his performance.
Brian Cashman's take on the Yankees' closer situation
Cashman called Clay Holmes “an exceptional reliever’’ who’s “not as bad as the 11 blown saves,’’ capped by Tuesday’s loss at Texas that spurred the Yanks to get creative with the closer role.
“Everybody’s checking egos at the door, they know it’s all hands on deck to try to find a way to get those 27 outs,’’ said Cashman, trusting manager Aaron Boone and his staff to “figure out the best lanes’’ for relievers.
Ian Hamilton (lat strain) is due to be activated Saturday, while the rehabbing Lou Trivino and the recently demoted Scott Effross could return as part of the bullpen mix.
Holmes could eventually find himself back in the closer’s spot. “We’ll be counting on him the rest of the way, whenever Boonie calls him,’’ Cashman said.
Fast summary : Cashman noted the "quality'' arms currently in his bullpen, but Holmes remains the Yankees' best closer option, and you'd anticipate him finding a way back into that role before October.
Which starters might become bullpen factors in October?
Clarke Schmidt’s return to the rotation Saturday (lat strain) follows Luis Gil’s comeback Friday, but one or both could eventually wind up as a bullpen option down the stretch and into postseason.
“Having these arms back should make us better, regardless of how they get positioned’’ moving forward, said Cashman, who currently has six starters for five spots.
Nestor Cortes is available out of the bullpen Saturday, and the Yanks will go to a six-man rotation at least once before narrowing the field.
“The more the merrier,’’ said Cashman. “How that dominoes on who gets pushed into the ‘pen…we’re all going to find out.’’
Fast summary : Cortes' bullpen cameo might be an October hint. Gil is valued as a starter, but his stuff would play up even greater as a reliever - if they decide he can handle such a role. Schmidt seems more of a choice to move into that Michael King-type multi-inning, late-weapon spot.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Takeaways: Yankees GM Brian Cashman addresses Jasson Dominguez, bullpen struggles and more
Local News
Comments / 0