Spring training has just begun and the New York Yankees leave us with many unanswered questions. Here are the fan’s answers.
The New York Yankees are going through a partial rebuild. The team is no longer about a massive veteran presence like it has been for the past few years.
No, it is about letting the hot, young prospects come up and giving them a shot at becoming the next great thing. That’s pretty cool for a franchise that prides itself on their incredible farm system.
So here we are, witnessing players of all ages come up to the plate in spring training and show off their skills. But in the midst of all this, there are so many unanswered questions swirling through the minds of fans.
What will the team look like? Who will start? Will experience triumph over youth?
Sometimes all it takes to get the answers is to ask some of the most knowledgeable people in the sport: the fans. So here are the results of some of the biggest questions the Yankees need to answer this season.
1. Gardner vs. Ellsbury
Their take: Who should stay and who should go? If the Yankees had to choose one to part ways with, who would it be?
Well, the fans have spoken and Brett Gardner would stay…by only a slim margin.
My take: Gardner should stay. Jacoby Ellsbury may have boasted a better batting average last season (.263 to Gardner’s .261) but Gardner proved to be an asset in the field, winning his first career Gold Glove.
In addition, Gardner doesn’t seem to get injured as often as Ellsbury. Even though the two have played in the same number of games last season (148), Ellsbury missed time in previous seasons because of injury when Gardner did not. Being brittle makes it a little more difficult to trust.
Gardner may not have had his best season, but his inconsistencies weren’t as glaringly obvious as Ellsbury’s. My take is to keep the homegrown athlete you’ve developed if you had to choose.
2. What should we do with Chase Headley?
Their take: With an overwhelming majority, the consensus is that Chase Headley will not spend all of 2017 with the Yankees. Sorry, Headley, you just don’t fit in with the plan of the future Yankees.
My take: Absolutely right. While Headley improved defensively this season, the Yankees have so much talent coming up that he would soon be pushed out of a starting position anyway. Miguel Andujar is already turning heads and Jorge Mateo could even make a run at third base.
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There’s no point in keeping Headley if they have some younger players willing to come up and perform. Many thought Headley would be gone come next season and they are right. However, I think the Yankees will try to make a move for him at the deadline, especially if he’s still got value.
Headley is a great character and leader in the clubhouse but his on-field play is not something fans are excited over. He’ll do fine wherever he ends up but right now the Yankees are focusing on the future. Headley likely will not be a part of that come the trade deadline.
3. Who will win the starting spot in right field?
Their take: By a huge margin, the 6-foot-7 Aaron Judge emerges victorious. It’s not hard to believe since Judge’s performance so far in spring training has been impressive, to say the least.
My take: Judge will definitely take the starting spot over Aaron Hicks. While Hicks has more experience, he also has never played a full season in the major leagues. Neither has Judge.
Both are starting off with a clean slate and despite Judge’s strikeout issue last season, he seems to have made some improvements to his swing that will allow him to better utilize his power.
Hicks never really impressed at the plate but has a stellar arm in the field. That means nothing unless he can prove that he can hit. Right now, Judge is showing that he can do both.
We assumed that Judge would get the starting spot since he spent time there last year and now we are more confident that not only will he start, but he’ll excel.
4. Who gets the final two rotation spots?
Their take: Luis Severino and Bryan Mitchell are the ones to watch for the final two starting spots. Both took starts last year and showed some weaknesses, but fans are sure they’ll be starters four and five going into Opening Day.
My take: I do not agree. I am a huge proponent of Severino in the bullpen, as with his performance last season. Sure, I don’t think we should give up on him as a starter but I also believe his skills would be magnified in the ‘pen.
Mitchell only pitched two innings but he showed amazing promise as a potential starter. Missing the majority of the season with a broken toe, Mitchell never really got the chance to show the Yankees what he was made of. I believe Mitchell can make a difference and will be the fourth starter for the Yankees.
My other pick would be Luis Cessa. He gave up several home runs last season but overall was strong, poised and showed some raw talent. Still young, Cessa will be able to develop into an ace but it will take time. The Yankees need to give him the fifth spot to let him do his thing.
I choose Mitchell and Cessa but I can see why the fans would choose otherwise. We’ll see what happens the rest of spring training.
5. Should the Yankees keep Joe Girardi if they don’t make the playoffs or drop him?
Their take: 73 percent of voters believe Joe Girardi should stay in the Bronx, regardless of his performance next season. A lot of Girardi supporters in this crew.
My take: I’ve been pretty vocal about my need for the Yankees to move on from Girardi after this season and my opinion hasn’t changed. While I like Girardi and what he does for the youth of the Yankees, I feel that it’s time for them to try something new.
He brought them a World Series championship with an aging team and while he might be in his element with these younger kids, I think the Yankees need a change in management.
So far in spring training, Brian Cashman has been discussing how Gardner and Ellsbury need to be separated in the lineup. Girardi has yet to do that. I think he is a little too loyal to his players to make too many changes.
Girardi, you’ve done so much for the Yankees organization. However, it’s probably time for a new manager.
6. Clint Frazier’s new nickname?
Their take: On perhaps the most important question asked, the fans have decided that Clint Frazier shall hereby be referred to as “Red Thunder,” which secured 87 percent of the vote.
My take: Personally, I’m a huge fan of the Ginger God but beggars can’t be choosers. The fans have spoken and the verdict is in. We’ve seen the emergence of Red Thunder and he isn’t going away anytime soon.
But the Ginger God? Or the Ginger Stallion? Come on, guys!
We have all season to figure it out.