BEN RICE
Ben Rice impressed this spring having gained weight, strength, bat speed and experience from last year’s 50 game cameo that started hot and ended very cold. If you recall, he had a 3-home run, 7 RBI game against the Boston Red Sox on July 6th that raised his batting average to .294 and his OPS to .972. Those were his high-water marks as he ended the season batting .171, with an OPS of .613 and a negative WAR.
Despite an 0 for 5 in tonight’s game against the Kansas City Royals, a 4-2 Yankees win, Rice is among MLBs leaders in multiple categories:
- 5 Home Runs (Tied 11th)
- 097 OPS (Tied 13th)
- 12 Runs scored (Tied 21st)
- 10 Walks (Tied 24th)
Now, it’s very early, but Rice has looked very comfortable leading off in front of the player that Juan Soto recently endorsed as the best hitter in baseball. Even though he has primarily been a DH with Giancarlo Stanton out with multiple injuries, Rice also brings position versatility with his ability to catch and play 1B. It is early, but from the time he reported to camp through now, he’s been a revelation.
BABY BOMBERS
The Original Baby Bombers that came up at the end of the Joe Girardi era included Tyler Austin, Greg Bird, Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez. That group arrived in New York with much fanfare and a lot of immediate pressure. Quietly, the Yankees have undergone a new youth movement.
4 home-grown players are regulars: Jasson Dominguez (22), Anthony Volpe (23), Austin Wells (25) and Rice (26). 2 home-grown players are platooning: Oswald Peraza (24) and Oswaldo Cabrera (26). Plus, last year’s deadline acquisition Jazz Chisholm, Jr is only 27 years old.
The New Edition Baby Bombers are not as publicized (sans Dominguez), but they are holding down 6 of the 9 lineup spots.
ICYMI Link “4 Thoughts About the Start of the New York Baseball Season”
DEVIN WILLIAMS
In tonight’s 4-2 win over the Royals, Devin Williams looked a lot like Mariano Rivera. Not only did he throw a perfect inning for his third save, but he also wore Mariano’s retired #42 in honor of MLB’s Jackie Robinson Day. Williams has been one of the best relievers in baseball the last five years, but he didn’t get off to the best start in pinstripes. He started to hear a few boos and some rants on social media. I blame that on Mariano who spoiled Yankee fans with his one-of-a-kind consistency, longevity and resiliency. He doesn’t get much credit for that last one, but he blew the save in game 7 of the 2001 World Series and went on to pitch 12 more seasons, winning another championship and eventually becoming the only player to receive 100% of the vote to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Williams seemingly has reset from his first few games and is starting to resemble the guy who pitched to a 1.83 ERA in 241 games and 235 2/3 innings as a Milwaukee Brewer. If he puts up those type of numbers, the Yankees should make it back to the postseason and Williams should secure a bag at the end of the year as a pending free agent.
For this one day, Jackie Robinson Day, he looked like Mariano Rivera. Yankee fans will embrace him if the rest of the way he looks like Devin Williams.
AARON JUDGE
Surprisingly, Judge has been more in the news lately for what Juan Soto said a few days ago and yesterday’s announcement that he will captain Team USA in next year’s World Baseball Classic. The buzz around the Yankees this spring has primarily focused on losing Soto, spring training injuries, beards, torpedo bats, concern for the rotation and a little mixture of Fried Rice and Jazz.
Meanwhile, here’s what Judge has done early this season:
- .494 on-base percentage (1st in league)
- 224 OPS (2nd in league)
- 20 RBI (tied 2nd in league)
- 6 home runs (tied 2nd in league
- .382 batting average (3rd in league)
Is it possible that we take #99 for granted?
ICYMI Link “By The Numbers: Who’s Next for Jersey Retirement in New York Sports”
