[dieterbrock]

It's going to be one of 'those years'. Seve is out until who knows when. CC will start the season on the DL. Didi may not be back until August. Wow!!!!

Well.... Sevy may be a set back, or it may be exactly what they are saying. Need his arm in September/October, don't need him in March. If its only going to be the 2-3 weeks they are saying, no big deal.
On CC? Well.... I'd fire anyone in the organization that is surprised he isn't ready to go. The fugh they have any dependence on him at this stage in his career is beyond me. I'm glad they didn't sign Corbin, and don't want Keuchel, but the lack of another starter being added was always puzzling to me.
They will be fine, may need to win a few 8-6 games early on is all

[PARAM]

Well.... Sevy may be a set back, or it may be exactly what they are saying. Need his arm in September/October, don't need him in March. If its only going to be the 2-3 weeks they are saying, no big deal.
On CC? Well.... I'd fire anyone in the organization that is surprised he isn't ready to go. The fugh they have any dependence on him at this stage in his career is beyond me. I'm glad they didn't sign Corbin, and don't want Keuchel, but the lack of another starter being added was always puzzling to me.
They will be fine, may need to win a few 8-6 games early on is all

Like you said, CC not being ready shouldn't be a surprise. Combine that with the fact Seve won't be ready and it's an early issue. I wanted Corbin, would have taken Keuchel. Then when Seve went out some were saying go get Gio. Would love him. His competitiveness and another left won't hurt. But Cashmen seems to be fine with Joey Lasagna and German.

[dieterbrock]

Like you said, CC not being ready shouldn't be a surprise. Combine that with the fact Seve won't be ready and it's an early issue. I wanted Corbin, would have taken Keuchel. Then when Seve went out some were saying go get Gio. Would love him. His competitiveness and another left won't hurt. But Cashmen seems to be fine with Joey Lasagna and German.

I like Johnny Lasagna, and look forward to seeing him pitch. Im with Cashman on that one. But Gio? And allegedly he'd sign a short 1-2 year deal? They're nuts not to bring him in.

[PARAM]

GioRumor

The Yankees are nearing a Minor League contract with left-hander Gio Gonzalez, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reports. The deal will pay Gonzalez $3 million in base salary if he makes New York's Major League roster, per Feinsand, and the veteran lefty can ask for his release if he is not added to the roster by April 20.

The Yankees have not confirmed the deal, but manager Aaron Boone shared his opinion on the reported news.

"Excited to get some depth," Boone said. "Looking forward to getting him in here and seeing what we got. You can never have enough pitching."

Gonzalez, 33, was among the most accomplished starters remaining on the free-agent market after going 10-11 with a 4.21 ERA with the Nationals and Brewers last season. Washington dealt its long-tenured southpaw to Milwaukee on Aug. 31 along with international bonus pool money for two Minor Leaguers, and Gonzalez went 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA across five starts down the stretch for the Crew. He also made two brief starts against the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

"Obviously [we like] the curveball, still an effective pitcher at this point in his career," Boone said. "Right now, especially being a couple guys down, to have a guy like him still available, [it's] a luxury to be able to add him just for some depth."

While it's highly unlikely that Gonzalez will be on the Yankees' Opening Day roster, he could eventually slot in toward the back of their rotation or serve as a long man out of the bullpen while the club waits for ace Luis Severino to return from a shoulder injury that's expected to sideline him until at least May. New York's rotation mix likely consists of Opening Day starter Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton, J.A. Happ and either Domingo German or Luis Cessa, with CC Sabathia likely joining the group sometime in April.

Gonzalez owns a career 3.69 ERA across 313 Major League appearances (307 starts) and has averaged 187 innings per season over the last nine campaigns with Oakland, Washington and Milwaukee. He has finished as high as third in NL Cy Young voting, with that placement coming with the Nationals in 2012.

Tanaka, Paxton, Happ, Cessa and Gio to start the season? I like it. If Gio lights it up there are awesome options. Trade Cessa. Not likely. Trade German. Possibly. Trade Gio. Possibly.

[dieterbrock]

Tanaka, Paxton, Happ, Cessa and Gio to start the season? I like it. If Gio lights it up there are awesome options. Trade Cessa. Not likely. Trade German. Possibly. Trade Gio. Possibly.

Lets see how long it takes Gio to get up to speed. Doubt he'll be ready for opening week
Glad they got him, starting lineup looks pretty weak past Happ, and Happ has been getting knocked around all ST

[Horny Mcbae]

Finally real games are back.

Tanaka looked really sharp today. But duuuuuddeee Ottavino DOMINATED. He just blew batters away. How the eff does he have that much movement on his pitches. Holy hell. Cash signed a gem.

Bird looked woeful until his homer in garbage time. Voit looked amazing. Miggy could have had 2 homeruns today. Came soooooo close. Tulo was kinda OK. The bash brothers looked soooooo good. Both Stanton and Judge. Showed such good discipline in not going after pitches outside the box. So good to see that especially from those 2.

I am super excited to see Pax on Saturday. @dieterbrock @PARAM You guys excited?

[dieterbrock]

Beyond stoked @Horny Mcbae
Ottavino looks nasty and I love picking up a guy who grew up a yankee fan

Have to love a win, but I’m a little ticked that Bird got the start at 1B on opening day. I was pulling for Bird to make the team, I’m still a believer in that lefty stroke, but NOT at Voit’s expense

[Horny Mcbae]

Beyond stoked @Horny Mcbae
Ottavino looks nasty and I love picking up a guy who grew up a yankee fan

Have to love a win, but I’m a little ticked that Bird got the start at 1B on opening day. I was pulling for Bird to make the team, I’m still a believer in that lefty stroke, but NOT at Voit’s expense

The first thing the YES network showed when Boone brought in Vino was a pic of him as a kid with Cone. Must be an amazing feeling to play for your hometown team.
Look at this filth...…….



I felt bad for the hitters. WTF are you supposed to do with that.

Bird at 1B was disappointing to me. I really want him to succeed but time is short for him and it looks like Voit was no fluke last season.

All is all the team looked really good. If our starting pitching can hold the fort I feel really good about our chances.

[PARAM]

I think Bird being in the lineup (and productive) is uber important. They don't have many lefties.....none with Didi and Hicks out. And he's much, much better defensively than Voit. Voit is perfect in the DH spot with Giancarlo in left. Boone has a lot of options all over the roster and field. Even moreso once the injured get back.

@HMCB...I'm stoked of course. And Ottavino was awesome. Man that bullpen.....Chapman, Britton, Ottavino, Betances, Green, Holder and/or Kahnle. I know Holder did a great job last year but I really like Kahnle a bit more.

[dieterbrock]

@PARAM Kahnle is like the current day Brian Bruney. Little girl with the curl. Hopefully he gets that FB back.
I like Bird in the lineup too, Stanton can play LF.