Soto or Nowhere: The Official 2024 New York Yankees Off-Season Thread

[Mantis Toboggan M.D.]

This team is so fun to watch

All that’s missing right now is for judge, Torres, and the catcher spot to heat up. Also I like to see a bunch of players who try to steal bases, but if they can at least from time to time score from first on a double, get from first to third on a single, and take advantage of wild pitches, that’ll help a lot.

 

[NYC Rebel]

In my 40+ years of being a Yankee fan, Ive never seen a player be a trigger for the team as has Juan Soto.

Never….like an immediate light switch trigger

 

[Mantis Toboggan M.D.]

In my 40+ years of being a Yankee fan, Ive never seen a player be a trigger for the team as has Juan Soto.

Never….like an immediate light switch trigger

I remember watching the America’s game about the 1999 rams where dikk Vermeil talks about Marshall Faulk in this regard in what he did for the rams offense. I’ve seen some role player signings in basketball that allowed an entire rotation and substitution pattern to properly fall into place (the 2012-13 Heat signing the birdman did this for their bench & defense which happened right before the 27 game win streak). I’ve never seen a guy have this effect on a baseball team. I’ve never seen in baseball a single guy joins a team and seems to change the entire culture and attitude of the team. I know it’s kinda ridiculous to say it barely 10% of the way into the season, but he’s gotta be the favorite to win the AL MVP award now.


On a related note, Verdugo has turned out to be a pretty good move that warrants praise too. He’s getting on base at a good rate, he’s hitting doubles (remember the 2021-23 teams all finished 30th in doubles), he’s working counts, and he’s clearly brought some personality to a team that badly needed it. Didn’t think I’d like that move, but it’s looking good so far.

 

[NYC Rebel]

I remember watching the America’s game about the 1999 rams where dikk Vermeil talks about Marshall Faulk in this regard in what he did for the rams offense. I’ve seen some role player signings in basketball that allowed an entire rotation and substitution pattern to properly fall into place (the 2012-13 Heat signing the birdman did this for their bench & defense which happened right before the 27 game win streak). I’ve never seen a guy have this effect on a baseball team. I’ve never seen in baseball a single guy joins a team and seems to change the entire culture and attitude of the team. I know it’s kinda ridiculous to say it barely 10% of the way into the season, but he’s gotta be the favorite to win the AL MVP award now.


On a related note, Verdugo has turned out to be a pretty good move that warrants praise too. He’s getting on base at a good rate, he’s hitting doubles (remember the 2021-23 teams all finished 30th in doubles), he’s working counts, and he’s clearly brought some personality to a team that badly needed it. Didn’t think I’d like that move, but it’s looking good so far.

Bro… I’m staying abroad and I’ve only seen one Yankee game. So I catch up on the highlights and just see it. Its wild

 

[UpAndComing]

How's my Yankees doing so far?

I'm not the biggest Baseball fan, but I always root for them

 

[Juggalo Fred]

How's my Yankees doing so far?

I'm not the biggest Baseball fan, but I always root for them

12-3

 

[Remote]

It's only April 14 but the Yankees lead the Majors in Walk rate at 13.7%
This jives with what we've seen -- the Yankees this year are being very patient at the plate.

They were patient last year too (9.3%, and 5th in the Majors) but 13.7% is a lot higher than 9.3%
You don't expect that kind of rate to remain that high all year, but it's a fantastic start.

Statistically speaking - around a 10% walk rate for an entire season would lead the league.

Last season, the Yankees had a 23.9% strikeout rate.
Early in 2024, it's just 19.3%.

The numbers will even out somewhat, but if this trend continues....the Yankees walking more and striking out less...they will be more consistent.
One of the major criticisms of Yankees teams in the last few years has been how streaky the roster could be. When the HRs and Doubles were landing, they looked great. When they didn't, they looked awful.

If guys like Soto, Volpe and eventually Verdugo maintain relatively good batting averages, that would help level out the spikes (good and bad)

 

[Remote]

Nestor Cortes vs Logan Allen
Neither guy here figures to strike a bunch of batters out so this will be an interesting day.

Yankees should win today but depending on how much the balls land in play, this could be a death-by-a-thousand-cuts kind of game.

 

[Juggalo Fred]

Nestor Cortes vs Logan Allen
Neither guy here figures to strike a bunch of batters out so this will be an interesting day.

Yankees should win today but depending on how much the balls land in play, this could be a death-by-a-thousand-cuts kind of game.

Let's go Nestor

 

[Remote]

Sometimes you wonder how much a great player can influence or teach other guys on your team.

I don't want to overstate Juan Soto's influence but when you have a player whose bat stays in the hitting zone as long as Soto's and who has the kind of approach that he does, you wonder how much that can rub off and help other guys ... especially young ones like Volpe.

 

[g-ice]

Rizzo

 

[puggle]

Did Rizzo have a few drinks before the game? the fukk

 

[g-ice]

GOT

469 for Judge

3-0

 

[Ron Mexico]

Volpe getting on base in front of Soto and Judge will be a nightmare for pitchers.

 

[g-ice]

Trevino