I've Got Mid-season Anger Toward This Team

I just don’t trust Aaron Boone or the rest of the Yankees brass. They are not ingenuous, purposely vague and quite frankly, dishonest. This crap about Aaron Judge likely “being ready” to play tonight’s game against Pittsburgh, to DJ LeMahieu‘s latest foot injury to Gerrit Cole “being saved” from a more serious injury, I am already over it. I have mid-season anger toward this team, and it is a week before Opening Day.

“Aaron Judge’s abdominal injury raised more concern than initially expected when his initial return date was pushed back and he didn’t do batting practice on Monday despite it being scheduled,” reports Sports Illustrated. Aaron Boone says that Judge should be ready for tonight. We shall see. As the skipper said on Talkin’ Yanks Podcast on Tuesday, “I do feel like he is playing tomorrow. That’s my plan. I’ve sent out the lineup with him in it.”

Judge does not have an abdominal tear and yes, I am grateful. But who really knows the extent of the injury and if the Yankees are actual being truthful. As Boone said, “He really just experienced some soreness in that core area, but that’s why I think they were super cautious with going and making sure they got some images of it. It didn’t show anything, so we’ve just been treating it and making sure he’s ramped up and good to go,” the manager explained.

Then during a mid-game interview with YES on Sunday, Boone shared that “opening day is just a day” and it is not worth getting worked up about when it comes to ensuring that LeMahieu is healthy and ready. I think it is more than that. LeMahieu took a foul ball off the foot, causing a bad bruise. “I just want to make sure he’s good to go when we start. The news we’ve gotten on him is good. He’s even in here today on the off day and looks even better today,” said Boone as reported Sports Illustrated. 

The 35-year-old infielder has been in and out of the lineup over the last couple of years due to a toe injury. This bone bruise is unfortunate. And I am concerned it is more than what they are saying. The Yankees injuries seem to linger. It is just their thing.

When it comes to the Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole, I just don’t know. He is shut down from all throwing for three to four weeks with nerve inflammation and edema. According to CBS Sports, “Assuming all goes well in that time, Cole will begin the slow process of building back up and will likely need six weeks to build up arm strength again, so we’re looking at, in all likelihood, late-May return to action for Cole.” We will be lucky if we see him before the All-Star Break – that’s my prediction.

Other than LeMahieu whose injury this spring is really just part of playing the game, how can Judge and Cole fail to stay healthy in SPRING Training? The Yankees seek to sell tickets and keep the stands full of adoring fans who buy things. As my friend said earlier this week via a text message, “Vague is exactly the Yankees toward the media and fans.” Yea, I already have the anger I would typically have in June now in March. And it’s like who’s next? Who will be part of the next cover up? Trust me there will be more. 

–Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof