From spring training to winter ball. A cold, losing Opening Day is still Opening Day. Though the New York Yankees aren’t going 162-0, baseball is back and that’s what matters. Even the initial “sky is falling” overreactions are welcomed because we’re talking about baseball that counts.
As the late great Yogi Berra once said, “You can observe a lot by watching.” Here’s what I observed in the Yankees 5-3 loss at the hands of the Houston Astros.
Decision vindicated: There was some buzz and controversy surrounding manager Joe Girardi’s benching of Jacoby Ellsbury, during the 2015 A.L. Wild Card game. Ellsbury started Opening Day and faced Dallas Keuchel, going a woeful 0-for-4 with two whiffs.
A new Starlin on Broadway: If his opening act is any indication, Starlin Castro won’t be batting eighth for long. Castro staked the Yanks to a 2-0 lead in the second stanza, doubling in two with a hit to left field. Plus, Castro made a pair of stellar putouts in the field, including a glove hand flip to first base.
All you need is glove. #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/yCsNQIuFex
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) April 5, 2016
Pegging runners now encouraged: I had this discussion on Twitter and for the life of me I can’t believe we still can’t get virtually all calls correct with the technology at hand in 2016. With the game knotted at two during the eighth inning, and Jose Altuve on base, Dellin Betances fielded a batted ball by Carlos Correa. Correa was running to first base on the grass, about four feet outside the baseline. Clearly trying to throw the ball around Correa, Betances airmailed a throw past Mark Teixeira, allowing Altuve to score. Stunningly, crew chief umpire Dana DeMuth noted if Betances had just thrown the ball at Correa, he would’ve been called out for impeding the throw. The only problem with this is, what fielder in the heat of a play is instinctively thinking about hitting the runner with the ball, on what’s ultimately a judgement call by the umpire? If you’re Betances, you’re thinking about throwing the ball to first base and getting the runner out, not relying on an umpire to make a judgement call.
Ump Dana DeMuth repeats what Girardi said: Betances should've hit Correa in the back and runner would've been out. https://t.co/QgJrKZvIu8
— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) April 5, 2016
Tanak on wood: Masahiro Tanaka gave the Yankees a nice outing and kept them in the game. That said, it’s still frustrating to see how cautious the Yankees have to be with Tanaka and it makes one wonder if he shouldn’t have just gone under the knife in 2014 and come back at full strength by this season? I don’t blame the Yankees for not wanting to push Tanaka beyond 87 pitches (the season is a marathon) on a frigid Opening Day. Yet, I’d like to see some durability and dominance out of my ace, especially given what the Yankees are paying Tanaka.
Didi goes deep deep: Didi Gregorius looks comfortable in the Bronx. In the home eighth, Gregorius connected on his and the Yankees first home run of the campaign. Sir Didi didn’t go yard until May 22 last season, so he’s way ahead of that 2015 pace.
Raising the Bar: With Adam Warren gone and Bryan Mitchell out for approximately four months, the team needs a bridge of trust. The debut of rookie righty Johnny Barbato went a long way toward that end. Heating up the radar readings, Barbato fanned three, across 1.1 flawless frames of work.
