Welcome back to Yankees Twitter Reacts, my column filled with the best and worst takes, funniest tweets, reactions to Yankees news, and everything in between from our beloved Yankees Twitter. I want this to be as fan interactive as possible, so remember to hashtag #BPYankeesTwitter or tag me at @T_Danks_to join the conversation and submit the best and worst tweets of the week!
This week was a quiet one for Yankees Twitter to say the least. There was a lack of news coming from Yankees camp. it seems as though we are in the dog days of spring training. Between Aaron Boone’s comment about Luke Voit and Odell Beckham Jr. being traded to the Browns, here is this week’s edition of Yankees Twitter Reacts.
Check out last week’s breakdown in case you missed it.
Heads up: I will be on vacation all of next week, so there will be no Yankees Twitter Reacts. I’ll be back in full force ready for opening week, as the next edition will be released on March 29 — the day after Opening Day!
NEWS OF THE WEEK – BOONE’S COMMENTS ABOUT VOIT
I wasn’t kidding when I said there wasn’t any news.
As we know, the most important spring training battle is the one at first base, between Luke Voit and Greg Bird. Boone and Cashman have said multiple times they do not plan on keeping both guys on the roster, and view DJ LeMahieu as the backup first baseman.
On Wednesday, there may have been some clarity on who will be on the roster come Opening Day. When asked about Voit hitting cleanup, Boone used language that may have inferred Voit will win the first base competition. Yankees Twitter chimed in on these comments and gave their take on the competition.
Here's Luke Voit, whom Aaron Boone has hitting in the cleanup spot tonight. Boone said that could carry into the season.
"I could see him possibly being in the three hole, too. I’m definitely considering him in a couple places. You could see him anywhere from third to sixth."
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) March 13, 2019
I think Luke Voit still has that "leg up" in the first base competition. Aaron Boone was wearing this shirt around the clubhouse this afternoon. (Seriously.) pic.twitter.com/DdeahF9I4w
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) March 13, 2019
YANKEES TWITTER REACTS TO BOONE’S COMMENTS
He’s had his chances. What has he ever shown? Atleast Luke voit has shown us something… The only reason why bird is on this team because the Yankees think he may be something one day which I think he won’t
— Alex (@aa091200) March 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/WesReyes__/status/1106235713941630981
Not that it matters but..
Luke Voit – .280/2/6/.400/920
Greg Bird – .347/1/6/.371/1.042Great Problem to have, gonna suck that they both can't be in the lineup.#Yankees
— Chris Baldassano (@Baldassano) March 14, 2019
If I'm being honest based on ST both Bird and Voit deserve to go north for the season. #Yankees
— NYYTheReplacements (@MikeDesorbo1) March 14, 2019
Sounds like Voit might be the guy. As he should be
— David Bruder (@DBYankees1) March 13, 2019
Aaron Boone is back in my good books
Imagine the message this sends to Greg Bird. Even if they both make the team..
Boone loves Voit, like we couldn't tell before…but this is so awesome…
— New York Yankees Snob (@davidtabrown) March 13, 2019
If youre a Yankees fan and you dont love Voit there is something seriously wrong with you and you should be sent to the sun. #yankees
— TRUSTYPINSTRIPES (@TRUSTYPINSTRIP1) March 13, 2019
Bird is outhitting Voit this spring (usual qualifications apply) but he's not good enough, and Voit isn't bad enough (or even bad), to overcome the status quo ante. Some encouraging things with Voit's defense too. Maybe w/ injuries they consider carrying both to start the season
— Virginia Yankee (@VirginiaYankee1) March 13, 2019
ODELL BECKHAM JR. TRADED TO BROWNS
This is football news, you say? Indeed it is, but that didn’t stop Yankees Twitter from getting involved. Being a New York area team, many Yankee fans are also heavily invested in the Giants. The blockbuster trade that sent the young Giants superstar to the Browns certainly angered a lot of those New York fans, and they couldn’t help but bring up the Yankees when talking about it.
My thoughts on the Beckham trade and how the Yankees are my only hope https://t.co/I3rVBckHDn
— Ser Brin of the Blackwater (@BrinAllDay) March 13, 2019
Dear @Yankees ,
The @nyknicks traded away Kristaps Porzingis…
The @Giants now traded away Odell Beckham Jr.I love you dearly, but I must make this clear:
PLEASE DON’T EVER TRADE AARON JUDGE, OUR FRANCHISE PLAYER
— Nick Delahanty (@Nick_Delahanty) March 13, 2019
Sorry everyone. Not going to put out a postgame today. Not feeling it after my heart was robbed following the trade of Odell Beckham Jr. The Yankees won 8-7 and Judge hit a 2 run homer and Andujar went 3-3. I don’t know when it will sink in, but we will see. #Giants #Yankees
— NYY (24-16) (@report_yankee) March 13, 2019
We really traded Zucc, Kristaps, and Odell this year.. go Yankees, I guess..?
— J (@jrstl314) March 13, 2019
Thank god for my Yankees, cause the giants are about to be straight CHEEKS for the next like 5+ years. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been preaching about the giants trading Odell for the past 2 years, but now that it’s actually happened, and seeing the return for him…state of shock.
— Kyle (@L0gicalth0ughtz) March 13, 2019
All I have is the Yankees now☹️. Knicks and Giants are both inept. HOW DID WE TRADE ODELL!!!
— Chris Tort (@christort24) March 13, 2019
Things I can still enjoy as a NY sports fan:
Knicks:
– Winning ❌
– Kristaps Porzingis ❌Giants:
– Winning ❌
– Odell Beckham Jr. ❌
– Saquon Barkley ✅Yankees ✅✅✅
— Jerek Deter (@sean_hanlon) March 13, 2019
Is this the face of New York sports? 🤔🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/WxvQ1fJcKA
— Intentional Talk (@IntentionalTalk) March 13, 2019
WORST TAKE OF THE WEEK
Idk how the @Yankees put their trust on hicks this guys is always hurt unbelievable if it wasn’t for Greg bird he would be the one getting blasted for always been injured
— KING_KAGINS🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴 (@KING_KAGINS) March 13, 2019
You’re not wrong about Hicks’ injury history, but he was a vital part of the team last year and will be again in 2019. Despite an early April injury, Hicks actually played in a career-high 137 games. Further, as I’ve wrote about in previous blogs, Hicks ranks among the best AL centerfielders in fWAR over the past two seasons. His 8.2 fWAR in that timeframe only ranks behind Mike Trout and Tommy Pham.
Boone has been on the record saying that Hicks might just be the most underrated player in all of baseball. Yes, he has struggled with injuries, but these factors reveal why the Yankees put their trust in him. Plus, it’s wrong to say that Bird has been a coverup for Hicks, especially considering the season Hicks had in 2018.
BEST TAKE OF THE WEEK
Luke Voit’s clutch numbers in 2018 were a show:
Men on Base: 8 HR, 29 RBI, .383 AVG., 1.281 OPS
Men in Scoring Position: 3 HR, 19 RBI, .387 AVG, 1.246 OPS
High Leverage Situations: 1 HR, 6 RBI, .313 AVG, .853 OPS
Jersey Unzipped: 🐐HR 🐐RBI 🐐AVG 🐐OPSpic.twitter.com/d7FnbvJNvl— Joe Randazzo (Bronx Pinstripes writer) (@deflategator) March 14, 2019
This is more of a stats tweet, but with all the news surrounding Voit and the first base competition this week it seems appropriate. If you follow me on Twitter you know I’m a big Voit guy, and this right here is EXACTLY why.
One of the most frustrating things about the Yankees last season was leaving guys stranded in scoring position. That wasn’t an issue for Voit. As Joseph writes, Voit batted .387 with 19 RBI’s and an outstanding 1.246 OPS with men in scoring position in 2018 (including his time with the Cardinals).
Bird on the other hand batted .179 with a .702 OPS and had just as many hits as Voit despite having 50 more plate appearances. Credit to Joseph for these awesome (and factual) numbers that show the world what Luke Voit can be.
FUNNIEST TWEET OF THE WEEK
New bio…. pic.twitter.com/PayMxdXLM6
— Eric (@Eric_M888) March 13, 2019
Thanks for reading this week’s edition of Yankees Twitter Reacts! Remember, if you see something that you think deserves to be in the column next week, be sure to hashtag #BPYankeesTwitter or tag me on Twitter @T_Danks_ ! And be sure to listen to the most recent episode of The Bronx Pinstripes Show: http://smarturl.it/YankeesPodcast