I’m so happy! Baseball is back. New York Yankees baseball is back! Sure spring training baseball can be a messy debacle but it’s also a time to dream big and of course, overreact on Twitter. I have a few of those such observations and “overreactions” below.
How’s this one? General Manager Brian Cashman’s trade of Starlin Castro for Adam Warren, is the modern Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio. Castro showed off his impressive range from shortstop Wednesday. Did I mention Castro was playing second base? Castro also collected the Yanks first base knock on the spring, notching two on the afternoon, along with an RBI. Like Brock, who averaged 187 hits per season, Castro has averaged 180 on his young career. Both Brock and Castro were traded by the Cubs at age 25. Considering the debacle second base has been the past two seasons, Castro is already a breath of fresh air.
Yeah, he'll fit in just fine … https://t.co/jxglezQpYh #NYYSpring pic.twitter.com/P45Q7TJwix
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 2, 2016
Another solid Cashman move, which didn’t seem like much at first glance, from the deflating 2015 trade deadline, was the acquisition of Dustin Ackley for Ramon Flores and Jose Ramirez. He may not have a set position but Ackley can flat out hit. Ackley, who wrapped a two-run double during the spring opener, batted .288 down the stretch last year.
Finally, the best move Cashman didn’t make at the 2015 trade deadline was not moving shortstop Jorge Mateo to the San Diego Padres for Craig Kimbrel. As it turned out, the Yankees eventually got Aroldis Chapman for less and kept a stud in Mateo. Mateo can hit and he can flat out fly. Mateo’s speed was on full display Wednesday afternoon against the Detroit Tigers, smacking a triple… to left field. Yankees hitting coordinator James Rowson, compared Mateo to Alfonso Soriano and it may be an apt comparison before long.
Jorge Mateo is as FAST as advertised. https://t.co/ahIPSciV0d #Stud pic.twitter.com/SrjspOPtXk
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 3, 2016
