On the Throne Again?

What passes for baseball wisdom has the Yankees back on top of the baseball world because they went out and traded for Marlins’ slugger Giancarlo Stanton, he of the 59 homeruns in 2017.  Put Stanton with Aaron Judge, the “thinking” goes, and you have a pennant winner.  Allow me to ever-so-modestly disagree.

For openers, consider team chemistry.  The Judge-Stanton combination may not be the second coming of Maris-Mantle (which had its tensions), not when you factor in a $325 million contract that might make a second-year player more than a little envious (to say nothing of his teammates).  And who’s going to play right field, given that both Judge and Stanton did last year?  In eight years, Stanton has played one game in center field and thirteen as a DH.  Last I heard, it’s not a good idea having two outfielders in right.

Speaking of eight years, Stanton has never played on a winning ball club in the majors.  Tell me, at what point do you stop feeling sorry for him and start wondering if he’s part of the problem?  Take a look at the under-30 talent on the 2017Marlins: Stanton with his 59 homers; Marcell Ozuna (312. BA, 37 hr, 124 RBIs; Dee Gordon (.308 BA, 114 runs scored); Christian Yelich (.278 BA, 100 runs scored); Justin Bour (.289 BA, 25 hr, 83 RBIs in just 429 at-bats).  And they only went 77-85?  Hmm.

With all the hoopla over Stanton, people in need of a reality check might want to take a look at Yankee pitching.  The pinstripes are a tad thin in starting pitching.  Only three starters reached double figures in wins, and one of them, C.C. Sabathia, is a free agent.  Stanton and Judge will help win those 10-9 games, sure, but what about 1-0 and 3-2 contests?  Didn’t closer Aroldis Chapman have arm trouble on and off last season?  Hmm.

On top of Stanton having to adjust to a new team, all the Yankees are going to have to adjust to a new manager with Joe Girardi gone.  Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman must think the world of Aaron Boone, or why else would he have hired Boone to replace Girardi?  Cashman doesn’t seem concerned that the next major-league game Boone manages will be his first.  Hmm.

So, with all due respect for the talking heads on the MLB Network, I won't be making way for that new Yankees’ dynasty just yet.