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Aaron Judge is passing on the Home Run Derby again despite the new $1M winner’s prize

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(Presswire)

You can forget about Aaron Judge participating in the Home Run Derby anytime soon. Last week Judge told Ken Davidoff and Anthony Rieber he is done with the event despite the new $1M winner’s prize. “The only thing that will make me want to participate would be if the All-Star Game would ever be in New York City again,” he said.

“Maybe if the All-Star break was a week long and I actually had a break, I would be more enticed to do it. But the money doesn’t change it,” Judge added. “It affected me because I hurt my shoulder. But my swing-wise, no. I was just taking BP. That was probably the worst thing having to hear every single day, people saying, ‘Did it affect you?’ Nah, it was a day of BP. It doesn’t really affect me. If I didn’t get hurt, it would have been a different story.”

Judge won the 2017 Home Run Derby with hilarious ease, but he hurt his left shoulder crashing into the outfield wall about a week before the event, and it wasn’t until last season that he admitted the Home Run Derby exacerbated the injury. The shoulder injury required offseason arthroscopic surgery and likely contributed to his August 2017 slump. All is good with the shoulder now though, thankfully.

The Yankees signed Judge to a $684,300 contract earlier this month, though he also received a $1.8M bonus as a first round pick back in the day, plus he has lucrative endorsement deals with Pepsi and Adidas. He probably doesn’t need the money as much as the typical pre-arbitration-eligible player. “(The $1M prize will) entice a couple people … But, nah, it really doesn’t draw me in,” he said.

Giancarlo Stanton is a maybe — “I always enjoy doing it. It just depends on where I’m at in the season and how I feel. That’s the most important thing,” he said — and Brett Gardner jokingly said he’s in. Maybe Miguel Andujar or Gleyber Torres will take their hacks this year? Or Gary Sanchez again if he has a bounceback season? Having a Yankee in the event is a good thing for baseball overall.

Personally, I am pretty bummed Judge is passing on the Home Run Derby, though I totally get it. He’s won it once already, and it came with a physical toll. Every year Home Run Derby participants and All-Stars say the All-Star break doesn’t feel like an actual break because there’s so much going on. Judge is likely a perennial All-Star going forward, so skipping the Home Run Derby equals one fewer obligation.

MLB and the MLBPA jointly announced the Home Run Derby prize money has been increased to $1M this year as part of their recent sweeping rule changes. Previously the winner received a $150,000 bonus. New York last hosted the All-Star Game at Citi Field in 2013. The old Yankee Stadium hosted the All-Star Game back in 2008 and I imagine the new Yankee Stadium is in the queue for the 2020s.

Saturday Links: Sabathia, YES Network, Rule Changes

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(Presswire)

The Yankees will continue their Grapefruit League season on the road against the Orioles tonight. That is a 6pm ET start and the game will be televised. Luis Cessa will start and make his case for an Opening Day rotation spot. Until then, here’s some news to check out.

Sabathia joins ESPN

CC Sabathia’s post-playing career is starting now. Earlier this week ESPN announced Sabathia is joining the network in a variety of roles. Sabathia told Bryan Hoch he’ll make 15 in-studio appearances on various shows (SportsCenter, First Take, etc.) this year — only on days he’s not pitching, of course — as well as several call-in appearances. Most appearances will cover non-baseball sports.

“As I begin to look toward the future, I’m excited to have this opportunity with ESPN. With that said, my singular focus is on winning another World Series Championship for Yankees fans and the city of New York,” Sabathia said in a statement. Based on his podcast, Sabathia seems very well suited for a media gig like this. He knows his sports and I couldn’t imagine him sitting in a broadcast booth calling or analyzing a game. This seems like a better fit.

Yankees reach deal to buy back YES Network

After weeks of rumors, the Yankees have reached a deal to purchase the 80% of the YES Network they do not own from 21st Century Fox, report Josh Kosman and Richard Morgan. It’ll cost them $3.47 billion and the deal has 120 days to close. Amazon and the Sinclair Broadcast Group are among the investors. With the deal, Amazon will be in position to control streaming rights for Yankees (and Nets) games.

The YES Network was valued at $3.9 billion when the Yankees sold an 80% stake to 21st Century Fox in 2012. Disney has a deal in place to buy 21st Century Fox and must sell off various regional sports networks to get approval. I’m not sure what this means for streaming Yankees games in the short-term. Kevin Draper and Edmund Lee indicate Yankees games could be included in Amazon Prime memberships. The sale isn’t final yet, and as more information comes in, I’ll be sure to pass it along.

MLB, MLBPA nearing rule change agreement

According to Ron Blum and Jeff Passan, MLB and the MLBPA are expected to ratify a series of rule changes at some point before Opening Day. Among them is a change to All-Star Game voting. The new system will be a two-step process. The first vote will pick three finalists at each position. The second will be a one-day race to pick a starter from the three finalists. Sounds fun. Here are details on the other forthcoming rule changes:

  • 26-man rosters with a 13-pitcher maximum (begins in 2020).
  • 28-man rosters with a 14-pitcher maximum in September (begins in 2020).
  • Injured list and optional assignment minimum increase to 15 days (begins in 2020).
  • Extra innings in the All-Star Game begin with a runner on second base (begins in 2019).
  • No pitch clock until at least 2022.

I am totally cool with expanding rosters to 26 players. I don’t like limiting the number of roster spots that can be used for pitchers and I am strongly against limiting September call-ups. Many players are going to miss out on a big league opportunity (and a month’s worth of big league salary) because of that. What would Stephen Tarpley’s outlook be right now had he not gotten an opportunity to come up last September? Making it more difficult to reward minor leaguers for a good season, audition young players for next season, and rest fatigued regulars seems like a bad idea.

MLB announces Atlantic League experiments

Last week MLB and the independent Atlantic League announced a partnership in which MLB will use the Atlantic League to test various rule and equipment changes. In exchange, MLB will install Trackman (i.e. Statcast) at all eight Atlantic League parks and take over as official statistician, and increase their scouting coverage of the league. Yesterday MLB announced the changes they’ll test this year. The list:

  • Trackman will assist umpires with calling balls and strikes.
  • No mound visits except for pitching changes or injury situations.
  • Three-batter minimum for pitchers unless they complete an inning (or get injured).
  • Increase size of first, second, and third bases from 15 inches square to 18 inches square.
  • Require two infielders on each side of second base when a pitch is released.
  • Reduce time between innings from two minutes, five seconds to one minute, 45 seconds.
  • Move the pitching mound back two feet to 62 feet, 6 inches from home plate.

“Players sign in the Atlantic League for the Major League Baseball showcase opportunity it offers. We are excited to see that showcase grow exponentially, while working with MLB on initiatives critical to the future of the game,” said Atlantic League president Rich White in a statement. Making the bases larger will help avoid collisions and hands and ankles getting stepped on, so that’s a plus. I don’t like the three-batter minimum for pitchers or eliminating shifts, but whatever. I’m fighting a losing battle.

Moving the mound back is a seismic change and, weirdly, it will only happen during the second half of the Atlantic League season. They’re going to move the mound back midseason! I assume MLB is looking for ways to increase balls in play and reduce strikeouts. Is this the best way to do it? I have no idea. That’s why they’re giving it a test run. The big concern here is health. The extra two feet and theoretical increase in contact isn’t worth it if pitchers are getting hurt.

Judge goes deep in yet another AL win in the All-Star Game

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Cashman please. (Patrick Smith/Getty)

For the sixth consecutive season, the American League has won the All-Star Game. The AL won Tuesday night’s Home Run Derby All-Star Game thanks to Alex Bregman’s and George Springer’s back-to-back homers off Ross Stripling in the tenth inning. Bregman was named MVP. The final score was 8-6, and here are the box score and video highlights.

All told, an All-Star Game record ten homers were hit Tuesday night. Ten! The previous record was six, done three times (1951, 1954, 1971). Weird how a game with so many great pitchers had so many home runs and basically no sustained rallies with singles and walks and bunts. Hmmm.

Anyway, Aaron Judge hit the first of those ten home runs. He opened the scoring with a second inning solo home run against Max Scherzer. The best part? Luis Severino caught the home run ball between warm-up pitches in the bullpen. Check it out:

Awesome. Judge is the first Yankee with a hit in the All-Star Game since Derek Jeter went 2-for-2 in his final All-Star Game in 2014. Yankees had been 0-for-10 between Jeter’s hit in 2014 and Judge’s homer in 2018. Also, Judge is the first Yankee to hit a home run in the All-Star Game since Jason Giambi took Billy Wagner deep in 2003.

Judge went 1-for-2 with a walk in the All-Star Game. He took Scherzer deep, drew a walk against Mike Foltynewicz, and grounded out against Jeremy Jeffress. Judge wasn’t tested with anything beyond a routine play in left field. Nothing difficult at all. Judge went 0-for-3 in last year’s All-Star Game.

As for Severino, he pitched the second inning for the American League and allowed a leadoff double to Matt Kemp, but was able to escape the inning unscathed with a strikeout (Bryce Harper), a fly out (Nick Markakis), and a strikeout (Brandon Crawford). He did not pitch in last year’s Midsummer Classic.

Both Aroldis Chapman and Gleyber Torres were selected to the All-Star Game but were not eligible to play. Chapman withdrew due to his achy left knee and Torres is on the disabled list with a hip problem. Gleyber did run the bases before the game. He’s going to Tampa tomorrow to ramp up his rehab work.

Now that the All-Star Game is over, we can begin to look forward to the second half. The Yankees will open the second half Friday night at home against the Mets. Domingo German and Noah Syndergaard are the scheduled starting pitchers for that one.

2018 All-Star Game Thread

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(Patrick Smith/Getty)

Tonight in Washington, baseball’s best players and brightest stars will gather at Nationals Park for the 89th annual All-Star Game. The MLB All-Star Game is, by frickin’ far, the best All-Star Game among the four major North American sports. It is not even a contest.

The Yankees have four All-Stars this season: Aroldis Chapman, Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, and Gleyber Torres. Only two will play in the game, however. Chapman withdrew from the All-Star Game due to his achy left knee, and Torres is currently on the disabled list with a hip issue. They’re in Washington and will be part of the baseline introductions, though neither will play tonight.

Judge was voted into the American League’s starting lineup by the fans and, after not pitching in the All-Star Game last year, Severino is indeed scheduled to make an appearance tonight. Manager A.J. Hinch announced yesterday Severino will be the first guy out of the bullpen for the so-called Junior Circuit. Should be fun. Here are the starting lineups:

American League
1. RF Mookie Betts, Red Sox
2. 2B Jose Altuve, Astros
3. CF Mike Trout, Angels
4. DH J.D. Martinez, Red Sox
5. 3B Jose Ramirez, Indians
6. LF Aaron Judge, Yankees
7. SS Manny Machado, Orioles
8. 1B Jose Abreu, White Sox
9. C Salvador Perez, Royals

LHP Chris Sale, Red Sox

National League
1. 2B Javier Baez, Cubs
2. 3B Nolan Arenado, Rockies
3. DH Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks
4. 1B Freddie Freeman, Braves
5. LF Matt Kemp, Dodgers
6. CF Bryce Harper, Nationals
7. RF Nick Markakis, Braves
8. SS Brandon Crawford, Giants
9. C Willson Contreras, Cubs

RHP Max Scherzer, Nationals

Anyway, Sale joins Hall of Famers Lefty Gomez and Robin Roberts as the only pitchers to start three consecutive All-Star Games. Also, Sale vs. Scherzer is a repeat pitching matchup. This is the first time we’ve had the same pitching matchup in back-to-back All-Star Games since Red Ruffing and Paul Derringer met in the 1939 and 1940 games. Pretty neat. Here are the 2018 All-Star Game rosters.

It rained in Washington for a few hours this afternoon, though that has cleared out now, so it’ll be merely hot and sticky for the All-Star Game tonight. The All-Star Game itself is scheduled to begin at 8pm ET, though the baseline introductions and all that will take place beforehand. You can watch the game on FOX or stream it on FOX Sports Go. Enjoy the All-Star Game.

Game 93: Opposites

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(Presswire)

Only three more games until the All-Star break. Each year it’s right around now that I start to feel like players are in survival mode. Just finish up these last few games, stay healthy, then enjoy the break and recharge the batteries. The Yankees have played eight games in the last seven days. I’m sure the guys are feeling it.

Anyway, there are two rookies on the mound tonight: Domingo German vs. Shane Bieber. German no-hit these Indians for six innings in his first career big league start a few weeks ago. Bieber is a top prospect — MLB.com ranks him as the game’s 90th best prospect — though it’s more of a command and pitchability profile than a blow-you-away profile. The opposite of German, basically. Here are tonight’s lineups:

New York Yankees
1. LF Brett Gardner
2. DH Aaron Judge
3. CF Aaron Hicks
4. RF Giancarlo Stanton
5. 1B Greg Bird
6. 3B Miguel Andujar
7. 2B Neil Walker
8. C Kyle Higashioka
9. SS Tyler Wade

RHP Domingo German

Cleveland Indians
1. SS Francisco Lindor
2. LF Michael Brantley
3. 3B Jose Ramirez
4. DH Edwin Encarnacion
5. 1B Yonder Alonso
6. 2B Jason Kipnis
7. RF Tyler Naquin
8. C Yan Gomes
9. CF Greg Allen

RHP Shane Bieber

Another very nice night in Cleveland. The Yankees have enjoyed some nice weather these last few days. Tonight’s game will begin at 7:10pm ET and you can watch on YES locally and MLB Network out of market. Enjoy the game.

Injury Update: Gary Sanchez (groin) will begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton on Sunday. He’s going to play seven innings Sunday, then travel with the team for their road trip to Toledo to continue the rehab assignment. Sounds like Gary will be back right after the All-Star break if all goes well … Jacoby Ellsbury (oblique, hip, foot, back) has not yet resumed baseball activities and there’s no timetable for his return. At this point, it seems unlikely he’ll be back before rosters expand on September 1st. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if Ellsbury is conveniently ready on September 1st.

All-Star Game Update: Aroldis Chapman withdrew from the All-Star Game to rest his achy left knee, he said today. He’s been replaced on the All-Star roster and is ineligible to play in the game, though he will be in Washington next week to take part in all the All-Star activities. Chapman is available to pitch this weekend.

Game 90: Tanaka Returns

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(Adam Hunger/Getty)

For the first time in a little more than four weeks, Masahiro Tanaka will take the mound in a big league game this evening. Tanaka’s been out since June 8th with mild strains of both hamstrings — he suffered a very Mets injury running the bases at Citi Field — but he’s healthy now and has completed his rehab assignment, and is ready to rejoin a rotation in need of reinforcement. Good Tanaka would be quite a boost.

Anyway, the Yankees have won five of their last seven games but dammit I’m still annoying by the first game of yesterday’s doubleheader. Winnable game right there for the taking. Bah. At least the Yankees blew the Orioles out in the second game of the doubleheader. That was fun. Please treat the 25-66 team like a 25-66 team again today. Here are tonight’s lineups:

New York Yankees
1. LF Brett Gardner
2. RF Aaron Judge
3. CF Aaron Hicks
4. DH Giancarlo Stanton
5. SS Didi Gregorius
6. 3B Miguel Andujar
7. 1B Greg Bird
8. C Austin Romine
9. 2B Neil Walker

RHP Masahiro Tanaka

Baltimore Orioles
1. 3B Tim Beckham
2. CF Adam Jones
3. SS Manny Machado
4. DH Mark Trumbo
5. 2B Jonathan Schoop
6. 1B Chris Davis
7. LF Trey Mancini
8. RF Joey Rickard
9. C Caleb Joseph

RHP Andrew Cashner

Hot and sunny in Baltimore but surprisingly not all that humid. Usually it gets so humid you stick to the seats at Camden Yards. Tonight’s game will begin at 7:05pm ET and you can watch on YES locally and MLB Network out of market. Enjoy the ballgame.

Injury Updates: Gary Sanchez (groin) has started running the bases, so he’s doing everything as he works his way back into game shape. Hitting, catching, throwing, running, the whole nine … Gleyber Torres (hip) played catch today. Pretty sure this is the first time he’s done any baseball activity since landing on the disabled list.

Roster Moves: As expected, Luis Cessa was sent down to Triple-A Scranton following last night’s game to clear a roster spot for Tanaka. Gio Gallegos also went back down since he was the 26th man … So long, David Hale. He cleared waivers and elected free agency. I suspect he will re-sign with the Yankees in short order. It would be the third time this year Hale has elected free agency and re-signed with the Yankees. No idea why he doesn’t just accept the outright assignment.

All-Star Game voting: Giancarlo Stanton is currently third in the Final Vote race behind Jean Segura and Andrew Benintendi. Stanton’s hitting .310/.377/.599 (163 wRC+) with eleven homers since June 1st, you know. Here’s the ballot. Voting ends Thursday.

Chapman, Judge, Severino, Torres selected to All-Star Game

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(Presswire)

Four Yankees are heading to the 2018 All-Star Game. MLB announced the All-Star Game rosters Sunday and the Yankees will be represented by Aroldis Chapman, Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, and Gleyber Torres in Washington next week. Judge was among the fan voting leaders and will start the All-Star Game for the second straight season. Here are the full All-Star rosters.

Last season Judge joined Joe DiMaggio and Hideki Matsui as the only Yankees to start the All-Star Game as a rookie. This year he joins DiMaggio as the only Yankees to start the All-Star Game in each of their first two big league seasons. Pretty amazing. Judge is the first Yankee to start back-to-back All-Star Games since Robinson Cano started four straight from 2010-13.

So far this season Judge is hitting .280/.399/.572 (163 wRC+) with 25 home runs in 85 games. That is down a tick from last season but still places him among the game’s most productive players. Judge is second in baseball in home runs and both versions of WAR have him as a top five position player (+4.9 bWAR and +4.6 fWAR). Once again, he’s been the team’s best player all year.

“First and foremost, I have to thank my team for always putting me in the right position,” said Judge in typical Aaron Judge fashion following the All-Star Game selection. “They’re always getting on base, always just helping me out. I wouldn’t be in this spot without them.”

Like Judge, Severino was selected to his second All-Star Game. He did not pitch in last year’s game but is a serious candidate to start the All-Star Game this year, especially since Justin Verlander is scheduled to start next Sunday and will thus be ineligible to pitch in the All-Star Game. Here are Severino’s ranks among the 87 pitchers with enough innings to quality for the ERA title coming into today:

  • ERA: 2.12 (third)
  • FIP: 2.47 (fourth)
  • Strikeouts: 29.8% (tenth)
  • fWAR: +4.3 (third)
  • bWAR: +5.0 (fourth)

If Severino does get the All-Star Game starting assignment, he’ll be the first Yankee to start the All-Star Game since Roger Clemens in 2001. And, at age 24, he’ll be the youngest Yankee to start the All-Star Game since 24-year-old Lefty Gomez start the very first All-Star Game in 1933. The starting pitchers will be announced the day before the All-Star Game. Even if he doesn’t start, Severino is very deserving of the All-Star Game selection.

As for Chapman, this is his fifth All-Star Game selection and first with the Yankees. He went to four straight All-Star Games with the Reds from 2012-15. Chapman has been nails this season, going 24-for-25 in save chances with a 1.42 ERA (1.41 FIP) in 38 innings. His 66 strikeouts are fourth most among all relievers. Chapman pitched in all four prior All-Star Games and threw three scoreless innings total.

Torres is, obviously, going to the All-Star Game for the first time. He’s currently on the disabled list with a hip injury and it seems unlikely he’ll actually participate in the All-Star Game, but being selected is still pretty cool. Torres is hitting .294/.350/.555 (144 wRC+) with 15 home runs in 63 games this season. He leads AL rookies in basically everything, including homers, wRC+, bWAR (+2.2), and fWAR (+1.6 WAR).

“I called him in and was like, ‘Have you done any work today?'” joked Aaron Boone following Gleyber’s All-Star selection. “‘What’s going on with your leg? You’re probably going to have to get that right so when you go to DC next week you can tip your cap properly.'”

The Yankees could have a fifth All-Star as well. Giancarlo Stanton is on the Final Vote ballot alongside Andrew Benintendi, Eddie Rosario, Jean Segura, and Andrelton Simmons. Stanton is hitting .267/.341/.510 (130 wRC+) with 21 home runs on the season. It’s a down year for Stanton and an amazing season for most players. Here’s the Final Vote ballot. Voting closes Wednesday at 4pm ET.

Did any Yankees get snubbed? Of course. It wouldn’t be tough to argue to Dellin Betances and Chad Green deserve to be All-Stars. Heck, even Gary Sanchez has a case because the AL catching crop is so impossibly bad. Sanchez hasn’t played in two weeks now and he still leads all catchers with 14 home runs. Betances or Green could still make the All-Star Game as an injury or Sunday starter replacement.

The 2018 All-Star Game will be played Tuesday, July 17th, at Nationals Park. The Yankees will be represented by Justus Sheffield at the Futures Game on Sunday, July 15th. We’re still waiting on the Home Run Derby field announcement. Judge has already said he won’t do it again. I suppose Stanton could be selected. We’ll see. The Home Run Derby is Monday, July 16th.

Update: Stanton is skipping the Home Run Derby, apparently. “I don’t want to. I’ve done it plenty of times. I can take a year off. I can take two years off if I want,” he said to Mike Mazzeo. So that’s that. Looks like no Yankees in the Home Run Derby this year. A bummer, but I’ll live.