The Yankees will begin their third practice of the spring training restart on Monday.
Still, there has been a lot to see.
Here are six early observations:
Giancarlo Stanton limited? On Sunday, Stanton ran relatively hard for about 90 feet per repeat in right field while a coach watched. Now maybe it was just extra exercise. But it seemed like the kind of work typically done by players beginning to overcome injury. So what’s up? During the coronavirus shutdown, manager Aaron Boone said Stanton was “ready” after rehabilitating the right calf strain that limited him to just one game during initial spring training. But last week, general manager Brian Cashman said Stanton would likely be ready for DH on opening day and at the start of the season and that playing out was not such an early guarantee. Stanton suffered a setback in his rehab? Almost impossible to know, considering that it is the first time that we see him exercising since March. But it is not clear if it really is “good to go.” (To be clear, Stanton looked very good swinging. He put a ball well above the batter’s eye in center field on Saturday.)
Aaron Judge unlimited: The judge (broken right rib) does not seem limited in any capacity. Cashman and Boone have said they expect him to be ready for opening day, but barring setbacks, it seems an inevitable conclusion that Judge will be fine. Just watch this video of Judge at Don Bosco Prep from a week ago.
About to heat up: After just two official practices, the Yankees will start games within the squad. The first will be a showdown between veteran JA Happ and pitching prospect Clarke Schmidt at 7 p.m. Monday. The game is expected to last approximately two hours. Don’t wait at full speed – the Yankees are still brushing off the rust. Still, it should be interesting, especially without a crowd. The sound of the ball hitting the glove, the crunch of the bat, the sound of the studs on the ground, everything will be audible. I could even talk a little trash. Then there is Gerrit Cole kicking off Tuesday’s game, his first time pitching a mound against major league hitters for the Yankees.
Paxton, Hicks: James Paxton’s pretend play went smoothly for two innings on Sunday. The lower back surgery he had before spring training was to keep him at least until mid-May, but like Judge, he appears recovered. That’s even bigger, considering Masahiro Tanaka’s unknown state (concussion). When it comes to Aaron Hicks (Tommy John surgery), he also seems ready to go. But his comments Saturday about arm strength coming and going should raise at least some alarm, with opening day less than three weeks away. I guess it will get stronger before that.
It is not so rare: Watching practice without fans in the stands, for at least two days, was not as strange as I thought. And it’s probably not that strange to gamers either. It feels a bit like pre-game workouts. Often, when things were normal, position players will take the field for early batting or defensive work long before the clubhouse opens to journalists and before batting practice.
Definitely rare: Everything except training. Social distancing in the press box means sitting six feet away (and probably a little more) from the closest reporter, masks. Do not leave the press box or, really, your seat. The non-contact forehead temperature scans before members of the media enter the stadium. Video interviews replacing live press conferences and individual player interviews. Signs that remind people of social distance. Coaches and some players wear masks, particularly when they are on the side of the field. It is the same version of the nightmare that we have been living for months, except inside a stadium. But as long as these measures keep everyone as safe from the virus as possible, it’s what should be done.
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Brendan Kuty can be contacted at [email protected]. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
