You ask, we answer. The Post feeds readers’ questions about New York’s biggest pro sports teams and gets our beat writers to answer them in a series of regularly published mailbags. In today’s installation: the Yankees.
What is the chance that Yankees trader Miguel Andujar has by the deadline? – Chester Lemon
Andujar has twice been assigned to the alternative side because he was not hit, while for the first time in his professional career he is asked to be a bench player. As a result, its market value is low.
The Yankees still believe his bat is legal, but as long as Gio Urshela continues to shine on the third, there is no position for Andujar, who is not a great field runner. With options left, I believe the Yankees are not ready to give up on a bat that only needs playing time to produce.
Why is [Aaron] Hicks playing and not [Clint] Frazier? Unlike good defense, Hicks is at least mediocre, while Frazier has a ton of talent. This was not a good signing by [GM Brian Cashman]. The twins moved Hicks, and look at that team. He was always the weak switch and for me he still is. – John Palumbo
What the reason is that Hicks plays and not Frazier, the latter is not a field runner of the big league center, which is Hicks. Frazier is best suited for a corner spot. To say that Frazier has a ‘ton of talent’ is a bit of a reach at this point. What Frazier has is a lot of potential. Let’s see where Frazier is after 1,500 major league batsmen before assessing his talent level. He has struggled on the plate this year, and defensively Frazier has improved.
How long can we tolerate a manager who demoralizes and diminishes the trade value of potentially big hitters, who mismanages a pitching staff, who allows Gary Sanchez to swing any pitch in front of the gates and who constantly post lineup that is confusing? – Simon Baitler
Let’s treat this like a teacher asking you to re-submit an assignment. Name the potentially big hitters for whom Aaron Boone has reduced the trade value. Give an example like three, of how Boone mismanaged a pitching staff and an example of a lineup that is confusing.
Submit your Yankees questions to answer in an upcoming mailbag
When will DJ [LeMahieu] get a long-term contract? – Cohen
Not before you hit the market with free agents towards the end of the World Series. What that contract will look like is a big guess at this point, as MLB clubs will feel the feelings of losing a lot of money because of COVID-19.
What are the chances we see Clarke Schmidt as Deivi Garcia this year? – Sil Bleveans
As long as players and pitchers work on the alternative side of the Yankees in Scranton, they have a chance to join the roster of the big leagues. When James Paxton went to IL with a forearm problem, he opened the door for a start. Of the two, I would expect Schmidt to reach the big leagues for Garcia.
What will the Yankees do with their starting heads? They really only have one. – Casiano Lopez Nieves
To say Gerrit Cole is the only starting pitcher discrediting Jordan Montgomery and Masahiro Tanaka. Admit that Paxton did not repeat well before he went on IL and JA Happ has trouble. Mike King and Jonathan Loaisiga are candidates to take Paxton’s place in the rotation. The trading date August 31st could provide a starter, but there are many hurdles to remove to make a deal.
I’m a Little League coach and I have to constantly remind my players to wear their masks when they are in the dugout. Who does that for the Yankees? – James Deckinger
According to MLB protocols, it is up to the players to decide if they want to wear masks in the dugout and on the field of play. Some do it in both places, others do not wear it in either place. However, your memory of Little Leaguers is a very good idea.
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