With the Yankees now set to play the Royals in the ALDS, Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone made it clear that their club is not taking Kansas City lightly on Thursday.
“They’re a formidable team,” Boone said. “They’re a scary team. They’re coming off a big road series victory against a good [Orioles team], and will probably walk in here with a lot of confidence. That said, we’re excited for the challenge of it.”
Cashman, meanwhile, called Kansas City “dangerous,” even though the Yankees went 5-2 against the Royals this season.
“I think we got shot, without a doubt, but I know that the Royals are a tough opponent,” the general manager said, highlighting frontline starters Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans, as well as mid-season bullpen acquisition Lucas Erceg.
It’s unclear when Lugo will start, but Michael Wacha and Ragans are lined up for the first two games at Yankee Stadium on Saturday and Monday. Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón will start those games for the Yankees.
They’ll have to worry about an offense that includes Salvador Perez, the recently-returned Vinnie Pasquantino and Bobby Witt Jr., the presumed MVP runner-up with Aaron Judge a virtual lock to take home the second such award of his career.
Before the Yankees face the Royals in the postseason for the first time since the two shared rival tension from 1976-1980, they still have a few decisions to make with their ALDS roster. Cashman and Boone — hitting coach James Rowson also spoke Thursday — addressed some of those choices, as well as a few concerns.
WHO STARTS IN LEFT FIELD?
With Jasson Domínguez looking uncomfortable on defense and Alex Verdugo coming off the worst offensive season of his career, what the Yankees do in left field will be a focus every day that they’re in the postseason.
Boone said that he has an idea of which way he’s going to go for Game 1, but he’s letting the choice “marinate.” He added that the position could be “fluid” throughout the playoffs, but he previously added that both outfielders will play a part.
Cashman noted that Domínguez, whose bat offers power potential, is “still developing” in left, a position where Verdugo adds a steady glove.
RIZZO’S WINDOW IS ‘TIGHT’
Boone previously called Anthony Rizzo a “long shot” to make the ALDS roster after fracturing two fingers in the Yankees’ second-to-last game of the regular season. As of Thursday afternoon, he had yet to do any baseball activities and remained in “treatment mode,” according to Cashman. The GM noted that the first baseman has a “tight window” to heal.
Still, the Yankees didn’t officially rule Rizzo out.
“We’re trying to give it the runway it deserves because of the magnitude of the player,” Cashman said.
Cashman said that DJ LeMahieu (hip) has begun baseball activities, but Oswaldo Cabrera and Ben Rice are the “primary” alternatives at first base, as expected. Jon Berti has also worked out there.
BULLPEN DECISIONS
While many have debated whether the Yankees should carry 12 or 13 pitchers for the best-of-five ALDS, Boone said he’s actually “torn” between 11 and 12. Cashman said that what the Yankees do ultimately comes down to what Boone wants.
“He’s the one pulling the levers,” Cashman said.
Prior to the Royals-Orioles Wild Card finale, the Yankees started to talk about roster decisions, though more conversations await. One decision to consider in the bullpen: does the team want two lefties?
Pitching coach Matt Blake previously said having two is “important.” Tim Hill has a spot, but Tim Mayza is also in the mix.
“We’ll see,” Boone said. “Tim [Mayza] is certainly in the running to be on this. A little bit maybe depends on how many we go with. Ideally, you have all the boxes checked where you got a couple lefties. Now I do feel like we have righties that are pretty good at getting lefties out. So that factors in a little bit.”
Such righties include Tommy Kahnle, Jake Cousins — who planned on being ready for the ALDS after a pec injury — and Luke Weaver, the Yankees’ go-to closing option.
Boone also said the team hasn’t made a decision on Marcus Stroman. He’s not expected to start after a poor second-half resulted in a move to the bullpen, but the Yankees could roster the veteran and ask him for length.
Stroman threw two innings in a simulated game on Wednesday.
VOLPE’S OFFENSE
There’s no question that Anthony Volpe will start at shortstop for the Yankees, as he’s a Gold Glover. However, the 23-year-old’s sophomore season didn’t quell preexisting concerns over what type of hitter he will be long-term.
While peers around his age and at his position found their footing or enjoyed strong seasons, Volpe slashed .243/.293/.364 with 12 homers and 60 RBI over 160 games. Take away Volpe’s first 15 games, when his BABIP was .432, and those numbers drop to .230/.274/.345.
Volpe hit just .177 over the final month of the season. While he brings some speed on offense with 28 stolen bases, the local product is one of the weakest links in the Yankees’ lineup entering postseason play.
“I think he’s got a lot more upside than what he showed,” Cashman said. “It depends when you ask. There’s times where he was flying high, and then there’s times when he was flying low, and so it was a bit of a rollercoaster on the offensive side.”
Cashman was specifically asked about Volpe’s offense, but he made sure to highlight his defensive value at short while insisting that the second-year pro is a “winning player.”
“So we are excited that he’s in our fold,” Cashman continued, “and part of the solution and one of the reasons why, obviously, we’re sitting in the position we’re sitting.”
