The Yankees activated third baseman Gio Urshela for tonight’s ballgame. Urshela joins the surging Yankees in the midst of an 11-game winning streak. Though the Yanks couldn’t be trending much better right now, Urshela does have the potential to be an impactful addition for the stretch run.
Urshela should slot right back into his regular role at third base, pushing Rougned Odor to a bench role for which he’s probably better suited. Give Odor his due, however, as he’s put up 1.0 WAR as a Yankee by measure of baseball-reference’s or Fangraphs’ WAR.
That value has largely come from his glovework at the hot corner. Odor has logged 2.0 DRS/1.3 UZR over 169 innings while providing decent pop in the form of .194 ISO. Urshela is still probably the preferred gloveman at third, but Odor’s performance could allow manager Aaron Boone to continue using Urshela at shortstop on occasion — as he had done before Urshela’s latest injury. A hamstring strain has kept Urshela out of action for almost a month now, however, so Boone could choose a more conservative approach to ease Ushela back into regular gameplay.
In terms of the logistics, Jonathan Davis was optioned back to Triple-A yesterday to make room on the active roster. Brody Koerner was outrighted to Triple-A today as well. Koerner, 27, had made just two appearances with the big league club this season.
Luuuuke at 3rd.
I assume when Torres comes back Velasquez will go down. Rather have Gio at 3rd than Odor even though latter did well.
Odor did well? How? When it comes to adv stats, I’m a pacifist. I despise WAR. Here’s how “well” Odor did…
wRC+ 93
RISP .600 OPS
August slash 88 PA: .156/.261/.299/560
As for Gleyber, a wRC+ of 91 to go along with a SS DRS of -8 makes him worthless to the Yankees.
Jeeez.
Glad that was your “bright side”. Hate to see what you stats you would cherry pick if you were posting under “grim side” or some such.
Looking at Odor’s contribution to the Yanks in it’s totality he has done rather well.
Yankee hater, uh?
The only criticism I have with the Yankees is their roster optimization. Wade deserves to start at 3B. He’s great with the glove, has disruptive speed on the base paths, and is finally learning how to get on base (1,000+ OPS in August). What’s his reward? To continue riding the pine.
Other examples, the continuation of Gardy’s Yankee career, Greg Allen buried in the minors despite his 136 OPS+ with the Yankees, and their stubbornness installing Sanchez as the starting catcher over Higgy.
I thought the team made a mistake in 2019 keeping Mike Ford off the playoff roster in favor of EE. Ford outplayed him in similar amount of PAs.. We all now how that worked out.
In contrast, the Rays traded the popular Adames because he was blocking Franco.
If I were a “Yankee Hater” I’d be taking your position.
I’m pretty sure Gleyber has value to the Yankees. I mean, the kid from the Bronx story is fun, and maybe he can carve out a bench role, but he’s, nor should he, be replacing Gleyber. Bring him in for defense. He’ll stick through September as the team mascot as rosters are about to expand.
odor is horrible
@nyy42 He’s available to play and can play multiple positions and isn’t a total blackhole at the plate. Those qualities alone make him a value considering what the Yankees are paying him ($0). Just ask around the league.
One of my favorite players. Wish the Tribe “hitting” coaches could have figured out how to bring out in him what he’s doing with the bat for NY.
The yankees need to sign Matt Andriese. Urshela Andriese would form quite a bond.
The M’s signed Andriese
And if they put their bats next to each other in the dugout, it would be a great rack.
Odor has done a solid job but he is still not right defensively at 3B. The defensive numbers are a very small sample size. The ball hit to Odor the other game in Atlanta was a good example. He still operates at 2B speed when throwing the ball, which allowed Albies to beat out a throw Urshela nails to end the game. Odor has been a useful piece, but he should never be starting unless a regular is injured or needs rest.
Odor leads all AL second baseman is OAA.
Quite frankly, he has been outplaying Lemahieu.
Considering Odor never played 3B (minors too) he did well holding down 3B till Gio got back. I rather have Wade at 3B than Odor. Torres is still green at times but he’s still only 24, there’s still room to grow and like Ducky pointed out before he is capable of carrying the team too.
Velasquez will stay when rosters expand to 28 players after Torres comes back. I’m ready for the Yankees to be at fully healthy in the final weeks. I’m not sure I want Kluber back much like Heaney he’s not going to give any length. Sevy could the X Factor but I’m not holding my breath. However if Sevy comes back he could be great out of the BP.
Big game tonight, @Gruber.
Big series.
The Coliseum hasn’t treated us all that well recently. I have no doubts that this squad will win the series while simultaneously making it as hard as they can for themselves.
Good to have Gio back. Good player on both sides of the ball. He will help. This club is so much more fun to watch since Cash flipped the script.
Big game and Voit ain’t in the lineup.
Regardless of how they’re playing, I want Boone’s head.
I have been done with Booner since May of this year. Looking at the job’s “old & out of touch” managers like La Russa & Baker have done, I am hoping the Yanks take note.
Yanks need *someone* who can stand up to Cashman. Booner was – nor ever will be – that dude.
Showalter?
Absolutely Showalter. Like Cashman, this was a man raised and thrived under the fire of George Steinbrenner. When Gene Michael would take George for his yearly visit to the minors, the only person he would let George meet with was Showalter. Didn’t matter what level Showalter was managing. Buck knew every player in the org, their strengths, their weaknesses. There was no question he could not answer. Buck will take all the analytics because there is no more buttoned up person, but he’s also not afraid to play the adult in the room, the field general, and make decisions.
“Unfortunately,” the Yankees winning streak probably has saved Boone. The team that should hire him if not the Yankees? The team across town. He is exactly what the Mets need to change their culture. BTW Michael Kay, who I’m not a fan of, delivered a scathing but correct assessment of Cohen and the Mets. This is a cocky organization that has no right being cocky. Cohen is smart. He’ll fix it but the problems are systemic going back decades. Showalter would be a good start. A very good start.
Yep@Ducky! Hope the Yanks can turn it around vs a team that is reeling and stop the bleeding at this park. I’m glad the Bombers proved me wrong these past 11 game from my comments before the streak. I wouldn’t mind having Mattingly as next manager for NYY or someone with ties to the team.
Off-topic: I’ve played poker with Stick Michaels a bunch of times in Atlantic City. He’s a fixture at one particular game. He rarely discusses baseball but has spoken highly of the late George.
@YankeesBleacherCreature, I’m guessing you mean”was” a fixture. If this has been in the last few seasons, you’re seeing a ghost!
Odor has been better than I had hoped, but my expectations on him were quite low. His OPS+ is 92 compared to DJ’s 101. His WAR is 1 compared to DJ’s 1.6. DJ has been a disappointment compared to expectations but he is still the better player of the two by far, so you play the guy with the higher upside. I’m frankly surprised the defensive numbers for Odor at 3B are in the positive because he really has struggled with his timing and throws, costing the Yankees a few times on balls Urshela 10 out of 10 times. Understandable. It’s great Odor is there to help. I’m not looking for him to play daily. Same with Gleyber. Velazquez is the better fielder. Gleyber is the better player. Go with the better player.
@Ducky I agree with you 100% with Showalter however Yankees want puppets now. Showalter won’t take any BS. I would even consider Randolph as well.
Guess I was purely going on second with Urshela back. Rougie has been better with the glove over there, & brings more power & speed to the lineup. I really like what he’s done for us.
I certainly go with Gleyber at short myself.
We’ve seen him go on runs that can carry a team. Velazquez has been a real find.
But I concur: nowhere near the upside.
Velasquez has done admirably since coming up especially on D. Forgot about the expanding roster in Sept. Kluber hasn’t pitched well during rehab. I’m not ready to give up on Britton even though this year has been a disaster but he has been consistent since 2014 when he was converted to a bullpen arm which is much longer than a lot other relievers in MLB. I think Randolph 67 and Showalter 65 are too old. How ’bout John Flaherty as manager, he doesn’t have coaching experience but Boonie did not either.
Not sure about Flash as a manager. If not Buck, I’d lean more towards Carlos Beltran.
No more rookie managers.
I’d like to see a real baseball voice in the dugout.
Booner tossed. Taillon looking sharp. & of course: GGBG!
Stanton has been on fire during the streak. I don’t think the Yanks would chose Beltran as he was alleged leader of the cheaters.
Well, technically, Beltran wouldn’t be a rookie manager. LOL
Man.
These guys, uh? They just can’t seem to make things easy on themselves. Ever.
Well, here we go. Again.