The Yankees announced that they have activated first baseman Anthony Rizzo from the injured list, with outfielder Estevan Florial optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
It’s been a rough stretch for Rizzo in recent weeks, as he had his fine season interrupted by back pain. In order to address the pain, he received an epidural that was supposed to keep him out of action for a few days. However, he developed migraines from that epidural which were serious enough that he had to head to the injured list, though he now seems well enough to return to action.
That back injury seemingly put a damper on what had been an excellent season for Rizzo. Through August 3, he had already launched 27 home runs and was hitting .227/.347/.511. That production was 43% better than league average, by measure of wRC+, which would have been his highest such mark since 2016. However, from that point until his IL stint, he hit just .212/.297/.394 for a wRC+ of 96, or 4% below league average.
Rizzo’s drop-off and subsequent absence have coincided with a downturn in play for the Yankees, as they went 10-18 in August and are 8-6 so far in September. Though they once led the AL East by as much as 15.5 games, the Blue Jays are now just 4.5 games back with over two weeks remaining. The Yanks will surely be hoping that Rizzo’s return will help them finish strong to hold onto the division title and secure a bye past the Wild Card round.
After Rizzo went on the IL, the club also sent DJ LeMahieu there as well, leaving them doubly shorthanded at first base. Most of the playing time there has been going to Marwin Gonzalez lately, though he has been playing through some dizziness in recent days and then had to leave yesterday’s game after Victor Caratini hit him in the helmet with an attempted throw back to the pitcher. Now that Rizzo is back, he can hopefully stabilize the position for the club down the stretch and into the postseason.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post tweeted the news of Rizzo’s activation prior to the official announcement.
This is nothing new, Rizzo has a weak back (how long has he had it?). This is something he has to live with and fans should expect he will either miss time every year and/or go through stretches of poor performance cuz his back hurts. Just is what it is.
Don’t stand too close to Caratini or the headache could return.
That was absolutely brutal, man. What a nitwit he was for hitting Marwin, who wasn’t even in front of him…lol.
Exactly, Clipper. That was crazy.
Time to book the WS parade!
Man, Yankee fans are dumb
I wouldn’t say dumb, but ignorant…like New Yorkers in general, they are unaware of the world around them, we are all just “others” to them. They know a heckuva lot about their team, but others…not so much. A fan earlier this year asked about Harrison Bader after the trade, as if the rest of the league is unaware of his ability; a former friend, huge yankee fan, did not even know how to pronounce “Texeira” when they traded for him…after he had already made himself a star. It’s just how they are.
You basing your opinion of the baseball knowledge of an entire fan base off of two…(2!)… alleged fans’ perceived lack of knowledge says a lot about ignorance, just not how you think it does… wow.
I do know yankee fans did spit on cliff lees wife to say why he didn’t sign there so there’s that
And then you have intellectuals like “sideline redwine” who claims to hate the Yankees and their fans yet he spends a ton of time on here talking about both of them.
Sideline’s therapist is clearly stealing money from him at this point.
@Sideline Wino- why don’t you just stick to you’re good for nothing Sting Rays, and keep being delusional about their chances to win this season. Keep being a loser, rooting for a loser team.
“…ignorant like New Yorkers in general, they are unaware of the world around them”
Spoken like a true ignoramus, projecting your own vivid unawareness.
I’ve never lived in or been to NYC, but that doesn’t prevent me from knowing a widely known fact about it – that it’s an incredibly cosmopolitan place, with people who hail from all over the world residing there.
I’d suggest that the average New-Yorker probably knows an s-ton more about “the world around them” than you could ever even contemplate, you witless rube.
U mad bro?
Liked “ignoramus” reference. I’ve heard it used before but never seen spelled.
He’s not mad at all. He’s just stating concrete facts.
You dumb bro?
Reason I ask is this: We live in an extremely politically divided nation and people who want to insult an entire community of people aren’t exactly kidding around these days – they mean it.
And calling such haters out for that, is actually pretty satisfying.
Ok mr righteous world is lollipops and rainbows what Makes u in charge of this thread to tell people how to talk ??
@goob- definitely not dumb. Why are you even here, trolling? Nothing better to do? You know zero about New Yorkers either, so get a life and stop staking out the closest middle schools.
New York may be “incredibly cosmopolitan” but it’s narrow-minded when it comes to sports. Look how Mike Lupica, columnist turned professional ass-kisser, thought Aaron Judge was more important than the NFL on an NFL Sunday.
@Chucky
You’ll get no argument from me about fans anywhere being “narrow-minded” about their favored teams, after all, fan=fanatical, right?
BTW, the definition of cosmopolitan: “including or containing people from many different countries”.
In other words, all of us – unless our own direct ancestors of the last century or two don’t count. But a place like NY has more people with a direct modern-day experience of the wider world than most places in the US. As such, it tends toward a general broader-mindedness, informed by that broader experience, and is less inclined toward narrow-mindedness. That said nobody is just immune to narrow-mindedness – nobody!
Oh sure, “lollipops and rainbows” is what I’m selling here.
Grow up.
Yes! Yes!!!! Let your cup runneth over with the froth that collects at the corner of yankees’ fans mouths as they “I know you are…” you to death.
Maybe you should learn to spell “Teixeira” first.
No bigger joke then Sting Ray fans and they’re non-stop trolling. I mean we all get it. You’re team sucks and is boring. Talk about letting the Yankees and they’re great fans get in your head. It’s totally understandable. Go back to mutilating squirrels or whatever you do best in your spare time.
a lot of new york city bashing going on in this thread. isn’t this a baseball site?
Mostly they seem upset that nobody cares about them.
It’s amazing that fans of other teams criticize NY for being selfish; so selfish they never consider these other fans pining for attention, which is…selfish?
Anyhow, the comments that I truly enjoy reading are those that cite a random past example of someone whom they allege is a NY Yankees fan (although the fan is anonymous, of course) and proceed to give one example as demonstrative evidence that the entire fan base is just plain ignorant of all things baseball. Ironically, when you read these same accusers post about Yankees players, they couldn’t be further from accurate in their observations. It’s…very telling.
How about almost every article on this site that concerns the Yankees where there are multiple Yankee fans always clamoring for the firing of the FO and players on a team that’s been in first place all season. To people who live in reality that seems a little ridiculous. Look at the Montas article from earlier. You’d think the team was the Pirates the way Yankees fans complain.
The front office tells us every year that they’re trying to win a title. Not exactly the same as the Pirates.
But what I’d like to know is why us Yankees fans talking about our team bothers fans from other teams. What’s up with that? That says a lot more about other fan bases than it does Yankees fans.
Well … they do throw things on the field more than any other fans. But they pay a lot for their tickets so there is an entitlement to do whatever you want. Oh wait, that’s our Constitution, according to the know-nothings.
But seriously, I know lots of “normal” Yankee fans. They’re generally fairly aware of major league ball players besides their own. But there is a high degree of lusting after that special player. Again, entitlement.
I would say that the fans online and the fans at the Stadium are not representative of all Yankee fans. Just like there are some Republicans who think January 6 was one of the most repugnant things they’ve ever witnessed in their lives.
And before I finish, I will say that decades ago I had different feelings towards fans of all teams. In a way, ignorance was bliss.
Whenever I go “over the line”, I get called out. I’m fine with that, that’s the way it should be. If you’re at a game and you see someone being a complete jerk, do something about it.
“Here comes the pizza!”
So, because Yankees fans want Cashman/Boone removed after years of stagnation you’re saying that demonstrates…ignorance on the part of Yankees fans? Sounds to me like that ignorance of non-Yankees fans.
You’re then comparing Yankees to Pirates, which is hyperbole, obviously, but also reflects the lack of foundation of your argument.
Yankees brass says no World Series = failure. Yankees fans demand a change after nearly two decades of failure by the owner’s own definition.
The problem with your perspective is: you cite the fact that Yankees fans don’t see things from your team’s fans’ perspective as evidence of delusion, or whatever. Well, your lack of objectivity in seeing things from Yankees fans’ perspective may be the actual challenge, if you truly consider all the facts.
Why do so many fans care what Yankees fans think about their own front office anyway? And, based on your position, you’re assertion is that fans of other teams are better suited to tell Yankees fans what should be acceptable to them than…well, Yankees fans themselves. Do you see the irony & juxtaposition here?
My response above is in response to MeulorAstroMule’s comment, btw.
“Well … they do throw things on the field more than any other fans.”
twitter.com/i/status/1436509070975021061
“But there is a high degree of lusting after that special player. Again, entitlement.”
The Mets have a higher payroll than the Yankees. Scherzer and Lindor aren’t special players?
“Well … they do throw things on the field more than any other fans.”
youtube.com/watch?v=8XHH_mdsf-0
Don’t confuse thing with things. Big difference. These are one stupid guy as opposed to lots of them at Yankee Stadium. Really, no comparison. Countless garbage items thrown on the field by Yankee fans. Numerous times.
Right. Those innocent Mets fans:
twitter.com/i/status/1556069142192701442
youtube.com/watch?v=2r8Hvsbasqc
‘Maybe it’s just a joke, but photocopied fliers were passed out Saturday at Shea Stadium advertising “John Rocker Battery Day” for Atlanta’s first series in New York this year against the Mets. One was in the Mets’ clubhouse before Saturday’s game against Los Angeles.
“Friday, June 30th is John Rocker Day,” the flier said, referring to the second night of a four-game series between the Braves and Mets.
“All fans attending the game will get New York Mets battery [sic] to be thrown to Mr. Rocker. Batteries are provided by the No. 7 train riders, so buy your ticket early.” . . .
“Hopefully whatever anger people have will not endanger John or the rest of us that had nothing to do with it,” Braves pitcher Tom Glavine said Saturday. “I hope the Mets will do something about it.”
chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-04-09-00040904…
And Red Sox fans — all class:
nypost.com/2020/06/10/red-sox-confirm-racist-fans-…
Let’s start with your first premise. Where did I say Yankee fans were ignorant? Oh I didn’t. So let’s just pretend you didn’t build straw man to burn down and keep going.
Let’s move on to your second premise. I’m not directly comparing the Yankees to the Pirates, obviously. What I’m very simply saying is the Pirates are terrible team and lots of Yankees fans complain like the Yankees are a terrible team. Very simple and straightforward to anyone interested in debating honestly.
Then you go on about some “evidence of delusion” I don’t reference anywhere for some reason. But hey, you’re on a roll..
Then a Yankee fan has the cajones to lecture me about objectivity after teaaring down a bunch of arguments concerning their team that I didn’t even make. That’s impressive.
Honestly, after that I stopped reading.
AstroMule: If you have to select specific words in a sentence and start the semantics game to turn the conversation into a slippery slope of premise accusations (which you’re doing) in an effort to take the victim mantel, then you see my point.
You don’t have to say, “ignorance” when you respond to a post of mine in which the very topic is: posted comments calling the entire NYY fanbase ignorant – and then you respond defending them. That, by its very nature, is calling NYY fans ignorant as well. And, when you talk about not being in the same reality, that’s synonymous with delusion.
As for your second premise point(?), you’re the one who brought up the Yankees-Pirates analogy, so…… you did make those arguments, just not very good ones, honestly.
I do like the dismissive, “I stopped reading after that,” as it’s another attempt at condescension instead of discussion. But, whatever floats your boat, man.
Let’s be real clipper Yankee fans aren’t really known to be nicest or classiest people in the league
Kmk1986: You are correct. I don’t dispute the fact that Yankees fans have some of the most classless sects amongst the fanbase. I honestly don’t believe those are true fans either (of baseball or Yankees). NY folks in general (yes, I am one) can be abrasive and curt in speech overall.
Unfortunately, we see that type of behavior has pervaded every fanbase in MLB. Even the Royals fans threw paraphernalia at players on the field! The Yankees happen to have the largest fanbase, by far, of any team, so it’s logical that they have the largest sect of degenerates too.
I don’t think that should be used as an example of the entire fanbase or city of people, however. And the examples given above are woefully insufficient to prove the author’s point, imho.
I’ve definitely noticed that the Red Sox got a ton of bandwagon fans since 2004 who haven’t a clue how our 2003 season ended. I’m sure there are plenty of actual Giants fans who’ve noticed the same thing in the last couple decades. The silent majority of the fan base look bad because of a few dozen loudmouths who’d rather hate on other teams than to love the game. One of my best friends is a Yankee fan and we laugh, joke and tease each other in good faith everyday.
I’ve only attended games at a few stadiums, including Fenway once, years before the 2004 championship, and the most obnoxious, tasteless, foulmouthed hooligans I ever encountered in any stadium were the bleacher creatures at Yankee Stadium. But sitting elsewhere in Yankee Stadium I found the people around me to be as civil as at any of the other parks.
It’s the usual tendency of Americans, and people in general, to paint with the proverbial broad brush when it comes to bad behavior, extrapolating from particular instances and attaching blame wholesale.
And also, bad behavior begets bad behavior unless it’s nipped in the bud.
Yeah. Why bash NYC when you have ohio and Pennsylvania right there? They already have dented skulls from chugging Mt dew while riding dirt bikes, it just makes sense.
Marwin Gzlez should move from the home play,,,he deserved been hit for good
He sure took his time getting back didnt he? Good thing we have a big lead in the East otherwise I would be upset.
“Good thing”,,,not way José,,,Jays will cash the Yankees, is going to be late when Stanton, Rizzo, DJ, Donaldson. Hick, upssss everybody start hitting
Im sorry they arent in the same class as the Yankees.
Today is a perfect example of the Boonedoggle Yankees sinking ship. The Brewers throw a bunch of scrubs the entire game, get shellacked for a dozen runs. The Yankees use all their same go to guys and panic because they almost crap the game. Why do you use the same guys over and over and burn them out? They’re how many games ahead? Omg. Meanwhile, the Brewers are fighting for their postseason life but they’re not burning their guys up to get there. This is really baseball 101. Manage your losses as well as you manage your wins. Balance the workload. Don’t panic every single game because you’re afraid. Yeesh.
Why are you so worried about the Yankees? They have a 5.5-game lead in the division and 6 games in the loss column.
The Braves are one game behind the Mets and tied in the loss column. The Red Sox are in last place. Aren’t those your two favorite teams — or do you have no favorite team and only follow the game to nurture your hatred of the Yankees?
Nurture. Funny.
@Fink I’ve come to accept that whyhayzee is a closet Yankees fan and he won’t be able to convince me otherwise. He’s probably watched more Yankees game than I have or most of us all season. The team can score 15 runs in a game and no-hit their opponent and he’ll find something wrong and also blame the umps. As soon as the Yankees win #28, I’m sending him a WS champ cap.
@whyhayzee Do you want it sent to NJ or NH???
YBC, there’s already a picture of me wearing a Yankee cap in New Hampshire. Even worse, I grew up in the same town as Mel Stottlemyre and his kids went to my grade school. Even worse than that, Bucky Dent and Goose Gossage lived there in 1978. Oh, the horror. Wait there’s more, Derek Jeter’s parents used to live about a mile from where we live now. I can’t seem to escape. There are more stories but that would reveal too much about me. I have rarely disliked a Yankee player, only their annoying fans. And many are not at all annoying, they’re good friends. But my parents are from Boston. So I was doomed to be a Red Sox fan. It’s been a bumpy ride, that’s for sure. And there’s a lot about the Red Sox and their fans that is awful.
But no, not a closet fan. Just obsessed.
Cuz this is what the fan base does. They expect to CRUSH! Their opposition and put cashman head on a stake
The Mets have three relievers who’ve thrown at least 50 innings, for a total of 173.2 innings. They have three relievers (counting Drew Smith, who Buck says will come off the IL on Tuesday) who’ve thrown at least 40 innings, for a total of 127.1 innings.
So their six most-used relievers have a total of 301 innings.
The Yankees have a total of three relievers (not counting Michael King, who’s done for the year) who’ve thrown at least 50 innings, for a total of 168.2 innings. They have one reliever who’s thrown at least 40 innings, Loaisiga (41.1),
Their six most-used current relievers have a total of 287.2 innings.
Are you worried about the Mets’ bullpen, and if not, why not?
I’m very worried about the Mets. I don’t think they have a deep enough bullpen. I am not sure how great deGrom and Scherzer will pitch and I don’t know that they have good enough starters in the rest of their rotation. I think they will need effective innings from Williams and Peterson out of the bullpen. And the Braves are a tremendous team to be battling against.
You should be worried I predicted them collapsing and losing the division to the Braves and getting knocked out by the Phillies. Go Dodgers.
U r not sure how degrom will pitch??? What his last 39 starts without more than 3 runs ain’t enough for u??
The problem is with his won loss result. They don’t hit for him.
Now that the Yankees aren’t playing against part time blacksmiths and butchers it’s great to see them be the trash they are. Signing guys batting .212 and releasing guys batting much better for us. Go Dodgers.
Bust out the BBAR:
blacksmiths/butchers above replacement. I’d watch the movie about the part-time butcher trying to make it in MLB.
Is Estevan Florial a career quadruple-A guy? I remember when he was one of our top prospects, an untouchable trade chip, a guy who was going to be our future and now he’s turning into a Bubba Crosby, Tyler Wade type.
I think it’s a little too early to completley write him off. He has less than 100 career MLB plate appearances. Not saying that I think he’ll become the next Mike Trout, but could he become a solid platoon/4th outfielder? The potential is definitley there. Someone needs to give him a chance at consistent playing time in the majors, whether that be the Yankees or another team.
MLB1225, consistent playing time surely wouldn’t hurt but he gas never made the adjustment with his swing. He has a long looping swing that has been compared to Alfonso Soriano. Soriano was good enough to overcome it. Florial isn’t. If he could get a more compact swing I think he could be a viable major league player.
* has
I agree, he has swing and miss and could be just another Anthony Alford. But I do think Florial has a higher ceiling than Alford did. If the Yankees don’t plan on making him at least semi-regular fixture of their roster, why not trade him and get something that could help this off-season?
I’m just going to say the Yankees are good since you babies keep flagging my posts
Your getting flagged because you’re obnoxious and make comments containing bigotry not because you don’t like the Yankees.
Nope. You’re a baby. Now be on your way. I’ve no time for you
Your a bigoted jerk. Enjoy your misery. You wouldn’t have the courage to say to my face what you posted yesterday. You’re a bigot and a coward. Internet tough guy. Pathetic.
Florial and Andujar have a lot of oportunity and they do not improve at all,,,sorry they have to move
Guy develops migraines and you write “he had to head to the injured list”? Then you write of Marwin’s dizziness and hope Rizzo “can hopefully stabilize the position”?
I see what you did there, very clever.