Yankees: Who's Hot, Who's Not

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Who's Hot

Dellin Betances

Things had not been going well for 6'8" right hander as he couldn’t find any consistency on the mound (His struggles have been well documented for the past two seasons). That appear to have changes as Betances is pitching to a 1.13 ERA over the last seven games. Whether or not this is a sign that his fortunes are turning around is yet to be seen, but the numbers he's sporting lately are very encouraging.

Luis Severino

Severino is proving himself to be the ace the Yankees billed hm as when he was first called up back in 2015. His 9-1 record and 102 strikeouts place him in the upper tier of Major League pitchers. Not to mention he is 5-0 with a 1.88 ERA over his last seven starts. If he keeps this up, The Dominican born flamethrower will surely find himself as top candidate in the Cy Young conversation.

Miguel Andujar

It's been stellar last 15 games for Andujar as he is hitting 21 for 56 (.375) over that span. In addition, he leads all rookies with 21 doubles and 30 extra base hits. A lot of people have been talking about the early campaign of the equally exceptional Gleyber Torres, but Andujar has managed to stand out all on his own.

Brett Gardner

After a rough April, Gardner has had a fantastic bounce back since the middle of May. Over his last 15 games Gardner is hitting .338 and has put together much better at bats than he did at the start of the season. The Yankee offense responds much better when their table setter is hitting well. If he can hold firm, the team will continue to thrive.

Who's Not

Tyler Austin

With a .143 average and 16 strikeouts in his last seven, it's safe to say that Yankees need to address the struggles of Tyler Austin. He looks very lost at the plate and can't catch up to any pitcher’s fastball, which wasn't the case back in April. Perhaps he has placed far too much pressure on himself to deliver now that Greg Bird is healthy, and fan/clubhouse favorite Ronald Torreyes sits in the minors waiting for the opportunity to get back to majors. Whatever the case may be, it would behoove Austin to get himself right before Aaron Boone has to make another roster adjustment.

Gary Sanchez

Unfortunately, the 2018 season has not gone the way Gary Sanchez would have liked. While the production is there (12 HR 35 RBI), He's hitting just .201 on the season and hasn't looked like he's any closer to coming out of his slump (.111 thus far in early June). Austin Romine (Who is hitting .344 as the backup) will continue to see playing time until Sanchez can find a groove and rediscover the highly touted hitting stroke that endeared him to the Yankees the last two seasons.

Masahiro Tanaka

Tanaka has been up and down so far, and he appears to be amid cold spell right now. He’s surrendered 20 earned runs over 38.2 innings (4.66 ERA over that timeframe) in his last seven starts and has been hurt by the long ball more than he would probably like. While you certainly can't compare this to the first half struggles he had last season, it would be best to correct some of his issues now before they become a persistent problem that could undo his season.

SSnow's 2018 Giants Mock Draft

1. Sam Darnold QB USC

There have been many rumors about the Giants potentially dealing this pick on or before draft night. However, it now appears that the team is leaning towards picking Darnold as the heir-apparent to Eli Manning. Though things could change in the coming weeks, The USC product impressed many scouts at his pro day and has now become the favorite of all the QB's in this draft. Should he be taken at No 1, the Giants could go with Wyoming QB Josh Allen whom like Darnold, has risen in the ranks among scouts and GM's

2. Sam Hubbard DE Ohio State

After trading Jason Pierre-Paul away, The Giants find themselves in need of a suitable replacement to place opposite Olivier Vernon. Hubbard will more than fill that void as he possesses the aggressiveness and speed to handle the 3-4 schemes new Defensive Coordinator James Bettcher will be implementing. 

3. Austin Corbett C/OT Nevada

Weston Richburg is gone, and the offensive line is being rebuilt. The Giants couldn't afford to spend too much money on a center in free agency after signing Nate Solder, so they will find their new center in the draft. Corbett doubled as both a center and tackle in college. His high work ethic and instincts will make him an asset as the retooling of front five continues.

3. Brandon Parker OT North Carolina A&T

Ereck Flowers has been a near bust for the Giants so one would have to believe that the team will look to hastily replace him as the revamped front begins to take shape. Parker has 4 years under his belt at tackle and is far more capable of getting the most out of his size than the previous lineman the team has employed in the past 5 years.

4. Rashaan Gaulden CB Tennessee

Despite the recent signing of veteran corner William Gay, the secondary still needs more depth. With one pick left, New York will need to address this by selecting a capable defensive back with a high upside. Gaulden was one of the lone bright spots for a less than stellar Volunteers team, making a standout the Giants should not pass up on if he's available here

5 Josh Adams RB Notre Dame

The Giants currently fins themselves in RB limbo. They've added the likes of Johnathan Stewart whom is still strong but aging, and they also have a squirrely young back in Wayne Gallman. The others however, are unproven. If the draft goes accordingly, they will have passed up on taking Saquan Barkley in the first. Adams had a great career at Notre Dame with his best season coming this past year. If he's still available here, The Giants are likely to take him.

Yankee Players Poised for a Breakout Season in 2018

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Greg Bird

After an injury plagued 2017, Bird will be looking to redeem himself this year by not only staying healthy but putting up the type of numbers the Yankees have expected from him since his call up in 2016. If no hinderances occur, The Birdman could be just the hitter the club needs to anchor its already potent lineup. 

Photo: Adam Hunger / USA Today Sports

Gary Sanchez

No other catcher in baseball hit more homers (33) than Sanchez last season, and fact that he did that while missing the first month makes it even more impressive. He did however struggle mightily in the playoffs both offensively and defensively which should serve as a great motivator for Sanchez to spring himself into the upper echelon of backstops in the MLB.

Photo: Kim Klement / USA Today Sports

Miguel Andujar

Andujar is perhaps the biggest surprise in spring training thus far. The 23-year-old is hitting a scorching .429 in 5 spring games while belting 4 homers to boot. If he continues his red-hot play, He could land himself a spot on the 25-man roster come and possibly the starting third base job come Opening Day. 

Photo: Kim Klement / USA Today Sports

Gleyber Torres

The Yankees hold Torres in high regard due to his overall talent as a hitter and infield defender. Since acquiring him from the Chicago Cubs in 2016, the team has looked to ready him for a big role in the team’s future. He was unfortunately set back after a he tore his UCL sliding into home plate in a Triple-A game last June. Now healthy, Torres will seek to pick up where he left off and climb his way in to the pinstripes in 2018

Photo: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images

Aaron Judge

What couldn’t say about the season Aaron Judge put together last year (52 HR 114 RBI). He took home Rookie of the Year honors and finished second in the AL MVP voting. Still, many felt that he could have accomplished even more had he not struggled in the second half of the year. Alongside newly acquired slugger Giancarlo Stanton, Judge could be hovering over a monster 2018 campaign that will add to his status as the premiere power hitter in all of baseball

The Future is Now: 5 Potential Quarterbacks the Giants Could Take in the 2018 Draft

Photo: Danny Moloshok / Associated Press

Josh Rosen, UCLA - 3756 Yards 26 TD 10 INT

He's probably the best QB in draft having the skills set and intelligence scouts like to see in a young prospect. It also helps the Giants cause that he has stated that he doesn’t want to be picked by the Cleveland Browns (understandably so given their recent history). Some question his leadership and overall desire, but you cannot deny that he has put up big numbers in key games. If he's willing to learn behind Manning for a year or two, the Giants could potentially grab a franchise player that will be a mainstay for many years.

Photo: Kelvin Kuo / AP

Sam Darnold, USC - 4143 Yards 26 TD 13 INT

Now that he's declared for the draft, Darnold will need to prove that he is the real deal after struggling in the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State. However, he has enough talent to handle NFL offenses and could give the Giants a steady arm they could rely on. If he goes to the Scouting Combine (which he should) it will give new GM Dave Gettleman and the scouts a better chance to evaluate his abilities thoroughly before deciding to pull the trigger in on him in late April.

Photo: Alton Strupp / The CJ

Lamar Jackson, Louisville - 3660 Yards 27 TD 10 INT, 1601 Rush Yds 18 Rush TD

Jackson in the most prolific QB prospect of the bunch with his dual abilities as a passer and runner. His presence would be a major shakeup in the offensive schemes as the Giants would be able to utilize him in a variety of ways. Yet, he would require an overhaul of the offensive line which right now is not built for a QB like him. Also, his accuracy still needs work as some of the wild plays he made in college would be deem too reckless in the pro's. However, If the team wants to get a super dynamic player to take over for Manning...Jackson more than fits the bill.

Photo: AAron Ontiveroz / The Denver Post

Josh Allen, Wyoming - 1812 yards 16 TD 6 INT

He has the size (6'5'' 240 lbs) and arm strength of an ideal NFL QB and some scouts have even compared him to a young Ben Roethlisberger. Nonetheless, Allen needs work on his throwing accuracy and arm durability as he threw the ball just 270 times this past season. It would be tough to take Allen at number 2 given the other names out there, but if he impresses the Giants enough to warrant a selection, don't be surprised if the decide to trade down to get him.

Photo: Getty Images

Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma - 4627 Yards 43 TD 6 INT

Mayfield is the definition of "gamer",  stepping up his play in big games and key situations. 2017 The Heisman Trophy winner brings all the tools NFL teams salivate over, including the New York Giants. In contrast to Manning, Mayfield would fiery energy to the field that could rub the team the wrong way as he's gotten himself into a fair share of on field controversies while at Oklahoma. Despite that, he has shown everyone that he's capable of being a franchise player that the Giants could count on leading the team into the future. 

New York Knicks: 3 Areas of Note Thus Far

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The Garden is a Home Court Advantage Again

For the first time in what seems like forever, the Knicks are playing great basketball at Madison Square Garden. They currently sport a 15-7 record and are scoring 106.5 (12th in the league) point per game to go along with a 111.7 offensive efficiency (11th in the league). This is a nice change of pace for a unit that has struggled to claim any remote advantage over visitors for the better part of 15 years. 

Road Warriors...I Think Not

Unlike their stellar play at home the Knicks have been dismal on the road, averaging just 98.8 points per game and allowing 108.3 (a near 10-point differential), a stark contrast to everything they've accomplished in in the Garden, the team is allowing opponents to shoot 50.1% from the floor, which certainly isn't helping their cause. In contrast, the team is shooting just 44.8% leading to far too many games where the club falls behind big early and is forced to play catch up, which usually doesn't bode well for a road team in any sport. Unfortunately, the Knicks find themselves amid a stretch where they'll be playing 11 of their next 14 games away from home which could prove to be their undoing if this trend continues.

KP Rises, Then Flattens Out

Kristaps Porzingis started the season as the toast of the league, putting up gaudy numbers (25.8 ppg) in his first 19 games. However, teams have changed their game plan against him, using physical defense and double teams leading to a drop in his shooting numbers (40% since 12/3) while injuries have started to bog him down. It hasn't helped that he's been playing without the help of currently Tim Hardaway Jr. whom took a lot of the pressure off Porzingis before going down with a lower leg injury in mid-December. Hopefully, Kristaps can return to his early season form, or perhaps the Knicks could consider get more scoring help on the front lines to ease the pressure on the 22-year old big man. Either way, he is still essential to the team's success from here on out.

Giants: What Happens Now?

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On Tuesday, the New York Giants made the shocking decision to bench Eli Manning amidst the teams tumultuous 2-9 season, ending his streak of 210 consecutive games started. The move has signaled that the once proud franchise has fallen into a place of disfunction that was thought to be unprecedented just a few seasons ago. This unfortunate turn of events leaves one question to be asked. What happens now?

New Quarterback?

Geno Smith may be getting the nod in Oakland, everyone knows he's just a fill in as the Giants will want to get a look at 3rd round pick Davis Webb. Ultimately, the team will look for a top tier quarterback in the college ranks to eventually become the franchises signal caler of the future.

The End of Ben McAdoo?

It appears that after just two seasons, the team has lost all faith in McAdoo. Fans and players have criticized his coaching style and questioned his ability to lead. Knowing that he had a hand in sitting Manning won't help his cause as the organization will most likely make him one of the casualties come January.

Jerry Reese Finished in New York?

Jerry Reese has been a part of the Giants organization since 1994, which may make it hard for the team to let him go. However, his recent track record of poor draft picks and free agent signings simply cannot be ignored. He’s played a big part in most of the shortcomings (the offensive line most notably) that made Eli's job far more difficult than it had to be. He likely sealed his fate in an October weekly address when he took the blame for Big Blues poor record, a sentiment many have felt was long overdue.

Manning Retiring?

It is entirely possible that Eli Manning may decide to call it a career at season's end. He's accomplished quite a bit for a quarterback that was once looked at as mediocre by critics and scouts. He currently sits in the top 10 all time in passing yards, touchdowns, and completions. Not to mention he has two Super Bowl MVP awards. Yet, there are going to be murmuring that Manning should look to play at least one more year with perhaps another team. It would be a huge sting for Big Blue to see their franchise player don another uniform, but in the end that decision will be left to

4 Potential Candidates To Replace Girardi

Photo: Brad Penner

After 10 seasons, the Yankees have decided to end the Joe Girardi era in favor of finding a new voice in the changing clubhouse. It will be no easy task finding a good fit for a team that had surprising success in 2017. However, Yankees GM Brian Cashman has assured that he will do all that he can to nab the most qualified candidate. With that said, here are 4 potential contenders for the open slot that Yankees could consider.

Tony Pena

Pena has been with the Yankees since 2006 and is well liked and respected by nearly everyone on the team. Having already established a relationship with the roster, it wouldn't be nearly as hard of a transition for him or the players. If the Yankees want to keep the consistency in the clubhouse Tony Pena is the right guy for the job.

Rob Thomson

Like Pena, Thomson also has an extended tenure with the team, having been with them since 2008. His aggressive, button pushing coaching style might need to be reined in a bit should he be chosen, but the players have come to enjoy it over the years, and that does speak volumes in a baseball setting. The one big thing holding him back is his lack of experience in handling an entire team, which is a big step for a guy who spent six seasons as a third base coach (Although he did manage the team twice in 2008 and was the bench coach for the past two seasons)

Brad Ausmus

Don't be surprised if the Yankees decide to look in the outer market for a manager. With plenty of names to choose from the one name that comes to mind is Brad Ausmus. He's a former Yankees prospect that was lost to the Colorado Rockies in the 92-expansion draft. Ausmus spent three years as the Tigers manager before being let go this past season and like Girardi and Pena, was a former major league catcher from 1993-2010. Should the Yankees decide to look elsewhere for a skipper, Ausmus could be a top contender.

Al Pedrique

Pedrique has spent the past 3 seasons in the Yankees organization managing Class A Tampa and AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre. He not only helped the RailRiders win the 2016 AAA championship, he has also named International League manager of the year the last two seasons. With so many young players coming up to the majors, Pedrique has also had the task of handling nearly all the Yankees top prospects, which means he has an already established relationship with players like Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge and even Clint Frazier, something that certainly shouldn’t be ignored. If Brian Cashman does look in house for a candidate, his name just may be at the top of the list.

Yankees: 4 Keys to Success in the ALCS

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Starting Pitching

The Yankees found some consistency in their starters in the division series from Sabathia, Severino, and Tanaka. With pitchers like Dallas Keuchel, Justin Verlander, and Lance McCullers opposing them, it will be imperative to get as many quality innings as possible if they want to come out victorious against the favored Astros.

Bullpen

The bullpen has been outstanding thus far and could be the difference maker in this best of seven series. If Girardi can push the right buttons at the right time, the Yankees stand a great chance to pull off another seemingly impossible feat. However, things could get potentially disastrous if certain arms are overused, so mixing it up should serve them well as they have five excellent arms at their disposal.

Didi Gregorious

Gregorious has been one of, if not the most important hitter in the Yankee lineup all season. His heroics helped lift the Yankees through both the Wild Card game and the Division Series and will be needed against Houston. If he can continue to deliver in the clutch, it will go a long way in determining what happens throughout the series. 

Aaron Judge

Things did not go well for Judge against Cleveland as he struck out sixteen times in five games due to poor plate discipline (and a rather unfair strike zone for a guy his height). That must change here as he the Astros will certainly look to expose him in key situations. If he can get back into form and contribute to the offense, he could be the catalyst that helps propel the Bronx Bombers to the World Series.