Bronx Bomber Ball

After what can only be described as a difficult series in Oakland last week, the Yankees went on to face the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers and took two out of three games.   While not a sweep, the outcome of Dodgers’ series was exactly the type of outcome that restored fan confidence in the Yankees, especially with the postseason approaching in just over a month.   They are still firmly in first place in the American League East, with a full nine-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays.  

The Yankees have made their first splash of the offseason by acquiring the Big Maple, James Paxton, from the Seattle Mariners. Fresh off his second-consecutive season at the top of the Mariner’s rotation, Paxton did not come cheap as the Yankees traded away their top prospect, Justus Sheffield, along with breakout prospects Erik Swanson and Dominic Thompson-Williams.   Photo Credit: AP

The Yankees built off last night’s win by dominating the Red Sox throughout the game to a 10-1 win on Wednesday Night Baseball on ESPN. Luis Severino outmatched lefty David Price, as the Yanks offense, unsurprisingly led by Luke Voit, continued its dominance on Price. Photo Credit: Frank Franklin II/AP

Justus Sheffield has finally gotten his long awaited call up to the New York Yankees. The 22-year-old is the Yankees top prospect, and the number three Left-Handed Pitching prospect in the entire MLB. Along with Sheffield, Domingo German, somebody who is familiar to Yankees fans, is also coming back to the big league club for the first time since July 20. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Yankees are playing without a lot of depth due to players traded at the deadline and the numerous injuries they have had to deal with over the summer, so the September 1st roster expansion could not come at a better time. Despite the shortage on reserves compared to the last few seasons, there are a handful of players the Yankees would highly benefit from if they are added come the switching of the calendar month. Here are ten candidates to join the team in the next few weeks. Players with *’s next to their names are not on the 40-man roster, which in a lot of cases could hurt their chances of being called up.   Photo Credit: NY Post

The Railriders scratched Justus Sheffield from his start today and have announced that he is being moved to the bullpen. While typically this is meant for someone who is struggling and not performing to expectations, this is a different scenario. This move will not only monitor Sheffield’s innings for him so he can contribute down the stretch, but it will allow him to adapt to a new role the Yankees plan on using him in when September 1 arrives. Photo Credit: Getty Images

Living in Virginia Beach and being a New York Yankees fan is a tough gig. The closest major league stadiums to me are in Baltimore and Washington DC, and the Bronx is a solid eight-hour drive away. However, the Norfolk Tides, the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, are a short trip away and this is a prime chance to see the next wave of Yankees talent play when the Railriders come into town, usually once a year. I was able to catch two games of their three-game series (both wins), and here is what I noticed in the eighteen innings I watched.

The Yankees have a top-three farm system in all of baseball even with the graduation of a handful of players due to their contributions at the MLB level. The strength of their farm system at the moment is, by far, pitching. According to MLB.com’s rankings, 22 of the Yankees top 30 prospects are pitchers. With an influx of young offensive players becoming major leaguers in the Bronx in recent seasons, such as, Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge, Clint Frazier, Greg Bird, Miguel Andujar, Tyler Austin, Tyler Wade, and Gleyber Torres, the Yankees’ front office has made it a point to try to build up their pitching depth and have successfully done so. Here is an update on the Yankees’ top ten pitching prospects.   Photo Credit: Chat Sports

Last year Cashman acquired Sonny Gray, Jaime Garcia, David Robertson, Tommy Khanle, and Todd Frazier before the July 31st deadline, which helped drive the Bombers to game seven of the ALCS, but they gave up some of their better prospect in the process. The team has its sights set on a championship, so GM Brian Cashman will undoubtedly upgrade the starting pitching at the deadline, but who and for what? Sean M Haffey/Getty Images

As we close in on the Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline on July 31st, it's about that time of year where we start analyzing potential trade targets as well as which prospects might be on the move as part of those deals.  Our own Maxx Hotton recently completed a series of pieces in which he previewed potential trade packages for  Jacob deGrom ,  Cole Hamels , JA Happ , and  Madison Bumgarner .  However, the trade deadline (as well as the weeks immediately following the conclusion of the World Series) are also a time for teams to starting thinking about future roster constructions and get their 40-man rosters in shape.   Left to Right: Justus Sheffield, Chance Adams, Dillon Tate Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Last year Cashman acquired Sonny Gray, Jaime Garcia, David Robertson, Tommy Khanle, and Todd Frazier before the July 31st deadline, which helped drive the Bombers to game seven of the ALCS, but they gave up some of their better prospect in the process. The team has its sights set on a championship, so GM Brian Cashman will undoubtedly upgrade the starting pitching at the deadline, but who and for what? Getty Images

When describing the Yankees’ bullpen, some words that come to mind are “electric,” “filthy,” “overpowering” and “unhittable.” For the core six members of the Bombers’ relief gang (Chapman, Betances, Robertson, Green, Holder and Warren), these words ring true. After all, those men, with some help from A.J. Cole and Luis Cessa, have combined to hurl 54 scoreless innings since June 5, an almost unthinkable accomplishment. They have also helped the Yankees earn the third best bullpen ERA in MLB (2.72), as well as the best bullpen K/9 (11.97) and WAR (5.2). Unfortunately, there’s one reliever on the team who hasn’t exactly held his own, and his performances of late have been costing the team games. That pitcher is Chasen Shreve. Since June 5, he has managed to allow five runs in 6.1 innings pitched, per Katie Sharpe. Remember that no other Yankee reliever has allowed a single run in that span. Additionally, Shreve has somehow allowed 100% of inherited runners to score since ...

Last year Cashman acquired Sonny Gray, Jaime Garcia, David Robertson, Tommy Khanle, and Todd Frazier before the July 31st deadline, which helped drive the Bombers to game seven of the ALCS, but they gave up some of their better prospect in the process. The team has its sights set on a championship, so GM Brian Cashman will undoubtedly upgrade the starting pitching at the deadline, but who and for what? Dailey News

The New York Yankees, having recently lost both Jordan Montgomery for the season to Tommy John Surgery and Masahiro Tanaka for a few weeks due to cramps in both of his hamstrings, are set to call up electric right-hander Jonathan  Loaisiga  to make his Major League debut on Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Rays, per YES Network's Jack Curry. Boone said Jonathan Loaisiga will start for the Yankees on Thursday. He started the season at Class A Tampa and has been at Class AA Trenton, where he's 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in 4 starts. He has 26Ks and 1 walk in 20 innings. — Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) June 12, 2018 *Per Boone's update after last night's game, Loaisiga will start Friday night, not Thursday night* Loaisiga , New York's 12th best prospect per  MLB[ dot]com,  had an impressive showing in A-ball before a quick promotion to double-A Trenton where he made his last six starts.  Over ten starts across both levels of the minors this season,  Loais...

The Yankees have a top-three farm system in all of baseball even with the graduation of a handful of players due to their contributions  at the MLB level. The strength of their farm system at the moment is, by far, pitching. According to MLB.com’s rankings, 23 of the Yankees top 30 prospects are pitchers. With an influx of young offensive players becoming major leaguers in the Bronx in recent seasons, such as, Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge, Clint Frazier, Greg Bird, Miguel Andujar, Tyler Austin, Tyler Wade, and Gleyber Torres, the Yankees’ front office has made it a point to try to build up their pitching depth and have successfully done so. Here is an update on the Yankees’ top ten pitching prospects. Photo Credit: Louriann Mardo-Zayat

The Yankees made a move today that surprised almost no one based off the stuff he flashed in spring training and the numbers he has posted in the early going in 2018. They promoted their number three prospect, Justus Sheffield, to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Photo Credit: Call to the pen 

Following yesterday’s game, the Yankees reassigned six players to minor league camp: RHP Cale Coshow, RHP Raynel Espinal, LHP Trevor Lane, C Chace Numata, LHP Justus Sheffield, and RHP Dillon Tate. This represents the first round of cuts this spring training, and there will be plenty more as soon as the team narrows down where specific players will be in the 2018 season. Mike Janes / AP

Okay Yankees fans, I am going to discuss a rarely discussed idea. Hold onto your hats... I think the Bombers should utilize a six-man rotation in 2018. In the following article, I'll give my reasons why. Photo Credit: Getty Images

In this addition of the Bronx Bomber Ball’s 2018 Pinstripe Preview, we will focus on lefty sensation Justus Sheffield. Sheffield was acquired by the Yankees in 2016 in a package with the Cleveland Indians for Andrew Miller. Recently rated as the Yankees number four prospect and the number seven left-handed pitching prospect, there is a lot of hype build around the young man. Photo Credit: Mark J Rebilas -USA TODAY Sports

Today's 2018 Pinstripe Preview features third  year right- handed pitcher Luis  Cessa . The young 25-year-old (26 in April) first came to the Yankees alongside bullpen stud Chad Green in the December 2015 trade that sent lefty Justin Wilson to the Detroit Tigers.   Cessa  had previously been a highly regarded prospect in the Mets' system and was a part of the  Yoenis  Cespedes trade along with 2016 American League Rookie of the Year Michael Fulmer.   Luis  Cessa  made his major league debut on April 8th , 2016 in a relief effort against the Tigers and went on to play a swingman role for the 2016 Yankees the rest of the way.     Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post