Alex Crean

[Alex Crean @AlexCrean153]

@FiresideYankees I’m sorry.. am I supposed to believe this post considers Max Fried the 4th starter in this rotation? Personally, I had Fried in game 2.

[Alex Crean @AlexCrean153]

@BobbyMilone29 We should pay Jeffers and give him a starting job.

Wells played so poorly for so long.. as nice as it is to see him on track late in the year, his overall numbers are a backup’s numbers.

[Alex Crean @AlexCrean153]

@Christian_NYYST Now do the career numbers

[Alex Crean @AlexCrean153]

@YankeesFiles Yeah, like these guys are having standout hot streaks and Judge is just like that year in and year out when healthy

[Alex Crean @AlexCrean153]

@miacluv If you’re arguing with a partner over what the “bare minimum” is in a relationship, you’re barking up the wrong tree

[Alex Crean @AlexCrean153]

@NYY_Brian @skylar13277 Because of the 🗑️��️🗑️🗑️

[Alex Crean @AlexCrean153]

@bronxtalks On the one hand, it’s great that Hedrick is pitching well, but in 2004 both Gordon and Rivera were massively overworked.. this had consequences..

This isn’t a record we want any of our key bullpen arms challenging

[Alex Crean @AlexCrean153]

@J_Styborski @The_Bleacherss Cruz is not a fringe guy, he’s literally the righty I trust most after Bednar. No way he’s not on the postseason roster, especially for Luis Gil. Just no way that’s happening unless Cruz gets hurt and is out

[Alex Crean @AlexCrean153]

@JLas43_ If it’s Rice, Judge, Bellinger, Stanton in the middle of the order, there will be reasons.. it’s weird that they’re all supposed to be coming back at once though

[Alex Crean @AlexCrean153]

With Jeffers as the starter, you have

4 righties:

Judge
Stanton
Jeffers
Lombard

4 Lefties:

Rice
Bellinger
McMahon
Jones

(Garcia)

And then there’s a 9th spot in the order at 2B open. I don’t think being 5-4 in favor of lefties or righties is too unbalanced, as long as we avoid getting into like 7-2 or more unbalanced than that territory, I think the most important thing is getting the best hitters in the lineup.

- Would be great if there were a righty who could play somewhere when Wells catches to keep the balance

- would love to add any actually productive switch hitters who are good from both sides anywhere (I wouldn’t hesitate to add Rutchman to the catching mix next year even after adding Jeffers this year if that were possible.. a S/R platoon is just as balanced as a S/L platoon or an L/R platoon, and when one of your guys is a switch hitter you’re less likely to get caught in the wrong alignment for a later AB after you’ve already deployed your pinch hitter.. if that guy can flip to the other side, the 10th inning AB isn’t a junk AB after a 7th inning pinch hit)

[Alex Crean @AlexCrean153]

@rami_lavi Ramos has minor league options still… could send him to AAA instead of Spencer

[Alex Crean @AlexCrean153]

@JLas43_ You could argue that if Jones keeps hitting well, Ramos should be the one sent down. You could also argue that Jones is challenging Grisham for CF reps once everybody is back

[Alex Crean @AlexCrean153]

Here’s what I think the long term plan should be for catcher:

1) Sign Ryan Jeffers in FA this coming offseason
2) give Wells at least until the deadline next year to show he can get his offense back on track sustainably, either that will happen or…
3) if he doesn’t sign Adley away from Boston in FA the following offseason

This way we have Jeffers/Wells next year and either the Wells part works or it doesn’t, and if it doesn’t, our 2028 catching position is Jeffers/Adley and we send Wells to AAA or trade him/eventually let him walk at the end of his contract (another year after the opportunity to sign Adley) if things break that way.

[Alex Crean @AlexCrean153]

I like him in 96, though. He’s starting a set on numbers in the 90’s with Judge, but he’s got the 6 in there for SS. Maybe it’s just because I watched a lot of football and hockey over the years, but the high numbers can be cool on a star player.

Also, 96 was Charlie Conway’s number in the mighty ducks!

[Alex Crean @AlexCrean153]

@GarysheffieldJr 96 was also the number of the legendary Charlie Conway, captain of the the Mighty Ducks back in the day 😂

[Alex Crean @AlexCrean153]

I actually really like 96…. It goes with judge’s 99 and has a 6 for SS.. maybe it’s just because in my youth, I watched enough hockey and football, but the high numbers don’t bother me. I find them to be original, like the players from this generation, have a chance to make their own mark. It would be very cool to one day have a section of monument park with numbers in the 90s commemorating the multiple World Series winning Judge era. That’s the future of the Yankees should be trying to manufacture.

[Alex Crean @AlexCrean153]

Strong disagree the retired numbers are emblematic of the great history of the franchise. Leaving off 9 is crazy, he held the HR record for decades. 44 for what he did in the playoffs, all the guys from the 90’s dynasty.. the retired numbers tell the story of the franchise. The Yankees have the most because they have the most robust collection of legends

[Alex Crean @AlexCrean153]

@JonFromMaspeth That’s what I have at the moment

[Alex Crean @AlexCrean153]

@yankeesvision @YankeesFiles Found the stats I was quoting

[AT @BaseballWRLD_]

Heliot Ramos against lefties by year:

2024: .370/.439/.750 | 1.189 OPS | 222 wRC+
2025: .254/.323/.420 | .743 OPS | 107 wRC+
2026: .292/.343/.492 | .835 OPS | 127 wRC+