5. Yankees well ahead of schedule
The performance of Judge hasn’t been the only surprise coming from The Bronx in 2017. The Yankees in general are at least a year ahead of schedule.
In 2016, New York finally realized that much of its long time nucleus was washed up and couldn’t help the team contend anymore. So, the Yankees finally cut ties with guys like Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira. Bullpen stalwarts Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman were traded in an effort to rebuild the farm system. A long-term rebuilding project was underway. Those trades netted the Yankees highly touted prospects Clint Frazier and Gleyber Torres, but they weren’t expected to help the Major League team out much in 2017.
As it turns out, neither man has. Frazier and Torres remain in the minors. Greg Bird, who was returning from injury after missing all of 2016, was supposed to take over from Teixeira. But he’s been injured for a good portion of the year and was completely ineffective (.100/.250/.200) when in the lineup. Masahiro Tanaka has had his moments but has been ineffective overall, posting a 6.07 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in his first 13 starts. He was supposed to lead a starting rotation that, quite frankly, looked pretty suspect entering the season.
So, besides Judge, what’s gone right?
Luis Severino hasn’t only been good but has been a borderline Cy Young contender. In 12 starts, he’s posted a 2.75 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and has more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings. C.C. Sabathia Jordan Montgomery and Michael Pineda all have ERA’s well below 4.00. So, they’ve done a lot to negate the struggles of Tanaka.
Chapman has missed a good portion of the year with an injury. But in his stead, Dellin Betances has more than held his own as the regular closer, posting a 0.45 ERA. Adam Warren, Jonathan Holder and Tyler Clippard have all added to the depth of the New York bullpen.
That’s all led to a 38-25 record and first place in the highly competitive American League East. Imagine how good the Yankees will be when Frazier and Torres get to the show.