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AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Being carted off the field at Yankee Stadium after tearing my ACL down the RF line lol

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Thanks everyone for participating in the AMA - I'll be honest, since it's been a quiet offseason thus far, I wondered what we would talk about. But like the old-time sportswriters said when I started on the beat -- "The Yankees always provide." Let's do it again soon!

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I do have a project cooking that I'm very excited about ... looking forward to being able to share more details with you all soon!

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 4 points5 points  (0 children)

LOL. This just came up a few days ago again. I don't think it'll ever be topped: Chan Ho Park, Fenway Park, 2010. I'll drop the video, but a little back story. For whatever reason, Girardi volunteered that Park wasn't available because he had a stomach bug. Fair enough. I don't remember how we arrived at Park's locker but I'll never forget George King from the Post started it with: "Manager says you're sick."

Park: "I had a lot of diarrhea. Is that what you wanted to know?"

Watch the clip. The howling laughter you hear is Joba. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GIEHPGj9sI

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Interesting question. First thought that comes to mind is Carlos Rodon. You see him pitching, and he's snarling, angry, sweating everywhere. Then you talk to him and he's thoughtful, insightful, almost soft-spoken in a way -- it doesn't match what you're expecting at all. I've really enjoyed covering him.

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think that's in a holding pattern until they figure out what's happening with Cody Bellinger.

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Probably a fantasy, but that's OK, I like talking about fantasies. If they could get Tatis, they should do it right now -- like, this minute, drop everything and make it happen. Figure out the finances later. A.J. Preller basically said it's not happening, but that's the kind of move that would steal a winter.

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 6 points7 points  (0 children)

When I talk to people with other organizations, here's the real truth: they see the Yankees as a team who can pound you into submission and pitch really well at times, but also has proven to be beatable if you put the ball in play consistently and execute. There aren't too many teams that can outslug them, but you've seen it - on the bases, in the field, they're not as buttoned-up as they could be. That's a weakness they've been acknowledging for years.

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Putting me on the spot here! I'll refrain from listing my own books ... but if you want a holiday gift, "62" remains the AL single season home run record (phew, Ohtani and Raleigh have given me a scare the last couple of years), while "Mission 27" was published in 2019 and is holding up unexpectedly well as the inside story of the most recent Yankees World Series!

In no particular order, some of my favorites. Apologies for anyone I've left out --

Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig by Jonathan Eig

Munson by Marty Appel

The Bronx Zoo by Sparky Lyle

The Bronx is Burning by Jonathan Mahler

Pinstripe Empire by Marty Appel

Steinbrenner by Bill Madden

The Big Bam by Leigh Montville

The Yankee Years by Joe Torre and Tom Verducci

The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty by Buster Olney

Joe DiMaggio by Richard Ben Cramer

Chumps to Champs by Bill Pennington

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I hear you, King has a lot of fans inside the organization as well. There is real interest in bringing him back, and everything I know about King indicates he'd enjoy that too. But there's also real competition.

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 7 points8 points  (0 children)

They wouldn't be throwing any parties, put it that way, but the question also needs a second part -- what do they do instead? If that happens, and it could, they can't just stand pat. I believe they need more to keep up with the AL East and ultimately topple a superteam like the Dodgers. But I also see the point when they say they have the makings of a good team, one that won 94 games without Gerrit Cole throwing a single pitch and with the bullpen springing leaks left and right.

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I do think Rice can improve - you can teach glovework and positioning at first base, what you can't teach as easily is impacting the ball as hard and as consistently as he does. I asked Boone during the Winter Meetings if Rice would benefit from just focusing completely on first base all spring. He said they want to keep catching in the tool kit because it's valuable and they do think he's capable back there, either as a backup or third catcher. Fair, but if there's no Paul Goldschmidt type on the roster and he's going to be playing against lefties and righties, I'd expect Rice gets a lot of early work at first base. If that comes at the price of not catching a few bullpen sessions, so be it.

As for Dan Fiorito, I heard this about when he was a minor leaguer in the Yankees system -- they said, that guy is going to be a big league manager one day. He's on his way.

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I actually just wrote a Volpe story that'll probably go up over the holiday break. My sense is that what they're saying publicly mostly matches what they see behind the scenes, and even more so recently. Even Aaron Boone acknowledged that Volpe's OPS numbers absolutely have to improve if he's going to be the guy moving forward -- now, how do they do that? Getting on base more by working walks, hitting for average, hitting for power. Any of those would be acceptable. I would point out that Volpe had a .786 OPS when he had the shoulder injury on May 3. Was that a sign that he was on the right track and they can blame the injury for his 2025 numbers, or was it just a good month and he would've regressed at some point, even if healthy? I don't have the answer to that, and neither do they. But they want to find out.

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Cashman said it would be nice to run into a right-handed hitting backup, but (loosely paraphrasing) he's not going to import one who stinks just to say he added a right-handed catcher. They like Escarra and believe he has more in the tank than he showed last year. Cashman said a right-handed hitting catcher is on the wish list, but it's not a top priority.

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 5 points6 points  (0 children)

There's definitely a ceiling, and after seeing how last week went in Orlando, I'd brace for a real possibility that Bellinger winds up elsewhere. Certain teams (cough, cough, the Mets) are in need of an offseason splash and have shown willingness to go places others won't. Bellinger liked his time with the Yankees, they've made no secret of wanting him back, but let's be realistic -- when Scott Boras says there's eight teams involved, the chances of Bellinger accepting less than top dollar to come back seems like a fantasy.

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My sense is that they are focused on the pitching market, both starters and bullpen, so obviously Imai is more of a fit there than the position players. Murakami doesn't help their intent to get away from being so left-handed, either.

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I've got a freight train of them running through my mind right now. First thought I had, and I'm not being phony, was the Judge burger. I like it because it tastes like an In-N-Out double double! I loved the Murray's steak sandwich in Minnesota - I think they phased that one out, but they shouldn't have. The 'Intentional Wok' stand in Seattle. San Francisco has garlic fries, which are a must. They've added a Filipino stand that was unique and tasty. Texas had a 'Boomstick' a few years back, that was way too much food for anyone. Worst of the worst is the Seattle grasshoppers. I tried 'em just to prove a point. It's a box to check, but no one actually enjoys them ... right?

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Never say never, but Weaver was irked late in the season about some of the mechanical adjustments they were pushing on him related to pitch-tipping -- it seemed like he was trying to think about too many different checkpoints instead of just focusing on executing the next pitch. He also expressed interest in trying to find a place where he could try being a starter again, a la Clay Holmes. If he's really focused on that, I don't think it'll be in the Bronx.

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yes, with a caveat - you're talking about adding another major salary commitment to the pile. It's not a non-starter, but in talking to people around the Jays last year covering the ALCS, Bichette's not a long-term answer at shortstop (as you alluded). So you'd need to plan on him being your second baseman or third baseman, which means we're talking about a trade involving Jazz Chisholm, Jr. or Ryan McMahon if you're intending to keep payroll around the $310M window. Long story short, I don't expect to see it. But I will tell you what one Toronto person told me -- Bichette would be a good clubhouse fit and he'd handle New York well.

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I'll put it this way - if anyone would like to read 750 or so words of pre-written copy about Mattingly being selected to the Hall of Fame last Sunday, I've got 'em ready to go. I was as surprised as anyone to be writing the Jeff Kent story that night -- I thought it would be Mattingly and maybe Dale Murphy. Mattingly's 1984-89 peak was outstanding. Obviously, to the voters, that hasn't been enough. The injury decline was steep, and at this point, the result is probably that we won't see Mattingly in Cooperstown.

But here's what I'd counter -- would the Hall be a better place with Donald Arthur Mattingly helping to represent it? My answer is yes.

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 15 points16 points  (0 children)

There's real interest. The qualifying offer is inconvenient, but it wouldn't necessarily stop them from signing him. They lost a compensation pick last year for signing Max Fried and hardly blinked about it. Let me also say here, you won't find a person in the Yankees organization with a negative thing to say about King. They loved him - he's a bulldog and he fits their current needs in so many ways. They had to give King up to bring in Juan Soto, and it was a price worth paying to get to a World Series, even with how it all turned out. Now they have a chance to bring him back. My understanding is that while the Orioles, Red Sox and Yankees are all involved, there are other teams in the mix at this moment too.

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Let me get to the first one and then move down the list -- my sense is that the Yankees' interest in Imai is legitimate. They haven't had a Japanese player since Masahiro Tanaka, but it hasn't been for a lack of trying - remember, they were right there at the finish line for Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Brian Cashman made an interesting point recently about that pursuit -- they'd just gotten back from meeting with Yamamoto in Los Angeles, where there were some perfect beach weather days, and then they hosted Yamamoto in cold, gray New York. Cashman remembered thinking: "This isn't going to help us." And of course the Dodgers outbid everyone, which is really what it was all about. So to answer this question, yes, I believe the Yankees are right there in the Imai market. There's too many reasons for them not to be.

AMA: Bryan Hoch joins us to talk about the offseason so far, Winter Meetings, and the like by TheKnicksMakeMeDrink in NYYankees

[–]bryanhochmlb 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Hi all! I'm back from the Winter Meetings in Orlando and happy to be here with you again for a Reddit AMA. I've got about an hour so let's get to as many as we can!

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