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RAB Thoughts

RAB Thoughts

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May 8th, 2020: Restart Plans, Injury Updates, 2020 Draft, Mailbag

Hi everyone. I hope you're hanging in there. To make a baseball analogy, we're in the dogs days of quarantine, only there's no promise of the postseason to liven things up in a few weeks. Wear a mask, wash your hands, and stay safe. Now for today's thoughts.

1. Latest restart plans....

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May 5th, 2020: Britton, Rodgers, 2020 Draft, Judge

Good news: ESPN will broadcast six Korea Baseball Organization games per week starting today, so it's live baseball on an easy-to-find channel. The games take place at odd hours seeing how they're on the other side of the world, but there will be replays throughout the day. Don't forget to set yo...

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May 1st, 2020: What We've Missed, Exception Player Rule, 2020 Draft, Mailbag

PSA: The Yankees have announced you can get refunds or credit on tickets purchased for games in April. Here's all the info. It's basically the bare minimum given the circumstances, but ...

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April 28th, 2020: All-Time Bench, Rule 5 Draft, Field of Dreams Game, 2020 Draft

Shameless self-promotion: I wrote CBS posts on righties with sweet swings and 2020-04-28 13:54:15 +0000 UTC View Post

April 24th, 2020: Red Sox, Hub Plan, KBO, Minor League Contraction, Judge, Mailbag

This Sunday will be the one month anniversary of what was supposed to be Opening Day. The Yankees have already lost 26 games to the pandemic -- they were scheduled to open a three-game home series with the Indians tonight -- and it'll likely be much more than that when it's all said and done. Hop...

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April 21st, 2020: Wheeler & Familia, CBA, Loaisiga, Warren

Make sure you check out Bob Klapisch's piece on Giancarlo Stanton and day he took the Mike Fiers fastball to the face. The imp...

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April 17th, 2020: Hank, Shutdown, 2020 Draft, Hicks, Mailbag

If you're jonesin' for baseball, I recommend the Chinese Professional Baseball League. I'm not joking. The games are streamed online, some with English broadcasts (here's this morning's), ...

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April 14th, 2020: Realignment Plan, Old Yankee Stadium, 2020 Draft, Chapman

I've enjoyed Kyle Higashioka's shutdown diary. In the latest entry he wrote about doubting himself when he was a minor league backup catcher stuck behind Gary Sanchez...

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April 10th, 2020: 50-Man Roster, Cole, 2020 Draft, Mailbag

In an alternate universe, the Yankees will open their regularly scheduled West Coast trip in Oakland later tonight. In reality, we've already lost 14 Yankees games to the shutdown and it will be many more than that when it's all said and done. I hope you're all staying safe and thanks as always f...

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April 7th, 2020: Arizona Plan, Prospects in 2020, Non-Roster Players, 2020 Draft

Fun fact: Gary Sanchez hit three home runs one year ago today. Here's the video. Hitting a zillion dingers against the Orioles is one of the many things I miss about baseball and there are days I feel like it will...

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April 3rd, 2020: Lindor, Paxton, Hale, Opening Day, Mailbag

The Yankees were supposed to play their 2020 home opener yesterday. It was a gorgeous day in New York -- chilly, but gorgeous -- and that made me miss baseball even more. I hope y'all are hanging in there. Sitting at home sounds great until you're forced to do it. Anyway, here are today's thought...

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March 31st, 2020: MLB-MLBPA Agreement, 29-Man Roster, 2020 Draft, Qualifying Offers, Mattingly-Clark

I did not expect to watch as much baseball as I have during the shutdown (by "watch" I mean have on in the background as I do other things). Since what was supposed to be Opening Day, I have rewatched the 2017 AL Wild Card Game, Game 1 of the 2019 ALDS, the Gleyber Torres walk-off home run agains...

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March 26th, 2020: Opening Day, Shutdown Plans, Injuries, Abreu, Mailbag

PSA: You can watch every 2018 and 2019 game on MLB.tv for free during the shutdown. Sign up for a free MLB.com account and stream away. 2020-03-26 18:28:08 +0000 UTC View Post

March 24th, 2020: Judge, Ottavino, Sale, Shortened Season, Stanton

In a world without COVID-19, the Yankees would be preparing for tonight's exhibition season finale against the Blue Jays in Montreal right now. Instead, they're hunkered down at home waiting out the virus and wondering when the season will begin like the rest of us. Soon, I hope. Here are today's...

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March 20th, 2020: Stanton, Sanchez, Tanaka, Shutdown, Draft, International Free Agents, Mailbag

Picked up a new show this week: The Outsider (HBO). Bit of a slow burn but it's really good. If you're looking for stuff to binge while remaining socially distant and sans baseball, 2020-03-20 13:19:25 +0000 UTC View Post

March 17th, 2020: COVID-19 Shutdown, Abbreviated Season Ideas, Draft, German

How's everyone doing? Hanging in there? As someone who mostly works from home, the whole social distancing thing is familiar to me, but it's a big adjustment for a lot of people. It's important though. We Americans are pretty great at staying home and doing nothing. Do that for a few weeks and we...

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COVID-19 shutdown: What happens now and what does it mean for the Yankees?

Along with pretty much every amateur and professional sports league around the world, Major League Baseball is on indefinite hiatus due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Spring Training has been suspended and Opening Day will be delayed at least two weeks. The minor league season has been delayed as well...

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March 13th, 2020: COVID-19, Grapefruit League, Torres, Kahnle, Prospects, Rule Changes, Mailbag

I don't know how to put together an intro for today's post given everything that's happened in the last 48 hours or so. The sports world has shut down and our daily lives are trending that way too. It's all very surreal. Let's jump into today's thoughts.

1. COVID-19 outbreak. View Post

March 10th, 2020: Judge, Outfield Trade, Fifth Starter, Roster Check-In, Sanchez, Reviewing Offseason Ideas, McHugh

The worst part of vacation is the end and transitioning back into work mode. I'm home now and ready to get back in the saddle with Opening Day only two weeks and two days away. Here are today's thoughts as 2020-03-10 13:42:06 +0000 UTC View Post

March 3rd, 2020: Judge, Grapefruit League, Ottavino, Torres, Gardner, Prospects

Quick reminder: I leave for vacation tomorrow and there will be no regularly scheduled post this Friday. Things will be back to normal next week. Thanks as always for the support. Now on to the day's thoughts.

1. Judge's setback. Folks, it's time to worry about Aaron Judge'...

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February 28th, 2020: Stanton, Grapefruit League, Green, Roster Check-In, Mailbag

Quick reminder: I will be on vacation next week and I'm skipping next Friday's post. I am not even bringing my laptop with me, so I won't be able to react to breaking news. Things will be back to normal the following Tuesday. Anyway, View Post

Thoughts after Luis Severino goes down with Tommy John surgery

(Presswire)

The worst case scenario has arrived: Luis Severino needs Tommy John surgery. Tests in New York earlier this week revealed a partial ulnar collateral ligament tear that is significant enough to...

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February 25th, 2020: Happ, Andujar, Acevedo, Vizcaino, Montgomery, Top 100 Prospects, Red Sox

Gerrit Cole has made his first start as a Yankee and we didn't get to see it. He struck out two and walked one in a scoreless inning in an untelevised game against the Pirates last night. His next scheduled start is Saturday and yes, 2020-02-25 15:17:07 +0000 UTC View Post

February 21st, 2020: Severino, Judge, LeMahieu, Chapman, Mailbag

Baseball is almost here. The Yankees begin Grapefruit League play tomorrow afternoon and yes, the game will be televised. J.A. Happ will start and Marly Rivera says Domingo Acevedo, Luis Avilan, Luis Cessa, ...

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February 18th, 2020: Manfred, Judge, Tanaka, Happ, Bettis, Cole, Andujar

In four short days Yankees baseball will be on your television. The Yankees begin Grapefruit League play at home against the Blue Jays this Saturday. No word on the starting pitcher yet but 2020-02-18 14:59:23 +0000 UTC View Post

February 14th, 2020: Position Battles, Sanchez, Judge, Cole, Zych, Top 100 Prospects, German, Mailbag

Yup. (Presswire)

A quick announcement: I'm going on vacation in a few weeks and I'm planning to skip the regularly scheduled post on Friday, March 6th. That's three weeks from today. I haven't b...

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February 11th, 2020: Astros, Roster Check-In, Ford, LeMahieu, Betts, Paxton, Postseason Format

It is Spring Training eve. Pitchers and catchers will officially report to Tampa tomorrow, though many have been in town for a while now. October king Masahiro Tanaka said yesterday he feels the Astros c...

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2020 Preseason Top 30 Yankees Prospects

Double-A Trenton won their fourth championship in 2019. (Photo via Patrick ...

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February 6th, 2020: Paxton, Betts, Severino, Stanton, Not Top 30 Prospects, Mailbag

Six days until pitchers and catchers report to Tampa and 16 days until the first Grapefruit League game. Hooray. Anyway, with my Top 30 Prospects List coming out tomorrow, here is the regular Friday post a day early. Let's get to it.

1. Paxton injured. Two days ago -- View Post

February 4th, 2020: Betts, Non-Roster Invitees, Urshela, Triple-A Roster, Minor League Coaches, Peraza

Eight days until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training. I know that's a big non-news day but I don't care. Baseball is coming. As a reminder, my annual Top 30 Prospects List will be posted this Friday, and Friday's regularly scheduled post will run Thursday. It might be a little shorter...

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