Yankees Get Devastating News About Their Ace
The Yankees are the standard of MLB excellence. Their 27 World Series championships stand alone by a wide margin. Since 1995, they have made 25 playoff appearances, won eight American League pennants, and won five World Series championships. Historically, when they sought a high-level player, they got him.
This offseason, that changed. The Yankees faced off against the Mets in the Juan Soto sweepstakes. Soto was a critical part of the Yankees’ success last year. Never had the Mets beaten the Yankees in a free-agent sweepstakes for a player both desperately wanted. Soto, instead, chose to go across town to the Mets.
The Yankees pivoted well, resigning ace Gerrit Cole and signing top free-agent starting pitcher Max Fried. They added experienced bats Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt. They strengthened the back end of their bullpen with dominant closer Devin Williams. They had reason to be optimistic going into the season, but then a merciless Spring Training befell them.
They had reason to be optimistic going into the season, but then a merciless Spring Training befell them. The Yankees lost Cole for the season, who will undergo Tommy John surgery. They placed last year’s Rookie of the Year, Luis Gil, on the 60 day Injured List with a high-grade right lat muscle strain.
The Yankees needed a strong start to wash away the bad taste from the last few months. The first series against defending NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers wouldn’t be easy. Would the Yankees respond?
The Yankees grabbed control of the series and never let go. They won all three games emphatically by a combined score of 36-14. On Saturday, they clobbered nine HR’s; on Sunday, they smashed four.
The Yankees tied an American League/National League record with 15 HR’s in their first three games of a season. They also tied their club mark with 13 HR’s in two games.
The Yankees got the early season answers they needed. MLB talk, though, has centered on the bats they used to set such an unyielding response.
“Torpedo” bats are described by an untraditional barrel; they rest closer to the hitter’s hands. They are crafted with more wood and, therefore, more mass. This is concentrated in the bat area where the hitter is prone to hit the ball.
Multiple Yankees, such as Anthony Volpe, Cody Bellinger, and Jazz Chisholm Jr, used the “Torpedo” bats against the Brewers and excelled. Was it a coincidence, or did the bats create the success?
Brewers reliever Trevor Megill thinks the bats led to the power display. He said, “I’ve never seen anything like it before. I feel like it’s something used in slow-pitch softball. It’s genius: Put the mass all in one spot.”
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero confirmed to reporters Sunday that he used a “Torpedo” bat during his pinch-hit appearance. He collected an infield single. He plans to use the bat “sometimes” during the season. Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers also used a “Torpedo” bat yesterday and went hitless.
Players used “Torpedo” bats last season, and HR displays like that by the Yankees this past weekend didn’t occur. There’s also some evidence that Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte might have been using a variant as far back as 2019. He has been one of MLB’s best second basemen but has never produced unfathomable power numbers.
MLB confirmed yesterday that “Torpedo” bats are legal. They meet the 3.02 bat rules in diameter and length. They are also one piece of solid wood.
The Yankees have bought into “Torpedo” bats. They had tremendous success this past weekend. The bats are not a new development, though. Players have been using them for the last couple of years.
The Yankees generate much envy. When they have tremendous success, it becomes easy for some to look for ulterior motives rather than give the credit that is deserved.
Aaron Judge, for example, didn’t use a “Torpedo” bat and slugged four HRs this past weekend. The Yankees are loaded with accomplished hitters throughout their lineup. The Brewers entered the series with eight of their top 13 arms unavailable. A pitching crunch facing an experienced lineup is a perfect storm for a power explosion.
“Torpedo” bats look unique, which creates an intriguing conversation. Much more evidence and studies need to be made before anyone can say conclusively that they lead to an unfair increase of scoring production.
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