The Yankees began yesterday with the awful news that, for the 3rd time, they had a pitcher who has been suspended for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy.
True, Aroldis Chapman had been suspended for it before joining the team, and have since let him go (twice), but they still acquired him (twice). Then, Domingo Germán was suspended right before the 2019 Playoffs, and he also missed the entire 2020 season, including the Playoffs.
Now, it's Jimmy Cordero. He's been suspended 76 games, the rest of this year's regular season. He's not contesting it, meaning he accepts that he did something wrong. At least he's taking responsibility for his actions.
Brian Cashman acquired all 3 of these men. No, it's not as bad as what they've been alleged to have done. But put everything he's done together, and the question must be asked: When is he, or team owner Hal Steinbrenner, who hired him, going to take responsibility for his actions?
So it's not surprising that the Yankees lost last night, in the 3rd game of their 4-game home series with the Baltimore Orioles. Or maybe the suspension had no effect on their mindset, and it was just one of those games.
After all, things went pretty well at first. Rookie Randy Vásquez, filling one of the injury-forced holes in the rotation, pitched 5 shutout innings, allowing 2 hits and 3 walks. The game was scoreless until the bottom of the 5th, which Josh Donaldson led off with a home run. After a DJ LeMahieu lineout, Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled. Anthony Volpe grounded into what should have been a double play. IKF was out at 2nd, but an error put Volpe on 2nd. And Kyle Higashioka singled him home. It was 2-0 Yankees.
But Aaron Boone followed ordered, and pulled Vásquez, who had only thrown 75 pitches, and put in Nick Ramirez. He had nothing. Nor did Michael King, who managed to close out the top of the 6th, but not before allowing the O's 4 runs, on a double, 2 singles (this is where King came in), a triple and a fielder's choice.
Volpe gave the Yankees some home, leading off the bottom of the 8th with a home run. But in the 9th, an Adley Rutschman double and a Ryan O'Hearn home run off Ian Hamilton put the game out of reach. Orioles 6, Yankees 3. WP: Dean Kremer (9-4). SV: Félix Bautista (23). LP: Ramirez (0-1).
And how did Cashman thank Vásquez for his nice performance last night? He was sent down to the minor leagues, so that Carlos Rodón could return from the Injured List, and make his long-awaited Yankee debut tomorrow night. Don't get me wrong: I'm all for Rodón being available. But sending Vásquez down hardly seems fair.
Maybe Boone and Cashman should be suspended, for violating a domestic stupidity policy. Alas, no such policy exists.
The series concludes tonight. Luis Severino starts against Kyle Bradish.