The New York Yankees have dealt with multiple injuries, opening some opportunities for some players. One who deserves to fill in a vacancy is Domingo German after a strong Spring.
Luis Cessa did nearly everything he could to claim the final starting rotation spot for the New York Yankees. Yet it seems that Domingo German thwarted Cessa’s chances after posting respectable numbers in Spring Training.
Manager Aaron Boone has not officially named German one of the starters for the regular season. But based on reports from this weekend, it’s more than likely that the 26-year-old retains a starting spot, while Cessa returns to a spot in the bullpen.
It’s a safer – and smarter – move by Boone.
Cessa has flirted with a rotation spot for the past three years. Yet every time he obtained an opportunity to demonstrate consistency in New York, he faltered. The right-handed hurler allowed more runs across fewer innings as a starter compared to his numbers as a reliever last season.
Domingo German was beaming when he walked out of Aaron Boone's office yesterday. He said today that his improved curveball made all the difference.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) March 24, 2019
"It's sharper now. It has a big bite, the way it did back in 2017."
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Although, the starter’s stats from this Spring are noteworthy. He allowed just one run through 17 innings and registered 18 strikeouts. That is a much more notable strikeout rate than his career 6.9 strikeouts per nine innings.
However, Cessa has shown promise before, only to revert back into mediocrity. He can also contribute in the bullpen and make multiple spot-starts if needed.
German, on the other hand, looked good up until his last start, when he allowed five runs in less than four innings. Prior to that outing, the Dominican yielded just two runs across 11 2/3 innings. And he notched 18 strikeouts in that span too.
Yankees fans remember the gem German threw a year ago, accruing nine strikeouts in a six-inning, no-hit effort. Yet, after that glimpse of promise, he was unimpressive the rest of the season.
Boone may have more trust in German because he can be more consistent for at least five innings. Once he gets 15 outs, Boone surely trusts New York’s bullpen enough to close out the final four innings in any matchup.
German also has a more electric repertoire that garners more whiffs. His strikeout rate was nearly four strikeouts more per nine innings than that of Cessa.
In fact, it may be the norm when the back end of the rotation is on the bump. That’s the advantage in boasting one of the best relief units in the league.
Cessa arguably still has a chance to start in the rotation once the regular season begins Thursday because CC Sabathia’s health is still an issue. He could cover the first go-through in the rotation for the Yankees if Sabathia serves his five-game suspension immediately.
While Cessa’s role likely seems set in stone, maybe he will change Boone’s mind. But until then, German probably owns the spot, while Cessa will have to once again earn an opportunity to start, which is reasonable.