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Sports

A year in review: New York Yankees continue to build a strong team

By: Matthew Mendives, Co-Editor-in-Chief

January 14, 2019

Photo Credit: Mrs. Danielle Allen

It may be the house that Ruth built, but who will keep it standing this season?

The New York Yankees played their 117th season last year. Their record was 100-62 and they lost the Boston Red Sox in the American League division series.

When Giancarlo Stanton was traded for, the expectations were world series or bust. The Yankees started their season on March 29th. After a mediocre start, The Yankees would win 17 of their next 18 games. On May 9th, they defeated the Red Soxs’; 9-6, which got them in first place at the American League East. On June 21st, after the Yankees’ beat the Mariners, getting their 50th win of the season. They sent Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres, Luis Severino, and Aroldis Chapman to the All star game.

On July 26th, The Yankees traded for JA Happ. During the month of August, the Yankees sustained their longest losing streak which was 5 games. On September 22nd, The Yankees clinched a playoff spot as they beat the Orioles. Yankees’ beat the A’s in the wild card 7-2 on October 3rd. On October 9th, the Yankees lost the american league division series to the Red Sox. So far this off season, the Yankees have resigned Brett Gardner to a 1 year deal, did the same for CC Sabathia, and traded for James Paxton, and resigned JA Happ to a 2 year deal

Although winning 100 games and setting the all time home run record is great, the expectations were a world series championship, which they unfortunately, failed to do. The Red Sox were an extremely tough first round match up. The Red Sox were able to take advantage of the Yankees mediocre starting pitching where the Red Sox had top tier pitching, which shut down the majority of the Yankee’s bats. Personally, I think the Yankees should improve the starting rotation, so they can shut down other teams bats. The Yankees made a small effort by trading for James Paxton, but that’s not enough.

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The rotation right now in no particular order is, Luis Severino (3.39 ERA), JA Happ (3.65 ERA), Masahiro Tanaka, (3.75 ERA), James Paxton (3.76 ERA) and CC Sabathia (3.65 ERA). These guys had their moments last year, but overall this is a pretty mediocre. Happ (5.48 career playoff ERA) and Severino (6.26 career playoff ERA) have been very inconsistent in the playoffs. Sabathia is 38 years old, so it’s questionable if he can even pitch an entire season. Tanaka has a playoff ERA of 1.50 but he isn’t a regular season ace due to his inconsistency.

The other side of this argument, the rotation is good enough as is. This argument is reliant on Luis Severino returning to his 1st half form (2.31 ERA). Many people feel like the lineup was missing someone who makes a lot of contact, and these want to sign Manny Machado.

Photo Credit: Mrs. Danielle Allen

This argument is flawed because, you can’t rely on something that probably won’t happen. Like Severino pitching like he did in the 1st half for an entire season If you want to win a world series. Although I am not opposed of Manny Machado, he’s a want, not a need unlike what the other side says.

I have a pretty simple solution to this problem, trade for Indian’s starting pitcher Corey Kluber. He pitched to a 2.89 ERA in 2018 and a 3.97 career playoff ERA. One trade idea I have thought about is Clint Frazier, Greg Bird, Sonny Gray and Domingo German for Kluber. This allows the Yankees to get a true number 1 starter and the Indians to cut costs. His contract is extremely flexible, as they have a team option on him for 2020 and 2021. So they chose if he comes back. He becomes a free agent at 35, so the Yankees will have him for the rest of his prime.

About the Contributors

Matthew Mendives, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Matthew Mendives is a 18 year old senior who was born September 24,2002. He lived in Plainsboro, New Jersey for one year then moved to Linden, New Jersey. In 6 grade he moved from Linden to Colonia and has lived there ever since. He is a huge fan of the New York Yankees and watches almost every game. His favorite player currently is Brett Gardner due to his hustle and how hard he plays. In baseball's off season, he watches basketball and football. He is a fan of the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Giants. His favorite school subject is English and his goal is to become a sports reporter.

Mrs. Danielle Allen, Newspaper Advisor

Mrs. Allen (formerly Simkovich) has been the advisor of The Declaration for 11 years and an English teacher at Colonia High for 18 years. She assisted in writing the curriculum for Intro to Journalism, Media Journalism and Broadcast Journalism which are all offered at Colonia High School. Allen also runs a Poetry Club at Colonia High and is the Costume Director for the school musicals. In 2009, Allen received her Master's Degree from Georgian Court University and has been an Adjunct Professor at Middlesex County College in the evening for the past 11 years. In 2018, Allen was named Colonia High's Teacher of the Year. This year Allen is piloting a course at CHS that she created called Screenwriting and Video Production for students who want to work in the film industry or who want to make better YouTube videos. She is always looking for experts in the field of Journalism, Broadcast Journalism, radio, film and media to come speak to her classes so her students can learn first hand about the industry. If you are interested or someone you know is interested in possibly speaking to her class, please email Allen at the address below. When she is not grading papers, tweeting for CHS, or working on the newspaper, Mrs. Allen likes to garden, sew, and make burlap wreaths She can be emailed at [email protected].