Fighting for His Job

Pitchers don't have it easy. More than anyone else on a baseball field, they're given the responsibility of keeping the other team from scoring. Pitch well -- hold down the opponent. Of course, fielding and other defensive aspects come into play as well.
But in the weeks since the Yankees lost second year man Jordan Montgomery, Domingo German has been fighting for his job. Not only working against the other team, but seemingly against the spectre of Cole Hamels, Michael Fullmer, JA Happ and perhaps even Jacob de Grom -- pitchers whom the Yankees, and especially their fans, might be interested in plugging into the rotation. So last night, the 25 year old righty wasn't just opposed by Blake Snell, a rising star for the Rays, but that quartet spanning Hamels to de Grom. And he more than held his own.
After several ordinary starts, where he appeared overmatched -- and perhaps not fully "stretched out" to work as a starter, German has begun to raise his game. Last night's game had a rocky start -- Tampa Bay's Matt Duffy homered on the first pitch of the game. That a notch worse than his previous start against the Mets, where Todd Frazier, the second batter of the night, homered.
But German didn't wilt. He stiffened. Giving up just one other run over six effective innings, in which he struck out 10. That's his second straight start -- and third out of seven -- in which he's struck out nine or more. Sporting what the experts call a filthy curve ball, German kept the Rays off balance, until stellar rookie Gleyber Torres bailed him out with a game-changing home run.
More importantly, German's performance continues to build the case that GM Brian Cashman doesn't need to pull the switch on a quick trade. Not having to be an ace, German simply needs to be a capable middle-to-back of the rotation contributor. And the last two outings -- albeit against less than powerhouse Mets and Rays lineups -- he is holding his own.
(This image of German on the bench is from the June 8th Subway Series game at Citi Field.)

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