First Trimester Yankee Awards
The unquestionable best moment of the first trimester for the Yankees (NY Times).
The baseball season is about a third of the way complete and it’s been an eventful one for the Yankees. There have been historic highs, soul shattering lows, and everything in between. Yankees Files is going to present its First Trimester Awards to the 2021 Yankees to honor those who have stood out this season and those who have, well, not.
MVP: Aaron Judge - .297/.400/.549, 13 HR, 30 RBI
The Yankees offense has collectively disappointed during the first trimester of 2021, but one player has exceeded expectations to put up an MVP caliber season. Other players have gotten hot, but none have hit with the consistency or impact of Aaron Judge. He has stayed healthy to be the Yankees’ rock in the lineup, hitting for both average and power while taking his usual share of walks to get on base. Unfortunately, no one has been able to drive him in, but whatever offensive issues the Yankees have, they would be a whole lot worse without Aaron Judge.
Others Considered:
Gerrit Cole - 6-2, 1.78 ERA
Aroldis Chapman - 4-0, 0.43 ERA, 11 saves
Giancarlo Stanton - .257/.327/.486, 9 HR, 24 RBI
LVP: Clint Frazier - .189/.299/.333, 5 HR, 9 RBI
Any number of Yankees hitters could have been considered for the least valuable player award, but ultimately Clint Frazier has won this award for the first trimester. Frazier was given a starting job for the first time in his career and immediately stopped hitting. The unfortunate timing that is Clint Frazier’s career will be the subject of some tragic works one day. Clint has let too many hittable pitches go by and failed to make any kind of quality contact this season. He isn’t the only problem, but the Yankees have a real problem in their outfield and Frazier’s stunted growth has only exacerbated this issue.
Oh wait….he just had the game of his career. Never mind!!!!!
Actual LVP: Aaron Hicks - .194/.294/.333, 4 HR, 14 RBI (out for year)
In all honesty, I had Clint pegged for this award and then had to change it after yesterday’s walk off home run/game saving catch masterpiece. Instead, the award goes to Aaron Hicks, who was slotted in as the Yankees’ #3 hitter and center fielder before the season. As the only switch hitter on the team, Hicks was a valuable part of the lineup, but he showed he was unable to hit much from the left side and got off to an abysmal start before being sidelined for the year with a torn wrist sheath. The Yankees need outfield help desperately and the absence of Aaron Hicks is a big reason why.
Others Considered:
Justin Wilson - 1-1, 6.08 ERA
Luke Voit - .182/.280/.250, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Brett Gardner - .194/.277/.246, 0 HR, 3 RBI
Cy Young: Gerrit Cole - 6-2, 1.78 ERA
Gerrit Cole is the best pitcher in baseball. Forget all your Jacob DeGrom takes - I don’t want to hear it. Gerrit Cole is a workhorse and a master run preventer combined into the body of one mortal man. He has dazzled in nearly every start this year, providing both length and quality innings. Even when he hasn’t gotten much run support, he has proven to be up to the challenge. His start in Tampa was perhaps the most impressive non no-hitter start by a Yankee in quite some time. Get this man back to October and let him get to work.
Others Considered:
Aroldis Chapman - 4-0, 0.45 ERA, 11 saves
Corey Kluber - 4-3, 3.04 ERA
Domingo German - 4-3, 3.27 ERA
Reliever of the Year: Aroldis Chapman - 4-0, 0.45 ERA, 11 saves
Aroldis Chapman has been so good this year, he almost won the team MVP, Cy Young and Reliever of the Year. This man is potentially working on the best relief season in baseball history. Instead of saying more, I will link you back to our excellent writeup of Chapman’s season from last week - it is well worth your time to read!
Others Considered:
Chad Green - 0-3, 2.00 ERA
Jonathan Loisaga - 4-2, 2.25 ERA
Lucas Luetge - 2-0, 2.36 ERA
Rookie of the Year: None
Because the Yankees have not had a rookie play a sizable role on this year’s team, I’m going to pass on awarding this category and instead just link a Deivi Garcia highlight video in the hope that he will be holding this award by the second trimester of the season.
Comeback Player of the Year: Corey Kluber - 4-3, 3.04 ERA
Corey Kluber hadn’t pitched regularly in almost two years when he joined the Yankee rotation this spring and his slow start left many worried about his potential to find success in the big leagues again. However, Kluber silenced the doubters and left his mark on the Yankee record books by pitching lights out for a month, culminating in the 11th no-hitter in Yankee history. It was a special moment for a pitcher who had worked hard to get back to the point where he could be on a mound, much less dominating in the way that he did. Unfortunately, Kluber hit the IL in his next start and will be out for a few months, but here’s hoping he finds his way back in time for an October showcase.
Others Considered:
Lucas Luetge - 2-0, 2.36 ERA
Best Game: 05/19 - Yankees win 2-0 over Texas
Could it be anything but this game? The unquestioned highlight of the first trimester for the Yankees, Corey Kluber’s no hitter was one of the best pitched games in franchise history and the first no hitter for the team since 1999. It was a game 22 years in the making and it couldn’t have happened to a better person than Corey Kluber. He was one walk away from a perfect game and had stuff that was moving across the zone in ways I’ve never seen pitches move before. This game will be one that Yankees fans will remember for a long time.
Others Considered:
04/24- Cole outduels Bieber
05/08 - Yankees overcome Scherzer, walk off Nats
05/21 - Yankees turn triple play, walk off White Sox
06/01 - Frazier saves the game with his glove, hits walk off homer
Best Offensive Performance: Aaron Judge vs. Orioles 05/14-05/16
Because no Yankee has had any single game offensive performance worth writing about, I chose to highlight the best offensive series by a single player. Aaron Judge’s series against the Orioles was the best by a Yankee batter this season and helped him win Player of the Week. He hit four home runs across the three games, batting .600 and helping the Yankees win two of the three games. It was just the continuation of a season-long stretch of excellence for Judge.
Others Considered:
Giancarlo Stanton vs. Astros 05/04-05/06
Best Pitching Performance (non no hitter division): Gerrit Cole vs. Rays 05/12
Corey Kluber’s no hitter would win this in a walk, but let’s highlight another game that in any other season, would be the best pitched game by a starter hands down. Cole took the mound against Tampa in May and absolutely dominated, throwing eight innings with twelve strikeouts and no walks. The Yankees needed every bit of his arm too, as they only scored one run and won the game 1-0. This was a big time performance against a division rival and is exactly why the Yankees signed Cole to be their ace.
Others Considered:
Gerrit Cole vs. Indians 04/24
Jordan Montgomery vs. White Sox 05/21
Corey Kluber vs. Tigers 05/02
