00:00The Yankees are on pace to go 162-0 after that opening day win against the Giants.
00:06We all know first impressions are everything in sports, but especially here in New York City.
00:11So let's get Empire Sports Media Yankees contributor Ryan Garcia's first impressions on the 2026 Yankees.
00:19Ryan with the nasty Nestor Cortez stash.
00:22I like it.
00:23Throwback Thursday today.
00:24Let's get straight into this because all offseason, everybody was talking about how they're going to run it back with
00:32the same team.
00:33Last season's opening day was all about the torpedo bats.
00:38This season's opening day, the bats were still alive.
00:41First impression of the Yankees offense and the lineup.
00:46Well, if you're somebody who's consumed any of my content over the offseason, you're not surprised.
00:50This is a good offense.
00:51Last year, they led baseball.
00:52Imran scored.
00:53They brought that group back.
00:55They cut some of the dead weight from that roster.
00:57Some of the guys at third base or at second base who were in reserve roles and weren't really providing
01:03anything offensively.
01:04You don't have those guys.
01:05Your bench is more complete.
01:07The lineup, again, last year's team led baseball and runs scored.
01:11I understand there are some guys who overperformed, were better than the career norms, but this is a good offense.
01:17I was not surprised one bit to see them tag Logan Webb last night.
01:20Let's go on, Max Freed.
01:23Six and one-third innings pitch.
01:25He only gave up two hits, four strikeouts, gave up one walk.
01:29First impression of Mad Max Freed.
01:34Well, you know, he was one of the best pitchers in baseball last year.
01:37He's been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the last half decade.
01:40And last night, we got to see a version of Max Freed where he said to himself, he didn't have
01:44his A stuff, but he's able to mix things up and keep hitters off balance.
01:48He threw seven different pitches at least seven times last night.
01:52He didn't throw a single pitch more than 26% of the time.
01:55He was mixing and matching.
01:57Hitters were off balance all night.
01:58And he was incredibly effective and efficient as well.
02:01Saved Aaron Boone from having to go to his A guys.
02:04Saved Aaron Boone from having to kind of deplete the bullpen or really put a stress on him.
02:08The first inning was a little rocky, but he settled in, and that's why he's the ace of the Yankees.
02:12Before I talk about Aaron Judge, I'd be remiss to give a shout out to Jose Caballero.
02:17We got to get your first impressions on Cabby.
02:20One for four on the night, scored a run, had an RBI.
02:23He looks pretty solid.
02:24Obviously, day one, stepping in for Anthony Volpe.
02:28Well, this is a big, big month and a half-ish, really whenever the timeline for Volpe's return looks like.
02:34Because if Jose Caballero plays very well and Volpe comes back and he struggles at all,
02:39there's going to be that pressure to get a starting job for Caballero.
02:42And look, he's versatile.
02:44He can play numerous positions.
02:45So even if he isn't the starting shortstop in June or July, he can still get reps elsewhere.
02:51He is in a golden opportunity.
02:53He has a golden opportunity to become this team starting shortstop.
02:57He has a golden opportunity to take that job.
02:59And I think Aaron Boone has a lot of good things to say about the guy publicly.
03:02And I don't think it's just hogwash or just for PR.
03:05I think they like this player.
03:07He's a very good runner as well.
03:08He's a disruptor.
03:10He's the kind of guy that you love to play with, hate to play against.
03:13And I think that's a good element to have on a team with so much power.
03:16Yeah, like you said, if he's playing well, I expect Anthony Volpe to rush back.
03:21Like, that's the last thing you want to watch as a player who has kind of had a down year
03:25the year before,
03:26coming back from injury.
03:28And the guy that's supposed to be a place gap or a placeholder in your spot.
03:32And he's playing well.
03:33And then you see the media, like the New York Post Sports and Ryan Garcia of Empire Sports Media,
03:40talking about, hmm, maybe they should give Cabby a little bit more reps and a little bit more starts.
03:45I guarantee you that Volpe's shoulder is going to be, he's going to throw some Shaquille O'Neal icy hot
03:51on that thing
03:52and try and play through it.
03:53Last but not least, obviously, everyone's talking about, is this going to be the season Aaron Judge gets another MVP?
04:01Does he take that step again?
04:03My man goes 0 for 5 last night.
04:05And they even booed him out in his home state at his first at-bat.
04:10First impression on Arson Judge and Aaron Judge.
04:16Well, I mean, clearly Jason Dominguez has to come up and we have to bench Judge.
04:20No, I mean, I'm kidding.
04:21Look, he's the best hitter in the world.
04:24I think he's the best player on the planet.
04:25I have never seen a player on the Yankees this dominant.
04:28And obviously, the ultimate thing you get judged by when you're a New York Yankee is your ring count.
04:34And I think it was actually encouraging last night that Aaron Judge could go 0 for 5 with four strikeouts
04:39and the Yankees could still absolutely clobber one of the best pitchers in the game.
04:44This tells you that this offense isn't just the Aaron Judge show.
04:47If they can stomach a 0 for 5 here and a 0 for 5 there and still win ballgames,
04:52imagine what this offense is going to do when Aaron Judge has that 3 for 5 game or that 4
04:57for 5 game
04:57or just is on one of those tears where he's hitting 400 in a month.
05:01That's, I think, the biggest takeaway from this game.
05:04Yeah, the bats were batting last night with the team that they ran it back with.
05:08So, hey, 1-1, 62 in the books.
05:10They look good.
05:11Ryan Garcia, the mustache looks good as well.
05:14Appreciate you hopping on with us, my man.
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