Around the Empire: Yankees News - 8/8/2019

Bleacher Report | Joe Lemire: It’s hard to argue that DJ LeMahieu hasn’t been the Yankees’ MVP this season, but he’s gone about it in a way that runs against the guys who would otherwise be in that conversation. He hits the ball hard, but makes more contact than Yankee stalwarts like Aaron Judge and company. That contact ability has paid off in spades, and it’s been awful fun to watch,

New York Post | George A. King III: Luis Severino’s rehab appears to be progressing well, as the right-hander is expected to throw a bullpen session this Friday before the Yankees take on the Blue Jays. Unfortunately, Dellin Betances seems to be a couple steps behind Sevy, as he is stuck throwing from flat ground. There’s no plans yet to move the relief ace to a mound, and he sounds extremely frustrated with how his season, a contract year, has gone.

New York Daily News | Bill Madden: It’s not quite the Amazin’ Mets, but this squad of Yankees have been remarkable all their own, with a roster of castoffs like Cameron Maybin and Mike Tauchman making this one of the more entertaining summers for Yankees baseball in recent memory. What should have been a lost season has seen the team contend for the best record in the game, and what a ride it’s been.

Forbes | Maury Brown: If you’ve tired of #TheRivalry between the London Series and eight games in eleven days, I’ve got bad news for you. Last Friday’s Yankees-Red Sox matchup was the highest rated game on MLB Network this year. The highest rated game last year was the same two teams, and the year before that, all but guaranteeing that New York vs. Boston is still MLB’s golden goose, and that the league will continue managing both teams’ schedules around their matchups. At least three of last weekend’s games were under three hours and twenty minutes, a time I would sign up for in the future.