Around the Empire: Yankees news - 7/22/2020

New York Daily News | Kristie Ackert: Infield defense has been something of a weakness for the Yankees over the past few seasons, and the departure of Didi Gregorius over the winter didn’t help that. Everyday shortstop Gleyber Torres is going to have to hit well to overcome his defensive shortcomings, which some scouts have described as lackadaisical and just plain slow.

New York Times | Patrick McGeeham: The Yankees draw four million fans a year, and that’s just the folks who come through the gate. The areas surrounding Yankee Stadium are dependent on the crowds at and around games to support businesses and livelihoods, and even while baseball returns tomorrow, those sensitive areas are in all kinds of trouble, having gone more than half a season with no business.

New York Post | George A. King III: In a short season, you hope that your high-ceiling stars are healthy and can carry you the whole way. Health is the critical question for the Yankees, as perhaps no team can equal the power trio of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez when all three are on the field. They haven’t really been able to do that in the two years they’ve played together, but if they can pull it off in 2020, I don’t envy any opposing pitcher.

ESPN | Alden Gonzalez and David Schoenfield: The favorites for each league’s pennant are the Dodgers and the Yankees, but which team is better? Do you prefer the Yankees’ incredible power potential, or the fact the Dodgers have ten position players who would be starters on almost any other MLB club? The two clubs may be on a crash course to the World Series, and we get a chance to preview each side before Opening Day.