Hour 1: Pressure on George Lombard Jr.

**SPEAKER_1** (0:00)
The new LinkedIn Hiring Pro can't undo your last hire, the no show. Who set you back because they didn't show up on day one, or day two, or ever again? And now your product launch is delayed because you're talking to alien abduction podcasters to track them down.
But LinkedIn Hiring Pro can help make sure your next hire sticks. In fact, businesses who use LinkedIn are 24% less likely to reopen a role in the next 12 months. Hire right the first time with LinkedIn Hiring Pro. Post a free job today at linkedin.com/quality.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:31)
This is The Michael Kay Show podcast.

**SPEAKER_3** (0:34)
I gotta get more Kay.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:35)
Listen live weekdays at 1 on the Espn New York app and your smart speaker.

**Dan Grasso** (0:44)
And a happy Wednesday to one and all 5th day of August 2026 Kay Show here on Espn New York. Dan Grasso once again sitting in for our pal Michael and The Michael Kay Show on Espn New York is also one that you can watch on YouTube and is presented by the Parisman Firm. Hope everybody is having a great start to their Wednesday. Getting a little murky out there, but we'll see if the raindrops are going to come down again because what else is new? You know, we can't go more than two consecutive days without it not raining in this city. So hopefully the Yankees will not be affected by that later on tonight as they go for a series victory in the rubber match against the St. Louis Cardinals. But we're hanging out today with our good buddies, Tom Bauer and Harvey Cruz. They are producing the program today. And among the guests that we will have on the program a little bit later on, one Rich Cimini, who covers the New York Jets for us here at ESPN. Jets have the day off from training camp. So we figure we give Rich a holler and have him talk a little jet shop as to what's been going down here on the first handful of days of training camp 2026 A very important one, certainly, for Aaron Glenn and the rest of that organization. Good job by the Mets getting a victory last night, even though it means absolutely nothing, but a couple of bright spots. And every time Louise Turenne's got a hold of one last night, saying, you mean to tell me they couldn't trade this guy and get at least another warm human being that might benefit them more into the future than Turenne's would? But nevertheless, we'll have some actual Met conversation that we need to address later on in the program. And a guy who is no longer a member of the New York Mets actually leaving a little bit of a lasting impact, perhaps. And if you don't know what I'm talking about, you want to stay tuned for that conversation. But we begin with the Yankees, who last night, if you were a Yankee fan, you probably had as good a night at the ballpark as you have had in quite some time. And why wouldn't you? Last night, everything turned up about as well as you could possibly want if you're a fan of this team. Everybody flocked to the ballpark last night. You had a nice crowd on hand for the debut of one George Lombard Jr. Not that you're expecting him to come in and be the Messiah necessarily, but the Ballyhooed prospect, the guy who was an untouchable during the trade deadline and somebody who was going to inject a little bit of life, maybe a little bit of offense into this team. Well, he's one for one, right? And everything that you hoped he would become, he was in his first introduction to the big leagues last night. As the Yankees win this game 2-0, but Lombard did every single thing that you could possibly hope from one of your young players and more. Now granted, it's just one game, right? You don't want to put too, too, too much pressure on him and expect this each and every night out. I get that. But first off, when it came to flashing the leather in the field, making plays with his gloves, starting double plays, all that good stuff, you want certainty defensively at shortstop more than anything else. You know, there was a time, and you can ask your ancestors about this, and it just goes to show you my age, there was a time where the shortstop position was not known for its offense, kids. You know, gather around the radio here and let me spin you a yarn. Once upon a time, there you go, the shortstop position was some light hitting dude who batted 8th or 9th in most instances. If he was in the American League, he was batting 9th. And he was known for his glove more than his bat. And since it was a primary defensive position up the middle, you expected him to go out there and get to balls that were hit in his general vicinity, right? And then whatever you would get offensively would be a bonus. Well, we know that the position has evolved certainly in the decade since. And last night, you got that complete package that George Lombard Jr is advertised to be, because the second time up at the dish, he gets a hold of a hanger and deposits one deep into the left field stands. And now the place is going crazy. The Yanks get another run on the scoreboard. And then that was it for them offensively for the rest of the night, which we'll get to in a second here. But the kid turned heads in his debut in the big leagues, and if you're a fan, you got your money's worth if you flocked out to the Bronx last night. And that's really all you could have wanted and then some. And then everything else was gravy, right? Ryan Weathers last night, very, very good. Ryan Weathers don't look now. His last few starts have been pretty, pretty impressive. When he only gave up one earned run in three consecutive outings, you know what? You're making a statement that now in the last couple of months of the season, down the home stretch, maybe you're putting yourself in position to possibly be considered for some high leverage opportunities, whether it's in September, whether it's maybe into the month of October. Remember, just a couple of days ago, when we were critical or there were some people that were critical of Brian Cashman as far as not getting a bullpen arm to add to his relief corps. Well, you look at the starting pitching that the Yankees have, and you know that with Carlos Rodin on the mend and he'll be returning soon, who the heck knows about Clark Schmitt? I mean, if he is able to come back at some point later this season, that's even an added bonus for you. But there's not going to be enough starts to go around for all these pitchers. So everybody else is going to be auditioning for some opportunities in that pen and all likelihood. Obviously, with Weathers and Warren, don't forget about a guy like Luis Heal, who once upon a time, and it wasn't even that long ago, exhibited having wipe out electric stuff which could play in the month of October, potentially here, so Yankees are fine in that respect. And for a guy like Weathers, whose spot is certainly not assured, I think that the way he's pitched here of late is certainly a step in the right direction for him. You know what? It just adds to a strength right now that the Yankees have with this starting rotation. That is what they are going to have to ride moving forward here in hopes of getting themselves in as good a position as possible for the month of October.