WITH ASKING PRICE FOR PITCHERS HIGH, MATT HARVEY NO DOUBT ON RADAR

You know Cashman, if he can't have a top pitcher, he'll find a way to make one... or in Matt Harvey's case, reinvent one. And I am terrified of that realization. But sadly, it's a realization we've seen way too many times at the trade deadline.

Great piece in Newsday today about how every team wants a ton in return. Many of them wanting Gleyber Torres. The Tigers for example:

Don't forget, the Blue Jays just tried this garbage with Marcus Stroman. He ended up on the Mets.  Terrible move for all parties... although the Mets can twist it any way they want. It's stupid.

Now look... we have a good farm system. Everyone knows thats a problem. What will Cashman do about it?  Well, this is what I fear. I fear he'll sign Matt Harvey.

Don't forget, Harvey was just Designated for Assignment by the Angels.  The Washington Post writes:

"The Los Angeles Angels designated 30-year-old Matt Harvey for assignment Friday after another dismal performance. Harvey, the former all-star who signed a one-year, $11 million deal with the Angels in December, allowed six runs over six innings against the Houston Astros on Thursday. In 12 starts this season, Harvey is 3-5 with a 7.09 ERA, 39 strikeouts and 29 walks. His ERA hasn’t been lower than 6.35 since his first game on March 29.

'The decision was made because we felt like it would increase our chance of winning games...'”

Now Cash doesn't see failure, he sees opportunity. Opportunity for a player to reinvent himself and opportunity for the Yankees to get a few wins going down the stretch.  It's silly, and many will think I'm nuts, but let's not forget the days of this happening, nearly every year.  The Cory Lidles, the JA Happs and yes a guy named Brian Gordon. It was during the 2010 or 2011 season... but the move didn't go the Yankees way. And Cashman pivoted and it was not for the better:

"Asked whether he was worried the Phils would be upset at his maneuvering, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman answered: 'Hey, they got Cliff Lee, I got Brian Gordon.'"

The point is, if you wake up on August 1st and we have Matt Harvey... do not be surprised.

Look, no one knows how this will play out, my guts telling me this trade deadline could be a disappointment. Damn I hope I'm wrong.

YANKEE INJURY & THE BASEBALL FACTORY

With CC Sabathia on the shelf, the question has arrived by several Yankee fans as to what happens next.

Sadly, injuries happen in sports and happen in baseball as well. As players get older, there are aches and pains and we have seen it happen to some of the greatest athletes alive.  The latest Yankee casualty is CC Sabathia.  Sure, the Yankees think he’ll be ready in July, but I’m pessimistic. I never believe the Yankees. That doesn’t mean I hate them or anything. All it means is that I know how they operate.  They don’t want to cause panic, they want to assure the fan base that all will be fine.  The words  are chosen wisely when they speak to the media, and when the player is ready, or not, we will all know. But for now, the Yankees are buying time with CC and when they break it to the base, we’ll either throw our arms up as if the say, “Dammit CC”, like he did it on purpose or something. Or, we just grin and take it for what it is… an injury.

In the mean time, the Yankees need a replacement. I was thinking about all the Cliff Lee chatter that happened yesterday. There was an article claiming that Cliff Lee will be the Yankees big target at the deadline, read the Boston Globe HERE, Nick Cafardo saying:

"Owner Hal Steinbrenner said last week that the Yankees could buy pitching before the trade deadline, given they’ve already lost three starters to injuries. Michael Pineda (lat) and CC Sabathia (knee) are expected back, but for the Yankees to compete over the long haul they must add a significant arm.

Baseball executives think they’ll have their eyes on Cliff Lee if the Phillies fall out of the race. Of course, that’s a big if.

The Yankees would have plenty of competition for Lee."

What does it mean? Not much. I mean Cafardo throws a ton of names out there every week, rarely do any of his insinuations or predictions come to life, but the reality is, the Yankees need an arm, he's right about that and there is no question need to make a move for a big gun.

But the Lee talk... I mean, we’ve done this already, haven’t we? We do this every season around this time. But this time, it could be the real thing.  What would happen logically is, if the Yankees can get a “big gun”, then the blow of "No Sabathia" isn’t as bad.  CC then disappears until next Spring and comes back in 2015 fully healthy.  Without a “big gun”, Yankee fans get angry and keep asking “What now?”

It’s funny, I received quite a few of those questions yesterday.  I simply say this to you all; I am flattered you are asking me for inside baseball, but I am giving you my opinion, and that’s all I can do… CC will most likely be back by the end of the season, or not at all this year.  I also am 80% positive we will have a new pitcher soon, be it now or by the All-Star break.  Truth be told, we can’t wait, we need to act. But this is the baseball factory we know and love, and it appears that every time the Yankees get on some type of roll, the pitching seems to vanish.

(In Photo: Tim Redding)
We saw it many years ago when they thought they would strike lightening in a bottle with the likes of Darrell May and Tim Redding. That proved to be a disaster.

We tried Sidney Ponson, not once, but twice and that wasn't very good.  We checked out Brian Gordon, who then went to Korea, but is now back in our minor league system.  We even brought back Chien-Ming Wang for a minute last year, only to not use him and he eventually left.

Oh, and remember Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon? That was a fun year, but even they eventually ran out of gas.  It's the baseball factory, and it's all about pitching and if you're hot, you're in. If you're not, you're out, and sometimes, if you're just "there" you're in. But there is no question this year, the Yankees can't take chances on budget basement pitchers, they need to go big to secure a playoff spot.  After last season, not making it to the playoffs, they spent big, even though they probably shouldn't have.  But the did it, because the fan base was restless.  Plus, we're the  New York Yankees... we aren't supposed to ever miss the playoffs.

Look, the Yankees are down. We lost CC, Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda. That means we have Masahiro Tanaka, David Phelps, Vidal Nuno, Hiroki Kuroda and Chase Whitley. I mean... really?  It ain't happening... the Yankees will sign someone big... they have to.

In the end, we will be fine, but it's getting there, it's the uncertainty that I hate.  We need stability in the pitching department and I believe we're going to trade for a big gun.

Lord knows we need to... but who will it be? Stay tuned...

You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in history. Now shop at the Bleeding Yankee Blue store!  Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook! 

BRIAN GORDON'S BACK! HOLY COW IT'S A GOOD DAY

Sarcasm is dripping from that headline... I kid of course.

You remember Brian Gordon.  He played with the Yankees very briefly when they were having some pitching issues in 2011.  Well, he's back, according to Ken Davidoff:

The #Yankees have signed RHP Brian Gordon to a minor-league contract.
— Ken Davidoff (@KenDavidoff) December 3, 2013

So yeah, it's a minor league deal and I liked Gordon when he was with us.  Apparently Yankee brass does too.  Just to give you a recap, and according to Lou DiPietro of YES Network.com, "Gordon, who converted to pitching from the outfield in 2005, has hurled just 14 Major League innings, going 0-1 with a 4.40 ERA in five games (two starts) with the 2008 Texas Rangers and 2011 Yankees."

Don't forget, after Gordon was with us for 5 minutes in 2011, he went to Korea to pitch. Lou writes that after Gordon spent "half of 2011 and all of 2012 in Korea, Gordon returned to the U.S. in 2013, signing with the Athletics organization and going 4-0 with a 3.57 ERA and 23 saves in 51 relief appearances at Triple-A Sacramento."

Welcome home Brian. Thanks for the great reporting Ken and Lou.

The Bleeding Yankee Blue store is opened! CLICK HERE TO START SHOPPING! Also, follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue (Official) on Facebook, just type it in.

REFLECTING ON THE YANKEES FIRST HALF

I have been a Yankee fan a long time. Time and time again I remember something happening with our starting pitching right around the All-Star break and suddenly, in an emergency situation, the Yankees were bringing in guys to fill the holes and hopefully find lightening in a bottle.  Brian Gordan was a perfect example of that last season.  He didn’t pan out, and went to Korea (Read HERE) to continue his baseball career, but he came and tried to win here for the time we had him.

Before that, we had Sidney Ponson…twice and there was even that moment that Tim Redding and Darrell May came to the Yankees in the same day…. That didn’t pan out either, yet, we fought  the good fight and we finally won it all in 2009.  Now, with Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia out, there have been plenty wondering what the Yankees are going to do, yet again.  

Let me start by saying that guys like Ivan Nova, Hiroki Kuroda and Phil Hughes have stepped up big time.  Sure, Hughes wasn’t amazing in his last start by any means, but there’s no denying that the 3 of them knew they needed to come up big and have.  Freddy Garcia was handed the ball in CC’s absence and tamed the Red Sox pretty damn great last Saturday afternoon too…and it’s all part of it.  The goal is to win, and if Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman can work with the parts we have and make it work, they will. If not, believe me, they will not just leave the team and the fans high and dry, they will go out and get help.  Sure Adam Warren wasn’t ready and he’ll go back down and get more work, but I actually believe that Warren was being showed off.  I believe that Warren's debut was Cashman preparing for the Trade Deadline.  I really do.
Guys like Adam Warren or Dellin Betances, maybe even some guys currently on our roster that help out in a lesser role, may be on their way out, because if there is 1 thing I do know, the Yankee brass wants stability.  No, we’re not the "knee jerk" reaction team we used to be, George is gone, but we do think things through and make the right moves. 

Look, I believe that the New York Yankees are on their way to another championship.  When guys like Andruw Jones and Eric Chavez can step up the way they have from the bench, and guys like Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher are starting to get into a groove at the right time, that’s a sign of good things to come. Couple that with Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano and leadership plays a major role.  Just watching Jeet in a post game talking about a loss or a win, it’s comforting.  The guy leads this team by example, he’s truly incredible in everything he does.

There is 1 black eye, although, while his production is not his true self, he has contributed on a smaller scale of sorts…that’s Alex Rodriguez.  Alex is a lightening rod.  If he strikes out, he’s terrible.  If he homers, he’s a God again.  We need to face facts.  Alex is no longer a Super hero, he’s a regular ballplayer.  If we can get 20 homers from him with a .295 AVG, that may be the best we’re going to get.  Now I’m not giving up on him yet, but Kevin Long needs to get in the cage with him, speed up his swing, and convince him that he can still do it.  Because if you look at Alex, while he’s happy these days, he knows things are changing.  Do I think the Yankees will try and trade him off? Never. I think Alex is here to stay unless he doesn’t produce anymore, but something needs to change…he’s got to get that confidence back. He looks like a zombie some days and you know deep down it's eating at him.

Can the Yankees win it all? Yes. Will they get the extra parts they need to rally in the second half? Yes, but let’s face it, if Cashman can continue to move guys around from within, I see no reason why we can’t do it again…I mean, say what you will, but Cashman does know best…we’re just outsiders.

 ORDER A BYB SHIRT NOW, DROB WEARS ONE! Also, Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

WHY HOPE MOVES FROM PINEDA TO CAMPOS

Now  that Michael Pineda is on a shelf until May 2013, read HERE, all eyes will now be on Jose Campos, the “other guy” the Yankees got in the trade that sent Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi to the Seattle Mariners.  Some had suggested when the Pineda/Montero trade went down, Campos was the best nugget of the whole bunch.   

It’s way to early to suggest that in my opinion, but damn can that kid pitch. In the minor leagues this season, Campos looks like this in Charleston:

3-0 / 1.23 ERA / 22.0 IP / 3 ER / 23 K / 5 BB

We’ve written about Campos quite a bit here, just so our BYB readers can keep track of this kid, because, he could be something special. If you get a chance, read WHY WE CAN'T FORGET CAMPOS & NOESI , WHY JOSE CAMPOS IS OFF TO A HOT START and WHY JOSE CAMPOS' HOT STREAK CONTINUES. If anything, it will give you a glimpse of what this kid could offer. 

Personally, I don’t see Campos coming up to the major leagues tomorrow, but remember what I suggested about Michael Pineda.  Brian Cashman sees the future, in fact, that was something that Girardi mentioned the other night and it rings true. Pineda wasn’t only for 2012…sure, if he was healthy and able to have a successful 2012, that would be a bonus. But Pineda and Campos and guys like Ivan Nova and Manny Banuelos…they guys are long term investments.  This group over time will be our rotation in 2013, 2014 and beyond.  Sure, the Yankees and Yankee fans are all about the “Now”, and this "future" stuff is new to us, but I see what the Yankees are doing, they’re trying to get the payroll down, groom these young guys and have a future of young rotation studs, led by CC Sabathia, the veteran of course.

Now, I will tell you, that doesn’t help the “right now” though.  Let’s face it, both Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia are stinking up the joint, so this is a problem, not because they’re good, but because they're terrible and the Yankees just don’t know who to drop from the rotation when someone like Andy Pettitte is ready.   

Plus, in the meantime they just have to deal with what they got and hope the offense can carry them on days when Hughes and Garcia are pitching.  If they were both great,  it would almost seem like an easier choice of elimination.  Look, right now the Yankees are in a position where they need to win.  That means they need to win with the pitching they have. If they don’t, they will in fact need to go out and find a veteran pitcher to help them get to the finish line this season, no doubt about it.  At the same time, they’ll want to keep their payroll down.  The solution, finding a veteran with 1 or maybe 2 years left on a contract this season.  No easy task, but do-able.  If they can’t find that, we need to push through with what we have and look toward the future.

I’m positive the Yankees will succeed this season, but it won’t be easy.  I feel like every year around June the other shoe drops and whatever rotation we had changes to temporary starters to just get them to limp to the All-Star break.  I remember the Sidney Ponson’s, the Tim Redding's and Darrell May’s of the world. I remember Brian Gordon last year.  Just once I’d like to be rolling in a routine, a rhythm and not have to worry about who’s going to pitch next.

Yes, Campos is the key to this Pineda trade…if he has a successful season in Charleston, Cashman will feel like a king, but only if the Yankees can piece together a solid rotation without Pineda this year...stay tuned.

ORDER A BYB SHIRT NOW, DROB WEARS ONE! Also, Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

WAS NOESI THE PITCHER YOU WERE THINKING OF THIS OFFSEASON?

“I just think Noesi is a starter, so one way or another, that’s where he needs to be. I don’t want to waste his time as a long man if we can avoid it.”
--Brian Cashman

I trust the Yankees and Brian Cashman but I don't like the idea of not signing 1 significant starting pitcher during the winter meetings and then turning about and deciding that pitchers like Hector Noesi and to a lesser extent, Ivan Nova are the guys that will save the Yankees rotation in 2012. I could be wrong...it's true Ivan Nova proved he was a major league pitcher and did a great job doing it, but I don't have so much faith in Noesi being that guy. Anyway, you can read about it HERE. The bottom line with Noesi is he's going to get a chance to compete for a startin job just like everyone else. OK, that's fair, but what are we doing here? Last year was lucky and in the end, we didn't win it all. With an extra top starter, we may have. All 2011 season there was worry about how secure the pitching for the Yankees was. There was hope in guys like Brian Gordon for a moment, thinking that maybe, just maybe, we would get lightning in a bottle. Luckily, Ivan Nova pitched well down the stretch and Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia were better than expected. But now, after Hal Steinbrenner voiced concern about the need for pitching after being eliminated in the ALCS, we got butkus. Sorry, let me rephrase, we have Hector Noesi.

These are not the New York Yankees. These Yankees are instead filling the holes, buying time and saving their money for the first day Felix Hernandez can file for free agency in 2014. At that point, or perhaps even at the 2012 trade deadline, they will made a run at one of the most coveted pitchers in baseball. That has to be it ladies and gentlemen, right? Because how else do you let guys like CJ Wilson and Mark Buehrle walk, yet, Hector Noesi is suddenly our savior. It doesn't make sense.

Now, let me state that I like Noesi, but I don't like him as a starting pitcher for the New York Yankees. He's done everything the Yankees have asked of him; spot starts, mop up work and pitching whenever needed and he's just happy to be there. That to me is a great teammate and a guy you want on your roster, but ladies and gentlemen, I don't want Noesi in my rotation, not after what went down last season. When I suggested CC Sabathia needed support, I wasn't thinking Noesi, no offense, I was thinking of a seasoned veteran to eat innings and get wins. (Read WHY THERE NEEDS TO BE SUPPORT FOR CC MONSTER.) Look, I could be wrong and I hope I am, I like to be proved wrong by my New York Yankees, but I just don't see this one...Do you? Comment and tell me what you think.

Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

WHY NOT GO AFTER A TOP FREE AGENT IF WE'RE THE YANKEES?

Several days ago, Mark Feinsand (HERE) had a piece that highlights the Yankees meeting with Joel Pineiro’s agent and the whole time I’m reading it thinking about last winter when the Yanks thought it was 1995 and Bartolo Colon was available. Except, it was 2011 instead. Yes, we dodged an absolute collapse and Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia did pretty good for us, but I don’t want to do that again.

We are the mighty Yankees and we should be looking at quality pitchers and any time the Yankees are lumped into talks with the Mets for 1 pitcher, like Joel Pineiro, you know we don’t belong there. The Mets are broke. The Mets need pitchers that can get through some starts but at the same time, don’t cost a ton of dough. The Yankees don’t usually do this. This is a new world for me and many of you and I just don’t want to be caught up in a scotch-taped rotation again in 2012.

(In Photo: Tim Redding)

I don't need Brian Gordon joining us to get us through a start in the middle of the summer, or better yet, Tim Redding...remember him?

If we were to sign someone like Joel Pinerio and he shits the bed, it's the same thing as Colon breaking down in September for us, we just don't need it. The Colon-Garcia Saga happened once, and it was brilliant, but that was last year, it can't be this year.

I know, the market is light this year, but if you’re going to go that route, signing Garcia was fine for a back end rotation guy, now we need a top pitcher to sandwich in between CC Monster and AJ Burnett. Joel Pineiro is not that pitcher. You know what I mean?

Now, people are going to read this and say “Casey, don’t panic. You don’t know what your talking about, the Yankees are merely looking at Pineiro, no offer has been made.” I’m here to tell you I know that, but I also want to bring it to you straight, that's why you read us. Do I see Cashman signing Joel Pineiro now? No, but if things start moving, there is no doubt, he could...I just don't want to fall into that web again...I like certainty.

Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

WHY I CHOOSE LAIRD OVER NUNEZ

(In Photo: Brandon Laird)
I know I’m not in good company when I say that headline out loud, but let’s face it, I can’t stand the errors that Nunez is offering night after night and while it isn’t fair for me to choose Brandon Laird over Eduardo Nunez based merely on minor league numbers, I am and I will because I can.

This isn’t to say I don’t like Nunez. I’ve heard it time and time again, "Nunez can learn to play a better in field" or "Nunez can learn to throw better." OK, When? He’s a major leaguer, it’s not like there’s a more elite league after the Majors; This is it, so the time is now. Show me something. Nunez has a terrific bat and while he filled in for Jeter, he was hitting close to .300. I will give him that, but 12 errors is the team high and Nunez owns that and he hasn’t played all that much before the Jeter fill in role.

(In Photo: Brandon Laird)

On the other side of the coin, when the Yankees got word that Ramiro Pena needed to have his appendix removed (HERE), suddenly they had a roster spot for an infielder, so Brandon Laird was called up. Laird was hitting .266 in Scranton Wilkes Barre and had 10 homers and 21 doubles. The kid's got huge potential and the best part is, he can play almost anywhere. By almost anywhere I mean some key spots, third base, first base and the outfield. Yes, the chatter about Laird has been positive and I’m the first person to buy into it. Remember Brian Gordon? I embraced him, and here comes Laird and I’ll do the same, I'm easy. Why? Because early on, the hype around Laird was big, and hopefully he’ll measure up.

So yes, when errors stack up fast and when errors lose ball games, people are going to start talking. And I’m not saying I’m rooting for that to happen, I’m just saying that’s the only way people will open their eyes.

Girardi is clearly fooled by Nunez’s bat and Girardi told Pete Caldera at the Bergen Record that “He’s earned that” in reference toNunez having A-Rod’s spot at 3^rd while A-Rod recovers from surgery. All I’m saying is, give Nunez a few days off, play Laird and watch him perform, that’s all. Yes, your heart may be set on Nunez, but all I’m saying is I feel like something’s coming. Nunez has dodged a few bullets on errors and pretty soon, I don’t know when, there’s going to be a costly error that will make people say enough’s enough. No, I’m not the Amazing Kreskin, this is a gut thing…. Hopefully I’m wrong….when it comes to this stuff, I like to be wrong.

Please comment and let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

WHY IT WAS FUN WHILE IT LASTED

When Brian Gordon came to the Yankees last month, the Yankees media machine was out in full force to promote this as the most unique, clever and fantastic move in 2011. The Yankees signed Brian Gordon to replace Bartolo Colon who replaced Phil Hughes and everyone was happy in Yankeeland. I bought into it. I liked the minor league veteran, he had spunk and he believed in himself and, if for just a moment, we believed in him too.

Well, Brian Gordon’s contract was purchased by a Korean baseball team and guess what? Brian Gordon is leaving the Yankees. Read the report HERE. Damn, it was fun while it lasted, but let’s face facts, with Bartolo Colon and Phil Hughes back, what were we going to do with Brian Gordon? It’s almost not fair to give him a taste of the high life and then push him in the bullpen, or worse, keep him down in AAA again.

As a New York Yankee, Gordon was 0-1 with a 5.23 ERA in 2 games. Gordon had 10.1 IPs, struck out 4, gave up 6 runs off 12 hits.

I wanted to let you all know about this story because quite simply, when I read it, I felt bad, yet happy for the guy. Put it this way, coming to the Yankees is probably a dream for anyone, but for a 14 year veteran who barely ever played in the majors, it was huge. His debut was great and he did his job. He had his moment. Good for him.

Anyway, wish him well, it was brief Brian, but it was damn fun. Good Luck to you.

Please comment and let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

WHY I HAVE YANKEE UPDATES

Just a few things you should know about coming out of Yankeeland:

Brian Gordon: If you didn't know by now, Brian Gordon was sent down to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to clear roster space for Bartolo Colon. Read about it HERE. This move I was sure was going to be Hector Noesi, but I was wrong, and I'm fine being wrong. I'll be curious to see if Gordon makes he way back up. I liked the kid. I like Noesi too, but personally, I almost feel like Cashman's auditioning him for trade bait for the July 31st deadline. Whatever the case, I wanted to let you know, that's where Gordon is right now.
Carlos Silva: The Yankees have decided to release Carlos Silva from his minor league deal and now he is free. Read about it HERE. I guess things didn't work out, or, the Yankees are feeling good about themselves with what they have in the rotation and what other help they have from the kids, as well as a veteran like Gordon or Mark Prior who will be fully healthy soon. Here's Silva's minor league line from Scranton: 2-1 3.52 ERA, 4 G, 23 innings. He gave up 21 hits and 9 runs, struck out 13, walked 4.
Pedro Feliciano: Pedro is working back from injury and he threw off a mound in Tampa. Reports are he threw 30 pitches. Read it HERE. I've said it all year, having that lefty specialist, or in our case, 2 of them, would be a nice problem. Not sure if we'll see Pedro this year, but I hope so.

Please comment and let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

WHY THE YANKEES ARE COMING

(In Photo: Brian Gordon / Getty)
We’ve had injury and some slow points in the season, but the New York Yankees have never given up. We’ve had to reach back, find a few pieces that can fill the holes, and those pieces have shined like diamonds. Brian Gordon, Eduardo Nunez have done their part. Hell, you can go back to Hughes going on the DL and Bartolo Colon rising as a true Yankee ace. Luis Ayala? Love the kid. I could go on and on. Brian Cashman has made moves that many would call silly on paper. Brian Cashman saw potential. Brian Cashman is a genius.

The best part of all of this is the New York Yankees have suddenly clicked as a team. What I mean by that is slumps are disappearing and like Mikey Blue has said in WHY AJ MAKES ME SCRATCH MY HEAD, while you never know what your going to get with him, AJ is suddenly giving us what we need. He's confidence, he's a leader. Players have stepped up, players have worked out the kinks. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is our battle cry…the 2011 New York Yankees have arrived.

Nick Swisher and Jorge Posada have been leading the charge as of late and thank God. So many of us love these guys. Poe Poe to me is the ultimate New York Yankee and while everyone was on this guy's back, I said to back off a bit. Jorge and I are the same age. I find it absolutely terrible that players are considered over the hill at 39 years old, but it's life. I knew he had it in him though, he's finally hitting. Well, haters, where are you now? No one's ripping Posada now, huh? Why? Because he’s helping his team? Listen up, Posada needed his rhythm in his new role, and guess what... Posada is back.

Nick Swisher just needed to find the stride too, it took longer than I expected, but the guy is loved and now that his hot streak has come, there’s no looking back for this guy. One of my friends is a gigantic Sox fan. She saw Nick and Joanna Garcia, his wife, walking in New York City 2 days ago. She sent me a note that read:

“I just saw Swish and his wife in the city. We looked at each other. He smiled. He always smiles, it’s hard not to like him.”

Does that say it all? It does for me, this guy just won over an evil Red Sox fan in the matter of moments. By the way, her husband’s a Yankee fanatic… wonder how that works?

Anyway, my point is, things are clicking and the Yankees are about to make a pennant run. Even with the injuries, this year strangely feels like 1998 or 2009. They keep finding ways to win, no matter what. Derek Jeter’s hurt? OK, we’ll put Nunez in that role. Colon is out? Hey, Brian Gordon’s available. Freddy Garcia goes tonight? OK, make that 7 wins for Freddy. The strange is taking over in the Bronx and it's for the better, and I like it.

I mentioned 1961 in WHY IT’S 1961 ALL OVER AGAIN. Another element of 2011, my fascination with the home run race. Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson have alittle home run thing going. It’s slowed down a bit lately, but make no mistake, players feed off each other. Just like Maris and Mantle did, I have no doubt that the hit machine between Granderson and Teixeira will begin again. Tex starting hitting them again, and look for Grandy to start up soon. How do I know? I don’t, it’s just a gut thing.

Russell Martin has been quiet lately, but he wants to join the party, you can see it in his eyes. He was looking to break out and suddenly, he is. Home run 2 days ago and he just recently has looked real good at the plate.

My point is, you take all the things that are already working, like CC, Mariano, Alex, D-Rob and you throw in these surprise talents and hot bats and suddenly the New York Yankees have reached their high watermark, 17 games above .500 with yesterday's win and to me, I feel like it can only get better. I'll put this in perspective; the Red Sox have what appears to be a better team on paper, yet, in reality, the Yankees are 2 ½ games in first place and not looking back. Plus, we have some of the filler in the lineup, and we still are finding ways to win. Looking at teams on paper is fine, but the Yankees are the reality right now. Are you hearing me Las Vegas?

Please comment and let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.