REMEMBER RAMIRO PENA? SOMETHING HAPPENED TO HIM

Ramiro Pena was a good solider for the Yankees when he was with us.  But he ended up going to the Atlanta Braves, where he apparently start sporting a goatee. While there, he had a .258 average with 6 homers and 21 RBIs.  Anyway, because he's a former Yankee, I like to keep you all in the loop.  There is news in Pena-land.

Pena was outrighted by the Braves.  Right now, he's out of a gig. But there is no question he'll get picked up somewhere be it a minor league job or a major league job as a utility guy.  He's a talented player with a ton of upside for any club.

Wish Ramiro well... and tell him to shave. We all like his baby face better.

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I FOUND SERGIO MITRE JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

You all know how Bleeding Yankee Blue got started.  If you don’t, here’s a recap.  The Yankees were losing, and I don’t remember if it was a losing streak or just inconsistent play.  But I do know that I was frustrated.  On September 14, 2010 the Yankees almost lost and important game to the Rays. On September 13th, they lost at the hand of Sergio Mitre. (Read WHY LAST NIGHT WAS IMPORTANT.)  Sergio Mitre was with the team that week and let's just say he wasn't having a successful time in pinstripes. In fairness, much of the weaker arms in the pen weren't.  It was a combination of trying to save the strong pitchers arms and giving guys like Mitre or Boone Logan time for the big guns... but it wasn't working. For the fan, it was frustrating.  I was screaming at the TV that week like many fans do and suddenly I felt as though I needed to put it on paper.  It was a rant.  Not vicious, but just enough so I get get my frustrations out.  Well, I felt better and Bleeding Yankee Blue will always be connected to Sergio Mitre because of it. Mainly because he was the first picture I chose to post here at BYB.

Well, just in time for Christmas and kindness and all that stuff... I decided to have a change of heart.  I did my research. 

And I’m happy to report that Sergio Mitre is alive and well. His twitter handle is sergio_mitre … and is now a prophet apparently if you look at his Twitter picture above.  Now let me state that I am doing something that I never thought I’d do, but I’m doing it because I am trying to keep in the spirit of Christmas… I’m forgiving Sergio Mitre the grudge I had against the Yanks in 2010 and extending an olive branch.

Sergio, I’m sorry for being so angry, same with you Yanks… I’m a Yankee fan, we expect perfection, but I have learned to step back and realize that there are more important things out there than wins and losses sometimes. Sometimes it’s about kindness, generosity… and yes, life.  That’s what Bleeding Yankee Blue has become and a lot of it has to do with you, whether you know it or not.  You opened my eyes.

Don't tweet much, but today is a a good reason to do it.. I am throwing my first bullpen in a long time.. Will see what happens..
— Sergio Mitre (@sergio_mitre) November 17, 2013

@tnchicks thank you for the support.. Two bullpen sessions down and still rolling..
— Sergio Mitre (@sergio_mitre) November 22, 2013

I see I have a couple new followers.. That's good I'm racking them up.. Hahaha..
— Sergio Mitre (@sergio_mitre) December 14, 2013

Hey, he's got a sense of humor too... Love that. Now, before reading through Sergio’s tweets, I have no idea where he went and what he’s been up to.  But now I do.   Read these Tweets from him.

Hey, I’m thrilled there’s some clarity on what’s been going on from Sergio (Assuming this is Sergio. He’s not verified, but you need to assume it is if Ramiro Pena is following him.)

So Sergio, Merry Christmas.  I’m sorry I was being an angry fan. A speedy recovery to you.

And to all my Bleeding Yankee Blue Readers… follow Mitre on Twitter.  His followers number is weak.  We need to help our buddy out.  Hey… it’s Christmas.

Thank you to all the Bleeding Yankee Blue readers for continued success.  You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in the history of Yankees fandom.  Thanks for reading, sharing and enjoying. Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue (Official) on Facebook, just type it in.

ICHIRO, RAMIRO PENA, BOBBY WILSON & A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE

A few nuggets we wanted you to know about.

Ichiro Suzuki: Ichiro and the Yankees are almost finished with a deal that would bring him to the Yankees for 2 years.  Read Mark Feinsand HERE. The range is between $12 and $13 million according to him. Good. For the record, I knew the Yanks would do that. I don't think the Yankees care Ichiro is 39 years old.  He's still one of the most athletic players in the game, he still gets on base and if he has 3000 hits as a Yankee, that helps everyone. Stay tuned on this signing... it should be official soon.

Ramiro Pena: MLB.com (HERE) says Pena signed a 1 year, major league contract with the Atlanta Braves.  Good for Pena. Pena would never have been a superstar in New York. He'll get more playing time in Atlanta maybe, who knows.  Pena did a lot for the Yankees and was always available when they needed him. He was up and down in AAA and filled in everywhere.  He's a team player and I wish him well.

Bobby Wilson: Catcher Bobby Wilson signed a minor league deal with the Yankees according to Buster Olney HERE.  OK, throwing another catcher into the competition will prove good for everyone who wants the starting job.  The only other catcher I'd like to see is Eli Whiteside. I'm kidding. 

Melanie Iglesias: Finally, you know we love Kate Upton here, but it's the holiday season and we found this "flip book" of Melanie Iglesias. It works for me... Enjoy this, I did.


If there is any other Yankee news, or, Melanie Iglesias news, we'll bring it to you.

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KEVIN LONG, MCGEHEE, PENA & KATE UPTON

Kevin Long: I think I'm going to barf.  Today is September 5th and last night Kevin Long said the most ridiculous statement you could ever hear from a batting coach in September.  "We're gonna get back to basics...You're gonna see some guys bunt."
This is what the batting coach for the New York Yankees has come up with? Bunting... in September? How disappointing is this?  I have been screaming about small ball all season.  Back in May I wrote YANKEE BASEBALL: THE BASICS OF HITTING. It doesn't take a genius to know that situational baseball is missing from the Yankees lineup and the fact that the Yankees batting coach just suggested the Yankees start bunting in September is absolutely ridiculous.  Open your eyes...

Casey McGehee: The Yankees have recalled McGehee from Charleston single A ball yesterday.  McGehee was send down to play for the Riverdogs back on August 28th, but now he's back... hell, maybe he'll light a fire under some of the starters asses.  Read all about McGehee HERE.

Ramiro Pena: When Chris Dickerson was called up to the Yankees 40 man roster the other day, someone had to go. Ramiro Pena was designated for assignment.  Read about it HERE. It's important to note that Pena cleared waivers and was sent to Triple A Scranton.

Kate Upton: Kate Upton is everywhere, so why can't she also be on Bleeding Yankee Blue? She can, because this is America.  Bikini.com has this ridiculous YouTube video out below and it's clearly for women AND definitely for men too if you know what I mean.  Anyone who feels like they won't want to see this, don't. This is a warning.

As things develop in Yankeeland...and in the world of Kate Upton, we'll be sure to bring that information to you.  Man, I have to tell you, I've been real bummed lately... I could really use some Yankee wins.  I'm getting tired of this.

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WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO EDUARDO NUNEZ?

It’s been awhile since we have heard anything about Eduardo Nunez. Sure he was out for a while with a hand injury so that makes sense, but he’s back now. There has been a lot of buzz this season from the kids in Triple-A but it feels like he is barely a blip on the radar screen so I can’t help but wonder….does Nunez have a future as a Yankee?

The last time I heard Girardi talk about Nunez in great detail it was on the Joe Girardi show a few weeks ago. He didn’t even give many specific examples, it was more of one of those encouraging, vague answers that he gives sometimes. In fact, all he said was that Nunez was “working hard” and that the Yankees “still see him as the future everyday shortstop.” He has missed a lot of time and his numbers aren’t anything to brag about with a .242BA but we are getting close to that time of year when September call ups are just around the corner. With the lack of news about him, I just don’t know that he fits in the future plans of this team. Here is what I do see….

Brandon Laird: He’s no stranger to us, we saw him last year during September call ups and he is very versatile. Brandon Laird can play first, third and even left field. Laird is very good defensively, he has even won a Gold Glove down in the minors. I wonder if the Yankees would’ve lost Eric Chavez to injury if he would’ve had a chance to fill in our bench. Laird also had an amazing month of July with a .313BA and for the year he has 27 doubles, 13 homeruns, and 67 RBIs so it is hard not to notice him.

Kevin Russo: He has also missed significant time on the disabled list this year, but since coming back in late June he has been a constant hitter with a .299BA and a .381 average against lefties. He also has good speed on the bases and has successfully stolen 14 bases in 19 attempts. He is also a utility infielder that can play almost anywhere in the infield so what he lacks in power he makes up in other areas. I think he and Nunez share similar strengths, but given the struggles Nunez has with his defense Russo seems to be a safer bet as a long term option in Triple-A. He is not on the 40-man roster, so he wouldn’t steal a call up from Nunez but he could be stealing some of his thunder.

Corban Joseph: He hasn’t been on the Triple-A team that long, but he has made a big impression in that short time. His offensive has cooled off lately, but when he first joined the team he was hitting .281. In the short time he has played he already has 28 RBIs, and almost as many walks (36) as he does strikeouts (41). I like Corban because I think he has a good eye and plays a sound second base. He also has extra value with some previous experience at third base as well.

Ramiro Pena: There isn’t much to say about him that we don’t already know. Pena can play shortstop, second and third base so he has a lot to offer. I think defensively, he may be one of the best prospects…but we know when it comes to offense he isn’t going to give you much. Nunez may have an advantage on him in this case, but Pena won’t cause as many errors. It’s a toss-up here, but I have to wonder if being on a team that has won a World Series ring before can overlook his short comings.

I have always said that the Yankees have a strong farm system, but when I look at the other infielders I see a lot of similarities with Nunez. It’s hard to be an infield prospect for the Yankees to begin with because you are in the shadows of Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, ARod, and Mark Teixeira, and you are a small finish in a big pond of minor league talent. All of these guys have something to offer, and everyone in this article except for Russo is also on the 40-man roster. As much as I hate to say it, Nunez is stuck in a utility infield log jam and he is competing for a job and I hope he can prove those who doubt him wrong.

--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Writer and Editor

Twitter: @NyPrincessJ


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HOW THE TRADE DEADLINE WENT DOWN FOR THE YANKS

The trade deadline came and went quickly. The Yankees are always tied to a lot of names, but this year it felt different to me. Maybe it’s because this year we weren’t chasing after a huge void on the team, or that front of the line pitcher. This year it was about the extra support, so that sounds easier to get, right? Well….there was a lot of hype right down to the wire but all the talk didn’t pan out to be as exciting. Check out some of the names and how it went down.

Casey McGehee: Welcome to pinstripes! The Yankees do get some infield help with McGehee, trading him to the Pirates in exchange for Chad Qualls. McGehee is a right-handed hitter who primarily plays 3rd base and hits with some power. His .230BA isn’t particularly impressive but, he has does have a nice .807 OPS against lefties this year, which will come in handy. He is a decent defender, and gives Girardi some extra versatility freeing up Jayson Nix to take some starts in left field if needed so Andruw Jones can take some more turns as a DH. McGehee is an upgrade over Ramiro Pena because he is a little more consistent offensively. He definitely gives the Yankees some more options, just don’t count on him stealing any bases, speed is not one of his strengths. Another positive to this trade is he is under team control and arbitration eligible through 2014.

This move definitely gives the Yankees more help in the infield, and frankly, I am surprised that the Pirates gave him up in exchange for Chad Qualls who had a 6.14 ERA during his brief role with the Yankees. In the end, Qualls would have inevitably been cut now that Joba has been activated from the disabled list so there is no down side to this move.

Carlos Lee: The Yankees checked in on Lee. With the uncertainty with Tex’s injury, I can see why they were talking to the Marlins. Lee has a no-trade clause, so when the Marlins asked him about him accepting a trade to the Yankees, he was quick to turn it down. I guess playing as a back-up to Tex wasn’t an option for him. This talk quickly went no-where and he is still in Miami.

Ryan Dempster: The one that got away. The Yankees expressed interest in him on Monday, and they were in heavy discussions with the Cubs. The buzz about this on Tuesday was crazy. Sources were reporting new information every hour. Dempster even said that he would be interested in waving his 10-and-5 rights to join the Yankees so it sounded promising, and who wouldn’t like to see a reunion between Larry Rothschild and Dempster in the Bronx? As the last hour of the trade deadline approached, it still sounded like both the Cubs and the Yankees were very far apart. The Cubs had interest in Angelo Gumbs and Dante Bichette Jr but the Yankees didn’t like the asking price. In the last 10 minutes a teaser was leaked saying that the Yankees “may have” acquired Dempster, but it was just that…a tease and he is now a Texas Ranger.

Shane Victorino: The Yankees were definitely interested in him before Ichiro. The asking price was too steep for us, but the Dodgers were willing to pay up.

Brendan Ryan: The Yankees made an offer to the Mariners, but they declined. Brendan would have been a nice upgrade over Ramiro Pena because he is one of the best defensive shortstops in the game. He is also arbitration eligible for one more year making him very affordable and his experience at also second and third base would have been a plus, but no such luck here.

The trade deadline has come and gone…but teams can still make some moves. It will be interesting to see what else develops over the next couple of weeks, and how teams benefit from these moves. The race to the postseason is here….can you feel it? Get ready; it’s going to be a fight to the finish!

The Waiver wires next...let's see what the Yankees do.

--Jeana Bellezza ,BYB Writer and Editor

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THE YANKEES AND THE TRADE DEADLINE

The Non-Waiver Trade Deadline is less the twenty-four hours away and as a Yankee fan, I want the Yankees to make a move here. I know there have been a lot of fans saying that we don’t need to make any big moves, but let’s be honest, no one is going to frown on improvement. And with ARod and Gardy out, and a new injury to Mark Teixeira, we could use another bat in our arsenal. People are suggesting it's time to bring up Russell Branyan or Jack Cust, but I'll tell you what I'm thinking:

Chase Headley: With ARod out, we could use a guy at third base. I like Chavez as much as the next guy but he is accident-prone. And Ramiro Pena has a questionable bat. Headley could take over at 3rd base until ARod comes back. The best thing about Headley is that he is also an outfielder. With the possibility of Nick Swisher not returning next season, Headley could take over right field. He is hitting .265, but Petco is a difficult place to hit. He’d be a nice fit into the Yankees line up and could come alive at a field like Yankee Stadium. The problem, of course is the price tag. It seems the Padres are determined to ask for a King’s Ransom and as Cashman has said on several occasions, the goal is to bring the spending budget down.

Ty Wigginton: definitely another option. With him being in the last year of his $8 million dollar contract, the price is right. He goes into free agency as of 2013 with a team option. His contract is unrestricted though so he wouldn’t necessarily play for the Yankees next season if he does choose to play. Wigginton could take over third or share the position with Eric Chavez until ARod comes back. He would be more of a “Band-Aid” fix instead of a long-term solution though and that worries me. Cashman has never seemed like a “Band-Aid” fix kind of guy.

Justin Morneau: Another guy I have had my eye on is Justin Morneau. He is only hitting .260. But he has 13 homers and 46 RBI’s. The biggest obstacle I see with Morneau is his contract. $19 million still left through to next season, no one sees this actually happening, but with Tex hurt and with no one thinking the Yankees would sign Ichiro with his $17 million dollar price tag (Except BYB), anything is possible.  Like I said about Chase Headley, Cashman is looking to lower the spending budget though. He has a .322 OBP, .457 SLG and .996 fielding percentage. Of course there is the fact that he is a first baseman. But with Teixeria getting pulled out tonight, he might be just what we need.

The truth is, the Yankees need a bat. Getting Ichiro was a great move by the organization. With Alex out now for six to eight weeks, we could always beef up a bit, we can get guys that could play third base but also be moved when they need to. Here comes the trade deadline...get ready.

--Erica Morales, BYB Writer



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THINKING ABOUT DAVID WRIGHT ON THE YANKEES

It’s funny how quickly things can change in baseball. At the beginning of the season, the Mets were the big surprise ending the first half with a winning record. The Yankees have been battling with injuries all year, and just as we get closer to getting some guys back….Alex Rodriguez goes down with a fractured hand, read HERE.

Both the Mets and the Yankees are going to have to make some adjustments. Now with Alex out, the Yankees need to look at adding another bat. No offense to Ramiro Pena….but his bat is not comparable. Eric Chavez and Jayson Nix are not the best everyday options. Yes, there has been talk about Eric Chavez being he every day 3rd baseman, but, there is concern about him being able to handle it and of course, there's worry of injury...the guy's accident prone after all.  The Mets has faltered since the All-Star break losing 12 of their last 13 games and have started to re-work their team. Are you thinking what we are thinking here at BYB?

So, let’s think about this a moment. The Mets have already made some minor moves, and if they want to continue to build for the future, they could choose to part with David Wright. That's right, I said it. Sure, it may sound a little crazy but we aren’t the only ones who are exploring this idea, read more on this HERE. I can’t believe I am even going to suggest this, my dad the Mets fan would probably mock me for it, but here it goes….why NOT bring Wright to the Bronx?

You're asking "Why would the Mets just give us their star player?"  I'll tell you. Wright is in the final year of his contract and has a $16 million team option for next year. If the Mets did want to let Wright walk to free up some cash for next year now is the time for them to make a move and the Yankees definitely have some infield prospects that could be of interest to the Mets. The Mets say they are not going to be sellers by the trade deadline, but if the Yankees gave the Mets a good offer, maybe they would bite.

If the Mets choose to let Wright go, it would be a benefit to both teams. The Mets wouldn’t be giving him away to a division rival and they could rebuild and save money while we strengthen our needs as we head closer to the post season. Now that Alex is on the disabled list, we need an everyday player who can fill in for Alex, and those are not easy shoes to fill. Wright can be that guy, he knows how to deal with the bright lights in New York and let’s face it, he has the combination of offense and defense that we need. In fact, this year Wright has some pretty impressive numbers and could even be a candidate to for MVP. He has an impressive .344BA, 15HR, 67RBI and a high on base percentage. He also has some speed with 10 stolen bases on the year, so he has a good balance of speed and power. If Wright can give this kind of production at park that is harder to hit in, imagine what he can do in Yankee Stadium?

I have to admit, it is hard to imagine seeing David Wright in pinstripes, but the idea fascinates me. If this happened, our lineup becomes that much more powerful, if that's even possible. Sure, thinking about someone from the Mets on our team is a little strange, especially since that is my dad’s favorite team, but if he worked out for us I don’t think it would take too long to overlook.

Do I think this is likely? Honestly, no,  but as we have all seen Brian Cashman can pull off some amazing moves that no one expects…like the Ichiro Suzuki trade this week! I don’t think the Mets will want to deplete their organization this much and it could make some very unhappy Mets fans but anything that gets us closer to World Series victory this year is worth considering...plus, it's fun to think about!

The trade deadline is getting closer and anything is possible. So, what do you think? Tell us what you would do if you were Cashman.

--Jeana Bellezza --BYB Writer and Editor

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WHAT DO DAVID WRIGHT & HIDEKI MATSUI HAVE IN COMMON? BYB

David Wright: It was only a matter of time before this story would surface, especially since Alex Rodriguez got clocked in the hand by King Felix and busting it.  The Boomer & Carton Radio show had an interesting conversation highlighting how David Wright should be the guy to fill the void at 3^rd base. Read about it HERE.  It’s also being reported by LoHud that Ramiro Pena had been called up, HERE and that it's clear that Pena isn't a long term fix. So the Yankees will definitely test the 3^rdbaseman market. Read that HERE. Look, the timing was right with Ichiro Suzuki… how about David Wright? Damn that would be interesting.We'll have a detailed piece about the idea of David Wright on the Yankees in the next few days on Bleeding Yankee Blue, so look for it.

Edwin Jackson: Edwin reads Bleeding Yankee Blue.  Well, not exactly, but he did do what we suggested he should have done a long time ago after he got screwed over by Scott Boras this winter.  Boras was shopping Jackson around for the biggest deal, translation, “the most money to line Boras’ pocket" and when all the offers finally went away, Jackson had to settle on a 1 year deal for $11 million with the Nationals.  Not a bad gig considering how well their doing this season, but Boras ruined Jackson's chances.  Well, we at BYB thought back in the winter that Jackson should have left Boras and we wrote WHY EDWIN JACKSON'S THE LAST MAN STANDING highlighting that.  Luckily, it’s being reported by Ken Rosenthal HERE that Jackson left Scott for Legacy Agency and will no doubt look for a long term deal… hopefully he won’t be greedy about it.

Cole Hamels: Yes, he’s off the market. Hamels signed a 6 year deal worth $140 million. That’s being reported in USA Today, HERE.  No one really thought Hamels would leave the Phillies.  He’s got a good thing, the team is just having a bad year and the fact the of matter is, he’s the future of that team.  He’s not going anywhere and now we know, officially.

Hideki Matsui: According to WEEI, the Tampa Bay Rays have cut Hideki Matsui to make room for newly acquired Ryan Roberts.  Read HERE.  According to WEEI, "Matsui, who signed a minor league contract with Tampa Bay in April, hit .147 with two home runs and .438 OPS in 34 games with the Rays..." There you go.  I hate seeing former champions end up like this.  I'm assuming his next move will be to retire, but I also know Godzilla is no quitter.  Stay tuned.

Gaetano Giunta: Never heard of him? Me neither.  That’s until my sons and I were mesmerized by this kid who plays for the New Jersey Jackals.  The dude walks to the plate, squats for a moment.  Then stands and jumps up high 1 time until his knees hit the bottom of his stretched out arms.  That wasn’t the best part. The kid is faster than anyone I’ve seen in a while.  Message to Yankees, you want alittle speed on off that bench? Sign this guy, you can get him on the cheap and he’ll help with that little thing called “Runners in Scoring Position.”  I loved watching this kid play live. I can’t wait to get back to the Jackals!

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THE YANKEES WILL STAND TALL DESPITE INJURY TO ALEX

(Arod leaving game last night after being hit by pitch)

I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I heard John Kruk on Mike and Mike this morning and he made a lot of sense. Look, the Alex Rodriguez injury is significant because, as Krukie said, Alex was starting to really swing the bat. Having a hot Alex in the lineup is a good thing and the Yankees could have used him... Until they couldn't because of his broken hand last night in Seattle. In the end, the Yankees will do what they've always done, shuffle and regroup.

(Can Eric Chavez play every day?)

As Derek Jeter has always said during dark times... " Who's going to feel sorry for us? No one... Someones gonna have to man up." I'm paraphrasing here, but it's true.  Eric Chavez is of course a logical choice. He's a Gold Glove 3rd baseman, and he knows his role. He still plays a helluva 3rd base. He also gets hurt a lot...that's the reality.  I love Eric Chavez, but he'll forever be my walking ceramic. He's fragile and that's because he plays the game harder than anyone. So I ask you... What happens if Chavez fills the role and gets hurt? Believe me, it was in the back of the Yankees' minds too,  they announced they have called up Ramiro Pena, but that's a terrible bat in the lineup, not exactly a great offensive replacement. Is it the right choice? Tough question to answer. I suspect the Yankees aren't going to go after anyone for 3rd base by the trade deadline so this is where we're at.  I'm going to be honest, I'm not too jazzed about Pena, but the Yankees can survive.

Losing Alex pretty much sucks. People can say "Well Alex hasn't done anything this season." Sure, say that if you want, I've been saying for weeks that Alex is now "just a regular player" and when you see his numbers, this is true. He ISN'T ARod, but he's got decent numbers for a regular player. That consistency, believe it or not has helped us this season. If you don't believe me, keep an eye on it now that Alex is gone. There may be a difference because you have to think about it this way, while Eric Chavez is wonderful, he's no longer an every day player anymore. Expect fatigue... Pena will help with that at 3rd but not with his bat.

(Mariners' King Felix pitching in last night's game)

And back to King Felix last night. He was hitting everybody last night. This morning Yankeeland is calling for his head. Yankeeland wants "retaliation". Why?  For the record, Felix didn't intentionally hit anyone last night. Even Jeter said that.  Maybe he had control problems, maybe he wanted to brush a few guys back, but Felix Hernandez is good enough that he doesn't have to pop anyone in the hand and bust it. There should be no retaliation, it serves no purpose...let's just get the game in and get out of Seattle, winning the series at least.

Look, we'll be alright ladies and gentlemen, this is an injury, but it just seems more amplified because we've had plenty this season. Know this, we'll juggle some things and come back swinging like we always do. Why? Because we're the Yankees... The greatest franchise this world has ever seen. That's my take.

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WHY YANKEES NEWS IS HERE!

Just a few stories that I wanted to bring you that’s going on around the league. Everything is Yankee related in some capacity, but I didn’t feel it necessary to create individual posts for all these stories… so here you go:

Joba Chamberlain: Joba will speak to reporters this week and explain to everyone how he was never “in danger”. Apparently the whole story was overblown by bad reporting. I did my research and the only people I can pinpoint where I read it first was from Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News HERE. Of course, these stories come from "sources" and sometimes bad info happens. I'm not slamming McCarron or anything, I was just curious who was out there and that was where I first read it. Many of us sports writers and bloggers picked it up, but Buster Olney reports HERE that it was overblown and Joba will correct the record later this week. We'll see. For all we know Olney's reports wrong too.

Andy Pettitte: It’s being reported by the AP that Pettitte may need to testify in the perjury case of former friend, Roger Clemens. I’m not getting involved in this story other than to say that whatever Roger Clemens did or didn’t do, I don’t like what I’m seeing from this guy…it’s truly a fall from grace and it’s unfortunate. Anyway, you can read the Associated Press story HERE. Jury selection for the Clemens perjury trial is set for April 16. There’s been wide speculation that this is part of the reason why Pettitte is perhaps coming back to the Yankees big team sometime after May 1^st. It was all about timing with him. Again, who knows, I’m just glad Andy’s back.

Greg Golson: Former Yankee Greg Golson was a member of the Royals and just to give you an update on his career, he was just traded to the Chicago White Sox for cash considerations. That’s being reported by CBSSports.com, and you can read their story HERE. We loved Greg Golson for that amazing throw to nail Carl Crawford at third base in that game in 2010. Some would say that was the beginning of Carl Crawford’s demise…I kid, I kid. Here’s the video.

Anyway, I personally have fond memories of Golson in pinstripes even though it was brief. I wish him well. Hopefully he latches on in Chicago.

AJ Burnett: Burnett’s back! Sort of… he pitched 40 pitches in a live batting practice for the Pirates and he’s on the road back after being hit in the face with a baseball while taking batting practice. It was a “freak accident”. Do you see how I used the words “freak accident?" I applied to an actual incident that happened to someone doing their job, not to someone like Joba Chamberlain who knowingly understood the risks of a trampoline and still jumped on it anyway.

Ramiro Pena: The Phillies like Pena and with all their infielders dropping like flies, they’d like to try and get him, according to George King III, read HERE. Look, Pena has always hung on and has been helpful on the Yankees, but I’m afraid the guy's never going to make it as a starter on the New York Yankees. Maybe somewhere else, or maybe he’d provide some stability for the Phillies… I’m curious about if the Yankees would ship him off, we shall see.

If there are other stories, we will bring them to you. Also, don’t forget we will have a new BYB PRESENTS: YANKEE SHORTS this Saturday. If you don’t know what Yankee shorts is, check out BYB PRESENTS: YANKEE SHORTS #1. It’s a fun read.

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