THE BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE IS ON!

At Bleeding Yankee Blue, we love to help where help is needed. ALS - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known in some circles as Lou Gehrig's disease – can strike anyone, with no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries. Every year, about 6000 people receive the diagnosis. It has no known cure, and the life expectancy of an ALS patient averages about two to five years from the time of diagnosis.

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is a great opportunity for everyone to get involved in a cause where, at any given time, over 30,000 people in the United States are suffering. Therefore, we at Bleeding Yankee Blue are proud to participate in this event. Even if you no one challenges you to participate, please consider donating to one of many charitable organizations that support the cause of ALS.

With that, BYB has some friends and family that we would like to nominate. We challenge the following people to participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge:

Laura Posada
Bob Lorenz
Meredith Marakovits
Jeana Bellezza
Erica G. Morales
Rudy Laurens

I also would like to challenge my wife, Heather Beers-Dimitriadis, to participate in this challenge. Thanks in advance, remember to donate, and keep the challenge going.

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Senior Staff Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon
My blog is: Shots from Murderer's Row



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IS ROBINSON CANO LOST IN SEATTLE?

I am the coach to my son’s baseball team, and last week we had our league’s Opening Day. My son is 7 and in one years time, I've seen some great improvements in his playing ability. That's got other parents’ attention above anything else. We have a great squad of guys who can really play!  I love taking the time to teach any child the game of baseball and hope it translates throughout their playing days.

The night before Opening Day, I was outside playing catch and I told my son he was going to be our guy at Second base.  He was excited about the news, saying. “Dad, just like Robinson Cano.”  I looked at him, smiled, and said "Well, Robinson doesn’t play for the Yankees anymore. He plays for Seattle.”  He stopped throwing the ball and paused for a few seconds.  He shrugged his shoulders and said,  “I don’t care. I still like him. So what if he plays in Seattle, so do the Seahawks, and so did Ken Griffey Jr.”

We resumed play. That Ken Griffey part is me teaching him who some of my favorite baseball greats were. He quickly has even been turned onto ‘Junior' ever since. Nonetheless, my kid made a good point. You like a player, you can still follow him no matter where he ends up.

Sometimes I sit there watching a game and wondering how other players are doing around the league. If you think outside the box like I do, you will tune into other games besides Yankees sometimes. With that, I tend to look at the scores of Mariners games and particularly what our old buddy Robinson Cano has been up to.

I’m also aware many might not feel the same way. But the truth is, He was my favorite Yankee player for a while after Bernie Williams. I simply wish Cano the best in his new chapter in his baseball career. Right now,  In 16 games with the Mariners, he’s hitting .266, 8 RBIs and he finally hit his first jack as a Mariner this past week. The Mariners are in 4th place in the West. There is still a lot baseball to change that, and surely improve.

Cano is playing with a lineup nothing similar to the scoring machine that the Yankees were, but the team is showing heart and trying to win ball games.  Guys like their catcher Mike Zunino who already has 3 HRs for instance.  We’ve heard many say Cano has no protection in the line-up, and "it’s a bigger ballpark" at Safeco Field.  Many Yankee fans are hoping his numbers will diminish, but what if the numbers don’t? What if Cano’s presence makes the line-up somewhat better?

As I mentioned before in my Alfonso Soriano piece titled:  DON'T FEAR THE FONZ, “...once a team becomes a hitting machine, everyone does their part.” The same can be said here. They’re trying to pick each other up, and who knows if they go on a tear at some point during the season. It could happen, you know.

But getting back to Cano; It goes without saying players that get the monster contracts don’t play to their true potential.  We’ve seen this trend here... it’s happening in Anaheim right now with guys like Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols.  Let’s just say, I believe Robbie doesn’t want to be a part of that trend.  He wants to be a guy that lives up to his hype and say “I came to Seattle to be a different result, and a better one.” I believe that.

Now, I know for some out there, Robinson Cano is now a player of Yankees past. That’s true. He’s a former Yankee now, let’s turn the page and look to who plays for the Yankees now! Right?  I heard it all and I get that.  But honestly, the fact that he went elsewhere sits in the back of your mind just alittle and enough to ponder how he's doing in his new home. Furthermore, you just can’t forget his 9 seasons with us!

And that’s not just with Robbie, but with any player. I will be the first to admit, I loved Cano in New York. Many did. I wanted him back this past off season, I really and truly believed he was coming back. Then, the news came that he chose to sign elsewhere and money was the factor.  It stung, I won’t lie.  But baseball is a business and we sometimes forget that.

When I said I wish Robbie all the best in his chapter of his baseball career, I truly meant that. I have moved on and with the way the Yankees are rolling lately, it's easy to put Cano out of my mind,  but I’m not going to be the one wishing ill will on the dude! Cano’s human and did what he felt what was best “FOR HIM.” With that, I’m not closing the door on what Robinson once was.  It’s like seeing you’re ex somewhere with his/her new fling. Somehow you can’t help but to look back, from the corner of your eye...just for a moment.




Rudy Laurens
BYB Writer
Facebook: House of Champions


 

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DON'T FEAR THE FONZ

Alfonso Soriano is off to a slow start in 2014. NEWSFLASH? Well, not exactly. Not to me at least and not at the moment. Why? It’s simple. All players go through a bump of sorts and many have slow starts.

Look, we have a pretty good team out there. We’re coming off a big off-season and new players have been added to help this club win. I get that.  No player will have a successful at bat every trip to the plate and Alfonso Soriano is no different. One thing I can assure you though is he’s trying to find a way to break out of the funk.

Sure, I get it, there isn’t enough of a sample to really demonstrate that, right? It’s been 9 games, and 36 at bats, Since then he’s hitting .182 with 1 home run.  Surely the numbers aren’t too great, but the point of this is that you can never expect a player to just crush to ball every time he comes to the plate.  And by the way, don’t compare him to a Yangervis Solarte.  

There is a different energy there. You have a kid given a shot and running with it and a guy like Soriano, almost 40, and in the same veteran routine since he was in his twenties.  Sometimes, you need to consider that factor as well. 

One thing I do know, when the Fonz catches lightning, he rides it.  That’s the reason why he’s back in pinstripes. Plus, and I’ll repeat, he's part of a very good hitting line-up. Once a team begins to be a hitting machine together, everyone does their part.   

Don’t forget,  Soriano caught a nice groove at the plate when he returned to New York last year hitting 17 homeruns in the final 3 months of the season. It will happen again. Look, it’s just too soon to get into a tizzy over it.  Sometimes the spark is caught with one swing of the bat. Oh and I forgot to mention, like when the Fonz hit his first home run of the season against Baltimore. Maybe that’s the kick in the ass he needed to get him going.  At least that’s what i think.

 In the end, Fonzi will be fine. He's a good soldier, and I believe in him.

Rudy Laurens
BYB Writer
Facebook: House of Champions


  
   

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MASAHIRO TANAKA: THE GOLDEN CHILD

Masahiro Tanaka has really drawn a lot of excitement this Spring Training, hasn’t he?  

In his 4 starts with the Yanks, Tanaka has a 3.00 ERA with 16 strikeouts, 3 walks in 15 innings. Each start has been impressive, and it’s giving Yankeeland something to feel good about.

Brendan Kuty of the Star Ledger reported Tanaka is the Yanks 4th starter… many expected it, us at BYB included.  His debut will be April 4^th against the Toronto Blue Jays.   So far Tanaka has been as good as advertised.  He’s handled himself well without getting caught up in the media spotlight and that’s good, considering there is always a heavy media presence in Tampa around this time of year.  

When asked about how he felt about getting ready for his first regular season start, Tanaka said through his translator Shingo Horie. “Oh, it’s nothing too special.  I’m just going to prepare for that day.  Maybe it’s that I’m not thinking too much about it.  But right now I’m not overly excited about it.  As we get closer to game day,  I’m sure that excitement will come along.”

You know what? I like that approach. He’s taking it day to day. That’s a sign of a professional.

Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News reported of Tanaka’s new adjustment of pitching once every 5 days as opposed to 6 days when he played in Japan. Check out what Tanaka said:  “Once the season starts, it’s every 5th day. So I’m making adjustments to that.  I just look at it if there’s an extra day off.”  

In that same piece, it states that Tanaka will ask if he could be allowed to throw more between starts in case he wants to work on something specific. 

Now, I’m not sure how that will be handled by management, since they want to play things out carefully with Tanaka. I get that he is showing good work ethic and wants to do everything he can to help the team win.  But, we know how the Yankees play cautiously with their pitchers and that’s nothing new, so don’t be surprised if we see him on a short leash early on as they figure him out. They want the maximum return on their investment and they will treat him carefully, trust me.

With Tanaka finally booked for his major league debut on April 4th, many will tune in to witness what he will bring to the Yankees at this biggest stage.  For Yankees fans, we got a glimpse, and we hope that it becomes magnified when the games count.  Masahiro Tanaka looks ready to deliver. If you’re like me, I feel confident, but I have my fingers and toes crossed too.   

Ultimately though, I’m optimistic that we got ourselves a winner here.

Prove us right, Tanaka. 

 
Rudy Laurens
BYB Writer
Facebook: House of Champions


  
   

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YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE WHAT OLD FRIEND NICK SWISHER JUST DID!

There was an interesting piece by Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com. He writes of a very verbal confrontation that took place at Fan Fest at Progressive Field between Indians first baseman Nick Swisher and Indians Hall of Famer Kenny Lofton. 

According to the report, the two were nose to nose like an umpire and a manager heated over a bad call. Only the bad call was in part of Lofton's remarks a few months back of the Indians season and the "one and done" playoff game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Lofton had told reporters "A playoff is a series, not one game. It's not the Super Bowl." The words subsequently sent rumbles throughout the Indians ball club, so much, that other players like pitcher Vinnie Pestano expressed his angst over it on Twitter.

“@MLBastian: Lofton on Indians' Wild Card Game last year: "That's not a playoff game. A playoff is a series -- not one game."” #SitdownKenny
— Vinnie Pestano (@VinnieP52) January 25, 2014

Last year's team played past 162, thats Postseason. To see the atmosphere that was there that day, thats Postseason. No need to cheapen that
— Vinnie Pestano (@VinnieP52) January 25, 2014

Lofton chose to voice his thoughts poorly, and knock down a team that won 92 games finishing one game behind the Detroit Tigers who have been AL Central powerhouse for quite some time now. Furthermore, Lofton must not have gotten the memo of the new playoff format. It's 2 Wild Cards per league now, not one. 

Swisher confronting Kenny Lofton about this was the right thing to do, trust me. Now look, I'm surprised to see Nick get this worked up to stand up to a guy like Kenny Lofton who is loved by Tribe fans. We've known Swisher to be a guy who is all smiles around the clubhouse, someone who loves to joke and laugh everything off. 

This speaks volumes of his role in Cleveland as a team leader and his passion of being a guy who wants to be apart of helping the Indians be a contender.  He's not going to let anyone shoot down the efforts they put in last year.  This is a guy who has been around long enough in baseball and had a taste of a World Series Championship with New York and wants to get back there again, no doubt.  He's bringing a team together like a family, something to the effect of the Yankees. He knows what being close knit is about.

We at BYB love Nick Swisher and we miss him from time to time here.  We miss the Swisher Salute in right field. The energy he brought to the field.  You couldn't have a more eccentric guy like him. It was mutual, because Swisher loved us the fans right back.  Regardless of how it ended, I will continue to wish him all the best and his endeavors no matter where he is. 

I'm sure many can remember Lofton's brief stint here in the Bronx, and how sour it ended. Kenny had a few choice words about the Yankees and that didn't exactly fall on deaf ears. Lofton should do the math, a 92 win season in 2013 is definitely something to be proud of coming off a disappointing 2012 season with just 68 wins for the Indians.  Hell, the Yankees didn't even make the playoffs!

Swish, it's good to see you making headlines again, even though you're not in pinstripes, we still love ya.  And you did your Indians club proud. Way to go kid!

 You made the right call, you put Lofton in check. Atta boy.


 
Rudy Laurens
BYB Writer
Facebook: House of Champions


  
    


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THE BATTLE FOR THE 5TH YANKEE STARTER

The battle for the 5th starter is starting to heat up in Tampa. Two guys are really making a case for themselves in just a short time this spring; Michael Pineda and David Phelps. 

DJ Short of Hardball Talk wrote a piece this past weekend about Michael Pineda making a run this Spring. We know it's still alittle early to speculate, but this is exactly the kind of news we have been for as Yankee fans... Pineda... actually good again? OMG!  After all, two off seasons later and we still have yet to see what exactly we got in return for Jesus Montero. Well, that time is now! 

Michael Pineda had a very good outing against the Detroit Tigers showing signs of that 2011 Michael Pineda...he had good command. He went 2 innings striking out 4. One of them being Detroit's big bat Miguel Cabrera.  Pineda also was taxed for one hit in his debut.  21 of 27 were strikes. Overall, Pineda felt good after the game, and had no complaints or any setbacks. Again it's too early to get excited, but I'd like to. It's a good sign of what might be in store if he continues down this path.   If he can keep it up, he could wind up being the heavily favored candidate for 5th starter. 

Joe Girardi spoke with Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News about it, stating “We like what we saw... I don’t want to make too much of it, but I’ve said all along he looks different what we’ve seen this spring compared to a couple springs ago. He’s cleaned up his mechanics a lot. This is a good step.”  Look, all in all, this is the kind of news we have been wanting to hear about in Pineda. We can only hope and pray that more good news continues to come out of camp. 

David Phelps has had some good outings as well. In his last start against the Rays, Phelps threw for 5 scoreless innings allowing just 3 hits and getting one strike out. It's been his strongest of his 3 starts so far this Spring Training.  

With an ERA of 1.86 and 7 strikeouts in those 3 starts, Phelps is making it hard for the Yankees management to just focus on Pineda.  I like that... alittle competition happening here.  Brendan Kuty of the Star Ledger spoke of Phelps writing: "He said he felt comfortable enough Tuesday to work on his change up in live action despite competing for a starting job. In fact, he said, he's not thinking about the competition."  

Either way, you can bet making a decision from Girardi and company will not be easy with Adam Warren and Vidal Nuno also in the mix. All four guys are certainly going to help bolster the rotation. We need that. Whomever gets the nod, I will be happy for them regardless. 

Stay tuned for this one. If this is any indication of what is in store going into Opening Day, it'll certainly be worth watching as they keep trying to prove their worth.


Rudy Laurens
BYB Writer

Facebook: House of Champions

  
   


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THE RISE OF SOLARTE

There are quite a few who might not know who Yangervis Solarte is. I'm here to tell you about the native of Valencia, Venezuela. 

Yangervis has been on the baseball scene since 2006 where played in the Dominican Summer League under the Twins organization at the age of 18. Since then, he's traveled throughout the minors waiting and hoping to get a call to the Bigs. It wasn't until 2012 where he finally saw AAA action at Round Rock Express for the Texas Rangers. He spent two seasons there and attended Spring Training with the Rangers with the chance to win a bench role at some point. 

Solarte sat by the phone waiting for his call up towards the end of the 2013 season. That too, never happened.  

Solarte continued to work and waited for a chance to make an impression with someone. Solarte is now in Tampa with the Yankees as a non-roster invitee and again, has a chance to open eyes. Guess what? He is opening eyes thus far! 

The young 26 year old brings some credentials to camp. He's a versatile position player who played all over the infield and everywhere in the outfield. That is something that can make a player attractive at any camp. With question marks in our infield, Solarte could be given a very close look. 

He's also a switch hitter, something the Yankees could always use. He's not exactly a power hitter at the plate considering he's hit for only 23 home runs in his 2 seasons at Round Rock, but on the upside, he is definitely a run producer. Again, something the Yankees can use with the ever so dreading stat of "Runners Left On Base" the last few years. In those, two seasons in AAA, his RBIs went from 54 to 75 which is definitely a jump and will drive up his value for consideration somewhere down the line. 

As for work ethic, the kid is highly eager to make the team and wants to prove his worth... not to the fans, but to himself. We like that here at BYB.  It's never anyones ultimate dream to be a career minor leaguer. All Solarte knows is that in this game you have to be patient. That advice is coming from his uncle, former St. Louis Cardinal Roger Cedeno. 

For Solarte, it's not about showing the Yankee higher ups what he has, and "call me later". For him, it's about, "I am here, and I want to make it on this Yankee club right now!" 

As Bryan Hoch wrote on MLB.com when he quite Solarte:

"I'm tired of the Minors... I feel that I have done everything I could do. I love playing baseball, I have worked so hard, I have met every goal that I had. Now I feel that the next challenge is the Major Leagues."

Well Solarte, Yankee Universe is watching... show us what you got!


 
Rudy Laurens
BYB Writer

Facebook: House of Champions

  
 

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WAIT... JOEL HANRAHAN? MAYBE...

Yesterday, Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reported that the Yankees are keeping a "close eye" on 32 year old righthander Joel Hanrahan. 

Now look, Hanrahan has not pitched since May 2013 after getting shut down by the Boston Red Sox and undergoing Tommy John surgery.  Martino wrote: "The Yankees also continue to monitor another former All-Star, Joel Hanrahan, who underwent Tommy John last year (the Mets have also watched him throw a bullpen session). 

If Robertson is successful, a player like Hanrahan would probably serve as a setup man. All of this might end up being due diligence, but it underscores that even internally, the Yankees understand their bullpen is thin, a potential weakness that could undermine some of their improvements in other areas, like the rotation and lineup." 

Now, before anyone belly aches with this as a possible "acquisition of damaged goods", ultimately the addition is still beneficial.  We need to build up the bullpen, that is a fact. This in no way means the Yankees doubt David Robertson can handle the closer role. The Yankees seem happy with their decision to make DRob the 9th inning guy.  And, I think most fans feel that way too. Stockpiling pitchers on the roster never hurts.  It's something all teams do.

If the Yankees were to sign Hanrahan, this could be a low-risk, high-reward move if he can come in and be effective for us right away.  But if not, then hey...  it's onto the next one.  I'm all for this move if the Yankees decide to go for it. Like the saying goes "You can never have too much pitching." This certainly applies to a team with a 'pen that is undergoing a serious makeover since Mariano's departure.

Stay tuned...

 
Rudy Laurens

BYB Writer

Facebook: House of Champions

  



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WHAT IS A LEADER?

noun

noun: leader; plural noun: leaders

 

1.

the person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country.

It's been several days since Derek Jeter's announcement about his retirement after the 2014 season. It was spine numbing news to hear. Not because it surprised me, but because we knew the day would finally come. One of the finest ambassadors to play this game and don the Yankees pinstripes will take his final bows this year. 

The dynasty of Jeter's 5 Yankees championships is now descending in the horizon. There are so many words that best fit Jeter when spoken about him. One of the first words is leader. It still sits at the top of the list. I looked up the meaning of the word "Leader". When Derek was named Captain of the New York Yankees back in 2003, it was the perfect fit.  There was no better person to give it to. He has fulfilled that role, and will be walking off as the longest tenured Captain since Roger Peckinpaugh who served 8 seasons back in 1914-1921.  

(In Photo: Roger Peckinpaugh)
Jeter represented and still represents the Yankees with nothing but the most earnest effort both on and off the field. Who else leads the charge from the Yankees dugout at the start of home games? 

That's right, it's DJ himself. He is there for players who need support. In 2009, he was there for Alex Rodriguez when he addressed the media about his use of banned substances during 2001-2003.  Why? Because that's what a leader does. He is there to provide moral support for his teammates, regardless of what the issue is. Who can forget his speech at the final game in 2008? 


Truly one of the finest moments to hear him speak and stand there in complete silence as we took in every word that night. For me, it was an epiphany. I have never been more proud to be a Yankee fan like I was that night. It was because of Derek. We need to consider ourselves truly fortunate to have witnessed not only one of baseball's greats to play at Yankees Stadium, but to witness a player who took charge of the players in the field and in the clubhouse and keep them rallied... no matter how tough the going was getting. 

Derek has truly exemplified what a captain is...it's never about himself.... it's always about his team first. We may never see the likes of it again in our lifetime, I believe that. 

Thank you for leading Yankees Universe Derek, you'll forever be my Captain.

-- Rudy Laurens, BYB Writer
Facebook: House of Champions
Twitter: @rlau75
 
 
 

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.