TO BE FOREVER YOUNG

As Addison Russell broke World Series Game 6 wide open with one swing of the bat, I said out loud, before Joe Buck did, I might add, "That kid is only 22-years-old and he just hit a grand slam home run in the World Series."  He is the second youngest player to hit a grand slam in the World Series.  The first?  Another young kid named Mickey Mantle back in 1953.

This Series is the most exciting one I have seen since 2009 and it brought back memories of another November 1st, which we as Yankee fans will never forget.

"Four minutes after midnight, when last night turned into this morning and the calendar changed to November and baseball was played beyond October for the first time, Derek Jeter homered into the right-field seats in the bottom of the 10th inning, lifting the Yankees to a 4-3 victory over Arizona in Game 4 of the World Series," reported the Daily News on November 1, 2001.  That was the day we deemed Derek Jeter, as Mr. November.  

Fast-forward to November 1, 2016, when the New York Yankees organization were given a new name, The Best Farm System in baseball.  "Best Farm System was one of 13 categories up for grabs in Minor League Baseball's fan-voted 2016 MiLBY Awards, and the Yankees amassed 39 percent of the votes in the category, more than double the 18 percent the second-place Seattle Mariners received," the YES Network reported.  The Scranton-Wilkes/Barre RailRiders is up for best team in the minor league system.  We will learn the recipient of this award this Friday.  

Forever Young is the walk-up song for the Cubs veteran catcher David Ross, who has been nothing but a fan favorite in Chicago and a valued addition to the young Cubs roster, who look up to the 39-year-old leader.  Perhaps it expresses the youthfulness of this Cubs team who have made some noise all season, leading them to the infamous Game 7 of the 2016 World Series tonight. 

According to MLB.com, "A walk-up song says a lot about the player as he strides to the plate. It reflects his personality, establishes his presence at the plate and, maybe, even inspires some baseball heroics. In other words, walk-up songs are not chosen lightly."  Forever Young provides insight into baseball's future in New York, as veteran players like Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez make room for younger guys like Greg Bird and Gary Sanchez.  

To be forever young is every player's dream and we have seen it play live in front of us this post season with the young teams of Cleveland and Chicago heading into the final game of the World Series.  To be forever young... soon, New York fans, soon.

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer
BYB Hot Stove Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof

THE GRASS ISN'T ALWAYS GREENER: PART 2

I recently wrote an article titled THE GRASS ISN'T ALWAYS GREENER regarding the Yankees’ - as well as some of their fans - habit of looking at what other teams have as being better.  My argument was that we have some in-house proven talent that can fit the holes we are looking to shore up if just given the chance.

Greg Bird, Luis Severino, Rob Refsnyder, and Slade Heathcott were examples of that last season.  To some extent, so was the recently departed (traded) John Ryan Murphy.  All came up through our organization and all were successful not only in the spring, but when given their opportunities in the Bronx; either via injury or just plain necessity.

It could be argued that only Severino was a planned introduction to the big leagues.

Those who do read my articles know my opinion of GM Brian Cashman’s idea on how to build a winning team.  He employs a strategy similar to that of the 1980’s George Steinbrenner; acquire once-proven veterans either via free agency or through trade – using the minor league system stars as bartering chips.

(In Photo: Jack Clark)
As I watch Cashman every off-season exercise a worn business model that yields 85 – 87 wins per season and only teases us with memories of players never to again see their peak, I can’t help but remember names like Jack Clark (signed in 1988 at age 32, hit .242 and was traded to Padres at end of season), Rick Rhoden (acquired in trade from Pittsburgh in 1987 at age 35 – for 24 year old Doug Drabek who would go on to win a Cy Young in 1990.

(In Photo: Doug Drabek)
Rhoden would go 28 – 22 with a 4.09 ERA and allow 42 HR in 2 seasons with Yankees), or Rafael Santana (30 year old shortstop acquired in trade from Mets, hit .240 in 1988 and then released the next season).  While only a small representative sample, they characterized Yankee clubs that averaged a little more than 82 wins per season and never finished above 4th place in the A.L. East.

(In Photo: Derek Jeter, 1996)
It wasn’t until young, home-grown players like Don Mattingly and Bernie Williams came onto the scene – to be followed by Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte – that the Bombers emerged from that “dark period” of their history.

Cashman’s line of thinking has only worked once over the past 15 seasons – in 2009 – and the club has played just one playoff game (last season’s loss to the Astros in the Wild card game) over the past three.  At what point does the recent success of the Royals and Giants - teams laden with young, home-grown stars given their chance on an everyday basis – finally sink in?

Lately, there have persistent rumblings about opportunities to fill second base (yet again) with either a position-transplant from another team (Castro of the Cubs – bumped from his starting spot at shortstop by Addison Russell, or a 30-something veteran (Kinsler from the Tigers).  These rumors persist seemingly oblivious to what the Yankees had in the Ackley / Refsnyder combo over the final crucial weeks of 2015.

 As I wrote in my first THE GRASS ISN'T ALWAYS GREENER article:

“Only, what they seem to overlook is that once Drew was out of the picture, the team’s forced reliance upon Dustin Ackley and Rob Refsnyder created a productive combo at second.  From September 16th (when Drew stopped playing on regular basis) until the end of the season, the two “replacements” for WHSBIYH (Worst Hitting Second Baseman In Yankees History) hit a combined .303 with 4 HR, 11 RBI and 6 runs scored.”

The Yankees went from ranking dead last at second base to top 5 at the position simply by going with what they had on hand to replace Drew.

My point of all of this is that, sure Kinsler might be an upgrade at second base, but not a significant one and he is an older player with a much larger contract to eat.  Castro is young, but he isn’t a natural second baseman (Refsnyder, long criticized regarding his fielding, actually had a higher fielding percentage at the position and had no errors down the stretch when the Yankees needed him the most), and he has a large contract to boot (8 year contract through 2019, $60 million).  We have more pressing issues at other positions (starting pitching in particular) than to worry about second base (now that the stiff Drew is gone).

My esteemed colleague, and BYB Founder, Robert Casey wrote articles about both Castro and Kinsler that are well worth their read (you can get them Here and Here).  Along with what I’ve said above, he makes the point that – in the words of Lloyd Dobler from the iconic movie “Say Anything” - “You…Must…Chill! “.  Look at what we already have and relax.

Stephen Drew can’t burn us anymore (unless “Dimwit” brings him back again, which I am certain he doesn’t want to bring that upon himself for another season) and we have capable hands already under contract to adequately represent the position. Let’s let Ackley and Refsnyder grow at second base.  They’ve given us a pretty nice glimpse into what they are capable of providing.  After all, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side – or in this case – with the other options.


    

--Steve Skinner, BYB Senior Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1


    

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YA'LL JUMPED IN ON THAT GARDNER-CASTRO RUMOR TOO SOON

I stand here right now very pleased with myself.  Today, when Twitter blew up because it was reported that the Yankees were interested in Starlin Castro of the Cubs for Brett Gardner... I gotta tell ya, I didn't buy it.  I don't know why... probably because it seemed too easy and clean.

And so I watched Twitter get nutty and watched folks get cranky in the process.  I even got a couple tweets about it. I merely suggested that everybody calm the F--- down.

@Yankees slowly are becoming in the worst #team in the @MLB by Trading Gardner your best player for Castro? No way José! @BleednYankeeBlu

— Roberto L Rodriguez (@lucas926) November 20, 2015

By the way, I'm not sure "No Way Jose" is actually politically correct these days.  Anyway...and so I waited. I mean look, I understand fan concern, but again, something didn't feel right.

And so, as I finally enter my home tonight after a long, hard day, I can happily report that I was right to not scurry to my computer and report falsely that the Yankees and Cubs were talking Castro for Gardner. Why? Well, because it appears to be crap.

According to MLB.com,

"the Yankees were not interested in such a deal but may consider Castro at another price...Castro, who turns 26 in late March, moved from shortstop to second base in early August to clear a starting spot for Addison Russell. Castro handled the switch to second well, and was ranked among baseball's best hitters in September, with a .369 average and 1.055 OPS."

While the Yankees like Castro, they don't like Castro for Gardner. And here's another thing, why not stay with what we have and keep Dustin Ackley and Rob Refsnyder to platoon at second base? Why would we be looking at Castro for that... we're covered there, aren't we?

The Yankees need a starting pitcher.   Castro is a nice piece, but a starting pitcher is the nicer piece this offseason.

And so, I'm glad I waited.  I really am.

We'll let you know if anything happens with Gardner OR Castro... or even Miller.  There's alot happening, huh?

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BYB HOT STOVE: VOLUME II

With all the big name free agent pitchers out there, the Yankees seemed to have taken a serious interest in Detroit Tigers' ace Max Scherzer.  According to Jon Heyman and the Yes Network, if there is one free agent pitcher the Yankees are seriously considering it is Scherzer.  For one he is the youngest of the trio of James Shields and Jon Lester at age 30 and he has an impeccable post season record.  Shields nor Lester have a Cy Young Award like Scherzer.  I for one have always liked Scherzer and I say if we are going to lay out some cash, let's go for him!

 Word on the street is that the Yankees will "test the waters" with Alex Rodriguez at first base. According to Buster Olney, Mark Teixeira did not make the list of best first basemen.  This is exciting news because perhaps now Chase Headley will be our starting third basemen, a place where he has excelled and showed a lot of talent and grit last season.  After the All Star Break, Headley raised his batting average more than 40 points.  Not only that, but he made the defensive plays of a Graig Nettles and Mike Schmidt.  We need him.  Sign, please!

Russell Martin is off to Toronto but guess who may be on the next plane?  The Blue Jays are on a spending spree again and this time they have their eye on Jon Lester.  "Toronto is one of the six teams in the market for southpaw Jon Lester,WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford reports." The Jays are also interested in Red Sox Andrew Miller who wants a four-year deal.  He could be their next closer as their current closer, Casey Janssen is likely on his way out.

According to ESPN, multiple teams are interested in Cardinals' Justin Masterson.  Among these teams are the Chicago Cubs.  Joe Maddon, the Cubs new manager, will be a good match for Masterson, but he will have to get in line next to or behind other contenders like the Giants, Braves, Twins and Red Sox.  The Yankees seem to not be interested.

And according to SNY, the Cubs are contenders for James Shields and possibly Cole Hamels for guys like Tommy La Stella and Starlin Castro and possibly "top shortstop prospects Addison Russell and Javier Baez, leading to speculating that they will eventually make a trade to acquire a starting pitcher."  The Mets could get into the mix too.  Stay tuned on this one.

Got some rumors?  Do share! Do share!

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer
Twitter: @suzieprof




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WHY BRANDON MCCARTHY MATTERS: BYB FANS SPEAK OUT

I love sharing all types of opinions on players and their ability and how the fans really feel!  After all, Bleeding Yankee Blue was build by fans, for fans and we take all sides here.  Mike O'Hara and I don't always agree on stuff, but we're tight and we share different opinion on BYB all the time.  Look at Mike and Jeana Bellezza and the Mark Teixeira saga. Suzie Pinstripe loves and believes in David Phelps as a Yankee starter, and for a while there, I loved Nuno. At the end of the day though BYB has a variety of opinions and it don't get better than what you read here.

Anyway, there have been some interesting thoughts on the new acquisition of Brandon McCarthy.  Some love him, some don't.  Me? I think he's got talent, I think we shouldn't have traded Vidal Nuno away for him and I think his wife is pretty cute, but I was shocked to see such wide spread opinions about McCarthy's abilities and the Yankees signing of him.

(In Photo: Amanda McCarthy)
When Steve Skinner wrote  HEY BRIAN, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE FOOLING? the other day, McCarthy was a hot topic.  I wanted to share some really good comments for all of you to check out. Enjoy this:

Dan wrote:

"I really don't understand how people are upset about this deal. Yes, McCarthy will not save the season, but Cashman gave up literally nothing for him and he is a marginal upgrade - every win counts. Sure, Nuno is 4 years younger than McCarthy (he'll turn 27 in a few weeks and McCarthy just turned 31 yesterday), but he has significantly worse stuff, has absolutely no track record in the majors, and hasn't really pitched better recently - if you've actually watched his last few starts, it's pretty obvious that he's been very lucky - a lot of hard hit balls right at defenders. Meanwhile, McCarthy it seems (if you look at all of the advanced metrics) has been pretty unlucky, and will hopefully get hot. 

Being younger doesn't necessarily mean being better - I'm younger than Brian Roberts (who, by the way, has an OPS over .700 which isn't bad for a 2nd baseman and has been crushing the ball recently), but I would probably strike out 500+  times a season in the majors. 

Also, perhaps most importantly, McCarthy pitches more innings per start that Nuno, which makes the trade worthwhile even if he pitches the same as he has all year, unless you want Adam Warren and Dellin Betances to miss the 2015 season because their arms fall off from being extremely overworked. 

(In Photo: Addison Russell)
I'm sure Cashman is still looking for other trades; yesterday he said that they were going really hard for both of the Cubs' pitchers, but simply could not compete with the A's headliner of Russell, which is totally true. Unfortunately, the Yankees can't trade prospects/players they don't have. And even if all Cashman does is make a bunch of smaller trades to make the Yankees be more competitive in the terrible AL East and hope that the team gets hot if they reach the playoffs, that's fine too - it means he's not sacrificing the future by trading away the few useful prospects the team actually does have."

Travis wrote:

"Have to disagree with this article. "Intelligent" Yankee fans know the team has nothing in their system they could package for Price.  Even Samardzija was sort of a long-shot. Hammel was more likely, and Cliff Lee if we wanted to eat the salary.

McCarthy's Sabremetric stats indicate he's been throwing better than his ERA says (3.79 FIP), plus there's always the age-old "change of scenery" benefit. He's moving to a contending team. Cashman isn't trying to fool anyone - he just has no one to deal.

(And let's be honest; Even if he made a deal for Price, Samardzija, or anyone else, fans would just overreact about Cashman "trading the future" for another "aging star" like always.)"

To Dan and to Travis... thank you for your comments!

God, I love my Bleeding Yankee Blue family!

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BRONX HEARTBREAK: SAMARDZIJA SHIPPED TO OAKLAND

If you know anything about Bleeding Yankee Blue, you know that we are yelling from the rooftops about our starting rotation and when we need to fix it!  We are underwhelmed with guys like Vidal Nuno for instance. Plus, with CC Sabathia now out for the season and Michael Pineda having setback after setback, we could use a big arm.  Now, actually!

We love Jeff Samardzija.  We wanted him in New York.  In fact, we just wrote FOUR PITCHERS THE YANKEES NEED TO CONSIDER RIGHT NOW. In that piece, we mentioned 2 reliable pitchers I would have definitely considered in Yankeeland... Samardzija and Jason Hammel. Both Cubs, both gamers... and now... both gone. Shipped to Oakland in a trade that literally just went down.

According to Matt Snyder of CBSSports.com, " The Oakland Athletics and Chicago Cubs have agreed on a deal that sends starting pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to Oakland... The centerpiece of the return to the Cubs is top-flight prospect Addison Russell. The Cubs are also getting starting pitcher Dan Straily and outfield prospect Billy McKinney in addition to a player to be named later."

Now I don't know if Yankee brass is dumb or just stupid, or, perhaps they just didn't have the prospects to get Samardzija to New York. But whatever the case, there had been NO indication the entire season that Cashman was willing to even move on a stud like Jeff.  All there was out there were rumors... Why? Why in the world didn't the Yankees go for it?  Were they interested? Could they have gotten him, but did they drag their feet instead?  I don't have the answers, but I am disappointed.

For me personally, it's a heartbreak.  Samardzija would have been a perfect fit in New York.  Now... he's an Athletic... and life goes on I guess.

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