A POSSIBLE MACHADO ALTERNATIVE HAS EMERGED

In case you missed it, Manny Machado is on his way to the Bronx for his interview on Wednesday, read more HERE. Yeah, I am calling it an interview. He's got a lot of explaining to do with  his "Johnny Hustle" comment and he's going to have to convince the Yankees that he isn't the dirty player some perceive him to be.

I'm glad the Yankees aren't blindsided by their intrigue with Machado. He's a shiny new toy many teams would like to have, but they have to have more than just a "Plan A" on board. The Yankees shouldn't be caught with their pants down if Machado doesn't sign with us. I'm glad there is talk of a "Plan B" even if it isn't as flashy and that plan could be Freddy Galvis, maybe.

According to the New York Post HERE, the Yankees could make a run for Galvis but they aren't the only interested suitors. He has a lot of attributes that the Yankees could benefit from while they wait for Didi Gregorius to return sometime between June and August. He is versatile, he can play second, shortstop or third base but the Yankees are likely drawn to his 655 games played at shortstop. He's a good defensive infielder and he's also a switch hitter with some pop in his bat. He's got some nice positives there....but there is one area of concern to consider...

Galvis doesn't fit the Yankees ideal mold for a hitter with his career on base percentage of .290. No player is perfect, right? But is that enough of a concern that the Yankees decide to look at other "Plan B" alternatives? Maybe not. There are other candidates out there, namely Alcides Escobar and Adeiny Hechavarria but they finish first and second respectively for worst OPS amongst active players.

Adding Galvis to play shortstop until Didi comes back would strengthen the infield. This should continue to be an important element for the Yankees until Didi returns, especially with the defensive concerns they have with Miguel Andujar at third base. Considering the alternatives to Machado, Galvis may be the best option.

Some of Yankeeland is "all-in" for Machado and let's face it....no other free agent comes close to his appeal. Whether you are in on Machado or Galvis or neither, the Yankees should continue to be smart and look at this from all possible angles. I guess we will know more about any Machado plans or "Plan B's" after Wednesday.

Stay tuned.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

IT'S ALL OR NOTHING

Source: Getty Images North America

The Yankees gave it everything they had...I think.  The 16-1 game on Tuesday night just about killed me.  I saw a manager give up; not thinking there was anything to salvage and placing everything on a good showing at the elimination game last night.  That strategy back fired on the 2018 Yankees and we as fans were disappointed with a 4-3 loss to the Red Sox closing out the American League Division Series and the 2018 Major League Baseball Season for the New York Yankees.

Source: Getty Images

Among the disappointments in this series against our division rival Red Sox are Giancarlo Stanton, Gleyber Torres, Gary Sanchez and Luis Severino.  No excuses.  They just were not able to perform.  I can give Torres a pass as a rookie but the others, I am sorry, there are no excuses (including what time is game time in Game 3: Sevy, consult a schedule for God's sake).  According to MLB.com, "While the players disperse for the offseason -- and in the case of the team's nine potential free agents, possibly longer than that -- and the final four teams vie for the World Series crown, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman will hold his organizational meetings to formulate a plan for the offseason."

Source: Getty Images North America

It is very likely that all of the players who disappointed us will be back for more next year, "but guys like Lance Lynn, Adeiny Hechavarria and Neil Walker aren't likely to figure prominently in the offseason plans," reports MLB.com.  Recall the poor management decision to put Lynn into a game three that turned into the biggest nightmare for the Yankees, leading into last night's sense of urgency that wasn't. And that is the kind of style of play we saw the Yankees demonstrate throughout the ALDS Series.  Boone seems to personify this kind of blahsay attitude for the team, which likely rubs off on them on the field.

Source: AP

Here is what leaves me shaking my head:  Why was rookie of the year candidate Miguel Andujar sitting the bench in this Game 4?  Why would you allow Neil Walker come up to the plate with the bases loaded in the 9th inning and not pinch hit the rookie sensation?  "It was more CC and Porcello on the mound,’’ Boone said. “We loved that matchup. It’s probably how we would have done it even a few days ago,” reported the NY Post.  I wish Boone would just pay attention to more than stats and even stand up for himself against Cashman.  Sure, Andujar could be a better third baseman and I think he could be, eventually, but what he did this season, exceeding our expectations was worth the chance of his bat instead of Walker's in the lineup last night.  Or how about this?  Sit Stanton.  Now that is an idea.  And one more thing...just about last night...why didn't Aaron Judge leap for that Christian Vazquez home run like we have seen him do time and time again in that short porch, his short porch in right field?  Not sure I understand what happened there.

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

Fans told me to not write a sappy post today about this being a successful year.  Okay, it's not sappy, but we did earn 100 wins, break the regular season home run record and put up a potential rookie of the year for the second year in a row.  Aaron Boone rolled the dice since coming back to NY for a series gone bad.  And his hunches were way off base.  Next steps, regroup, retool and refine.  Could Sevy and Sanchez be gone? Andujar? Gregorius? Clearly, we need to make a change.  Maybe the change is the manager who seems to have no grit or sense of urgency.  We have several months to speculate.

Source: The YES Network

The Winter Meetings are in Las Vegas on December 9th, just under two months from today.  Here's hoping we can fix this thing and by the way, I need to change my lock screen, "Chase for 28" for a while as I get over these horrible two days of Yankee mayhem.  I know it's not the best news of the day, but it's not sappy, it's real, which is what we are about here at BYB.  Looking forward to further discussion and interesting perspectives during a long hard off season.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

GOOD NEWS FOR DIDI!

It may not be a disaster for Didi Gregorius after all!

Photo: Getty Images

Didi suffered a cartilage tear in his right wrist as he slid into home plate in Saturday's game against the Orioles. He received a cortisone shot on Sunday and then it was a nervous game of "wait and see" on Didi's bad wrist. Cartilage tears suck, and the idea of losing Didi for the postseason sucks even more.

But luckily it sounds like that Cortisone shot may have been just the trick to get Didi back in action. According to multiple sources, Didi was cleared to resume baseball activities after a doctor evaluation yesterday. That news couldn't come at a better time.

Hopefully Aaron Boone is right, and he will be able to play in the final regular season series this weekend in Boston. I'm sure if the Yankees and Didi weren't confident with the doctor evaluations then they wouldn't have Didi participating in pregame infield drills, hitting off a tee or taking soft toss pitches from a coach. It's baby steps....but it's something.

Photo: Getty Images

As relieved as I am that the Yankees have options at shortstop none of them match up to Didi. Entering yesterday's games the Yankees had a 2 1/2 game lead for the A's for home-field advantage in the Wild Card game so the Yankees aren't out of the woods yet. The series in Boston will be a challenge, I wish we were home. We need the best lineup possible and that would include Didi over a fill-in like Adeiny Hechavarria who just doesn't have Didi's offense.

It's unclear exactly when Didi will return to game action, but at least there is confidence that he will be back before next week's important playoff game. I can't imagine a sudden death playoff game without him...and I don't want to.

It's good news all around! I will take it!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @Nyprincessj 

DIDI DISASTER! MAY BE DONE FOR THE YEAR.

Photo: Getty Images

It was a bad day in the Bronx. Last home game of the season and the Yankees looked really bad. Not a great feeling for the last game, but at least we know the Yankees are playing in the postseason. Hopefully they get home field advantage too but regardless of where the Yankees may play the wild card game they just might have to do it without Didi Gregorius.

After the Orioles dropped a bombshell on the Yankees yesterday, Aaron Boone broke his own bad news - Didi is hurt again. We just got him back but now he tore cartilage in his wrist on a slide into home plate on Saturday. That injury could sideline him for the remainder of the year. Yeah, what was already bad news just got worse.

Photo: Getty Images

So now what do the Yankees do if they have lost Didi for the rest of the season? The Yankees have two options here:

1. Move Gleyber Torres to shortstop, then move Ronald Torreyes or Neil Walker to second.

It's not unreasonable, the Yankees went with this alignment in August, but that was before the Yankees acquired Adeiny Hechavarria.

2. Use Adeiny Hechavarria at shortstop.

The Yankees may be more likely to go with this option simply because of their move to get him last month. He is an above average fielder, but offers little offensively. He's no worse than what Walker or Torreyes have done offensively, but I have to say I am biased to Torreyes because he's had some great moments for us this season. We'll see how the Yankees decide here.

Photo: Getty Images

Or maybe....just maybe we will get lucky and Didi will recover fast enough to play in the Wild Card game. That would be the best case scenario in an already stressful race for home field advantage. Let's cross our fingers and hope that Didi is back in time. He is a huge part of the team and makes the Yankee lineup stronger.

Rest up Didi, we need ya man.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @Nyprincessj

YANKS JUST SIGNED ANOTHER GUY TOO!

Photo: Getty Images

Adeiny Hechavarria is a New York Yankee. That comes from the Yankees PR Department who put this out:

The @Yankees have acquired SS Adeiny Hechavarria and cash considerations from Pittsburgh in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. To make room on the 40-man roster, the @Yankees have designated LHP Ryan Bollinger for assignment.

— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) September 1, 2018

It was a nice last minute waiver move and as you can see, Ryan Bollinger is gone, but I was kind of hoping it would be Jonathan Holder. I'm not a fan.

Photo: Getty Images

Bucs Dugout writes:

"...it seems the Pirates are at long last clearing the decks for the younger players. This raises some question about why they acquired Hechavarria in the first place, but whatever, they can move on now. "

Pirates also got rid of David Freese who went to the Dodgers.

Anyway, Hechavarria is a nice addition.  That is all.

Happy Saturday everyone.

BLUE JAYS GET MOTHERLOAD IN TRADE WITH MARLINS

It appears the the Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins have made a trade that is being reported to be EPIC.

The names involved are Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Emilio Bonifacio and John Buck. According to Jon Morosi and Ken Rosenthal, the Marlins "will receive a package that includes shortstops Yunel Escobar and Adeiny Hechavarria, major-league right-hander Henderson Alvarez, minor-league left-hander Justin Nicolino, center fielder Jacob Marisnick, catcher Jeff Mathis and minor league right-hander Anthony DeSclafani." They also reported that "One source said starter Ricky Nolasco could be the next Marlins player dealt." If I'm the Yankees, I'm giving the Marlins a call on Nolasco.  Anyway, you can read all about it HERE.

Huge trade and I'm sure there will be plenty of reaction tomorrow, but we wanted to fill you in tonight.  The Blue Jays have some immediate help and I believe will be more effective in the American League eastern Division with guys like Reyes and Johnson.  It's got to be disappointing to the Marlins fans who had high hopes last season, only to now be slowly picked apart.  What a disaster down there.  

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IT'S GETTING LATE EARLY

It has almost become a cliché at this point. The Yankees HAVE to win every game. Nobody thinks it is acceptable to have to play a one-game playoff for the wild card spot. With only five games to go, the Yankees could ill afford to lose a game on blown opportunities, yet, it was exactly what happened.

Things looked hopeful at the start, as the Yankee offense came out firing. Derek Jeter and Ichiro Suzuki hit back-to-back singles and Alex Rodriguez walked to load the bases. Robinson Cano got a sacrifice fly for the first run. After a Nick Swisher single re-loaded the bases, Curtis Granderson hit a sacrifice fly for the second run. For the second straight game, the Yankees gave their starter a 2-0 lead before they took the ball.

Andy Pettitte had a good performance, but he did not look as good as he did in his last two starts. We knew that Andy Pettitte would not stay perfect forever. So when he gave up that home run to Rajai Davis, allowing his first run since returning from the DL, we realized that Andy is human. Still, he was able to keep things manageable and the score close.

In the top of the third, the Yankees continued to take advantage of Ricky Romero's ineffectiveness. Alex Rodriguez led off with a walk, Robinson Cano reached on an infield single, and Nick Swisher hit a hard shot off Hechavarria's glove for a single. With the bases loaded, the Yankees failed to take advantage. They would end up regretting it. Curtis Granderson popped out, Andruw Jones struck out, and Eduardo Nunez lined out to the second baseman. To Nunez' credit, that hit should have brought in a couple of runs, but Hechavarria made an excellent grab to catch the liner.

Joba Chamberlain came in to relieve Andy Pettitte with two outs and men on first and third in the bottom of the sixth. He dodged a bullet, thanks to the continued bad base running by Toronto. Adeiny Hechavarria hit one to the wall for a double and gave the Blue Jays a 3-2 lead. However, Yan Gomes strayed too far from third base, and was thrown out on a laser from Nick Swisher, killing the momentum for the Jays. Joba came out for the seventh and struck out the side, which included the first putout of Rajai Davis in three days.

Alex Rodriguez' struggles showed in today's game. ARod had not driven in a run in 9 games. In the first, he actually showed bunt with men on first and second. We're not sure if he actually intended to bunt, but it may have shown his frustration in trying to bring runners in. When the game ended, his streak would stand at 10 games without an RBI. Still, he showed some good discipline and focus at the plate, as he walked in his first two plate appearances. He also gets an honorable mention for snagging a line drive in the 8th inning that he turned into a double play, ending a threat.

On a side note, Yunel Escobar is showing an incredible lack of desire to play. There was the shot from Robinson Cano in the fifth that he just did not pick up. There were a couple of potential double plays that he just did not bother to throw to first. We know it's September, and they're not playing for anything, and being booed by the home crowd on his return from suspension couldn't have helped. Still, you would think his own personal pride would make him want to do his best.

The silver lining is hard to find, but here it is. In his third start since the DL, Andy Pettitte showed that he is still on track to play a key role in the Yankees post-season rotation. If the Yankees lose the division, he is in line to start the wild card elimination game. He threw 94 pitches over 5 2/3 innings, struck out four, and gave up three earned runs on five hits and three walks.

The fact that the Yankees cannot score with runners in scoring position is killing this team. They were 2 for 11 with RISP. Nick Swisher was 2 for 2, and the rest of the team was 0 for 9. They left 10 men on base - 5 of them in scoring position. Four times an inning ended with men in scoring position. Losing such important games in this fashion is something we may look back on and say "what if" for the entire winter. They have four games to turn this around, and then they have to keep it going through October. Let's hope they do.

Final Score:  Blue Jays 3, Yankees 2

Finally, I am sure Casey will have a harsh commentary about the way the Yankees have been playing and their lack of drive, especially when there are runners in scoring position.  Look for it, I can almost guarantee it.

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon

My blog is: Shots from Murderer's Row

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.