WHO'S READY FOR SOME BASEBALL!

I am so ready for baseball. I get like this every year. I don't count the days to spring training until after the Superbowl. Then it gets intense. I survived the Blizzard of 2016. There's snow on the ground. There's more snow in the forecast. I'm sick of snow. I'm ready to trade my boots in for the crack of the bat, the whistle of a line drive, and the pop in the glove.

There's something about baseball that just feels right, that brings everything into focus and alignment. I love the Yankees, but the love of baseball became even more real to me this past September when I got to catch a Giants game at AT&t Park in San Francisco. I was there for a business conference, and thanks to some good friends, I was able to sit in one of the luxury boxes for the game. It was an amazing night.

Since it was not in New York, it was only natural to be surrounded by people who were not Yankees fans. I got to meet some great baseball fans. I met Pat, a marketing director from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and an ardent Red Sox fan. It didn't take long to get into the debate. By that point in the season, the Red Sox were in last place and well behind the pack, but it didn't stop the die-hards. Arguments about the rookies coming up, who was going to pan out. We both lamented prior off season acquisitions that went bust. It was a good baseball conversation watching a good game.

Then there was Jim, who was a techie like me, and also a blogger for a site supporting his hometown Chicago Cubs. We swapped some stories and analyses on our respective teams' chances of making the playoffs, with only a couple of weeks of regular season left to go. Unlike the Red Sox (sorry, Pat), our teams were still in the hunt for the wild card. This Giants game was more meaningful to Jim than me, if only because the Giants were one of the teams still making a run for the NL wild card. But it was great talking about each others' players, and just talking baseball.

The game itself was pretty dramatic. The Giants were playing the Reds, and even though the Reds were out of it, the Giants still had a shot. Besides, the Giants were the defending World Series Champions, so they had some pride on the line. The Reds jumped out to a 3-0 lead early, only to cough it up a few innings later. After the Giants took a 5-3 lead after 6, the Reds blew it wide open with a huge 5-run 7th. Still the Giants kept inching back until the ninth inning when they were down 8-6. Aroldis Chapman (who knew?) came in to close and Angel Pagan led off with a double. One out later Matt Duffy singled him in. Then hometown hero Buster Posey came to the plate. I'm not even a fan and I could feel the excitement in the ballpark. I joined in the cheers as he singled in the tying run. Even though it wasn't meant to be - the Reds' Todd Frazier led off the tenth with a home run which ended up being the game winner - it was a great night of baseball. (Big thanks to Doug and Phoebe for making it happen!)

Which brings me back to today. I'm sick of snow, and political races, and everything else on TV right now besides baseball. As of Superbowl kickoff time, it will be just under 11 days until pitchers and catchers have to report. Less than 2 weeks after that, they play their first spring training game. I want to see 9 guys in Yankees pinstripes take the field. I want to see a pitcher toe the rubber and begin his wind-up. I want to hear the crack of the bat and the whoosh of a slide from the infield dirt. It's long overdue.

Lemme hear it: PLAY BALL!

--Ike Dimitriadis, 
BYB Senior Staff Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon






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BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE PLAYER TRACKER #14

Brian Wilson: The Beard was ticked off that the San Francisco Giants non-tendered him and according to Hank Schulman of the San Francsico Chronicle, he's told plenty that he's not going to re-sign with the Giants. Read HERE. Jim Bowden of ESPN says Wilson is interested in the Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels and Giants, HERE.

Geovany Soto: Maybe the Yankees would consider Soto as a catching option.  He had a lousy season in 2012 but is a stable catcher.  There are plenty of teams that are looking for catching help. Keep an eye on Soto.

Brandon McCarthy:  Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic says that the Arizona Diamondbacks are interested in McCarthy. Read about that HERE.

Scott Kazmir: It's been a long time since Kazmir pitched in the pros (2011) and he is currently pitching in winter ball.  There are teams interested in the lefty, according to Buster Olney HERE. I believe, and I've always said this, that Kazmir should reinvent himself as a lefty specialist and not a starter, read WHY THE YANKEES ARMS RACE HAS STARTED from 2011. I feel as though his starting days are over in my opinion, even though he's only 28.

Mark Reynolds: Reynolds hit 23 homers this year. He strikes out a lot but had been clutch fro the Orioles. He plays first base as well as 3rd.  Option for the Yanks? I say no thanks, I hate high strikeouts and Curtis Granderson is the leading offender on the Yanks right now. We don't need another.

Angel Pagan: Buster Olney says that the Philadelphia Phillies are looking at Pagan and are about to "go hard." Read about that HERE.

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.

BYB TRADE RUMORS & FREE AGENTS: PART 2

Put a fork in it, the 2012 season is over. Instead of focusing on what could have been, it’s now time to look at what 2013 could be. Sure, we miss watching our Yankees here at BYB but when we can’t watch, we imagine and we make predictions which can help pass the time until spring comes back. Be sure to read our first Trades and Rumors installment titled BYB TRADE RUMORS & FREE AGENTS: PART 1

Here are some more names we are keeping tabs on:

Angel Pagan:  Pagan is sitting pretty right now. Not only is he relishing with his World Series Championship, but he may have a lot of opportunities out there. We haven’t heard him be tied to the Yankees yet….but I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens at some point, especially if the Yankees want to part ways with Curtis Granderson eventually. This could be the best shot he has in landing a multi year deal. I am sure the Giants want him back, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he declines. We will watch this one, it is a mutual fit.

 AJ Pierzynski:  In the event that Russell Martin does not come back, AJ is an interesting option. He knows how to perform under pressure, and is championship proven so he knows how to win. He also makes left handed pitchers sweat a little and he has power. He hit a career high 27 home runs this year, so he could do damage in Yankee stadium.  He would be a cheaper alternative to say another popular name of Mike Napoli, who will surely be looking for a big deal. Both names are possible if Russell Martin isn’t back in pinstripes next year.

Jeff Keppinger:  Yes, you read that correctly. The Yankees are a perfect fit for him, theoretically. To be realistic, Alex Rodriguez probably won’t give the Yankees 130+ games next season. Even if he did, some of those days are going to be in a DH role and that leaves a vacancy at third base. If Eric Chavez doesn’t come back, he could fill that role. Keppinger is known for hitting left handed pitching, he had a .376BA this season but he can also hit righties (.303BA) which could come in handy if the Yankees need to sit Alex Rodriguez out for a night or two. He is also a good hitter, tough to strike out and can be used all over the infield except for shortstop. He has also played in the AL East when he was with Tampa Bay so could make him an even better fit. Read another BYB theory about 3rd base as well, read our piece titled IF YOU COULD LAND KEVIN YOUKILIS, WOULD YOU? I know what you're thinking... Yuk!

Shohei Otani:  WHO?! You may be asking that….and after you read this, prepare to do some extra Google researching. Otani is an 18-year old Japanese phenomenon from Japan. He is a starting pitcher that features a strong fastball that he can throw between 95-100 mph. He also has a good slider and a curve ball with good movement. Several teams will be interested in Otani because he is strictly a free agent who has not played in Japan yet. He is free to play with any team he chooses and there would not be a posting fee to get him here. Some people may still be recovering from the Kei Igawa backfire, but Yu Darvish proves that not all Japanese pitchers are a bust.

This is just the start of a busy off season and we will have all of the news…bring on the rumor mill!

--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Writer and Editor

Twitter: @NyPrincessJ


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.