BYB, PORTUGAL & CHRISTMAS TIME

We've gone the whole year. I actually expected a different outcome by this upcoming November. I thought we'd be World Series champs. I was wrong. Wishful thinking I guess.  

The good news is Bleeding Yankee Blue is popular... and when I say popular I don't mean "popular" like the football player in high school, but 20 years later, he's bagging groceries in the same town "popular". I mean we're relevant. We're noticed and we're part of your life. You look for us, you read us and you share us... Thank you.  I think the most important thing about BYB is we're not know-it-all. That's because we're not. We're not trying to be smarter than you, that's because we are you. We're fans. We care. We like our boys and we treat the game respectfully just like you.

BYB is spreading thanks to the fans. You won't believe this, but I got a picture from 2 readers from Portugal on vacation! I can tell you right now, that has never happened before. Unreal actually and I appreciate these good looking kids showing off BYB internationally.

The international vibe started last year when our friend David from England sent us a picture of himself.  We also had our buddies Charles and Joey Moses come all the way to the Big Apple from Australia to pick up their shirt order, directly from me. Read FROM THE BRONX, AUSTRALIA... WITH LOVE For that.

Bleeding Yankee Blue accomplished something big. It's bigger than money, it's friendships. It's bonding. It's family, the theme of 2013.

We appreciate our readers tremendously. Remember Becki? She stumped Jack Curry earlier this year when she told us about when she ran into Jack at the stadium and told him she reads BYB everyday. Check this out:

 I think it was around the 8th inning when I saw Jack appear in the 3rd base press box.  After I called for him twice, he turned around and I said “That was a great interview with Bleeding Yankee Blue you did awhile ago!”  He smiled and said "Thank you" and turned back around.   Then, he turned back to me with a big smile and jokingly asked me “You read that blog?”  I answered him immediately... “Everyday!”  He smiled again and gave me a thumbs up.

Read BYB HAS A FOLLOWING & JACK CURRY SEEMS SHOCKED. It's awesome and we love Curry here at BYB. 

We had a great moment with Clay Rapada this year. He took a picture in his BYB shirt for us. Ty Hensley, a BYB favorite, and Rob Segedin, a great dude in the Yankee farm system did too! We hope we see them in the bigs soon!

And of course Laura Posada posed in our shirt the first year. We love that! Many thanks! Now what are the chances we'll ever get to see Jorge and Laura in them together? Oh, who knows.

The point is, it's been a journey and it's safe to finally say... you like us and we love it!  I also just want to tell you that we have only a few shirts left, so if you want them for Christmas, a Christmas gift for someone special, we are selling them at the same discounted price of $10. Great price. Perfect stocking stuffer and do it now because they're are literally almost gone. 

Click HERE to buy. 

Because of our extremely limited supply, there is a chance your order request cannot be met. If that's the case, we will obviously credit you, but order now while supplies last and hopefully it will all work out.

Also, continue reading, continue sharing and we will continue to give you our all. We appreciate your loyalty and dedication. You make me smile every day. That's the truth. 

-Casey





The Bleeding Yankee Blue store is opened! CLICK HERE TO START SHOPPING! Also, follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue (Official) on Facebook, just type it in.

"I HAVE REALLY HAD IT!": A FAN'S TAKE

I have really had it.
 

Here is what I do know. I know that ARod has been kind to the fans. That's based on what I saw at Photo day a few years go. There were only a few players that were sincere and not hurrying through- he was one of them!  I’ve also heard a lot stories that outside of baseball, he takes time with the fans, more so than other players.

I know that in the 2010 Postseason, I’m still mad at him for sucking. Oh yeah... and the same goes for 2011!  I also know that he admitted to using PEDs nearly 10 years ago and he paid for it on different levels. A great example is the Fenway chant of "You use Steroids!"

I know that money can’t buy happiness.  I know that baseball is his job and it’s the only job ARod’s ever had. I know that if I lost mine, I’d be miserable.

Finally, I know this;  I know that is the evidence that’s been shown publicly in this Biogenesis mess is a piece of paper with hand written names on it. His is there and there are others as well.

Show me more evidence and I’ll be mad at him too for this…but not yet. For now, I will hope that his game has gotten better while he's been rehabbing and that he can help the Yankees.  Why?  Because God knows we need it!  I know that he’ll be wearing pinstripes and I will be supporting and cheering for him, not bashing him. 

I know that this is my opinion based on my heart and values. If you don't agree, you are entitled.  I just hope I don’t get bashed offering mine.




--Becki Leonard, BYB Guest Writer
Contributed to: BYB HAS A FOLLOWING & JACK CURRY SEEMS SHOCKED

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.

THE YANKEES SUCK? BUY A BYB SHIRT THEN...

This is Becki, a reader of Bleeding Yankee Blue and she was the one that opened Jack Curry's eyes and made him realize that BYB actually has a following.  Read BYB HAS A FOLLOWING & JACK CURRY SEEMS SHOCKED. For the record, we love Curry, we were just giving him jazz.  

Anyway... not to get off track, but the point is we have merchandise for you and when we put out our initial sales pitch in our HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! post, you jumped and made some great initial sales... for that, we are thankful. 

Bleeding Yankee Blue is the little engine that could.  We started this with nothing, you found us on Facebook and Twitter and slowly but surely, you came to us and brought your friends.  Now we want to wear us too!

So you're wondering... how do you do it? Well, it's easy.  Do what another one of our readers did.  Doug, above, simply went to the BYB STORE on the tab above, or better yet... if you want to buy right now, click HERE right now and buy what you want!

BYB is selling t-shirts for the 2013 season reading "Life... Love... Yankees", and if you want to buy last years shirts, "What's Your Blood Type?" You can do that too!  Below is David & Erin Robertson wearing those shirts.

You can also buy can & bottle Coolies... Those are going quickly, so if you'd like some click the BYB STORE soon, we're almost sold out of them.

My favorite though is the BYB wristbands above.  They are heavy duty and look slick on your wrist.

So do what we want you to do! WEAR BYB! Or, buy for a friend!  I received many emails from readers over the past year wondering when we were going to have merchandise for our readers. Well, we did it! So check out the store and find something you like! We appreciate your support.

Thank you so much.

The Bleeding Yankee Blue store is opened! CLICK HERE TO START SHOPPING! Also, follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue (Official) on Facebook, just type it in.

BYB HAS A FOLLOWING & JACK CURRY SEEMS SHOCKED

(In Photo: Jack Curry doing his thing... not actually being shocked)
Bleeding Yankee Blue is graced by the greatest readers in the world.  You always have your eyes opened and you are constantly emailing us with ideas, stories and notes of praise.  I get the hate mail too... I'm not sure why, it's not like we hate anyone on this end, but whatever.  The point is we started this website with me writing 1 story a day, usually a recap or a short opinion on a Yankee game and it's developed into appointment reading.  You look for us.  Why? Because we're fans like you. We don't try to prove to you that our opinion actually matters in the grand scheme of things, we just like to keep it "real" and make you think. And guess what? We know you might disagree and that's OK. Hey, you gotta love the dialog, plus we're interactive and we try and keep it light.  Let's face it, there too much craziness in our real world, at least come to BYB to escape, or laugh or whatever.

Overtime we've become relevant. It's no accident, when you guys read us, you pass it on to a friend, or you Retweet it... you've helped drive us and we're just the vehicle here. I have 1 thing to say to that... Thank you, I'm blessed and that extends to you AND to the greatest writers ever here at BYB. They are easy going, they know that I don't appreciate know-it-alls and finally... we all are fans... we're 1 big family.

 (In Photo: Becki Leonard)
So what's my point? This... a terrific note brought to you by a BYB fan (that sounds weird) Becki Leonard who wrote me this email on May 1st... yesterday:

"Hey BYB-

I just wanted to share a quick story from last night’s game where I was not only lucky enough to have my seats upgraded to Legends (Seriously- Lobster at Yankee Stadium!), but I also got to share a little exchange with none other than YES Networks' Jack Curry!

I think it was around the 8th inning when I saw Jack appear in the 3rd base press box.  After I called for him twice, he turned around and I said “That was a great interview with Bleeding Yankee Blue you did awhile ago!”  He smiled and said "Thank you" and turned back around.   Then, he turned back to me with a big smile and jokingly asked me “You read that blog?”  I answered him immediately... “Everyday!”  He smiled again and gave me a thumbs up.

Along with getting to see #42 Mariano Rivera come in and finish the game for Save #10, that little exchange with Jack Curry and sharing my love for Bleeding Yankee Blue made my night and it's something I'll never forget!  Thanks for all the great posts you guys write!  Keep up the great, amazing work!"

What a sweetheart and I laughed out loud when I read that.  It's amazing how the power of social networks have changed the world of journalism.  I'm no journalist, I'm a dad, but I know how important it is to have a source to a story and at least give an opinion if you have one.  I learned from the best and I often mention guys like Ken Davidoff or Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record, who, truth be told, I don't go out drinking with, but I know if I wanted to grab a beer and pick his brain, I'm sure it would doable. 

And there was one other guy I read a lot back in the day and I continue to follow his career still to this day... that's Jack Curry. He, along with the others do it very well, many times better than the others.  Was Jack Curry "shocked" to hear that Bleeding Yankee Blue was being read? Maybe, but I would almost hope he's giving BYB alittle "atta boy" with that thumbs up. After all, it's guys like him that got me interested in doing this website in the first place. And while it may not be perfect... it's mine and we have you guys to read us every day, root us on and give your thoughts like we do to you... every single day.

Becki, your story made my day and Jack... check us out! Be proud and hey, read us!  We don't just rant anymore. We report, we create... we make the reader's smile... and yes, people actually read us, that's no lie... it's true. It's really true!!

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.