FROM "A GREAT OFF-SEASON" TO "DOUBT"

Thanks again Joel Sherman for starting my week off wrong...

Joel Sherman put a piece together yesterday in the New York Post to state that while the Yankees spent alot of money this off-season bettering their club, they also signed a bunch of guys that have had injury filled pasts.  OK then... thanks for starting my Monday off right. That's sarcasm for anyone that didn't get that.

Sherman writes:

"... They have areas of real fragility and little in the way of strong second-tier options. In 2013, as they used a franchise-record 56 players, that meant fire-drill acquisitions of underwhelming players such as Ben Francisco, Lyle Overbay and Vernon Wells, and too many at-bats ultimately for lightweights such as David Adams, Reid Brignac and Luis Cruz. 

It was “The Day After Tomorrow” as age, lack of emphasis on the bench and a woeful farm system finally caught up with the Yankees, leading to a playoff-less season.

Well, “The Day After Tomorrow 2” is in pre-production."

Why the Yankees let this guy into their facility is beyond me.  I mean, yes, Sherman's doing his job and he has the right to criticize all he wants. I mean, even us fans know that the idea of some of these guys on our payroll is "rolling the dice", like a Jacoby Ellsbury for instance, but what Sherman is failing to understand is "What happens if we didn't do anything?" or better yet, "Who else is out there?"  I don't mind criticism if you write about the Yanks and their "bad moves" as he's suggesting, but here's an idea, if you criticize, have a suggestion on what you would have done better. I mean, there is never a good suggestion box when it comes to Sherman. He just spews out annoying columns to get Yankee fans riled up... and for what? To sell papers? Stop already.

(In Photo: Zoilo Almonte)
We here at Bleeding Yankee Blue have offered our own backup plans, like slowly sprinkle the kids in. Slowly bring up guys like Tyler Austin or Zoilo Almonte and get them prepped for the Bigs.  But Sherman even slams the Yankees minor league system writing:

"... the farm system still isn’t ready to help much, the depth remains iffy and the frontline is brittle enough to suggest the Yankees are going to need way more than 15 really good players, even if the plague doesn’t hit again to cause the need for 56."

You know what Joel? That's what the minors leagues is for... let the kids develop and you know what, every once in a while you throw a kid a bone.   Look at the Core Four. Look at Bernie Williams, All started out slow and all developed into superstars over time.  But that's what we need... time, not criticism every time we open your column bro.

And in the future, make a solid suggestion. What's your plan... these guys that you wrote about?

"...they were outbid on Jhonny Peralta and Omar Infante, and tried hard to acquire Logan Forsythe from the Padres, who was instead dealt to Tampa."

Hmm. It seems like those suggestions are like 2013 all over again. It also seems like you're contradicting yourself.  Plus, are we really gonna give a guy like Peralta a shot? He's dabbled in PEDs just like Alex Rodriguez. You know, the guy you rip for being a liar?  What's the difference between Jhonny and Alex? 

Sure Omar makes sense, but it was clear the Yankees wanted cheaper and so they went Brian Roberts.  After all, they were saving what they could to get Masahiro Tanaka at that point. Look, what's to say Omar doesn't get hurt this season? What's to say Brian Roberts doesn't have a great season? We don't know. The Yanks made moves based on what they thought was right.

Here's a good idea for your next column... Write about what you would have done if you were the Yankees and don't give me guys that have already been signed... really think!  It appears that what the Yankees did was pretty significant this off-season, many of us believe that. And while the future doesn't look bright in the minor leagues as you suggest... don't tell those kids that, because they don't believe it for 1 second.   I know them... they want it more than anyone, they just want a chance.

Dear Yankees... ignore the haters... go win in 2014!

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WELL, THAT WAS FAST!

(In photo: David Huff)
To activate Joba Chamberlain from the disabled list, the Yankees needed to free up a roster spot.  To free up a roster spot, it makes sense that they would look for a guy who is just sucking the life out of the team, or look for a roster guy that just showed up to be DFA'd.  Naturally,  Ben Francisco was already DFA'd, read HERE, so it had to be someone else.  That "someone else" was David Huff who was signed over the weekend. 

Jack Curry of YES has that story HERE.

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YANKEELAND REJOICES... BEN FRANCISCO DFA'D

It's really unfair to verbally abuse Ben Francisco as bad as Yankee fans have this season.  He made the club fair and square, yet he's really done nothing, but to bash the guy continually is just wrong.  That being said, when I read that the Yankees designated him for assignment... I wasn't exactly sad.  That's a spot we could free up.  Well, apparently that's happened.

According to Lou DiPietro of the YES Network.com (HERE), the Yankees have signed lefthanded pitcher David Huff and to do that they had to unload someone.  It was Ben Francisco's turn.  According to DiPietro: "Francisco, 31, was signed midway through Spring Training to be a right-handed hitting complement to an all-lefty outfield, but he hit just .114 with one home run and one RBI in 50 plate appearances...His spot on the 25-man roster was taken by Huff, who was claimed off waivers from Cleveland on Saturday...

(In Photo: Francisco Rondon)
LHP Francisco Rondon was designated for assignment on Saturday to open up a 40-man roster spot for Huff, the team does now have an open spot on the 40-man thanks to Francisco's departure. With the move, the Yankees are carrying a 13-man pitching staff for the time being."

There you go, moves are happening and now we wait and see what happens next.

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SPLITTING GOOSE EGGS

So the Yankees played the Indians in a "old school" double header today.  In the first game, there isn't much to tell other than the Yankees were shut out and lost 1-0 by a very good Justin Masterson. David Phelps pitched for the Yankees and gave up 1 home run in the first inning to Jason Kipnis.  He struggled in the 7th but not another run was given up that game by Yankee pitching.  In the end, the Yankees didn't hit Masterson who pitched the complete game shut out. 

The highlight for the Yankees had to be Corban Joseph who played a real good first base. I was impressed.

Final for Game 1: Indians 1 - Yankees 0.

The Yankees pounced in the second game today.

Vidal Nuno started and how sweet it was.  He went 5 innings and gave up only 3 hits, zero runs. Adam Warren pitched the next 4 innings and got the Save.

Austin Romine doubled in the 7th and Corban Joseph scored.  Alittle bit later Jayson Nix singled and Romine scored. Vernon Wells hit and Brett Gardner scored and then the mighty Lyle Overbay doubled and Wells scored. Oh yeah and Ben Francisco reached on an error and that's when Overbay scored. Again, this all happened in the 7th.

It was a good attack today by the Yanks and in the end, alot of the kids got a shot in Game 2. It was nice to see.  A shut out by the Yanks to match the Indians shut out earlier in the day.

Final for game 2: Yankees 7 - Indians 0.  

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JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE...

Another win for the Yankees last night.  I have to say, I'm starting to get used to this. 

First off, don't look now, but Ichiro Suzuki is hitting and I love him in the lead off spot.  Having his there can really get a team moving, I don't care if he's 39 or 49... it's Ichiro...think about it.

2 more hits last night and his average is up to .279.

The big story is David Phelps. Sure, it's great that the Yankees have 3 decent starters, but all us fans want 4 or 5 decent starters.  Phelps last night went 5.2 innings innings, allowed 8 hits and 4 runs. He struck out 5. Not awesome, but I'm happy with him and he can only get better.

 Home runs last night by Robinson Cano and Ben Francisco of all people.  I mean, Francisco is getting alot of heat for just sucking the life out of that roster spot, but he knew his role last night and helped out nicely.

The smartest play of the night was Lyle Overbay who stalled on a double play long enough for Eduardo Nunez to score and the Yankees grabbed the lead in the 6th inning. Once that happened, the bullpen boys came in and once again, Mariano Rivera shut the door for save #11.

Very nice win for our guys last night.

Final: Yankees 5 - Astros 4.

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DITCH BEN FRANCISCO FOR RONNIER MUSTELIER

There... I said it.  In this world of Yankee injury, something needs to be done.  Let's do what we've wanted to do for months here, as fans.  Let's bring up the kids and get alittle energy going!

This post will be short and simple.  I want action. You need to wonder when Kevin Youkilis will now be officially back.  We only have 3 outfielders.  Derek Jeter's out. Mark Teixeira is out.  Curtis Granderson is at least 2 weeks away.  Francisco Cervelli broke a hand.  Ivan Nova has elbow soreness and Alex Rodriguez is somewhere on an island healing.  In other words, we are falling apart.

Top that off with Ben Francsico, who's batting .103 and compare that to Ronnier Mustelier, who dazzled everyone in Spring Training and why is this so difficult to understand? Or, here's an idea.  Bring up Thomas Neal? Sure, he's not a household name, but either is Ben Francisco, you know what I mean? Plus, Mustelier can play the outfield and third base.

I'm sure Francisco is a nice guy and he's made a noble effort, but he's not cutting it, not like the others at least and with all the injuries, a change is needed... it's just my opinion and the opinion of many of the other Yankee fans as well.

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BRONX HOMER SHOW IN TORONTO!

The Bronx Bombers showed up to play. Last night's game was the perfect example of our guys stepping up to the plate for a win.

Hiroki Kuroda started out shaky through the first two. He gave up a two run homer in the first to Edwin Encarnacion, and solo homer to Brett Lawrie in the second. He calmed down considerably after that, and the Blue Jays didn't score again for the rest of the game.

Vernon Wells got the party started for the Yankees in the second with a solo homer. Robinson Cano came up big in the third with a three run homer to put the Yankees in the lead. Not to be out done, Francisco Cervelli hit his own solo homer to secure the lead.

Very strange moment on the field when Ben Francisco was called out by the first base umpire, only to return to the field when the crew chief ruled that Encarnacion bobbled the ball. It got Blue Jays manager John Gibbons, ejected from the game.

The final score:Yankees 5 - Blue Jays 3
 

--Erica Morales, BYB Writer
Twitter: @e_morales1804

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PRONK YOU! YANKEES WIN!

Who do you give credit to? Joe Girardi for choosing Travis Hafner to pinch hit for Ben Francisco and homering, or Travis Hafner for doing his only job for the Yankees... crank out homers and doing it tonight to win the game? No one will pick Girardi. Hafner is the hero tonight...but it was a team effort all around.

There were many great moments tonight... the Yankees are rolling lately.  CC Sabathia pitched 8 innings, only allowing 6 hits and allowed 3 runs. He struck out 6 and gave up a home run. Now you can read that line and criticize Sabathia for giving up 8 hits.  I don't see it that way, nor have I ever.  You can give up hits all day long as a pitcher as far as I'm concerned. You have a team behind you right?  You give up runs...Then I have a problem.  Don't do that and I'll always love you. I love the Monster. He's the man.

Brett Gardner was 2-4 tonight with 2 RBIs and tied things up at 3 tonight. I love that.  He's batting .259 this season.  Ichiro Suzuki is batting only .189 this season.  I'm going to make a suggestion and this is me being protective of Suzuki and a way to start him up and still keep Gardy hot.  Put Ichiro in the lead off spot. He's comfortable there. He will shine.  Move Gardy to 9th. Gardy can hit anywhere and he'll be a second lead off guy in the 9 hole.  This way, you can jump start Ichiro and hopefully Gardy keeps hitting.  It's just a thought, that's it.

Mariano Rivera came in tonight and got Save #4.  I almost feel bad not writing about Mo enough, but the dude is so automatic, it's just so easy to just chalk it up as another save and there is no worry...ever!

Big win tonight.  After that tie game in the 8th, it was almost like it was supposed to happen this way.  Travis Hafner comes off the bench and cranks out a homer, like he was supposed to do, and just like that, the Yankees win and are now 8-5.  Not too shabby.

Final tonight: Yankees 4 - Diamondbacks 3.

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THE YANKEES INSPIRATION STARTS AGAIN ON OPENING DAY

"You only get 1 shot to not miss your chance to blow, this opportunity 

only comes once in a lifetime."

-- Eminem, Lose Yourself

I wear a faded Yankees cap and rarely wear a tie.  When I do, I've been accused of "cleaning up nice." When I write at night, I will sip a Dos Equis or a Corona and I never finish it.  I also used be a student of creative writing and had my balls broken on several occasions by teammates, roommates  and fraternity brothers in high school and college. But I liked to write and stuck with it. I'm not great, I am good and it’s a release for me. 

Bleeding Yankee Blue is my baby. I made it out of frustration and it’s turned into something special, because of you.  2 years into Bleeding Yankee Blue, I continue to keep grinding it out, like Jorge Posada did for so many years before. I'm passionate about what I do because I know you look for us and this writing thing has actually become therapeutic for me. Getting rants on paper, or computer, allows me to lighten my brain a bit.

 

But quite often, I think about Jorge Posada and what he would do. He'd stick around, but more importantly, he'd want to make it better. Giving up wouldn't cross his mind and I sure as hell don't want it creeping into mine. BYB is relevant now and I've realized something pretty significant 2 years in...it's no longer just about me. It's about the readers, the great writers we've collected and about the New York Yankees of course.

Today is Opening day. My Yankees are not quitters and at the end of the day, we are handed a team of 25 guys that we have to rely on, whether we like the personnel or not,,, they wear the pinstripes and as fans, that’s what we sign up for. 

It’s our team whether Derek Jeter’s out there or Bobby Meacham is out there.  Bottom line, the Yankees are our team and we’ve seen some special moments over the years.  We’ve seen players who contributed hard, end up leaving New York due to free agency and we’ve seen big players sign in the Bronx, only to become distractions, not athletes.  But at the end of the day, there are always fans who like 1 guy and hate another, but they are still our team and over time, we learn to like the players who do their job.  Look at Kevin Youkilis… a guy no one wanted on the Yanks, but this Spring, he’s been a pleasant surprise.  Look at the kids, Melky Mesa, Ronnier Mustelier, Zoilo Almonte.  It’s great when they come on in the Spring and shine.  Hopefully we see them in 2013 contributing when it counts the most… the regular season.

Look at Vernon Wells, a guy who no one really saw coming to the Bronx, but he’s here and when he puts the pinstripes on, our job is to embrace him. 

I laugh because I was re-living the lousy off season in my mind.  I was reading though old comments, old posts by BYB and fans writing stuff on Facebook. I laughed.  We Yankee fans just don’t know what we want! Me included!  I mean think about this… many of us bitched about not getting a good signing this off season.  And, the Yankees signed Ben Francisco… we poo pooed it.   

They signed Brennan Boesch, and there were complainers, and yes, some liked it, but it was almost like it wasn’t good enough.  The Yankees signed Travis Hafner, another big name, but even I wrote that I’d rather have him in 2006, not now.  Then the Yankees signed Vernon Wells, a guy with a good career with the Blue Jays and a lousy career after that.  Yet, half of us love this signing, pointing to his great Spring... and the other half hate it, pointing at his crappy time with the Angels.  Yet, if you think about it… aren’t the Yankees doing exactly we want? Sure, we’d probably like someone better, but who’s really out there? Who could we really get?   

I mean, no doubt, last season when the Yankees signed Ichiro, for me personally, I loved it. I mean I have to crush on this dude and the way he plays the game.  For me, it was the best! (Plus, we predicted it here at BYB, and we were the only ones. Read ICHIRO TO THE YANKS IS MY PIPE DREAM for guidance.)  Now though, we sign big named guys like Wells or even Lyle Overbay and it’s STILL not good enough.  What do you make of that? Why the hell are we so picky?

Truth be told, and maybe this is me being older and wiser, (I kid, I kid)… I think I’ll root hard no matter who’s out there. After all, Opening day is new life, a clean slate and today is the best time of year for baseball... this, and the playoffs.  These are my Yankees and sometimes when players have a lousy season somewhere else, they feel the power of the pinstripes and things happen.  Players change, the ghosts come out and magic happens.  Look at Ichiro? Look at good old Scott Brosius.  Look at Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon?   

Sometimes the Yankees make a player better.  Maybe it’s the tradition, maybe it’s us fans… and maybe, just maybe it’s being given another chance, like Darryl Strawberry or Dwight Gooden… or even Vernon Wells.  A new team, new life and maybe, just maybe a championship with us fans as the backdrop. 

So, for all those new Yankees, grab the reigns, seize the moment and realize what you represent when you put on the pinstripes today!  And don’t worry about us fans… sure we’ll complain and bitch and moan about how nothing’s good enough, but at the end of the day, we want wins and we want players who believe in themselves,  like the guys who wore the pinstripes before you.  At the end of the day, don’t give up and we won’t give up on you… that’s honesty….and that’s the damn truth.

I put this video together for today... alittle inspiration with some great music to psych you up and some great quotes from some inspirational films... take it all in, feel the love for the Yankees and root hard... the Quest for 28 is here... it's Opening day!

I hope you pass this post along and thank you all for reading and believing in Bleeding Yankee Blue. You are the reason why we're successful.   

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THE REASON JUAN RIVERA WAS RELEASED

Juan Rivera had a good run this spring hitting .305. Juan Rivera is a nice guy and Juan Rivera could have been put on the 40 man roster by the Yankees, but according to Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News (HERE), the Yankees chose to release Juan Rivera instead.

Look, it's business. The real story on why this happened is easy to understand. Trust me, as a fan, you can understand why Rivera was released. The biggest thing was Juan Rivera was not a true first baseman and Lyle Overbay is, and has better experience there. Rivera was the square in a round hole at first base for the Yankees.  Overbay is round... you know what I mean?

Also, you need to understand that signing Vernon Wells pretty much starts to eliminate a spot for Rivera in the outfield as well. I mean, how many outfielders can the Yankees actually have? We already have Vernon, Ichiro Suzuki and Brett Gardner. Then, Ben Francisco, who is solid. You also have Thomas Neal  who I believe will be with us in our minor league system and Brennan Boesch can play the outfield too.  I just don't know if we really need more.

 (In Photo: Ronnier Mustelier)
And, if we did, then we'll call up Melky Mesa or Ronnier Mustelier. In a nutshell, what seemed like a sure thing for Juan Rivera turned into a guy underwater breathing out a straw. He's was suffocating and eventually got snuffed out with the Yankees last minute moves in acquiring Wells and Overbay.

I like Rivera and he did well for us, but it's clear the Yankees have other plans and the timing worked out when first baseman Lyle Overbay showed up.  Rivera ended up losing out to lack of experience at first and overcrowding in the outfield, that's it!  One thing that sucks is Rivera put in his time. Unfortunately though, he ran out of time and with Ben Francisco and Lyle Overbay making the club, again... Juan Rivera is replaceable.

I wish Rivera the best. The timing was wrong, but he'll land on his feet somewhere. Unfortunately there won't be a sequel to the "Juan Rivera is a Yankee" flick anytime soon.

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NOW IS THE TIME TO TURN IT ON!

I love this photograph.  This is a picture of CC Monster in the playoffs.  He's been nicknamed CC Monster by my 3 year old who somehow confused Cookie Monster and CC Sabathia and now, he will be forever called CC Monster in my house... It's exciting to see this shot. It's exciting to know that baseball is almost here.  

(In Photo: Matt Diaz)
We are literally 1 week away from Spring Training being over.  We have seen guys like Matt Diaz come and go and our Captain Derek Jeter be put on the shelf until on or after April 6^th, read HERE. We have seen our starting rotation start to take shape and we have seen guys like Chien-Ming Wang and Vernon Wells come aboard.  Things are starting to get exciting.  But most importantly… this is the week that we need to start to turn it on.

Now, you’ve heard me say in STOP ASKING ME ABOUT PRE-SEASON, I DON'T CARE! that I don’t care about Spring training. It's a fact, I don't.  I do care however about the rhythm the Yankees get into in the last week of the Spring. The last week leads up to the start of the season. Now is the time.   I mean, that’s when we rally.  That’s when you get the team rolling, the pitchers get their final Spring start, the hitters are starting to feel good at the plate and hopefully the injuries are behind us or at least in our case... we're healing. 

Overall, I’m not overly disappointed in what I saw this spring.  We got to see the kids play and I hope we get to see them again this year.  Personally, I would love to see Kevin Youkilis be our first baseman in Mark Teixeira’s absence and have a kid like Ronnier Mustelier play third.  I think that would be a huge advancement in the Yankees lack of "youth molding."  Who knows if it would happen, and who knows if we’ll see the guy this season at all. 

The fans want him, but the Yankee brass doesn’t appear to care what we think. If they did, Raul Ibanez would be in pinstripes right now. 

I would have loved to have seen Melky Mesa be a temporary outfielder in the absence of Curtis Granderson. But, that ain't happening. Instead, we signed Ben Francisco,  we signed Brennan Boesch, both great pickups… and now, with Vernon Wells signing in the Bronx, Mesa will go down to the minors and play every day.  It’s actually not a bad thing. Mesa will get a ton of at bats down there and we may see him if we need alittle speed or in September when it matters.   

(In Photo: Brennan Boesch)
Cashman made some moves to better the club believe it or not.  Sure, not all of us liked the names, but when I sit back and review, who were we actually looking for anyway? The market wasn’t exactly stellar.  Overall, the Boesch signing, the Wells signing… even the Wang signing, could be significant as we move forward.  The reality is, we just don’t know yet..

But forget that for a moment and remember this... while the losses in Spring don’t count, turning it on now matters.  Soon enough we will start 2013 and it will be against a hungry Red Sox team who has something to prove. We will compete against a Blue Jays team that looks outstanding on paper and we will compete against an Orioles team that wants payback for last year's playoffs.  This division has never been easy, but 2013 will be extra difficult and no matter who the Yankees players are, we need to step it up as 1 team and win.  In the end, that’s the goal. Sure, we may not be the best as individuals, but it's the team of 25 that makes things happen... I really believe that.  It reminds me of this quote:

“Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man. Sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.” 

Thank you Vince Lombardi…

Now Yankees…. Let’s get some.

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THE VERNON WELLS TRADE IS BIZARRO

As the Yankees and Angels wait for the acquisition of Vernon Wells is approved, read HERE, There is no doubt, I have questions.

Look, as a Yankee fan, I just don't get the Vernon Wells trade.  Sure, you can look Wells and his Spring Training numbers, like my bud Travis Willis commented to me late last night, and tell me just how important this trade is, and I see the numbers, I get the point, and you know what? I understand and I respect that opinion, believe me. Willis wrote this below:

Love that opinion on Wells, and trust me, if those numbers translate to the rest of the Yankees season, I'm the first guy at the gate. But from my own perspective, it's the Spring, and it's 14 games and I am not so sure a small batch like that matters. I could be wrong... and I hope I am, but that's me.

(In Photo: Ben Francisco)But the Yankees confuse me... that's all.  Let me tell you what does matter in my opinion.  What does matter is what the fans think, and many of us, the majority of us are scratching our heads wondering why guys like Melky Mesa, or Ronnier Mustelier, or even a Ben Francisco or Juan Rivera or Thomas Neal or Brennan Boesch aren't being used?  Players, that are trying to earn a spot all spring who will soon either be released or moved to the minors to make room for Vernon Wells.  It's strange, it really is.

In other words, if the Yankees plan was to go on the cheap and get the best bang for our buck, then why are the Yankees now willing to pay $13 million for a 34 year old outfielder? Is it because they don't have to pay $42 million and it's a steal? I guess.  Again, I'm asking, I'm not pissed, I'm not angry... I'm just confused... it's Bizarro, much like the bad guy Superman used to fight in the comics... it's backwards.

The Yankees and Brian Cashman are continually keeping us on our toes.  The Yankees and Brian Cashman have made it pretty clear that they were going on the cheap to make it under the $189 million, 2014 cap.  Hal also mentioned that they weren't "done yet" and I guess this is what they meant. But Vernon Wells is not the Vernon Wells that I used to love with Toronto.  Vernon Wells is not a franchise player anymore.  Vernon Wells is a 34 year old outfielder that can't move around as well as a Melky Mesa, or even a Thomas Neal.

What Wells has done in his career is rake, but can he do it these days? An important question. Can he contribute when we really need it? If he can't, are you really going to go out and get a Vernon Wells Yankee jersey? Is he the merchandise player the Yankees really need? Will we rally if he can't do his job?

Again, I'm a fan with questions. I'm saying this move is bizarre. I am saying it's weird and under the radar, and a surprise and all of that.  If Wells comes over and the deal is done and he fits in nicely, I'm "Team Wells", believe me. No one wants the Yankees to win more than me, but I just can't wrap my head around this move... can you?

Comment and tell me.

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VERNON WELLS TO THE YANKEES IS INEVITABLE

 Update from Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports HERE: The Yankees will pay less than $10 million over 2 years of the money owed to Wells.  Angels will pay $32 million of his $42 million contract.

This thing is moving quickly...

Here's a question... Why couldn't we just stick with Melky Mesa? Just asking.

I know you've read it all over the Internet, but it's worth me reporting it on BYB right now. The Yankees are close to a deal to acquire Vernon Wells, a 34 year old outfielder from the Los Angeles Angels. You heard me right.  Look, my opinion on this is simple. If the Yankees didn't sign Ben Francisco or Juan Rivera or Thomas Neal, I would understand this... but now, just 1 week before the 1st game of the 2013, I don't get it.  That being said... it's going to happen and soon.

Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News tweets HERE that the deal "will get done."  I am dying to know who the hell the Yankees are going to give up.  Let's hope I'm not going to be heartbroken.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.com HERE, tweets that this all depends on a physical.

So, stay tuned... if and when a deal happens, we will report it here on BYB.

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