EARPIECES, GET-OVER-IT-ISM & GERRIT RELATABILITY: A GUIDE TO LOVING BASEBALL IN 2020

Source: Newsweek

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity, really the privilege, to be in the right place at the right time.  I visited upstate New York, to snow shoe.  But, unfortunately, there was no snow to shoe in, so I hiked and then treated myself to a glass of wine.  But not just any glass of wine, The Thirsty Owl glass of wine, at a bistro in Saratoga, NY, that gets its wine from its winery by the same name in the Finger Lakes.  That glass of wine led to riveting conversation with the general manager and family owner of the Owl, who just happens to be the biggest baseball fan I have met (besides myself).  And this owner, Josh Cupp, inked a piece from his heart which I share in part here.  Give it a read, because it may get you thinking about the game you love and how you might need to love it differently in 2020.

"Pitchers and catchers report in just moments.  Chances are if you have gotten laid in the last decade and don’t refresh MLBTraderumors.com constantly, you won't be able to tell me where the big boys from FA Class 2020 signed outside of Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rendon.  

You might not be privy to the brilliant three hitter minimum rule (or keep on chuckin til half inning’s end) set to roll here in just weeks.  How good was/is Joe Girardi? We’re about to rediscover as the Phillies will challenge the Braves in the NL East and Rendon’s exit will have the Nats hemorrhaging wins.  These are just a few of the storylines that are all but lost to garbage can lids, cameras, buzzers, and impenitent athletes that have made our stomachs churn.  

Source: The Los Angeles Daily News

Collectively baseball fans can’t seem to shake the hangover.  The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to demand that MLB have Houston vacate the 2017 World Series.  Right.  Makes sense.  Council members, get picked last in kickball much 40 years ago?  Poor losing is a fashion trend worn well by no one; athlete, politician or fan.  Is Dallas spot on?  Are we owed an apology?  If you are unabashed enough to ask folks that make literally 1% of your annual income to bang on a garbage can lid so you can score an advantage, should we expect an apology from these ballplayers? Furthermore, said apology would be carefully crafted by an agent or team rep, wouldn’t be sincere, and it wouldn’t change a thing.

Let’s go the other way here.  We get it.  Most of us got it in the first place.  No Apple watches, cameras in center field, live feed spying, banging on garbage can lids, no whistling.  Now, I’ve not taken the hill in the bigs and I don’t pretend to know all the “unwritten rules” of this beautiful game.  Problem with those unwritten rules is the 750 players on active 25 man rosters don’t seem to know or agree on them either. However, I do love the game of baseball. Maybe too much.  Ask my exes.  If I cried as a nine year old when Carl Yastrzemski popped out to second base in his final at bat in 1983, I qualify to have an opinion and more than that I think it my responsibility to start a dialog on how to KEEP this game as something MY now nine year old loves and respects in years to come.  Got to fix it.  

But first, my question for the other teams is this: you didn’t know?  You couldn’t hear that lid, or the whistling?  Surely you noticed, so try better code your signs.  Too much work?  

Solutions are the way forward.  Here are two. 

1) Throw a few in Alex Bregman, and Jose Altuve’s earholes come April or 

2) Figure out a way to give and receive signs in a more expeditious and efficient way that will also be theft proof.  Whaaaat?  You mean stop crying in my beer and make the game faster and easier to watch?  Onward and upward.

Source: Orange County Register

You folks ever watch an NFL game?  Those coaches on the sidelines, Offense and Defense coordinators up in the booths and the 6’4, 227 lbs quarterbacks on the field; do you see them flashing 1s 2s and 3s with while sporting fabulous florescent nail polish? Nope, they use radio communication.  Ear pieces for one coach/manager on bench, one for catcher whom also sports a microphone on the chin portion of his mask and he can actually dictate verbally the next pitch to his pitcher.  If the pitcher doesn’t like it, shake it off old school and try again.  The pitch call could be determined anytime between the previous and forthcoming pitch and not just when the hitter is settling in the box.  We’re not talking headphones, just a sporty little ear piece.  Teams could decide themselves whether to utilize this technology or not.  No sign stealing and quicker sequences the net result.  

Earpieces and Get-over-it-ism done.

Lastly, the one problem I have with baseball I don’t have a good answer for.  Players’ inflated salaries and trying to understand how I am meant to relate to the players that wear these hallowed uniforms. Quick stat/fact or two to explain my conundrum. 

Babe Ruth made $80k in 1930 (a paltry $1.1M in 2020 money), the highest annual salary of his career.  That was a lot of money back then, as the average annual individual salary in the US at that point was $1368.  That means Babe made 58x the average fan’s annual salary.  Last year Stephen Strasburg raked $38.3M while the average annual salary in the US sat at just over $58k.  That means Strasburg made 656x more the fan that’s asked to come support him at Nationals Park.  What does that fan have in common with Mr. Strasburg?  How relatable is the game now?  If ballparks keep selling out and folks watch on TV, why would owners, agents, players want to change a thing?  

I understand TV contracts, free agency and capitalism. I also understand that noble professions such as teachers and nurses do far more for the betterment of humankind.  However, the reality is the number of people that can throw a ball 100 mph or can hit that 100 mph pitch 450 feet is incredibly minute.  

Source: NBC

My initial dream scenario would be to scale back salaries so the best players in the game made $10M annually and not $40M.  Next, ticket prices cut by a third.  It shouldn’t cost half your weekly paycheck for a family of four to see a game in person.  Initially, I thought start a rallying cry and boycott one game out of 81 home games.  Maybe that’d get some traction.  Pipe dream.

I’m forever hooked on sixty feet and 6 inches, going first to third, and breaking in a new glove.  Not everyone loves this game the way I do, unconditionally.  Play it fairly, play it hard, play it quicker and show us you love the game as much as we do."

Thanks, Josh, for the wine, the conversation and the clever piece that helps ease the pain we all felt when the Astros cheated.  What are your thoughts, readers?  Anything to add?

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

GAME FACE IN RIO REFLECTIVE OF A TRUE CHAMPION!

We've all seen it by now.  The Michael Phelps game face like I've never seen before, except maybe in football or when Derek Jeter stepped into Fenway Park for each series he played against his nemesis the Red Sox.  The eye of tiger, the resting bitch face, the stare down, the glare, the clear the mechanism face that shows you are focused on one thing...winning.

But not just winning, crushing the opponent with one bold look.  You know the look.  If looks could kill, that South African swimmer would be in the grave.  Since Phelps started it, let's take a look at game faces across sports.

Here's Jeter giving that look to the Red Sox team as he passed Carl Yastzemski on the all time hit list with his 3,420th.  That stared down says, yes, don't mess with me, I'm a champion.

Game faced champion Peyton Manning stretching before the Super Bowl.  Known more for his smiles than jeers, Manning shows focus and intention with his look to kill.

Not to be out done, former NFL and NY Giants kicker, Steve Weatherford, is always up for a challenge whether it is in the gym or on the field.  His look says he is ready to kill it, whether it is the ball or the punching bag.

"Twenty-five years ago, one of the most famous commercials of all time debuted: Gatorade's "Be Like Mike." It debuted on August 8, 1991 and it featured iconic NBA star Michael Jordan who always had that look.  He exemplifies champion like no other, even being present to support the retirement of the great Derek Jeter at Yankee Stadium.

Not to be out done, LeBron James got it done with this look followed by an unbelievable performance to bring home the NBA Championship to his home state of Ohio.  That determined look earned James 82 points in Games four and five and 27 points in the final against Golden State.

Sharing his motivation with youth across the world with his Rock Clock App,  Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, stares down his opponents like they are meaningless.  He defeats them mentally with a look that could turn a challenger to stone.  

Champions like USA gymnast Gabby Douglas are focused and they stay focused despite the fame, despite the nerves and despite distractions that surround them in their field of competition.  No matter the outcome, champions thrive, they comeback and they win.  

Perhaps the Phelps' look will go down as the all time best game face.  His gritty determination is paramount to his successful comeback as a premier athlete who craves gold.  His motivation bleeds into the hearts of young people across the world and on his USA Olympic Team.  This is an important look for our Yankee youth to learn as they focus their competitive spirit on winning ball games now in our farm system as they prepare for baseball's infamous stage in 2017.

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

THE HUNT FOR A RED OCTOBER

I’m a big fan of the good, old-fashioned street brawl.  It has a certain honor to it.  No weapons, just mano y mano.  Once upon a time the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox scheduled these types of knock down drag outs as a matter of principle…are those days gone. 

Have we seen the last Red October?  I don’t mean the Sean Connery (forgoing all attempt at a Russian accent) skippered submarine; I mean an honest to goodness Sawks and Bombers prizefight.

The Red Sox are no longer the club we love to hate.  They spend lots of money; make bad deals that they can now eat if they don’t work out.  They sort of remind me of the Yankees of the 1980’s in a way.  Boston itself has undergone a change.  They have gotten fat and lazy.  The angst that once permeated the town is long gone.  They won a few and now…well, the anger has faded away. 

Yes, they still have Pedy who is truly a throwback player and would’ve done well in the late 70’s.  He is cut from that Pudge Fisk, Yaz, Freddie Lynn mold…but he is the last burning ember on a fire that has been extinguished. 

The Sox just don’t have that piss and vinegar anymore…it saddens me.

Just down I-95 we have the new New York Yankees.  The Ghosts are younger…not that they’ve join Babe, Lou and Mickey on the Great Diamond in the Sky…but the spirit they brought to the Bronx is gone.  O’Neill, Tino, Goose, Jeet, Willie, Nettles, Gator, Coney and so on.  They were just different.  They truly had a blood lust to beat Boston…these Yankees? 

Well, they play in a super nice mall.  They don’t WORK for a BOSS.  They are like a cover band in a way.  They know the tunes…but they don’t have the voice.

Now, hope springs eternal.  The youngsters on the near horizon seem to have done their homework.  They watched the old guard play and seem to want BRING BACK THE FIGHT!  They feel like the underdog to the corporate Red Sox.  It’s is the only thing that keeps me engaged lately.

Look, I appreciate ARod, CC and the older guys.  They were truly great players.  Now they are “We HOPE they can give us” type guys.  They are looking to go out with class and dignity…and I hope they do.  But I miss the guys that went out battered and bloodied.  I miss the guys that didn’t play vanilla baseball.  They were punchers.

The Yankees made the Wild Card Game this past year…super.  They got beat by the Astros.  It was like watching the Star Wars Prequels.  Yeah, it’s Star Wars…but it sucked.  The Sox?  They were just lousy…and it didn’t seem to matter so much.  They figured they just finish it out.  Let their younger guys play (which they did very well) and break out the checkbook…and they CERTAINLY did that.  Now they have a BIG TIME ace. Super.  David Price is great, but hardly a “I WANT TO DESTROY THE YANKEES” type. Price is a nice guy.  I’m bored.

What will it take?  Maybe the first game the two clubs play Nasty Nate earns his nickname and puts Big “I WANT TO BE HONORED” Papi on his pants and points at the Red Sox dugout as if to say, “You country club mutts ready to go?”  That I’d dig.

I have no idea what 2016 will bring.  I must admit my expectations are lower than Stephen Drew’s batting average…. BY THE WAY, HEY NATIONALS!  WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS THINKING?  Was he hired as a vendor?

Happy New Year.

** Is this a shameless plug?  Nah, I ain’t in the band any longer.  I just wish the Yanks and Sox were like ol’ Slugger.  **

 
 
 

--Mike O'Hara Senior "Features" Writer
Twitter: @mikeyoh21
















Thank you for your loyalty to Bleeding Yankee Blue. 
Please shop at the BYB store!  
On Twitter: @BleednYankeeBlu 
On Facebook, LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue!
Don't forget to check out the BYB Hub.

JETER WAS HOT IN TEXAS...

The Yankees... well, they were hot... but not "hot" like winning hot, but more like weather "hot".



I had to play that video.... it's been a while.

Anyway, the Yankees lost. David Phelps was great. Yankee run support was limited, as per when Phelps pitches. Also, Derek Jeter was on fire tonight passing Carl Yastrzemski (8th) on the all time list for hits.  Not bad for a guy people are still calling "overrated".

Phelps went 6 innings, gave up 8 hits and 4 runs. The Yankees had to hit off of Yu Darvish and company.  That's never easy.  We actually out-hit the Rangers 11- 8, but we couldn't get the runs home. In fact, I'm pretty down on Brian McCann... and I tweeted this after a strikeout with 2 men on in the 7th:

That K was Bullshit McCann. #BYB
— Robert Casey (@BleednYankeeBlu) July 29, 2014

It was a big moment blown. Enough's enough. When's this dude gotta be worth the money?

The 2 runs the Yankees scored went like this... In the 3rd, Brett Gardner homered.  In the 5th... he did it again.  He was 3-5 tonight. Jeter was 3-4 with 2 singles and a double. McCann and Carlos Beltran struck out 2 times each... just sayin'.

The Yanks need to learn to give Phelps run support.  Do that, and we're on our way.

Final: Rangers 4 - Yankees 2

You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in history. Now shop at the Bleeding Yankee Blue store!  Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook!

MR. 3400 & THE YANKEES WIN ANOTHER

There are 2 important parts of today's Yankee game. For 1, the Yankees won... and two... Derek Jeter now has 3400 hits.  It's an amazing feat, but if you ask Derek Jeter about it, he'd be happier with winning as a team. That's what makes Jeter great... it's never about himself.

It looked like the Yankees were on a dominant run today. Papa John's was all excited when the Yankees scored 9. But then, craziness happened and the Twins rallied big time.

First off, Hiroki Kuroda pitched.  He went 5.2 innings, gave up 7 hits and 4 runs.  That's manageable, and what I mean by that is, the Yankees could handle a 4-0 deficit if needed. Kuorda usually keeps a team in the game.  Luckily for us, the Yankees were on fire and scored plenty today. The big bats were namely Jacoby Ellsbury and Derek Jeter.

Ellsbury was 2 for 5 with 4 RBIs. Jeter was 3-4 with 2 RBIs.  The Yankee run scoring went like this:

Mark Teixeira drove in Brett Gardner with a single in the first. Then Brian McCann doubled knocking in Jeter. In the second, Jeet sacrificed home Brian Roberts. Jacoby Ellsbury then hit a 3 run homer.  In the 4th, Jeter then singled, knocking in Ichiro. Ellsbury then grounded out and Kelly Johnson scored in the process.  After that, McCann was up, and Ellsbury was on third when Anthony Swarzak balked... Ellsbury scored.

Oh, and Jeter had hit 3400 today.  A huge accomplishment. On the all time list, he's right behind Carl Yastrzemski.  He's 9th... not too shabby.

Final today: Yankees 9 - Twins 7.

Keep going!!

You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in history. Now shop at the Bleeding Yankee Blue store!  Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook!

ANALYZING THE TROUT VS. CABRERA MVP VOTE

I want to preface this with saying that even though I am a Yankees fan, I am a baseball fan first and can recognize and appreciate the talent of players around the league. I say that because I recently had a conversation with a baseball “fan” that was spouting off all the reasons why I should be upset that Robinson Cano wasn’t named AL MVP.  I’ve said it a million times, and those readers of BYB that know me can attest to this, I love Cano.

He may very well be my favorite current Yankee. But, he didn’t deserve the MVP this season.

It’s funny, every year I feel like the runner up was stiffed out of the award. Like the guys who vote on the award are using some sort of bias to make sure that the guy who really deserves it, doesn’t win it. And, unlike most people, I don’t feel that way this season.

I like Mike Trout. He had an incredible 2012 season. Every time he stole a home run, I sang his praise. He led the league in stolen bases and runs. His talent is undeniable. If he continues to play like he did this season, there is no doubt that an MVP award will be in his future. However, Miguel Cabrera deserved it more than anyone in the league.

C’mon, you don’t win the Triple Crown by having an average season. The last hitter to win it was Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. That goes to show you how difficult it really is to accomplish.

CBS Sports posted a well thought out argument about why Trout deserved to win the MVP, read HERE. One of the arguments they presented was that Mike Trout’s rookie season has been unmatched since Shoeless Joe Jackson in 1911.

I will give anyone who makes that argument some points towards their case. However, most other cases that can be made for Trout can easily be counter argued. For example, Trout had more runs scored then Cabrera. That’s wonderful, but that means that someone else was driving in those runs. Getting on base is great, but getting runners in to score is even better, in my opinion. Feel free to disagree, but I will take Cabrera’s 139 RBI’s to Trout’s 83.

I could offer a rebuttal for all pro-Trout arguments but won’t. The MVP run was tight between these two this season, and I understand why. Like I said before, Trout had an incredible season. But Miguel Cabrera’s season was just slightly better and he rightfully won the MVP. Trout didn’t get stiffed out of the award. He lost it by a hair’s breath but lost nonetheless. I like Trout, though. I look forward to watching him play yet another phenomenal season and hopefully make another chase for the MVP.

--Erica Morales, BYB Writer
Twitter: @e_morales1804



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 PRESENTS: YANKEE SHORTS #7

10. America’s Team Welcomes our American Heroes

Eight Soldiers participating in the New York Solider ride will cycle to Yankee Stadium on Wednesday. Read HERE. These soldiers suffered life changing injuries while serving our country. After completing the ride, they will be greeted by Yankee staff and players. Nick Swisher I’m sure will be front and center. Stating… "It's an honor for the entire Yankees organization to welcome these brave men and women to Yankee Stadium." Visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org to volunteer or donate funds to this worthy cause.

9. Good Vibrations

There is a great Vibe around New York in recent days. We're currently leading the Division and that's great but there's some news coming of returning injured players to the roster and that's always sweet. CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte, Joba Chamberlain and Brett Gardner are soon the comeback but Pettitte will be the longest of the group, read ANDY PETTITTE IS ON THE ROAD BACK, and CC is expected back on July 17th, read HERE. Get ready ladies and gentleman these Yankees are in position to take the 2012 title!

8. Honoring David Roberton & Robinson Cano

On July 26th, the Trenton Thunder in coordination with the MVP Foundation, will honor DRob and Cano and their foundations, High Socks for Hope and the RC24 Foundation. Read HERE. You guys remember Doc Haveron, we here at BYB did a piece tipping our cap to him about a year ago.  Read WHY DREAMS COME TRUE.  Bill Cook, the PR Manager for the Trenton Thunder said this of the event:  “Having two of our All-Star alumni, Robinson Cano and David Robertson, return to Trenton will make this a night that Thunder and Yankee fans won’t want to miss.” You gotta love it.

7. Keeping the BYB Shirt Tradition Rolling!

This is Sydney Stone, a New York Actress who is modeling our Bleedingyankeeblue.com shirt.  Remember, you purchase a Bleedingyankeeblue.com shirt and money will go toward High Socks For Hope, the great foundation run by David and Erin Robertson.  Sydney sent us this note and asked me to post it when we posted her picture in our shirt:

"I was already a big fan of David and Erin Robertson’s High Socks for Hope charity as I grew up in a small town in Alabama not far from Tuscaloosa. I witnessed the damage of several tornadoes growing up in the South, but none as damaging or horrendous as the one that devastated “T-Town” on April 27^th, 2011.

BleedingYankeeBlue.com is my favorite blog when it comes to reading about my team and the fact that they’ve joined forces with High Socks for Hope makes me even prouder to be a Yankees fan.  --Sydney Stone, Editor-in-Chief of Stylaphile"

Let's give Sydney a plug: www.stylaphilemag.com. Come on everyone, support BYB and High Socks for Hope, buy a shirt!

 6. Moving Forward

Leaving his Yankee career behind, Mr. Bernie Williams is focusing on his musical talents. With that being said Bernie will be playing a free show in Yonkers on July 16th. Read about it HERE.  What a great way to see one of our beloved Yankees! Be sure to check it out!

5. Questionable

Russell Martin's season hasn’t been a great one to say the least! The New York Post as a good story here about Martin wanting to get off to a second half.  Read HERE. Martin said of his struggling 1st half: “The only thing I can do personally is forget about the first half and start over... I know I can do it.” I wish him well and hope he can turn things around for himself and the Yankees, however I must say I miss Jorge Posada.  It’s still hard for me to understand the decision not to resign him. For me, Posada was a great catcher and hitter. It's my opinion that the front office made a bad decision and makes think about Posada more when we see a struggling Martin.

4. The Power Ladies of the New York Yankees

Amber Sabathia sent out a Tweet (HERE) with a fantastic shot of all the wives and girlfriends of the Yankees at what appears to be a baby shower for Erin Robertson who's expecting her first child with DRob.  How exciting.  The world of Twitter is amazing and the fact that the Yankee family reaches out to the fans to keep them in the loop is tremendous. Thanks Amber!

3. Oh My...Goodness Gracious
 
  

 I found a really clever video on YouTube apparently it was created in 2009, but I can't believe I missed it.  It's a clever little sketch where the Yankees make fun of ARod incorporating the pie, the players giving him jazz and of course Suzyn Waldman.  Kudos to whomever made it, I guess it's Global Sports Fraternity... way to go!

2. Kate's a Yankee fan, Verlander

Kate Upton may be dating Justin Verlander (Read HERE), but let's be straight about this...she's a Yankee fan!  Here are some great shots she took wearing her Yankee cap... and other stuff and it's clear to Bleeding Yankee Blue, she knows which team is the best.  Click HERE.

1. The List Continues

Derek Jeter continues to slap the faces of the critics, breaking another record and moving into 16th place in the all-time baseball runs list. He passed Carl Yastrzemski. Read HERE. I can’t even speculate anymore on what this man will accomplish. All I can say is no record is safe. The proof is in the pudding! Currently... Jeter has 1819. Go Derek Go!

 

--Kate Munrow, BYB Staff Writer

ORDER A BYB SHIRT NOW, DROB WEARS ONE! Also, 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.