KEEPING AN EYE ON THE FUTURE: JUNE 2016

The MLB 2016 draft is in the books and three players either from our area or who are headed to our tri-state area teams are of the lucky ones who have made it to "The Show".  Early in my media career, I wrote and directed a documentary entitled, "Chasing A Dream," which depicted the arduous journey of little leaguer to minor leaguer to major leaguer.  With interviews with former Boston Red Sox GM Lou Gorman, ESPN analyst icon Peter Gammons, Manager Clint Hurdle and a multitude of ball players and managers representing little leagues, high school, minor and major league clubs, the message was consistent, "the road to the majors is a difficult one."

According to Chasing the Dream website, which we featured back in March when we began this column on BYB, "Approximately 1 in every 200 high school baseball players or .05% will be drafted by a major league team into the minor leagues." So my excitement is even more elevated when I learned that Blake Rutherford, who we featured in that piece in March, signed a deal with the New York Yankees,  Jason Groome from Barnegat, NJ went 12th overall to the Boston Red Sox and Nolan Jones from Holy Ghost High School in Bensalem, PA was drafted by the Cleveland Indians.

As we reported in March "UCLA-bound Blake Rutherford is a 6'2" 190 pound high school senior from Simi Valley, CA who has committed to UCLA this fall. According to scouts reviewing his performance at last year's Perfect Game All American tournament, Rutherford "showed crazy power at PG AA. Runs very well. Superstar potential." According to his high school coach, Frank Mutz, Rutherford is a very disciplined, and mature player for his age. "His baseball IQ is very high, and he understands the game. He’s a team player. It’s not about him, it’s not about his stats. It’s about what’s he going to do this at-bat to help the ballclub win." Although the Yankees' track record with signing high school outfielders is not impressive (the last kid we drafted that young was Slade Heathcott who has since been released despite some star-like performances up in the majors), Rutherford appears to have a bright future in pinstripes.

Breakfast at the diner this weekend had me scanning the news wires for information on 12th overall pick Jason Groome from down the SHORE!  "Groome was rated by Baseball America in May as the third-best draft prospect this year, and the highest-ranked high school left-hander available. BA praised Groome for his fastball, which sits from 90-94 and has reached 97, and said, "Physically, Groome is as gifted as any player in the class." Wow! And we lost him to the Sox.  Keep an eye out for this guy, pitching against us in the big leagues.

Finally, with my own son playing high school baseball and going on to Syracuse University to play ball for its only baseball team (club), I am partial to kids who play for the privates.  From Bensalem's Holy Ghost High School just outside of Philadelphia, Nolan Jones went 55th overall.  As the Philadelphia Inquirer posted this weekend, "A steadily rising shortstop with natural hitting power and arm strength, Jones was selected in the second round of Major League Baseball's amateur draft by the Cleveland Indians."  Jones had an amazing season with Holy Ghost, batting .636 with 26 runs, 24 RBIs, five home runs, five doubles, and two triples while helping the Firebirds go 14-6 overall, claim the Bicentennial Athletic League Independence Division title, and advance to the PIAA District 1 Class 3A semifinals." Again, another loss for us, but Terry Francona and the Indians' gain.

So happy for these kids as they make the leap to the majors with all of the hard work and grit that it took to get there.  And now they have to dig deeper to find their way onto the big league team's field. Play hard, guys! We look forward to writing about your successes!

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







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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: GARRETT & CASSIE JONES

Family is an important part of Bleeding Yankee Blue.  We are a big family here, both writers and readers alike. The Yankees are a big family and so are the families that surround them. The wives and kids that give their love and support to that Yankee player, and the fans that surround them all. It's a terrific give and take, and I personally am proud to say that I've gotten to know a lot of these Yankee families and it continues today... on Opening Day.

I am proud to introduce to you Garrett and Cassie Jones, two terrific people with a whole lot to say about being part of the Yankee family.  I've gotten to know Cassie and G recently, and I am thrilled to present to you right now, BYB's exclusive interview with them, on the best day of the year... Yankees Opening Day.

Enjoy this ladies and gentlemen... I certainly did. 

BYB: Garrett, you'll be sharing time at first base and DH. You're a lefty hitter and there's a short porch at Yankee Stadium. What’s going through your mind right now as we approach your first game today?

Garrett Jones: Pure excitement! That's all I've been thinking about!  I can't wait for the season to start and the atmosphere for baseball in Yankee stadium. Any way I can get in the lineup and help the team win, I will do it.

BYB: And I can’t believe it, you’ve never played at Yankee Stadium, have you?

Garrett Jones:  I'm excited that my first time playing in Yankee stadium will be as a Yankee! Can't get any better than that. 

BYB: So Cassie, how did you become a Yankee fan? You’re from Chicago, right? 

Cassie Jones: Yes. It’s funny, I grew up in the South side of Chicago and kind of grew up a White Sox fan first.  

But when my cousin, Ron Coomer  started playing for the Yankees in 2002, I slowly became a Yankee fan.  In fact, my whole family did.  Not just fans, more like we were obsessed with the Yankees.  So, it’s funny, when it was time for me to decide what college to go to, I was deciding between Harvard and Cornell, My family was saying, “Pick Cornell, you’ll be in Yankee territory. If you pick Harvard, you’ll be in Red Sox territory. I picked Cornell.”

BYB: How did you and Garrett meet?

Cassie Jones: I met Garrett early in his career, around 2009 right before he became a Pittsburgh Pirate. We actually met in Chicago. We were both at the batting cages. He was there training and I was there getting at bats for my upcoming collegiate softball season.  So yeah, we met at the cages.

BYB: Wait, you played Softball?

Cassie Jones: Oh yeah,  Softball.  I played for the Junior Olympics and have played competitively on travel teams since the age of 9.   

It was very expensive and very competitive but I loved it.  In fact, my twin sisters play now and they’re in college.  My parents gave us a great opportunity. 

BYB: So when did you have time to do other stuff? Like, what about checking out Yankee Stadium?

Cassie Jones: You know, I have never been to the new Yankee Stadium and you’re not gonna believe it, I have never been to the old Yankee stadium either.

And it's the ONLY stadium Garrett has never played in as well! So crazy!! I went to New York City quite a bit in college but always during the off season, including the time we got engaged in Central Park. And, I always traveled to New York every time the Pirates or Marlins played there, but they only played the Mets, so neither of us ever made it to Yankee stadium.

BYB: Wow. Obviously because you had so much going on with Softball, right?

Cassie Jones: Right. We really didn’t have much time off, but it was always on my "if I have a weekend off" bucket list!

BYB: Garrett.  I became a fan of yours when you were in Pittsburgh.  Tell me what it’s like to play for Clint Hurdle, another guy I admire

Garrett Jones: Hurdle is a great leader and motivator. He has really helped bring that city to life, and I've enjoyed being a part of it and now watching it. 

BYB: Garrett, the media is blowing up the DH spot between you and ARod too much to make it a circus.  Even me being a fan knows when it comes to the DH, it’s about righty / lefty situations. What can you say to the BYB Audience to put that whole fake controversy to rest? 

Garrett Jones:  I just think it's going to come down to who's swinging the bat well and being the most consistent out there. Perfect scenario, we both are swinging that bat well and making it tough on Joe to keep one of us out of the lineup.

BYB: OK, so give me a nugget about you and Garrett that not a lot of people know.

Cassie Jones: This is a funny one actually. Because I’m a huge Yankee fan, I have all kinds of Yankees memorabilia.  When Garrett used to come visit me at Cornell, he was with the Pittsburgh Pirates.  I used to make him sleep with my Yankee blanket.  He was like “Seriously Cassie? I play for the Pirates.” That poor thing is so ratty now.

BYB: That's funny.  Now, when Garrett got traded, there was a lot of Twitter action from you. Where were you when the trade went down?

Cassie Jones: I actually found out first about the trade on Twitter .  I was at home.  I remember the Marlins made a move and got a guy that could have essentially replaced Garrett.  I just started looking on Internet and 2 minutes later, it said that Nathan and Garrett were on the Yankees radar and it was further along than before. So I found out before Garrett.  Garrett was working out with Pedro Alvarez, his teammate with the Pirates.  I called him and said “I think we’re going to New York!”  He was like “No way!”  He called his agent. I called my family and we were all like “Oh my God!”  You see, because we’re all Yankee fans, it was amazing.  When anyone asked my step-dad what his favorite team was, he’d say “The Yankees and any team my son-in-law's on.” They DVR’d ever Yankee game and game Garrett played.  I recently joked with my step-dad and said, “Now you’ll gain a lot of space on that DVR, he’s a Yankee!”

BYB: What do you have to do when your husband gets traded. I mean, we spoke with Rick Ankiel’s wife Lory and she came up with a database to help the baseball wives, because it’s gotta be stressful moving. Tell me about your experience...

Cassie Jones: It can be, yes, but this time is was nice to have friends in New York, mainly because of my time at Cornell. Plus, getting traded in the off season makes the world of difference.  And yes,  there are groups out there for the baseball wives to help get things together for the families; Living areas, doctors, pediatricians, Realtors.   We have some good networks.

BYB: Major League, Bull Durham or Field of Dreams? What’s your movie?

Garrett Jones:   Major League 

BYB: So have you bought your son that little #33 jersey yet?

Cassie Jones:  33 is one of his fave numbers and it just so happens to be the double of my college number so I was happy. You know, the YES Network actually filmed a little segment with Jax and me in the team store and bought us both a couple things, including "Little Daddy" and hats for us, which was great because I finally begrudgingly parted with my Yankees stuff last year. I gave it all to my family, and when I asked for it back when Garrett was traded to the Yanks, they called me an "Indian Giver" and said, "No way - get your own stuff!" So I definitely need to replenish my stock in gear!! Garrett is currently working on getting a full uniform for Jax. I can't wait to see my boys in matching pinstripes!

BYB: Where about Family here at BYB as much as we are the Yankees.  You guys are in a good place right now. What’s the most important thing to you?

Cassie Jones: Us as a family. Garrett’s a very hard worker and you will see that this season. But when he’s not playing baseball and we’re away from it, he’s all family. We both are.  Garrett is very good interacting with fans but when it comes to family time, it’s family time.  A happy, healthy family is important. We are big family people and we will always spend nights together whenever we can maintaining our unit. 

BYB: What’s on your iPod right now?

Cassie Jones: It’s funny. I’m a rock girl, but Garrett is a Country music fan.  We recently moved the Nashville and I have to tell you, Country music consumes you down here.  I am pretty amazed by how quickly he adapted to the country lifestyle.  He goes to the Jack Daniels distillery, bought some camo, goes shooting once in a while, he bought a pick-up. He’s all in.  I was recently telling this to Chase Headley's wife. It's funny because we live right by them and didn't know it!  The Headley's are great people. Anyway, I personally am always listening to Pearl Jam, Lifehouse, and Mumford & Sons to name a few. Oh and Garrett is a huge rock guy too. Metallica is his favorite! 

BYB: Garrett... What's up with the Country Music? Is that a baseball thing? I mean, you're from Chicago!

Garrett Jones: We are from Chicago but moved to Nashville as you know!  But, I love all different types of music and country is now one of them.  I always felt like I should have been born and grown up in the south!

BYB: When did you discover Bleeding Yankee Blue?

Cassie Jones: You guys tagged me in one of your articles on both Garrett and I.  It was a really sweet article and I believe you guys were one of the first to write about us.  It was nice. Thank you. YOU GUYS ROCK! 

BYB: What message can you give to the BYB audience and all the Yankee fans out there?

Garrett Jones: Thank you for all the support and positive feedback we've received. We appreciate it very much! Looking to do some damage this year and help bring a championship back to the Yankees!!

Cassie and Garrett. I just want to say thank you for taking the time and joining us at Bleeding Yankee Blue.  You are beautiful family and we really appreciate you here. You're also part of the BYB family now! Welcome to the Bronx!

HEY JORDY MERCER, HOW'D YA LIKE TO PLAY IN PINSTRIPES?

Yes, it’s official, folks.  I love Jordy Mercer.  In case you don’t know who he is, he plays shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Actually, he is not the official starting shortshop for the Pirates as he rotates with incumbent Clint Barmes.  Yet, in late May, skipper Clint Hurdle realized that when Mercer was in the lineup, the team won and when he wasn’t the team lost.  “Or, maybe it was the sound and sight of the ball off Mercer's bat. Or the zip on it from deep in the hole. Maybe it was all of it. But, at some point, the Bucs decided it was time, and they crossed that invisible line from Barmes to Mercer,” stated MLB.com last June.

Oklahoma Sooner Jordy Mercer has an arm like a rocket.  So much so that his college coach put him in as the team’s closer from time to time according to an interview Mercer gave with MLB Network Hot Stove this week.  Could he play shortstop for the Yankees?  I say, why not and why have we not considered him?  He was a 2008 third-round draft pick for the Pirates and he finished the 2013 season with an batting average of .285 and on-base percentage of  .336 after only playing in 103 games.  In addition, he played in five games in the post season and had a .250 average with only eight at bats.  He’s young and he has a lot of developing to do.  Why not do it here in the Bronx?

Could he play second base?  Why not?  Robinson Cano was known for his rocket arm at second, so much so, that many suggested he move to third.  Mercer could fill the hole left by the departing Cano with youth, charisma and a confident spirit.   “'Jordy has incrementally gotten better it seems each month,' Hurdle said. 'He's playing with confidence, and I think one thing that has worked well for him is his ability to strike the left-handed pitchers. He's done an exceptional job in the two spot, showed the ability to bunt and hit and run, and he's struck some balls well and rode a couple of balls out of the park. All in all it's a very good confidence-building year for him,'" according an article posted back in mid-September on MLB.com.  And he is not overpriced, he is not tainted by the game and he decided to go to college instead of testing his talent early in the MLB.

Boston Red Sox Manager John Farrell, who played for OSU as well back in the 1980s, said in an interview with MLB Network’s Hot Stove that the last formative years of 17-21 are extremely important and you have to take that seriously when you coach these kids who are coming up the pike.  He’s right.  These young guys are very impressionable and develop habits based on the people they are with day in and day out.  Mercer and frankly, Farrell, seemed to fare well with their experiences playing college ball at OSU.  And that time is character-building; something many young guys miss out on today when they go straight to the show. 

So, Jordy has a young package with all the traits we need here in Yankeeland.  I would love to see his fire, new talent and potential on the base paths here in the Bronx.  Keep an eye on him, fans.  He is someone we should consider as we rebuild our team for the future.

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Opinion Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof




Thank you to all the Bleeding Yankee Blue readers for continued success.  You've made BYB the fasted growing Yankees fan site in the history of Yankees fandom.  Thanks for reading, sharing and enjoying. Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue (Official) on Facebook, just type it in.

MANAGERS OF THE YEAR ARE...

The Managers of the Year were announced and they were good picks, although, I would have loved to have seen Joe Girardi be in the running.  Oh well.

Clint Hurdle won in the National League.  He led his Pittsburgh Pirates to a record of 94-68 and got them into the playoffs.

In the American League, it was Terry Francona of the Cleveland Indians.  Yes, he was once the manager of the Boston Red Sox, but the guy is so damn  likable, I'm happy for him.  Seriously, you have to admire this guy!

And before you get on my back for liking a former Red Sox guy, don't forget Don Zimmer used to manage the Red Sox too and we all love him, you know what I mean?

Francona's a smart baseball guy and congrats to him. In fact, congrats for both he and Clint... great job this season.

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POSADA: THE FOREVER YANKEE

Forever Yankees- there are many of them out there, but not as many in recent years.  Similar to trends in business, less and less employees start and end at the same company these days.  “The average worker today stays at each of his or her jobs for 4.4 years, according to the most recent available data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but the expected tenure of the workforce’s youngest employees is about half that,” according to an article published in Forbes (HERE) at the end of last year.  The article continues to say that Millennials (those born between 1977-1997) will stay in a job even less.  So, newbies like Bryce Harper, and frankly most of the Washington Nationals will move on at the end of their contract, barring any big salary moves, which after the PEDs problem, salary caps and Billy Beane’s Economics 101, does not seem likely. 

Enter Jorge Posada: a Yankee tradition, a pinstripe favorite, and nice guy with an amazing career.  “Posada, a five-time All-Star, has a career average of .273, a career OPS of .848 and 275 home runs. He also played in 125 postseason games and was a key contributor to four championship teams,” according to the 2011 article in New York Daily News “Former Yankees manager Joe Torre says Jorge Posada is Hall of Fame worthy.”  His 17-year tenure was an incredible experience, which he can pass along to young players as the next manager of the New York Yankees, our future club. 

While Derek Jeter pokes fun at his “old buddy Jorge Posada about having to dress with the old men in the coaches' locker room, or to point out to reporters that this was not Posada's first appearance as a guest instructor.  ‘You forgot he was at the women's fantasy camp,’ Jeter said,” in an article on ESPN New York (HERE) site at the start of the season, no one could deny that Jorge has the makings of a great leader.  

At my son’s exit interview at the end of his JV season, his coach stated that he “needs to understand the game from a managing standpoint; the catcher is the field manager.” Posada learned that skill early on in his career and he developed into one of the best field managers and leaders in today’s game.  And not to mention, he was a mentee to Yogi Berra.  “Maybe the most important thing he helped me with was with his view of the game, knowing how hard it is but that you really needed to keep a positive attitude every day — that was big for me,” said Posada of Berra in 2011.  This year, Posada stepped in for the 87-year-old Berra who is not as spry as he used to be.  And he entered with bang- ready to fill the shoes of one of the greatest of the game who for so many years shared his wisdom with up and coming players, like Posada.  As guest instructor, Posada continued his coaching legacy for his leadership ability and his knowledge of the game is an amazing advantage for our future stars.

So, his 17-year career at one organization, one company has grown to 19-years as Jorge Posada takes on a familiar role prepping him for his chance at the helm; a natural place for a catcher just like Joe Torre, Jim Leyland, Joe Maddon, Mike Scioscia, Bruce Bochy, Clint Hurdle and of course Joe Girardi.  “"It stands to reason," says Tim McCarver, the catcher's catcher. "A general manager would have to be blind not to notice the success catchers have had."  And Brian Cashman is once again using his head when he graciously opened Legends Field to Jorge Posada.  He will be a quick study, because he has the disposition to lead and the experience in the game; both come to someone who has his eyes on the entire field his whole career.  Our Forever Yankee, Jorge Posada, from All-Star catcher to guest instructor to hall of famer to Yankee manager- I like that road, I like that road very much!  And we as fans like and respect Jorge Posada.  We always have.  So, what do you say, YES Network, the Jorge Posada Show in your future?  I think so!

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Opinion Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof




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