IKF HAS RE-SIGNED & HATERS ACT LIKE HE'S AWFUL OR SOMETHING

There is nothing wrong with Isiah Kiner-Falefa other than you all look at the errors he's made this season and assume he's the worst player on the Yankees.  Now stop. Just knock it off.  Errors are part of the game and while IKF made more than any other Yankee last year, only 16, it's hard to say that those 16 errors single handedly lost those 16 games and the season for the Yankees.  My point is, when you're looking for a problem with a guy, you're gonna find it, and clearly you found it in IKF. You all need to stop being haters.

IKF is a place holder. 

You know it, I know it, the Yankees know it and so does IKF.  The Yankees like him because he actually puts the bat on the ball and has a nice OBP.  He essentially could be your second lead off guy by putting him if the 9-hole if Boone would do it correctly, but of course he doesn't. 

Now, Anthony Volpe is coming down the tunnel soon. Plus, if we really want to be greedy, we can make an argument that we need someone like Trea Turner at short, but that's not going to happen. And so, IKF will continue to man SS because he earned it, and we will wait for the other shoe to drop. But don't for one second act like this guy is no good. 

When news broke the other day that the Yankees signed IKF to a one-year deal worth 6 million, ya'll acted like it was your money. Really guys?  

Now look, when it comes to work ethic, IKF is right there. He's disciplined, works his tail off and actually does a pretty decent job offensively. 

You guys all like the rob this guy of his integrity when he's in the field defensively, but I am telling you my opinion here... IKF is actually solid, and he is there until Volpe is ready... that's the bottom line.

So, what do we do? Embrace this guy.  

Let him flourish in the Bronx in what looks like his last season. I mean, I don't remember you guys EVER giving a guy like Dean Anna so much shit at shortstop back in 2014 and that dude only played 12 games in the Bronx.  

I mean sure, Jeter was right there and made his way back, but Anna was playing over his head, we all knew it at the time, and no one was riding this guy.  In fact, back then the Yankees beat the fans to the punch and designated him for assignment. But fans were NOT crying for him to be moved like they are IKF. 

For some reason everyone likes to ride IKF. He just must have that face or something. But the bottom line is this... IKF can and will be the SS never season... until the Yankees see otherwise... so just embrace it. Trust me, there are plenty more things wrong with the Yankees than IKF and it starts with the manager.

PRAYERS FOR SOLARTE

Sad news for former Yankee and great guy Yangervis Solarte.  His wife has passed away due to complications to cancer.

Many are reporting this this morning.  In fact, former BYB writer and friend Frank Gentry reminded me about it this morning and so, we want to bring our report to the BYB audience:

Wife of Padres infielder Yangervis Solarte dies after battle with cancer https://t.co/QXt5r5lVQI via @YahooSports @BleednYankeeBlu

— T. Frank Gentry (@yankeefrank23) September 19, 2016

After reading in, we can report the sad news here. Yahoo Sports writes:

"...manager Andy Green fought back tears while announcing that Yuliette Solarte, the wife of infielder Yangervis Solarte, had died at age 31 due to complications from her fight against cancer.

Yangervis Solarte arrived with the team in Colorado on Friday and was scheduled to be in the lineup. However, he was summoned home to be with his wife and their three daughters — Yanliett, Yuliett and Yulianna — in Florida, when her condition worsened.

'What his family is going through, our thoughts and prayers are with him,' Green said of Solarte’s absence on Friday. 'He’s going through stuff that’s more important than baseball at this point.'”

So true, and no you have to wonder what will happen to Solarte and his career. Not that that matters, but he needs to be there for his kids.  Such a hard situation.

 I loved the infield combo of Solarte and Dean Anna a few years ago on the Yanks.  I felt like they brought energy to the team and so, while I was in the minority, I was sad to see Solarte and Anna go.  

Whatever the case, prayers now for the Solarte family.  It's a tough, tough situation.

 

REFSNYDER SENT DOWN & WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Look, Rob Refsnyder had a few bad days.  Doesn't matter.  He will improve. He's still a youth member trying to get up to the Majors and when the Yankees decided that Starlin Castro was the  2nd baseman,  it was pretty clear that they had no future plans for Ref at 2nd, and so, they tried him as a backup third baseman.

Nothing wrong with that. Refsnyder's such a gamer, he would have washed jock straps if it meant he could be on the big team.  And so, he took grounders at 3rd and made it his priority.  When you're a kid, you do whatever the team wants of you.  But you know what? It didn't work out... not now at least.  Rob Refsnyder was sent to Triple A.  He'll keep working, he'll keep pushing himself and I will bet we see him sometime this year.  Nothing wrong with this... he wasn't ready.

According to several sources, but we'll go with the New York Post with this:

"The Yankees took a look at Refsnyder, a second baseman, at third when camp opened because Dustin Ackley, the other backup infielder, plays only first and second.

Jace Peterson, Gordon Beckham and Andres Blanco are infielders with short and third experience who could be had if the Yankees don’t believe Pete Kozma or Ronald Torreyes, who are in camp, can handle the job.

'The utility guys we have in camp, it will come down to one of those guys,' Joe Girardi said.

But there is a chance the player will arrive by trade.

'That’s always a possibility,' Girardi said. 'My thought is that it will come out of this camp, but it’s a possibility. You never know what is going to happen at the end of camp.'”

Now I'm a big Beckham fan, but I just don't see them going outside of the team to snag a 3rd baseman.  Who knows, maybe they will, but much like when Dean Anna and Yangervis Solarte were with the team a few years ago... sometimes the Yanks just stick with what they have, and guys like Torreyes and Kozma will most likely be those guys.

Whatever the case, Ref is down now.  And we need to move on.  Opening Day is almost here folks... I can't wait.

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THE CHRIS YOUNG DILEMMA

OK, it's not really a dilemma... I'm being dramatic.

I was never a big fan of Chris Young... until I saw the guy bring an energy to the Yankees I haven't seen in 2014 since Yangervis Solarte and Dean Anna.  I love the believer ladies and gentlemen... I think that's been well established on BYB at this point.  So when Chris Young suggested he would be thrilled to return to the Yankees... I smiled... I like hearing stuff like that:

“I’m really happy that I did get this opportunity to come here, in this environment, in as big of a year as it’s been for the Yankees... To be surrounded by that, I’ve been able to create memories that’ll last a lifetime. Every little bit helps, for sure. I’m really grateful for that...

I got a chance to play in his last game at Yankee Stadium and I think that’s something I’ll remember forever... It’s a good story to tell your kids one day...This is a great organization.  I’ve had a great time while I was here and I’m completely open to everything.”

We were grateful to have you, Chris.

But I ask you all... how did the player that was so hyped when he was signed by the Mets, fail so horribly in Queens, only to be so electric in the Bronx? What was it and how do we bottle it so the rest of the veterans feel that inspiration in 2015?

Plus, you gotta think about the outfield situation, the 4th outfield spot, and my guy, Ichiro Suzuki. A player I loved since the Seattle Mariner days... How would he fit in in the Yankees decided to re-sign a guy like Chris Young?

You have to assume that the Yankees would only have 1 spot available for the outfield. If that's the case, I would love to sign Ichiro to a 2 year deal, allow him to closer to that 3000 hit mark, and have Young on the back burner, bringing him up from Scranton, if needed to supply that extra energy.  But would Young want that? Doubtful. Plus, you have to also assume that teams that saw Young in September understand that his Mets months were a fluke.  Young could probably go anywhere at this point... right? I know, I'm thinking out loud at this point... and rambling...

So I ask you... would you sign Chris Young as our 4th outfielder... or would it be Ichiro?  Take our poll on the BYB page.   We'll do a write up about it as soon as the poll is over and chat about the results.  I know, there is that overwhelming audience that suggests we cut guys like Young and Ichiro loose and just go younger.  I get that.  But I believe guys like Young and Ichi still have something left in the tank.

Let me know what you think.

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ELIMINATED!

Sure, be mad.  It shouldn't surprise anyone.  As my friend Delia tweeted today... this year we kinda knew this was happening in August.  It makes it alittle easier I guess.

In theory, our Yankee club had the ability to climb mountains and challenge other clubs to win a championship.  But we seemed doomed from the start. 

Injury killed our rotation... and when replaced, guys like Brandon McCarthy, Chris Capuano, David Phelps, Shane Greene and the always reliable Hiroki Kuroda stepped up big time.  That's a ballclub. That's teamwork. You can't fault them.  Out bullpen was superior, doing much better than anyone expected too.

But it was the Yankee offense that literally buried us game after game.  I got on the guys pretty good and I'm tired of being mad.  Brian McCann struggled at the plate, but I give him a helluva lot of credit for having to learn the first pitching staff just to have to stop and do it all over with the new one. 

Alot of the guys were supposed to do big things this year, but many didn't.  There were glimpses of energy which I personally enjoyed watching.  Dean Anna and Yangervis Solarte were fun, but they didn't stick around.  Brett Gardner not only interviewed with Bleeding Yankee Blue this year, but he had a terrific season providing energy to our club. I love Ichiro off the bench and he filled in and did everything asked of him, but who knows if he'll want to be a bench player again with the Yanks, or if he'll try to find a club where he can play full time to get his 3000 hits in the Major Leagues.  And Derek Jeter, the Captain, the leader.. he did his best and did it well as always. 

I'm not going after Girardi here. I'm not going after Long or Rothschild or Cashman or the Steinbrenners. You know where I stand.  If you don't, type their names in the BYB archive and find out how I feel.  Again... I'm tired of being mad. 

I was going to do a recap in this space, but I'm not. The Yankees didn't make the playoffs for 2 years in a row.  That's all you need to know. In the past, we'd hear "Changes will be made". In reality, changes should be made. Who knows what will happen.  All I know if Jeter didn't deserve this.  It's a damn shame.

Final today: Orioles 9 - Yankees 5

Finally, let me say this... and this goes back to the character and class of Derek Jeter, something bonehead Keith Olbermann doesn't understand (Read JETER IS A GREAT ROLE MODEL FIRST, A GREAT PLAYER NEXT.) When asked if Jeter would play the series in Boston, he simply said he couldn't think that far ahead. He was just preparing for tomorrow's game.  Always the professional. Unbelievable work ethic.  I applaud you, brother.  You make us proud, Derek. Thanks for being you and thanks for being a great role model to my kids.

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HAVE GUTS!

I sent a note to one of my writers this morning about writing a piece for me. She wrote me back, “I can do it… I have guts.”  It sounds crazy, but I got chills. I love that mentality, and it’s a mentality we have not seen from this Yankee club.

Guts.

Often people will say, “What would George do?” Referring to Mr. Steinbrenner and the state and struggles of this current club.  Yup, if he saw this club play the way they are right now, he’d been kicking and screaming like a maniac.  But let’s be honest, George is gone and we can’t think that way any longer.

As I reflect on this terrible season of offensive blunders, I think back to past leaders of our club. Jorge Posada. Andy Pettitte. Mariano Rivera. Bernie Williams. And yes, our Captain, Derek Jeter. It’s a much different time these days, isn’t it? Sure, Derek Jeter leads by example, but Jeter can’t do it alone these days.  There is no question that this staff of veteran hitters don’t have much regard for Kevin Long or Joe Girardi, even though they say they do.  They don't want to change. They feel as though they can do it "their way." Well... it's not working.

We have problems, and we need leadership desperately.  No… not for this season, this season is embarrassing and just about done. We need it for our future.

It’s clear Brian Cashman has been exposed.  Now, while I have never been a Cashman hater, something needs to happen. Sure, in the past, he’s brought us some pretty great players. He’s also brought us some major duds.  But think about what we have. We had a pretty happy off season and picked up some pretty high profile players.  Jacoby Ellsbury. Brian McCann.  Masahiro Tanaka. 

We even signed Carlos Beltran which, to me personally, looked more like a wink and a nod and a “We’ll sign you because you want to be here, and then you can retire a Yankee” type of signing.  Let me state for the record that watching Carlos Beltran play is the true definition of "old."  I don’t like him in our outfield and I think he’s overrated.  You could disagree and that’s OK, but I don’t need a Beltran home run in 1 – 20 at bats if he does absolutely nothing in between.  He’s no longer a good player. Give me Ichiro into his 50's… at least Suzuki looks like he wants to be there!

Now, Masahiro Tanaka got hurt, and that sucks, but we need to deal with that.  Ellsbury has been OK for us and I’m not unhappy with him.  Brian McCann has been pretty terrible at the plate. You’d think with that short porch he’d be launching them out… but he’s not. 

Sure, he’s done great things with the Yankee pitching staff and the turnover and for that, I’m grateful, but he’s not Munson-like. He’s not even Posada-like… he’s more like Wynegar-Like.

I’ve heard every argument. “The Yankees were thrown a curve. Bad injuries.” Really? Every team has injuries… move on, you need to play through it. It builds character! 

“We had pitching problems, give them a break.” The pitching isn’t the problem, Sunshine, stop saying that. It's the offense that's the problem.

“Mark Teixeira is battling through his wrist injury.” Not buying it, Counselor. Tex has been on the decline the past few years now. Look at the numbers.

One thing did pop into my mind though.  Alex Rodriguez could have helped this club this season.  I am of the belief that the ARod suspension screwed the Yankees partially.  Yup, many of you hate him, but it’s my belief that if Alex was in the lineup, we’d have offensive pop and alittle more energy.  PEDs or no PEDs, he hit the damn ball, and an argument can be made that Bud Selig single-handily sabotaged this Yankee club in 2014. Sure, there's the other argument that ARod did it to himself... and his team and I get that. Yes, what ARod did was wrong, but dozens and dozens have done the same.  We see 50 game suspensions handed out all day long. But not for Alex. He gets a 162 game suspension. Why? Because Selig said so.  I’ll never understand it, but there is no question that his absence has also contributed to the Yankees offensive chaos.

The media is starting their crusade against Derek Jeter too. I mean, did you read Bob Klapisch? Click HERE. Suggesting Jeter needs to “step it up” to get the Yankees to the post season. Please... are you kidding? 1 dude is supposed to carry the whole team? Of all seasons, this is the one that Jeter SHOULD be batting .265! If he was hitting .300 at age 40, I'd be thrilled, but he's in line with what's expected for his age. What Klapish says is ridiculous. Remember, Klapisch was one of the guys ripping Jeter for batting .270 a few years ago.  Then, when Jeet followed with a .297 average in 2011 and a .316 average in 2012, they gushed over him.  That’s why the media drives me crazy.  They’re not fans, they’re puppets sometimes.

Now, Klpaisch is back with a “Jeter step it up” rant.  I mean, have you looked at the averages of these Yankee players? Beltran is batting .241. Headley's hitting .238. Stephen Drew's batting .167. IT'S SEPTEMBER!  Jeter’s one of the guys near the top! Tex is batting .222.  Give me a break Klapisch… it’s clear you aren’t paying attention.

When Yankee fans get excited about Martin Prado, you know there is trouble in the Bronx.  Now, I say that as not a slight, but as a fact.  Think back to the off-season and who we picked up.  Yet, we’re rooting harder for Prado.  Why? I’ll tell you why… it goes back to my first sentence… Guts.  Prado has it.  Prado wants to be there. Prado is trying to make a difference in the short amount of time he has in New York.  That’s why I love the underdog.  Passion. Determination. Changing the routine. Guts. Prado’s a believer.  Beltran… McCann to some extent… they’re going through the motions. 

That’s why I was high on Dean Anna and Yangervis Solarte and that’s why I was disappointed when they left.  Passion.  Averages aside, the passion and guts was there, and the energy was felt among the fans.  That’s how I root. I love the believer… it takes me back to the days of the Core Four, to Bernie Williams.  Believers. Determination. Guts. It gives me chills.

Some seasons there are teams that gel and build so much confidence, it’s addictive.  Players want to play, it’s evident. Not this Yankee club.  We’re a disappointment.  Losing is addictive too.  You know what else is? Lack of Mojo.  Stale Routines.  Us... right now!

Hope is an interesting thing when it comes to fans and their clubs.  I’m losing mine quickly. There’s only 1 thing that can fix the mess we’re in right now, and it’s not going to happen with a closed door meeting with Girardi, Rothschild and Long. The players don’t respect those guys and as veterans, they don’t want to hear it from them. No.  Our players, right now, need to dig deep...real deep and they themselves need to dig out of their own hole. After all, they’re the ones who dug themselves this deep.

They need some energy, some passion… some guts.

That’s my take anyway.

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WHY WE SHOULD ALL MISS SOLARTE

It's been a couple of days since the Yankees trade Yangervis Solarte away and I've been thinking about it a lot. Now usually when the Yankees trade away a young kid usually you find me on here ranting. I admit, it is what I do. This time I am ranting....but maybe not for the reason you may think. This time, I just want people to see there were some "high" moments during his short time with us. The season is long, and it is easy to fit. So I guess this is me being a cheerleader.

Usually I am the staff writer standing on my soap box and ranting about how Brian Cashman is damaging the farm by trading away young kids for expensive veterans. I'm not going to do that this time. Instead, I just want people to reflect back to the first two months of the season. Sure, it was a very short time span but he was a huge asset to this team, he wasn't a waste. Do we want to imagine where we would've been without him? I don't. No offense but that would've meant more Kelly Johnson and I couldn't be more opposed to that idea.

The Yankees took a lot of chances this year, and they had to. With Alex Rodriguez out the left side of the infield was a scary thought. When you have a contract hog like ARod on the team, the life of a minor leaguer is bleak. You know you aren't going to get the playing time and stockpiling backup isn't going to happen because as a player you don't want to go play for a team where a superstar is blocking your path. Nobody wants to be a career minor leaguer. I really think that is why draft picks haven't wanted to sign here for so many years, hopefully that changes soon.

As the days have gone by that is how people refer to Solarte, as a career minor leaguer. In all fairness, I can understand that to a point. Solarte was with the Minnesota Twins for 7 years and never got an opportunity there. That says a lot. But life is all about seizing opportunities and it is about the journey we take. The Yankees had a lot of opportunities this year....and Solarte was lucky enough to seize one of them.

How else do you explain Solarte and Dean Anna beating out Eduardo Nunez for a spot on the team? The Yankees saw something in him. They saw his drive, his will to succeed and his passion. How can you not like that? The Yankees could have easily stuck with what was safe and familiar in Nunez, but they didn't and if they hadn't given Solarte the opportunity then we would've missed some great moments.

April and May had some amazing moments for Solarte, and he carried the team for awhile. I remember the game on April 8th Solarte hit two doubles, and became the first player since 1900 to hit 6 doubles in 7 games. That's a huge victory right there! Think about all of the amazing hitters in this game....and a career minor leaguer accomplished that and not a seasoned veteran?

What about Solarte's game winning homerun against a very tough Milwaukee Brewers team? He drove in three runs that ended up being the deciding factor to the game. That's called being clutch. He was making things happen at the plate when no one else was. And what about his homerun during the Subway Series at Citi Field? Anytime you can do damage against the Mets means it is a good day. It's a moment he is never going to forget and neither will I.




I have to admit though my favorite moments were playing against the Rays at Tropicana field. How many times as a fan do you get to watch a 5-4-3 Triple Play against your rival? He started that play! As if that wasn't enough in the same game he comes back and hits his first big league homerun against Grant Balfour. If that isn't a storybook ending I don't know what is!

Solarte was the April and May superstar for not only this team....but in the American League. In May he had the highest batting average in the league and was also amongst the leaders for best on-base percentage. He was playing great baseball. If he didn't have that run there is no telling where the Yankees would be right now because he was feasting while others were struggling. It's how the game works. Was it fair to expect him to keep this up all season? No, especially not when seasoned veterans weren't doing it. He slumped at a bad time and we needed production at third base.

I understand why the Yankees went out and got Chase Headley. I can't say I won't miss having Solarte on the team. I loved the passion he played with. He is more than "a career minor leaguer." He is a kid looking for a chance. We are all looking for that shot in life. If the Yankees weren't going to give him another shot then I am glad he may have that opportunity in San Diego.

We all dream big, and it's his time to shine and I believe he is going to when a team gives him a shot. So thank you, Solarte. You helped carry the Yankees for awhile and we haven't forgotten that. I wish you luck, because I believe you have a bright future and I only hope I don't  see you years from now having success against the Yankees because then I really will have to rant about it.




 --Jeana Bellezza, BYB Senior Writer and Editor
Twitter: @NyPrincessJ


 
 
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THOUGHTS ON CHASE HEADLEY: YANKEE FANS SPEAK

(In Photo: Chase Headley)
I have never spoke negatively about a player in the major leagues when it comes to talent and ability.  I don't care to say a player's "trash" or "no good." Why? Because it's hard to climb the ladder to get to the major leagues and it's harder to stay there.

Making it to the majors is a huge achievement, and what happens next is up to you. Over time, fan's view you in certain ways.  For me personally, I have opinions of players, but I question what they bring to the table, usually because I'm protective of what we have.  I might be different than many of you, because I physically feel for these guys out there on the field.

 I know for instance that Yangervis Solarte and Dean Anna were career minor leaguers, but it's the heart and drive they have that won me over.  I understand average or home runs stats... maybe even their OPS, I mean, I'm not a dummy, but for me, it's the grind, the journey and I feel for them.  Sure, many of you will suggest it's the wrong way to be a fan. I simply ask... Why? What do you care how I feel? And by the way, it's not wrong... it's me.

The last time I felt for a bunch of youngsters with a hope and a dream, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada were in the system.  They have won 5 championships since then.  My point is we root for the underdog, and we respect the grind... and that's OK.

I wrote a knee jerk reaction piece about the Chase Headley trade yesterday.  It wasn't about Headley and his ability.  It was about the decision the Yankees made to flip someone like Yangervis Solarte for him. I didn't like it, and while Solarte was an easy move, I still didn't want it.  As Kurt, a BYB reader wrote yesterday on Facebook:

An interesting observation for sure, and that was my point in my post titled: PANIC EXPOSED! SOLARTE TRADED FOR HEADLEY. The move to get Headley to New York was perfectly fine, but I wanted my emotion to run the post, not the stat side. That's what BYB is and that's what some of you don't seem to understand.  We're driven by fan opinion and emotion, and that's why BYB is important, because you can make your statements, and we'll talk about it after.  The dialog and the passion is important for the fans, and raw emotion, a rant, is good.

Mister D wrote brilliantly yesterday, responding to my post:

"Yankees are not pulling in a player without downside with what they have to give up. Will be forever grateful of Solarte's great month, but that's all it was and there is no reason to believe he'll be a valuable piece in the future... Headley is a rental, but immediately upgrades the defense. So long as the money doesn't stop the Yankees from making any moves this is a marginal 2014 upgrade with only a marginal cost in the future."

All good and professional and I think we actually agree.  Here's another; Travis likes to throw stats out there... which is perfectly fine, but Bleeding Yankee Blue doesn't do that... you know that, but here it is anyway:

"God, what an awful article. It's like you didn't take into consideration the facts that Solarte is 27 years old, not 22, has spent over 8 years in the minors, and has been released by two organizations prior to being signed by the Yankees.  

Solarte is not a diamond in the rough. He was a nice story the first month of the season. Month of June? He hit .164. Month of July? He hit .118. The league figured him out, and he was CLEARLY over matched. 

Headley is only 30 years, and has way more experience. He is a true everyday player, and not a utility guy like Solarte. His defense is VASTLY superior, and his offense will likely prove to be also. After a slow start, Headley is hitting .323 in his last 70 ABs. Plus, this is not 'more of the same' as the organization is not tied to a large contract at the end of this season.

Great move from the Yankees all the way around. Gave up nothing for a sure-fire defensive replacement, and a very likely offensive boost. Absolute-worst case scenario Headley somehow winds up hitting .150, and even then they break even with what they were getting from Solarte."

Travis and I spar. His words appear abrasive, but he means nothing by it. Truth be told Headley is good defensively and guess what, he IS more of the same, despite what Travis says.  The truth is saying a player has way more experience than Solarte is fine, but so does the entire Yankee lineup, and they still can't score runs consistently.  And that goes back to my point. While I want the Yankees to win, and from the look of their lineup, they should be able to win mightily. What does it matter is it's Headley, Solarte, Willis or Tommy Musclewitz.  1 player does NOT make or break a team. 

Solarte may have been batting .164, but half the team is batting around .250. Solarte may have batted .118 in July, but he only had 17 at bats.  Truth be told, I root for players, and Headley will be just fine in the Bronx, but we don't know if he'll offer anything. In fact, no one knows... not even Travis or Suzyn Waldman. We're rolling the dice like we would do with any player we acquire. You know that, and I know that.  At the end of the day, was it truly a bad trade? Nope, but I'm disappointed.  Many of you, including Travis, forgot BYB is about emotion, not Sabermetrics.  But don't worry, I ain't mad at ya.

Frank Gentry, a former BYB writer wrote this of the trade:

@BleednYankeeBlu @SupermanRob2914 @BeckyMcGilroy People remember Headley for what he was rather than what he has become #Injured #Unreliable
— T. Frank Gentry (@yankeefrank23) July 22, 2014

A really great point and I remember 2012 well.  Headley was great then and that's in the back of my mind. I mean, can Headley prove his worth as a rental in the Bronx? I think it's safe to say we all hope so.

How about Steve's comment:

"This Yankee fan is completely fine with this deal (not even close to angry). There is a reason Solarte has been in the minors for 8 years. Headley won't set the world on fire and ultimately may not even be an upgrade..but they gave up NOTHING. I like your passion..."

Good comment and nothing I disagree with. Again, my original post was written in the heat of the moment... on purpose. I like the players that suit up in pinstripes. I learned to enjoy Solarte and again, I was disappointed in him being traded, much like I was disappointed when Dean Anna was sent down.  I like their passion, them believing in themselves, and sure, you may disagree with it, but that's me... that's BYB.

Right this second, Chase Headley's a Yankee.  And guess what, it's not a bad thing, especially after last night's walk-off.  Did I like the Yankees choice of players to ship out? Nope. But will I get over it? Already did. What's my point to all of this? I appreciate my readers. You make it fun, the dialog is terrific... and I thank you all for keeping us going.  But for all of you that think we're gonna "wow" you with stats and be like the other blogs... Well, we're not and we never will be.

Bleeding Yankee Blue is driven by raw emotion and fandom.  If we wanted to be like the others, you would have never found us.  At least now you know we're alive and well... and different.

That's the key word...DIFFERENT.

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!