NOW THE YANKEES BASICALLY GAVE AWAY BUCK SHOWALTER TO THE METS

Source: Associated Press

The New York Mets have narrowed their managerial prospects to three finalists for 2022 and the short list includes former Yankee manager and YES analyst Buck Showalter. As of Saturday, Showalter is new Mets Manager. Now in my crazy head, I thought that the Yankees would swoop up Showalter to pair with Aaron Boone in the the clubhouse, enabling a duo like Joe Torre-Don Zimmer - a powerful winning combination that lead the Yankees to several championships. But in true fashion for the Yankees in this off season, they are too late to the table, giving yet another opportunity away to an opposing team.

"Showalter would bring a celebrity element to the position that the Mets haven’t seen since Bobby Valentine managed the team two decades ago. He also would break a string of first-timers hired by the Mets that includes Mickey Callaway, Carlos Beltran and Rojas, following Terry Collins’ departure after the 2017 season. Showalter, since leaving the Orioles following the 2018 season, has interviewed for managerial openings with the Phillies and Angels. He has kept himself visible as an analyst on MLB Network and YES," reported the New York Post.

Source: NJ.com

Sigh. Do something, please, Brian Cashman. Not only were the Yankees silent during the first round of free agency, they are letting great players and now a winning manager who could serve as an incredibly, experienced baseball expert in the ear of unpolished unseasoned Boone. If we are in fact stuck with Boone, at least pair him with the likes of Showalter, please. But no, as of Saturday afternoon, Showalter is headed across town.

"Player agents who continue to believe that once baseball business is reopened, Hal Steinbrenner’s team will be among the more aggressive teams -- and in particular, might revisit conversations with the representatives of (Carlos) Correa and (Trevor) Story," reported NJ.com. 

Source: CBS Sports

Movement on players is surely number 1. but one cannot underestimate the value of good coaching, and having a guy like Showalter interested in coming back to the dugout is just the kind of spark this team needs. Showalter certainly was not a shoe-in for the Mets job, although if you ask their newest most expensive acquisition Max Scherzer, he welcomes the likes of Showalter with open arms. So now that the Mets made their decision, the Yankees need to consider bringing in experience to parallel Boone's lack of it. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

BOONE NEEDS TO BONE UP AND GET TOUGH

Source: Charles Wenzelberg (2)

I was as shocked as you were last night.  The game was disappointing to say the least. The Savages came home to the Bronx with the sole intent of taking care of business, but instead were handed their hat and first home loss of this postseason.  I reflected on the loss, which I watched from a Chicago bar on Tuesday night, and after careful thinking and reading, there are a number of reasons why the Yankees simply did not have what they needed to take Game 3.

"It's obviously a little frustrating we weren't able to break through with [Gerrit Cole]. We gave ourselves a chance, [but] he made big pitches when he had to. We weren't able to break through. We weren't able to get that hit tonight to really allow us to be in that game or even grab a lead at some point," reported CBS Sports.

Source: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.

Particularly frustrating is Gary Sanchez's sub-par performance. Truthfully, he is taking up space in a fiery line up, going completely hitless and currently batting .095 for the postseason.  His passed ball in last night's game didn't help matters as it enabled the Astros to increase their lead to 3-0. Boone says he staying with him despite his lackluster performance.  I simply do not agree.

Yet, it is not just Sanchez who is under performing.  Adam Ottavino has been completely ineffective in his role from the bull pen.  He gets himself into trouble with walks and not having the sharp pitches we have seen him make during the regular season.

Source: NY Times

"Ottavino has allowed nine of the 16 batters he has faced to reach safely in these playoffs. The only time he has lasted to pitch a full inning was when the Yankees led the Twins by seven runs and the Astros by five. That feels like his role for now. But Boone has kept insisting that the Yankees can’t get where they want to go — think Canyon of Heroes — without Ottavino getting big outs," reported the NY Post.

He has been a dud, like his catcher and if they can't hack it, Boone really needs to make some tough decisions as Joe Torre did when the Yankees were fighting for championships in the late 1990s and early part of the 2000s.

“Zim taught me that during the postseason you can have no patience,” Torre said of his then bench coach Don Zimmer. Torre shared with Post writer Joel Sherman that "you don't make friends during the postseason; you try to win ball games." Torre made the hard decisions to bench players when they were not performing as expected. Boone needs to make these decisions too and if he doesn't, he is putting the team in jeopardy of moving on beyond the ALCS.

Source: Sports Illustrated

The likelihood of a delay of game or a full out rain out for tonight's game is probable.  The forecast is calling for rain and specifically heavy rain just before first pitch.  I am not sure this is advantageous for the Yankees, but you can't control the weather.  What you can control is who you put in the lineup.  And Boone needs to do some heavy thinking today and later tonight in order to put his team in the best position to tie and eventually win this series.  Bone up Boone and do the right thing.

Let's Go!

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

JOSH BARD IS A YANKEE NOW APPARENTY

Source: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images North America

We have a bench coach boys and girls, and his name is Josh Bard. Aaron Boone wants his friend by his side... kind of like Torre and Zimmer...

New York Daily News writes:

"Josh Bard, a former catcher and teammate of Aaron Boone’s, will be the Yankees bench coach, The News has confirmed. Bard, 39, will presumably be charged with trying to improve Gary Sanchez's defense."

(Aug. 12, 2011 - Source: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images North America)

Above is Bard is action in 2011. Nice!

Now I like this, and I'll tell you why.  Sanchez and his defense is horrendous!  Ha!

Anyway, let's welcome Bard. I kind of like the move. Anything to make newcomer Aaron Boone comfortable.

THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS YOU DON'T DO!

This week Steve Weatherford, former punter for the New York Giants, stated very firmly that he would never even consider playing for division rival and city neighbor the Philadelphia Eagles.

When I talk with friends and readers about what teams I would root for if the NY Yankees, NY Giants or Notre Dame Fighting Irish were not playing, I have a hard time answering them or even taking them seriously.  I don't like any other teams, really.  And there are other teams I just simply hate or as Jim Carrey said as the Grinch, "Hate, hate, hate...hate, hate, hate, double hate- LOATHE entirely."  

So when guys come from the Boston Red Sox make the choice to join the Bronx Bombers, I wonder how they do it.  I could not just morph into a Red Sox fan if I moved to Boston.  I mean, I lived in Boston for a couple of years as a graduate student at Boston University and it was very clear that I was a Yankee fan.  How did Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Tony Pena (as a coach), Don Zimmer (as a coach) and more recently, Jacoby Ellsbury do it?  Did they sell their soul to the devil or maybe they had a come to Jesus moment and realized that they had been misplaced from the start?

There was a lot of banter about where would Tom Coughlin go after he resigned from the New York Giants earlier this month after holding the title of head coach for 12 years.  Weatherford's point was that Coughlin would never go to the Eagles.  They are like poison; they are like us and the Red Sox.

There are just certain things you don't do in life and in sports.  One of these things is go and play for a rival team.  As a reporter for Fox Sports said, "Many teams are hesitant to make trades with their division rivals, not wanting the player they gave up on to come back and haunt them for 19 games per season, or in the case of trading a young prospect, for years into the future. Shipping a player across the country, or even to the other league, minimizes the chances that your home town fans will be regularly reminded that not every trade works out in your favor."

So, your second favorite team, your alternate team, your second best team is really just a contingency plan that you really don't want to ever want to take on ever.  And that fierce competitor, antagonist, enemy, division rival; you never sell out for in sports and in life. There are just certain things you don't do; I guess unless your agent tells you that you have to and the money is greener on the dark side.

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





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CELEBRATING IS GREAT FOR BASEBALL. TAUNTS ARE NOT

There’s been a ton of chatter recently about good and bad sportsmanship in this great game of baseball. For several months, we've heard of different antics. You remember the Melky Cabrera crotch chop toward the Atlanta crowd when he was a San Francisco Giant and about Carlos Gomez when he flipped his bat last season?

That resulted in a brawl and a shiner on Travis Snider’s face and a lot of suspensions and Russell Martin wanting to fight the world.  Why did it really have to get that bad? We’re animals, aren’t we?

The latest comes from Junior Lake of the Cubs just the other day.  He hit a monster home run for the Cubs, down 6-0 against the Marlins. But then he watched it, and then he flipped his bat, and then, as he was rounding third, he looked in the Marlins dugout and told them to "shhhhh". That didn't go over too well. Here's the video:




A taunt. Kind of classless, and the bench clearing that followed... well, it's kind of expected with that behavior, isn't it?

Look, I love the celebration, but here’s what I hate; I hate when players crank one and are standing in the batter’s box just watching it sail away. To me, as your opponent, that's a showboat and I will go high and tight on you.  I hated when Melky Cabrera crotch chopped in Atlanta. It showed his immaturity. Hell, this isn't even a "celebration" but to this day, I still think that throwing Don Zimmer to the ground, no matter how crazy that old man seemed in that moment, was totally out of line. When you are in the moment, you really need to NOT let your emotions get the best of you. Be a ballplayer, show respect, show class.  Know the line when having your celebration, you know what I mean?

Celebrating in baseball has been going on for decades, and there is nothing better than true excitement sometimes. Seeing Joe Carter jumping up and down when the Blue Jays won is legit, justified, genuine and amazing for this great game.

I can even fall in love with the Rafael Soriano “Untuck”.  It’s the “Game over, we won  and I’m going home” razzing that I can get on board with. That's because these examples have essentially "ended" the competition.  If we didn’t have that type of celebrating, how much fun would baseball be? How much fun would any sport be for that matter?

Look at Ali and boxing for example. Muhammad Ali was a trash talker, but he put his money where his mouth was.  He intimidated his opponent. He taunted them, but he backed it up and yes, he was the greatest.  Fernando Rodney’s arrow in the air after a win and a save? Hey, I don’t personally like it, but it should be allowed... it's in the "Untuck" category.

You want to dance in the end zone after a big touchdown, I say go for it. But if you're pointing at your opponent, maybe giving him the “I’m gonna slit your throat” symbol, well, that’s gangsta shit.  Don’t do that. You will get your ass kicked.  Junior Lake and his "shhhhh" goes into that category... it's the same thing.

Celebrating in sports, in baseball… well, there’s a fine line. If you’re not threatening anyone, be it a fan, opposing team, go for it.  The moment you’re in someone’s face telling them you’re “gonna kick their ass" or taunting... it's just bad sportsmanship. It's JV.

That's why you  gotta love Jeet.  He was all class. I’m a fan of the fist pump. It's classic.  Derek Jeter did it a lot. It’s contained, meaning, it’s the feeling of celebration without shoving it in the face of the opponent. It’s a team achievement, maybe a personal one.  It's a stepping stone… one game at a time.  By the time the championship is over, go nuts. But if you're crotch chopping toward the other dugout, "shhhing" the other team to make an empty point, well... you’re an idiot.  In a championship, many times there are sad faces in the loser’s dugout. Some refuse to watch the celebration. Others will stare at it, sad, annoyed and wondering what went wrong.  But those guys know, that’s the game, especially after it's over.

We are baseball fans. We are savages, but we understand the game of baseball and what competition is.  We love our characters, but we also respect the game.  What started out as a bat flip from Carlos Gomez last year turned into a mess. It didn’t have to be.  Next time Junior Lake homers... let's hope he remembers to respect the game and respect the opponent, or I'm pretty sure he'll get one between the numbers.

Celebration is fine. It's the arrogance, the taunt that I just don't get.

I don't know... I just needed to get that off my chest I guess.

 


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THE RAYS DID SOMETHING GREAT FOR DON ZIMMER'S LEGACY

It's a tip cap to the Tampa Bay Rays this morning, and a small nugget you may not have seen if you only follow Yankee news.  Turns out the Rays will be retiring the late Don Zimmer's number 66. Job well done.

According to the Associated Press:

" Tampa Bay Rays will honor former longtime senior adviser Don Zimmer by retiring uniform No. 66 before their April 6 season opener against Baltimore.

Zimmer spent 11 years with the Rays, from 2004-14. It was his longest stint in his 66 years with 14 major league teams as a player, coach, manager or adviser.

 ... The Rays have retired only two other numbers. Wade Boggs' No. 12 was retired in 1999, and Jackie Robinson's No. 42 was retired by all teams in 1997."

Zimmer played on the Brooklyn Dodgers with Jackie. Unbelievable to think about because it was a long, long time ago, but Zimmer has been a baseball man forever and the honor is fitting.

Hey Yanks... remember all those plaques that your giving away? Put Zimmer on the list, he earned it. Do it... like, right now! He was instrumental in many of those Yankee championships during the Torre Era. Have we forgotten?

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!  Also, don't forget to check out the BYB Hub!

MEET THE BYB FAMILY: INTERVIEW WITH MIKE O'HARA

It's been a while since we did the MEET THE FAMILY SERIES, but we continue it today with a guy with alot of heart and alot of dreams.  It's Mike O'Hara and he's one of our top writers here at Bleeding Yankee Blue.  If anyone knows BYB, they know it because of Mike's great work.  He brings alittle extra spunk to his stuff, and we are happy to have him here.

You have read about our other writers on BYB over the past few months.  Be sure to check out everyone so far.... just click and read away:

• Meet Erica
• Meet Ike
• Meet Jeana
• Meet Steve
• Meet Suzie

 But now it's time for 'O'Hara', as I call him.  It's Mike O'Hara and he's a member of the BYB Family...

BYB: O'Hara, when do you remember being a true Yankee fan? Who was the player and why was it the Yankees?

Mike O'Hara: I was born into this thing.  My Dad was a big Yankee fan as a kid and would go to games with my grandfather.  I guess if I had to pinpoint one moment, it would be when I was 6 years old.  I was at the Stadium with my Dad and some of his buddies from work.  In the 7th, John Osborne, one of my father's closest friends, took me down to the lower level. I remember he spoke to the section attendant (possibly slipping him a 10 spot) and we walked right down near the on deck circle.  Ozzie, as I knew him, put me on his shoulders and said, "There he is, Mikey! Call him, buddy!"  It was #44, my hero, Reggie Jackson.  I built up all the courage I could and yelled, "Reggie! Reggie!"  Crouched on one knee Reggie gave a quick turn, looked at me and gave me the thumbs up.  I was forever a New York Yankee fan.

BYB: I love that story you tell of Graig Nettles and your little league team at the time, the Cubs. Briefly tell the audience about that, and to follow-up, have you seen Nettles since?

Mike O'Hara: Nettles was the best.  I used to imitate pounding my glove like him and bouncing back to third after the ump ruled George Brett's bat was loaded with pine tar.  I loved the way he played.  The outstretched dive to snag a liner.  

The way he'd crush a dinger into the Bronx night on the WPIX telecast. He just played with his heart.  When I was in Little League I got to meet Mr. Nettles after a game to grab an autograph.  I was wearing my team cap...the Cubs.  Graig asked, "Cubbie fan, Mike?" 

I explained that it was the team I played for and they we were pretty lousy.  Nettles smiled and said, "Play your game and maybe you'll get traded." I haven't run into Graig since, but that's a moment I'll always remember.

BYB: What's with the hate for Mark Teixeira? Is it the contract or him?

Mike O'Hara: For the record, I don't hate Mark Teixeira.  What I know of him off the field, it seems that he is a class act and a nice guy.  But like I always say, my uncle Paul is a nice guy and I don't want him hitting 3rd or 4th for the Yanks either.  Tex was a great player...WAS.  By is own admission he is in "decline".  WHAT? Who says that? Then quit!  Tex just never seemed like a Yankee to me.  Yes, the contract is ridiculous, but it just seems like he doesn't get it.  The shift KILLS him...but slap one the other way to get on? NO! Not Tex.  That is awful.  He is not a switch hitter any longer.  He should STOP doing that knockoff "Foul Territory" thing, stop telling us that he is off sugar and that he is a slow starter and JUST. HIT. THE. BALL!  Again, I don't wish him ill personally and cheer when he does come through, but I'll be happy when he is no longer on the roster. Sorry, Tex.

BYB: When did you first read BYB and think 'Hey, I like these guys'. Do you remember the piece that sucked you in?

Mike O'Hara: I had to be on the web quite a bit when I did the Fan Cave thing.  I needed to present myself as an all around baseball fan, which I am. But I had to play down the fact that I was a die hard Yankee fanatic.  I would look for stuff on the Bombers in the Internet.  Just something for myself.  I found BYB and was hooked.  I can't say it was one particular post, I just remember checking in everyday to read what was up.  The voice sounded like me.  There was a personal side.  It wasn't stat geeks throwing 'WAR' around.  The pieces read as if the authors just loved to watch Yankee baseball and maybe even played a bit.  There was a human side.  And baseball is a human game.  I remember hoping you would allow me to contribute a post or two.

BYB: Explain to the BYB audience about your time with us so far. How am I doing as 'Skip'?

Mike O'Hara: I've really enjoyed writing for BYB.  Everyone that contributes to the site seem like great folks.  Their posts are always a good read, whether you're a Yankee fan or not.  There is a great back and forth and it isn't loaded with the snark and venom that social media usually breeds.  Skip, you... are my pal.  I can see how much you care about what you create and for our gang.  I always like getting a text from you during a bad game.  To everyone reading, Casey and I are usually on the same page, and it makes me laugh to see that he was thinking the same thing I was.  He knows how to run a show, and I'm happy to call him 'Skip.'

BYB: Who's you're favorite of the Core Four and why?

Mike O'Hara: That is a tough one.  I can make an argument for all of them.  I will say right off that I will always be a fan of all four of these Yankees.  The Captain is an all-time favorite.  Mo and Andy are guys I'll tell future generations about as well.  But if I had to pick at this very moment, I would say Jorgie is my favorite.  I am a fan of players that play with passion.  The infamous Yanks vs. Sox playoff game, where Pedro decked Zim, made me a Jorge fan for life.  You could see his fire as he barked back at the Red Sox hurler.  Posada never wanted to come out of a game and never gave up! He was a 'win and win' always type guy.  He'd get in their face and let them know how it was done if need be.  I loved that about Jorge. HIP! HIP!

BYB: Tell us about some of the players that you really took a liking to during your him as host on MLB Fan Cave?

Mike O'Hara: That was the one thing I will always have from my time at the Cave.  I got to meet and get to know some players.  Goose Gossage was and is one of the best guys I've met.  

That was a great day and he actually did name my dog.  I wouldn't have ever believed you if you told me as a kid that that would happen one day.  Joba Chamberlain is a friend.  I wish he was still pitching in the Bronx, but Justin is just a solid guy and friend and I'll root for him wherever he is...aside from LA.  I also have to admit that I really enjoyed meeting and getting to know another Captain.  Jason Varitek is a great guy.  

He would have been an all time favorite of mine if he'd been a Yankee.  He played the game the right way.  We had a blast when he came to shoot his sketches.  I have a signed BP jersey that I will soon hang in my office from Tek.  I will do it out of respect for him and the rivalry.

BYB: Music is a big part of your life as it is mine. What bands do you listen to these days?

Mike O'Hara: I love music the way I love baseball.  I like to think my life has it's own soundtrack. Touring with a band was more fun than I can describe, the good and the bad times.  These days I listen to so many different bands.  I love Punk.  I will always have some Bouncing Souls, Dropkick Murphys, Rancid, Flatfoot56, The Ramones and The Clash on my playlists.  I also love Billy Joel, Harry Connick Jr, Sinatra, Smokey Robinson, Sam Cooke, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan.  

 I dig good hip hop.  The Beastie Boys, Run DMC, Public Enemy, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Eminem, Common and the Wu Tang.  I love to go see my buddies in The Mighty Mighty BossTones (best live show around) and the Pogues.  My mom got me hooked on the Who, Beatles, Rolling Stones and the Animals.  But right now I'm listening to a lot of Frank Turner, The Replacements and a band called Old Man Markley.

BYB: OK, you can only hang for a pint with 2 Yankees All-time and 1 other person. That person can be anyone else in your personal life or sports... but not baseball. Who are the Yankees and why... and who's that other person and why?

Mike O'Hara:  I'd grab a few pints with my all-time favorite Yankee, 'Number 21, Paul O'Neill, Number 21.'  I'd also pick my Dad's guy.  The great number 7, Mickey Mantle.  To me "The Mick" more than any other player will always symbolize Yankee baseball. I know. People will say 'what about the Babe, Lou or Joe D?' Hey, for me, it's Mickey) The other person I'd invite would be the man who made me want to be an actor, Bill Murray.  

I think the 4 of us would have a blast.  Bill knows sports and I can image that we'd laugh, talk baseball and enjoy some of Ireland's finest brew...That'd be something.

BYB: Explain the importance to you winning the BEEB in 2013. What did it mean to you?

Mike O'Hara: It was great! I really do love reading all the post on BYB and I just hoped I'd be in the mix with the rest of the writers.  They are all so unique and really write their voice on all things Yankees.  It was nice to be recognized, but in my opinion it could have gone to anyone on the staff. We'll see what happens this year.

BYB: Final question... what makes the Bleeding Yankee Blue experience great to you? Be specific.

Mike O'Hara: BYB isn't like any other sports blog site.  It mirrors the game itself.  You get a taste of personality, professionalism and playfulness.  The heart of every post may revolve around the Bronx Bombers, but that is just the beginning.  The stories almost always have a bit of the person they are written by.  We share bits and pieces of who we are and what family, friends and baseball mean to us.  You just get a well rounded product here.  It's a great club to be a part of.  It's like talking to an old friend.  People all have their lives to deal with day in and day out.  It can be hectic and stressful. But for many of us the game of baseball, New York Yankee baseball, is a way to connect and realize that no matter what we are going through, tomorrow is another game, there will be another at bat and we all have teammates that are there to pick you up when you're slumping.  It might sound a bit corny, but it's true.

O'Hara, it is an absolute pleasure to have you with us at Bleeding Yankee Blue.  You're a good friend and I appreciate you there all the time, with great stories and just to talk.  Thanks!

I hope everyone enjoyed this... who's next? You'll see soon enough.




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!  Also, don't forget to check out the BYB Hub!