CESPEDES... AND THE REST OF US

Yoenis Cespedes—the outfielder who’s half-man, half-cannon—found himself traded from the Oakland A’s to the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline for ace Jon Lester. While trade didn’t exactly help the A’s get into the playoffs, the Cespedes deal was supposed to be a signal that the BoSox were planning to improve their lineup to make a run for next year’s pennant.

Well, it now seems like the Sox have maybe lost that lovin’ feeling when it comes to the 29 year-old outfielder. The Boston Globe has reported that rumor was spreading that the Red Sox could make Cespedes available on the winter market.

Some of the motivation for this move could be Cespedes’ change in representation. He recently left Wasserman Media Group to sign a deal with Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports.

As you may remember, Jay Z’s first client was former Yankees’ second baseman Robinson Cano. After signing with the firm, Cano demanded a lofty $260 million from the Yanks. When they demurred, he found himself in Seattle with a 10-year contract worth $240 million.

Zachary Rymer has a great breakdown over at The Bleacher Report on the pros and cons of keeping Cespedes on the BoSox. The outfielder posted one of his best seasons this year with 22 homers—he also has a lot of power. Cespedes would be a great addition to a Boston outfield that’s loaded with a bunch of young and unestablished players.

However, Cespedes’ move to Roc Nation may signal that the outfielder will be jacking up his asking price—which may be more than the Red Sox are willing to pay. He is expected to earn $10.5 million next year before becoming a free agent.

His power numbers also seemed to go down after coming to Boston, which many mean Cespedes and the Green Monster may not be a good match for a lengthy contract relationship. His defense was also shaky—it was reported that the coaches “all hate” Cespedes in the lineup. Though the team has denied those comments, there certainly does seem to be a frustration from the brass about his performance. Remember, they gave up Lester, Jonny Gomes and other prospects to land this guy.

Cespedes could very well end up being traded this off-season. The BoSox would likely get quality players in return for the Cuban outfielder.

--Alexis Garcia, BYB's "Eye on MLB" Columnist
Twitter:  @heylexyg



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LESTER FOR CESPEDES: SOX & A'S FLIP

An amazing trade on the last day of the trade deadline. Lester for Cespedes...

WEEI has it here:

Trying to confirm, but hearing Lester and Gomes might be moving for Cespedes
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) July 31, 2014

Confirmed.
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) July 31, 2014

Wow.

So yeah, the Sox get quality in Yoenis Cespedes and give up Jon Lester and Jonny Gomes... no one is missing Gomes I assume.

According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports:

Source: Boston also getting a competitive balance draft pick from Oakland. Boston will send cash to the A's.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2014

So, there you have it. Lester is an Oakland A, and we get our first look at Cespedes in a Red Sox uniform tomorrow night when the Sox play the Yankees.

Carry on.

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"RUN, DUMMY!"

It took me a little while to calm down and organize my thoughts for this post. On one hand I have had the opportunity to meet and talk with David Ortiz and found him to be one hell of a good guy. He is funny, personable and overall a class act…off the field. On the other hand, I had lost my voice from screaming at the television when he pulls his classless showboating act after taking a pitcher deep. Do you remember that from the other night? It was utterly embarrassing! His trot around the base path is excruciating and the epitome of what NOT to do as a professional athlete. In the words of Durham Bulls’ Great Crash Davis, “RUN DUMMY!”

Now we all KNOW that any and all members of the Red Sox Nation who might read this will immediately dismiss it. They lose their chowdah at the thought of a Yankee fan taking their eloquent designated hitter (This is our F%#*ing City!) to the proverbial “Woodshed”. Hey, Boston, with all due respect, GET BENT! You know these same folks would collectively need blood pressure medication if an opposing power hitter marveled at his handy work at the expense of Jawny Lestah, Clay, Jake or Dubrawnt. That is as factual a statement as saying the sun rises in the East and sets in the West, gang. Boston isn’t immune to the double standard. Believe it.

So the other night Ortiz, who looked foolish in every other at bat, took new Yankee import Masahiro Tanaka deep…good for you, Papi. You are an outstanding hitter and feast off the mistakes left up in the zone. There is no denying that. You’ve been doing it for years…SO ACT LIKE YOU’VE BEEN THERE BEFORE! You don’t get style points here. Let’s go! Make it around the bases as if you have respect for the your opponent and the game. I mean when Papi does finally cross home plate and points to the sky to thank God. You can almost hear the Almighty saying, “Hey! What took you so long? I gave to two strong legs, David. Run my son!”

The Yanks won Tanaka’s Fenway debut handedly and the back-to-back dingers the young righty served up to Ortiz and Mike “Looks like an extra from the movie Gettysburg” Napoli didn’t matter in the end. But believe me when I tell you that Masahiro, and more importantly Brian McCann, won’t forget Ortiz and his lame pause in the batter’s box and sightseeing stroll around the diamond. David may have only succeeded in focusing the Yankee staff even more. Way to be, champ. I bet even Pedy rolled his eyes at “Big Poser’s” stop and stare routine. It’s as stale as that guy who shouts “Play Free Bird!” at concerts.

The thing that has always bothered me about the Sox is that they seem to play with “Conduct Unbecoming of The Rivalry” and always get a pass. Ortiz and Manny with their showboating, Boston pitchers constantly throwing at Yankee batters (Look it up. They plunk us at like a 20 to 1 clip) and the needless bulletin board jabs from ownership and players like Jonny Gomes of all people!

I am getting tired of the Yanks allowing it to happen. Yes, beating the Boston and acting like it’s business as usual is the best way to win. Treating them like they don’t matter much burns them and fires up their massive Town vs. City inferiority complex. But I’m all for sending a  message here and there. I am hoping McCann let’s Big Papi know the next time the two clubs play that showing up a New York pitcher ain’t gonna happen on his watch. I want a little bit of the “Bronx Zoo” back. Goose, Nettles, Munson would have put Ortiz and his manicured beard in the ICU at Mass General.

I’m not looking for David to get injured mind you, but set him straight. He has meant a great deal to the city of Boston, the organization and Baseball…but in my opinion there is a reason a guy like Derek Jeter will receive a league-wide farewell tour and why Big Papi won’t. Sox fans (Hell, all fans really) despise ARod, and rightly so. But maybe Ortiz should ask himself after crushing a hanging slider out to the STOP & SHOP sign, “What would Alex do?” and then do the exact opposite.

You are better than that, Papi…aren’t you?


**Here’s the other “Boss” and a song for David Ortiz**






--Mike O'Hara, MLB Fan Cave Host, Season 1
   Twitter: @mikeyoh21
"Paulie was always my favorite player."


   

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GOMES MADE IT ABOUT HIMSELF & NO ONE CARES BUT ME

I’m not a hater, but every year around this time there is some Red Sock comment or antic that annoys the crap out of me.  This year, it’s Jonny Gomes and his ridiculous American Flag blazer that he thought was a good idea to wear at the White House.  Now, I'm no tight ass and I sure as hell like to have a good time, but for some reason, this Red, White and Blue blazer thing, seems like a really stupid idea, especially in the world of World Championships, teams and unity. More on that in a minute...

Today's Gomes spectacle made me realize just how special the Yankees have been with their clean cut look, "suits after games and when they're traveling" attire. Bottom line, the Yankees always look their best. They also always look unified.  Like when they went to the White House after winning in 2009.

Now, it was clear to me that the Red Sox deserved to be at the White House today.  They won the championship in 2013.  They are the champions… for now, and they got their publicity just like we and other teams have done in the past. Good for them.  But here’s the thing; Who in their right mind shows up to the White House in an American Flag blazer? 

And why, unless you want to make it about yourself, which is what Gomes was doing and which was probably why when they showed the shot of the President standing at the podium, Gomes was conveniently moved all the way left.

Look, it's my opinion that there are certain things you don’t do.  You don’t put your tongue on an ice cold pole in the winter.  You don’t tug on Superman’s cape, EVER. You also don’t upstage the President of the United States, your manager, your owner OR your teammates in a special moment like that. Gomes looked low class. Gomes looked “trailer park”. Jonny Gomes looked like an attention monger… and guess what… I’m the idiot writing about him, I fell for it... I'm giving him free publicity. Why? Because I just can’t believe he was so disrespectful today.

When I saw it unfolding, I tweeted this:

Jonny Gomes. We get it. You want to be noticed. Trust me, we still don't care about you. #BYB
— Bleeding Yankee Blue (@BleednYankeeBlu) April 1, 2014

That about nailed it. 

Again… I’m not a hater.  I mean, there are a few things in life that would make me happy. One is that the Red Sox would never ever win another championship. The second is that David Ortiz finally finds out why he tested positive to PEDs back in 2003.  I still want that answered.  

The other is that dirtbags wake up and take a play from the Yankee handbook.  We don’t need beards and flashy clothes to stand out and overshadow our team of 25.  You should blend in with my teammates, because it’s not about You Jonny Gomes.  If I’m a member of the Yankees, or the Red Sox (God forbid)… it’s about my team.  Gomes is immature and needs to disappear.

You can take the man out of the trailer park, but you can’t take the trailer park out of the child.

Be a leader Gomes… not a loser.

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BEWARE OF A QUIET MAN

Once upon a time I was in an Irish Folk/Punk band called "the Mighty Regis". It was truly a blast playing shows, touring the States and Canada on The Warped Tour and meeting all kinds of folks.  On our 3rd little DIY record we had a song entitled “A Quiet Man”.


(Play this while you're reading this BYB post today)
The material was inspired by lesson my Dad taught me as a kid. In short, he said that if you find yourself in a situation where a fight might break out, ALWAYS keep your eye on the man not saying a word. You see it’s that person who, 9 times out of 10, is the most dangerous in the room. They don’t need to run there mouths to try and make others believe they’re tough…in fact those that feel such a need are most likely doing it to convince themselves. The louder you shout and the more you puff out your chest the more likely you are to be taken seriously right? Not so much.

This brings me to the recent stream of bluster blowing downwind from the Great State of Massachusetts. We all read the fairly sad saber rattling of the career .244 hitting machine Jonny Gomes. Somebody needs to tell Jonny that he’s missing an “H” and another 50 points to his lifetime average. The facial hair didn’t make you strong, Samson. So take it easy. You’re a journeyman that landed in a great situation with a club that played great team baseball. Good for you. Now zip it.

And then there is Boston’s version of “The Boss”…in his wildest dreams maybe. Larry Lucchino doesn’t sweat the New York Yankees…just ask him…wait…better not. He’ll proceed to chew on your ear for the better half of the off-season on how he has seen it all before. How the Yankees don’t impress him. How he doesn’t really give them any thought. Hey, Larry! Pull the other one!

Lucchino and the entire front office keep Ambien in business with all the sleep they lose over the Bronx Bombers. And the more they say they aren’t concerned with New York’s spending spree, the more you KNOW they are! You can read the distress on their faces like they were USA Today. In Boston-ese, “Yaw po cah faces ah wicked bad, boys!”

I will never fully understand the Red Sox…and I guess I’m not supposed to. Even in the good times they seems miserable and panicked that they aren’t as pretty and the other girls in school.  Sure, you can say that the Yankees are focused on Boston because they threw the checkbook at every hole on the roster. You can say that it was because they missed the playoffs and watched as their oldest rivals hoisted a World Championship trophy over their heads. I am sure the Yankees were unhappy about that…until Thanksgiving. Now it’s 2014 and the Yankees have a short memory. And that is why they’ll always have the Sox number. The Yankees think about themselves. They don’t react to what Boston does. They react to what it means to be the most successful franchise in all of Sport. Their job is to win come hell or high water. The club up in New England has done well for itself in the past decade…swell. The gentlemen in the Pinstripes have done well for themselves over the past CENTURY!

Honestly, do you ever hear many sound bites coming from the Yankee clubhouse about Boston? Think about it for a second or two. Aside from a post game interview with the Skipper after a Boston pitcher threw at Derek Jeter…again. The Yanks seem to stay above the fray. They walk the walk. If they lose they saddle up and say, “We’ll be back. See ya then.” Probably better to have a sharp August base hit against New York than a dull January jab in the Herald…but that’s what they do up there. It’s as Boston as Samuel Adams, The Charles River and Chowda.

Think about the years that New York has had a parade down the “Canyon of Heroes”. Do you ever remember a guy like Shane Spencer stepping off the float and commenting on Boston’s off-season acquisitions?

Ever heard a Yankee platoon player tough talk the Sox a month before pitchers and catchers report? Nope. Mr. Gomes…you are a platoon player at best. Here’s some Gillette shaving gel and a Mach 5 razor! It’s on me. Go clean up and have a good season.

Boston will have another good team this year. They have a solid staff and players like that kid at Second base…who isn’t saying much…we’ll need to watch that guy.

I can’t say for sure if the Yankees will benefit from all the moves they made. I can’t say if the 2014 campaign will bring #28 to the Bronx. What I can say is it looks like there will be a dust up between these two teams…and per usual the Yankees are being extremely quiet.




--Mike O'Hara, MLB Fan Cave Host, Season 1
   Twitter: @mikeyoh21
"Paulie was always my favorite player."




Thank you to all the Bleeding Yankee Blue readers for continued success.  You've made BYB the fastest 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.

RIDICULOUSLY OUTSPOKEN & NOT AFRAID TO SHOW IT

Another week, another outspoken sports figure- that’s what I am seeing these days.  This week started with the Seahawks’ Richard Sherman and finished with the Red Sox Jonny Gomes, the bearded wonder from California playing outfield for Boston.  Now, I get that this is America and people say what’s on their mind, but if you are going to say something, let it have substance, let it be articulate and let it be grammatically correct.  Here’s Gomes’ take on ARod and his lawsuit against the MLB Player’s Association (by the way you can find these quotes everywhere including the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and NBC Sports). 

“He does steroids or whatever, it sucks. He does this or that, it sucks. He’s always in the news, it sucks. But this is the players’ union he’s going against. It’s all of us. Not a real good idea.” The “it sucks” additive is just electric, isn’t it?  We are not in your living room, Jonny, hanging out with your buddies, your family or neighbors.  We are fans and you are a public figure, so have some professionalism.  No, no, he rants on with, “I think what he had going on is pretty individual,” Gomes added before the start of Thursday’s 75th annual Boston Baseball Writers’ dinner. “He did it. It was his decision, his suspension. But I don’t think it’s really a good idea to go after our union. Down to my (-------) kids, down to the benefits we have, down to our retirement fund, the union makes our lives better. We pay dues to the union for our rights.”

Got it Jonny, right before dinner, a public event, thanks!  Now should a reporter have asked him a question about ARod, why not?  Should he give his comment?  Why not? But truthfully, have some restraint, have some self-control, have some polish in your tongue and maybe even some intelligence in your sentence structure.  Maybe that’s too much to ask? I think not.  This is my favorite part- wait for it, wait for it, “Him and the Yankees were butting heads last year. Whatever, don't care,” he said. “But he’s truly going against every single major league player, and every single major league player that’s played this game before.”

Juxtapose this with former MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent’s comment on ARod, “He’s made a mess of his life,” Vincent said. “He’s made a mess of the situation and baseball. The only way out is to say you’re really sorry and tell the truth. But the odds on his doing that are about as great as an elephant flying. It’s just not gonna happen.”  Clever, witty, purposeful and articulate- state your case and move on.  But guys like Gomes and Sherman for that matter don’t think it out, they just say it, not caring about how their comments will be perceived, how they cheapen the sport and it make fans feel jilted. 

Ridiculously outspoken & not afraid to show it is what I call this; and another chapter in the ARod novel of life, unfortunately for him.  Maybe one day he will just say I’m sorry.  There’s nothing ridiculously outspoken about that.

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




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BEARDS & BOSTON. IT'S OFFICIAL... THE RED SOX MAKE ME SICK

There I was at the start of an 18-mile race with the wind at my head on Long Beach Island this past Sunday.  And I was proudly wearing my New York Yankee Nike Dry Fit cap that I picked up at the stadium about a month ago- when the Bombers were still playing and there was still hope.  I have to say, however, that right now, right this minute I never hated the Red Sox more.  And I might add, their beards are making me sick!  Followers on Twitter, you all know how I feel because I can’t help but share my passionate emotions each time I tune into Fox and watch the motley crew tug at the tuft of hair on their chinny chin chin.  Just gross! 

I don’t know what’s worse, quite frankly.  Jonny Gomes, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Mike Napoli chewing and spitting in their scraggly beards or the fact that the Sox are up 2-1 in the ALCS.  The beards look like they stink and Salty’s wife said that her husband’s beard reeks.  He promised to shave it off after the post season, which I for one, hope ends for the Sox before the World Series. 

Apparently the Sox players have names for their beards too, which just adds to my frustrations.  “I’ll shave it off when we win the World Series,” said Red Sox catcher David Ross, whose gray-flecked beard is known as “The Wolf.” “That’s when I want to shave it off,” as reported in the Daily News this week.  The Yankees would never act like this.  Besides, we have a policy against unruly facial hair.

The Goose and Gator used to have fights with Boss George to keep a little extra hair.  Their beards are nothing compared to the Sox who have become “Duck Dynasty” on the diamond. 

Honestly, I don’t have the same frustrations for other bearded ball players representing different teams in the post season as I do for the Red Sox.  I mean, honestly, Brian Wilson is just damn cool- the end.  “Ex-Giants closer Brian Wilson might be The Beardfather of baseball’s recent dabbling, considering he jolted fans in 2010 with his long, black beard as San Francisco won the first of two World Series in a three-year span. Giants fans even chanted, “Fear the Beard,” reported the Daily News.

I get that it’s a superstition thing, but I don’t want to feel like I need to take a shower every time I tune into a baseball game because I see sweaty beards flopping in the wind.  It’s bad enough that the Yankees aren’t in the post season, but to have to be subjected to grown men in need of some serious hair care is just too much.  So, yes, I am rooting for the Sox to lose not just because they are our nemesis but because I need relief from the smothering dirty follicles threatening to plague this year’s fall classic. 

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




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HOW THE YANKEES STACK UP: LEFT FIELD

We have now examined how the Yankees stack up at Catcher, First base, Second base, Shortstop and Third base.  Now we look at the Outfield....

Left Field

Brett Gardner closed 2011 with a stellar post season series at the plate against the Tigers.  In the five game series which the Yankees lost, the left fielder hit .412 with five RBI and three runs scored.

When 2012 opened, it looked like the 28-year old had picked up where he left off. Through April 17th, he was hitting .321 and his play in the field was making people take notice.

Then the roof caved in.

During the third inning of a loss to the Minnesota Twins, Gardner hurt his wrist and arm while making a sliding catch in left field.  The next day the team placed him on the 15-day DL.

He wouldn’t return until September, and his season was all but lost.

2013 will open with the speedy outfielder’s chance to recapture the momentum he appeared to have before the injury.  He is slated to be the starter in left field as well as the backup center fielder to Curtis Granderson.

In spite of Manager Joe Girardi’s propensity to play the game according to the numbers and platoon players, “Gardy” should see playing time in most games this year.  In short, it is his opportunity to finally establish himself as a top level left fielder.

Here’s a look at what the rest of the division will throw at us from left field:

Toronto Blue Jays: This off season, the Blue Jays took a shot in the dark and signed the much maligned Melky Cabrera.  The 29-year old former Yankee comes to the team after serving a suspension for use of performance enhancing drugs (and admitted to doing so, read HERE.)  How he will perform PED-free is anyone’s guess, and Toronto is hoping to capture some semblance of the player he was while under-the-influence (.326 average with a .493 slugging pct over the past two seasons).

In the field Cabrera was always blessed with a strong arm and he has decent speed giving the risk the Blue Jays are taking the possibilities of a high reward.  Only time will tell.

(In Photo: Nate McLouth)
Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles will use a combination of Nolan Reimold and Nate McLouth in left field for 2013.  The righty Reimold missed most of 2012 with a herniated disk in his neck, but showed great promise hitting .313 with five HR and 10 RBI in the 16 games he played before the injury.

McLouth is the left-handed option for the O’s and was a post-season hero for the team last season.  In six games last October, he hit .308 with a .462 slugging percentage.

Tampa Bay Rays:  26-year old Desmond Jennings will be in left field for the Rays in 2013.  The rising star has great speed (he stole 31 bases and was caught just twice in 2012) and is a tremendous fielder (he has made ONE error in left field in 287 chances at the Major League level).  He still needs to develop plate discipline (120 / 46 strikeout to walk ratio) and raise his average (.246 in 2012) but his upside is limitless.

Boston Red Sox: As of this writing, Jonny Gomes is slated to get most of the playing time in left field for the Red Sox.  The 33-year old veteran was signed to a 2-year $10 million contract by our hated rivals and is coming off a season in Oakland where he hit .262 with 18 home runs.  In the field Gomes is adequate (.983 fielding pct.) and he is probably the slowest of the left fielders in the AL East division (he’s stolen 15 bases over the past three years, getting caught seven times).  His performance at the plate, as well as how he handles balls coming off the Green Monster at Fenway (hopefully compliments of Yankees bats) will determine just how long he stays at that position for the team.

Here’s how the left fielders of the AL East rate:

Yankees: The flashes we’ve seen of Gardner (both in the field and at the plate) since October of 2011 are just too much to overlook.  This will be his breakout season.

Tampa Bay: Desmond Jennings is an exciting talent that just needs some fine-tuning.

Baltimore:  The Reimold / McClouth combination provides solid play in the field and potential at the plate.

Boston: If Gomes stays healthy (he’s only played more than 140 games once in his career), he should give the Red Sox decent production from the left field spot.

Toronto: Like some of their other acquisitions this winter, Melky Cabrera is a high-risk, high-reward signing.  Look for numbers similar to his season with the Braves (.255 average with four HR and 47 RBI).

That’s how we see it, let us know what you think!


 
--Steve Skinner, BYB Guest Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1





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RED SOX SIGN KOJI UEHARA...

in other news... the Yankees are trying to get Raul Ibanez on the phone. I hope we didn't run out of time.

The Red Sox signed relief pitcher Koji Uehara to a 1 year deal worth about $4.25 million. Read about it HERE.  Yet another guy out there the Red Sox believe will help their club win.  Meanwhile, in Yankeeland, the fans are wondering if more can be done with our own club and if we have a few bucks available for someone with talent.

The Sox have signed David Ortiz, David Ross, Shane Victorino, Mike Napoli and Jonny Gomes.  Wow. There is no doubt that they want to get out from under Bobby Valentine's shadow and be productive in 2013.  Good  for them.

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THE YANKS AIN'T GETTING NOTHING FOR CHRISTMAS

Shhh.  Don't tell anyone... The Yankees have a secret gift coming, right?  I mean, there are moves happening all around us. The Red Sox have already snatched up Jonny Gomes and Mike Napoli, HERE. There were conflicting reports about whether or not the Detroit Tigers offered a 2 year offer to Scott Hairston, the same Scott Hairston the Yankees were claiming to be in the mix for, read HERE.

Joakim Soria seems to have sealed his 2 year deal, with a 3rd year option with the Texas Rangers...read HERE.  Even Eli Whiteside was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays, read HERE. Good, now someone else can write about Eli Whiteside. I had my fill HERE.

There has to be some type of surprise gift that the Yankees are about to get.. I know it. Right Santa Claus? Come On!  Brian Cashman can't actually seem this quiet and sluggish unless he's got something up his sleeve.  I mean, let's face it, even Santa's confused... Cashman's list is in pencil with plenty of cross outs and eraser smudges. Time seems to be running out just because it looks like after Day 1 of the Winter Meetings in Nashville, moves are happening quickly and teams are engaged..except for the Yankees. Instead, Cashman is trying to figure out if he can sign an infielder with next to no money, a few tokens from Chuck E. Cheese and some Box Tops.

The Yankees are really sticking to that Luxury Tax stuff huh?  It's killing me. I'm a child of the Steinbrenner Era, I like movement...yet... Nothing.

The Yankees needs seem complicated, but they aren't. I mean, from the outside looking in, there are easy fixes under that small budget we have been allotted. First off, there hasn't been a single word from the Yanks on Raul Ibanez and Ichiro Suzuki lately. Why? You want to lock up right field and get a DH at a cheap price? You can do it for about $7 million between the 2 of them. How about a steady infielder or bench player...part-time 3rd baseman? Jeff Keppinger is available, all the Yankees need to do is call. Eric Chavez is playing in 2013, that's been established. I'm not sure why next year would be any different than this year with Chavez... he's 34...sign him.

Now look, the catching situation is no easy task, but the reality is, we have Francisco Cervelli and Austin Romine but Lord knows Brian Cashman wants to upgrade the backstop. And yes, right field is definitely a concern for him, I get feel it. I know he wants a right fielder with power, not Ichiro, because if he truly wanted Ichiro, he would have signed him already. So what will happen? Watch... Ichiro will slip from our grasp and Cashman will be behind the 8 ball again. Let's hope that's not the case. I like Ichiro in pinstripes.

Look, I am praying for a gift this December. Something the Yankees can be proud of, but based on the way things are going, I need to tell you, it don't look good...

And it's a damn shame too because we've been good all year, haven't we?