DELLIN BETANCES LEADS YANKEES TO WALK OFF WIN!

Source: Corey Sipkin, New York Post

I have never been so disappointed in a performance in my life. Friday's double header against cross town rival Mets was something to forget.  Between the injuries and replacement players I actually forgot who was playing the Mets. If it was not for some of the heroic efforts of Luke Voit and Clint Frazier, I would be completely devastated.  Saturday's game could have gone the same way; down the tubes for the Bombers. Yet, a beautiful disaster exercised by former Yankee now Met reliever, Dellin Betances gave the Yankees the walk off and end of a seven day losing streak the injured plagued Yankees needed.

"Betances walked Frazier to start the ninth, struck out Brett Gardner looking and gave up a soft single to Jordy Mercer that put runners at the corners for Kratz. At 0-1, Kratz showed bunt on his own and Betances’ pitch was too high for Ramos to handle as Frazier scored," reported the New York Post. Betances lack of control and inability to hold runners set up the perfect storm for the Yankees whose bats could not give their starter JA Happ a win.

Source: Associated Press

"Happ, meanwhile, was excellent. The left-hander has publicly called out the Yankees, accusing them of skipping his starts in an attempt to avoid his vesting option of $17 million from kicking in next season. Asked about the situation — and Happ’s accusations — before the game, GM Brian Cashman stated Happ has not pitched well this season or in 2019. Happ responded with 7 ¹/₃ scoreless innings in the 90-pitch outing," reported the New York Post. 

Source: YES Network

Distractions like contract extensions cause teams to pull apart. And with the injuries overwhelming this team once again, worrying about money when there is a season to play is just not considerate. If Happ is missing starts it's because the Yankees are trying to win and put the best team on the field every time. Happ's performance, outside of Saturday's, has left much to be desired. Ironically, the same reason the Yankees shipped off today's "winning" pitcher, Betances, out of the Bronx; Lackluster and focused on money. 

A win is a win and the Yankees got one, to break a losing streak that was quickly becoming one of the worst in 50 years. The Yankees need to focus on one thing: winning. Any other distraction will lose them more ball games, which in this sprint of a season, is just not welcomed. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

BYB HOT STOVE: VOLUME VII

Replacing Derek Jeter is a ridiculous goal but yet many in the media speak these words when referring to the Yankees apparent rebuild of their middle infield.  Yes, the Yanks invested four years in 24-year-old Didi Gregorius but there is still talk that Troy Tulowitzki could still be in play.  We called it a hoax earlier this week, TRICKING YOU INTO THE TULOWITZKI RUMOR, but hear me out.  With Martin Prado in Miami and the Mets willing to move some of their pitching around, could it still happen?  I'm reporting only what I'm hearing and frankly, Tulo, who has had his share of injuries, could be another money pit for us, but there is buzz. Could Gregorius play second base and Tulo at short?  Anything could happen but, according to ESPN's Andrew Marchand, there are six reasons why the Yankees won't consider the Rockies' short stop:

1) He just had hip surgery.
2) He is owed $114 million.
3) He has averaged only 88 games per year during the past three seasons.
4) They acquired Didi Gregorius to be their shortstop, possibly in a platoon.
5) They want to get younger and healthier. Tulo is 30 and has a bad hip.
6) Unless the Rockies are going to give him away, the Yankees would have to sacrifice top-end talent from a farm system they are attempting to rebuild.

Let's end the rumors here... no go on Tulo.

But, let's begin some rumors on 28-year-old Jordy Mercer, short stop for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Now we wrote about him last winter, HEY JORDY MERCER, HOW'D YOU LIKE TO PLAY IN PINSTRIPES,  just because we like him and he did hit a modest .255 last season with a career .263. Since coming up to the majors in 2012, he's played 294 games, playing 149 last season.  My point, he is healthy, he is young, he is developing and with the Pirates winning the bid on Korean infielder Jung-ho Kang, Mercer could be sidelined or used as a utility player, a role he may not like or deserve.  According to MLB Rumors' Steve Adams, "The Pirates have plenty of infield depth as is, with Neil Walker entrenched at second base and Josh Harrison set to man third base in 2015 and beyond. Jordy Mercer played a solid shortstop in 2014, but he seems the most likely to be displaced if Kang is signed and the looks the part of an everyday shortstop." Now let's talk moving Gregorius to second and slide Mercer in at short.  I like the idea of that.

Next up, the San Francisco Giants could be in the market for a middle infielder like Mercer or Tulo. According to Giants, GM Brian Sabean announced yesterday that their regular second baseman Marco Scutaro has undergone back fusion surgery on Sunday.  This does not sound good at all for Scutaro who I have always admired when he played for the Blue Jays years back.  Look for some possibilities here.

One final note, pitching.  Max Scherzer remain the last big free agent pitcher on the market and word is that Detroit may just sign him.  Many have speculated that the Yankees would not come in at the 11th hour to swoop him up, but with the Padres and Red Sox eyes on Phillies ace Cole Hamels and Detroit showing some interest in James Shields, could the Yankees make a miracle deal? Hard to say, but I think the Tigers will probably sign him.  Bah Humbug!

That's it for BYB Hot Stove.  See you one more time before the New Year!  Have a great holiday and keep the rumors and chatter coming!

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




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!

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.