RICE HAS BEEN A REVELATION, BUT COULD THE DERBY COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM?

If there has been one constant bright spot in the Yankees' lineup this season, it's been Ben Rice.

What started as an opportunity has turned into a full-fledged breakout, and Rice has rewarded the Yankees' faith in him every step of the way. He's evolved into one of the most dangerous left-handed hitters in baseball, giving the lineup power, patience, and a mature approach that has made him one of the American League's biggest surprises.

At the All-Star break, Rice had established himself among the league leaders with 29 home runs, nearly 70 RBIs and an OPS hovering around .970, while consistently producing quality at-bats and driving the baseball to all fields. His advanced metrics are just as impressive, with elite exit velocities, hard-hit percentages and barrel rates confirming that this isn't smoke and mirrors—Ben Rice has become one of baseball's legitimate impact hitters.

Perhaps what's been most impressive is how complete his offensive game has become. Rice isn't simply swinging for the fences. He's taking walks, hitting with runners in scoring position, and consistently delivering in big moments. Whether he's launching tape-measure home runs or lining doubles into the gap, he's become the type of hitter opposing pitchers genuinely fear.

He's been everything the Yankees could have hoped for—and then some.

That made Monday night's Home Run Derby such an interesting—and perhaps concerning—storyline.

Rice accepted the invitation to participate, making it a memorable family affair by having his father, Dan, throw batting practice to him. It was one of the more heartwarming moments of All-Star Week and something Rice will undoubtedly treasure forever. Unfortunately, the results on the field weren't nearly as memorable.

Rice managed just seven home runs, the fewest of any participant, and was eliminated in the opening round. Afterward, he admitted he became overly anxious and rushed his swing instead of staying within himself. Even so, he called the experience a success because he was able to share it with his father.

The Derby itself isn't the concern.

What happens after the Derby is.

For decades, baseball has debated the so-called "Home Run Derby Curse." Is it real? Or is it simply coincidence?

There have certainly been players who fueled the legend.

Bobby Abreu put on one of the greatest Derby performances ever in 2005, crushing an astonishing 41 home runs in the opening round. But after the All-Star break, his production dipped noticeably, and many pointed to the Derby as the culprit.

Josh Hamilton's unforgettable 2008 Derby performance remains one of baseball's iconic moments after he blasted 28 first-round home runs. While he remained productive overall, his second-half numbers declined, reigniting debate about whether the Derby had altered his swing or simply worn him down.

Aaron Judge experienced something similar in 2017. After winning the Derby in Miami, his second-half production dipped significantly. Was it because of the Derby? Or because pitchers adjusted to him and the grind of a 162-game season caught up with a rookie? Even Judge himself has never blamed the event, but the discussion has lingered for years.

Of course, there are just as many examples proving the opposite.

Pete Alonso has won multiple Home Run Derbies without seeing his swing disappear afterward. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has participated and continued producing. Juan Soto has remained one of baseball's elite hitters regardless of Derby appearances.

That's what makes this debate so fascinating. Is there truly a curse? Or do fans simply remember the slumps and forget the players who kept right on hitting? Now that question belongs to Ben Rice.

Could one night of trying to launch every baseball into the upper deck throw off the smooth, controlled swing that has made him one of the Yankees' best hitters? Could his timing be affected? Could he begin overswinging in search of home runs?

Or will this simply become a fun memory from an incredible first half before he picks up exactly where he left off?

Personally, there's every reason to believe Rice will be just fine.

Everything we've seen this season suggests he's more than just a slugger. He's a disciplined hitter with an advanced understanding of the strike zone, tremendous bat speed, and a mature offensive approach that doesn't rely solely on brute force. Those qualities generally survive temporary mechanical hiccups.

Still, baseball is a game built on rhythm, timing and routine. Even the smallest change can snowball into something larger. The Yankees don't just need Ben Rice to be good in the second half. They need him to continue being one of the most dangerous hitters in their lineup. If he does, the Yankees' offense remains capable of carrying this club deep into October. If the Derby somehow disrupts that rhythm—even temporarily—it becomes one of the more intriguing storylines to watch over the next several weeks.

Hopefully, years from now, fans will remember Ben Rice's first Home Run Derby not because it started a slump, but because it marked the season he officially announced himself as one of baseball's brightest young stars.

The Yankees—and their fans—are certainly hoping that's exactly how this story ends.

THE STORY OF ALEX RODRIGUEZ

Derek Jeter was often asked if Hollywood scripted the big moments in his career. I mean let’s face it, it did seem like a screenwriter was behind the dinger that got him 3,000 hit. 

 Not to mention the fact that he was 5 for 5 in that game.

The night Alex Rodriguez played his last game in the storied borough of the Bronx also had a bit of a “Once Upon a Time” feel to it. A bitter sweet, cautionary tale, but a great story nonetheless. ARod didn’t get a farewell tour like The Captain or The Sandman. He had his goodbye jammed into a very strange week.

 The pre-game ceremony was rushed…maybe because the fans would be subject to two more days of the Michael Kay/ John Sterling LONG WINDED show. Or maybe it was because of the biblical storm brewing in the New York sky. Either way, the controversial Yankee received a few gifts and a nice pat on the back from the organization he once tried to sue. 

But it was really ARod in a nutshell. The fans gave him a warm send off, and you could see that he really did and always will appreciate that. It’s truly important to him. Rodriguez was so used to hearing the crowd react…the good, the bad and the ugly. He was simply one of the greatest players ever to put on a uniform in my opinion. Alex was player for the ages who inflicted so many wounds upon himself that it left us all wondering why.

My favorite moment of the evening was his double to the gap. That was the part of his story that seemed beautifully poetic. It wasn’t a mammoth home run that was often the ammo for his biggest critics. No, it was a piece of productive, pure hitting. I believe that that is what ARod was. He was a textbook player. A guy that the Webster’s Dictionary could use for the definition of : A BASEBALL PLAYER. It would simply read – See. Alex Emmanuel Rodriguez.

As he stood on second base you could see him let all the hurt, anger and frustration go. He was a ballplayer again. Just a ballplayer that realized it was time to go. I smiled as he called for timeout. It was a redemption moment. He wasn’t getting the Champions parade. He won’t have #13 retired. Alex put himself where he stood that night. He was responsible. But he also learned a lesson. He righted some wrongs and became the player he was always supposed to be. That was something great to see.

People will often talk about Josh Hamilton’s battle with addiction and the way he fought to be back in the game he loved so much. Alex Rodriguez also fought with addiction. Only ARod was addicted to his talent. He was addicted to being the greatest player in a generation. And then one day he wasn’t there like it used to be. Where was that feeling of superhuman ability? It was leaving him the way it did to Roger & Barry. To hang on to it Al did whatever it took…even cheating the game he loved. He needed that feeling. He didn’t know who he was without it. Think about that before you bang the gavel on the Case of Alex Rodriguez.

I’m not saying it’s okay to do what he did…not at all. I’m saying I see what happened to Alex. I see his career as a player ending without the battle hymns of a hero being played…but rather the stillness of a man who may have finally figured it out. He made his adjustments and became a double to the gap hitter in the game of life. Was it a storybook ending? I guess that depends on what time of story you’re looking for.

** Not sure this has a message regarding Alex, but it’s always seemed like a redeeming song to be. THE END… **

 
  
--Mike O'Hara, Senior "Features" Writer 
Follow me on Twitter: @mikeyoh21

 

CESPEDES STAYING PUT WITH THE METS!

After all the waiting, Yoenis Cespedes is staying in New York with the Mets.

The slugging outfielder agreed to the deal late Friday ESPN reports. His haul will be $75 million over three years and includes an opt out clause after the first year.

Cespedes had one of his best seasons last year after arriving to the Mets—he finished the 2015 campaign with 35 home runs and 105 RBIs. So why did it take so long for him to be plucked from free agency?

As BYB has noted previously, this year’s market had nearly two dozen outfielders up for grabs including marquee players like Justin Upton (who also just signed a deal recently), Alex Gordon, Denard Span, and Jason Hayward. In fact, Yahoo! Sports notes there is enough quality free agents left on the market in January to field an entire team.

So what gives?

One observation is that many teams that have traditionally spent big money are holding back this year. Angels owner Arte Moreno, perhaps still smarting from the Josh Hamilton bust, said early in the fall that he would not be fronting tons of money to fill his void in the outfield. The Yanks also seems to be holding on to their pocketbook as they wait for other contracts to expire says FOX Sports analyst Ken Rosenthal.

Pair this unwillingness to spend with a glut of available talent (the Braves and Reds basically put everyone out for grabs) and lack of trade options and you basically have a buyers market for players.

But don’t feel too bad that Cespedes had to wait so long. His new salary puts him on par with Giancarlo Stanton as one of the highest ever paid to an outfielder. That’s a lot of coffee table books.


   
--Alexis Garcia, BYB's "Eye on MLB" Columnist &
Los Angeles Dodger fan
Twitter:  @heylexyg




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WHO WILL GET THE GIFT OF CESPEDES?

Christmas has come and gone and Yoenis Cespedes remains a gift to be given to a major league team.

With the acquisition of Alejandro De Aza last Wednesday, the Mets have pretty much taken themselves out of the market for the slugging right fielder. So what other teams could land Cespedes?

The Tigers are reportedly said to be “sitting back waiting for” Cespedes’ price to come down as the winter continues. But as MLB Trade Rumors points out, the Tigers GM Al Avila said at the Winter Meetings that they were out of the Cespedes market.

The Angels are another team that desperately needs outfielders after the bust of Josh Hamilton. But owner Arte Moreno has been loathe to acquire any player that would put his team over the salary cap which would enact a luxury tax penalty.

The Orioles and Giants are also rumored to be interested, but it’s clear right now that Cespedes’ price is probably too high. I don’t see teams wanting to give a six-year, multi-million deal to a 30 year-old outfielder who is projected to decline in production next year—coffee table book or not.

So who do you think will land Cespedes? Comment.


    
--Alexis Garcia, BYB's "Eye on MLB" Columnist &
Los Angeles Dodger fan
Twitter:  @heylexyg



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SORRY CC, BUT ENOUGH'S ENOUGH!

It's been a crazy few weeks. Between all of the crazy trade deadline action and the Yankees getting an unwelcome surprise from the injury bug, my head is spinning. I've have been sitting here on pins and needles.

It's funny, I remember the series we played against the Rangers for instance. I came home from work and I turn on my TV. As soon as I turn it on, BOOM there goes a three run homer to Josh Hamilton. I immediately face palm. Fine, it's only the first inning and I get it.

No time to panic but come on! Our pitcher that night? CC Sabathia. My thinking was, it was his first time through the batting order. Then it got dicey. I worry that down the stretch, if CC keeps doing this sort of thing, it could really hurt us.

I feel like each pitch I am watching from CC he's hanging fastballs and breaking balls. It's batting practice! Hey CC....the ball isn't supposed to go in the stands. Ideally, we like it to hit Brian McCann's glove. If not, as long as it lands in a position players glove we are good. I am in physical pain watching these outings though, and I am starting to yell at the rest of the BYB team now too.

So this is how I feel as CC gets the ball tonight.  If he has a bad outing tonight, I think it's safe to say I am off of the CC Sabathia "Starting pitcher" train. It might be time to go to the bullpen like BYB previously wrote about in SABATHIA TO THE BULLPEN? THINK ABOUT IT.

You know, I really like CC Sabathia as a person. He is a great guy and he has so much passion but at the end of the day it's not about throwing out "likable" people and hoping they perform. It's about throwing your best guys into the game everyday who are reliable and get the job done. I worry that that just isn't CC anymore. It is time to do what is best for the team and let someone dependable take the lead.

The Yankees have kept him in the rotation out of respect, and I get that. But now the Yankees are dealing with injury to Michael Pineda and arm fatigue to Ivan Nova, that is a huge blow to the team right now. It's crunch time. It's August....it's time to be thinking about the postseason. Nova may not be on the DL yet, but I have a bad feeling about this that I just can't shake. I hope I am wrong, but if I am not then we are down 2 starters and we have already lost out on the Johnny Cueto, Cole Hamels and David Price sweepstakes the Yankees need to think long and hard about this because the postseason is at stake here.

All I can say is Brian Cashman better be on the phones asking about Yovani Gallardo or Jeff Samardzija or James Shields right now. The last time I checked....Dustin Ackley can't pitch. Oh yeah... and he's hurt. Maybe we can pull a miracle like in Moneyball and teach him.

We need to because I am sorry CC....but we can't afford your inconsistency anymore.


   

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








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BELTRAN ON THE TRADING BLOCK?

There's an amazing nugget in the New York Post today about Carlos Beltran brought to us by Joel Sherman... and it's something to think about, because if it were to come true... Aaron Judge could be manning the Yankees outfield real soon.

According to Sherman: "Beltran recently has hit far better (.841 OPS over the last 35 games), but does that justify keeping such a liability in right field, particularly because he is not countering that with power at the plate? The Angels need another bat, have an opening at DH (where Beltran belongs) and cleared some salary by moving Josh Hamilton. I wonder if the Yankees could eat some of the $15 million owed Beltran in 2016 and make that work to create a more flexible, defensively sound roster."

Purely speculation, but good speculation... something to think about. For the record, I'm all for moving Beltran down the stretch.

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BASEBALL IS JUST A SMALL PART OF LIFE

Baseball is a game we love to play, and for those blessed enough to play it well the sport can be parlayed into a fruitful career venture.  Yet, every once in a while we are reminded that sports are merely sports, and in the overall spectrum of things just a small part of life.

Such has been the case this past week with the news that Josh Hamilton of the Los Angeles Angels admitted to MLB that he suffered a setback in his battle with addictions that have haunted him.  To his credit, Hamilton didn’t wait for a failed test or for a YouTube video to go viral.  Instead, he was one of few and far between that stood up and insisted on being accountable for his actions.  The rumor making its way around social media is that the fallen Angel will be suspended for 25 games.

Josh Hamilton likely to be suspended at least 25 games, though MLB trying to be lenient @Ken_Rosenthal & @jonmorosi https://t.co/53voEMbUDv
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) February 27, 2015

Even though I am a lifelong, die hard New York Yankees fan, I’ve always admired Hamilton – and not just because he helped me to three fantasy baseball championships. 

I had heard about his early battles with drug and alcohol addiction and how they robbed him of the early part of his career (he was suspended from 2003 – 2005) and watched him hit the ground running upon his return. 

I read how in Texas he surrounded himself with support and turned to his faith in finding a source of strength on a daily basis.  I loved how he played the game – an endless display of wearing his heart on his sleeve in going full tilt down a baseline or laying out to make an otherwise impossible catch.

Many in New York will remember his incredible performance in the home run derby at Yankee Stadium.  In spite of the fact that he wasn’t one of ours, we chanted his name repeatedly as he launched ball after ball deep into the right field seats.  Josh Hamilton was at the peak of his game.

Over the last couple of years Hamilton has battled one injury after another, and as I write this article he is recovering from shoulder surgery.  It is the price a player like Josh must pay simply because of the way he plays – sacrificing the body for the good of reaching base or robbing a hitter of a certain double.

Only, the drawback is that those injuries add up and the body no longer performs the way it once could.  Suddenly the player is a step slower and the batting average drops while opponents’ outs turn into hits.  It weighs on the psyche of someone like Hamilton and obviously opens the door back up to the demons that lie within.

Many may look at Hamilton’s transgressions as just another spoiled, rich athlete who can’t handle his fame.  Only, to me this one is different.  As I pointed out, Hamilton has never shied away from admitting his problems.  He doesn’t hide behind lie after lie like so many former and recent stars do.  He recognizes his weaknesses and genuinely wants to fix them.  Having been a fan of his, I know how deeply he cares for his family and how much he values his faith.

Yes, he has a rich contract, but he’s used his own monies to create things like the Triple Play Ministries Foundation as well as an orphanage in Uganda.  He has a wife and four daughters.  In short, he has a life outside of baseball that is bigger – and frankly more important than – the sport.

In an article by Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Roy Silver – a close friend and mentor of Hamilton’s – says he thinks Josh should retire. 

"It seems like he's struggling with things. When you've been given three, four and five chances, and it's still not working, it's best to say, "This is it.'

"His life isn't over, but his baseball career should be.''

Ultimately, the decision on what happens going forward is all Hamilton’s.  Only he knows what it will take to battle the disease (yes, these addictions to alcohol and cocaine are a disease) during a long baseball season.  It’s not something he’ll need to fight week-to-week.  It’s a moment-by-moment battle that will last the rest of his life and will be littered with temptations every step of the way.  I, for one, would understand if he didn’t want baseball as an added distraction.

The best part of Josh Hamilton is that, unlike others he’s willing to admit that he’s one of us.  He’s human, and has human flaws.  He more than welcomes his accountability for those flaws.   In this day of half-hearted apologies in front of cameras or in the published media, Hamilton instead simply admits to his setbacks and gets to work on correcting them.

Yes, this year I’ll be rooting for my Yankees to get back into the post-season, but I’ll be rooting even harder for Josh Hamilton to get his life back in order.

After all, baseball is just a game that in the context of life is just a small part.

    

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

  
 

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SHORTSTOPS, ELVIS ANDRUS & TROY TULOWITZKI

A lot can be said about Elvis Andrus and Troy Tulowtizki.  Both are shortstops. Both are being eyed by the New York Yankees in some capacity, as they try to figure out how to fill the position after our great Captain, Derek Jeter retired.  

But besides the talent and the numbers, there is a bigger factor, something that back in the George Steinbrenner days, we didn’t think about.  Well, these days we think about it a lot.  It’s money and it’s big contracts and it’s watching players with large contracts break down in front of our eyes… almost as fast we get them into our uniforms.  I don’t have to run down the list.  Alex Rodriguez is a big example in Yankeeland, but it goes further than the Bronx.

Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols, both of the Angels.  Prince Fielder, going to Detroit and then being flipped to Texas.  Are baseball execs any smarter these days? Not exactly.  Look at Miami and Giancarlo Stanton.  

He’s a great player, but he’s not 13 years, $325 million great, especially when you still need to field 24 others guys as well.  They’re foolish in Miami and while Stanton is a franchise player, you gotta wonder what they’re thinking down there.  Stanton cannot carry the team. Plus, you don't know what type of injury could effect him tomorrow. It's a gamble. Sure, he went for the money… and I wonder if he’ll be scrutinized like the other “big contract” players of yesteryear.  We’ll see…

Believe it or not, this all goes back to Elivs Andrus and Troy Tulowitzki, because with years, comes age and with age comes a slow down that teams don’t see when they're signing their “big player.”  Let me state that I think the idea of Andrus in pinstripes is a terrific idea.  But that’s on the surface.  When you think about the years and salary we’d be paying for, it becomes less appealing.  There is a plus with Andrus though. He’s young and if the Rangers can pick up some (most) of that salary that is owed to him, signing Elvis Andrus is a no-brainer. Why? Because at the end of Andrus’s contract, he will be age 34 . Not 38, not 42…. 34  That’s significant.

A Troy Tulowitzki rumor was floated to us late last week here at BYB.  The source is solid, but the rumor is slightly murky. I say that with respect to our source, because the reality is, What we know for sure is the Rockies have their Yankee prospect targets, and one would suggest the Yankees know about it.  Read SOURCE ON ROCKIES: "THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WANT" for more.  

The Rockies want to unload Tulo, but they want prospects in return. In fact, they want way too much.  “Baseball insiders” that don’t have this information are mad at me.  Well, we clearly have different sources, and guess what, that’s OK. It happens.  

(In Photo: Rob Refsnyder)

Here’s the thing though;  Giving up guys like a Greg Bird or Rob Refsnyder and a pitching sensation like Luis Severino and a “MLB ready” pitcher like a Shane Greene, AND THEN taking the majority of Tulo’s contract is absolute madness.  The price is too high for a shortstop who is almost 29 and has a bad hip.  If the Rockies could take the majority of that contract, and maybe we unload a few "less" prospects, I’m all for it.   But, it's still alot of years on a contract for a guy that is most likely past his prime at age 31. Just my opinion.

Here's the reality. The Yankees cannot part with Bird and Refsnyder. Ref would most likely (and should be) the Yankees second baseman next season. Not only that, may I suggest the Yankees bring up Bird too.  Make Bird the backup first baseman to Mark Teixeira, who’s clearly near the end of his career.  Remember I was talking about broken down players and big contracts before? There’s another one.

While the Troy Tulowitzki rumor is in fact true, the price is ridiculously high and the Yankees cannot commit to something like that.  It doesn’t matter that Troy wears #2. It doesn’t matter that Troy wants to be a Yankee. The Rockies need to be realistic.  Troy Tulowitzki isn’t 24… there is no way in hell I pull the trigger on that the way it stands right now. If I had to choose, and if negotiations would go smoothly, I choose Andrus.

Over the winter, it’s going to get silly in the Rumor Mill.  Many of the players are talented, Troy and Elvis included. But these teams that think they’re trading off solid gold and the Yankees should “pick up their salary”, because we’re the Yankees is ridiculous.  We want to win too and we need to be smart with our signings going forward.

Just a thought…

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