4 NAMES ATTACHED TO THE YANKS RIGHT NOW...

Photo of Brad Ziegler: (Oct. 6, 2016 - Source: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images North America)

Just a small story because there really isn't anything going on to the point of doing a full on story on each of these dudes.  Besides, our Bleeding Yankee Blue feature today is about Matt Holliday by new BYB writer Barry Millman.  Read DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THIS WELCOME MATT as Millman settles into his new role.

Anyway.  4 names.  Right.  George King III of the New York Post has the story:

(Oct. 9, 2016 - Source: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images North America)

"Cashman has remained engaged with representatives for relievers Greg Holland, former Yankee Mike Dunn, Koji Uehara and Brad Ziegler.

Photo of Mike Dunn: (Sept. 17, 2016 - Source: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images North America)

Even though they profess confidence Dellin Betances can handle the closer’s role they would prefer to have the three-time All Star work before the ninth."

(Oct. 25, 2016 - Source: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images North America)

Of course, the Yankees top pick would be Aroldis Chapman, but as we move through this Winter Meeting week, teams like the Cubs and the Marlins are trying to break in. That would just make it more competitive for Yanks in their pursuit, and so, they have a high level closer named Kenley Jansen as a possible back up plan.  But in reality, bolstering the pen is a top priority, and so, all these names are being considered for some role.

(Aug. 7, 2015 - Source: Jamie Squire/Getty Images North America)

I just wanted to share them, because besides Greg Holland, I wasn't aware of the Ueharas and Zieglers on the Yankee radar.

Look, my take on this is simple. I want Chapman.  We gotta get him back.  It will definitely help this club.

More to come...

TEIXEIRA: THE PROSECUTION RESTS IT'S CASE

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury…the Prosecution rests. We feel we have stated our case in THE FANS vs. Mark Teixeira as clearly as possible. Again, bear in mind that this is in no way a personal attack on the defendant. He is, from all witness accounts, a good guy and a seemingly gentle soul. No, we are merely showing you that Mr. Teixeira is NOT in any way, shape or form a middle of the order hitter or offensive threat any longer. He is by and large a drag on an already dragging offense, and it will only get worse as he continues to play for the New York Yankees.

Now you are probably saying, “MIKEY! He was 2 for 4 the other night against Boston and saved our bacon with a dinger off Koji in the 9th!! Are you outta your mind?!”

The answer is simply, no. I watched the game. I saw the home run. I KNOW that Tex did his job. Re read that sentence. Tex did his job. The undeniable FACT is that more often than not this season (and really for a couple seasons) Teixeira hasn’t “shown up for work” as it were. He remains a great defender, but sputters at the plate more and more, and that game-tying shot doesn’t change that, folks…I REALLY wish it did.

I want to be sure we all understand that I don’t dislike Tex. I was happy to see him sign here during the 2008 off-season. He was a big time pick up…but the amount of years and money seemed crazy. Now I can’t blame Mark for taking the money and the chance to play for the club he rooted for as a kid. I would have, you would have…heck, Mother Teresa of Calcutta would have. And I understand that if the Yanks hadn’t made the move Boston would have. The deal was the product of the Big Apple/Beantown Arms Race. Tex helped the club win the 2009 World Championship. There is no denying that, but this is 2014.

When I was a kid I remember getting in trouble with my folks. I smarted off to a teacher or received a poor mark at school…that stuff happened a lot so I am sure it was one or the other. Anyway, when my punishment was handed out I objected to it’s severity and politely said to my father, “But I cleaned up my room, mowed the lawn and baby sat this week.” My dad took a moment and then stated clearly and without elaboration, “That’s your job. End of story.” He was right. I didn’t want to agree with him, but he was right. That was my job. I played for his “club” and those were the tasks given to me.

It may seem like apples to oranges, but it really isn’t. Hitting the ball out over the fences IS Mark Teixeira’s job. The pitch that Uehara served up was a mistake pitch. That is the kind of ball Tex SHOULD ALWAYS crush. I mean Big Papi took 2 of Capuano’s MISTAKES and sent them out to the 4 train! Am I wrong? Why are we making more of it than it should be? Look, I hope and pray that Mark goes on a tear and helps the Bombers charge into the playoffs! That’s what I want for him! I don’t root for my guys to fail. I’m a Yankee fan! I jumped out of my chair when Tex swung the bat and made contact…but I wasn’t changing my mind on what he is overall. That hasn’t changed.


One of the best lines from the movie “Saving Private Ryan” comes toward the very end of the film. Tom Hank’s character, near death, quietly utters his last words to Matt Damon’s James Francis Ryan, “James, earn this. Earn it.” Tex is paid a great deal of money. He plays for the most storied franchise in Sports and he has a chance every year to play for a Championship. It is NOT AT ALL acceptable to say, “Well, I’m in decline so…”. No, Mark, earn this. Right now hovering around .223 and too often hurt he simply isn’t. Sure, a lot of these Yankees aren’t earning their large contracts…but I’m not writing about them…yet.

We are stuck together. Tex is untradeable and I don’t see him walking away with money on the table…so something has to change right? We don’t play the game he does, and I am not saying what he does is easy. That is absurd. Hitting a round ball with a round bat squarely is extremely difficult…but still, it’s his job. Bottom line, he needs to be better…much better.

Nice hit against the Sox, Tex. I want to cheer for ya, make me a believer again.

** Here you go, Mark. It’s Your hero “In decline” in 1995. Donnie made us all HOLD ON TO THE ROOF! **



** And here’s your walk up song. Go to WORK, Tex.

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

 
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! 

HOW THE YANKEES STACK UP: THE BULLPEN

Our "How the Yankees Stack up" Series was very successful and we appreciate your interest in it.   We've examined: Catcher, 1st base, 2nd base, Shortstop, 3rd base, Left field, Centerfield and Right field and the Starting Rotation. Now... we go to the Bullpen:

Yankees Bullpen

The Yankees bullpen was right in the middle of the pack in 2012.  They ranked 14th in Major League Baseball and 7th in the American League with a 3.43 ERA.  In fact, they ranked seventh or eighth in the AL in wins (24), games (156), opponents’ batting average (.241), and WHIP (1.27).

The bottom line is that last season they were very average, but a deeper look reveals some signs that 2013 could be a better year.

In the AL, only the Rangers and Rays were better than the Yankees in walks allowed out of the ‘pen.  One thing that will drive any manager batty is a reliever coming into the game and walking hitters.  The Yankees were among the best at not letting that happen.

(In Photo: Boone Logan)
Next, the Yankees were the best in the AL in Holds with 87.  When the Yankees relievers came into games with the lead they seldom gave it up.  Leading the way were David Robertson (30) and Boone Logan (23).  Both should be back with the club in 2013.

Last season the Yankees relievers were strong against the first batters they faced.  They ranked fourth in the AL , allowing a paltry .223 batting average against those hitters.  That means Manager Joe Girardi could depend on his bullpen to shut down momentum when they stepped to the mound.  Both Robertson (13th) and Clay Rapada (5th) were among the American League’s best against the first batters they saw.

 Finally, there is what I call the “Joba Chamberlain factor”.

In the seventh inning last year, the Yankees held a 3.78 ERA and allowed opposing batters a .250 average.  They were 10th in the AL in HR allowed (giving up 19 round trippers) and next to last in the league in inducing double play balls (only the Angels were worse).

With a healthy Joba Chamberlain all that could change.

Last year the Bombers didn’t have Chamberlain until August as he recovered from his much documented broken ankle and Tommy John surgery.  In September the big right hander showed the team what they had been missing.

That month Chamberlain pitched 12.1 innings and allowed just 3 earned runs (2 came on September 2nd in a game against Baltimore), nine hits, and only walked 2 batters.  He held opposing hitters to a .196 batting average and struck out 16.  Even more impressive were his ground ball / fly ball ratio of 1.33 and microscopic WHIP of 0.89.

Joba is slated to be the seventh inning pitcher for the Yankees this season.  With a performance similar to the way he ended 2012, Joe Girardi will not only be able to shorten games for his starters, but it will allow the Yankees manager to  keep other arms in the bullpen fresh.  Last season Boone Logan and Clay Rapada appeared in 80 and 70 games respectively.  The workload took its toll and showed in the results.  Their combined ERA went from a 3.16 prior to the All-Star break to over a 3.50 after.

Whether you like it or not, the polarizing Chamberlain will make a difference.

The rest of the AL East bullpens look like this:

 (In Photo: Esmil Rogers)
Toronto Blue Jays:  The Blue Jays bullpen was the worst in the American League last year with a 4.33 ERA.  They were at the bottom in WHIP (1.35), opponents’ batting average (.253), and HR allowed (70).  In addition, this off season the team lost Brandon Lyon (28 strikeouts in 25 innings, 2.88 ERA)  and Jason Frasor (53 strikeouts in 43 innings, 12 holds) to free agency.  New additions to the bullpen are 27-year-old Esmil Rogers (3.06 ERA with Cleveland in 44 games) and 25-year-old Jeremy Jeffress  (6.75 ERA with KC in 13 games, spent most of season in minor leagues).  This is the one area that the Blue Jays did not significantly improve over last year.

Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles bullpen was one of the best in baseball last season and ranked third in the AL with a 3.00 ERA and held opponents to a .238 batting average.  They return the entire foundation to the ‘pen and again should be near the top of baseball.

Tampa Bay Rays: Like their starting rotation, the Rays bullpen led the AL with a 2.88 ERA.  They also led the league in WHIP (1.08), opponents batting average (.208), HR allowed (40), and hits allowed (354).  37-year-old Joel Peralta led the American League with 37 holds and once again anchors the bridge to closer Fernando Rodney.   There is no reason this crew shouldn’t once again be the class of the AL.

Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox bullpen finished 2012 in the bottom half of baseball as they posted a 3.88 ERA and 1.29 WHIP.  Those numbers ranked them 11th in the AL.  The team signed Koji Uehara this off season and the 37-year-old should provide a nice veteran boost to the squad (he posted a 1.75 ERA in 36 games with the Rangers last season).  Andrew Bailey battled injuries last season but the former A’s closer should have a much improved 2013.  Andrew Miller struck out 51 batters in just over 40 innings pitched and the 27-year-old provides a solid arm from the left side of the mound.

Here’s how we see the AL East bullpens stacking up:

Tampa Bay: The bullpen is just as solid as their front five.  Pitching won’t be a problem for the Rays in 2013.

Baltimore: They have a nice mix of young (3 pitchers 27 or younger) and old (O’Day -30, Ayala – 35) and solid talent.  This squad will be among the best in the AL again.

New York: The Yankees have strengths both from the right side and left side of the mound.  Joba Chamberlain has the chance to make this one of the best bullpens in baseball.

Boston: If they can have a healthy Bailey, and if Uehara does what he did in Texas, this squad will be a strength for the team.

Toronto: The Blue Jays improved in hitting and starting pitching, but the bullpen could weigh them down.

What do you think?  Let us know!

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

 



Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

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.

Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.