DONALDSON SAYS HE'S NOT DONE & I BELIEVE HIM!

Josh Donaldson proved that he's not that great anymore when he came to New York.  In fact, not to get too bogged down, but the Twins sent us 3 players that have kind of shit the bed. Josh Donaldson, IKF and Ben Rortvedt, whom, let's face it, I don't even think really exists. But that's a post for another time.

But Josh Donaldson is still in a Yankee uniform and still trying to prove the doubters wrong, and I have to say, I admire and like it a lot.  Defensively, I will always take Donaldson at third. I just think that he's terrific in the hot corner.  Offensively it is clear that he has slowed down.

Now if you know anything about me, I understand this game is hard and being in the majors and STAYING in the majors is even harder. That is one thing that Marci Hensley and I, (Ty Hensley's mom) have in common. We understand the grind, we respect it, and we root for the underdog and for hard work in this game. Ty Hensley was a perfect example of that. He worked very hard for a lot of years, injury after injury, he still managed to be in the public eye and tried his best to get one top. Sometimes time runs out and that's OK too. As long as you have a solid foundation, that stuff doesn't matter.

But back to Donaldson and back to never giving up. While most Yankee fans can't stand this guy, I admire the fight. He recently made a very bold statement as far as his future and what he expects from himself. Check this out. ClutchPoints writes:

"Josh Donaldson could have called it a career this past offseason...However, Donaldson decided against that. And the reason behind his decision to keep playing is rather simple. Donaldson believes he is still capable of producing at a very high level in the MLB.

“If I felt like I didn’t have anything left to offer the game, I wouldn’t have reported to camp,” Donaldson told The New York Post. “I feel like I have [something] in the tank or I wouldn’t show up. Obviously, I feel like I do. That’s why I’m here. And I’m going to give it everything I have.”

And for me, a true baseball fan and someone that believes in the grind and what hard work is about, I am thrilled to hear that.  Donaldson put up with a lot of fan bullshit in the fall last season, so the courage to come back is enormous, but he's here and he's doing it.  

For that, I admire him.  Go get after it, Josh!

EXCLUSIVE: IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM TY HENSLEY TO THE BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE FAMILY!

I'm a fan of Ty Hensley. You all know this. We've seen a kid with a dream and plenty of setbacks continually get back on the horse and try again. Fight is something that makes a champion. Fight is something that people will rally behind. Why? Because when you see a guy with that much courage, you can't help but fall in love with the story and the individual and how he just never gives in.  

Let me be clear... there is no giving up here... there is no quit or retirement. What we have here is a refocus of priorities and the will and desire to be the best, just in a different space. It's in a new role as husband and father.  Read this... and then read after his post.

For Ty, it was about priorities, something that just proves to me that these Hensley kids were raised right. They lead with character and integrity in everything they do. I tip my cap.

Ty send me this to post to all of the BYB freaks out there. An exclusive to all of us here at Bleeding Yankee Blue. You gotta love it. 

"I cannot wait to be a father and figure out what is next for us! Thanks to BYB for making me feel like part of the family since I was a kiddo. Love you guys!"

It takes a big man to take a temporary step back in following a dream. It takes a bigger man to know their role in life and show strength and courage to mold a loving family.

Ty and Madi... you will always have my personal support. Ty, I've literally watched you grow up and could not be prouder in all you do.

Marci and Mike. Bravo. Ty and Jake are incredible kids.  You raised them right.

Love you guys. Stay in touch.

TY HENSLEY GETS A CALL FROM THE MILKMEN!

 You go Ty!

I was chatting with Marci Hensley the other day when she told me the great news. It was great to hear. And respectfully, because I understand privacy and decency, I put on my friend cap and not my journalist cap and waited until it was officially announced to give them the moment they needed without inserting BYB into the equation. Why? Because this kid deserves it. He earned it.

I am happy to know the Hensley family. They are good people, a solid unit and they understand setback probably better than most.  But here's something else they know. They know strength, they know resilience. They know what determination is. They also know that dreams need to be followed. 

It's with great pleasure that I can announce that Ty Hensley has signed with the Milwaukee Milkmen.  Just a year after winning with the Utica Unicorns and throwing a no-hitter, and having some wonderful success on his road back to the bigs, the Milkmen took interest... and Hensley is on his way.

🚨NEW PLAYER ANNOUNCEMENT🚨

Please welcome Ty Hensley! He was a 1st round draft pick by the NY Yankees and has played for their affiliate teams. During those 2 minor league seasons he put up a 2.95 ERA in 42.2 IP with 54 K's!

We can't wait to see him pitch in a Milkmen uniform! pic.twitter.com/FQztiy04FN

— Milwaukee Milkmen (@MKEMilkmen) January 28, 2021

Ty told me these 2 words last year during the pandemic... Keep Watching! 

We're watching Ty... we're watching. Good luck!

LFG!

A BYB PODCAST INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE WITH TY HENSLEY

There are many baseball players I could have interviewed here at BYB for our first podcast. But I believe in loyalty. And for me, there's no one better to go to for our first one than Ty Hensley.

I am happy to say the Bleeding Yankee Blue has stuck with this guy through all the "shit".  When many walked away from Ty because of his setbacks or because they were disappointed in his progress, we did not and I'm proud of that.  That's our character.  That's what makes BYB unique and important in this space. That's why you read us.

We love Ty and his family here at BYB. And so, I decided that with our loyalty to him, rooting, cheering and supporting him, it would be only fitting to ask him about where he stands right this second in his mind, his life and definitely his career in baseball.

It wasn't always sunshine and rainbows for this guy. And that's what I wanted to ask him about. And so, we spoke in this podcast for you all to enjoy and listen to. While it's not perfect, the honesty and enthusiastic Ty Hensley doesn't hold back about wanting to even quit at times. It's hard to believe because he just kept coming back no matter what obstacle stood in in way. But it's true and you'll hear about that. But I call him Superhuman for a reason, and that's because he just keeps on coming.

After many surgeries, a lot of heartbreak and struggle, he made it, not only getting a championship in the Frontier league with the Utica Unicorns, but also finding his way back to being a success on the mound. He's throwing 100 mph again.  He's working out like a maniac, and team... yes... major league ball clubs are interested again. And so, the newly married Ty Hensley has a new reset in life and another chance. The drive is still there. The heart, the determination is still there, but now more than ever. Now he's seen success again... and now... he's more hungry than ever.

This is BYB Raw folks, our first podcast interview. It's a world premiere with my good friend, Ty Hensley. Enjoy it. I certainly did.

Hey Marci and Mike... I hope I did you proud.




Ty, thanks. We'll be doing more of this soon. Thanks for taking the time.

YOU'VE ALREADY HAD 9 YEARS OF BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE!

It's hard to believe, but September 14th was the 9 year anniversary of Bleeding Yankee Blue.  Back then I was just a fan who had some problems with the way Joe Girardi was handling the Yankee bullpen and how the idea of "winning at all costs" wasn't about sitting a better player for a worse one, but WINNING with all you got! And so, frustrated, annoyed and aggravated... I make a blog and posted a story.  The story was titled WHY LAST NIGHT WAS IMPORTANT.

That story was then sent to a few friends that had no idea that it was me.  With that, a few shares and when I woke up the next day, nearly 30 people had read it. I didn't know them, but it just goes to show that the power of social media is important.

Since then BYB has seen writers come and go, we've sold sweatshirts, shirts, underwear... we've interviewed Yankees present and former... we even built solid relationships.  I consider people like Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record a friend.  I can email Jack Curry whenever I want. I am friends with Ty Hensley and his lovely family. Mike O'Hara and I are like brothers at this point. Clay Rapada and I keep in touch, Brendan and Sharyn Ryan are my friends... just good people.  And being fans of the Sabathias is one thing... but knowing them personally and seeing just how sweet Amber truly is...is just dynamic.  I will also always be grateful to Laura and Jorge Posada, who, not only supported BYB back then, but we can still stay in touch and Laura is making her own career now, while Jorge can retire.  Hey... and how often do you get to break chops with Bob Lorenz?  I know I can whenever I want.  Same with Nancy Newman... one of my favs and just an incredible person to boot! Nancy, I owe you a text!

The point is, it may have taken a while, but Bleeding Yankee Blue is legit. We found friends through trust, and that's what we wanted. We wanted our audience to first love us, but then share us, talk about us, all the while allowing us to build solid relationships with regular folks as well as the Yankee family.  We wanted a piece of it to call our own, without being snobs... without being ego maniacs.

We've done that!

September 14, 2010 is our 9 year anniversary, but we wouldn't still be doing this if you didn't believe in us.  We wouldn't be a thing without my truly diehard writers in Suzie Pinstripe, Jeana Bellezza and Ike Dimitriadis and of course newcomer Missy O'Rourke.  They've helped push the brand forward. They've helped find our audience of die-hard readers.

Thank you.  Thank you to our amazing audience. You wow me every time.  Without your opinions, your likes, you disagreements, your shares and your banter with us, we would not be here.  But while blogs like River Ave Blue have called it a day, we don't and that's because of you.

I am forever grateful for your passion for the Yankees and for us.  My friendships, even with many of you readers is so incredible to me.  Becki, Jessica, Charles, Joey, Rose, Deb, Joan, Doug... and so many of you have made me blessed.  I love you all for that bond. It's tight... tighter than I could have ever imagined! I appreciate you.

Life goes pretty fast... but with a bond, friends, I will never feel rushed. It's a steady pace... and we hope to keep going. Why? Because you deserve it and because we love to deliver it to you.

Thanks for being loyal.  Happy 9 year Anniversary to us.  Wow.

--Robert Casey
BYB Chief and Head Writer
Twitter: @BleednYankeeBlu

THOSE HENSLEY BOYS ARE WINNERS

Photo Credit: Marci Hensley /Facebook

You know my relationship with this family and how much I love and appreciate the Hensleys.  They are good, solid people.  Marci and Mike raised their kids right.  They are fighters, warriors, determined.  I love that. Talking to Marci on and off over the years I have used that parenting model when raising my own kids.  Teaching about tough breaks, but still keeping a positive spin on it. Using loss as fuel... turning it around and staying focused on the goal.  And through it all... never... EVER giving up on what you want out of life.  In the end, it's about being your best you.

Ty Hensley got the win last night for the Evansville Otters and now they are one win away to clinching a playoff berth for their League out there.

14 News writes:

"The Evansville Otters are now just one win away from a third consecutive postseason berth after the Otters cruised to an 8-3 victory over the Normal CornBelters on Friday night at the Corn Crib... Ty Hensley gets the win, his second on the season for Evansville. Hensley went a career-high six innings, allowing two runs on six hits and four walks while striking out six."

As I've always said when it comes with this kid... baby steps.  Sure, he may not be a Yankee, he may no longer be with the Rays.  But what he is is in love with the game and nothing will keep him down.  I tip my cap to this kid who is still following his dream after all he's been through.

Photo: Honolulu Star-Advertiser

And speaking of that, what about JR Hensley? Ty's brother. A big time player and now Captain for the his football team at U of Hawaii.




You remember Jake right? We wrote about him on BYB. This kid is leading the Warriors in his college career, but don't get it twisted, there is a very humble side of Jake and that's why I love these kids.  He says "Everybody's gotta be captain".  Yes, in name he is, but if you rally the troops right, that entire team works together... and wins together.

Anyway... I know, I'm gushing like their my own kids.  It's crazy to think about it, but I've known this family now since Ty was the Yankees first round pick in 2012.  It's been a long time. Since then we have done countless articles about Ty and the Jake... (Read NEW TY HENSLEY INTERVIEW: CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN and CHASING DREAMS: INTERVIEW WITH JR HENSLEY)

They are good kids. They have a great family... they have dreams.  You can't help but root for these boys. They're winners.

I tip my cap to the Hensleys.

Never give up... don't ever give up!

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NOW PITCHING FOR THE OTTERS... #50... TY HENSLEY... #50!

You've all been asking me about Ty Hensley for a few years now.  Just so you know, I know the family, but I don't go hanging with Ty Hensley. It would be cool, but I rather my 15 year old son do that and learn some stuff. I'll go hang with Marci and Mike and have a few margaritas.

Now this is true, I have been getting updates from Marci, but there's something that I value when it comes to friendships, and that's privacy. I have never revealed anything that a friend doesn't want revealed, and that doesn't stop with the Hensleys.  Well... now I can reveal an update, and it's a pretty cool one.  Ty Hensley is an Evansville Otter, and yes, it's an independent league and he's still pitching.

Now before some of you guys get all uppity about how he's no longer in the majors, I want you to look at yourself and think... "What am I doing that's better? What am I doing that's something I'm passionate about?" Not much, right?

(Ashley Marshall/MiLB.com)

Here's the key to this whole story... Ty Hensley is doing EXACTLY what he's wanted to do all his life.  He's pitching.  In baseball, it doesn't matter if it's the pros or independent ball. What matters is that your passionate in what you do, and you compete.

Stranger things have happened... and if that dream's still in his head and heart like I know it is... he's still thinking about the Bigs.  You never know when it comes to athletes with heart like Ty Hensley's. Believe it.

Best of luck friend. I hope I'm invited to the wedding.

HELPING TANNER HUDDLESTON WIN!

In March of 2016, BYB wrote extensively about a man named Tanner Huddleston. A man who was dealing with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Back then, we asked you all to take a moment, give Tanner your support and go to his Go Fund page and donate if you could, but let him know you were in his corner. That article was titled: SENDING PRAYERS TO THE BIGGEST YANKEE FAN EVER!
and we here at BYB were happy to let our world know about this great person.

This morning, I received word from the Hensley family... that's Ty and his mother Marci.  They asked I let the Bleeding Yankee Blue community know that Tanner's leukemia is back.

Now look... in this situation, we as human beings feel bad and usually want to help... but we don't know how.  After all, we don't know Tanner personally, but we feel for him and his family and the challenges that lie ahead.  Well, my parents raised me to understand the importance of lending a hand if a person is in need... even if you don't know them... even if you've never met them. 

I've been in the hospital since Friday and have officially been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Send prayers pic.twitter.com/K0fT8GiKQV

— Tanner Huddleston (@tannerhuddle22) January 12, 2016

I'm gonna ask you to find it in your heart to do the right thing today.  Help Tanner Huddleston win! Help Tanner Huddleston beat this! 

Tanner will most likely need a bone marrow transplant this time around. That's no joke. Donors are critical and can't be older than 44 year old. And so, I encourage you, my family of Bleeding Yankee Blue... look into your heart and look into donor-ship at bethematch.org.

Also, here is Tanner's Go Fund me page again: https://www.gofundme.com/tannersfight

BEING THANKFUL, COURAGEOUS & STAYING ON TRACK

I believe there are no limits and I believe that when the doubters come knocking, your only concern should be about what you can do as a person and not worry about anything else around you. If you are passionate... if you have drive... if you believe in yourself, be thankful for all you have and dig deep and grind.   Just grind! And even when there are obstacles... grind some more until you've reached your goal.  It's the way I was raised... it's the way my wife and I raise our own kids, and when I met a kid named Ty Hensley 4 years ago when he was drafted by the New York Yankees, I saw that same drive in this young man.  

We at BYB remember it well.  2012. The kid was on Cloud Nine being signed by the greatest organization in the world, because they saw his drive, his potential, his courage to be great.  I remember our first interview with him. He felt blessed, and he was thankful, and much of that confidence and perseverance doesn't only come from within himself, but from his parents who, as I've said numerous times here... raised him right.

Now many of you have reached out to me and asked me how Ty Hensley is doing.  This is a man that has had setbacks; 2 Tommy John surgeries. An unfortunate scuffle that resulted in a wired shut jaw, and a surgery to repair a hip, and not in that order. And to be honest, for any other person, there would be severe doubt surrounding them and their career at that point.  If that was you, you'd almost feel like you couldn't go on any further. You'd wonder if what you signed up for really isn't your life's path. Am I right?  

But if you believe in dreams... dedication, the belief of not letting a person or team down, when you fall, you get back up.  That's Ty Hensley, folks... and I have news for you... Ty's fine.  

(Photo Credit: Robert Anderson)

After numerous notes to me asking if I "knew anything", I decided to take a moment to reach out to Ty and his family.  After all, I knew exactly what he was going through. Being driven is his life.  Distractions? He doesn't need him.  I waited.  I actually waited a long, long time because I didn't want to be a pest, and I didn't want to break the dude's stride.  In short, I get it.

Finally, on Monday night I sent Ty and his mother a note. Now look, Marci is a friend of mine. She's a great mom, she loves her kids and raises them to be respectful, hardworking and, here's that word again... "driven" young men.  I love that. I raise my kids the same, and so, we clicked and talk about our children whenever we can.  But this time it was to be very specific.  I threw away the script... I went in direct with Ty and Marci and asked the question so many of you have asked me.... "How is Ty doing?" 

(Photo: AP Images)

I am thankful for my friendship with the Hensleys, and on this Thanksgiving day, four years later form the first family interview with them, I wanted to share with you Ty's note to not only me... but to our Bleeding Yankee Blue family.  

Look... players come and go in baseball.  Fans get tired of guys who don't hit, can't pitch and get hurt.  But there's something very different about players when you see their human side and get to know them.  Ty Hensley can be great.  Yes, he's had a few tough breaks, but the story is real and when he makes it to the major leagues as a New York Yankee, and trust me, he will... You will understand exactly what I see in this young man.  

I share with you now, Ty's note to the Bleeding Yankee Blue audience. A note I got permission to print and it's an exclusive conversation that you will only see here on BYB:

(Photo: Scout.com)

Hi Robert,

Thank you so much for checking on me and your continued support.... About a year ago I deleted all my social media accounts and stopped reading anything that was written about me. I had work to do to get healthy, and little did I know a redo in the near future of my Tommy John. I didn't need anyone's opinions good or bad. I needed focus. It was my goal to emerge stronger and better than I ever have been. I am happy to report that I feel I have done everything I can possibly do in order to get back. 

I am throwing again (flat ground) and feeling great! I am stronger, more athletic, and more flexible than I have ever been in my life. I am just going to continue the course and put it all out on the field. If I have done everything I can possibly do then at some point you just have to turn it over to a greater plan. 

I know that everything I have been through the last 4 years was for a reason. In my mind, that reason was to get the physical obstacles out of the way that could prevent me from being the major league pitcher I always knew I could be for the long term. Only time will tell if that reasoning is accurate. 

I am very blessed that I was drafted by an organization that believes in me as a person as well as an athlete. Going into this Thanksgiving week, I truly want to thank the Yankees for being the team they promised they were when they drafted me. I want to thank you guys at BYB for caring and believing in me, for my current health, and the love of family and friends in my life. 

And to think, some call me the "Unluckiest 1st Round pick in Yankees history." 

I have to respectfully disagree.

Have a great Thanksgiving. I'll see you in the Spring!

Ty

At some point, you just have to think about the journey, be it Ty's or your own and say to yourself... "Am I doing enough to be where I want to be?"  Everyone has a different path in life. You could sit on the couch and never work a day in your life... but what good is that? Or... you can understand the importance to learning to walk so you can run, fighting toward goals and busting through obstacles.  Gaining confidence, control of your destiny... working hard and never, ever, ever giving up on yourself.  

And when you're there... when you've achieved your goal, you can look out all around you and be thankful for all the hard work you put in,  all the people that supported you and believed in you.  And in the end, no matter what, win or lose... know you left it all out on the field... because you were courageous and believed in dreams.

This applies to everyone, folks. 

Ty Hensley is the example. He has a dream. Hell, that dream was introduced to me by his mom when she sent me this photo above of a young Ty Hensley starring out into a baseball field as a kid.  He was dreaming big.  That dream is still inside of him.  

I love this kid. We back him at BYB and on this Thanksgiving, I encourage you to think about the journey, grab it... and make it what you want in life.

Never lose your drive. 
Never lose control. 
Never give up. 
Always, always... always be thankful for all you have.

Thanks to Ty, Marci and your family.  We appreciate you guys here very much.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Robert Casey
BYB Chief, Managing Editor & Head Writer
@BleednYankeeBlu

OUTRAGE FROM THE MINOR LEAGUES!

Minor League baseball is a grind.  Anyone who tells you differently has never been part of that struggle.  Once you sign, there are many doing the same, and you work up the ladder, barely making ends meet at times and still following your dream.  But I gotta tell ya, it's not easy.  But the key there is "the dream", because if you talk to minor league baseball players, and I've talked to several, the money is little, the travel to away games can be brutal, the sleeping arrangements aren't great and as much as you work hard, there's always someone else working just as hard.  And so, you work, work, work to try and make it to "the Show" to fulfill your dream and eventually sign a nice contract so you can make millions.

Tim Tebow isn't following the same path, and I have a problem with that.  It's being reported by the New York Daily News that he'll be getting a $100,000 signing bonus. Outrageous if you ask me:

"Tim Tebow just wants a chance.The former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner will get the opportunity to chase his baseball dream with the Mets beginning Sept. 19 in Port St. Lucie. The Mets signed the former football player and media fixation to a minor league deal Thursday that includes a $100,000 signing bonus. They have assigned him to start his professional baseball career in the team's instructional league at their spring training complex."

But why should that type of money be allowed?  Because he's Tim Tebow?

I immediately thought about a brilliant piece by Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel speaking specially about how hard it is to be a Minor Leaguer. Garrett Broshuis spoke to Real Sports and talked about how difficult it was to survive on his, then salary of $3000.



And there's more. Check these tweets out going after the Tebow signing bonus:

 (In Photo: Cody Decker)

Just so we are clear. Tim Tebow just got a 100K signing bonus to play baseball.... Mine was 1K....

— Cody Decker (@Decker6) September 8, 2016

The fact Tebow got 100,000 to sign let alone him even getting signed is a joke

— Corey Walter (@Corey_dubv) September 8, 2016

Every minor leaguer gives up so much to chase their dreams, @TimTebow doesn't even have to give up his day job. #justnotright

— Peter Moylan (@PeterMoylan) September 8, 2016

And I think about my conversation with Ty Hensley's mom Marci a while back, and how when her husband Mike was in the minor leagues, it was pretty hard:

Marci Hensley: "I lived through it with my husband, Mike Henlsey. I lived through the highs, the lows, the injuries and his heartbreak when he was released. We worked 4 jobs between us to allow him to finish school, most of the time not knowing where our next dollar was coming from. "

And so I guess the question is "Why?" and why does this type of thing have to happen? I'm not gonna lie, I'm disappointed in the Mets and I'm disappointed in the fact that Tebow can demand this type of bonus and he hasn't played ball in 10 years.

You gotta wonder what's going on here.  When you find out, please tell me, because the whole thing sucks.

IT'S WHY BYB IS DIFFERENT

It's not about clicks... it's about making the audience happy.  It's not about being robots over here. It's letting you feel the emotion about what we write and we try our best to present it differently and originally to all of you, every day, every way... all the time.   That's it... that's why we're here.

It didn't start that way.  I mean, it started with me screaming at the TV because they Yankees lost and Joe Girardi was 'bindering the crap' out of the Yankee relief.  We lost, and BYB was born. (Read WHY LAST NIGHT WAS IMPORTANT).

We don't just write about the New York Yankees anymore.  We write about baseball in general.  We write about what we're thinking about.  If there's a confrontation, opinion or decision about something... we tell you why we like it or don't like it.  Not only that, we don't all toe the same line.  Some of us LOVE Mark Teixeira.  Others think maybe his time is up.  Is that wrong? Nope.  Do we all still get along at BYB? Yup.

We won't ignore life stories.  We never have. All the other blogs? They will.  That's because we're BYB.  I personally wrote about Tanner Huddleston in SENDING PRAYERS TO THE BIGGEST YANKEE FAN EVER! because his story and struggle was important for people to know about. That God for good friends in Marci and Ty Hensley for bringing that story to life here at BYB. 

Dan Lucia threw all his emotion into WHAT KEEPS ME GOING, a story about his cousin Michael.  When Dan told me his story, it was crystal clear to me, there was no need to ignore something like that in my editorial process.  It's a definite story that needs to be told.  No question... no worry. "Do it!", I said.

We're written about Shane Varga here.  Another cancer victim who fought all the way back.  Read THE FIGHTER, a story about a man and his support system family that never thought of death as an option.  As Shane said to us in our interview with him "I don't have the option to be negative.  With negativity comes weakness and my body will always be in a fight to survive.  I can't let my guard down.  To sum this all up for you; I refuse to die. I want to live for my family, and now especially for my son.  I won’t put them through that."

We celebrate Jack DiSalvo here, a former coach who's name now lives on in Hawthorne, New Jersey because he was so inspirational and motivational to the kids he coached. Despite losing his life... his name is now a Scholarship and run through his son Brian.  (Read STRIVE TO COACH THE JACK DISALVO WAY!)

And so in a nutshell, what other blogs would every write about guys like these? None of them.  That's what makes BYB different.  We serve you with Yankee news.  We try to make you laugh and think about strategy and the handling of a bullpen. But we all live our lives differently and when something important comes down the pike, we refuse to ignore it.  Look, our writers have developed into pretty significant voices in the blog world.  That's because they work at this every day.  If they have an important story, it's got to be shared.

(In Photo: BYB Reader and Friend, Charles Moses)
We care about our audience and what we present.  That's because you all support us and have since we arrived in 2010.  That's why I put together unique merchandise for you all.  You asked to shirts, you asked for tank tops, for sports performance clothes, underwear and we made them for you.

Do you know how cute it is to see kids and babies wearing our stuff?

These new shirts are selling pretty well.  That's because they aren't cotton, but instead, a Dri-fit type material that, in a workout, or hanging watching a ball game, they won't sweat your pits off!

And of course, the ever popular BYB T-shirt is getting a lot of play this year.  Someone told me to put my name on the back and we'll sell a few.  While we're not making a HUGE dent in sales, I hope you all understand that my hearts in this, and we did it because we dare to be different, and dare to share our BYB product with all of you.

You can buy all of those products HERE.  Just click and go.  Our products are top quality and all prices are reduced!

What's my point to all of this?  Life.  Life's valuable and every single thing you do determines your path.  I'm not about to get all God on you, that's not the purpose of this.  I am here to tell you that BYB will never shy away from the hard times and glorious times of peoples lives, and if that means we celebrate an achievement in one my writers lives or we talk about the fight of someone that is close to us, that will never EVER be overshadowed by a Yankee score or home run.

That's because ultimately it's about the struggle within each of us and our families and how we operate day to day, week to week.

I have personally got to know all of you in some capacity over the years.  I like many of you. I like what my writers present every day and I adore watching their children grow up and achieve great things too.  Values are important and I surrounded myself with pretty wonderful people.  We've had babies here, we've watched our kids hit home runs in their little league games, and we've seen family members fight disease and rise above the hardships of life.  And in a nutshell.... that's what's most important to me.  Yes, the Yankees winning every game and going to the World Series is amazing.

I'm a fan, I always will be.  But if a guy like Tanner or cousin Michael is fighting to survive and they put on their best game face and give every ounce of life... I want every single one of you to know about it, to support it and to fight with them. Even if you don't know them.  Ultimately I want you to feel our emotion and feel like you you've known them for years!

(In Photo: Dan Lucia's cousin Michael and his family)
I was personally touched by Dan Lucia's story about his cousin yesterday.  It effected me the way it did when I met Shane Varga a few years ago.  You just want to grab the guy and his family and tell them you can fix it, even if you're not sure how.  It's the emotion of that, that really has catapulted BYB to the forefront.  It's what makes what we do here so different, so important, that on the days I get frustrated and want to pack up because I writers block... I stop and think differently and write something like this.

BYB is now a movement.  BYB is different than any other blog out there.  And we're damn proud of that.  More importantly... we're damn proud to serve you and we're very proud to tell the stories of all of these people who fight for themselves and their families every single day.    It's not always about a Yankee win folks.  Sometimes it's about life wins.

Happy Sunday.  Never lose hope. Never lose fight... always love each other. I really hope you read this post today and share it.  That's very important to me.

I leave you with this inspiring tweet from Lisa Varga, Shane sister and my friend:

Always be kind to everyone. Even if you think they don't deserve it 💕 You never know what's going on in someone's life. #Love #Kindness

— Lisa Varga (@TheLisaVarga) May 15, 2016

- Robert Casey, Founder & Chief of BleedingYankeeBlue.com
Twitter: @BleednYankeeBlu

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