ANDREW MARCHAND MOVES ON

It was shocking and it really surprised me to see a note from Andrew Marchand last night on Twitter.  It turned out that for the first time in a long time, Marchand would not be at pitchers and catchers.  In fact... Marchand was leaving ESPN.

Now for a Yankee fan site like myself who depended on and appreciated guys like Andrew, it's hard to get my head around this kind of stuff. Change sucks.  Because much like Wally Matthews, Mark Feinsand and others who have left their positions at their respective companies for whatever reasons... it's weird. Mostly because we as new kids on the block in the fan site world, we like reading these guys.

I mean sure, I'm the first one to admit that I get bent out of shape when these guys stretch it a bit with their reporting, or when they call themselves 'baseball insiders' and yet, there really is no insight... I DO give some of these folk jazz. I admit that 100%.  But ultimately, it's guys like Marchand that keep folks like Bleeding Yankee Blue, Greedy Pinstripes, Section-36 going evey single day. 

Hell, I would have never started the BYB Hub, collecting a whole range of new writers if it wasn't for the likes for Marchand, Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record, Erik Boland of Newsday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, Pete Abraham over at the Boston Globe, Jason Keidel of CBS Sports. That's my stable... and my staple to great morning reads for me. It's many of these guys that I like waking up to and reading... and yes... give them the proper plug when the story is great, or shake my fist at the screen if I don't agree.

Marchand is one of the good ones, despite our disagreements, and there is mad respect there.  When I read his note last night... I responded the only way I know how....

Wow. Good luck to you. You are one of the best. If you get bored, come write for Bleeding Yankee Blue. It could be fun for you. 😀. Sincerely. Good luck.

— Robert Casey (@BleednYankeeBlu) February 10, 2018

Best of luck to you Andrew.  No doubt your new gig as a New York Post Media Columnist will be great.  But much like when I offered to Wally... my offer stands with you too.  I know we're not top of the baseball heap, and I know you need to provide for your family... but if you wanna write something for BYB, no question we'd welcome it. It's because of people like you that we even exist.

Respect.

Good Luck, friend.

IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL LIFE, MARK FEINSAND

When you go to journalism school, you learn about the legendary news writers and reporters and you may even study and apprentice under their them.  When I went to Boston University to learn how to be journalist and develop my craft, I was mentored by the best- leaders in the media world who have left their mark on the field forever.  I met and interviewed legendary baseball analyst Peter Gammons. Emmy-award winning producers and general managers taught me how to critique my writing and pushed me hard to go the distance.  And the articles I read and screened helped me become the writer I am today.  So when I learned that Daily News sports columnist and Yankee beat writer Mark Feinsand inked his last piece for the News, I became reflective.

Source: New York Daily News

"Fans are passionate about their team, but as a writer, the wins and losses don’t faze me. It’s the people I’ve met along the way that will stay with me above all else, from my fellow beat reporters and co-workers to the players, scouts, executives and others that have helped (or in some cases, hindered) me do the best job I possibly could," said Feinsand in his final post for the News following a 16-year tenure at the New York tabloid.

I have been reading and listening to Feinsand for years.  If he was writing about it, it was most definitely relevant and worth reviewing.  From Joe Torre to Derek Jeter to Alex Rodriguez to Gary Sanchez, Feinsand provided us a reflective angle to wrap our heads around.  Without him, Yankee journalism would not have the uniqueness it has.

Source: CBS New York - CBS Local

"As much fun as it is to cover a team during a championship run, it’s not what I’ll take away most from this past decade. I’ve seen greatness up close, watching Rivera chase down the all-time saves record, Jeter become the first Yankee with 3,000 hits and both Pettitte and Sabathia pass the 200-win milestone," said Feinsand.

It's been a wonderful life here in Yankeeland with you in it, Mark!

We appreciate your wit and your honest analysis.  Feinsand has these parting words to fans from his Facebook page, "I’m still working on my next step, though I hope to have something to announce in the coming weeks. I’ve covered more than 2,000 games on the Yankees beat, but rest assured, there are more to come."

Broadcast booth, Mark?  We shall see, but until then, thanks for giving us your best through your columns and interesting angles at the News.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

REPORT: MORE RETIRED NUMBERS ARE COMING

Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News just dropped this Tweet:

According to a source, plans are also in the works to honor Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada this season, with 51 & 20 likely to be retired.
— Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) February 16, 2015

Now, that's not just a Tweet from Feinsand... it's a bomb, and if it's true, you will get alot of mixed feelings about what exactly the Yankees are doing retiring everyone's numbers these days.  There is likely going to be fan arguments on whose numbers deserve to be retired and whose doesn't, and trust me... I get that. 

In fact, even after we posted: NEWS OF THE RETIRING OF PETTITTE'S 46 CAME FROM HIS PROUD SON, Facebook friend Mike had something quickly to say about it:

He makes a great point, he really does.  Many fans don't see the retiring of certain guys as a good thing, but in fact, a bad thing. That's because to them, it's an opening of a can of worms. It can also be perceived as a cash grab for the Yankee wallets. Trying to cram everyone into their stadium, resell #46, #2, #20, #42 and #51 to profit more on these fine players and they ultimately will increase ticket sales this season.  Other fans, may just love the idea. But the debate comes when the Yankees decide to put questionable players' numbers into retirement.  Willie Randolph? Wade Boggs?  David Cone? How about Mike Mussina?  In other words, the debate is coming and if that Feinsand source is true, it will be fierce.

Look, I'm a Posada guy personally, and for the Core Four, the Fab 5, which includes Bernie, maybe they should all be in there, almost like a new generation of champions like Mickey and Whitey before them... but it DOES start to get hairy... no question about it.

We'll have more on this Feinsand Tweet once we figure out if it's true... stay tuned.

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