You know you're a terrible team when Matt Harvey beats you.
I'm beside myself. I've never seen a team this bad since the Yankees had Bobby Meacham, just being honest. We are terrible and it makes me queasy. I'm having a hard time watching. I root like I always do, but it's always followed up with a "Are you freaking kidding me?" What has happened to my Yankees? What happened to consistent wins? What happened to small ball, manufacturing runs? I gotta tell ya, I'm kind of over Aaron Judge. Too brittle, not doing the job... he makes me kind of annoyed.
Last night Matt Harvey, the biggest waste of space in baseball showed up and beat the Yankees. And that's when you know the Yankees are bad. Harvey is no longer good... or is he? As the New York Daily News writes:
"Deivi Garcia may not be quite ready to help these Yankees to the playoffs, but maybe in July Matt Harvey will be. The one-time dominant Mets ace, who is here to rehabilitate his career, held off Garcia and the Bombers for six innings Monday night.
The Orioles won 4-2 in what was Harvey’s best start in years."
In years! You read that right. I mean what are we doing? And Aaron Boone? He's a failed leader. Can we get rid of this guy already?
The call over not crossing the plate in time is not a mistake, DJ DIDN'T CROSS THE PLATE IN TIME! It was a desperation attempt by Boone to try and scratch a damn run. The arguing is pathetic... you are clearly desperate! Daily News writes:
"Aaron Boone was ejected after arguing with veteran home plate umpire Will Little, who ruled that DJ LeMahieu, the second run, did not cross the plate before Judge was thrown out. Boone was angry that the umpires did not give him a chance to have the play reviewed. “It was too quick and I just felt like it was kind of bullying, frankly,” Boone said."
Here's an idea Boonie... how about your team just play better?
Every day I'm getting more and more fed up with this team. We have no balls, no will to win... we have no leadership. We need to do better... we're the damn Yankees.
Not too long ago, Chris Archer was a big deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.....but the scenery change in Pittsburgh hasn't been very kind to him. Now he's not a big deal, and he could actually be a big flop.
In 2018, the Yankees were shopping for a starting pitcher before July's trade deadline. The Yankees were interested in Archer, but the idea of trading within our own division was going to be tough but the Yankees still took a swing and struck out. At the time Archer was a nice prize, so I understood why the Yankees tried to get him. I wasn't heartbroken that we didn't get him though and now I am stoked that we didn't. He may be one of the best trades Brian Cashman never made!
Funny how baseball works out sometimes, huh? I bet the Pittsburgh Pirates wish they didn't trade for him now too. Last week the Pirates announced that Archer had surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome and will miss the 2020 season, if there is one. Who knows if there will be one at this point. So basically, Archer won't be back until 2021 and that point, his time with the Pirates may be done.
Archer has an $11 million club option for 2021 with a $250,000 buyout. The Pirates aren't expected to pick up the option because frankly....since leaving Tampa Bay Archer has been awful. In Tampa Bay he was an All-Star who finished fifth for the American League Cy Young Award. In Pittsburgh he tanked and finished 3-9 with a career worst 5.19 ERA in 23 starts for 2019. Yuck!
When 2021 comes around it will be interesting to see if he is able to regain any from for his 2018 self. Someone out there will take a chance on Archer if the Pirates do not pick up his option as expected. He could be a low-risk but high reward for some team out there....maybe. But a return back from this surgery will not be easy.
Remember Former Red Sox postseason pain-in-our butt Josh Beckett? He is a good example. This same surgery is eventually what ended his career.
And what about former New York Mets Ace Matt Harvey also known as The Dark Knight? His future may be dark but without the nickname. At 31 he is hoping for another opportunity to redeem himself after having the same surgery. After pitching for the Mets he played for the Los Angeles Angels last season and went 3-5 in 12 starts with a 7.09 ERA. The Angels tried the low-risk high reward idea and it didn't work out so well. He tanked, so I wonder if someone else will give him a shot this season. Last I read, he was drawing interest from Korean teams for a potential comeback in KBO. Sounds like his super agent Scott Boras isn't able to persuade an MLB team at this point.
Maybe Casey will finally get his wish and Harvey goes away! I know he'd like that.
So who knows what will happen to Chris Archer. It will be interesting to watch, but it sure sounds like the Yankees dodged a bullet by not getting him after all so thank you, Cashman!
You know Cashman, if he can't have a top pitcher, he'll find a way to make one... or in Matt Harvey's case, reinvent one. And I am terrified of that realization. But sadly, it's a realization we've seen way too many times at the trade deadline.
Great piece in Newsday today about how every team wants a ton in return. Many of them wanting Gleyber Torres. The Tigers for example:
Don't forget, the Blue Jays just tried this garbage with Marcus Stroman. He ended up on the Mets. Terrible move for all parties... although the Mets can twist it any way they want. It's stupid.
Now look... we have a good farm system. Everyone knows thats a problem. What will Cashman do about it? Well, this is what I fear. I fear he'll sign Matt Harvey.
Don't forget, Harvey was just Designated for Assignment by the Angels. The Washington Post writes:
"The Los Angeles Angels designated 30-year-old Matt Harvey for assignment Friday after another dismal performance.
Harvey, the former all-star who signed a one-year, $11 million deal with the Angels in December, allowed six runs over six innings against the Houston Astros on Thursday. In 12 starts this season, Harvey is 3-5 with a 7.09 ERA, 39 strikeouts and 29 walks. His ERA hasn’t been lower than 6.35 since his first game on March 29.
'The decision was made because we felt like it would increase our chance of winning games...'”
Now Cash doesn't see failure, he sees opportunity. Opportunity for a player to reinvent himself and opportunity for the Yankees to get a few wins going down the stretch. It's silly, and many will think I'm nuts, but let's not forget the days of this happening, nearly every year. The Cory Lidles, the JA Happs and yes a guy named Brian Gordon. It was during the 2010 or 2011 season... but the move didn't go the Yankees way. And Cashman pivoted and it was not for the better:
"Asked whether he was worried the Phils would be upset at his maneuvering, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman answered: 'Hey, they got Cliff Lee, I got Brian Gordon.'"
The point is, if you wake up on August 1st and we have Matt Harvey... do not be surprised.
Look, no one knows how this will play out, my guts telling me this trade deadline could be a disappointment. Damn I hope I'm wrong.
I honestly hate using the term "sucks" with any Major Leaguer. The game is hard, and getting to the pros and staying there is even more difficult.
There's a part of me that feels bad for Matt Harvey. Hype in New York is massive and couple that with the fact that he was over-hyped into some phenom... AND THEN BOUGHT into it was something that really led to his demise. He thought he was what the papers said he was... but he wasn't.
Fame is a great thing, but balance is so important. If you don't have balance, you will crash and burn. Matt Harvey did that in New York and it's sad for him. I don't blame him for that. I do blame him for being selfish and partying every night and not being a team player. But the over-hyped garbage coupled with a guy that is just an "OK" talent? You're better than that, Matt. Now maybe he can find a new home with the Reds.
Matt Harvey was traded. Something the Mets should have done a long time ago. And let's not forget the other player in this scenario. Devin Mesoraco. A young kid with a dream and someone the Mets fans should embrace. ESPN has this story:
Photo: Getty Images
"Matt Harvey is getting another chance, this time with a historically bad team in a city that will have far fewer late-night temptations than the Big Apple. The Mets are getting a catcher who can help at their most unsettled position.
The Reds acquired the former New York ace for catcher Devin Mesoraco on Tuesday, shortly before Cincinnati pulled away to a 7-2 victory over the Mets at Great American Ball Park...
Photo: Getty Images
The 29-year-old Mesoraco also has significantly declined because of injuries since his All-Star season in 2014, when he led all major league catchers with 25 homers and 80 RBIs. Hip, shoulder and foot injuries limited him to 95 games over the next three seasons, when he hit only six homers and drove in 17 runs.
'I have the opportunity to show I'm still capable of playing,' Mesoraco said."
Mets will complain that Mesoraco is a broken down player... but so was Harvey. And now both players have an opportunity to re-set and get things done.
If you know anything about me, I am not a fan of Matt Harvey. I mean I am sure he's a great guy, but he isn't my cup of tea. I thought he bought into the hype surrounding him, and he is not a team player. Especially when reports were raised about his partying and Mets players not being too happy about it...read HERE.
Now Matt Harvey has been designated for assignment. You know that makes me smile. But look, despite his fall from grace, Harvey could in fact get picked up somewhere. Who knows if this guy just needs to get out of New York to start shining again. Maybe a small market is just what he needs. After all, NY is not good for him. I think it's adding to his demise.
"While it has been largely assumed the former star pitcher would be an unlikely trade candidate due to the $4.6 million remaining on his contract and would end up being released after being designated for assignment Saturday, MLB Network reported Monday the Rangers “have mild trade interest” in Harvey. Dan Warthen, Texas’ assistant pitching coach, was the Mets’ pitching coach during Harvey’s peak years as a starter."
I strongly doubt the Yankees would ever tap into someone like Harvey, especially because they are rolling right now, you have to wonder.
OK... I wondered enough... not happening.
Anyway, You know I couldn't pass up a chance to rip on Harvey. If you want to read more, go check out THE END OF THE DARK KNIGHT. I enjoyed writing that.
But tell me... what do you think? Where will Harvey go? Comment.
We came into the 2018 season predicted to win the American League East and favorites for a bid to the World Series. And teams were envious of us, like they traditionally have been except for more recent years...like last year when we were rebuilding and predicted to go pretty much no where in year one of the rebuild. We shocked the critics and experts alike when we went from Wild Card to one game short of facing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America
When April came, we started down a rocky path, downward spiraling, causing many, including me to truly use the thumbs down as a negative vs. a Todd Frazier positive symbol. Now in our second month of our long season, we are riding on top of a huge tidal wave toppling teams like the Los Angeles Angels, World Series Champion Houston Astros and have taken two from the Cleveland Indians, going 14 out of 15 and 6 and 1 on the road.
Now, I am watching the Red Sox like it's my job and rooting for teams like the Texas Rangers to beat them. I have even resorted to tuning into MLB.TV and listening to NESN analysts call the game with a Boston accent so thick it is altering the way I say "Bawston Red Sawx!" To be honest, the Red Sox and their fans thought we would just go away quietly after the Boston Massacre led by Joe Kelly and our own Tyler Austin a few weeks back. But the rematch is making this upcoming series against the Sox as exciting as a playoff game. I think the Red Sox are one of those teams that is envious of us and our position right now as we look to unearth their lead in the AL East with one more win.
Source: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
According to the Red Sox fan-centric blog Over the Monster, "I can deal with the Yankees being favorites, though. That is not what has me excited here, as I’ve had to do enough predictions to know that most people who do predictions don’t actually want to be doing it. No, what has me all ready to hate the Yankees again — at least to the extent that I did a decade ago — is that people are calling them likable. Can you believe that? People that aren’t Yankees fans like the Yankees. It’s disgusting, and I am ready to fight the powers that be to change this perception. "
And if that is enough evidence of envy in baseball, how about this one from our cross town rivals. According to the fan-centric blog for the NY Mets entitled Rising Apple, "Don’t get me wrong, I despise the Yankees more than any other team in Major League Baseball, but they are doing exactly what I wish the Mets could do. Seeing the team from the Bronx make it to game 7 of the ALCS last season, and then improve their already solid team by adding the reigning NL MVP is infuriating. All it does is remind us how weak and small-minded ownership in Queens really is."
Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America
Teams love to hate us. They are envious and these teams have good pitching staffs, the Mets even after ditching Matt Harvey. And its not just the obvious teams like the Mets and Red Sox, according to a poll published in NJ.com last year, "The Bronx Bombers were the only MLB team to receive more than a 40 percent unfavorable rating. People simply don’t like the Yankees, regardless of who is donning the pinstripes."
Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America
Our current situation is turning heads. Love us or hate us, we are doing something that other teams and their fans wish for every season. We are winning, despite the poor start, despite the strikeouts by Giancarlo Stanton and despite the starting pitching woes. We are winning with rookies who are 25-years-old and younger, as young as 21-years-old. We have a lot of season left and many more games to play, but our current situation is exciting and the momentum is building. Take advantage of this feeling folks and soak it all in! Happy Sunday!
If you know anything about BYB, you know that being an ego maniac gets you nowhere and we see that garbage immediately and cut right through that. Matt Harvey falls into that category and now, it's all coming back to haunt him, and I am hoping once reality sets in, he will either just be quiet, or eat some humble pie and become a regular person. Hard lesson to learn, but I have a hunch he will eventually learn it, or maybe not because tools don't always learn when they fall from grace... or fake-grace... whatever this is that Harvey is in right now.
Metro writes a great piece about the latest Harvey saga. Check out this gem...
Some of that is because veteran southpaw Jason Vargas, who was signed during the winter provide some much-needed rotational depth, will be returning from an injury to his non-pitching hand in the coming days.
Photo: Getty Images
But most of that is because Matt Harvey simply is not an MLB-caliber starting pitcher anymore and we all saw it again on Thursday night."
The Mets lost to the Braves, and suddenly there has been a change in the Mets playing style. They are starting to lose. There is a lot of speculation that Vargas will replace Harvey in the rotation. And I'd love to see that happen. Hell, I think Mets fans would... he's just not good.
Now I'm not a Mets hater, but I am not a fan of Harvey. And hey, Harvey is a Met, so people think I'm anti-Met. I'm not. I just want Harvey to have a reality check. He's not the same pitcher he once was according to many, but to be honest, I think he was never that pitcher... I think he was just once lucky.
Photo: Getty Images
As I wrote in IF JUDGE STAYS HUMBLE... HE'LL BE FINE, "Harvey... knew he was good, pretty much told everybody he was great, bought into the hype and reeked of arrogance as he said it, and tried to bang strippers using the ol' "I'm the Dark Knight, wanna see my penis?"
Photo: Getty Images
So once Harvey started to realize he wasn't very good, and started having problems, the media pounced, because like I have written earlier, while celebs and athletes can be cool, there is always someone to remind them they are not, because they do digging through scandal, or blow up stories to try and knock them down."
Harvey was knocked down, but much of it was because of his own self-consumed arrogance. When reality set in, he was no longer Nolan Ryan, he was more like Mark Fidrych (God, rest his soul)
A fun character, but that's about it.
No one likes to see a person be successful more than me, but admittedly, I enjoy watching failure happen when a person thinks he is untouchable. Matty is that.
Here's some humble pie, Mr. Harvey....
Eat it.
And good luck to the Mets, they'd be better off without him.
(July 11, 2017 - Source: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images North America)
Jason Keidel wrote another instant classic for CBS Sports and the headline is bound to get every Yankee fan pissed off. Not me though... I get everything he said... except one thing... comparing Matt Harvey to Aaron Judge should be a crime. Other than that, I like his latest piece titled Don’t Shoot The Messenger, But Judge Should Just Retire Now. Nice job!
In this piece, Keidel speaks highly of the Yankee sensation and how 'cool' is the place to be and Judge is it. But sooner or later, Judge will fall...
(July 10, 2017 - Source: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images North America)
"Judge has reached an orbit that’s even too high for most celebrities. Even folks who don’t care for baseball — and really don’t care for the Yankees — are punching their remotes to see his next space-age homer. He’s entered a realm of crossover appeal that’s so rare that some of sport’s most transcendent names are being whispered with Judge... And surely he will make a lot more money than his current salary of $544,000. By the time he reaches free agency in 2023, he will be making that per week. But life won’t be any more exciting or wondrous. Not only is he a divine talent, but at age 25 he’s got the universal sense that we all had at that age, that this is just the beginning, that there are no such thing as bad days, that life is a gold-plated path to infinite wealth and wisdom. And as anyone with a television can see, he’s got a disarming innocence that only exists when you first knock on fame’s door.
(July 10, 2017 - Source: Mark Brown/Getty Images North America)
It won’t take that long for Judge’s star to crash, dim, or burn when it passes into our atmosphere. In six or eight months, pitchers will surely find holes in his swing, and surely the media will find flaws in his character. What if he drops his first fly ball with a man on third? Or he strikes out with the bases loaded in the ALCS? Or if God forbid, he flips his first bird at TMZ or gets into his first barroom spat?"
Now many of you hate this. You don't want to hear it. You think it's crap and you now hate Jason Keidel. Well... Keidel is provocative... and good and don't be a hater, because here's the reality; While we don't want to see our beloved Judge fall... it happens to the best of them. Bumps happen... because when you're popular, folks want to find ways to make you unpopular. It's just the way life goes for top celebrities. We don't want to hear it as a Yankee fan, but it kind of happens like... all the time.
(July 6, 2017 - Source: Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America)
Will it happen to Judge? I hope not, but don't be surprised if some a-hole finds a photo of him with some chick who later comes out and accuses him of something outrageous, or something more. Trust me, I wish that garbage on no one... not even Matt Harvey. Here's the thing though... Aaron Judge is enjoying this and staying mad humble about it! He's not getting ahead of himself. He's not buying into the hype, he's taking it one day at a time. He doesn't speak about himself in third person and you don't see the guy with strippers. For crying out loud the guy lives in a hotel in New York City and speaks to no one. He just commutes back and forth to the stadium and for the moment is squeaky clean and staying out of trouble. He's a good kid and raised right as far as I can see. But you know the way the tide turns, and hopefully he doesn't fall off.
Keidel brings reality to Aaron Judge's amazing season whether we want to hear it or not.... it's actually a great piece. But I was disturbed by this comparison...
Photo: Getty Images
Matt Harvey? Really Keidel? You are trying to thread a Judge to Harvey? You know I hate Harvey... how could you? Read this...
"Whatever that dynamic is that we’ve distilled to the term “hating” will soon surface and attack or devour the young, wildly gifted outfielder. We want our heroes happy, up to a point. Then we break them down. Then we cheer them during the comeback. If we can find issues with Tim Tebow, we’ll find some dirt on Aaron Judge.
(April 26, 2017 - Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America)
Not too long ago, Matt Harvey wore the crown. Even had his own handle, the “Dark Knight of Gotham.” Now, Harvey is some broken shell of his former eminence and dominance. The very supermodels he so proudly wore on his arm to Knicks games are now discarding him with frigid indifference. He’s not cool anymore. And cool is everything."
Damn you Keidel!
Here's the thing though, I'm not buying it. Why? Because we're dealing with 2 different personalities.
Judge knows he's good, but he's not gonna let anyone out here know he knows. Matt Harvey on the other hand knew he was good, pretty much told everybody he was great, bought into the hype and reeked of arrogance as he said it, and tried to bang strippers using the ol' "I'm the Dark Knight, wanna see my penis?"
So once Harvey started to realize he wasn't very good, and started having problems, the media pounced, because like I have written earlier, while celebs and athletes can be cool, there is always someone to remind them they are not, because they do digging through scandal, or blow up stories to try and knock them down.
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Harvey is no Aaron Judge... and while one day, like Kevin Maas, the opponent could find a way to pitch to him so he falls from grace... here's the difference; Judge won't live in the past of his greatness... he will work hard to make adjustments and try to improve.
Matt Harvey is Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite... thinking about what could have been... walking around like the 5th Heartbeat telling the world he "Still has it'.
Judge, while larger than life will come back to reality one day. That's a fact.
But Aaron Judge is humble, and he was raised right... and trust me, he will succeed, even in the toughest city of the toughest critics in the world... NYC.
Jason Keidel is the man. Nice work, dude. You know how much I like your stuff. Keep going.
(April 25, 2017 - Source: Brandon Wade/Getty Images North America)
Not to get ahead of myself here, but they Yankees have proven that they are better team than many have predicted. The Yankees look like a potential playoff team now rather than the two years some predicted, like Vegas. They may not believe in the Yankees....but we do and if they make the right moves they will too.
I usually don't pay attention to Vegas odds because honestly, their predictions and thought process seem ass backwards sometimes. But this time, I found something to be rather interesting. In May the Yankees had 16/1 World Series odds, read that HERE. Now all of the sudden we have a legitimate MVP candidate and one month later we have a 12/1 odds. It's amazing how much someone like Aaron Judge on a winning team suddenly changes everything.
(May 29, 2017 - Source: Patrick Smith/Getty Images North America)
As I sit back and watch the league now that we are one-third of the way into the season we can all see the Yankees have one area they need to address in order to win it all in October. The Yankees are going to need pitching, plain and simple. Masahiro Tanaka has not been an ace, Luis Severinohas rebounded from a disastrous 2016 and Michael Pineda is inconsistent and still cannot be trusted. If the playoffs started tomorrow, the Yankees would be in trouble.
The Yankees have the offense but need some more pitching depth if they want to compete in the post season. As the trade deadline approaches there are some names the Brian Cashman could call on.
2017 stats: 2-7, 11 starts, 5.60 ERA Contract Status: Owed $38 million through 2020 (If options for 2019 and 2020 are picked up).
The Yankees have been tied to Quintana since the off season. He was one of the most consistent, underrated pitchers of the last four years. He threw at least 200 innings from 2013-2016 and never had an ERA over 3.51. He's had a rough start but history shows he is a better pitcher than what his current stats are. He's pitching on a fourth place team who isn't helping those stats. The numbers may not be pretty but he will still be a hot commodity on the trade market this season. He would still require a good prospect package to get him but knowing Cashman he is at least going to make the call and see where the conversation leads.
Contract Status: Free Agent after 2019
The Yankees drafted Cole as a first round pick back in 2008, but he attended UCLA instead of signing. The advantage with Cole would be getting another young, solid pitcher under team control. The Yankees would then be able to save more money to get under the luxury tax which has been a goal for awhile now. The Pirates are also in fourth place in their division and will be looking to sell by the deadline. It would be a good fit for the Yankees.
(May 11, 2017 - Source: Jason O. Watson/Getty Images North America)
2017 stats: 5-5, 12 starts, 4.38 ERA Contract Status: Owed $21.8 million per year through 2021 with an opt out option after 2017.
The Giants are 12.5 games out in the NL West and are bound to be sellers. Beat writers already recognize that he is an impact player for a contending team....the question is whose? If Cueto can have a good season behind a bad team exercising his opt out option only makes sense and would give the Yankees another ace on a rental. If the Yankees can keep him it's a fair price to pay for another ace in a playoff berth.
2017 stats: 2-0, 5 starts, 3.03 ERA Contract Status: Signed through 2018 with a 2019 team option
The Rangers are 15 games out in the AL West. Hamels is currently out with an Oblique strain and unlikely to return by July so he likely wont have enough innings pitched for his 2019 option to vest. That's good news because it would mean that the Yankees or any other team could get him at a deep discount and would be a longer term rental for a good pitcher who has some experience in big game situations. It's more of a low buy, higher risk option but if the price is right it's worth a phone call.
(June 1, 2017 - Source: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images North America)
2017 stats: 5-4, 12 starts, 3.13 ERA Contract Status: Free Agent after 2017
The Rangers have plenty of trade chips, and Darvish may be the rental that every contending team wants. He would be the rental that could make a difference. Early rumors predict that the Yankees and the Cubs are two favorite destinations for Darvish, read that HERE. The Yankees may be a suitor for him in the off season anyway, so it could be a good test to see if he can handle the New York pressure.
2017 stats: 4-3, 11 starts, 5.43 ERA Contract Status: Under team control through 2018
This name is out there in the rumor universe. The Mets are open to trading him.....but all I can think is "NO! Please baseball gods, no!" The guy is a mess.
The trade deadline is still a ways off but I love all of the speculation. It's interesting to read all of the rumors and then look back on everything later. Who knows if any of these names and rumors have any merit to them, but it's still all part of the fun of being a baseball fan right? Let the trade rumors roll!
--Jeana Bellezza BYB Managing Editor Follow me on Twitter: @NYPrincessJ
