STEINBRENNER DECLARES WE NEED TO GET BETTER, PERIOD.

Source: CBS Sports

With the lockout in full throttle, the Yankees will be in the spotlight once the new agreement goes into place, whenever that will be. The New Post calls this the end of Act 1 and the beginning of Act 2 where the Yankees have no choice but to be active instead of their dulling silence amidst some of the biggest signings in the history of the game. We need to get better, period. Yes, thanks Hal. How we are gunna do that?

"The Yankees haven’t answered their questions at shortstop or center field, and they could use another starting pitcher (they offered one year and $25 million to Justin Verlander, who accepted two years and $50 million from the Astros) plus some more bullpen depth," reported the New York Post. And on the Yankees radar are guys like Trevor Story and yes Carlos Correa. But their failure to pull the trigger in Act 1 really makes me feel uncertain about this team and the vision for the future. 

As SB Nation reminds us, "Roughly $1.7 billion was spent in the free agent frenzy that preceded the expiration of the previous CBA, but the Yankees were conspicuously absent from the headlines. Despite clear needs at multiple spots on the roster, New York’s only piece of business before the transactional freeze took effect was the re-signing of reliever Joely Rodríguez to a one-year, $2 million deal."

I think the biggest blow for me was the Yankees tendering Gary Sanchez last week. I guess I am not surprised but I am just sick and tired of Sanchez and his inability to quite frankly, get better. I know that the Yankees are considering division rival Kevin Kiermaier but what about his teammate and catcher Mike Zunino? He is up for free agency in 2022-2023 and unfortunately for the Yankees, the Rays locked Zunino for a one-year 7-million dollar option. By the way, the Yankees are paying Sanchez 7.9 million. Frustrating. Last week, I mentioned the idea of the Yankees going after Cubs catcher Wilson Contreras, which is still a possibility.  

So the Yankees have not moved on a center fielder, shortstop or starting pitching and the Winter Meetings are now a minor league event with the lockout in progress. How are the Yankees going to get better? How are they going to make up for lost time? These are the questions that keep me up at night. Good thing I have my new Purple sheets and comfy LL Bean pajamas to help my slumber, because the Yankees are down right aggravating even when they are not playing. 

 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

BOONE THE BONEHEAD!

The last thing I wanted to do was try and get too crafty against the Rays, and we've done just that. It's been a long time since I have been critical of Aaron Boone, but I can't think of a better time other than right now. I don't understand what Boone is doing AT ALL. I'm all for keeping our opponents on their toes but....I think he's lost his mind. This is an experiment that has gone terribly wrong.

We've had a lot of struggles against the Rays this season, so strategy was critical here....and Boone folded.

Game one was good, and it damn well should've been with Gerrit Cole on the mound. The Yankees did what they needed to do and we won. But...I'm still stuck on game two and game three was just bad.

Look, the Yankees complicated the situation in game two with Deivi Garcia. There was no reason to try and treat this like an "opener" situation that the Yankees have done before. It worked with Chad Green in the past but, we've already had challenges this season with the Rays....why complicate it?

Why not let Garcia go out there and pitch for longer and see what he had? If he tanked then sure, pull him but considering that the ALDS series has no planned off days, why not try and get some length out of your starters so the bullpen isn't overworked? The idea shouldn't change in the postseason.

But it did. I get it, Boone wanted J.A. Happ, the lefty out there to try and neutralize the Rays lefty heavy lineup. I understand the logic, but it didn't work and we didn't even give Garcia a chance to see if he could neutralize the Rays on his own. Boone pulled the trigger too fast....

And it backfired, terribly. Both Mike Zunino and Manuel Margot made Happ pay and then Austin Meadows hit a home run off of Jonathan Loaisiga. It was just a mess and Boone's pitching strategy just didn't work.

And last night I was really hoping for more out of Masahiro Tanaka. He is our proven and experienced postseason guy and he threw WAY too many sliders last night and the Rays just sat back and waited on it. Sure, Tanaka didn't pitch well but Boone also deserves some of the blame. As a manager he is responsible for making the decisions that put your team in winning scenarios. I really feel like he fails at this more often than not in the playoffs especially.

So now we are at a MUST WIN game four....or we sleep until spring again. Our fate lies in the hands of Boone and Jordan Montgomery and I don't feel so good about that. I still believe he can contribute to the Yankees but this hasn't been his year. He finished the regular season with a 5.11 ERA and his worst start came against the Rays on September 2nd. I hope he learned a lot from that appearance, because we need him now more than ever.  

I'm crossing every body part I have tonight, because I am not ready for the season to end. I'm ready to get Cole some backup because he needs it. I'm ready for the pitching to get their act together because Cole can't do it all, and I'm ready for Aaron Boone to stop being a BONEHEAD!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

MARINERS RAIN ON THE YANKEES PARADE

The media speculation over how Robinson Cano would be received on his return to the Bronx was put to rest Tuesday night. He received a number of cheers, but really was met with mostly boos. Are we at all surprised by this? Usually, when a player returns to face the Yankees, they get a respectful cheer. But the circumstances under which Cano left made it clear he would not be welcomed. CC Sabathia struck him out in the first, and the crowd was ecstatic. The Bleacher Creatures added him to roll call, but then started a "You sold out," chant. The boos would continue with the rest of his at bats, and even some of his fielding plays. The surprise for me came when he hustled hard to first base. Granted, he was beat there by CC, and still called out, but he hustled. Where was that the previous 9  years? C'mon, Robbie! CC made it a point to pitch in to him, where the rest of the league has been pitching away. Welcome back to the Bronx, I guess?

Anyway, on this rainy day in the Bronx, the Yankees started off pretty well. CC's mechanics seemed to be on point. Mark Teixeira hit a single homer, his third of the season, in the second. Brian Roberts scores after an E2 by catcher Mike Zunino. The Yankees were up 2-0, until the 5th inning.

Don't know what happened to CC at that point. I feel like I blinked, and he was suddenly in a bases loaded situation. Started with the Mariners challenging a play, and it being over turned, and it all went down hill from there. Seattle would walk away from the inning having scored 4 runs. Top of the 7th would see Seattle scoring two more runs, one by our old friend, Robbie.

In the 8th, Cano's check swing was called a strike by the 3rd base ump, Andy Hamari. It was clearly a check swing, but you know what? It's cold, it's raining. Everyone involved wants to go home. But then in the bottom of the inning Teixeira's check swing was not called a strike. Mariners first base coach, Andy Van Slyke, was not pleased. Decided to exchange a few words with the Hamari, and earned himself an ejection.

Frankly, the shift was just not working in our favor tonight. Seattle seemed to have no problem scoring on us. Bottom line? They out played us tonight. You can't win games, if you don't score runs. Seems a bit obvious, but true nonetheless.


Final: Mariners 6 - Yankees 3

--Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer 
Twitter: @e_morales1804

 




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IS ROBINSON CANO LOST IN SEATTLE?

I am the coach to my son’s baseball team, and last week we had our league’s Opening Day. My son is 7 and in one years time, I've seen some great improvements in his playing ability. That's got other parents’ attention above anything else. We have a great squad of guys who can really play!  I love taking the time to teach any child the game of baseball and hope it translates throughout their playing days.

The night before Opening Day, I was outside playing catch and I told my son he was going to be our guy at Second base.  He was excited about the news, saying. “Dad, just like Robinson Cano.”  I looked at him, smiled, and said "Well, Robinson doesn’t play for the Yankees anymore. He plays for Seattle.”  He stopped throwing the ball and paused for a few seconds.  He shrugged his shoulders and said,  “I don’t care. I still like him. So what if he plays in Seattle, so do the Seahawks, and so did Ken Griffey Jr.”

We resumed play. That Ken Griffey part is me teaching him who some of my favorite baseball greats were. He quickly has even been turned onto ‘Junior' ever since. Nonetheless, my kid made a good point. You like a player, you can still follow him no matter where he ends up.

Sometimes I sit there watching a game and wondering how other players are doing around the league. If you think outside the box like I do, you will tune into other games besides Yankees sometimes. With that, I tend to look at the scores of Mariners games and particularly what our old buddy Robinson Cano has been up to.

I’m also aware many might not feel the same way. But the truth is, He was my favorite Yankee player for a while after Bernie Williams. I simply wish Cano the best in his new chapter in his baseball career. Right now,  In 16 games with the Mariners, he’s hitting .266, 8 RBIs and he finally hit his first jack as a Mariner this past week. The Mariners are in 4th place in the West. There is still a lot baseball to change that, and surely improve.

Cano is playing with a lineup nothing similar to the scoring machine that the Yankees were, but the team is showing heart and trying to win ball games.  Guys like their catcher Mike Zunino who already has 3 HRs for instance.  We’ve heard many say Cano has no protection in the line-up, and "it’s a bigger ballpark" at Safeco Field.  Many Yankee fans are hoping his numbers will diminish, but what if the numbers don’t? What if Cano’s presence makes the line-up somewhat better?

As I mentioned before in my Alfonso Soriano piece titled:  DON'T FEAR THE FONZ, “...once a team becomes a hitting machine, everyone does their part.” The same can be said here. They’re trying to pick each other up, and who knows if they go on a tear at some point during the season. It could happen, you know.

But getting back to Cano; It goes without saying players that get the monster contracts don’t play to their true potential.  We’ve seen this trend here... it’s happening in Anaheim right now with guys like Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols.  Let’s just say, I believe Robbie doesn’t want to be a part of that trend.  He wants to be a guy that lives up to his hype and say “I came to Seattle to be a different result, and a better one.” I believe that.

Now, I know for some out there, Robinson Cano is now a player of Yankees past. That’s true. He’s a former Yankee now, let’s turn the page and look to who plays for the Yankees now! Right?  I heard it all and I get that.  But honestly, the fact that he went elsewhere sits in the back of your mind just alittle and enough to ponder how he's doing in his new home. Furthermore, you just can’t forget his 9 seasons with us!

And that’s not just with Robbie, but with any player. I will be the first to admit, I loved Cano in New York. Many did. I wanted him back this past off season, I really and truly believed he was coming back. Then, the news came that he chose to sign elsewhere and money was the factor.  It stung, I won’t lie.  But baseball is a business and we sometimes forget that.

When I said I wish Robbie all the best in his chapter of his baseball career, I truly meant that. I have moved on and with the way the Yankees are rolling lately, it's easy to put Cano out of my mind,  but I’m not going to be the one wishing ill will on the dude! Cano’s human and did what he felt what was best “FOR HIM.” With that, I’m not closing the door on what Robinson once was.  It’s like seeing you’re ex somewhere with his/her new fling. Somehow you can’t help but to look back, from the corner of your eye...just for a moment.




Rudy Laurens
BYB Writer
Facebook: House of Champions


 

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MARINERS CALL UP ZUNINO. WHERE'S MONTERO?

There's no real Yankee connection here other than the Yankees traded away their Jesus Montero to the Mariners, and we got Michael Pineda in exchange.  Then it was revealed officially that Jesus Montero really couldn't cut it as a catcher in the Major Leagues. Then, was shipped down to the Mariners farm system, read HERE. That was followed up by me writing PINEDA 1 - MONTERO 0 for Bleeding Yankee Blue.

(In Photo: Mike Zunino)
Now comes word that the Mariners have called up their "real" catching prospect in Mike Zunino. Good for him. Good for them. Hey, could we get Montero back? Maybe we could work with him more and eventually make him our permanent DH...Yankee fans need closure or something.

I have always heard great things about Zunino.  Larry Stone of the Seattle Times tweets:

Got it confirmed from someone who would know: Mike Zunino has gotten the call up, catching a plane from Vegas to Seattle this afternoon
— Larry Stone (@StoneLarry) June 11, 2013

So, how will Zunino do? I expect awesome, but he's struggled in Tacoma, but it will come... I believe that. He has a .238 average, 11 home runs in 47 games there this year.  I also expect Montero not to be up for a while. He's not even on the active roster.  I do wonder what the future holds for Jesus... now picture me thinking...

but with clothes on.

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PINEDA 1 - MONTERO 0

Sure, some could argue that Montero is up with 1 already because he's actually played a full season for the Seattle Mariners since that dreadful day in Yankeeland (read BRONX SHOCKER: MONTERO TRADED FOR PINEDA for context), but for arguments sake... and because this is a Yankees fan site, let's just say Pineda is winning.

Don't know what I'm talking about? How about this.  It's being reported that Jesus Montero is officially demoted, sent down to AAA by the Seattle Mariners.  According to the Tacoma News Tribune (HERE), " Montero will be sent to Triple-A Tacoma, while catcher Jesus Sucre will be selected from the Rainiers...What position will Montero play in Tacoma? Well, he figures to see plenty of time at designated hitter and some time at first base. Zunino is the catcher of the future, so his playing time should not be affected.

Montero’s demotion to Triple-A seemed to be more likely with each passing day and each failed at-bat."

 

On the Michael Pineda front, it's being reported that Pineda "...threw five innings in an extended-spring game at the team’s minor-league complex in Tampa, Fla. His fastball velocity sat at 93 mph, general manager Brian Cashman said. After one more game at the complex, Pineda could begin a rehabilitation assignment, a 30-day jaunt that could lead him to the majors.
 
'I’m happy so far that he’s healthy,' Cashman said. 'But he’s obviously got a ways to go. We’ll see. But so far so good.'” 

That comes from the Star-Ledger, HERE.  Look, it's my feeling that Brian Cashman may be the smartest man in the room right now. He signed Lyle Overbay, Travis Hafner and Vernon Wells and no one thought he had a brain in his head.  Could you imagine if they keep carrying this team and then Michael Pineda comes back 100% and ready to kick ass?

We'll have to see. I feel bad for Montero but maybe all the hype was yet another Yankees strategy... we'll have to see how it all plays out, but right now the Yankees appear to be in the driver's seat.

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I KNOW HOW PINEDA & MONTERO ARE DOING

That's right, I said Montero. Jesus Montero.  Sometimes when guys leave the Yankees, we forget.  No one is forgetting about Jesus Montero because we are still waiting for our return on Michael Pineda.  Let's start with Pineda first.

According to Bryan Hoch, read HERE, Joe Girardi said that he was happy with what he saw with Pineda and his one scoreless inning of simuation ball. That sounds good to me, so I read further on LoHud and Chad Jennings wrote: "... only five or six hitters, but Girardi seemed impressed. 'He (Pineda) threw all his pitches, his fastball, his slider, his changeup,' Girardi said. 'He threw strikes he threw some really good strikes... it’s a long ways away, but for the first time in a simulated game, it was pretty good.'  There was no radar gun on Pineda, but Girardi said he could tell a difference from what he was seeing last spring. 'His command was much better...'” The full piece is HERE.

Sounds good to me.  Now, many emailed me wondering if I heard anything on Jesus Montero.  I have, and it's not much.  I often refer to U.S.S Mariner when it comes to the Mariners chatter, because they do a good job.  There was a nice piece about Montero there. Here is a portion of that:

"Is Montero going to stay as a catcher?  Almost certainly not, because he isn’t very good. It’s always been a question whether Montero could stick behind the plate, and while the Mariners seemed to make a commitment to him in 2013, they did so with an understanding that Mike Zunino shouldn’t be far off. If Zunino develops, he’s the guy.

 Is Montero athletic?  lol no. Even after an offseason of learning how to run, Montero still can’t run, and he might be the least athletic player on the team. A good defensive position player doesn’t exist within his body.

Is Montero ever going to hit for tremendous contact?  Montero’s career contact rate is 79%. That’s a little below average. There’s obvious room for improvement, and Montero should improve, probably, but the league’s best contact hitters tend to have been contact hitters all along. If things really break Montero’s way, he’ll eventually settle somewhere in the mid-80s or so. So far this year, he’s been worse than he was last year." The full blog is HERE and clearly this is 1 guy's opinion, but it's thorough and it's done quite well.

This year Montero is 11-49 with 1 home run.  In other words, he's batting .224.

The jury is still out on this trade that devastated the Bronx (Read BRONX SHOCKER: MONTERO TRADED FOR PINEDA for the immediate reaction when that trade went down.) But one thing is for sure, neither team is getting much out of these guys yet.  We'll have to see what the future brings...stay tuned...

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