DUSTIN ACKLEY, FIRST BASE & CRAZINESS

Just a little nugget brought to you by NJ.com in reference to the backup situation at first base.

In a nutshell, Dustin Ackley is your back up first baseman.  That's pretty much been established even though Suzie Pinstripe is vouching for ARod and giving him alittle time backing up Mark Teixeira, because hey, you know Tex will get hurt... I'm predicting May 10th... please let me be wrong.


As NJ.com writes, "Ackley was slated to start the season as the team's jack of all trades, able to fill in at all three outfield positions, second base and first base, where he played in college.

Meanwhile, Cashman expected Bird to start the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre due to a numbers crunch on the 25-man roster. Bird, however, would have been the likely fill-in if starting first baseman Mark Teixeira were to suffer a long-term injury, with Ackley being a stopgap option.

Now it's Ackley who would see the majority of playing time at first base if Teixeira gets hurt or needs a rest day at designated hitter, Cashman said."

But then craziness ensued... 

"OPTIONS? Despite the availability of free agent slugger Pedro Alvarez, who hit 27 homers for Pittsburgh last season, Cashman hinted that the team likely wouldn't be in on his market.

'I would expect that we'll look at anybody interested in coming in on a minor league contract and interested in being an insurance policy,' Cashman said.

ESPN's Buster Olney recently reported that six or more teams had contacted Alvarez's agent, Scott Boras, and that Alverez, a Bronx product, would need regular playing time."

Olney likes to stir the pot, NJ.com bit, but the reality is, the Yankees are pretty set with Ackley, although, nothing wrong with Cashman putting out the old  "I would expect that we'll look at anybody interested in coming in on a minor league contract and interested in being an insurance policy" line.  Maybe some kid out there wants a shot. Alvarez will NOT be the guy though, that's seems weird to me.

So look, for all of you that are trying to fit square pegs in round holes and looking for the back up at first, and yes, there are very interesting ideas, including by the way, Tyler Austin... the reality is, there is no story here. NONE.  Greg Bird is out and will spend the next year recovering.  In the meantime, Tex gets first... and Dustin Ackley will be our back up first baseman.

Everyone relax.



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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: GARRETT & CASSIE JONES

Family is an important part of Bleeding Yankee Blue.  We are a big family here, both writers and readers alike. The Yankees are a big family and so are the families that surround them. The wives and kids that give their love and support to that Yankee player, and the fans that surround them all. It's a terrific give and take, and I personally am proud to say that I've gotten to know a lot of these Yankee families and it continues today... on Opening Day.

I am proud to introduce to you Garrett and Cassie Jones, two terrific people with a whole lot to say about being part of the Yankee family.  I've gotten to know Cassie and G recently, and I am thrilled to present to you right now, BYB's exclusive interview with them, on the best day of the year... Yankees Opening Day.

Enjoy this ladies and gentlemen... I certainly did. 

BYB: Garrett, you'll be sharing time at first base and DH. You're a lefty hitter and there's a short porch at Yankee Stadium. What’s going through your mind right now as we approach your first game today?

Garrett Jones: Pure excitement! That's all I've been thinking about!  I can't wait for the season to start and the atmosphere for baseball in Yankee stadium. Any way I can get in the lineup and help the team win, I will do it.

BYB: And I can’t believe it, you’ve never played at Yankee Stadium, have you?

Garrett Jones:  I'm excited that my first time playing in Yankee stadium will be as a Yankee! Can't get any better than that. 

BYB: So Cassie, how did you become a Yankee fan? You’re from Chicago, right? 

Cassie Jones: Yes. It’s funny, I grew up in the South side of Chicago and kind of grew up a White Sox fan first.  

But when my cousin, Ron Coomer  started playing for the Yankees in 2002, I slowly became a Yankee fan.  In fact, my whole family did.  Not just fans, more like we were obsessed with the Yankees.  So, it’s funny, when it was time for me to decide what college to go to, I was deciding between Harvard and Cornell, My family was saying, “Pick Cornell, you’ll be in Yankee territory. If you pick Harvard, you’ll be in Red Sox territory. I picked Cornell.”

BYB: How did you and Garrett meet?

Cassie Jones: I met Garrett early in his career, around 2009 right before he became a Pittsburgh Pirate. We actually met in Chicago. We were both at the batting cages. He was there training and I was there getting at bats for my upcoming collegiate softball season.  So yeah, we met at the cages.

BYB: Wait, you played Softball?

Cassie Jones: Oh yeah,  Softball.  I played for the Junior Olympics and have played competitively on travel teams since the age of 9.   

It was very expensive and very competitive but I loved it.  In fact, my twin sisters play now and they’re in college.  My parents gave us a great opportunity. 

BYB: So when did you have time to do other stuff? Like, what about checking out Yankee Stadium?

Cassie Jones: You know, I have never been to the new Yankee Stadium and you’re not gonna believe it, I have never been to the old Yankee stadium either.

And it's the ONLY stadium Garrett has never played in as well! So crazy!! I went to New York City quite a bit in college but always during the off season, including the time we got engaged in Central Park. And, I always traveled to New York every time the Pirates or Marlins played there, but they only played the Mets, so neither of us ever made it to Yankee stadium.

BYB: Wow. Obviously because you had so much going on with Softball, right?

Cassie Jones: Right. We really didn’t have much time off, but it was always on my "if I have a weekend off" bucket list!

BYB: Garrett.  I became a fan of yours when you were in Pittsburgh.  Tell me what it’s like to play for Clint Hurdle, another guy I admire

Garrett Jones: Hurdle is a great leader and motivator. He has really helped bring that city to life, and I've enjoyed being a part of it and now watching it. 

BYB: Garrett, the media is blowing up the DH spot between you and ARod too much to make it a circus.  Even me being a fan knows when it comes to the DH, it’s about righty / lefty situations. What can you say to the BYB Audience to put that whole fake controversy to rest? 

Garrett Jones:  I just think it's going to come down to who's swinging the bat well and being the most consistent out there. Perfect scenario, we both are swinging that bat well and making it tough on Joe to keep one of us out of the lineup.

BYB: OK, so give me a nugget about you and Garrett that not a lot of people know.

Cassie Jones: This is a funny one actually. Because I’m a huge Yankee fan, I have all kinds of Yankees memorabilia.  When Garrett used to come visit me at Cornell, he was with the Pittsburgh Pirates.  I used to make him sleep with my Yankee blanket.  He was like “Seriously Cassie? I play for the Pirates.” That poor thing is so ratty now.

BYB: That's funny.  Now, when Garrett got traded, there was a lot of Twitter action from you. Where were you when the trade went down?

Cassie Jones: I actually found out first about the trade on Twitter .  I was at home.  I remember the Marlins made a move and got a guy that could have essentially replaced Garrett.  I just started looking on Internet and 2 minutes later, it said that Nathan and Garrett were on the Yankees radar and it was further along than before. So I found out before Garrett.  Garrett was working out with Pedro Alvarez, his teammate with the Pirates.  I called him and said “I think we’re going to New York!”  He was like “No way!”  He called his agent. I called my family and we were all like “Oh my God!”  You see, because we’re all Yankee fans, it was amazing.  When anyone asked my step-dad what his favorite team was, he’d say “The Yankees and any team my son-in-law's on.” They DVR’d ever Yankee game and game Garrett played.  I recently joked with my step-dad and said, “Now you’ll gain a lot of space on that DVR, he’s a Yankee!”

BYB: What do you have to do when your husband gets traded. I mean, we spoke with Rick Ankiel’s wife Lory and she came up with a database to help the baseball wives, because it’s gotta be stressful moving. Tell me about your experience...

Cassie Jones: It can be, yes, but this time is was nice to have friends in New York, mainly because of my time at Cornell. Plus, getting traded in the off season makes the world of difference.  And yes,  there are groups out there for the baseball wives to help get things together for the families; Living areas, doctors, pediatricians, Realtors.   We have some good networks.

BYB: Major League, Bull Durham or Field of Dreams? What’s your movie?

Garrett Jones:   Major League 

BYB: So have you bought your son that little #33 jersey yet?

Cassie Jones:  33 is one of his fave numbers and it just so happens to be the double of my college number so I was happy. You know, the YES Network actually filmed a little segment with Jax and me in the team store and bought us both a couple things, including "Little Daddy" and hats for us, which was great because I finally begrudgingly parted with my Yankees stuff last year. I gave it all to my family, and when I asked for it back when Garrett was traded to the Yanks, they called me an "Indian Giver" and said, "No way - get your own stuff!" So I definitely need to replenish my stock in gear!! Garrett is currently working on getting a full uniform for Jax. I can't wait to see my boys in matching pinstripes!

BYB: Where about Family here at BYB as much as we are the Yankees.  You guys are in a good place right now. What’s the most important thing to you?

Cassie Jones: Us as a family. Garrett’s a very hard worker and you will see that this season. But when he’s not playing baseball and we’re away from it, he’s all family. We both are.  Garrett is very good interacting with fans but when it comes to family time, it’s family time.  A happy, healthy family is important. We are big family people and we will always spend nights together whenever we can maintaining our unit. 

BYB: What’s on your iPod right now?

Cassie Jones: It’s funny. I’m a rock girl, but Garrett is a Country music fan.  We recently moved the Nashville and I have to tell you, Country music consumes you down here.  I am pretty amazed by how quickly he adapted to the country lifestyle.  He goes to the Jack Daniels distillery, bought some camo, goes shooting once in a while, he bought a pick-up. He’s all in.  I was recently telling this to Chase Headley's wife. It's funny because we live right by them and didn't know it!  The Headley's are great people. Anyway, I personally am always listening to Pearl Jam, Lifehouse, and Mumford & Sons to name a few. Oh and Garrett is a huge rock guy too. Metallica is his favorite! 

BYB: Garrett... What's up with the Country Music? Is that a baseball thing? I mean, you're from Chicago!

Garrett Jones: We are from Chicago but moved to Nashville as you know!  But, I love all different types of music and country is now one of them.  I always felt like I should have been born and grown up in the south!

BYB: When did you discover Bleeding Yankee Blue?

Cassie Jones: You guys tagged me in one of your articles on both Garrett and I.  It was a really sweet article and I believe you guys were one of the first to write about us.  It was nice. Thank you. YOU GUYS ROCK! 

BYB: What message can you give to the BYB audience and all the Yankee fans out there?

Garrett Jones: Thank you for all the support and positive feedback we've received. We appreciate it very much! Looking to do some damage this year and help bring a championship back to the Yankees!!

Cassie and Garrett. I just want to say thank you for taking the time and joining us at Bleeding Yankee Blue.  You are beautiful family and we really appreciate you here. You're also part of the BYB family now! Welcome to the Bronx!

HOME RUN DERBY 2013: CESPEDES & THE ROOSTER BOY

Homers. Dingers. Rockets. Lasers. Blasts. Goners. Upper Deckers. Jacks. Shots. Whambleblams. Oppo Tacos. Yes, that last one is a thing. Take it up with the Angels.

There is just something special about home runs. We all love to watch them. The whole point of the Derby is to give fans a show of awesomeness that no other sport can duplicate. We look forward to this every year.

Pitbull opened up with a song that sounded to me like every other Pitbull song except it sampled “Take On Me" by A-Ha. Is it me or is the guy looking more and more like Yul Brynner in “The Magnificent Seven?"

That’s not a bad thing.

Presentation was spiffy. Nice montage of New York hitters knocking dingers, including Piazza’s emotional knock after 9/11. They finished with that, rightly enough, but the Yankees were represented well too.

Prince Fielder killed the second and third pitches he saw for absolute monster shots, the latter going a projected 548 feet. He launched another tower of a shot that bounced off the roof of an impromptu TV studio for 424 feet. He finished with 5 long bombs. Not enough for him to be Three Time Derby Champion. This year, at least.

Michael Cuddyer got two fast shots as well, just missing one of the two trucks in center. It seemed like he was running out of gas when he decided to tack on 5 more shots to left and finish with 7, getting him to the second round.

Yoenis Cespedes, in his first Derby appearance, promptly began littering the upper deck with baseballs, and knocked one off of the scoreboard for good measure. The Cuban native brought fans to their feet time and time again, ringing up tater after moonshot. David Ortiz put in a word about how incredible it was to watch Cespedes take BP.

Big Papi brought Cespedes a drink at the 12-Homer mark, and the 27 year old told Ortiz he would take it easy from there on in. His idea of “taking it easy" was to swat 5 more runs, finishing with 17. Incredibly, 12 of those were over 400 feet! Needless to say, Yoenis was in the driver’s seat.

Pedro Alvarez went next, the first hitter for the NL. He had a tough act to follow, and television coverage was divided between his swings and interviewing Cespedes. Alvarez still put on a respectable display, getting 6 Big Pokes, one going for 461 feet.

Chris Davis is having a career year and he showed why with some very high, very long home runs. An early favorite to win it all, Davis finished with 8 Taters, getting him to the second round.

Bryce Harper and his ridiculous haircut came next. His father Ron pitched him a steady diet of cut fastballs, and Harper logged 8 Big Flies. Impressive, considering he swung at cutters. Even more impressive considering he looked like Rooster Boy from that old Kids in the Hall skit.

I am surprised his father didn’t bean him for looking like such a punk, and yes, you can get off my lawn now. Anyway, “Rooster Boy" made it to the next round.

Next up was our man, Robinson Cano. After posting a goose egg in last year’s Derby, it was nice to see Robbie quickly ring up 3 in short order. It was also nice to see Mariano Rivera get interviewed during Robbie’s cuts. It wasn’t nice to see Robbie only add one more for a total of 4 runs. He did better than last year, but his first run established that. Sigh.

David Wright finished Round One. He surpassed Cano’s run total, but only by one. The NL Captain finished his night at 5.

Mike Piazza showed up at the media booth to watch Michael Cuddyer just miss the truck again while notching 8 more runs for a total of 15. Chris Davis followed with 4 long bombs, but wasn’t getting near the mark set by Cespedes. He was done for the night with a total of 12. Next came “Rooster Boy" Bryce Harper, passing Cuddyer’s total with 16 runs to advance to the final round.

Yoenis Cespedes stepped back to the plate and continued to shower outfield fans with baseballs. He won a truck, hit the restaurant window, smacked a $23,000 gold ball, and added 6 runs for a total of 23. He would face Rooster Boy in the finals, both of them starting from scratch.

Harper started off the final round. Why nobody from the AL tried to distract him with chicken feed is beyond me. Rooster Boy knocked 8 runs, exactly the same number he got in the previous two rounds. Rooster Boy may look silly, but he’s consistent and talented. And he set a high bar for Yoenis.

No problem for Cespedes. He continued to casually smack the dickens out of Mr. Rawlings, easily reaching 400+ feet, into the upper deck, and wherever he felt like putting the ball. He tied Rooster Boy with a jaw dropper that the restaurant got in the way of, with only 5 of his outs used. He won it with a 455 shot to center.

Great Home Run Derby this year. Lots of terrific towers and humbling homers. Yoenis Cespedes handily won the Derby, cruising to victory despite an impressive challenge from Bryce Harper.

Which is good, because I didn’t want the guy winning the Derby be the guy resembling loud-mouthed poultry.

Your 2013 Home Run Derby Winner, Yoenis Cespedes with 32 total home runs.


Chad R. MacDonald
BYB Writer
Facebook: New York Yankees the Home of Champions
My Blog: ChadRants



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