THE CLINT FRAZIER PROBLEM

Clint Frazier! This kid's good.  But he, like Rob Refsnyder... is on a team with too much talent, and to be honest, he's not rising above them. And so the problem becomes... what do the Yankees do with him?

There's a great piece in NJ.com today about just this:

1.) DH him: A little credit to Frazier: He’s been putting in the work....

2.) Run him back out there: Frazier’s bat was always going to carry him, talent evaluators thought even when Frazier was a first-round pick.... 

3.) Demote him: Frazier’s defense will only get better if he plays every day. Plenty of at-bats to be had at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. But here’s the thing: The Yankees could still use his bat and they probably wouldn’t hate him continuing to impress at the plate with the July 31 trade deadline coming up. 

4.) Trade him: Unlikely to happen immediately, considering Frazier’s stock had to have taken a hit Sunday night."

The only issue with Kuty's argument is him ranking on Frazier's defense. It's funny how we pick and choose who we like and don't like. Miguel Andujar is a terrible fielder, but Yankee fans suggest we "run him back out there" because of his bat.  Well... I'd venture to say that Frazier is in the same boat in some regards.

Look, it's a good piece, it makes you think.  We will just have to see what the Yankees do in this situation.

Stay tuned.

BEING A FAN IN THE WORLD OF DUNCE

Being a fan is liking a player for the ability he has.  It's for the courage he displays. Hell, some people are fans because they think a player is good looking, or think they're nice.  It really doesn't matter how a person defines why they like a player. What matters to that fan is that they like the player. And sometimes that's all one needs to know.  

You may not like that player. Nothing wrong with that. But what is wrong is when you tell another person that are wrong for being a fan of a player. In fact, it's not even wrong, it's idiotic.

I like Billy McKinney. I am a fan. I think the dude has tremendous potential and he plays his heart out. I do NOT care that McKinney is now being called a 4th outfielder because we have J.A. Happ.  That's because anyone who is actually in tune with how the media works knows, that the Yankees will spin it that way so it appears on it's surface that trading McKinney away was "no big deal".

And you know what? Maybe it's not a big deal. Maybe he will pitter out.... or maybe he'll be a superstar in Toronto. Who knows. I do know this... I'll still root for McKinney in Toronto, just like I root for Dustin Fowler in Oakland and Rob Refsnyder in Tampa Bay. Because guess what? I'm a fan of those guys too.

It's not a matter of "Where they gonna put him???" As some dunce fans asked me when I said I wanted McKinney to stay. I'll tell you why... BECAUSE I'M A FAN.  I wanted him to stay because I had this hope that he'd get some extra time with us. Because I like him as a player.  Shame on me, right?

This is my Wall of Dunce.  There are a lot like them on Social Media, but this one is mine.  Please read it if you are a reader of BYB every day.  Please let me know if I'm missing something.  Because last time I checked, I never said I was disappointed in J.A. Happ, I was just concerned about how he would adapt in the Bronx.  I also suggested that I'm a fan of Billy McKinney.

Not that I thought he'd roam the outfield in the Bronx tomorrow, but when you're a fan... there's always a part of you that hopes that one day they will just break out.  Just like Tyler Austin before him... it's how I was made. I root for the underdog and look for the positives.  This however is not positive. This is stupid... all of it.  This is what our society has become. Enjoy this...

These are my favorite... there are about 150. All of them... GOLD. All of them on Facebook, unless they all started scrambling and removing them. Too late, the good ones are here, with their names, with their avatars.  Have fun, kiddos, I just made you famous.

Bottom line, I still walk away from this being a fan of Billy McKinney... and I still like Happ.  My worry... that he'll fall under the pressure of the Bronx. I definitely will root for him... but it's a worry of mine and that's that.

Play ball.

Welcome to the Bronx, Happ…

I'm your biggest fan Billy McKinney!

And... life goes on.

LATEST ON MANNY MACHADO

Not a lot to talk about here because let's face it... all of it is rumor and when baseball insiders get together it's unbelievably confusing and the info is never correct until it's over.  But I like this tweet none the less. Bob Nightengale tweets:

The Los Angeles #Dodgers, Milwaukee #Brewers and New York #Yankees have separated themselves from the pack of teams who have inquired about #Orioles All-Star shortstop Manny Machado, with no clear-cut favorite at the moment.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 12, 2018

Now is this true? Who really knows.

NJ.com also writes this:

"...the Yankees have told the Orioles they refuse to deal top pitching prospect Justus Sheffield for Machado, a 26-year-old four-time All-Star who will be a free agent at season's end. It's unclear whom the Yankees are considering trading for Machado. They have talked in the past about dealing highly touted outfielder Clint Frazier and Triple-A starter Chance Adams."

And yes, we have heard the same rumors about Clint Frazier.  While many believe that Red Thunder is the next to replace Brett Gardner... I have always believed that Frazier, when he's playing in the Bigs, is merely a showcase for another big league team ready to make a deal. Like the Orioles perhaps. Frazier appears to be a player without a home in the Bronx right this second...much like Rob Refsnyder was before him.

Whatever the case... let me be clear. Who really knows what's going to happen.  As you know... it's a rumor season.

Let's wait and see what happens next though. Stay tuned.

WONDERING IF FRAZIER & DRURY WILL BE TRADED

I feel like Clint Frazier is the Rod Refsnyder of this team this year.  Not because of talent level or anything like that.  I just feel like Frazier is a player without a home and the Yankees need a pitcher. And so... wouldn't it make sense to let him go to get one?

I don't want to do that, trust me, I like Clint. I want him in the Bronx.  But I've seen this movie before when it comes to the Yankees... and I feel like it's coming.

Photo: NJ.com

When it comes to Brandon Drury... trade him.  Do whatever you need to do and get rid of him. Yes, I see the potential talent. Yes, he can be good for the Yankees. But we have mad depth and he can also be good for another team, and so I say it again... trade him.  Find a pitcher... do it. We'll be happy when we do.  If I had to choose between the 2.... I'd hold onto Frazier tight, because he's the Yankees future... but I'd get rid of Drury.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes this:

Photo: New York Post

"'No question, you can’t keep them all,' Brian Cashman said. 'You have to constantly manage your roster and you don’t just want to lose someone in the Rule 5 draft. Another team will take the talent out of you and you might never see it again. You either make the best trades you can or you run a real risk of losing them for nothing.'... 

The Yankees also had 13 players they had traded among the top-30 prospects of other organizations (via MLB Pipeline). Some would not have made the Yankees’ top 30. One team’s organizational depth is another’s gem. Taylor Widener was ranked the Yankees’ 14th-best prospect when he was part of the offseason trade for Brandon Drury. He is fourth with Arizona....

Drury (.999) and Clint Frazier (.947) rank 1-2 in the International League in OPS (minimum 160 plate appearances). They are essentially major leaguers who are blocked with the Yankees and thus viable trade candidates over the next few weeks. This is quite different from most of Cashman’s two-plus decades as Yankees GM, when they were top-heavy but lacking in organizational depth."

Look, whatever the case, it's going to be an interesting summer, whether these are the guys that are shipped out of not. I do know this, as Sherman wrote.... the Mariners are coming to town, and the Yankees and Mariners have a great relationship when it comes to trades.  I'd be curious to see what they discuss this week.

Stay tuned.

ROOTING FOR CLINT FRAZIER

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

On April 26th, Clint Frazier started playing in rehab games for Tampa. Last week, he was re-assigned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre.  The question... when will Frazier, if at all, return to the big show.

According to this great piece found on NJ.com, Frazier wants to make it back ASAP.

"Clint Frazier wants to be back with the Yankees as soon as possible, though it's unclear how he'd fit.

Source: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images North America

'I'm just trying to get things back in the groove and hopefully things come around pretty quickly and I can get back up there as fast as I can,' Frazier said Tuesday.'"

Look, I get it. What player doesn't want to make it to the Bigs. After all, Clint had a taste of it and he wants more. The main question here, as stated in the article, where does he fit? I know right there's no place for the man.  And it stinks, because we all want him up.  But much like Rob Refsnyder, while talented, he's a man without a spot. You gotta wonder if trading Frazier is in his future... I mean, right?

Photo: Time

Thank God I'm not Brian Cashman and have to make this decision. Look, I like Clint Frazier and the energy he brings to the team. I hope they keep him, but with the wealth of outfielders the Yankees currently... I mean come on. Aaron Judge isn't going anywhere.

Photo: New York Times

I don't see them trading Aaron Hicks or Giancarlo Stanton, and while Brett Gardner might be on his last legs in New York with this current big time slump, I still don't see anything happening here until next year when it comes to Red Thunder and even then, the Yankees have Estevan Florial waiting in the wings who the Yankees have deemed untouchable.

Photo: Times Leader

Root for Frazier, folks. I know I am, but I'm worried we won't see him in pinstripes. Best of luck to him though. As great as the Yankees are with what they already have, fitting Frazier's square peg into their round hole will be tricky.

--Michael Carnesi
BYB Junior Writer
Twitter: @sevn4evr

LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN

Photo: Getty Images

The Yankees will have their home opener today against the Tampa Bay Rays.  Jordan Montgomery will take the mound for New York. Archer for the Rays. According to MLB.com, in 4 starts against the Yanks last year, he had a 4.24 ERA, 11 runs in 23 1/3 innings.

Photo: Getty Images

A few days later there is still confusion and anger about that loss to the Jays in which DRob threw to Justin Smoak, and in the end, the Yankees lost the game.  Some are calling it the worst baseball match up ever, a bad baseball decision and all of that.  Get over it, please.  That's baseball and it was game 4.  That was a perfect example of what makes it the best damn game in the world and the fact that people are looking at the statistics and are treating it as an "obvious" reason to not throw DRob in that moment is getting silly.  It's Tuesday.  Are you that bored with your life that you are still harping on this? Even Robertson forgot about it.  You need to more forward folks.  And that's what today is all about.

Photo: Getty Images

Montgomery will throw from the bump today. I can't wait to see him.  There was talk about not throwing Montgomery.  Newsday writes: "Boone consulted with pitching coach Larry Rothschild and then eschewed the option of skipping Montgomery and going with ace Luis Severino.

Photo: Getty Images

'Larry and I talked about possibly . . . that would put [Severino] on regular rest,' Boone said Monday. 'We felt like this was built in for [Montgomery]. When we can give our guys those five [days] and keep Monty on his regular turn? We did consider it, but we decided we’re going Monty tomorrow.'"

Tomorrow meaning today.

Now you all know what will happen. If JoMo loses, Boone will be blamed for that too.  But here's the thing and I am in the minority here... I like that this early in the season Boone is taking chances. I say go with it.

Photo: Getty Images

Today there will be questions about why Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton have had slow starts, but in reality, it's insignificant to the remainder of the season.  It's just a matter of getting into a groove and trust me, they will.

Photo: Getty Images

We will also see Rob Refsnyder today.  I always liked that kid.  He was a man without a position in New York.  Hopefully he finds a home in Tampa Bay.

But here's the bottom line. Today will be a wonderful day, despite the threat of rain.. despite the damper of snow and the concern about Sunday.  We just have to have some fun here. This is baseball. The greatest sport in the world being played today in the greatest city in the world.  We just need to enjoy it... and stop being so damn angry.

Happy Opening Day, take 2.

Go Yanks!

ROB REFSNYDER'S STILL GOT IT!

Photo: Getty Images

You all know I'm a big Rob Refsnyder fan, but the problem with Rob Refsnyder being on the New York Yankees was that Ref didn't have a defined spot, and while the Yankees liked him, there was no place for him. Hell, even Rob felt that, and before you knew it, he was shipped out to the Blue Jays.  Read THE FINAL FAREWELL from back in July, right before the trade deadline.

Photo: Getty Images

Anyway. now comes word that Refy has latched onto the Cleveland Indians perhaps.  That comes from #BYBHub member, Jessica of the blog Girls Like Baseball Too. She put this out in a Tweet:

Indians claimed Rob Refsnyder off waivers. I guess I can go back to liking him now

— Jessica (@FinnGirlJess) November 20, 2017

Pretty funny.... and Tribe insider has this:

Today the club added five (5) players to the 40-man roster, which is at 40 players currently. pic.twitter.com/sVA3PmRez7

— Tribeinsider (@tribeinsider) November 20, 2017

So there you have it.  Another former Yankee on the move again.  Good luck, Robby. I always liked you and I hope you succeed.

THE FINAL FAREWELL

Goodbye Rob Refsnyder.

Photo: New York Daily News

The end of an era is over. He was the beginning of the Youth movement that has now surpassed him. It's part of the cold hard reality when it comes to baseball... Refsnyder is a good guy but he is a good guy that just didn't have a future in this organization.

Refsnyder was hyped to be part of the future and a top prospect when he was drafted in 2012. The Yankees spent the past few years bouncing him back and forth between the majors and Triple-A. He had many opportunities at first base, second base as well as right and left field but nothing ever clicked. Refsnyder just didn't have a home and while the rest of his peers progressed he was a bouncing ball and eventually the Yankees ran out of options this week.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

After the Yankees designated him for assignment they worked out a trade sending him to Toronto for minor league first baseman Ryan McBroom.

(June 2, 2017 - Source: Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images North America)

Refsnyder may not have been the prospect with the most talent in the Yankees organization, but he definitely has a good head and a good heart. Not all great baseball players have the complete package of talent and character and I am reminded of that from time to time. Refsnyder reminded me that there are still some REALLY good role models out here when we wrote I'M HIGH ON ROB REFSNYDER. It was that simple interaction that made me a fan of Refsnyder the person not just as a baseball fan. He left a lifetime impression on not only that kid, but me too.

(June 20, 2016 - Source: Rich Schultz/Getty Images North America)     

That is why I appreciate what Refsnyder did for the Yankees because he represented us well. It sucks when you have an example where "nice guys finish last" like here, but now Refsnyder will have a new opportunity and hopefully succeed on the Blue Jays who are also in their own rebuilding mode. Maybe he will get the breakthrough in Toronto that he never got here. Baseball can be funny like that.

I said back in June 2016 that I believed Refsnyder was "going places now more than ever" and although it won't be in a Yankee uniform I was still right. The Yankees organization is just too deep for him and now he gets a new opportunity. I wish him luck.

I hope that his great attitude and new motivation will bring him a lot of success in Toronto.....just not too much luck if we ever play against him.



--Jeana Bellezza

BYB Managing Editor 
Follow me on Twitter: @NYPrincessJ