IS THIS THE END OF MARCUS THAMES?

I have been pretty critical of Marcus Thames this season, up until the Yankees started to look like the Yankees again and got back to their winning ways.  I appreciate the history the Yankees have with him both when he was a player and since he transitioned to coaching within the organization. He's had a long run, but maybe the end is in sight.

A couple weeks ago I really started to question DO THE YANKEES HAVE THE RIGHT COACHING STAFF? and I talked a lot about pitching coach Matt Blake, but especially....Marcus Thames. I said it might be time to move on and get some new leadership, especially with the hitting coach. Maybe it still happens, but not for the same reason....

If you haven't heard, on Saturday veteran manager Ron Gardenhire abruptly announced his retirement, effective immediately. I say abruptly because he was likely going to announcement retirement at the end of the season but he did it with less than a week of the regular season left. There's been a lot of speculation in the media that his decision is due to health, read more HERE. I'm sure there is more to the story that we don't know, I just hope the rumors aren't true. He's been through a lot, including beating cancer.

So with Gardenhire's retirement announcement, there is already a "short list" of names out to replace him and there are a few obvious candidates....and also Marcus Thames, read more HERE.

Could Thames be the next manager of the Detroit Tigers? I don't know, maybe. He was a fan favorite when he played in Detroit from 2004-2009. But again, I said he's on a short list....

There are also a few other recognizable names out in the rumor mill that we will all recognize like A.J. Hinch and Alex Cora. You remember the BLACK MARKS OF BASEBALL & 2ND CHANCES? Well it's a short season so that means a much shorter punishment for these guys.

Those are names I'd rather not talk about right now because we did it enough but....they will be topical again. The Tigers will probably wait awhile to start their search because several names they are interested in will likely be stuck in postseason bubbles for the playoffs and....A.J Hinch won't be eligible to return from his suspension until AFTER the World Series.

I think of all of the managers that were "reprimanded" for their cheating Hinch is still the most likely to get a second chance. He has a winning track record (even with the cheating scandal) and the Tigers have a good core of players coming up and a tenured coach will be even more valuable to Detroit.

I've always believed that there is a team out there that is going to give Hinch another chance at managing....and maybe it is Detroit. Maybe it isn't and maybe Thames will get his shot. I'm not sure how this is all about to go down, but the next few months will be interesting for both Thames and the cheating managers.

I don't know if this is the beginning of the end of Thames or not. All I know is I am still skeptical of Thames but if one of the guys mentioned is going to a new managing gig, I hope it's him. And I also really hope that Gardenhire is okay, and can enjoy his retirement with his friends and family. He's a good man.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

JUST ANOTHER REASON TO LOVE ROD CAREW...

I've always been a big Rod Carew guy.  I loved his stance, I loved the way he got on base and when he played, you just saw it in his face... he knew he could, and so... he did, and he became one of the greatest in my opinion. Growing up, I had all his cards... and I still do.

I have a terrific nugget for you all this morning and it comes from the Daily News... but it starts with Rod Carew and it has to do with newly acquired Aaron Hicks:

"..two other people may have helped the newest Yankee shake off a slow start to his career and refocus on the game: Rod Carew and Ron Gardenhire.

Carew, a Hall of Famer, stepped in when Hicks decided to give up switch-hitting in 2014, a season that saw him struggle against right-handers, putting up with a .178 average and .512 OPS.

“I wanted to try to something new, and I wanted to help my team win,” Hicks said on a conference call Thursday, one day after the Yankees traded for the outfielder. “I felt like I wasn't in a position (to do that) and it was one of the low times of my career. Rod Carew actually called me and told me, what the heck am I doing giving up switch hitting? It’s a blessing, and that I should go back and work harder at it and learn from my mistakes. And he was right. I learned from my mistakes and I’m happy that I was able to change that.”

I have a good feeling about Hicks.  I hope Carew rubs off on the guy real good.

I leave you with a quote from Carew. It's one of my favorites:

"When you've learned to believe in yourself... there's no telling how good a player you can be."  -Rod Carew

So True. Preach Rod, Preach.



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BEST GIFT TO MARIANO EVER!

I'm all about being witty, keeping things light and having a sense of humor.   So, throughout the Mariano Rivera Farewell tour this year, Mo has been given alot of parting gifts by different teams.  By far, my favorite one has to be what was presented by the Minnesota Twins... a rocking chair made of broken bats from the Twins over the years. Classic!  Funny right?

According to the Star Tribune HERE, "The Twins gave Rivera a rocking chair made in part from broken bats with the inscription, 'Chair of Broken Dreams.' The presentation was made in a pregame ceremony honoring Rivera's final season. Rivera plans to retire after this year.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire says some of the bats used to build the chair were broken by Rivera himself.

Gardenhire told Rivera that 'we call this the chair of broken dreams, and you broke most of them.'

Rivera smiled widely when he saw the chair and gave Gardenhire a hearty handshake to thank him."

Just wanted to share this.  Really, it's a terrific gift.  Damn I'm gonna miss Mo.

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