FOR ME, IT'S ABOUT MUSSINA, NOT MO

Now there are gonna be Yankee fans out there that will look at that headline above, JUST the headline, and then blast me on Facebook.  Mostly because they're ignorant and have no idea that there's words in articles these days.  Oh yeah... there's always words in articles. Twitter and Facebook ruined journalism for everybody and then everybody became stupid.

OK... I'm getting off track.

The fact is Mariano Rivera is a Hall of Famer 100%, and we already knew that! And to be honest, for me, it's not about unanimously being voted in for him. Yes, while historic and absolutely deserving, the truth is the guy was getting in no matter what.  Being Unanimous? That's gravy. Mo earned it. No one better in that spot in how the game has transformed during his playing days.

There were no longer 3 inning or 2 inning closers anymore. Mo and many closers like him were 3 out guys. They evolved with the game. While some writers out there may feel as though that's not too impressive. The fact is... it's super impressive and I applaud him for that role. He's one of a kind.

But for me, the surprise. No... the news story of the day is the fact that after a many year debate, Mike Mussina is headed to the Hall.  And for me, I am happy about that.  Why? Because it came as a surprise.  This quiet ballplayer that just came in and did his job was a terrific pitcher for the Orioles, and certainly for the Yanks and his career, while not outstanding, was very, very good.

I have always felt as though Moose should be in. Truth is, with the whole steroids generation constantly being debated and questioned as to who should and should not get in... I still don't think those guys should be there. But in the end, they were great players and sooner or later they will be voted in.  That's because the Hall isn't about mediocre. It's about the greats, and believe me, while steroids tainted the game... years will make people forget.  Writers will soon stop being so stubborn, look closely at the numbers of the PEDs users and know that even in those players early years, the numbers were good... good enough to make it to the Hall. Sure, breaking records because you used steroids taints the game, but we will one day be at that point where those players will eventually be voted in because the less players are just not good enough. That's my gut talking now. We shall see.

But if they do that... if they let the PEDs users in, the next worry for those writers is then another hard debate. Will they'll have to vote in Pete Rose.  And God dammit, if PEDs users get into the Hall... Pete Rose needs to be there too.  But hell... that's another conversation for anther time.  The fact of the matter is this is about Mo... and Moose.

Moose is deserving. I'm glad they saw it that way. Sure, the numbers aren't quote "Hall of Fame" numbers, but that goes back to the evolution of the game.  Pitchers rarely complete games anymore.  Pitchers are pulled earlier for the bridge relievers... for the LOOGY... for the closer and that would be the big reason why Moose doesn't have those 300 wins. And you know what? That's OK. 270 in this era is pretty good. Again... the game has evolved, he evolved with it, just like Mo.  They did their jobs... they are both deserving.

The other guys who will go in are Edgar Martinez and Roy Halladay.  AP writes:

"Rivera became baseball's first unanimous Hall of Fame selection, elected Tuesday along with Edgar Martinez, Mike Mussina and the late Roy Halladay. Rivera received all 425 votes in balloting announced by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Ken Griffey Jr. held the mark for top percentage at 99.32 when he was on 437 of 440 ballots two years ago. 

'Beyond my imagination,' Rivera said. 

The quartet will be enshrined in Cooperstown along with Today's Game Era Committee selections Harold Baines and Lee Smith on July 21. "

And so now we wait for the big day.

And fun fact.  I called the Cooper Inn today after the announcement came down.  Sold out. Wow.

Congrats to Mariano and Mike. Job well done.

By the way, Suzie Pinstripe will have her take on Mariano Rivera tomorrow morning. It's a great piece, be sure to check it out.

BASEBALL PROSPECT DIES...

We're reading about a lot of death lately. I hate it.  Read about Roy Halladay in ROY HALLADAY IS DEAD. Now there is a new one and it involves a young kid with a dream.

Photo: Baseball America

Daniel Flores, a Red Sox prospect has died of complications during cancer treatment. He was 17 years old. That's 2 years older than my oldest kid.  I can't imagine this.

MLB.com has this:

"The Red Sox delivered some devastating news on Wednesday, announcing that 17-year-old Minor League catcher Daniel Flores has died due to complications during treatment for cancer.

Flores was Boston's top international signing from last July, as the club signed him to a $3.1 million deal with visions that he could one day be the team's No. 1 catcher.

'Everyone at the Red Sox was shocked to hear of Daniel's tragic passing,' Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said in a statement. 'To see the life of a young man with so much promise cut short is extremely saddening for all of us. On behalf of the Red Sox organization, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to Daniel's family.'"

Photo: El Prospecto.com

That statement says it all.  That's someone's kid.  Now, gone.

Hug your children every day.  This one hits me hard...

ROY HALLADAY IS DEAD

Horrible story out a short time ago about the loss of star pitcher Roy Halladay.

Photo: Getty Images

The AP reports the following:

"Roy Halladay, a two-time Cy Young Award winner who pitched a perfect game and a playoff no-hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies, died Tuesday when his private plane crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. He was 40...

Photo: Getty Images

Halladay, who retired after the 2013 season, was an amateur pilot who often posted on social media about small planes .

'I have dreamed about owning a A5 since I retired! Real life is better then my dreams!!' Halladay tweeted on Oct. 13...

'We are numb over the very tragic news about Roy Halladay's untimely death,' the Phillies said in a statement. 'There are no words to describe the sadness that the entire Phillies family is feeling over the loss of one of the most respected human beings to ever play the game.'"

Now, my 15 year old was how I found out the news.  He texted me, and for my son, now a real baseball fanatic, he was alittle upset just because he learned about Halladay right before he retired and appreciated him as such a seasoned and decorated athlete.  2 time Cy Young, 8 time All-Star. 

Photo: Getty Images

It just breaks your heart to hear about stuff like this.  I know my kid's bummed today over this terrible accident.

Nothing more to say... it's a sad day for the baseball world.

My heart goes out to the Halladay family.

A LOT OF PEDs BITCH SLAPPING GOING ON

Since the "steroid era" of the 1990's with home run numbers skyrocketing, there has been a heated debate about whether players accused, or proven guilty, of steroid use should be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. This year was no exception and with Social Media growing in popularity daily, shots are fired much easier!

Roy Halladay tweeted on Wednesday morning his very strong opinion on the matter, taking a shot at Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds:

When you use PEDs you admit your not good enough to compete fairly! Our nations past time should have higher standards! No Clemens no Bonds!

— Roy Halladay (@RoyHalladay) January 6, 2016

Roger Clemens did not take the shot lightly and even fired back a shot at Roy Halladay, accusing Halladay of using amphetamines by a "strength coach".

Both Clemens and all-time home run leader, Barry Bonds, have had plenty of accusations and have vehemently denied the allegations. However, most of us baseball fans believe that they, along with plenty of other players, former and current, have taken banned substances in order to further their career and earn another payday.

Not everyone believes that Clemens and Bonds should not be in the Hall of Fame though.  BYB writer Alexis Garcia has been at the forefront of this whole conversation even suggesting that it's time to put Bonds and Clemens in Cooperstown.  Alexis wrote in BONDS & CLEMENS DESERVE COOPERSTOWN,  

"I really don’t care that Bonds and Clemens doped. Or that they are Hall of Fame level a-holes. It may seem wrong today, but it’s hard for me to justify punishing them for taking part in an action that the MLB and its fan base all but ignored in the late 90s when the game was struggling to regain relevance after the damaging 1994 strike."

 Garcia was even back by FOX Sports guy Jon Morosi:

Do Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens deserve to be in the MLB Hall Of Fame? Jon Morosi thinks so.
Posted by FOX Sports Live on Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Very interesting take, but I personally disagree.  For me, when it comes to Cooperstown, integrity has to come first. If Shoeless Joe Jackson was banned for life due to knowledge of a scheme, without even participating, and Pete Rose, the all-time hits leader, is banned for life for betting on baseball, why should a player with known or very strong suspected ties to PED use be elected in the HOF? I have to agree with Halladay on this one.

There is no doubt that by stats alone, Bonds, Clemens, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and soon Alex Rodriguez, among others, certainly are deserving of enough votes to be elected. They would have likely produced stats that earned them enough votes without the alleged PED use, but with the asterisk next to their accomplishments that many people bring up, it's going to be very difficult for most of these players to earn enough votes to be elected.

When it's all said and done, will either of these players, or any of the other of the alleged or proven, PED users get in? It's tough to say. I wouldn't necessarily be surprised either way, but if you broke the rules in a way that gave you an unfair advantage, should you be allowed to be enshrined amongst the best of the best? Not on my watch.

Someone had to say it Roy. I'm with you.



 --Dan Lucia
BYB Senior Writer
Twitter: @DManLucia




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HOME FOR THE HALLADAY

"You’re the best there is, kid. The worthy opponent." 

~ Kevin Costner as Billy Chapel in "For Love of the Game"

Not enough noise has been made about the loss of Roy Halladay from baseball. He truly was one of the game’s great players. He demonstrated artistic ability, determination and dedication, and class and dignity beyond compare.

He should have been a Yankee.

It didn’t take him long to establish he would be great. On his very second career start in 1998, he almost had a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers. It was broken up with two outs left in the final frame.

In 2000, he got shelled. It’s no secret that year, Roy held the dubious distinction of a 10.64 ERA. That is still the worst in MLB history for someone with at least 50 innings pitched. He was optioned to the minor leagues in Dunedin. That would have been the end of an ordinary man’s career.

Roy Halladay is not an ordinary man. He tucked into his work, made adjustments to his delivery, and fought his way back to the majors. In 2002, he went 19-7 with a 2.93 ERA. in 2003 he went 22-7 with a 3.25 ERA.

All of this was terrible news for me. I arrived in Toronto in 2002. I saw a lot of the Blue Jays, and quite a bit of Roy Halladay. As previously documented, I never attended a game Doc started that he lost. When I was there for my New York Yankees, that was bad news.

When you come up against an opponent like Halladay, it is impossible not to respect him. You see the standards he holds himself to. You see what he gives back to his community. The man is a bastion of integrity. He is honest, classy, and true.

He should have been a Yankee.

He has struggled with injuries of late. He wasn’t supposed to return last season after his shoulder surgery, but did so anyway. It wasn’t the same. Doc didn’t like what he was seeing from his arm over the last few months and decided to retire. Toronto signed him to a one day contract so that he may retire as a Blue Jay.

Roy “Doc” Halladay has a perfect game to his credit. He threw a no-hitter in the playoffs. He never quite had a team around him good enough to get him that World Series ring.

In the movie “For Love of the Game,” the main character looks after an opponent as he leaves the battlefield saying “I’ll miss you most of all, Scarecrow.” That sums up how I felt watching Roy bow out.

Worthy opponents are rare. They deserve a tip of the hat when they hang them up. At the very very least.

Goodbye Roy Halladay. Thank you for your clinics.

Oh, how I wish you were a Yankee.

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


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HEY ROBBIE... WHAT WOULD JACKIE SAY?

As the Yankees announce that they will honor the late great Nelson Mandela with a plaque in Monument Park on Jackie Robinson Day this upcoming season, I can’t help but shake my head back and forth as I consider the Robinson Cano one-way trip to Seattle.  I feel violated by the greed, the betrayal and the utter drama surrounded by this signing- there I have said it.  And even though Derek Jeter sort of gives his protégé a pass when he answered questions at the latest Core Four Event this week, I don’t give him a pass and neither should you.  After all, what would his namesake say?  What would Jackie say?

“We got pretty close throughout the years but I understand it’s a business, it’s a business on both sides,” Jeter said. “I wish him the best,” stated the Captain at the Steiner Sports Memorabilia Event on Monday night.  Well, I don’t.  Listen, if you pushed yourself, if you went above and beyond, if you worked out religiously, maybe, just maybe you could play at the highest level into your late thirties, early forties, but not Robbie, not even close.

Jackie Robinson knew his body had had it and even though he loved the game and endured so much to just put on his uniform each game and trot out onto the field, he knew he was done.  According to Sharon Robinson, daughter of the great Jackie Robinson, he had made his future plans at the end of the 1957 season.  He just needed to work out the details.  Now urban legend states that he would have died before he played for his nemesis, the New York Giants, but that is simply not true.  He was done, because he was done.  He was done because he knew he could give no more and instead of being greedy, he walked away quietly- sort of the same way Roy Halladay did just this week. 

It’s interesting that Robbie did not want to be a Yankee for life. “I would have liked to have played with him longer but you understand it's a business, guys move on,” Jeter said. Ironically, the man who will be honored in Yankee Stadium on Jackie Robinson Day certainly was a Yankee for life.  “Mandela, who was only four months removed from his 27-year imprisonment at the time (1990), spoke to the crowd that day, put on a Yankees cap and jacket and declared, “You know who I am. I am a Yankee.”  Amazing- just like that- he felt Yankee blue in his soul!  Too bad, too sad, Robbie!

Jackie, Nelson and Robbie- two that exemplify freedom and simplicity and one that exemplifies…well, to put it nicely, greed, but I have other choice words off the record to describe him.  You make decisions in life, and you can’t look back and undo them.  You have to live with your choices.  I guess to keep it simple, I will quote a little something from Walt Disney, “Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved.” 

So, ask yourself, Robbie, what would Jackie say?  Would he take a deal knowing that he could not possibly be at his best many years down the road, or would be a realist?  Would he just be happy with what he has or would he push the envelope?  I know how I would answer these questions because I have a Jackie like person in my ear every day helping me make honest choices.  What about you, Robbie?

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Opinion Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof




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TIME TO CALL THE DOCTOR

Andy Pettitte, it cannot be argued, was invaluable to the Yankees. He was the Bronx’s Bullpen Backbone. He brought a steadying presence to New York’s pitching corps, along with his ability and legendary status.

This season, his veteran presence will be missing. CC Sabathia can be that guy down the road, but he needs to focus on regaining his Ace status in the rotation. The more CC focuses on himself, the better. Ivan Nova? Perhaps in a few seasons. While Nova has established his worthiness as a Yankee starter, is he ready to be the leader New York needs now?

There is one man available who can bring what the Yankees will miss from Andy Pettitte. That man is Roy Halladay. There is nobody in the Free Agent Pool even close to “Doc” when it comes to experience, dedication, and yes, ability. He would immediately have the entire organization’s respect. Brian McCann would love to work with him. Think of what Doc can impart to Ivan Nova and David Phelps. To everyone on the team.

His training regimen is beyond legendary. Doc is often the first to arrive at the ballpark. He leads by doing, not talking. Halladay resurrected the career of AJ Burnett overnight in Toronto. Without Doc, Burnett lost his footing in New York, and has only recently regained some of his form.


The Pinstripes bestow a player with class and dignity. Halladay already lives his life by these qualities. He gives back to the community. He runs charities with his wife. When traded away from Toronto, he took out full page ads in that city’s newspapers to thank the fans.

Roy is a good man. He would quickly establish himself as being a Yankee, not just someone who plays for the Yankees. New York would embrace him fiercely.

Yes, Doc had a bad season last year. He is getting older, and has suffered from injuries. But so did Andy Pettitte. And there can be no question how valuable Andy was. Halladay can be the key for New York’s pitching. And, he would be relatively cheap. The Yankees should take advantage.

Roy would be amenable to coming to the Bronx. Recent moves by the Office, acquiring Jacoby Ellsbury, Kelly Johnson, and McCann, Beltran have shown they are serious about winning. Doc does not have a World Series Ring. The Yankees could get him one and, conversely, he can help New York do the same.

This site has mentioned bringing Halladay aboard before, in Arms Race Nearly Run, and in Pitching Fits. It needs to be mentioned again and again. What Doc Halladay can bring to the Yankees is calm command. Amazing ability. Unparalleled leadership.

On a personal note, I have seen Roy Halladay pitch on many occasions. During my ten years in Toronto, he never lost a game I attended. Which means I saw him beat the Yankees often. He was the finest pitcher I witnessed in all that time. I know he’s still got it.

New York City needs to call The Doctor. He will cure what ails us.

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


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ARMS RACE NEARLY RUN

New York is unarmed. The Yankees have huge holes in their rotation right now, and these need to be filled. But with who?

This year’s crop of Free Agent pitchers was already thin. Most of the best options are already off the table. If the Yankees will win this arms race, they will need to act fast. First, let’s examine potential mistake signings.

Ricky Nolasco, 13-11 with a 3.70 ERA, should not be a priority. His lifetime ERA is an unimpressive 4.37 over eight seasons starting on the mound. He also believes he is worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $16 million. Uh, no. Take a pass.

Jason Vargas has more encouraging stats. He’s a durable southpaw with a 3.97 ERA, and a lifetime record of 42-44. In other words, he’s just what the Yankees need behind CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova. Perfect. If he weren’t asking so much. MLB.com reports he is looking for $30 million over three years. Pasadena.

Ubaldo Jimenez? No. Don’t let the strong second half of last season fool you. Jimenez has a delivery that wreaks havoc on his arm. He is made of glass. Danger, Will Robinson! Redrum! Redrum! Beware the Ides of March! We are saying we have no faith in Ubaldo. This is not a pass, this would be a fail.

This brings us to Ervin Santana. He is easily the most desirable starter still available. But while he had decent numbers last season, he still provokes red flags. He has had three 15 win seasons, but not in the last couple years. He’s only posted ERAs below 4.00 in consecutive seasons just one time. But season ERAs over 5.00? Uh, he has three of those.

Santana is expecting a contract of $112 million over 5 years. This would be why he is still available. While Ervin remains a potential fit for New York’s rotation, there is no way he is worth that much. But he’s the guy the Bronx might have to go with, simply due to the dearth of other options. Get him to be reasonable, then sign him.

But for his price tag, Santana would need to win 20 games in his first two seasons in Pinstripes. Do you think he can do that? Didn’t think so. The Front Office would get burned down for that fiasco.

Matt Garza appears to be the only realistic option for the Yankees. He is not a personal choice of this writer, but he is the biggest piece of gold left in the pan. He didn’t do so well with Texas. There, Garza posted a an ERA of 4.38 with a losing record of 4-5 over 13 starts.

But Garza made 60 starts in three years with the Chicago Cubs, posting a 3.45 ERA. And here’s something interesting, he does well in the AL East. Against the Red Sox, whom he has faced 18 times, Garza boasts a 7-4 record with a 3.83 ERA. Did that get your attention? It should.

His price tag should be significantly lower than previously mentioned Starters. Garza is only 30 years old, too. Considering what is or, more accurately, what isn’t available means he is the best option. Other teams are circling. New York should act fast.

Don’t forget Roy Halladay. The case was made for him in Pitching Fits. Doc is worth a long serious look. His veteran presence would stabilize New York’s pitching staff like nobody else.

Regardless of who the Yankees pick up, the arms race is almost over. And it’s one New York cannot afford to lose.


 
Chad R. MacDonald
BYB Features Writer
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My Blog: ChadRants



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PITCHING FITS

The Yankees rotation next year will definitely include Ivan Nova, CC Sabathia, aaaaaand…

Oh my. Houston, we have a problem. What’s that Houston? The Astros are your problem? Okay, conceded.

 Not to be all doom and gloom here, but just who will be taking the mound for the Yankees next year? CC Sabathia isn’t going anywhere. Yeah, he’s had a bad year. But his contract and fat stats will keep him in Pinstripes. He will be a starter, and one can only hope he will improve on this season.

Ivan Nova has firmly re-gained his Starter status. He dropped his ERA almost two full points to 3.17 from his disastrous 2012 campaign, when it was 5.02. He has been a solid and confident presence on the mound, and has earned the trust of the team once more. He will be a starter after improving on last season.

Hiroki Kuroda will be lost to the Free Agent Pool, along with Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes. Three Yankee starters potentially gone. Kind of a big hole, don’t you think?

The price to keep Kuroda will most likely be too high for what he provides now. Hiroki has been very good during his time in New York. But cracks in his armor have been showing lately. This is not to say a deal shouldn’t get done. But it seems unlikely. It would have to be bottom dollar, and that’s hard to pull off in today’s MLB.
 

Phil Hughes. Fans have had their Phil of Hughes. They are calling for a Phil-a-buster. He is a Land-Phil of putrescence. Hughes has not been wonder-Phil, he has been disgrace-Phil. His stuff? Not so Phil-thy. I am Chock Phil of Hughes jokes.

So yeah, the one definite thing you can take from this article? Phil Hughes will not be back. No, he will end up somewhere else, find his talent again and win the Cy Young or something. Because that will make us all love him, right?

That leaves the Free Agent Pool. It is silly to try and guess who will end up where. Instead, let us take the attitude that I have been granted a wish to be GM for a day, with unlimited acquisition powers. Who would I select to fill out the rotation and why?

James Shields will be the prettiest girl at the dance, so to speak. Shields has lived up to his nickname “Big Game James” this year with the Royals. He sports a respectable ERA of 3.38, has gone 11-9, and most importantly, has the ability to beat the Tampa Bay Rays consistently. That is something the Yankees definitely need from a starter.

The bad news on Shields is he ain’t going to be cheap. He is easily the most desirable starter on the upcoming market, and everyone will be after him. The Red Sox may let Jon Lester go in order to secure him. Kansas City will try to re-sign him.

Expect the San Francisco Giants in the mix. They have Matt Cain and Madison Bumgartner locked up, and would be foolish not to pick up the option on Ryan Vogelsong. The Giants will be losing a grip on Chad Gaudin, Barry Zito, and Tim Lincecum. It is hard to believe they will hang on to all of them. Zito should be avoided. Gaudin would be an improvement over Hughes. That leaves The Freak.

It’s hard to believe that the Giants won’t sign him, but if they don’t, the Yankees should take a good look at Lincecum. He will be expensive and there is a risk element to that, always, but Freak seems to be returning to big game form. Relocation to Yankee Stadium might just re-energize him.

The real prize in San Francisco is Vogelsong. Bookmark that guy and check on him a lot. There is amazing talent and potential there. Should the Giants loosen their grip on him, the Yankees should wrest Ryan Vogelsong away. He would be the one I would go after.

Ubaldo Jimenez will be available, and he should be left that way. He has proven to be inconsistent and unreliable. Jon Lester should also be left alone. Same with Roy Oswalt. If you are going to go for those guys, you might as well just bring back Freddy Garcia.

Then we have those pitchers who have, at one time or another pitched for the Blue Jays; Shaun Marcum, Josh Johnson, AJ Burnett, Chien-Ming Wang, and Ted Lilly. Stay away from everyone who has ever worn a Toronto uniform.

Except one.

Roy Halladay will hit the market in 2014, after missing much of the season due to injury. But he is on the mound again when most expected him to not pitch again this year. He is doing terribly. Doc is 3-4, with an un-Halladay ERA of 7.19. There are those who say he is old and tired. That he is done. They are wrong.
If the Yankees can get Roy Halladay, they should. This writer has seen Doc perform in Toronto many times.

The man is exquisite. He has a training regimen second to none. He is dedicated, focused, and an unquestioned leader. He would bring up the level of New York’s entire staff just with his presence.

Roy Halladay has not won a Ring yet. You know he wants one. He is straining for it. Doc would be the answer to many questions. Yes he would be a roll of the dice. But so was Andy.

So, were I GM for a day, and given the unlimited ability to sign whomever I wanted from the Free Agent Pool next year, my rotation would be CC Sabathia, James Shields, Roy Halladay, Ivan Nova, and Ryan Vogelsong. I think that rotation will scare everyone else.

And while I am wishing, I would like a pony.

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


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