REMEMBER IKE DAVIS? HE'S NO LONGER A MET

Now look, BYB was one of the first sites out there to suggest that if the Yankees wanted to go cheap for a replacement at first, and we didn't want a guy like Russ Canzler to come up, or even bring up a baby bomber, we should try and trade with the New York Mets for Ike Davis.  Davis is good defensively and someone we could temporarily utilize in that position until Mark Teixeira could come off the disabled list. Plus, the guy can hit...sometimes.  Well, that idea's gone... Ike Davis was traded.

I know it's not a Yankee thing, but I wanted to at least mention that Ike Davis was traded to the Pirates yesterday for Zach Thornton and a player to be named.  That news comes from the Pirates themselves:

The #Pirates have acquired 1B Ike Davis from the #Mets in exchange for Zack Thornton and a PTBN.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 18, 2014

Smart move. Sure, you may not care, and you won't lose sleep over it.  But I always liked Ike Davis.
 

Maybe it was because of his big splash when he first came to the Mets, or maybe it's because I always liked his dad Ron Davis. But whatever the case, I at least wanted to keep you in the loop.  Davis has been lingering out there for a while now.  Now at least he can concentrate on his abilities in Pittsburgh.

I wish the guy well and secretly, I hope he kicks ass with the Pirates!

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THE YANKEES JUST FILLED SOME HOLES

There is Yankee news.  Scott Sizemore and John Ryan Murphy have been called up according to the New York Yankees.

(In Photo: John Ryan Murphy)

Newsday says, "The Yankees have called up catcher John Ryan Murphy and selected the contract of infielder Scott Sizemore. Catcher Francisco Cervelli, who suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain running to first base on Sunday, was placed on the 60-day disabled list in order to create room on the 40-man roster for Sizemore."

There had been some speculation that Russ Canzler should be called up. And when I say "speculation", I mean that was me and BYB writer Steve Skinner chatting about it a short time ago. 

Hey, Sizemore works... it's all good.

Just wanted to keep the BYB audience in the loop.

Thanks for reading.

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MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IS SO DAMN GOOD!

I had the fortune of being able to attend the Syracuse Chiefs Opening Day in Syracuse last Thursday.  It was special for me not because the local minor league team was beginning its season (the Washington
Nationals are the parent club), but because it was the opener for our “baby bombers” – the Scranton / Wilkes Barre RailRiders – who happened to be the Chiefs’ opponents.

It was a golden opportunity to watch the guys who didn’t make the Major League team and see what kind of potential would be on display.

I wasn’t disappointed.

As the game progressed, it became clear to me that our minor league system isn’t as barren as some would lead you to believe (perhaps our organization is scrutinized more heavily because of our success?).  Several stars emerged, and while it was only one game, it was still evident that the Yankees have a number of players with the talent to make it to “the show”.

Among those that most impressed were Scott Sizemore, one of the odd men out (with Eduardo Nunez) in the battle for the Yankees backup infielder spots.  He went three-for-three with three singles and a walk.

Russ Canzler, playing first base, showed good power in hitting two doubles during successive at bats and drove a long fly to right in his final time at the plate.

Zelous Wheeler, the shortstop, had a single and double in four trips to the plate and looked solid in the field.

Of all the players in the lineup, the one that stood out for me was Ramon Flores, the right fielder.  He had two hits during the game, one of which was a triple where tore around the bases at a speed that Secretariat would envy.  However, the play that I’ll remember isn’t one where Flores was batting.


It was the bottom of the fifth and the RailRiders led 4 – 1.  The Chiefs had runners at the corners and no one out.  Our starter, Bruce Billings, was beginning to labor and Syracuse’s Will Rhymes was at the plate.  The second baseman hit a fly ball of medium depth to right field.   Flores first started back on the ball then stepped forward towards it, and without hesitation made the catch and fired a throw on a line to home plate.  It took one bounce and settled perfectly into catcher JR Murphy’s glove a half-second before the runner arrived.

If you are an outfielder, it’s the type of play you dream about.

The hitters and fielders weren’t the only ones to leave their mark on Opening Day.  While our big league club has had a great start from its bullpen, the Triple-A relief corps wasn’t going to be outdone.

25-year-old Danny Burawa struck out two of the three batters he faced in the seventh, Mark Montgomery retired the Chiefs in order in the eighth, and Matt Daley struck out the side on 13 pitches to close out the game.

One couldn’t help but be impressed with the RailRiders from top to bottom.

As I left the stadium that day, I felt confidence in the future of our club.  Each of the players I have mentioned is at the cusp of their career in pinstripes, and I’m excited for their arrival in the Bronx.

Should our parent club need reinforcements during the season, I’ll have no problem with the powers-that-be reaching from within to fulfill their need.

The next time you hear someone tell you how thin the Yankees’ farm system is, just give a smile and walk away knowing that we are far better off than they think.  Take my word on it.



    

--Steve Skinner, BYB Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1




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THE HAMMER FALLS ON CERTAIN YANKEES

Just wanted to keep you in the loop on some interesting developments around Yankeeland as they finalize their rosters just one week before Opening Day.

First off, our friend Russ Canzler.  We like Russ at BYB and today we wrote a great piece about him titled COULD RUSS CANZLER BE THE KEY BACKUP AT FIRST BASE?

The problem is he was reassigned just a few short hours after we posted that piece.  That’s what happens right around this time of year.  Guys play their guts out with the hope and dream of making it, but he didn’t and was reassigned… that’s baseball.

That’s not all though:

Preston Claiborne has been optioned to AAA.  According to Chad Jennings of LoHud who chatted with Girardi, the Yankees thought he would do much better this Spring.  Girardi said: “He just really never got on a role in spring training. As we told him, we know he’s capable of pitching much better than he did. It’s his job just to go get ready.”

Other guys are Zoilo Almonte, an outfielder. He was also optioned to AAA.  That means Ichiro Suzuki is in fact sticking with the Yankees and all those rumors from Buster Olney and Jon Heyman about "Ichiro’s days numbered" are just crap, at least for now.

Scott Sizemore will join Canzler. He too was reassigned.

As Chad Jennings writes: “... It’s basically down to Eduardo Nunez, Yangervis Solarte, Dean Anna and Zelous Wheeler for two bench spots. Nunez and Anna are on the 40-man."

Just wanted to keep you in the loop. I love our BYB audience.

The new baseball season is 1 week away… I can’t wait!

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COULD RUSS CANZLER BE THE KEY BACKUP AT FIRST BASE?

While everyone is thrilled to see Mark Teixeira back on the field, there is always some level of nervousness when you see a recovery from an injury as serious as Teixeira’s was.

 (In Photo: Mark Teixeira)
Having witnessed what happens when an errant pitch hits a batter, or a freak accident happens, it is hard to underestimate the value of having good backup plans.  The Yankees signed minor league first baseman and left fielder Russ Canzler and invited him to try out at spring training. Canzler has not played since 2012, when he was a September call up for the Cleveland Indians, and the rust has shown.

In 21 plate appearances, he has struck out nine times, walked once, gotten three base hits, and drove in one run. Okay, granted that is nothing to write home about. However, his history says that he may have some potential.  Canzler has a grand total 29 games in the majors, having been a September call up in both 2011 and 2012. He did play consistently for the whole month of September in 2012, and the results are not bad. He reached base in each of his first seven games, by which point he put together a .347 average. He did come back to Earth after that, finishing with a .269 average for the season. His play in the field is also decent, having only one major league error.

I always admire these kids that keep pushing for a shot to play. Canzler is going to turn 28 on April 11, and he has already been through the ringer. The Yankees briefly signed him in early 2013, only to release him on waivers soon afterwards. He did not play for the entire year, largely because no one picked him up. A year on hiatus would make the average person quit, but here he is taking swings and playing the field, making a case for a spot on the roster.

Russ Canzler is exactly the kind of guy you would cheer for, you want to see succeed. Now the Yankees have given him a chance and the hope is that we have a backup plan for first base. We just hope he gets his shot because he has impressed with his skills, and not because you need him.

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon
My blog is: Shots from Murderer's Row

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THE LAST PUZZLE PIECE

As much as I loved puzzles growing up....there was always that one piece that gave you trouble! Trying to plug it in and complete the picture could be frustrating. You look at the puzzle piece and then look at all the holes it could fit in and eventually you find it's home, but man sometimes it takes a lot of time. Right now, I think the Yankees bench is kind of like that puzzle.

The infield and outfield are set, but there are a lot of puzzle pieces aka Yankee players that could fit in for the final bench spot. So who is it going to be? I personally think it will be an infielder, but that is just me. Other people have told me they think it is going to be an outfielder, and I don't agree.

The Yankees have made it pretty clear that Brian Roberts will be our starting second basemen, and Kelly Johnson will man third base. No offense to them, but that isn't the most solid infield. Roberts is too injury prone, so if he is out then that is going to make the roster thinner. When healthy, Roberts can make a big difference in the lineup because he is very effective on the bases. Johnson just is not an everyday player in my eyes. I can't adjust to the idea of having someone like Alex Rodriguez at third base to Johnson. That is such a drastic change I can't wrap my head around it.

The infield has more question marks then anything right now. With Mark Teixeira still a big question mark and Derek Jeter getting back in action after missing almost the entire season, if they go down then that makes things even more challenging. So who can come off the bench and make the most impact?

Right now if you are keeping tabs on Spring Training, it is hard not to notice Yangervis Solarte. He is hitting a crazy .778/.800/1.444 and his switch hitting abilities would be very valuable to the Yankees. He is also pretty versatile, he can play all in-field positions except first base and can play both corner outfield positions. That looks really attractive, but can he perform against big league hitters once the season starts? If he played first I would put hit at the front of the pack right now.

There is also Corban Joseph and Eduardo Nunez to consider, but they are so high-risk I cringe to think about them out there. Corban Joseph is pretty average on the field, he isn't going to be stellar at any one skill or position and he tends to make errors a lot. The Yankees took him off of the 40-man roster over the winter and other teams didn't claim him....take that for what it is worth. Speaking of errors, there is Nunez. It's hard not to like him because he is a funny guy but the errors and his defensive skills frighten me. He doesn't make up for it much with the bat either. He can hit for contact but he has little power so if he doesn't get on base and steal then he isn't giving the Yankees the most impact. He does have a minor league option that the Yankees could choose to exercise.

We can't forget Russ Canzler, again. He can play the outfield and he is actually the only other true first basemen on the team. Seems logical to me, but he only has 102 at bats in the major leagues and Joe Girardi still says that Johnson is the backup first basemen despite the fact that he is slated to play third and he has only played first base 18 times. That idea scares me. Maybe Canzler deserves a shot instead of sending him down to the minors, he is versatile enough.

Then there is Dean Anna. I see him as another Nunez, except he is more sound defensively. Anna is decent at everything, he isn't going to stand out in one particular area but he could get the job done in a pinch. He can play all over the infield like Nunez except for first base which could also give the Yankees another option if they want this role, but don't want to give Nunez the option. His best asset is his plate discipline but that is at a minor league level. Can he still do that against Major League pitching? It's a risk.

Last but not least, there is Scott Sizemore. This option makes me cringe a little. Sizemore made a big impact for the Oakland A's in 2011, but since then he has been injury prone. Even if he is healthy, he is hard to predict or count on. He could be a valuable player at second or third, and he has the experience in a bench role so it makes me wonder if that gives him a slight edge. The Yankees may value that experience and give it to him based on that. Oh and....anyone else find it ironic that he was given Robinson Cano's old number? Just me? Hmmmm.....makes you wonder if that is the Yankees strange way of showing their hand. We know the Yankees like that veteran presence, and Sizemore does offer that. Stay tuned.....

I don't know who will be the final piece to this puzzle, but the Yankees certainly do have their options. It's a tough choice. If we learned anything from last year, having a strong bench is important because they just may have to play a bigger role than originally planned. So who is your favorite? Let us know!






--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Senior Writer and Editor
Twitter: @NyPrincessJ

 


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HEY RUSS CANZLER, WE CAN'T QUIT YOU!

Now look.  There is nothing gay about this. You know me, I'm referencing a line from Brokeback Mountain. I just wanted to make a joke. Relax. It's supposed to be funny.

What's funnier is that Russ Canzler is back in pinstripes, signing a minor league deal with the Yankees. According to Andy McCullough of the Star Ledger:

RT @MattEddyBA: #Yankees sign 1B/LF Russ Canzler, who has punished AAA LHPs since 2011: .307/.390/.531 (433 PA) with 17 HR, 12% BB, 18% SO
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughSL) December 2, 2013

There is no doubt Canzler is talented. I just wish we would give this guy a chance.  Maybe now we will.
Welcome Back Russ.

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RUMORS IN YANKEELAND: PART 3

The end of July will be here before we know it! That means teams are trying to make deals before the trade deadlines comes. Some teams are looking to buy, like the Yankees. Others are looking to sell their players. We like to be buyers because we love to talk about the names we hear in the rumormill. Let's face it, this year we need to be buyers more than ever. So let's get to it!

Raul Ibanez: Seattle Mariners
Who wouldn't want him back? We were devastated that the Yankees didn't resign him during the offseason. He could be available again....maybe. The Mariners are still trying to decide if they want to be buyers or sellers by the time the trade deadline rolls around but realistically....they are sellers. They are 14 games out in their division and it is going to be very hard to catch Oakland or Texas. Larry Stone of the Seattle Times wrote HERE that the team is going to have to decide if his great presence in the clubhouse and fan appeal is worth the money he is being paid. If they were going to trade him they may take into consideration where he would like to go considering his tenure and reputation with the organization. If it came down to it....I really hope that he would choose to come back to us. It is possible. The Mariners are rumored to be looking for pitching. The Yankees are rumored to be shopping both Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain read that HERE. Both of them could perform better in pitcher friendly Safeco field. It may sound like a stretch, but you can't blame me for daydreaming right? If it does happen just remember you heard it here first!

Michael Young: Philadelphia Phillies: He makes sense for the Yankees. He can play both first and third base and would give Lyle Overbay some much needed breathing room. The last thing the Yankees need is for Overbay to go down, because there is no clear fill in and I would probably crawl into the fetal position at this point and start crying. But enough about that. I could see Young taking turns at both first and third on a regular basis. He hits for average with a .289BA, 26RBI and 6HR. His power numbers may not be the most impressive stat but he will put the ball in play, which is something we always need. Also worth noting, it has been rumored that the Phillies are interested in possibly trading Young because they need bullpen help. They were rumored to be interested in Joba Chamberlain, read that HERE. Sounds like a match to me!

Alex Rios: Chicago White Sox
The White Sox are going to be sellers. They are 14 games out in their division and are looking to shed some payroll. I like Rios because he has a good combination of speed and hitting. So far this season he has stolen 19 bases. He also has a .282BA with 11 homeruns and 40 RBIs. He could really help this team out. He can also hit both lefties and righties, so he wont be neutralized easily. Adding him to the outfield is an upgrade right now, as he has a better batting line then all of the Yankee outfielders as a whole. If we get him, he could be a long term investment for us. He is signed through 2015, and the Yankees could buy him out the last year of his contract. The White Sox would throw in some money also so that means he isn't very expensive. With Curtis Granderson's contract up at the end of the year there is some room there if the Yankees are interested in adding him. It's an interesting idea.

Russ Canzler: Looking for a new home!
Remember him? We had him before we signed Travis Hafner, but once we signed him the Yankees designated Canzler for assignment. The Orioles then picked him up and have also let him go. He may not have impressed during his short time with us....but he makes sense now. The Yankees struggle with hitting lefties. It's a constant struggle. This year in 82 plate appearances down in Triple A he has crushed lefty pitching and his line of .415/.531/.815 looks pretty impressive right about now. If the Yankees can pick him up off of waivers again, or sign him if he elects free agency he could be a key bench player for us. He would be a platoon player at first base with Overbay. The Yankees can also put him in left field on nights that they choose to DH Vernon Wells. And if an emergency situation pops up then he could also play third in a pinch. He is versatile and can hit lefties. I think he is worth a shot.

So that is it for rumor patrol....for now. We will definitely be listening for more names and writing about them as the trade deadline gets closer. Do any of these names interest you? Tell us!

--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Senior Writer and Editor
Twitter: @NyPrincessJ

 
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BATHROOM HUMOR & GUYS THE YANKS ARE PURSUING

The Yankee offense is in the toilet.  I've actually never used that term.  I usually go with "shit the bed", but recently my wife looked at me and said "What the hell does that mean anyway?" Baffled that she clearly didn't hang with "my type" of people in college... I thought maybe I'd clean it up a bit.  I like bathroom humor... sue me... I also married up... so good for me.

Here are some guys the Yankees are already pursuing. If they aren't, they are fools and they deserve to lose this year and not make the playoffs.  Let me also state that the Yankees are still my team and I am NOT bailing.  This is a reality check.  When a team sucks the life out of Yankee fans, you need a shake up.  There will be hard decisions, sometimes drastic decisions... all for the better of the team.

Russ Canzler: He was just designated for assignment by the Balitmore Orioles.  He plays 3B, and with Alex Rodriguez possibly getting suspended 100 games, (He's meeting with MLB Investigators Friday, HERE), we are in desperate need of help.  Canzler can help.  Canzler shouldn't have been sent away in the first place...

Michael Young: Young is solid.  He's also being dangled by the Philadelphia Phillies and if the Yankees can make a trade match... we must get the job done here.  Joba Chamberlain was scouted by the Phils and to be perfectly honest with you, if the Phils wanted Phil Hughes too, I'd swap for Young and Carlos Ruiz... we need to bring some life to the Yankee club right now. They would do it. The irony to all of this? Young would take the spot from Alex Rodriguez... for the second time.  Don't forget, when ARod left Texas, it was Young who finally blossomed.  Fascinating.

Ty Wigginton: I don't want this guy, but he's on the Yankees radar.  He plays 1st and 3rd.  There is no doubt in my mind that Ty is getting a good look, but out of the 3 listed, he's my least favorite.  He was recently released by the Cardinals, read HERE, so he's out there.  We'll have to see.

Here comes the overhaul... get ready.

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HEATHCOTT & AUSTIN WON'T COMPETE FOR OUTFIELD SPOT

(In Photo: Slade Heathcott)
According to Andy McCullough of the Star Ledger, he says that Girardi isn't too keen on having Tyler Heathcott or Tyler Austin compete for the now opening in the outfield since Curtis Granderson got plunked on the forearm... read McCullough HERE.

We have Juan Rivera and Matt Diaz.  This is a good scenario for those guys because now we'll see their worth.  Ladies and Gentlemen, this isn't a bad problem.  Believe it or not, having Granderson out will provide us with some data... data that will allow us to analyze who the better outfielder would be and a good bench option in a pinch later on.

(In Photo: Russ Canzler)
Now, and this is after the fact, but having a guy like Russ Canzler right now would have been a great thing.  Having a guy like Chris Dickerson here right now would be a great thing... but we don't.  We'll just have to see what happens.  But all indications are there will be no "competition" for that outfield spot between Heathcott and Austin. That is all.

(In Photo: Chris Dickerson)
Oh, and we'll have a more extended piece about the "what if" and Chris Dickerson on BYB soon... look for it. He has always been a fan favorite who is now a member of the Baltimore Orioles.

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RUSS CANZLER IS A COOL GUY

Russ Canzler will be my new Eli Whiteside.  He'll be someone I check in with throughout their 2013 season because they were a Yankee for 5 minutes. That's how I roll.  I didn't know much about Canzler until he came aboard and ... I still don't, but that being said, you have to give Canzler credit for being a good sport about being on several teams this offseason due to being DFA'ed and then being signed.  He wound up on the Baltimore Orioles.  We wrote about the ordeal in GUESS WHERE RUSS CANZLER JUST LANDED? for guidance on that.

MLB.com's Jordan Bastian interviewed Canzler about it all and he said this of the situation: "It's been fun...I was thinking about buying all the hats of the teams I've been on this winter."  

Bastian (full piece HERE) also has the full story about Canzler's short lived time as a Yankee writing:

"After signing free-agent pitcher Brett Myers, though, Cleveland once again tried to pass Canzler through waivers. This time around, the 26-year-old first baseman was claimed by the Yankees. New York had a need for a right-handed hitter, and Canzler seemed to be the type of player who might get a real shot at filling that role.

Playing in the Yankees' system seemed like a match made in baseball heaven, too. Canzler could train in Tampa near relatives and, if he did not make the Opening Day roster, he might've suited up for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Canzler's just moved into a house roughly a half hour from that Minor League stadium.

"We were all set," Canzler said. "We thought it worked out."

The Yanks then entered talks with Hafner about bringing the DH to the Bronx -- an idea that had Canzler excited. Last September, Hafner and Canzler were a few lockers apart, and the veteran did his part to make the first baseman feel at ease in the Majors.

"He was really nice to me, really nice to the younger guys," Canzler said. "He was kind of that calm presence that made us all feel comfortable and helped us enjoy our time."

When the Yankees signed Hafner, though, Canzler had a sudden realization.

"It hit me," he said. "I was like, 'Oh, wait. Uh oh. Wait a minute. We're at 40 on the roster again.'"

I really like this cat, I'm sorry it didn't work out for him in New York, but we'll run into him in Baltimore.

Just thought I'd share.

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GUESS WHERE RUSS CANZLER JUST LANDED?

 Russ Canzler has been claimed off waivers 4 times this winter.   The only other person that was claimed off waivers close to that was Eli Whiteside and it happened 3 times for him, read HERE.  Now you may ask "Well, who cares about Eli Whiteside?" I don't, just trying to make a comparison, plus, I just like writing Eli Whiteside.  The only thing better would be if his nickname was "Whitey" Whiteside.

Anyway... I'm off track and I apologize.  Russ Canzler, who was just Designated for Assignment last week by the New York Yankees has just been signed by the Baltimore Orioles, read HERE.  The Orioles designated Luis Martinez for assignment.  If the Yankees were smart, they would sign Luis Martinez, just so I can write a new "Guess where Luis Martinez just landed" piece.  Better yet... Maybe they can put Steve Pearce on waivers...

OK... I'm officially delirious...

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SO WHO'S ON THE RADAR IF CASHMAN ISN'T DONE?

Well, Brian Cashman has spoken again.  Apparently the signings of Juan Rivera and Matt Diaz to fill that right handed outfielder role is not the true plan for Cashman.  Wow... OK, so there is still another opportunity for Giancarlo Stanton you're saying? I'm kidding...

So, when Brian Cashman was on Sirius XM with Jim Bowden and Jim Duquette, he told them that the Yankees are still looking for that right handed outfield bat. Read Bowden's Tweet below:

I'm so confused.  Look, I have tried my hardest to figure out what the Yankees were doing... and I can't.  We've already signed and then DFA'ed Russ Canzler, read HERE.  We signed Matt Diaz, and then last week we signed Juan Rivera for alittle reunion.

In other words, I have been under the impression that the Yankees were all about picking up spare parts this offseason so they stay under that $189 million mark.  Fine.  Now... now Cashman is telling us that wasn't it?  OK...

He better Wow me... what about you?

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RUSS CANZLER DESIGNATED FOR ASSIGNMENT

OK then.  In a move to get Travis Hafner on the Yankees roster, someone had to be designated for assignment. That "someone" was Russ Canzler, who just signed with the Yankees a few weeks ago and had been claimed off waivers 3 times this season.  Read HERE.

Hey, sure, it's baseball and things happen, but hell, this is all so very confusing.  And you think we as Yankee fans are confused, how do you think Russ Canzler feels?

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TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE HAFNER SIGNING

Sure, it's official now.  The Yankees have added lefty power hitter Travis Hafner, read HERE. It's a $2 million deal plus incentives, but what the hell are we doing here?

Look, we let Raul Ibanez walk, a lefty DH and outfielder and the Yankees made it clear we needed a Right handed outfielder. OK fine.  They clearly couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time so instead, the Yankees made a priority list. The first goal was a righty outfielder.  Meanwhile, Raul said he'd "wait" but everyone knows you don't "wait" too long when you're looking for a job. Why? Well, you don't want to be the last guy at the bus stop, that's why.  Raul knew he had self worth after his great playoff run... so, there was a deadline for him and the Yankees stalled, he bolted. Good for him... foolish for the Yankees.

Many believed this move of passing on Raul was money driven, but was it? Raul would have demanded the same $2 million contract Travis did most likely.  That's not a fact, it's a guess, but we all know that it wouldn't have been more than $2 million.  At the end of the day, Raul gave his heart and soul to the club and deserved to come back.  The Yankees? They treated it like business and they looked for a cheaper alternative. In the end, I'm not quite sure Hafner was cheaper.

But back to that priority list... a righty outfield bat.  They went down their list, and we got a bunch of right handed outfielders. Juan Rivera, Matt Diaz, Russ Canzler. OK then. In the meantime, we lost lefty bat Raul, a fan favorite.  The alternative is a broken down Travis Hafner who has great power but not as stable as Raul Ibanez when it comes to his injury history.  Quite honestly, I understand the interest in Hafner, if it was 2004, but it's not.  My only question is, is this the smartest idea?

Raul Ibanez did a good job for us in 2012.  To me, it was automatic and it was clear to me when Bleeding Yankee Blue interviewed him in BYB EXCLUSIVE: IBANEZ TO SANDY VICTIMS: "I AM HERE TO HELP" that he wanted back and there was a hint of mutual interest. Here's that Q & A exchange:

BYB: How was your experience in the Bronx this season and would you come back to the Yankees if they called?

Raul Ibanez: "One of the greatest years of my life.  I heard it was great to be a Yankee I just didn't realize how much!  I can't wait to come back to the Yankees!"

So yeah... I don't get it.

So you ask... Why am I so hung up on Raul Ibanez? I'll tell you... Ibanez is a symbol of what is going wrong with the Yankees.  I feel like the landscape of loyalty is changing. There is no loyalty anymore, is there?

Look, I'm fine with Hafner coming to New York, in fact, this is not a Debbie Downer piece at all, I'm happy to see Hafner in the Bronx. I hope he does a great job for us, but there were better options, like Raul and the Yankees missed the boat again.  In the end, we settled on guys with no real feel for whether or not they can handle the pinstripe pressure.  Raul could and did and became a champion in  the Bronx.  Hafner?  We'll have to wait and see.

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