SHANE GREENE & HIS BITTER YANKEES BREAKUP

Message to Shane Greene, it's NOT you....it's the Yankees! Wait....well, it wasn't at all until you made it about you. You ever heard that line your boyfriend or girlfriend gave you as they were dumping you? Well, Greene is acting like a cry baby right now and as soon as I read it my eyes bugged out of my head. Hey Shane....time to pull your PULLUPS up and GET OVER IT ALREADY!

What am I rambling about? Shane Greene is suffering from what I like to call "butt hurt syndrome," read that HERE. The timing on this couldn't be more perfect. First of all we are playing Detroit, so how ironic is that right? (Not really). Secondly, I just gave Didi Gregorius some tough love in THE YANKEES & STATING WHAT'S PAINFULLY OBVIOUS and briefly took a trip down memory lane about how much I missed Greene. Now all of the sudden Greene has a chip on his shoulder and he wants to cry about it so now I am going to call you out on it.

So again I say....HEY GREENE....THE TRADE WASN'T ABOUT YOU!

This is not "As The World Turns" soap opera starring Shane Greene. The Yankees did not trade you because they didn't like you anymore. The Yankees didn't fall out of love with you and dump you for any other reason than they needed someone to play shortstop since Derek Jeter was not going to come back. That's ALL it was! Stop making this all about you, because it isn't. You did nothing wrong. Fact of the matter is, trading you was what needed to happen to fill another spot.

It's baseball....it's not personal. It's just business!

Oh, and newsflash....in baseball players get traded a lot so it's likely to happen again. Nowadays, a franchise player is incredibly rare. The game has changed. You are not likely to be another Jorge Posada or Jeter, sorry to break it to you.

In fact, there are other players throughout history that have been traded numerous times. One that comes to mind would be Russell Branyan. The man was traded 8 different times and played for 10 different teams! I don't recall hearing him throw a temper tantrum. Oh, and the Yankees were one of those teams, too. It sucks not being a Yankee anymore. We get it, but it is time to move on.

You can still play for a lot of teams too even if you aren't traded. How about Matt Stairs or Mike Morgan? They played for 12 different teams! Here is a good one for you....Jose Bautista worked for 5 different teams back in 2004.....5! I don't recall seeing his temper tantrums either. It is just part of the game, kid.

Maybe Greene should track down Curtis Granderson and talk to him about all of this. After all, he was also part of a three team trade that sent him to the Yankees from Detroit. So you see.....you are not the only person who has been involved in a trade between the Yankees, the Diamondbacks and the Tigers. Stop playing the victim, it's not cute and I am not buying it.

I am glad that you have taken your emotion and used it on the field. Great! Get angry, use it. I applaud you and your 0.39ERA. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger blah blah blah.....but you are far too young to be so jaded. The sooner you learn the inns and outs of this, the better off you will be. I am sorry we will be missing you this trip, because it would be interesting to see how this would have transpired on the field, you know....where it really counts.

So Greene, I understand that you feel "dumped" but don't turn into the crazy ex. Just don't go there. You are not bigger than the game so stop putting yourself in the spotlight like this. Also, unless your story turns out like Harry Chiti and you become some freak statistic you won't have much sympathy from me.

So I hope that chip on your shoulder serves you well. Until we meet again in June, Greene.....I hope you will be ready.


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




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MELKY NEVER HAD A SHOT IN THE BRONX

Joel Sherman had a good piece in the New York Post yesterday.  It involved Melky Cabrera and the fact that the New York Mets could target him this offseason. It makes sense, he could be helpful.  

Sherman writes: "The Mets need outfielders and don’t have a ton of money to address their severe needs there. So if they could bag Cabrera as corner outfield insurance against Jason Bay and Lucas Duda, it could make sense, especially if they are unable to retain Scott Hairston. Probably at his worst, Cabrera would be a motivated fourth outfielder who always could hit righties well, with the possibility he is more than that if any of the improvements of the past two years are real." Read HERE.

He goes on to say that the Yankees never considered Melky Cabrera to be a negative force in the world of Robinson Cano, writing: "Yankees officials never viewed Cabrera as a negative influence on Robinson Cano, as some outside the organization did." I am one "outside of the organization." It's a nugget I'll expand on.

This is my take and you can disagree and I respect that; Sure, Yankee officials aren't going to look like they dislike a player publically, why would they?  I believe they saw possible trouble brewing with Melky, after all, Melky and Cano were the best of friends. As far as I know, they still are.

I even laugh when I think about Melky cranking out that home run in the All-Star game and as he circled  the bases and stuck his hand out and Cano just grinned. They're buds!  Look, I know from a very good friend who lived in the same building as Robbie and Melky in Edgewater when they first game to the Bronx.  They had a very very good time while they were there, let's just put it that way.

In the end though, the Yankees saw mad potential in Robinson Cano and the idea of a "trouble maker" bringing Cano down may have hurt their investment. So, in the spirit of upgrading the franchise, they flipped him to the Atlanta Braves for Javier Vasquez.  It looked like a legitimate business deal, after all, the Yankees needed pitching, so it all worked out. Once he was gone, Cano could blossom...and he did.

Now sure, the Yankees did offer a minor league deal the Melky in 2010 after the season ended. But you know how minor league contracts go with the Yankees.  9 times out of 10, those players are usually released...i.e. Russell Branyan, Jack Cust.

I don't ever see Melky coming back to the Yankees.  As Sherman writes of why the Yanks may not bite on Melky after this season when he's a free agent, "Cano ended up being smeared with allegations this season because of the association, so the Yankees might be hesitant to reunite the pair."

Now, in the end, as I've stated in MELKY CABRERA OFF WORLD SERIES ROSTER SENDS A MESSAGE, once this season ends, Melky has a clean slate with me, so does he deserve to get a fair shake with the Yankees and any other team? Damn right.  But the Yankees reuniting with Melky? Well, let's just say I never see it happening and it's probably better for everyone that way.

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HELLO PEARCE, GOODBYE LAIRD

(In Photo: Steve Pearce left / Brandon Laird, right)

I may be one of the very few to be a little concerned with this signing….or should I re-signing of Steve Pearce (read HERE), but I will debate this anyway. On Monday, the Yankees claimed Steve Pearce from the Houston Astros and I’m not sold. I know there is logic behind it, and I understand it but I still can’t shake this nagging feeling that it isn’t going to pan out the way the Yankees want it to. So you may be asking, “what is the problem here?” and in a nutshell my problem is…..I think the Yankees gave up too much.

The price tag for Pearce was cash and then to make room for him, they designated Brandon Laird for assignment. I’m relieved to see that the Yankees are only giving up a check for him, but I have watched Brandon Laird for years now and I am sad to see him go. I know, the common argument is “he has no future as a Yankee,” and yes….I can see that. The life of a minor league infield prospect is not an easy one with Cano, Jeter, Tex, and ARod standing in the way and realistically, the only playing time on the big stage would come in a bench role or as a fill-in during an injury.

However, Laird has been solid for the Yankees and he has had a long-term job here as opposed to Pearce who was signed in March but then chose to opt out in June when he wasn’t called up. He chose to leave the Yankees and move on.

Didn’t I just mention Yankee infield prospects have limited opportunities? Oh but….one of those opportunities can pop up during an injury. I’m sure you can see where I am going here. I like Laird, and he has been a major contributor to the Scranton team clinching a playoff spot this year and has had some major highlights, and in July he had a .313 BA. We saw Laird last year so he is no stranger to us and while Pearce is versatile….so is Laird.

Both players can play first base, third base, and the outfield. They both can hit for power so they share a lot of the same talents. One difference here is that he has seen playing time as a Yankee. With Tex out with his calf strain, and ARod still working on his rehab, I understand the need for more help, and Laird could’ve been that help, I believe that.

(In Photo: Steve Pearce)
So, why didn’t the Yankees give Laird a shot? Well, in short….Pearce has more success against lefties. I know I have been praising Laird here, but I am not trying to discredit Pearce. Without ARod out there, there has been a noticeable difference with success against lefties, and the Yankees will see a lot of lefties as we go through a long stretch of games within our division. Pearce has proven that he can hit lefties; he has a .490 slugging percentage to back it up.  He does have more major league experience, but not much and he has a higher career batting average at .254 as opposed to Laird’s .190 BA; but is that really fair? Pearce isn’t exactly a veteran, he has only played in 49 games and Laird has shown some improvement this year, his stats prove that. You can’t improve if you aren’t given a shot.

I see both sides to the argument, but if I am good at nothing else in this world, it's playing devil’s advocate. I look at how much our AAA team has changed and had to endure this year. We have signed several big name infielders this year and then cut them, see Russell Branyan, Jack Cust, and his recent demotion of Casey McGehee to the Charleston River Dogs, read HERE.

(In Photo: Casey McGehee)
I understand those names, they were depth but a common theme amongst Yankee fans is that we let go of our farm players too often. Sure, we don’t rant about it too much when we gain a player that is a long-term investment, but I just don’t see Pearce being this kind of player. I worry that Pearce is a short-term rental because I just can’t envision him staying on this team past 2012, plus he's already been a Yankee and he opted out to pursue other opportunities. True, Laird may not have a spot on this team and he will benefit if he goes elsewhere, but if I am giving up a good farm player I want a good return. What makes us think that Pearce won’t share the same fate as the names above, or leave again and if any of these possibilities happen how can that price tag be justified? I’m not sure how to answer this one.

I wish Pearce the best of luck here, I really do. I like it when the Yankees prove me wrong and if they do, I will be the first one to admit it. When it comes to our farm system, I am very protective though.

I already watched Jesus Montero leave and it left a bittersweet taste in my mouth so I don’t want to see the same thing happen here without any sort of payoff. Laird is valuable somewhere, even if it isn’t here. That being said, what’s done is done and it is time to focus on the chase for #28.

Welcome to pinstripes, Pearce…again!

--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Writer and Editor

Twitter: @NyPrincessJ



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PETTITTE, BRANYAN & JOHNNY PESKY

Just wanted to keep everyone who reads BYB in the loop on a few guys...

Andy Pettitte: Pettitte needs to go real slow.  That's the consensus right now.  If he rushes and his leg doesn't heal quite right, we can pretty much call it a season.  That's what the Boston Herald HERE and USA Today HERE are reporting.  Look, I've said it once and twice and I'll say it again.  Sure, we want Andy Pettitte back, but we don't want him back hurt.  If it's not in the cards for the Yankees and he's not healthy by September 10th, or 14th, it's pretty safe to say we won't see Andy Pettitte this season.  If things heal well and Andy appears ready to go, we'll have him just in time for the post season, his favorite time of year.  That being said, you never know what he can offer at that point. Again, it's just a matter of when Pettitte's 40 year old body is ready.  We'll keep you posted, but I'm not banking on Andy this season, I hate to break it to you.  Here is a portion of that Boston Herald report: "Pettitte said he feels 'really good.' He’s playing long toss this week and riding a stationary bike, waiting for clearance from his doctor to throw off a mound. 'That’s all I care about. I’m trying to just do what they tell me to do and take it as easy as I possibly can until I can get on the mound. That’ll give me an idea of when I can be ready,' Pettitte said. 'I know now that if I have another setback that we’ve got serious problems and my season’s probably over. Now we’re probably going to be overcautious and try to figure out what we can do just to make sure I’m back and what I need to get ready.'"  Stay tuned...

Russell Branyan: This happened a few days ago, but important to us Yankee fans considering many of us wanted to see Branyan kick the crap out of the ball in the Bronx.  I guess we're never going to see that happen.  It turns out Branyan was released by the Yanks...read HERE. While in Scranton, Branyan had 11 home runs and a .309 average in 110 At Bats. No doubt, if the Yankees had room for him, he'd be up... the timing seemed to be wrong and we here at BYB wish Branyan well.

Johnny Pesky: Look, I may be a Yankee fan with absolutely no liking for the Red Sox... but I'm also human.  I wanted to take a moment as a baseball fan to let the Pesky family know I am sorry for their loss.  Johnny Pesky was a player that was loved in Boston, but his passing wasn't just a loss for the Sox, it was also a loss for baseball.  Rest in Peace Johnny...1919-2012.

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THE YANKEES AND THE TRADE DEADLINE

The Non-Waiver Trade Deadline is less the twenty-four hours away and as a Yankee fan, I want the Yankees to make a move here. I know there have been a lot of fans saying that we don’t need to make any big moves, but let’s be honest, no one is going to frown on improvement. And with ARod and Gardy out, and a new injury to Mark Teixeira, we could use another bat in our arsenal. People are suggesting it's time to bring up Russell Branyan or Jack Cust, but I'll tell you what I'm thinking:

Chase Headley: With ARod out, we could use a guy at third base. I like Chavez as much as the next guy but he is accident-prone. And Ramiro Pena has a questionable bat. Headley could take over at 3rd base until ARod comes back. The best thing about Headley is that he is also an outfielder. With the possibility of Nick Swisher not returning next season, Headley could take over right field. He is hitting .265, but Petco is a difficult place to hit. He’d be a nice fit into the Yankees line up and could come alive at a field like Yankee Stadium. The problem, of course is the price tag. It seems the Padres are determined to ask for a King’s Ransom and as Cashman has said on several occasions, the goal is to bring the spending budget down.

Ty Wigginton: definitely another option. With him being in the last year of his $8 million dollar contract, the price is right. He goes into free agency as of 2013 with a team option. His contract is unrestricted though so he wouldn’t necessarily play for the Yankees next season if he does choose to play. Wigginton could take over third or share the position with Eric Chavez until ARod comes back. He would be more of a “Band-Aid” fix instead of a long-term solution though and that worries me. Cashman has never seemed like a “Band-Aid” fix kind of guy.

Justin Morneau: Another guy I have had my eye on is Justin Morneau. He is only hitting .260. But he has 13 homers and 46 RBI’s. The biggest obstacle I see with Morneau is his contract. $19 million still left through to next season, no one sees this actually happening, but with Tex hurt and with no one thinking the Yankees would sign Ichiro with his $17 million dollar price tag (Except BYB), anything is possible.  Like I said about Chase Headley, Cashman is looking to lower the spending budget though. He has a .322 OBP, .457 SLG and .996 fielding percentage. Of course there is the fact that he is a first baseman. But with Teixeria getting pulled out tonight, he might be just what we need.

The truth is, the Yankees need a bat. Getting Ichiro was a great move by the organization. With Alex out now for six to eight weeks, we could always beef up a bit, we can get guys that could play third base but also be moved when they need to. Here comes the trade deadline...get ready.

--Erica Morales, BYB Writer



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HERE COMES RUSSELL BRANYAN

I had to fill ya'll in on this because I was very excited when the Yankees signed Russell Branyan to a minor league contract. Well, I was reading the a few instances recently where i noticed just how hot Branyan is in the minor leagues. I mean, he's literally tearing it up. In 36 at bats, Branyan has 13 hits. Of those hits 5 of them are homers, 4 of them are doubles and he has 16 RBIs. He's batting .361 in Scranton Wilkes-Barre.

Check out this report from the Times- Tribune from June 6th, Read HERE:

"Branyan hit the first of his two home runs in the sixth inning to make the score 9-5 but Durham answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Branyan then hit his second homer in the eighth inning to stretch the lead back to four." The Yankees beat the Durham Bulls that game 12-8.

This is another from the Citizensvoice.com from June 11th, read HERE:


Ronnier Mustelier and Russell Branyan came up with some powerful offense for the Yankees. Mustelier hit a two-out, solo home run in the first and Branyan hit his fifth home run of the year to bring the Yankees within 4-3 in the fifth inning."

This is the Scranton game from June 13th, read HERE:

"Russell Branyan had four runs batted in as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees took the series finale, 9-7, beating Louisville on Tuesday morning."

It goes and on. he's been on fire and I can only imagine at this rate, the Yankees would like to see this guy back in the majors and producing. There are guys on the Yankees roster like Andruw Jones who hasn't exactly been outstanding, batting only .224 with 6 homers in 85 at bats. I'm not saying we cut the guy for Branyan, but let's face facts, if Branyan's this hot, there needs to be room for him and strike while the irons hot.

Food for thought....that's all I'm saying.

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BYB YANKEE NUGGETS FOR SUNDAY

Steve Pearce: The Yankees signed Pearce to a minor league deal with the Yanks. Pearce is a former Pittsburgh Pirate, a first baseman and outfielder. That report comes from Chad Jennings of LoHud, Read HERE. All this move does if give the Yankees alittle depth. Not sure it was even necessary but it happened and there you go.

Russell Branyan: Branyan was released by the Yankees, then re-signed to a minor league contract. Clearly this is a case where there was certain wording in the contract that needed to be reworked because he didn't do a thing this spring. Read about it HERE.

Jorge Vazquez: the big story involving Vazquez is that he has come forward to say that if the Yankees won't bring him up to the big team, he wants to play elsewhere rather than being stuck in the minors again. So, it's clear to me the Vazquez will probably be gone at some point soon. It just makes sense. Vazquez is a first baseman and the Yankees have Mark Teixeira, and behind Tex they have Eric Chavez, and Steve Pearce. See what I mean? If anything happen with Vazquez, we will tell you.

Clay Rapada: Clay and Cesar Cabral were competing for perhaps the second lefty in the Yankees bullpen this season, but things may have just gotten easier for Rapada as Cabral was hurt in the game against the Phillies and has a sore elbow. Read HERE. Not only that, it is now being reported that Cabral has a broken elbow, this according to Wally Matthews, HERE. I guess that's why it was sore. Anyway, if Rapada were to not get the spot he would have opted out of his contract rather than go to the minors. Now we just need to see what will happen once the final spots are filled. Good Luck Clay!

Kei Igawa: Our dear friend Kei Igawa is finished with his obligations with the New York Yankees and has gone back to Japan to sign with the Orix Buffaloes. He signed a 2 year contract, the deal is worth $2.5 million in American dollars. Read HERE. The best of luck to Kei Igawa, I feel like we barely knew you...maybe because it's true.

Softbank Hawks: Speaking of Japanese baseball, the Softbank Hawks have a brand new baseball ad out and it's pretty damn cool. I just wanted to share it with you. Enjoy this, I did:



If there are any other nuggets not worthy of an entire post, we'll bring them to you here at Bleeding Yankee Blue!

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REPORT: DICKERSON OUTRIGHTED OFF 40-MAN ROSTER

Don't panic. This is just a quick note for everyone who loves Chris Dickerson. MLB.com's Bryan Hoch has the report HERE. that says the Yankees' Chris Dickerson has cleared waivers and was outrighted off the 40-man roster to AAA but will stay with the pro camp. It could be worse I guess.

No doubt it's going to be tight, there is a lot of talent and not a lot of room on the Yankees club. The Journal News had a nice piece on it, read HERE and basically maps out whether or not guys like Bill Hall and Russell Branyan can do damage to stay in the Bronx this spring and beyond. Ironically, Chris Dickerson was also mentioned.

Girardi has a nice quote and it makes sense about the whole thing: “They’re going to get a fair shake to try and make this club, I don’t see why someone couldn’t play their way on. Do you have to make some moves if that’s to happen? Yeah, but I don’t see why they couldn’t.”

OK then...may the best man win.

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WHY I GOT A.J. ON MY MIND

So like every Yankee fan right now I am just sitting and waiting to see what will happen with A.J. Burnett.  There is so much discussion on a potential trade with the Pirates that I would be surprised if it didn't happen.  But hey, I've been surprised before so I can't say I would not be 100% surprised if the trade stalled, but  I would be kind of shocked.

As of this moment, there is really no movement on a potential trade involving the Yankees and Pirates but here is a nuggest that caught my eye this morning.  NY Post Yankees beat writer Joel Sherman is saying the "momentum for the Yankees and Pirates to complete a deal in which A.J. Burnett would move to Pottsburgh stayed strong last night, though the teams remained apart on dollars and the type of prospects that would be included."  Sherman went on to report, "The key number, as of last night, appeared to be $13 million.  If the Pirates were willing to go north of that, the Yankees would be more amenable to taking on middling prospects."  You can read the entire Sherman piece HERE but here is what I am taking from this article and all the chatter around this trade:  The Yankees are more interested in dumping as much of A.J.'s salary as possible, period! 

The Yankees don't seem to be concerned about which prospects they get as long as they are not paying most of Burnett's remaining $33-million.  What that tells me is, the Yanks definitely are not done with addind pop to this lineup in the form of a power hitting DH.  team The Yankees are clearly looking to take A.J.'s money and give it to a Johnny Damon or Raul Ibanez.  My money is on Ibanez but if the Pirates don't eat more of A.J.'s salary than I think Russell Branyan will be the left handed DH for the time being.

Anyway, be sure to keep BYB page open and refresh often for any new on A.J.  You can also #BYB on twitter for any news on A.J. or the Yankees.

--Mikey Blue, BYB Senior Writer
Email: DonnieBaseball2323@gmail.com
Twitter: @MikeyBlu23


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WHY RUSSELL BRANYAN'S READY FOR PINSTRIPES

NJ.com's Jeff Bradley had a piece yesterday about Russell Branyan and the new minor league deal he signed with the Yankees. If you haven't seen it, you should check it out HERE.

I just wanted to share some of Branyan's quotes with you. Look, there is no way to know if Branyan will make the Yankees big club of not until he gets out there this spring and tries to kick some ass, that being said, he's a MLB veteran and if anyone can, he can. Again though, here are some great quotes from Branyan on his deal and alittle more:

“Just to be able to go and put on the pinstripes... I don’t know if it’s really sunk in yet.”

“My whole career has been a challenge... Like a lot of guys in the game, nothing’s been handed to me. No one said it was going to be easy, so you have to embrace it all. I’ve enjoyed the ups and I’ve enjoyed the downs. Going into camp with no guarantee is challenging, but I accept that and embrace that, too.”
“I’ve enjoyed playing in New York... Junior Griffey used to tell me all the time when we played together with Seattle, ‘Man, you’d love playing in Yankee Stadium. I think you’ve got the swing for it. And I think you’d handle it.’

“That comment always stuck. I have always thought, if I get the opportunity to play there, I want to take it. I’m ready to roll. I think I can do this.”

Look, whatever happens, you have to admit, Branyan's likeable. I wish him the best and I hoope he succeeds. Much like Griffey told him, I would love to see this guy as a Yankee in Yankee Stadium. He's got the swing for it and things could get mad exciting.

Spring Training here we come.

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WHY IT'S THE MAKING OF ANOTHER YANKEES CHAMPIONSHIP

You can look at what we have and make a very very good argument for a future World Championship Yankees club...2012 style. It's true. We have the tools and as far as I'm concerned, that combination of veterans and youngsters sprinkled in with the reliables and a Captain like Derek Jeter in the new Yankee Stadium... well, let’s just say it gives me goosebumps.

We have "the ace", the guy that literally can set the tone every 5^th day. CC Sabathia is better than anyone ever anticipated, and it’s happening in front of our eyes. We have our veteran closer in Mariano Rivera to shut the door when we need him but more importantly, we need to get to him, and we do with pitchers who can eat innings and a bullpen that will once again be touted as the best in major league baseball. I didn’t just make that up, they’ll live up to that hype. I have no doubt.

David Robertson by far is the hungriest of our bridge to Mo, and let me also state that I never had a “favorite” relief pitcher before Mo, but he set the tone and I find myself rooting hard for Robertson now because you can see it in his eyes... he never wants to lose. Any chance they’re selling Robertson shirts this year? If so, I’ll need to pick one up.

The Yankees are inviting 27 players to Spring Training and it’s a crew made up of guys as young as 18 that probably won’t have a shot, to older guys like Russell Branyan who has enormous power. Branyan needs to make the club first, after all he signed a minor league deal and received and invitation to Spring training, but assuming he does make it, he will be there strictly for home runs at Yankee stadium.

He, Andruw Jones, Bill Hall Manny Delcarmen, Dewayne Wise, Hideki Okajima… sure, the names seem random but there is talent there. It’s actually a very nice makeup and I applaud Cashman for his patience, his weeding through the fat to find the diamonds in the rough…hopefully at least.

Alex Rodriguez is supposed to be healthy and ready to do damage, and Yankeeland needs to get behind this guy, he’s overdue. Mark Teixeira needs to put the criticism behind him and mash the ball. He needs that average to rise dramatically or he will get the rep of being the next Jason Giambi, high home runs, low average. No one wants that for Tex, we want the guy to succeed.

Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson will hopefully continue their assault and put up sick numbers. Granderson is a new man ever since Kevin Long helped get his swing on track. The relationship with Brett Gardner, Nick Swisher and he is tight knit and there will no doubt be pure dominance this season in GGS…speed and power, it’s the perfect combination. Hopefully Curtis and Brett will run more, speed helps a ball club dramatically.

Sure, it all looks great on paper, but now comes the hard part, winning 95 + games and getting to the playoffs again. Girardi needs to make smart choices this year. If he does that with Kevin Long and Larry Rothschild by his side, there is nothing this guy can’t do. In the end, it comes down to team, the New York Yankees, the greatest franchise ever… it’s my team and I cannot wait for the smell of fresh cut grass and the crack of the bat…baseball is just about here Ladies and Gentlemen… I can smell it.

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WHY BRANYAN BRINGS BENCH STABILITY

Joe Girardi was right, we did need a lefty bat in the Yankees lineup, one with power to crank it out of, or in Russell Branyan’s case, crank it OVER that short right field deck. We got that lefty today and you can read about it here in YANKEES SIGN 1ST BASEMAN RUSSELL BRANYAN. Branyan’s deal is a minor league deal and they did it just 1 day after Bill Hall signed his minor league deal with the Yanks. Now things are starting to take shape.

Back in December I wrote WHY THE YANKEE BENCH WILL BE A FACTOR and while I’m no expert, I knew certain players would make good moves stabilize the bench. Now while Hall and Branyan were mentioned as good options, and the Yanks went for it today, it's still early. What I mean is, they still need to make the big team, which they probably will and they still would need to deliver.

Honestly, we need to assume Hall and Branyan make the big club. There is more of an incentive for them to fight for spots on the Yankee roster and being former pro ballplayers, there is no doubt they make the team, unless, they become unlucky like Ronnie Belliard of last season, read HERE.

Mixing Hall and Branyan in with guys like Eduardo Nunez offers a great bench of strength, speed and late inning defense. But now that raises a much bigger question... something Yankeeland has been shouting for for many months… do these signings impact the potential signing of Eric Chavez? After all we’ve been through with the guy, the want and need and the “interest”, is it all over now for Eric and the Yankees?

Look, it is very very possible the Yankees make a run, sign Eric Chavez to a similar contract to 2011 and just move into Spring Training with everything they wanted. That would be great. But right now they have their lefty bat (Branyan hit 31 home runs in 2009... that’s no fluke), and if you platoon him with Andruw Jones, you really have a powerful DH platoon. So, at this point, why in the world would we look at Johnny Damon, Raul Ibanez or Hideki Matsui? You see what I mean? Again, I believe the Yankees and Damon can work it out, many do, but the window’s closing fast, it’s almost Spring Training and we’re running out of money.

At the end of the day though, you need to applaud what the Yankees did the last few days, the additions of Bill Hall and Russell Branyan are smart signings, low risk and if they make the Bigs roster, that’s only a plus, trust me. One has to wonder though, are the Yankees finished shopping? Stay tuned.

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WHY I HAVE THE YANKEES SPRING TRAINING INVITES LIST

Just a quick note. Here's the list of the 27 guys invited to Spring Training. In this list they have invited 13 minor leaguers which is always fun to watch, as well as some of the guys they just signed like Manny Delcarmen, Bill Hall and Russell Branyan. Check it out... this is in no particular order:
DeWayne Wise: Wise is a terrific outfielder. He'll be a good asset to the Yankees outfield if he makes the Bigs again. The problem with Wise is he has a horrendous career average of .211 in 9 seasons.Russell Branyan: Great lefty power. He was signed yesterday, read HERE. He had 31 homers in 2009. With the Yankees short right field porch, this season could be fun for Branyan and the Yankees.

Manny Delcarmen: A former Red Sock but don't hold it against him. He could be helpful in the pen if he makes the big club. Read all about his signing HERE.Hideki Okajima: I've always like Okajima but it appears that batters have figured him out. In 5 years he has a career 3.11 ERA. Read about his signing HERE.

Doug Bernier: Bernier is an infielder that played for Scranton Wilkes Barre in 2011. He batted .237 last season with 13 doubles and 29 RBIs. He's 31.Manny Banuelos: What can we say about Banuelos other than we can't wait to see him again. I expect to see him up this season at some point. Read about him in THE GUMPTION OF MANNY BANUELOS.

Juan Cedeno: The New York Daily News has this on Cedeno: "has not pitched during the regular season in each of the last three seasons, appearing only in the Dominican Winter League. In 2011, he made 15 relief appearances with the Tigres de Licey and went 1-0 with a 1.04 ERA (8.2IP, 1ER)."

Matt Daley: We got Daley from the Colorado Rockies and he's played in the minors with them. He's 29 years old. In 92 games with the Rockies (MLB) he is 1-2 with a 4.71 ERA.
Colin Curtis: Colin is a solid outfielder and I expect to see him at some point this season. The Yankees are holding on to him believe it is my opinion they believe in him. He did have an injured shoulder in 2011, but in 2010 he has 11 hits in 59 at bats with 3 doubles and a home run.

Kyle Higashioka: Kyle was drafted in the 7th round of the 2008 MLB June Amateur Draft. He's a 21 year old catcher, one of many in the Yankees farm system.

Brett Marshall: The New York Daily News has this on Brett Marshall, "played the entire 2011 season with Single-A Tampa and went 9-7 with a 3.78 ERA (1401.IP, 59ER) in 27 games (26 starts)."
Jayson Nix: We wrote about Jayson Nix HERE when the Yankees signed him. Nix is an infielder who is better defensively than he is with his bat. Maybe he can be useful for the Yanks at some point this season.

Daniel Burawa: a 23 year old right handed pitcher with a lot of potential. Between Charleston and Tampa he was 5-4 with a 3.64 ERA.

Cole Garner: Garner was with the Colorado Rockies minor league system and has 76 home runs in 7 years in the minors. He has a career .286 AVG and is 27 year old outfielder.

Jose Gil: A catcher for the Yanks. The New York Daily News has this on the 25 year old catcher: "has appeared in 506 career minor league games, all in the Yankees organization, hitting .240 (405-for-1,691) with 98 doubles, 34 home runs and 224 RBI over 8 seasons."
Bill Hall: A strong second basemen and outfielder with some pop in his bat, I believe Bill Hall is a low risk pickup the Yankees will be thrilled to have signed down the stretch. Read about Hall HERE.

Adam Miller: We got Adam Miller this winter and he is a former Cleveland Indian. He's never gone pro. His minor league career with the Indians is 33-30 with a 3.71 ERA.
Gustavo Molina: Molina was helpful last season in the beginning of the year when we needed him. He is a solid catcher and a likable guy. Last year he batted .253 with 4 home runs and 21 RBIs for Scranton Wilkes Barre.


JR Murphy: Many expect big things from this kid, another catcher in the Yankees organization. He's only 20 and has a career .274 AVG. Drafted in the 2nd round of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft.

Mike O'Connor: O'Connor is a lefty pitcher from the Mets organization. I believe we'll see him this season to help out our lone lefty in the pen, Boone Logan. Read about Mike O'Connor HERE.Ryan Pope: The New York Daily News has this on Pope: "combined to go 2-3 with a 5.12 ERA (45.2IP, 26ER) in 40 combined relief appearances with Single-A Tampa, Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2011."

Gary Sanchez: BYB likes Sanchez but we don't care for his attitude and there has been plenty written about it. We just wrote a recent piece about Sanchez and you need to check it out HERE. In Charleston this year, he had 17 homers and 52 RBIs. There is no doubt he could be a star, but I'd prefer that he lose the attitude and become a team player.

Adam Warren: Warren was in Scranton the entire season and racked up a 3.60 ERA and a 6-8 record. He's only 24 and I will bet we see Warren at some point this season, even if it's brief.

Graham Stoneburner: The Daily News has this on the 24 year old righty pitcher: "owns a career 10-13 record with a 3.03 ERA (234.1IP, 79ER) in 45 combined minor league games in the Yankees organization since 2009. In 2011, he combined at three different levels (GCL, Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton) to go 1-5 with a 4.04 ERA (91.1IP, 41ER) in 18 games (16 starts)."

Jorge Vasquez: We love Vasquez and his bat and we believe he can do a lot of damage, but his strikeouts are incredibly high and we wonder at Bleeding Yankee Blue is there is a way for fix that. We wrote about Jorge back in December...read HERE.
Kevin Whelan: Whelan had 23 saves and a great 2.75 ERA in Scranton this season...that was in 45 appearances. He can improve but that's not bad, he's 28. We recently wrote about Whelan HERE.

Chase Whitley: The New York Daily News has this in Whitley: "has appeared in 72 combined career minor league games (one start) with the Yankees since 2010, going 7-7 with a 2.17 ERA (128.1IP, 31ER). In 2011, he went 3-5 with seven saves and a 2.47 ERA (91.0IP, 25ER) in 42 combined games at Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton."

Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and look for the hashtag #BYB. Also, join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.