YANKEES LOSE RYAN WEBER... COME ON, MAN!

I'm a Ryan Weber guy right here.  I didn't want to see him go, but there you have it... he's gone too.  First Shane Greene, now Weber.

NJ.com writes:

"The veteran journeyman rejected the Yankees’ outright assignment to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the team said Tuesday, and is free to sign with any other team. Weber has pitched well in his short big-league action this year.

In three appearances, he’s given up just a run and pitched 7 2/3 innings. On July 16, he threw three scoreless innings to earn his first MLB save in a 14-1 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

At Triple-A, Weber has gone 2-2 with a 2.55 ERA in nine games."

Maybe that's enough to have another team take a chance on him, maybe not.  What you don't want is to see this guy go and then come playoff time he shows up in a match up against the Yankees and dominates.  That would truly piss me off.

Whatever the case, it's safe to say that Weber is bye-bye.  Good luck buddy.

SHANE GREENE... GONZO

 

The Yankees brought him back to see if he had anything left in the tank. They decided he didn't.

MLB Trade Rumors writes that the reunion with Shane Greene and the Yankees is officially over.

"The Yankees have designated reliever Shane Greene for assignment, per the team. The move creates an open roster spot for Ron Marinaccio, who has been reinstated from the 15-day injured list.

The veteran Greene has made just two appearances on the season, one for the Dodgers and one for the Yankees. "

In his one appearance with the Yanks he pitched 1 inning, gave up 2 runs, a homer and walked 1.  He also struck out a batter. ERA? 18.00.

I think that sealed the deal. Good Luck Shane.

THREE GUYS THAT COULD HELP THE YANKEES DOWN THE STRETCH

Not sure you saw all the names popping around. Yes, the Yankees are doing really well, but not only that, stocking some extra guys in the minors that they clearly think could help the team as well has never hurt either.  I wanted to break them down for you, cause, the names are not only recognizable, but they also still have some talent attached to them.

Jake Bauers: This is the newest of the acquisitions. NJ.com writes of Bauers: "Bauers, 26, has played parts of three seasons in the majors leagues with the Rays, Cleveland and the Mariners. He’s a career .213 hitter in the majors with a .655 OPS. He’s played mostly first base and left field in the bigs."

Now here's the thing. Bauers is a minor leaguer. He will see action there, and if they need him at any point, they can call him up and you would hope he could make an impact. What has he done recently? Not much: "Bauers hit .135 with three home runs, 12 RBI and a .547 OPS in 29 games at Triple-A Louisville this season. Bauers hit .099 with two bombs in 21 games since getting off the injured list May 4. He hasn’t played in the majors this year."

Bauers is my least favorite pickup.

Shane Greene:  Yup, if you didn't know, now you know, Shane Greene is back. When it comes to Greene, Sports Illustrated writes: "After his promising rookie year, Greene was shipped to Detroit in the three-team deal that sent shortstop Didi Gregorius from Arizona to the Yankees.

Greene quickly transitioned from a starter to a reliever. In his fourth season with the Tigers, he recorded 32 saves. The next year, Greene was an American League All-Star before he was traded to the Braves at the deadline. From there, Greene spent three seasons in Atlanta before ending up with the Dodgers. In 2022, the right-hander pitched seven times in Triple-A Oklahoma City with Los Angeles, making just one appearance in a Dodgers uniform.

Greene, 33, elected free agency on May 22. The Yankees swooped in..."

Greene is a minor league guy right now, but I expect to see him as the season progresses. I really do.

And then of course there's Greg Bird. NJ.com writes:

"Bird can hold his head high with his performance during the streak. Per RailRiders PR:

He has gone 10 for 27 with two home runs and four doubles during this stretch. Prior to this streak, Bird’s longest hit streak was three which lasted from May 3 to May 6. After batting .149 in 15 games in the month of April, he’s batting .246 in 16 games in the month of May. 2022 is the fourth season Bird has appeared for the RailRiders. The most games he ever played for SWB was 34 back in 2015 (currently at 31 in 2022)."

If Bird can continue to figure out his hitting, I see big things. Wouldn't it be great to see Bird come back up, be hot in pinstripes and come full circle.

So what do you think? Can these guys help or will they hurt? Will they make it back up to the bigs or will they just fade away. I personally think the Yankees made some smart moves... and now we wait and see what happens next. Stay tuned.

REMEMBER SHANE GREENE? THE DUDE MAY COME BACK

Remember Shane Greene? The same Shane Greene that got mad opportunity in New York, but then bashed the Yankees anyway when they needed to trade him, because well... he was disgruntled? (Read HERE)

Well... he could be back in New York real soon to help give the Yankees some bullpen help.

George King III of the New York Post has this amazing nugget and I wanted to share it:

"While the asking price for Tigers starter Matthew Boyd might be too high for the Yankees, right-handed reliever Shane Greene, a former Yankee, is expected to be dealt and the Yankees have been shopping for bullpen help, too. The Tigers had a scout following Double-A Trenton for the past week and will go with the Thunder to Erie. 

Right-hander Deivi Garcia is considered by some organizations to be the Yankees’ top-overall prospect so it’s not likely the Yankees would deal him straight up for Greene, a 30-year-old who will be a free agent after the 2020 season."

Now don't get crazy. While King is reporting about Garcia, there is no way in hell Cashman and the Yankees deal this kid. It would have to be a crafty deal with either get Greene straight up by trading someone else or get both Boyd and Greene in a mini-blockbuster.

Whatever the case I am surprised the Yankees would even consider Greene who had a field day blasting the Yankees after he was traded back in the day.

Hey... that's old news. Wanna be part of a winning club? Come to New York... that's new news!

Stay tuned on this one.

A TEAM WITHOUT DIDI IS NOT A TEAM WORTH HAVING

Source: Yankees Magazine

You have heard it stated multiple times lately.  And in case you haven't heard it, NJ.com reminded us again on Saturday what is evidently true.  "Brian Cashman got Didi Gregorius for Shane Greene. Think about that for a minute. One of the best offensive players in the sport (1.245 OPS heading into play on Friday) at a premium position for an expendable relief arm. Cashman’s career will likely end with a plaque in Cooperstown. The trade for Gregorius to replace Derek Jeter will be talked about as one of the many reasons why," reports Joe Giglio.  With a curtain call more than 3,000 miles away from home in Friday night's win against the Anaheim Angels, Didi Gregorius is quickly making the following statement true as well:  A team without Didi is not a team worth having.

Source: FRANK FRANKLIN II/AP

Think about the guys around MLB who are essential to their teams' success.  Who comes to mind? Perhaps, Houston would say a team without Jose Altuve is not a team they wish to field.  Noah Syndergaard might be that guy at the NY Mets, Bryce Harper fits the bill in Washington and Kris Bryant out in Chicago.  Then there is Robinson Cano in Seattle and perhaps Mike Trout from the Angels.  These are the franchise players and swiftly, Didi Gregorius is becoming one of those guys you just can't live without and you build your team around for maximum success.

Source: Victor Decolongon/Getty Images North America

As the NY Daily News stated at the end of the 2017 season, "He endured a brutal first month, getting booed and posting a .499 OPS. But Gregorius has found comfort ever since, evolving as a hitter and a fielder. These days he hits in the cleanup spot, capable of hitting lefties while being lethal with the bases loaded. His first All-Star appearance may come next."  Didi has earned his spot as a middle infielder, with a rifle-like arm, a powerfully contagious disposition and a competitive spirit similar to the guy he replaced a few years ago.

Source: Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America

Skipper Aaron Boone has said it over and over again in his pre-game and post-game press conferences.  Didi is a guy you are glad plays for you.  We aren't the only ones noticing. His teammates need him and others across the league are envious of the necessity of having a guy like Gregorius on their team as well.

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

"He's the best teammate -- one of the best I've ever had," (Austin) Romine says emphatically. "Same guy every day; works hard. When he does well, he doesn't want any of the attention; he defers it to other teammates … He's artistic, he's fluent in languages, he's cultured. He's a very unique and awesome human being to know. It's fun to be able to be around him, talk to him and call him a friend,"reports MLB.com.

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

From his colorful tweets after Yankee wins to his club house persona to his stellar performance on the field and his off the field presence with fans in the Bronx and across ballparks in the MLB, Didi Gregorius is the face to a franchise that needed a face lift and luckily got it.  "It's clear that Gregorius is perfectly suited to be a breakthrough ambassador for the Yankees -- and the sport as a whole. "He's capable of reaching people that his other teammates aren't," (Brett) Gardner says as reported by MLB.com.

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

Fans have been asking me to write something about Didi's unique role on this growing Yankee team and I could not have done it justice unless I dug deeper.  Didi is truly an ambassador for baseball, which is filled with diversity, an international presence, and a new breed of hard-working individuals willing to go the extra mile.  He encourages fans and players alike to love baseball like he does, and appreciate it as the ultimate experience, a day trip like no other.  He reaches fans on Twitter like no social media guru could and he is tugging at the hearts of fans across the nation who come to ballparks just to see him play.  His smile and his heart make it worth sitting through nine innings, knowing that he can lift a team bruised by tough losses with a confidence-building presence that can carry a team through the good times and bad.  A team without Didi or someone like him, is just not worth having.  Glad to have him as a New York Yankee, today, tomorrow and for many years to come.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

IF CASHMAN ADMITS JOBACIDE, HE SHOULDN'T COMMIT JOBACIDE

(Feb. 26, 2015 - Source: Brian Blanco/Getty Images North America)    

Jobacide is a word I've used for too many years now to describe the Yankees' systemic sacrifice of young starting pitching at the altar of a cheap and steady supply of  relievers.

It's no secret the Bronx bullpen has long been the place where promising young starters brought up too soon go to die, and you could fill a whole shelf of binders with all the wildly creative story lines the Yankees have tried to peddle to media, fans and -- most sadly of all, to the players themselves -- to explain away the diversion,  marooning and pruning of so many homegrown, high-performing Triple A arms and careers there.

Photo: MLB.com

Which is why I nearly spilled my coffee on my keyboard last Thursday as I perused Mark Feinsand's lengthy Q&A with GM Brian Cashman published Thursday on MLB.com and witnessed, for the first time I can recall, an official acknowledgement of the practice.

"MLB.com: There has been a lot of talk over the years about the Yankees' inability to develop young starting pitchers. Do you think that's a fair criticism?

Photo: New York Daily News

Cashman: Yeah. It's a fact. I think part of the process has been certainly where we draft. Because we've had a lot of success, we've not been allowed to tank and go off the board and therefore get access to some of the high-end stuff that plays out to be impactful. Part of it is we can't get out of our own way because we don't have the patience to let guys finish off their development, because if you possess some unique ability that stands out above everybody else -- whether it was Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, now [Luis] Severino and before that [Bryan] Mitchell and Shane Greene -- we're pulling them up before their development is finished.

Teams like Tampa Bay, for instance, they're going to wait until they have their four pitches down and their innings limits are all exceeded at the Minor League level; they're very disciplined in that approach as they finish off their starters. For us, if I'm looking at my owner and he says, "What's our best team we can take north?" Well, "We could take this guy; he's not necessarily 100 percent finished off, but we can stick him in our 'pen. He can be in the back end of our rotation, because he's better than some of the guys we already have," and then you cut corners, so I think that probably plays a role in it. And sometimes we don't make the right decisions, either, when we're making Draft selections and signings and stuff like that. On top of it all, playing in New York is a lot different than playing anywhere else."

So there it is, confirmation that Jobacide is real --  couched between poor draft position due to past success, an owner's insistence on the best personnel playing in the Bigs ready or not, and the bright lights choke factor of the Big Apple. .

This winter Hal and Brian were publicly confident they had the young arms ready to go in the system to fill the vacant spots in the rotation.

But the ensuing spring competition has revealed nothing could be further from the truth and  re-focused giant Broadway-sized spotlights on the problem the Yankees have  finishing off their young pitchers' development.

Now that they've clearly identified they have a problem, will they allow  all the losers of the rotation competition to return to the farm and finish their development as starters -- or will they all become inmates condemned to life sentences in the Bronx Pen-itentiary?

It all depends on whether  the Yankees decide admitting the problem is the first step toward solving it or not.

So far, they've shown admirable restraint with the young position prospects by resisting the urge to fling one into the deep end ahead of schedule to patch a temporary hole at shortstop.

It would be a huge step forward for the franchise if  they could start doing the same with their scarcest and most precious commodity -- their young pitching prospects -- and outlaw Jobacide from Yankee Universe once and for all.

 --Barry Millman
BYB Writer
Twitter: @nyyankeefanfore

RED FLAGS, PITCHING & I TOLD YOU SO!

Are the New York Yankees broken? It's only April but it is hard to find a lot to be excited about right now unless it happens to be Nick Swisher related. The fan favorite that is stashed down in AAA has me more excited then the Major League team. I find that disturbing, but it's true. I am watching his stats everyday with excitement meanwhile I can barely watch my television without groaning every few minutes. Something has to change and fast.

The offense is just plain offensive. What happened to the Bombers we all know and love? They have never been great at small ball but at this point I miss those long balls. At least that gave me something to cheer for and feel good about. I am just waiting for that magical turning point to come. Last night when I turned on the game and looked at the box score and saw the top of the order going one for twelve I shook my head. The sad thing is I wasn't surprised when I saw it. I just shook my head and said "oh, the usual" like it was no big deal. Not hitting is not ok.....and fans being complacent about not hitting isn't either. Red flag.

One of the biggest concerns going into this season was the starting rotation. I have no doubt that when Aroldis Chapman is eligible to return on May 9th that the Yankees will have the best bullpen in baseball....but we have to get to them first. At this rate, with the dreadful performance of the starters the bullpen could be a non-factor. The Yankees not scoring runs coupled with the starters not giving quality starts is going to spell disaster for this team. With 20 major league starts under their belt the Yankee starts have the second worst ERA in the American League.

Right now Masahiro Tanaka is the only starter who has an ERA that is better than league average. The Yankees also can't navigate through a lineup three times. The Yankees have a major league worst record of a .963 OPS and that is how you pitch your way to a loss. Look at last years pitching staffs with the best ERA's.....you will notice those were playoff teams. In recent years the Yankees answer to fixing voids in other areas by trading away pitchers like Shane Greene, David Phelps and Adam Warren now you have to wonder if those moves are going to be beneficial in the long run given the teams current pitching situation. Pitching wins baseball games. Red flag.

And last but not least....I think I have heard the words "I told you so!" more often then I care to acknowledge. Most of those are in reference to friends who follow other teams telling me that the Yankees will be last in the AL East this year. If I hear "I told you guys that you needed to sign Tim Lincecum" one more time I may lose my mind. Haters seem to think he is the answer to the rotation problems but it is deeper then just not signing Lincecum. It's only April, and plenty of baseball left. I know it won't stay this way but come on......I don't want to hear this is April! It's too early for the "I was right and you were wrong" victory dances. The Yankees need to prove all of the haters wrong.

Good teams learn to adapt and find ways to win games. It's easier said then done, but baseball isn't meant to be easy. The bottom line here is the offense and the starters need to fix the problem that they created. They have no one to blame but themselves and their success this season depends on it.


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





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I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER!

Who are these Yankees? Is there really a Steinbrenner running the show? Is it Cashman who has had the will power to not offer high priced contracts over the past couple of years? The Yankees organization has taken a different road the past couple of off seasons. After the half a billion dollar spending spree heading into the 2014 season, the Yankees have mostly improved via trades. While not all of these moves have been popular or have immediate impacts, the plan seems to be coming together nicely.

Starting last winter, Cashman dealt for Nathan Eovaldi and gave up a middle aged (in baseball years) Martin Prado and a number five starter or long reliever in David Phelps. He also acquired Didi Gregorius in a three team deal in which they gave up RHP Shane Greene.

Both trades filled a void and injected more youth into the organization. Both these moves I loved, particularly the Eovaldi trade, and now the Sir Didi trade, and that seemed to be just the start for Cashman and the brass.

So far this off season, Cash has acquired a young right handed hitting outfielder in Aaron Hicks, added a couple young arms, yet not terribly highly touted prospects, in Luis Cessa and Chad Green. Combined The Yankees have 12 years of control over these two young men. He picked up Starlin Castro, a three time all-star, for above average reliever or number five type starter, Adam Warren. Cash then added Aroldis Chapman, in which he gave up four so-so prospects who have a long ways to go.

If you ask me, the team is better and deeper now that it was heading into the 2015 season. Plus Cash hasn't given up the top prospects! The rotation remains a work in progress but is definitely much younger and livelier than it was several years ago.

Masahiro Tanaka and Luis Severino lead the charge. Next is Michael Pineda, who has huge upside and just has to stay away from the DL and pine tar. Nathan Eovaldi, Ivan Nova and CC Sabathia round out the rest of the likely rotation candidates.

While all of these players carry a risk; age, health and experience being the three biggest, there is potential.  The average age of the likely rotation candidates, however, will be just 27 years old as of Opening Day. Take away Sabathia and the average age is just 25.4 years old.

After the acquisition of Chapman, which in a purely baseball related perspective is a fantastic pickup, Cashman now has a little wiggle room in the bullpen and may be more willing to consider accepting an offer for Miller. With another top of the line closer now dealt (after Ken Giles and Craig Kimbrel), the market for closers is getting slim. Perhaps a team, now approaching desperation mode, could offer a larger return for Miller and with Chapman and Dellin Betances at the back end of the 'pen, Cash would have to consider any deal that helps his team, and in particular, his rotation.

I really don't think Cashman is done this off season. Whether it be a blockbuster deal or a 'filling a piece of the puzzle' move, the Yankees front office seems to want to avoid costly long term contracts until the current ones begin to expire following the 2016 season. With Mark Teixeira's deal expiring, and Greg Bird waiting in the shadows, and Carlos Beltran's deal expiring, and Aaron Judge hopefully waiting in shadows, The Yankees should have some more cash on hand to spend some next winter and the following.

While I realize that this mode of operation is looked down upon by some fans, the brass has to assure the long term future of the organization, as well as the short term. The Yankees went all in to win a World Championship in 2009 and it worked but now we are seeing some of the backlash of that.

This is a different team than it was under 'The Boss' George Steinbrenner. With the luxury tax and the proven success stories over the past few seasons with teams developing within their organizations and winning championships, the Yankees are taking the road less traveled for them. Now the question is, will it pay off? And when?

For you impatient fans, it could be a struggle over the next 12-24 months. But give these guys two years and we will see a vastly younger, more athletic and well-rounded team than we have today. A new core is forming with Luis Severino, Greg Bird, Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge, Jorge Mateo and others. They may not all stick but some will and they will lead the Yankees to another World Series Championship....

In due time.


 --Dan Lucia
BYB Senior Writer
Twitter: @DManLucia


  

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BRIAN CASHMAN'S "OPEN TO ANYTHING"

And by "anything", he means candle wax on the nipples and brisk walks in the nude. 

I'm kidding, but I did find it interesting that when asked about the off season, he pretty much hinted that no one is off limits... except for the young big 3.

Here's some of that article from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:

"...Cashman said he does not anticipate trading any of his three top young players -- pitcher Severino, first baseman Greg Bird or outfielder Aaron Judge. But the GM acknowledged that he was being aggressive and creative in his early discussions.

'I'm open to anything,' Cashman said. 'I'm always open to anything. I'm not afraid... You have to be pretty aggressive and open to trade a good young pitcher under team control (Greene), a left-handed prospect (Banuelos) or a guy like Prado who fits you like a glove,' Cashman said. 'We still are. If we can find matches to make us better as we go forward, we're all ears.'"

I'm eager to see how this plays out. How about you? 

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GUESS WHERE SHANE GREENE WENT...

Once upon a time there was a Yankee pitcher named Shane Greene. He was an important part of a struggling Yankee rotation but then he was traded away to a far away land called Detroit Michigan. Some fans were mad, and even Greene himself got mad and then things turned personal and twisted.

So after a fantastic start to the season, Greene got a little heated and he took things rather personally. His first three starts sent a message to everyone that said "You will miss me now that I am in Detroit." Well, something to that affect. He took things personally and lashed out. He didn't understand why he was traded away. It wasn't personal, but the Yankees needed to replace Derek Jeter and suddenly Greene goes bye-bye and in comes Didi Gregorius. There are some other steps in the process but...you get the idea.

Well, we called Greene's exit from the Yankees a break up because that is pretty much how he took it, read SHANE GREENE AND HIS BITTER YANKEES BREAKUP. He talked a lot of game. I even appreciated his fire and intensity. He was determined to have his revenge against the Yankees in June when the Tigers come to town. In fact, he probably would've been the starter for the game on Sunday the 21st. I said would've though.....

Since his first three starts Greene has been on a downward spiral in 13 games he had a 4-6 record with a 5.82ERA. He free fell quickly and because of that the Tigers have sent him down to AAA Toledo, read that HERE. It looks like Greene won't get his moment of redemption this time.

I didn't mean to make this story sound like Greene was the villain in a fairytale....but things certainly change quickly in baseball. I don't like the way Greene reacted to being traded, but I still wish him well and hope he figures things out down in AAA. Who knows....maybe we will get to see him pitch against us some day. Oh and if that day comes....I hope you don't beat us, sorry Greene.



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


 
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