THROUGH GOOD & BAD, THE YANKEES WILL REIGN AGAIN

I've been a Yankee fan for a long, long time. I am also a baseball fan. I love the game and everything about it.

As a Yankee fan, there's been some very interesting moves. I mean, yes, we did get Andrew Miller, and Chase Headley has been signed and that's good.  We signed Nathan Eovaldi and Garrett Jones and that's a good thing, although, it will be interesting to see how Eovaldi does in the American League.  He's only been an NL pitcher.

(In Photo: Johnny Barbato)
There have also been a bunch of small moves, and some were surprising.  Manny Banuelos was once the "next best thing" in Yankeeland.  But he's gone done.  We also have been picking up alot of pitching.  And we've been giving away pitching to do it.  Shawn Kelley for Johnny Barbato for instance.  All these moves are interesting and the bottom line, we just don't know what we're getting in return.  For Barbato for instance, he might need Tommy John surgery.  That's the bad news. 

The good news is we traded away a 30 year old pitcher in Kelley for a young kid with a ton of upside.  Many question marks, but moves are happening.  Bottom line, it's going to take a while to see what we get back on our investments. I hope Yankeeland can be patient. I get it, as a Yankee fan, we want instant gratification. We want to be instantly satisfied. Well... that's not how life words... baseball is no different.

My friend Mike said to me the other day, "There hasn't been that signing that will make me say... 'You know what? I'm satisfied. We did good.'"  That's what the off season is all about if you're a Yankee fan  these days. In the past, even last year we would go out and sign whomever we wanted because we have the money to do it. But think about this for a second...  

@SportsCenter @Buster_ESPN how my A's are looking right now pic.twitter.com/3k0ykX9nsJ
— Joe Gamba (@_joegamba) December 19, 2014

As much as we feel that uncertainty and unsureness as a Yankee fan, you gotta feel for fans of the Oakland A's.  Their team will be totally different next season too.  Jon Lester took a walk. Jeff Samardzija is gone, Derek Norris went to San Diego and it just looks like everyone is leaving, hence the tweet above.

Their players are literally leaving Oakland.  At least New York players are intact, we're just adding young talent.  We just need the Yankees to figure out how to play good baseball together.  Buying players is easy. It's cutting through the egos and finding a rhythm to get wins. That's what Yankee fans really want.

A while back, Mike O'Hara wrote  STOP LOOKING FOR THAT TEAM. In it, he wrote the following:

"I’ve seen all the tweets and read the articles and blogs. 'Why didn’t we get…', 'What is Cashman doing?!', 'I can’t believe he left town!'  Well, believe it. The Yankees painted themselves into this corner. They money is locked up in has-been players and the farm is still years away from a crop. The Yankees might not just miss the playoffs in 2015, they may actually have a losing season…no, and I won’t calm down. I’m already calm…and just disappointed."

The piece was full of passion from a long time Yankee fan.  That sparked some pretty passionate comments as well. Here's one you must read.

"...Seriously, go take a look at the history of all teams in MLB and you'll see there is absolutely no reason for your doom and gloom articles. Aside from the early 90's, The Yankees have been competitive and successful. Even rebuilding, they've been well above .500. The media's (and younger fans) negative opinions hold no weight to those of us who have earned our pinstripes by backing 60 and 70 win teams year after year. Sorry, if the vent offends but... be a fan of the Royals, the Pirates or Padres etc. for the past 25 years and then a lot of fans may have some kind of qualifications to back up their whining. You have to live the REAL hard times to appreciate the actual success of this franchise. This is a blanket statement to all whining Yankee fans that have been raised spoiled, entitled, and never really knowing hard times. As a fan since the 60's, we / I have seen way worse Yankee times than most of the spoiled new fans. Now that your getting a small taste ( and I mean SMALL taste comparatively), stop whining like you're in baseball hell. 22 straight winning seasons does not give you any right to diagnose "hard times" in Yankeeland or act as if you've seen the bottom of the barrel.  

(In Photo: Celerino Sanchez)
Try counting on Bernie Allen, Pete Ward, Ron Hansen, 2 old ass Alous and a Celerino Sanchez as your team saviors and praying that you actually finish a season at .500 instead of the cellar."

Black Tiger wrote that. Black Tiger also apologized for his rant, claiming it appeared disrespectful.  I accept.

The fact of the matter is, Black Tiger is right... but so is Mike O'Hara.  In fact, any fan who has a passionate opinion about the Yankees and where they are right now is correct in some way. That's because fandom is personal and specific to that fan.  There is no right or wrong.  We write our feelings about our team, usually because it's driven with pure passion and fuel due to frustration or aggravation, sometimes even happiness.  It's a rant, kind of how Bleeding Yankee Blue was created in the first place.

Look, this Yankee off season has been interesting, but this is what we do know; The Yankees have had good runs in history. They have also had some dark days. 

I'm a Steinbrenner kid. I saw the 1970s championships. I also saw the bad teams in the 80s.  I also lived through Stick Michael and the Core Four and that run in the 90s was amazing.  Guess what else... I could see this coming a mile away.  Us not making the playoffs for 2 years in a row, while strange for the younger crowd and frustrating for me, well... it's all part of baseball.  Sometimes there are good times for your team, and sometimes there are bad... it's just the way it happens.

Here's the thing though; Since Mike O'Hara and Black Tiger wrote their posts and comments, the Yankees have gotten younger.  The Yankees aren't spending on old has-beens.  The Yankees are building for their future. 

Now you can say to me, "We have a bunch of questions marks and we gave away guys like Martin Prado, Manny Banuelos and David Phelps and we let David Robertson walk." True.

Guess what else we did?  We just gave opportunity to new young players that we acquired, not to mention opening the door for the farm. 

Things are happening ladies and gentlemen, and before you get down on your club, know this... there are good times and bad times in baseball for ALL teams.  Yes, we are spoiled Yankee fans.  We want to win 162 games and the World Series every year with top talent... ANY TALENT WE WANT AND CAN AFFORD. But... it's not always realistic.  That's the truth.

Yankeeland is changing again.  Accept it, but keep rooting.  Don't walk away from your club.  In the end, the pinstripes rule and we are a tight-knit group of hungry, passionate Yankee fans. 

We need to stick together here... We will reign again! Promise.

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SHAWN KELLEY TRADED!

In the Yankees new quest to get younger, things are continuing to happen...

The latest is the Yankees have traded away Shawn Kelley to the San Diego Padres in place of prospect Johnny Barbato.  That comes from Robert Murray:

There is some buzz that the #Yankees just acquired RHP Johnny Barbato from the #Padres.
— Robert Murray (@RobertMurrayDR) December 29, 2014

Jack Curry of YES was in the mix on breaking that news too.  Not sure who got it first, but I talk more about Curry in a moment. He has an important nugget about Barbato.
 

Anyway, I'm going to sound awful when I say this... but I'm going to say it anyway. I was never a fan of Shawn Kelley.  I liked him, I liked what he had to offer, but I was never blown away by his stuff.  This is a good move.

In return we get a nice prospect named Johnny Barbato.

Barbato is a righty pitcher and he's 22 years old.  According to Hardball Talk, " Barbato saved 16 games in Double-A. He had a smidge better K/BB ratio and a lower ERA. Curry suggests he could need Tommy John surgery. "

You read that right.  Jack Curry of YES tweeted this interesting nugget:

Yanks consider Barbato solid, young power arm, although he may need TJ surg. Kelley is 1 yr from FA. Traded 1 yr Kelley for Barbatos future.
— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) December 29, 2014

I love Jack Curry. He's simply the best. The Tommy John nugget is something we will definitely watch.

Meanwhile though, we're getting younger ladies and gentlemen. I like younger. It could be the beginning of a new run for us.  Let's see how this plays out.

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THANK YOU HEDY, THANK YOU! ...IT'S HEADLEY!

That title is loosely based on a scene from Blazing Saddles featuring Harvey Korman and Mel Brooks.  Whenever I think of Chase Headley, for some odd reason, I think of Hedley Lamarr.  I'm weird like that... go figure.

I've become fond of Chase Headley on the New York Yankees.  He makes me smile.  He's been a joy to watch, both defensively and offensively.  Tonight was big for Headley, his third walk-off game as a New York Yankee and it was thrilling, because as you know, every game counts now.

Shane Greene started and was magnificent.  You gotta love this kid and I'm excited about his future with the Yankees.   Greene went 6.2 innings, he gave up 3 hits and 0 runs.   He did not get the win.

The Yankees scored 2 runs tonight mid game.  One came in the 5th when Stephen Drew doubled and knocked in Chase Headley. 

In the 6th, Derek Jeter hit a solo shot to the leftfield seats. The stadium went nuts and they should have!

When Shawn Kelley came in, he gave up a 2 run homer to Jose Bautista to tie it up.  Unbelievable.  But something big happened in the 9th, and alot of it won't be publicized because the story was the walk-off tonight... but this is important;  The Yankees manufactured a run to win! SERIOUSLY! I know, right???

When Chris Young singled, he was replaced with speedster Antoan Richardson. Richardson then stole second and Brett Gardner bunted with 2 strikes moving the runner to 3.  Beautiful sacrifice.

Then, Headley came up and reached on a fielding error by Adam Lind and scoring was Antoan Richardson.  The Yankees win... The Yankees win!!!

It was a nice win and a necessary one.  And then I got to thinking. As I watched Derek Jeter hit a home run tonight, I made a statement in my head which I'll relay to you now;  I won't be mad about this season any more.  It is what it is.  

There is a very slim chance we make the wild card this year, and even if you do, and possibly make it to the World Series and win the whole thing or not... It doesn't change the fact that Jeter's retiring.  Watching that Gatorade ad today really hit home.


Even non-Yankee fans tweeted me about it:

I’m a grown man and not a @Yankees fan but that @Gatorade ad saluting Derek Jeter brought a tear to my eye. @BleednYankeeBlu #MANUP
— Vic Garcia (@MrVicGarcia) September 18, 2014

The fact of the matter is, Jeet is hanging it up. While it's sad, and while the Yankees didn't play up to their potential this year, the anger needs to disappear now. We need to honor the Captain.  Let's be grateful for the opportunity we had to see the Captain play all these years.  It was a joy.

So the anger stops on BYB.  We move forward. We celebrate the Captain from now until the season ends.  Hopefully that's through the playoffs and World Series, right?

Cross your fingers...

Final: Yankees 3 - Blue Jays 2

I leave you with this:



Go Yanks!

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YANKS LOSE & JEANA HAS LOST HER DAMN MIND!

It has finally happened. After six long, excruciating months I just can't take it anymore. I can't sit here and watch this team suck and not live up to its potential. I want to grab some of these guys in the clubhouse and shake them violently. I want to walk up to Kevin Long and  beat him with a bat (a foam bat....but still). I am a very patient person but even I have my breaking limit.

I reached that last night because I really have lost my damn mind. I walk in late from work and come in in the 7th inning. I sit on the couch and I am literally crossing every body part I can seeing the score tied at a big goose egg. By the time the 8th inning came I was twitching...literally. There is NO REASON for the 8th inning to end the way it did. For crying out loud Mark Teixeira started the inning off with a walk. A WALK ladies and gentlemen....the fact that NO ONE could do anything good behind him makes me want to spit bullets right now.

To watch the Rays walk off the way they did made me go postal....literally. I was on the phone with one of my friends back on the east coast when I literally dropped my phone and threw a pillow at my television. I wish I were kidding.....but I am not (I am sorry Tellie, please forgive me. The Bronx BUMMERS made me do it). Somewhere along the line I snapped and yelled something about making a Voodoo doll of Kevin Long. Needless to say the person I was on the phone with hung up pretty quickly and I may have traumatized them for life. I am sorry for that, too.

Look, I am so far past being "In Love" with this team it isn't even funny. I think these guys are so accustomed to losing....they aren't upset about being losers! In fact, I think they like it. They don't care. They have no pride. They don't care about those little kids watching them on the TV who want to be just like them. Seriously, last night I didn't see anyone pissed off that we lost by a walk-off. Show me that you are as pissed off as I am! Where is Paul O'Neill when you need him?! Complacency is a disease! If you can't get your crap together get off of the bench and make room for someone else who cares and will actually play. Right now....there is ZERO leadership. I wish Jorge Posada was still here to light a fire under these guys, maybe scare them for next year should they be LUCKY enough to still be around.

There is no more time for this "you have to tip your cap to the pitcher for pitching an outstanding game" bullshit. It's a broken record. I have been listening to it for six months and it is as tired and played out as these stinkers are.

Chris Capuano did his job last night. Once again, the starting pitching does their job and this lineup of misfit toy baseball players can't hit worth beans. It's frustrating. It's a waste of a good start, and Capuano deserves an apology. Hell, I will apologize to him for his team. Capuano, I am sorry you have a sorry bunch of hitters that can't support you. Shawn Kelley, right now I want to tie cement blocks to your feet and throw you in the East River because I am irrational and pissed. I am sure in the morning I will feel better....at least I hope.

This team is an underachieving bunch of lifeless bench warmers. I just can't take it anymore. I hope one day my sunny disposition comes back. I hope that my Kevin Long Voodoo doll never comes to life but right now I want heads to roll. I want the Yankees to feel my rage because I need to know that they feel SOMETHING. Yes ladies and gentleman....I have lost my damn mind and I am truly sorry you had to witness this. I hope to return to you as a rehabbing individual later today.....


 Final:  Rays 1 - Yankees 0





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


  

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WELL, HONK MY HOOTER!

Maybe there IS some passion and guts in the Bronx after all!

Heroics in the bottom of the 9th!  Just when most of Yankeeland was frustrated and annoyed with out club because in each game, we just can't get over the hump... something happened. There was a confidence builder for a lifetime tonight in the B X.  More on that in a moment.

It was a game that seemed more like that old rivalry game we know and love when it's the Yankees vs. the Sox.  It was a tight type of game. It almost seemed like old times in some regards.

Chris Capuano was on the mound for New York.  He was not outstanding but he did keep the Yanks in it while out there, and there was a hope and desire that the Yanks would chip away at the Sox pitching.  Luckily, it happened that way. Capuano only went 4.1 innings, giving up 6 hits and 4 runs.  Again, not amazing, but OK.  Chris was followed by a bunch of our pickups, Rich Hill, Esmil Rogers, Josh Outman, and then the staples of Shawn Kelley and Adam Warren.  Warren ended up getting the win.  The pen also was able to hold the Sox so they would never be able to score again.

The Yankee runs went like this:

In the 3rd, the Captain doubled and knocked in Ichiro Suzuki and Jacoby Ellsbury.  That was followed by Carlos Beltran singling and bringing home Jeet.

Then, with the score 4-3 Sox, the 9th inning came.  Mark Teixeira homered, his 21st, a solo shot to tie it.  Then, after Brian McCann flied out, that brought up Chase Headley.

Headley cranked it over the right field wall for the walk-off win... his second walk-off with the Yankees this year. And just like that, the Yankees won, but more importantly, they gained alittle confidence, they showed alot of passion and they had some guts tonight!  Those are my Yankees.... tonight's win made me proud!

Final: Yankees 5 - Red Sox 4

I leave you with this:




Big win... we need more! Go Yanks! 

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MOTOWN WALK-OFF & THE YANKEE FIZZLE

Damn those Motown Cats! Damn you Yankees! We were close to going extra innings, maybe even winning this game today... but we didn't. We didn't because it's what I call Yankee Fizzle.  It's that offense that dies, just when you think we have a shot.

In the bottom of the 9th, with Shawn Kelley on the mound, Alex Avila singled on a fly ball and the winning run came home.  Not the game I wanted to see, but it is what it is. 

Does it surprise me? Not really. The Yankees have broken my heart alot this season.  I'll just accept it... and it sucks!

The Yankees had 5 hits and 2 runs today.  Hiroki Kuroda went 7 innings, and gave up only 2 runs on 4 hits.  He did his job. Once again, the Yankee offense could not help Kuroda or themselves out.  We left 4 on base. 

In the 3rd, Jacoby Ellsbury singled knocking in Zelous Wheeler.  In the 4th, it was Brian McCann grounding out, but in the process, knocked in Martin Prado.  For the most part, the runs we had were grinded out, but we needed a big rally.  We needed to be smarter and we needed to give the team a chance.  We couldn't break the Tigers pitching today and it was a real eye opener.  Trust me, if we can't do it now, what makes you think we can do it in the playoffs? Wait... did I say playoffs? Hell no... not with this team.

The way this Yankee offense fizzles is a big problem and had been all season. It's disappointing.  I hope to God we can fix it... I just don't think we can't, not now... it's just too late.

Final: Tigers 3 - Yankees 2

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THIRD STRAIGHT WIN & THE YANKEES ARE BACK!

On Joe Torre day, there had to be a win.  After all, while Torre was at the helm, he was a terrific manager and we won a helluva lot. He was so terrific in fact, that we celebrate him at BYB constantly.

Over the next 24 hours, we'll have different pieces celebrating Joe... but let's get back on track for a second... the Yankees won! 

It was three in a row, and I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I have to tell you, if you're Yankee fan, you're all happy, aren't you?  Trust me though... I'm not going to get ahead of myself.  When I do, I blow it, I jinx the team and they go on a losing streak.  I refuse to get too excited.  I will however smile from my seat today.  Love the wins boys!

My 2 favorites today had to be Hiroki Kuroda and Martin Prado who is on a friggin' tear. Prado was 3-4 today.  Kuroda pitched 6 innings, gave up 5 hits and only 2 runs. Only 1 more run was given up, that was off of Shawn Kelley. Other than that, the bullpen shut down the Chisox and David Robertson got his 34th save.

The Yankee run scoring went like this:

In the second, Chase Headley grounded into the double play, and in the process, Mark Teixeira scored.

In the 4th, Martin Prado doubled, knocking in 2 runs.  Then in the 6th, and as reported by MLB.com, "Umpire reviewed (home run), call on the field was upheld: Carlos Beltran homers (15) on a line drive to right field." I'll take it.

After that, Stephen Drew sac'd home Prado.

That was it... the boys won, and it looks like my boys, Fahey & Chivari of SportsTown Chicago may owe me some cat nip and wine as part of an unofficial bet which took place on Thursday. It was off the cuff... but I take it seriously.   Don't know what I'm talking about? Check out my friend Paul Chivari below...

Any questions?

Final: Yankees 5 - White Sox 3

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YANKEES SHOW SIGNS OF LIFE AS PRADO CARRIES THE TEAM

The 2014 Yankees still have a heartbeat! And tonight at the stadium, the Bombers put their heart on display.

On a day where the ace-in-the-making, Shane Greene, began his start by giving up two singles and a home run to the first three White Sox to stride to the plate, the yankees found their offense in the nick of time to pull out the victory. That offense came in the form of Martin Prado.

After that first inning, where Greene yielded a total of four hits and a walk, the Yanks seemed destined to begin yet another series with a loss. All season the team has struggled to get more than three runs on the board in any game, and through the first two innings, the offense appeared to be its typical self; going o for 4 with runners in scoring position. As it has done all year, the team was getting runner on but not getting them home.

Enter Prado.

In the bottom of the third, with the Yankees trailing 3-0, Jacoby Ellsbury hit a single to right, and one out later Prado belted the first pitch he saw in the at-bat over the left field wall.

Meanwhile, Greene settled into a groove and after that rough first inning the right-hander gave Chicago only five more hits, while striking out seven and going  five innings. It showed what a great promise the 25-year-old hurler has in being able to bounce back and keep the team in the game. He showed fans why they should be excited about the Yankees pitching.

In the fifth, the Yankees had a chase to blow the game open as Brett Gardner was hit by a pitch and our captain, Derek Jeter, followed with a single. Ellsbury brought Gardner home with the tying run with a double, but that is where the rally ended. With no one out and runners at second and third, Mark Teixeira checked his swing and grounded weakly to first, Prado struck out, and Brian McCann flew out to the wall in right. It was the microcosm of the Yankees season and an example of the teams Achilles heel - the weak RISP performance. Still, they had tied the game and on this day the relief corps did their job. Shawn Kelley, Dellin Betances, and David Robertson went the final four innings, going up just two hits and walking none, while striking out six batters. Combined with Greene, they posted a total of 13 strike outs.

The stage was set for heroics in the bottom of the ninth, as Ichiro Suzuki singled and Gardner sacrificed him to second base. Jeter lined out to center, and with two outs, Ellsbury was intentionally walked. Teixeira walked to load the bases for Prado. This time the "curse of the RISP" was broken, and the second baseman grounded a single to center to plate the winning run. He was mobbed by the team as the stadium erupted.

Yes, the Yankees are still alive in the playoff hunt - and it's not going to be an easy road to reach October play - but tonight they showed heart in coming back, as well as a renewed excitement that has been missing, more often than not.


Final: Yankees 4 - White Sox 3

--Steve Skinner, BYB Senior Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1
 

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SHAMEFUL IN BALTIMORE

The Yankees have a major problem and no longer can we just sit back and ask questions about the lacking offense at post game press conferences.  The bottom line is, Girardi doesn't have a clue. Neither does Brian Cashman.  If they did, this problem would be fixed.  I'll tell you something right now, bad routines kill a franchise, and it's clear that without the dabbling of a legit hitting coach to truly shake things up, routines won't change, ruts occur and a cancer forms inside a clubhouse.  Right now, the Yankees have cancer. I hate to sound creepy... but the reality is, losing is a disease, and we need a cure, and fast!  It's got to be fixed, not talked about.

Shake up the lineup! Sit a dude who hasn't contributed. Inject some energy! You need to change it up because if you don't, 8 games out of first place becomes 15 games in a week. Am I serious? Ya damn right I am.

Times ticking ladies and gentlemen, and the Yankees kind of suck.  I hate to say it, because I'm a die-hard, but I don't like the way we've been playing all season.  What the hell is going on?

Michael Pineda returned tonight and other than the dude's hat being crooked, he pitched well and I'm glad he's back.  He's gotta straighten that hat though, it bothers me.  Pineda went 5, he gave up just 2 hits and 1 run.  As the game went on, the Orioles clearly were in it to win it... the Yankees just couldn't get the runs they needed.  The O's scored 1 in the 5th to the Yankees 2.... then, Shawn Kelley literally shit the bed. The Yankee fan base was throwing their remotes at the TV... I know I was.

The 2 Yankee runs happened this way; In  the top of the 3rd, Francisco Cervelli cranked a 2 run homer scoring Stephen Drew.  Other than that, we were flat... again.  Just 6 hits, match the Orioles 6.  Here's the difference... the Orioles want it!  The Yankees? Scoring runs these days is as difficult as a blind man looking for tits on a bull.

It ain't happening.

Final: Orioles 5 - Yankees 3

Stop the talking, start the fixing.  Yankee brass needs to wake up.

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