WHY THEO EPSTEIN SHOULD BE THE NEXT YANKEES GM

In Sunday Night Baseball's K-Rod broadcast, Michael Kay and Alex Rodriguez interviewed MLB Consultant and former Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein in what was a very interesting conversation. As the interview progressed, I couldn't help but say to myself, 'it's like they are interviewing him for his next front office position.' And Epstein certainly did not disappoint. Which aided and abetted the headline of this piece, "Why Theo Epstein should be the next Yankee GM."

"Early in my career, I used to think of players as assets...I used to think of teams as portfolios. The truth...is that a player's character matters. The heartbeat matters. The player's impact on others matters. The tone he sets matters," said Epstein in a commencement speech at Yale University in 2017. These words could not be more true. Epstein complemented these words in Sunday's interview with KRod by sharing his thoughts on baseball analytics. 

Epstein stated and I am paraphrasing that analytics alone will not win ball games. Analytics coupled with innovation and diversity does and the teams that use that formula are winning. Teams like the Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodger recognize this and have executed accordingly. The Yankees have handicapped themselves by relying on just numbers and statistics. And in doing so, have pushed themselves down a very deep rabbit hole.

"Even Theo Epstein said that it takes a full 3 years of making changes to the organization and the roster before you have a truly solid foundation on which to build.  With each year, you dig further and deeper down into every area of the franchise," reported Detroit Tigers' blogger Holly Horning. Are the Yankees getting ready to do that? They made some changes, releasing players like Harrison Bader and Josh Donaldson but unless they are going to commit to real change in leadership, nothing will change for the Yankees.

So why not spend the money and the time in recruiting Epstein. He is fairly local now, living in Connecticut and giving up his home in Chicago. And he did what he was asked to do, lead the most drastic rule changes that MLB has ever seen. Why not come and help the most storied team in all of baseball?

"ESPN's David Kaplan reported Tuesday that Epstein is "very happy in his current roles." Epstein serves as a consultant to MLB, having a hand in the league's rule changes i.e. pitch clock, bigger bases, etc. To him, stepping back into a front office could be considered a downgrade. Epstein could have his eyes set on bigger things, such as becoming the league's commissioner. However, Rob Manfred signed a new extension that keeps him in his role through 2029," reported NBC Sports. What if the bigger things were actually waiting for him in the Bronx?

Brian Cashman has overstayed his welcome. The Yankees need change. Epstein exudes change. Everything he touches, he makes a positive impact. Cubs, Red Sox, MLB, and now, the Yankees? Stranger things have happened and if the Yankees want to climb out of their rabbit hole, they need to do something drastic. Epstein could be just the remedy the Yankees need.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

THE CUBS MUST BE KICKING THEMSELVES

When the Cubs traded Gleyber Torres to the New York Yankees for Aroldis Chapman, they needed help and in the end, the Cubs won the World Series.

The Yankees got a top prospect, but as you know, saying a player is a top prospect means nothing until you actually see these kids perform at a major league level.

In the end, the Yankees got Chapman back, developed Gleyber Torres... and as you saw last night, Gleyber Torres is an animal and he's on a tear.  And right about now the Cubs must be kicking themselves.

Yesterday was a good day for the Yankees, but especially Gleyber Torres and Brian Cashman.  Torres performed incredibly... and ESPN has that:

"Gleyber Torres continued his decimation of the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning that moved him into Major League Baseball's record books. The home run in Game 2 of a doubleheader was his second of the game and gave him 13 total homers against the Orioles this season. 

The 22-year-old also hit a homer earlier in Game 1 on Monday."

Cashman not doubt has been smiling ear to ear about it.

Meanwhile the Cubs and Cubs fans are regretting moving Torres.

Cubbies Crib is a great site.  They write:

"In 2016, the Chicago Cubs needed a ‘lockdown’ closer. Aroldis Chapman was available, but it was going to come at a high-price. The Cubs ended up doing a 4-for-1 deal, sending Gleyber Torres, Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford to the Yankees for Chapman.

The trade worked for the Cubs as they dramatically won the 2016 World Series against the Cleveland Indians. But Torres was one that we hated to let go. It’s becoming apparent why...It took two and a half years for Torres to develop into the player the Cubs anticipated. It was expected, but it doesn’t hurt any less."

MLB.com writes:

"That was the riskiest [trade] and in some ways the least rational one," Epstein told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand…"

And that's the thing. Theo Epstein had a shot to win the World Series, but Cashman wanted their best prospect. Epstein blinked. Yes, the Cubs won, but right now it looks much different for the Cubs.  While they may be in first, they're only 2 games ahead.  Addison Russell has started to fizzle, a perfect opportunity for Torres to come up. With Torres in their lineup it could be much different.

Meanwhile the Yankees are dominating, much of it because of the explosive Torres.

Hey, I'm not saying the Cubs are morons. I respect that organization. The Yankees have had bad ends of trades too you know... Ken Phelps for Jay Buhner still hurts.  But it is amazing how this kid is single handedly reminding the Cubs every single day... "You should have taken a chance on me."

I'm happy for Torres. I'm thrilled the Yankees have this kid. I just hope he keeps dominating. It's fun to watch.

Thank you Brian Cashman.

YANKS ARE IN COMPETITION FOR GERRIT COLE

Photo: New York Daily News

It looks like the Yankees may have some competition for Gerrit Cole if they are still interested. The Pirates are asking for a king's ransom worth of prospects if they deal him and the Yankees haven't pulled the trigger. Theo Epstein on the other hand is quite trigger happy and has proven he likes to spend money in the past. Will he give the green light to do it again?

I'm glad Cashman has kept that poker face and hopefully he continues to. According to CBS Chicago baseball writer Bruce Levine HERE the Cubs are a new potential trade partner with the Pirates. Starting pitching is the team's primary focus as they try to replace rotation spots that Jake Arrieta and John Lackey threw last season but likely won't return since they are now free agents.

Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune

The Cubs have already signed Tyler Chatwood to a three-year deal that oddly enough may have to be reworked but still have a greater need to fill in their rotation as compared to the Yankees. While Epstein may no longer be a GM and now has a bigger role with the Cubs he has been known to pull some big trades or sign players to expensive deals. He also helped break the so-called "Curse of the billy goat" and help improve what was a depleted farm before he got there. So will Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer make the Pirates an offer they cant refuse and sign Cole instead?

Maybe. This is the first connection between the Cubs and the Pirates. Talks between the Yankees and the Pirates were heated just before Christmas but have since fizzled out. Cashman may be playing chicken and the Cubs may be ready to up the ante and make a surprise move.

The Yankees sent a nice haul to Oakland last season in the trade for cost controlled starter Sonny Gray, but still managed to hold on top higher level prospects. Cashman is still looking for that cost controlled starter to help boost the rotation without giving up the big names the Pirates are asking for.

I'm sure that starter Cashman wants is still out there somewhere, but at a better price. Could things change and talks with the Pirates heat up again? Maybe, who knows but in the event that it doesn't and the Cubs want to pay the hefty price for Cole I'm okay with that.

I guess I am like Cashman, I am a bargain hunter. Theo, if your Cubbies want to overpay for Cole I'm okay with that. You can have him.

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

A BIG DECISION IS COMING...

Photo: NJ.com

With the trade deadline soon approaching and rumors flying about players the Yankees should acquire, there is yet another issue that's being discussed. What is going to happen to Brian Cashman?

With his current contract about to expire at the end of the year, I believe that he is the biggest free agent the Yankees have to worry about this upcoming offseason. That being said, I came across this nugget from NJ.com... wondering if his days with the Yankees are numbered...

"When the 2017 Yankees season ends, major decisions on impending free agents must be made by general manager Brian Cashman.

That, of course, assumes Cashman is back to be the person making critical decisions with a roster poised for big things in the next few years...

ESPN's Buster Olney speculated that another team -- possibly the Miami Marlins -- could try to poach Cashman with a record-breaking offer in the fall....

'...Theo Epstein set a new bar for front-office pay last year when he and the Cubs negotiated a five-year, $50 million deal, and that standard could help Cashman in his talks in an era in which high-end executive talent is being valued more and more. What is unknown is whether competitive bids begin to develop for him as his contract expires, whether it be from whoever takes control of the Marlins at the end of the bidding process or a team looking for new direction...'"

The Marlins... who would have thought. Wow.

Now look, while it is normal for these issues not to be discussed during the season, this is an issue that will soon have to be addressed when the season ends. After all, it's pretty much necessary to have a GM in place before you can really worry too much about contracts and free agents.

Photo: New York Daily News

Brian Cashman has been the only GM, we Yankees fans have known for the past 20 years, taking over the full-time GM role from Bob Watson in 1998. He is also the longest tenured GM since Ed Barrow who was GM from 1921-44. The Yankees have the first chance to sign him to a deal if they want to keep him around and he wants to stay. I'm really not sure if he will sign a deal without seeing what he can get elsewhere. The Yankee brass may also be thinking that it might be time for a change. It's a major decision they need to make, and trust me, they don't want to blow this.

Regardless of what happens, I've really have to give it to Cashman.  He's has been able to do a lot of rebuilding and we are now starting to be a more competitive team.  And cutting salary and stacking the system with talent has been a long time coming and in my eyes, he has done one hell of a job. If he goes, his hand print will be on this team for quite some time. If he stays I hope he can keep up the great work.

Stay tuned...



--Michael Carnesi
BYB Writer
Follow me on Twitter: @sevn4evr

 

BRIAN CASHMAN WINS AGAIN!

"You want other teams to see what they missed." 
--Brian Cashman

Well Cashman, I would have to say MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. We already knew you had your best poker face on at the trade deadline. Now that the post season is here, other teams and even the non-believers know that you did win. Okay, so it isn't the World Series trophy but I suppose this is as good as a consolation prize can be for us.

(In Photo: Jason Kipnis)

The Yankees may not be playing but I am still watching the post season. I am loving every second of the Cleveland Indians stomp all over the Red Sox right now. Sure, I know not to get confident yet. I know the Red Sox are fighters and they will fight to get David Ortiz that last ring but I would be lying if I said I hoped it didn't happen.

(In Photo: Kris Bryant)

And what about those Chicago Cubs? Up until last year this team has been horrible! It was normal and expected. Now all of the sudden Theo Epstein is in the picture and suddenly the Cubs fans are "Flying the W" all of the time! I can't help but root for the Cubs fans out there. Maybe the San Francisco Giants are finally going to lose that lucky even numbered year winning streak thing they've had going on now for awhile....we'll see.

And as good as these teams were already....they both have one important addition that made them even better thanks to genius Cashman. Andrew Miller is now fighting for a ring in Cleveland and Aroldis Chapman took what was already a dominant first half with the Yankees and somehow turned into a more dominant superhero closer. It's nice to see the Yankees old bullpen still kicking some ass in October!

It once again all goes back to Cashman. We have already said that he was a genius but I am convinced now more than ever. He definitely has those other teams taking notes and feeling left out. It really is a win-win for both teams. We have a promising future, and they have some of the best arms in baseball and a chance at a ring.

So, while those other teams are enjoying their new arms I can just picture Cashman sitting in his office right now. He has a glass of whiskey, his feet up on his desk jamming out to this song....because it is true! I have a feeling we will have that next World Series ring sooner rather than later so bump this one loud and proud, Cashman!

 --Jeana Bellezza, BYB Senior Writer & Editor
  Follow me on Twitter: @NYPrincessJ




 

CASHMAN & EPSTEIN EXCHANGE TEXTS

Cashman: O-M-G Theo!  Disguised at Wrigley? Hilarious!

Epstein: HAHA! You like that?

Cashman: I thought scaling a building was a good stunt. I think you have me beat.

Epstein: Sleeping with the homeless was good tho, no??

Another one from my friend, Theo's disguise keeps coming off.... #Cubs pic.twitter.com/49TUlIOBEw

— Born on Third (@BornOnThirdCubs) September 16, 2016

Cashman: Yours takes the cake.  But that mustashe was super lame.  Didn't even look real.  You looked like a poor man's Sal Fasano! LOL

Epstein: I think it's safe to say I make more money than Fasano ever did!

Cashman: Got me!

Epstein:You did a great job bringing the kids in to play. Where did Gary Sanchez come from?

Cashman: No idea, but we love the kid.

Epstein: Well, it's a great start for your future.  

Cashman: How has Chapman been over there?

 
Epstein: Great, but he keeps talking about wanting to return to the Yanks!

Cashman: That's my boy! We love Betances, but he may just not be ready to be a closer.  It's OK tho, there is still plenty of time for him to be great.

Epstein: the Cubs fans love him. I think at least. That's kind of why I was disguised out there in the bleachers. I was listening to them talking about our players! THEY HATE ME! lol

Cashman: right! I still can't believe you did that. You have courage. If I did that, they would either punch me or shake my hand, but I don't want to find out.

Epstein: I hear ya. So, do you think you have a shot this year?

Cashman: I do. Slim, but I do.  Unloading ARod and moving Miller and Chap were good things, it freed up roster space for these kids, and that's exciting.  

Epstein: Red Sox appear unstoppable. 

Cashman: They do, and clearly we knew that, but our team has to win, bottom line. I gave the fan base exactly what they wanted.  If we don't get there, who they gonna blame?

Epstein: You! LOL

Cashman: Right... I'm the devil.

Epstein: I gotta meeting, we'll talk later

Cashman: OK. CHANGE THAT STUPID MUSTACHE!!! You look like a porn star.

Epstein: How do you know I wasn't going for that!!! LOL

Cashman: HA ha. Later Ep.

Epstein: later


(NOTE: THESE ARE FAKE TEXT EXCHANGES. THIS IS ME USING HUMOR AND MAKING A GUESS OF HOW THE PEOPLE INVOLVED WOULD SPEAK TO EACH OTHER VIA TEXT. THERE IS NOTHING REAL ABOUT THIS. IT IS DONE STRICTLY FOR LAUGHS. ENJOY)

READY... SET... JAKE ARRIETA!

Hot off the presses....Brian Cashman is talking to the Chicago Cubs again. You get further in life when you have good networking skills, right? Well I certainly hope that Cashman and Theo Epstein come to a match this time....because this one could be a good investment!

So in case you missed it, the Yankees are now attached to Jake Arrieta, read that HERE. He has had some success this year going with a  5-2 record. He also has an impressive 2.18 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 91 innings. The 28-year-old won’t hit free agency until 2018 so he isn't a short term rental. I know the Yankees are more interested in a short term rental but he could give some much needed stability to the team in the future.

The Cubs obviously see something they like in our farm system. What exactly, I don't know since we couldn't swing the deal for Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel but....if Epstein wasn't interested he wouldn't be giving us a second look. He's a smart baseball man, and if there wasn't a mutual interest here in some capacity we wouldn't be hearing about a second connection. Cashman seems to think there is some potential here.

Is this move more likely than others? Probably not but we need the pitching and Cashman can pull off miracles. The Cubs already gave away a lot of their pitching and they are looking for a good package to just give more of it away. We already know we give up the farm a lot. Readers here already know I rant when we give it away too quickly and it turns out to be a waste. If we are going to do it again do it for someone who isn't a short term rental....

Cashman, if you are reading this give us a long term investment rather than a cheap rental at the expensive of the farm. Roll the dice and take a chance....this time I give you my blessing upfront!




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


 
 
You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in history. Now shop at the Bleeding Yankee Blue store!  Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook! 

LOSING JEFF SAMARDZIJA JUST HURTS

After the fireworks ended in the Northeast, they were just beginning on the West Coast. I woke up to the buzzing noise of my Twitter early on July 5th to the worst news of the season- yes, for me, even worse than CC Sabathia’s earlier that day.

Headline: BRONX HEARTBREAK: SAMARDZIJA SHIPPED TO OAKLAND. And let me add the words, “for just about nothing!” How the heck did Billy Beane pull this one off?

According to an article by Bill Madden of the New York Daily News on July 5th, “You have to first start with the trade itself, which, on the surface and for the present, appears to be a fleecing for Beane of his Moneyball disciple, Theo Epstein. I say this because when you’re trading your two best pitchers, one of them a bona fide No. 1, don’t you have to get back at least one comparable top pitching prospect?” It seems crazy to me as well. The Cubs picked up some unproven prospects including a short stop but what they really needed was a catcher. And that is where the Yankees could have pulled off the win. 

“Being that one of the Cubs’ primary needs is a catcher, Yankee GM Brian Cashman thought offering his top-rated prospect, Gary Sanchez, would be a good starting point in a deal for Samardzija. But Epstein, according to the source, also wanted the Yankees’ top two pitching prospects, Luis Severino and Ian Clarkin. When Cashman balked at that and attempted to restructure his offer, even mentioning the more proven catcher, John Ryan Murphy, Epstein said he’d get back to him, but apparently never did. One has to believe Cashman is as stunned as anyone at how comparably little Epstein wound up getting back for not just Samardzija but Hammel as well.” Again, I say crazy! But is it really? Is Epstein still ticked off about how the Tanaka deal went down? I say, perhaps. Much like the Moneyball movie portrayed, there is a lot of “Son of a bitchin’” in the GM offices across baseball and perhaps, Cashman is a Son of a Bitch to Epstein.  I'm guessing there is some bad blood there.  Don't forget, Epstein is really a Red Sox in disguise.  

To pour salt in my wound, Samardzija looked fresh on the mound in his debut game on Sunday. Jeff “Shark” Samardzija is back to life in Oakland. “Jeff Samardzija pitched seven strong innings to win his Oakland debut and the Athletics beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Sunday to complete a four-game sweep. Samardzija, acquired a day earlier in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, received several standing ovations. He was cheered during pregame warm ups and again after striking out the side in the seventh,” reported ABC News following the game. And we signed pretty much a no name who has no better ERA than a 5th starter of a ball club’s rotation. As a matter of fact, if David Phelps is considered our 5th starter his ERA 4.01 and Brandon McCarthy has a 5.01 ERA. 

 
Samardzija has half as many wins with Oakland in one day than he did all season with the Cubs. I just wonder if the Cubs just plan on losing all the rest of the games this season. Bonehead move, Epstein but again, he may just have something to prove. I guess this is a moment where I would rather Cashman than Epstein. Oh God help us!

For me personally, the Samardzija deal hurts because he could have been a great New Yorker. We have been following him all season. As a matter of fact, I wrote a tweet touting Samardzija looking lean and mean in his first game of the season. It was right then and there that I wanted him in the Bronx. And after all he had been through in Chicago with the fans hating on him in his early years for not performing with ERAs of 7.53 and 8.38 in 2009 and 2010 respectively, he got out on top. Good for you Jeff! My only gripe is that you were not pitching in Minnesota this weekend as the Yankees newest hurler.

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer
Twitter: @suzieprof


   
 
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