YANKEES TRYING TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE

Source: Rich Schultz/Getty Images North America

I liked the way the YES crew used the phrase "change the narrative" during Saturday evening's coverage of the Detroit Tigers vs. the New York Yankees. Truth be told,  they were using it in reference to Greg Bird, but I would say the line absolutely applies to the entire team.  And if things were moving in slow motion through the trade deadline on July 31st, it certainly picked up force heading into September as the Bombers made some moves for key components to ignite their pennant run, which ironically Pittsburgh Pirate Hall of Famer Willie Stargell said starts September 1st.

After Stargell's passing in 2001, his friend and colleague Joe Morgan said this of the ultimate optimist, "In the 40 years I knew Willie, he never said anything negative. And you couldn't say anything negative around him because he was such a positive person. No matter what, he was always able to turn negatives into positives." And that's exactly the narrative the Yankees are writing.  They know they are down without guys who are critical to their pennant race, but they want a different ending to a story that could be one without a playoff beth.

Source: Rich Schultz/Getty Images North America

In one swift, comprehensive move, Yankees GM Brian Cashman made some moves as the roster elevated to 40 men with the start of September. Clearly, the Yankees believe that Aaron Judge could be out through the end of September, which led to the strategic pick up of Andrew McCutchen.  Now, it is believed that Aroldis Chapman could be out even through the potential post-season, so Cashman created some depth in the bullpen with the call up of right-hander Stephen Tarpley who has been used as a multi-inning reliever with great impact in both Double and Triple-A.

Source: Rich Schultz/Getty Images North America

We will be relying on our Baby Bombers to get things done and certainly, Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar have answered the call.  We will need veterans Brett Gardner, Giancarlo Stanton, Didi Gregorius and newly acquired McCutchen to have a heck of September.  And the bullpen has to come back to life, a life most likely without Chapman.

Source: Paul J. Bereswill

If Chapman's replacement is Zach Britton, he has a lot to work to do. “I can’t have the mindset where not getting results is acceptable. That’s not the way I look at it,” Britton told The Post. “I want to be good every time. I’m honest with myself. I know where I’m at, physically and with a different role. I feel like I’m getting better, but it’s not good enough. I can throw strikes, but I need put-away pitches, too," the pitcher said as reported by the NY Post, after the Yankees near loss Friday night following Dellin Betances's abysmal performance on Thursday night.  Britton's quote is a far cry from cocky Sonny Gray's, who in my mind, has no role on the roster.  If the Yankees want to truly change the narrative, they need to consider getting Betances, David Robertson and Britton in a real grove to close out games.

Early Saturday morning, a fan texted me this, "Get mad on Sunday. You write too nice."  I guess I can't help but be positive when it comes to the Yankees. And now that they are in the midst of changing their narrative, even more reason to stay optimistic.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

HERE COMES THE JUDGE

There are a number of situations the Yankees have to deal with next year with their up-and-coming minor league talent. One of the more interesting ones is what to do with Aaron Judge. He is easily the top hitting talent in the farm system, a fact well-known among the Yankees scouts as well as scouts from other teams. It’s tough to ignore the power-hitting potential as well as the arm strength and accuracy that he brings to the table. Will he reach the majors in 2016?

At age 23, he has demonstrated a lot of success at the plate at the AA level. He averaged about one home run per 23 plate appearances, which is where Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran landed last year for the Yankees. Last Spring, Reggie Jackson compared his hitting potential to the abilities of Dave Winfield, Willie Stargell, and Willie McCovey. His arm strength is well above average, and most scouts predict he will be a corner outfielder, probably right field. He has played center, but likely lacks the speed to cover ground well.

Despite Reggie’s ringing endorsement, there are some question marks. Most notably, after being promoted to AAA, his batting average dropped from his .284 AA average to .224. It was noticeable enough that he was not on the list of September call ups.  It wasn’t a total surprise, but it shows that the Yankees don’t believe he’s a finished product quite yet. The other thing about his hitting is that many scouting reports indicate his power comes from his size and not his bat speed (he’s 6’ 7”, 275 lbs.). That limits his ability to adjust to pitches. He also needs to extend his arms for power, so he is susceptible to the inside pitch. His actual power may   not live up to the hype, which makes him great trade bait.

He turns 24 in April, and unless something very unusual happens, he will celebrate his birthday in a RailRiders uniform at AAA. I think he needs to prove that the drop in hitting was an aberration and not an indicator. I expect him to come up in July, right around the trade deadline. I also expect him to be named in every trade rumor under the sun. The jury is still out in my mind on whether or not the Yankees should keep him. Regardless, his name will be on the back page throughout the summer.

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Senior Staff Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon







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ANOTHER CATCHER WALKS THE PLANK TO PITTSBURGH

Despite having my ear to pavement and eyes on Twitter, the Pirates swiped another catcher from under our noses- a move very Pirate-like for the circa 1887 team once known as the Pittsburgh Alleghenys.  According to folklore, similar to the selling of Babe Ruth, the then Alleghenys hijacked a prospect from the Philadelphia Athletics.  Accused of pirating, the Alleghenys quickly became known as the Pirates, a name that stuck through the years to modern day baseball today.

(In Photo: The Pittburgh Alleghenys)
And just like pirates looking for their booty, Pittsburgh struck again by snatching Yankee Catcher Chris Stewart from us.  Not that I really care- he is mediocre at best, but a formidable back up catcher for any team. 

This is not the first acquisition from the Yankees for the Pirates.  The Bucs picked up 28-year-old right-hander Cody Eppley last week, Russell Martin last year, AJ Burnett the year before and now the latest to fall prey is Stewart.  We have become a nesting ground for the Pirate organization in the last couple of years.  Now, I am not a Pirate fan, but I am also not a Pirate hater either.  I mean, I like vintage teams, I like the ballpark and I like the growing team- particularly now that we have so many ex-Yankees playing for them.

(In Photo: Honus Wagner)
Over the years, the Bucs have had some incredible ball players strutting their stuff in Pittsburgh including Honus Wagner, Dick Groat, Bill Mazeroski, and Willie Stargell. Many other famous players began their career with the Pirates, including Barry Bonds. With the help of such talent, the Pirates made fifteen playoff appearances, winning five World Series titles. Obviously, these wins pale in comparison to the Bombers’ record, but still worth noting. 

As a communication professor, it is also interesting to note that one of my students gave a persuasive speech this fall on why baseball fans should follow the Pirates.  They are certainly making a comeback in recent years and they are an interesting team to watch and follow.  

To say they are #trending would be a little over the top, but hey, they have Yankee in their blood, so I am down with keeping my eye on them. And I guess we all should because you never know who those tricky Pirates will pick up next- Cano, watch your step- you could be next to walk the plank.  

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Opinion Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof




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"DO IT FOR DONNIE!"

No, I didn't think that title up myself... my friend Bob did!

@BleednYankeeBlu do it for Donnie.
— Bob Divincenzo (@bdivincenzo) October 16, 2013

Look, Yankeeland lost it's mojo the day the Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs this season.  Once that happens, there are several options; you shut the playoffs off and pout in the corner until spring training, You read Bleeding Yankee Blue and smile and laugh your ass off…I like that option… You root for other teams and you root against the Red Sox.

The Pittsburgh Pirates were my pick originally, (Read THE PIRATES WILL WIN IT ALL...).  There was something sweet about seeing the Pirates take it, especially for my 9 year old who is a Pirates fan with absolutely no valid reason why other than he believes in the underdog.  For me, I was pleased that  AJ Burnett and RussellMartin were there.  I also remembered how those "We Are Family" days went with Willie Stargell and Bill Madlock and it was an exciting time for Pittsburgh and it was a different team in the playoffs for a change.  I was in the minority though because many of you wanted the Los Angeles Dodgers…not for the Dodgers… but for Don Mattingly.

It goes back to that quote above by my buddy on Twitter the other night.  It makes sense.  “Do it for Donnie.”  I think about that a lot because I said it a ton of times in the early 90’s when Donnie was a New York Yankee.  The Yankees could never win a championship for Donnie, but should have.  We had a huge shot in 1995, but we didn’t. 

The Mariners crushed our dreams and Donnie then left. It was terrible. Our leader had left us. With a bad back and too many disappointments, it was clear that it was time. We understood, but we wanted to do something about it… but we couldn’t.

When Donnie came back to be the bench coach for Joe Torre, we saw the planet’s aligning.  We knew then that after 4 championships, it was clear, Donnie would finally get a ring as a Yankee.. finally. But the timing was wrong and by the time we did win, he was the bench coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.  That Dodger blue looked strange and the number 8 on his back was weirder.

Donnie was groomed to be the manager for the wrong team!  Donnie was given every tool he needed to make the Dodgers a historic team and win a World Series.  Right now, the Dodgers have a real good shot.

I’ll tell you something… I have mixed feelings about Donnie winning as a Dodger.  Winning as a Dodger manager means he didn’t win as a Yankee.  Now, that's selfish of me and yes, I understand that players and managers play hard for any team they are on because of the love of the game.  Donnie’s no different, but Don Mattingly is a New York Yankee and I wonder that if he wins it all with the Dodgers, will that legacy as being a "Yankee for life" be tainted?  After all, if he won in New York first, it would be different… but he hasn’t.

Look, I wish Donnie the best.  Next to Ron Guidry and Rickey Henderson, Donnie was one of my favorites growing up. But you have to think about all he did for New York and he never winning here… well, it’s sad!  Sure… I get it, and I can get on board with “Do it for Donnie”, but does it change everything if he does win it all in Los Angeles? Something to think about...I know I am. 

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THE PIRATES WILL WIN IT ALL...

... According to my 9 year old.

I have a baseball family.  The majority of my family are Yankee fans.  In their young age, I explained the evil of the Red Sox, the rivalry, and how the Yankees are always champions.  That’s what most of you do and that’s what Red Sox fans do with their children as well... only it's reversed.  It’s brainwashing, sure, but that’s what makes the rivalry fun.  Besides, right now it looks like the Sox have this in the bag… I tip my cap to John Farrell. It's interesting what happens to a club when players respect their manager, right Bobby V?

My 9 year old is a Pirates fan, but being their fan didn’t start this year.  That started about 4 years ago when he was much younger and had absolutely no interest in baseball.  At the dinner table one night, he asked why I had a hat in my collection with a big yellow “P” on it. 

Growing up a baseball fan, I appreciated guys like Willie Stargell and was able to witness the “We are Family” Pirates run in 1979.  For baseball, it was magical, but as we all know… the Pirates have stunk up the joint for a while since. I explained the history and how they weren't very good. He looked up from his broccoli and said...  “I pick the Pirates!"

I said, “OK, then you can have the hat.” My older son laughed at him. I grinned.  My wife said, “How sweet is he?”  

Fast forward to 2 nights ago. The Pirates clinching their playoff spot for the first time in 21 years. The next morning, I walked into my son’s room and I put that Pirates cap on his bed with the rest of his clothes for school.  I touched his sleeping cheek and he opened his eyes.  “The Pirates are in the playoffs, Peanut.”, I said.

“Does that mean they won it?” he asked… clearly he’s not a baseball fan and I don’t care, he’s the sweetest boy ever. “No, It means they’re good and they have a great shot,” I said.   

“I knew it,” he said... and he rolled over.

If you asked my 9 year old who Andrew McCutchen or AJ Burnett or Jason Grilli was, he wouldn’t know and wouldn’t care.  He likes the underdog. That’s because for much of his sporting life, my son was the underdog.  He tries, he appreciates the support in any sport he does, but he doesn’t have the coordination, nor the talent like my 11 year old does.  He chose the Pirates years ago because he knew they weren’t too good. For me, it seemed like symbolism. Whether he knew it or not is another post for another time.  The point is, the Pirates were him… and now the Pirates have a big shot of being champions and he’ll ride it, not knowing who’s pitching and not sure what the playoffs actually mean. That's my Peanut... always an underdog, yet still the most popular kid in the room.

My 9 year old is the sweetest kid in the world.  Everyone loves him.  Last night in Boston Market we were on line and he was asking many questions...like how the Rotisserie chickens were made.  He was full of questions… questions I didn’t have answers too, but I fudged it.  As he went to the drinking fountain, the cashier looked at me smiling… “Oh my God, I love him! He is so cute.” “Thanks,” I said. She was right.

My guy will suck you in...no doubt about it. He’s got a dynamic personality, an amazing vocabulary… and he’s the underdog, looking for his “thing.” The best part… he’s mine and right now no one wants the Pirates to win it all more than me. I want them to win it for him, because that symbolism is an amazing tool… it’s a thread, and if it picks up my son a bit and gives him alittle extra confidence in his life… well… that’s fine with me. Why? Because my 9 year old deserves everything that comes his way…. including having the Pittsburgh Pirates win it all.  For his sake… I hope they do.

I was hoping the Yankees made it... a Pirates vs. Yankees World Series.  OK.. fine. Now I'm just getting crazy.

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IS THERE A BIGGER PLAN FOR FRANCISCO CERVELLI?

I have always felt that the passion Francisco Cervelli provides on the field catapults him into a player you want in your lineup. Sure, he’s the not best in offense or defense, but he’s good and he believes in himself. Yes, believing in yourself is only part of it. I mean, if you hit .211 on a season and your fist pumping your way through it, it’s not exactly going to get you very far. But I often think back to spring training when it comes to Cervelli. Cervelli had a great spring and it almost felt like he had a better spring than previous ones. I think at that point he had enough confidence in himself that he made it…that he’d be a backup in the Bigs again. I think he thought he provided what the Yankees wanted this past Spring.., many of us did. I mean think about it, who else was he competing against? Austin Romine? JR Murphy? Jesus Montero was gone…he had it in the bag…until Chris Stewart came in and burst his bubble.
(In Photo: Chris Stewart)
If I’m Francisco Cervelli at that point, I’m pissed. Not only that, I want out. I’d think to myself “I just gave it my all, proved myself and you pull some bait and switch on me! What the hell?” I feel his pain, I’ve been there before, not in baseball, in life. Cervelli was frustrated but he handled it publicly better than expected and it was mature and classy, I salute him…but it doesn’t change the fact that Cervelli is still in the minor leagues and trying to deal with it day by day.

So what’s the plan? I believe the Yankees have one and Cervelli won’t be a member of the Yankees very long. With that story coming out of that Venezuela publication a few weeks ago that suggested the Cervelli says 2 teams are interested in him, I say, good for him ( Read HERE.) If that story was in fact true, and the Yankees can trade him for some other hole they need to fill on the roster, they should.

I always said Cervelli has enough passion in himself and his team that he could easily become a leader...if not on the Yankees, somewhere else. I said that when rumors were swirling about he maybe being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates a while back. "Francisco has passion that would resonate with any young ball club... he could definitely take the reigns and provide leadership, leadership that hasn’t been seen in Pittsburgh since Andy Van Slyke and Willie Stargell." (Read WHY CERVELLI COULD BE TRADED THIS WINTER.)

Bottom line, he wants to be out there on the field every day. He wants to work hard and sure, while he knows he’s not the best, he won’t let that get the best of him. I like that about Frankie.

Mark my words, I believe that if there are holes the Yankees want to improve on as we approach the deadline, they will definitely unload Francisco Cervelli. Do I agree with it? No, because I like Cervelli and his passion…but as Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record says….”It’s a baseball decision.”

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WHY THERE'S A FORMULA FOR A PERFECT YANKEE TEAM

I’ve always believed that the perfect combination of a true championship team is a mixture of gritty veterans with young guys that come together as 1. the old timers play the way they've always known being around the game for so long, and the young guys are anxious and willing to learn like a sponge and do pick up everything they can from the older guys. Yes, it sounds pretty obvious but let me explain.

I remember 1996 with the Yankees and specifically thought about guys like Mariano Duncan and Cecil Fielder. For those you who don’t remember, Mariano Duncan was our second baseman and Cecil Fielder was playing a hell of a lot more than a younger, Tino Martinez.

Mix in guys like Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Derek Jeter and you saw a team forming. We reached the playoffs and I remember no one in the media believed in Joe Torre and his past losing managerial record. We were all but written off when we finally made it to the World Series. At that point, the mighty Atlanta Braves were king of the mountain... they were Goliath and we were David. But, with the mixture of our guys like Jimmy Key and David Cone and Cecil Fielder, Jeter, Rivera and even guys like Luis Sojo… a championship happened.

(In photo: Tino Martinez, left, Chili Davis)

I think back to 1998 and Chili Davis. Another veteran on the downside but he rode the bench and hit when we needed him, all the while being a mentor to younger kids coming up in the Yankees organization like Ricky Ledee and Shane Spencer. There were guys that had been around the block like Darryl Strawberry who were given a second chance... well, the Yankees rallied and we won again, and again, and again in 2000.

You can talk about the Pittsburgh Pirates of the 1970’s and Willie Stargell bringing a true Pirates championship together and all that is true, he brought a whole group of young and old together and won big, but the Yankees won too... 4 championships in 5 years was no fluke. George Steinbrenner helped by putting the best guys on the field and a lot of what Cashman did worked. Bringing in older guys that could contribute here and there and teach the young guys a thing or 2 helped a lot.

Which brings me to 2012, another year of Yankee baseball and the team is different, but the formula and tools are always the same. Eric Chavez may be on the down side of his career but there is no doubt his toughness is needed to prove to kids that you just have to love the game and work hard and you can succeed. Andruw Jones was a kid when he homered against the Yankees back in 1996 and now he is a Yankee and happy to be there. Eduardo Nunez knows he’s sitting with greatness and no doubt will ask questions and learn from these guys, like the king of New York himself, Derek Jeter and leaders like Robinson Cano. There is no doubt in my mind that the Yankees can win it all this season. The formula works and has always has worked in baseball history, brains and experience of the veterans mixed in with athleticism and hunger of the kids and just a true grittiness to get their team there every single time. You have to understand it, know it and feel it… I like what I see this season in my New York Yankees... it reminds me a lot like the teams of years' past, the teams that made it all the way....a perfect formula.

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WHY FERRALL SHAKES IT UP BETTER THAN ANYONE!

Ultimately I love sports shows and grew up watching and listening to guys I consider true sports personalities... Howard Cosell, Phil Rizzuto, Don LaGreca for example. These are guys I truly loved and love to listen too now. Big shout out Don! That being said, there's another guy's career I've followed for years and I'm not afraid to say it, I'll lump him right into this category. He's one of the best and if you don't know... now you know. It's Scott Ferrall. Scott has always worked and he does it his way and still delivers some of the greatest sports opinion and analysis out there. If you don't know him, know him. He's on SiriusXM Howard 101 and you can also check out FerrallRadio.com. Because I get a kick out him and his world famous Shake it up!... I had to ask him a few questions about sports, the Yankees and just being Scott Ferrall. Enjoy this!

BYB: Growing up, which sport did you follow the most and why?

Scott Ferrall: I like baseball and hockey because the Pirates won the World Series in 1979 vs. Baltimore with Willie "Pops" Stargell and the 1980 GOLD in Lake Placid got me fired up about hockey, so I started going to Penguins games. In the early 70's, my dad took me to Wrigley Field, Comisky Park, Chicago Stadium, Soldier Field and Notre Dame Stadium to games. I was a huge sports fan from age 5 to this day.

BYB: Was sports broadcasting always something you wanted to do?

Scott Ferrall: Since I was very young, I wanted to be Howard Cosell and would often imitate him everywhere I went.

BYB: A lot of people don’t know this, but you were the host of MTV Sports. That’s where I first remember seeing you. How important was that show for your career?

Scott Ferrall: MTV was crazy and put me on the map everywhere, at least on TV. I was already syndicated nationally on radio twice at that point, but nobody really knew me until that gig. Eventually, I did Battle Dome on Columbia Tri-Star all over North America and that was even bigger than MTV. MTV stays young though and would eventually got rid of me at 35.

BYB: Do you think Pete Rose will ever have his ban lifted? If so or not, why?

Scott Ferrall: Not as long as Bud Selig has anything to do with baseball. I think Pete Rose will get in the Hall of Fame long after he's dead. He was unreal as a player, but has kind of been cheesy ever since.

BYB: Does it matter to you that steroids crept into sports?

Scott Ferrall: Drugs have been around forever in sports-it's that people have to be on everyone's ass and know their business. Nobody gave a rat's ass when players were coking and eating greenies. Steroids are treated like heroin by the media and fans. The players were using them everywhere and it was no big deal. It became a big deal when players started getting exposed and busted.

BYB: As a sports guy looking at big sports rivalries, how important is a rivalry like the Yankees and Red Sox in your eyes?

Scott Ferrall: Around NYC and Boston-it's all that matters. It's the biggest rivalry in any sport in both cities. It matters nationally too, because they always air it when they are playing, on National TV. It gives fans a reason to believe they're a piece of it. They can argue until they are blue in the face.

BYB: If you could meet one New York Yankee in their rich history, who would it be and why?

Scott Ferrall: I guess Mickey Mantle because he partied and got a lot of ass, so he would have been fun to go out and hang with. There are a lot of sports figures that I would rather meet than New York Yankees, you know me, I follow everything, no disrespect meant toward Yankee fans or the Yanks themselves of course. I just liked other teams and towns most of my life in sports. New York has been my home four times and later in life I've learned to respect it and admire it's fans and teams and it's history.

BYB: How quickly will Derek Jeter get voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame?

Scott Ferrall: DJ will go into Cooperstown on the first ballot.

BYB: Tell me about your radio show... Go for it, give it a plug…

Scott Ferrall: My radio show on SIRIUSXM Howard 101 speaks for itself ! It's cool and unique! At the end of the day though, I've learned a great deal about how I don't affect anything in the world! I just entertain people every night and enjoy doing it and feel lucky to have been chosen by HOWARD STERN to be a part of his channels and career. He could have chosen millions of people to do it, but he chose me. It's been quite an honor and very humbling for me personally. I've enjoyed it a lot and am very grateful for the opportunity.

BYB: Do you read Bleeding Yankee Blue? If so, tell me what you think?

Scott Ferrall: Yes, I read Bleeding Yankee Blue and think you guys need to see a shrink because you've gone MAD over the Bombers, which I can appreciate! BYB is kick ass!

Scott, you kick ass. Thanks for taking the time and you're one of my favorites. Thanks for talking with us. Let's do it again soon. By the way, you can check out Ferrall on Facebook as well HERE.

WHY CERVELLI COULD BE TRADED THIS WINTER

Sure everything on the catching front really stems from whether or not the Yankees can sign Russell Martin to a multi-year deal. I don’t see it being a problem, it is clear Martin likes being in the Bronx and with Cashman being quoted last week that Martin was “Munson-like”, that may be the nicest compliment for any catcher, believe me.

The Yankees have Jesus Montero who can catch but will mainly be used because of his bat. Just a few days ago Cashman came out suggesting Montero will get 500 at bats in 2012. We also have Austin Romine who is clearly better defensively than Montero but doesn’t hit all too well. Damn… why can’t it ever be easy?

Anyway, we also have Gary Sanchez, the kid that blogs have been talking about as becoming the next big thing… including us, read HERE.

That leaves Francisco Cervelli and his fist pump out of the mix. Look, we all love Cervelli and the passion he has. I would never call out Cervelli for a fist pump or a hard hand slap as he’s rounding the bases on a home run, that’s baseball, that’s passion and the other teams have to get over it. You need a guy like that on your team and Cervelli’s that guy. But let’s face facts…there is way too much catching talent on the New York Yankees and there isn’t any room for Francisco Cervelli anymore. There is however pitching that is needed and for a while this fall I thought for sure that Francisco Cervelli would be traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Then, news came out of Pittsburgh that the Pirates signed catcher Rod Barajas (Read HERE). That leaves the idea of Cervelli being traded to Pittsburgh in the dark. Believe me though, a trade of Cervelli anywhere is not dead yet. A few things could happen; maybe the Pirates would still be interested in Cervelli as a backup, for instance. (In Photo: Brad Lincoln)

I remember reading HERE, that the Pirates may have been willing to swap Brad Lincoln for Cervelli. Brad Lincoln is decent, and on the Yankees, he could be more decent. This was Lincoln’s line with the Pirates last year. 4.72 ERA / 2-3 / 29 K / 47.2 IP. Anyway, it appears the Pittsburgh ship may have sailed.

There is also talk that the Angels may need a backup catcher to Chris Iannetta. Read HERE. Could Cervelli help in Los Angeles with newly acquired Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson? No doubt they can afford it. But, then you need to think bigger. With news coming out of Yankeeland that Jorge Posada would not be returning to the Yankees, and he searching for a team, what you now could have are 2 players, both Posada and Cervelli, now possibly competing for work.

The rumor is Jorge Posada is being looked at by the Baltimore Orioles who need a backup to Matt Wieters. No doubt Cervelli would be a cheaper alternative to backup than Posada, plus Posada would want some money. You also have to look at the Miami Marlins who are signing everybody. Jorge Posada would actually fit in nicely there, according to Laura Posada, plus, he’d be in the National League and in Florida, a place it is believed he would like to be. Again though, Posada will want money and Cervelli could be a trade for pitching. Why wouldn’t the Orioles and Marlins look past Posada at someone like Cervelli or would they really pay a 40 year old catcher to be a backup?And then, back to the Angels... wouldn't Los Angeles want a leader like Jorge or would they want a cheaper alternative in Francisco Cervelli.

At the end of the day, Francisco has passion that would resonate with any young ball club and not to go back to Pittsburgh again, but I was a firm believer that Pittsburgh would had been a perfect spot for Cervelli. Not only would he be pumped on the field, he could definitely take the reigns and provide leadership, leadership that hasn’t been seen in Pittsburgh since Andy Van Slyke and Willie Stargell. (In Photo: Andy Van Slyke)

Yes, Cervelli is no superstar, but he can be a positive force in that clubhouse, in any clubhouse... he can be a leader, he has the passion that rubs off on players. Now I'm just ranting.

Look, I like Francisco Cervelli and I’ll always come to the guy’s defense. He may not perform like an All-Star, but there is no doubt he’s got true heart, and believe it or not, that goes along way. I believe Cervelli’s days are numbered though and there’s no doubt in my mind that Cervelli is going somewhere, but where? That is the question. Stay tuned…

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