YOGI BERRA'S FUNERAL TO BE TELEVISED

Quick and important note and bravo to the YES Network.  Yogi Berra's Funeral will be televised on Tuesday this week.  According to YES...

"... the YES Network will televise Yogi Berra’s funeral live exclusively beginning at 10:00 am ET Tuesday, September 29th."

We'll all be there front row.  Yogi was the best.  This reminds me alot of when Mickey Mantle's funeral was televised.  I remember very clearly the Bob Costas eulogy.  It was simply amazing.


Anyway... I'll find a way to watch. Rest in peace Yogi.

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TRIPPING UP THE CHISOX TOWARD MAGIC #3

Good news Yankee fans.  The Yanks have won 2 in a row at this point. It's amazing.  Can we call it a winning streak? Well, technically you need 3 to call it a winning streak, but I'll take what I can get.

The Yankees won 6-1 today. I'm not going to get into insane detail of what happened today, only the highlights, but it's clear to me that the Yankees can definitely make a push here, and just at the right time.

Rookie Luis Severino went 6 innings today, giving up 5 hits and zero runs. In fact, the White Sox would only score 1 and that would be off of Justin Wilson.  In the end, our pen after Wilson... Betances and Mitchell, would shut them down and that's the good thing. 

The Yankee run scoring went like this...

In the first, Brian McCann sacrificed home 1 run.  In the 6th, Dustin Ackley homered... it was a solo shot. Then with Carlos Beltran up, a passed ball and Slade Heathcott scored.

In the bottom of the 7th, it was Jacoby Ellsbury singling driving in Greg Bird.  Then, Bird singled, knocking in 1 and Heathcott followed with a sacrifice knocking in 1.  Those are your Yankee 6.

Over all, it's good to see the Yankees putting together a few wins.  It would be great if they could just roll HARD to the finish line.  Let's see if it will happen.  I haven't completely given up hope yet... I'm just so exhausted from this season... I'm trying to reserve my energy.  Good win Yanks... keep going.

The Yankees Playoff Berth is down to lucky magic number 3.  Me Likey.

Final: Yankees 6 - White Sox 1

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IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD

This season I feel like I am living in a dream world. Seriously, only in a bad dream should I have to see the Mets clinch their division and the Yankees buckle under pressure and fight for a wild card. This just does not compute for me. For weeks I have been trying to come to terms and just cope.....but I can't. If you lived down here in my world you would understand.

I guess I have to tip my cap to the Blue Jays, even though I don't want to. I will be gracious though like my parents taught me and acknowledge that they are just a power house. I did not like losing a seven game lead to them. In my dream world that wasn't a bizarre dream that was a scary, hot sweat nightmare. Our boys choked it away and of course....my dad the other part of this world always has to remind me of it. I woke up to this text message on Tuesday morning...

 ::Dad:: I thought you were going to beat the Blue Jays? You used to "own" David Price. Now he owns you.
::Me:: Sorry, wrong number.
::Dad:: LOL Ooookkk....go Mets!

Then of course on Thursday I get this:

::Dad:: Again?! Well there is always golf with the Diamondbacks this off season.
::Me:: NO! In my world, my team would never golf with yours. You can be the caddie!
::Dad:: The Yankees probably don't even know how to do that. How about those Mets?
::Me:: Who cares, we won that series!
::Dad:: And? I'm still going to win my division. You hang on to that idea because you wont.

OH YEAH?! Well....I have nothing to say to this besides that I think the world has officially gone crazy. Pigs must be flying, money is bound to start growing on trees contradicting everything my parents ever told me, and the next time it rains here cheeseburgers are bound to fall out of the sky. HOW did this happen?! More importantly, WHY did the baseball gods let this happen?

There are many things that do not fit in my world, granted some are random but some are supposed to stand the test of time. Since I was born the Mets were supposed to suck. That is just the way it has always supposed to be. Now because I am an adult suddenly normalcy changes? NO! I don't mind change but change anything else not this! Bring back the 80's fashion like the big hair and shoulder pads for all I care as long as it isn't a repeat of a 1986 world series ring because that is where I draw the line.

My head is still spinning here. While I am like Bon Jovi and living on a prayer hoping to catch the Blue Jays in a moment of weakness so I don't have to settle for a Wild Card the Mets are going to win their division?! Pinch me, this is one horrible nightmare. I refuse to settle. I never have and I never will. Of course, I would rather have a a wild card over nothing and miss the postseason again but I am still in shock over here. I need to mentally prepare myself for my dad's Mets comments.

Know what else doesn't fit in my world? A less than 100% Masahiro Tanaka facing off against Cy Young candidate Dallas Keuchel in a do or die go big or go home game. That is something I have dreamed about and refuse to write about because I am afraid I will somehow influence this already un-real world.

At this point, I think I need to end this and go shopping. I may need to build myself a safe house now because I think the world is coming to an end. The Mets rule the NL east, we choked away the lead and Friday night the Chicago Cubs also clinched postseason birth. OK, that part is awesome for the baseball world but I am telling you the world has gone mad. I intend to be here on the other side after the dust settles but this is messed up.



   

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




 



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YOGI BERRA: EVERYBODY'S YANKEE

Why are the New York Yankees so much a part of American History?  What makes them bigger than the game itself?  No matter who your team is or how much you might root against the Bronx Bomber, there is no denying the Yanks are in a class by themselves.

The country truly lost a National Hero this past week.  Yogi Berra wasn’t just a New York Yankee; he was really one of us.  Joe D was the statesman.  He was the class of the organization.  A well dressed class act with Marilyn Monroe on his arm.  He was Madison Avenue and patrolled the outfield with a stoic confidence.

Then there was Mickey.  He was a superhero.  Built has if the Ford Motor Company decided to put a baseball player together.  His million-dollar smile and boyish charm made him the face of Baseball.  His home runs were the stuff of legend, and made Yankee fans feel as if the Son of Jor-El had fallen to earth to put on pinstripes.  These Yankees are now woven into the very fabric of America.

Yogi Berra wasn’t a statesman…although his ability to turn a phrase…and then turn it again is legendary.  He didn’t have the looks of a catalog model.  He was an average guy with an above average heart.  Yogi Berra was America in every way, shape and form.  He was the guy that always showed up.  He always won and he did it with a blue-collar sensibility.  Berra won 10 rings, which puts him in the top 5 in most among MLB TEAMS! Not players…TEAMS!

I will miss this guy a lot.  I would love to be at Old Timer’s Day and see him make his appearance.  He was the link that brought all Yankee fans together.  We loved Yogi as if he were actually part of our family…and in a way, he was.  Everyone he’d meet respected the man.  He brought a smile to your face when you’d see him interviewed.  Yogi was one of a kind.  He represents a time in this nation’s history.  A time when we didn’t run each other down or spew venom at one another via social media and cable news.  Yogi was America at it’s best.  He worked hard, respected the game and won. 

Baseball will miss you, Yogi.  Ya done real good…ya done real, real good.

** I really do believe this song is the best way to say goodbye to the greats.  Yogi was truly that. **



 

--Mike O'Hara Senior "Features" Writer
Twitter: @mikeyoh21

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STAYING ALIVE

Adam Warren was terrific. The Yankees were able to win a big one today.   The Blue Jays clinched a playoff spot today though.  Now it's up to the Yankees to get it together and grab a spot.

Against the White Sox today, Warren pitched 6 innings, gave up 3 hits and 1 run.  The Yankee pen was able to keep the White Sox from scoring anymore.  Miller was able to secure save number 36.

The Yankee run scoring went like this.  In the 6th, Chase Headley hit a ground rule double. That knocked in Jacoby Ellsbury.  After that, Alex Rodriguez did the same and Headley scored.

In the end, there's not much more to say.  Yes, the win was big, but I don't feel excited.  I almost feel disappointed with the way this season is coming to a close.  Call me too passionate... or call me too hard on the Yanks.  I don't know... I just don't feel excited about the post season this year. I'm emotionally exhausted I guess.

Final: Yankees 2 - White Sox 1

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IT AIN'T OVER, TIL IT'S OVER

“It ain’t over til it’s over.” Famous words from one of the greatest and most popular Yankees of all time, Yogi Berra. That is the operative phrase for those of us die-hards when we are looking at the Yankees postseason prospects. A week ago this time, the American League East was there for the taking. Dropping two of three to the Blue Jays and falling another game behind on Friday night put a huge damper on things. Still, we have to put things in perspective and realize that the Yankees are still very much in the hunt.

Here's some food for thought. The Yankees trail the Blue Jays by four games with nine games to go. It means the odds of winning the division are stacked against us. The Astros and Angels each trail us by five games for the top wildcard spot. That means that we are making the playoffs and have home field advantage for the Wildcard. I agree that it is not prime real estate in terms of the playoffs, but it means we are practically in. What makes the Wildcard so unappealing is that you start the postseason with an elimination game. From the looks of things, that game will be in the Bronx.

For the Wildcard, I am not considering the Astros because they are in a tailspin. They dropped 17 of their last 26 games and turning a 5-game lead into a 5-gsme deficit in that span. Put a fork in them. My money is on the Angels for their opponent, and that is good news. We swept them at the Stadium in June, with the players we have now. They are dead last in the American League in batting average and second to last by a fraction of a point in OPS. A decent pitching outing should hold them down. They have allowed an average of five runs per game over the last 12 games, which means our hitting has a good chance. I like our odds.

We will probably face the Royals in the Division Series, and though they hold the best record in the American League, we swept them in the Bronx allowing only four runs in three games. They took two of three in Kaufmann Stadium, but Chris Capuano started one of those losses, so that doesn’t count. They will certainly be a tough team, but anything can happen in a short series and our chances are good.

If there is one statement that characterizes the Yankees 2015 season, it is that it has been very hot and very cold. The saying goes that the team that gets hot in October wins it all. We need a hot season. Nevertheless, with Masahiro Tanaka coming back, Luis Severino and Michael Pineda looking solid, and a strong backend to the bullpen, the Yankees are going to be very competitive. Anything can happen, but there is no fat lady singing.

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Senior Staff Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon
My blog is: Shots from Murderer's Row






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COOKING WITH LAURA POSADA

We love Laura Posada at BYB. Yea it's repetitive and probably incredibly obvious at this point, as much as we write about her. But how could you not adore her? Intelligent, kind, and beautiful. A truly powerful, and inspiring woman.

Laura does a phenomenal job at engaging with fans. She keeps us in the loop on what is going on with La Familia Posada. She always posting words of encouragement, and motivation and is honestly one of my favorite people to check on daily. So when I received the Facebook notification that she was doing a live video feed, of course I checked in to watch her prepare a delicious meal for her family.

Cocinando y motivándolos
Posted by Laura Posada Life Coach on Friday, September 25, 2015

She is making 'albondigas,' or meatballs for dinner. The video is in Spanish, but you can see her adding onion, garlic and green and red peppers to a pan to saute. It really looked very delicious. She later posted a picture of herself, the meal, and Jorge.

Have I already said that we're huge fans of Laura here at BYB? Laura, thank you for the dinner inspiration! I certainly know what I will be making for my family tomorrow night! Hope the Posada family enjoyed their meal.

-Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer 
Twitter: @e_morales1804




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THE STORY THAT WILL BRING YOU TO TEARS

I'm big on baseball. I'm also big on playing the game correctly, having character, presenting leadership and just playing the game with integrity every time you're out there.

I wanted to share this with you.  It's an old story, but ESPN did an incredible job with it.  I was reminded of this story from a guy named Coach Dan, a former baseball player who now speaks all over the country about the importance of Little League and it's real message. Courage. Character. Loyalty. These days certain bad coaches in Little League have wondered away from what the true message is.

Anyway... the story I'm about to share involves a softball player named Sara Tucholsky.  Wikipedia tells the story a lot better than I, so here it is:

"On Saturday, April 26, 2008 her team was playing a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game against Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, USA. In the second inning of the game a widely admired display of sportsmanship took place. Tucholsky hit a three-run home run, the first in her college career, but injured her knee while going back to tag first base after she realized that she did not touch the bag. As per the official rules, none of Tucholsky's teammates could assist her in running the bases. In addition, as per the rules stated by the game's umpires, Tucholsky's hit would only count as a two-run single if she were replaced by a pinch runner. (A story of the occurrence on ESPN.com later revealed that the game umpires misinterpreted rule 8.5.3.2 of the NCAA softball rule book, which states, "If an injury to a batter-runner or runner prevents her from proceeding to an awarded base, the ball is dead and the substitution can be made. The substitute must legally touch all awarded or missed bases not previously touched."

Mallory Holtman, the first baseman for Central Washington, then asked the umpires if she could assist Tucholsky to home plate. After a brief discussion the umpires decided it would be acceptable. So Holtman and Liz Wallace carried Tucholsky to home plate, gently dropping her legs at each base they passed. All three players received a standing ovation at home plate. Western Oregon went on to win the game 4-2. "

Now ladies and gentlemen... try and hold back the tears:



If you are a Little League coach, a parent, a mother, father, sister, brother, leader... this is what the game is all about.

Simply incredible. I had to share it on our pages.  Have an incredible weekend.


 

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LOSERS!

We didn't win last night.  I'm kind of fed up.  We have 9 left and we just can't win consistently.  Sure, tell me that it's the end of the season and that we're tired, the starters are grinding now, the pen is taxed, the hitters are exhausted, and I'll tell you... the other teams are doing it! Why can't we?

Now a lot to say. White Sox won 5-2.  CC Sabathia started last night and went 6.2 innings giving up 6 hits and 4 runs. 

On total, the Yankees scored 2 runs. We were 2-8 with Runners in Scoring Position and we left 8 on base.  The run scoring came in the 4th when Didi Gregorius singled knocking in 2 runs.  Other than that... we had a total of 6 hits against White Sox pitching and nothing  to show for it. 

Worst part, David Robertson got the save in our house.  What a bunch of crap.

Wild Card here we come. Dammit.

Final: White Sox 5 - Yankees 2

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"I'D FLIP TEX & EAT ALOT OF THE MONEY!"

You come to BYB for interaction with our writers as well as reading good and different material every day.  We appreciate it.  We have regulars as well as folks that just like to playfully stir the pot and we appreciate that very much as well.

I just want to share a quick nugget of love and appreciation for banter on BYB as well as our love for certain players and our club.
 

Mike O'Hara wrote DONNIE & THE BIRD today.  A good, smart piece that is doing an admittedly early comparison of flavor of the month, Greg Bird to Yankee great, Don Mattingly:

Well, our old BYB commenter pethealer was at it again, writing this:

Excellent comment and great question. I quickly posed it to O'Hara, who is out and about, no doubt rushing his Irish ass to meet Pope Francis or something. 

He wrote me back the following, because he was no where near a computer.  I told him I'd pass it along:

"I'd flip Tex and eat a lot of the money. Yanks gotta pay for their mistakes too." 

- Mike O'Hara, BYB 'Features" Writer

So there you have it. Bold. If O'Hara was in charge, knowing that he doesn't hate Mark Teixeira, but perhaps hates the Tex contract and him often being injured, he suggests we flip Tex next season.  Remember now, it's an opinion, a fan opinion and nothing more. I personally don't think the Yankees would just part with $23 million, or even flip him for something less, but hey, this is O'Hara's opinion. 

You know us at BYB, all opinions are allowed here... as long as their not hateful.

Enjoy your Friday. 

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FINALLY SOMEONE CALLS PAPELBON A 'COWARD'

It's been a long time coming.  Finally, Manny Machado has called Jonathan Papelbon what he probably should be called.  Don't know what I mean? Keep reading. USA Today writes:

"The Orioles and Nationals rivalry took an ugly turn on Wednesday night when Jonathan Papelbon hit Manny Machado with a pitch, sparking benches to clear and accusations after the game that it was intentional. Two innings earlier, Machado hit what would eventually be the game-winning home run."

Papelbon was ejected, but stuck around the dugout the rest of the game. Orioles management was annoyed by that.  Machado was later quoted, speaking of Papelbon and his actions:

Machado: "That's coward stuff."

— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) September 24, 2015

Gotta love that.  Baltimore Sun has more from Machado:

“'[Someone] with more than 10 years in the game and he’s going to go out there and throw at somebody’s head,' Machado said. 'It’s something that’s uncalled for. It’s [BS]. It’s something that you don’t do.'”
 

Now look. We have felt that Papelbon is a arrogant douchbag for years.  It started in that Red Sox clubhouse a while back. He shouldn't be carrying himself that way at all.  He's always acted like he just "runs the house".  A perfect example of that is when he cupped his balls to the Philadelphia crowd.

He was pretty much labelled a troubled player after that, and eventually traded off to Washington. But it wasn't easy to trade someone like Papelbon. That's because no team would take him because of his lousy attitude.  The dude just doesn't know how to follow directions and thinks he can come and go as he pleases.  He's a problem player.  Anyone who gets ejected and doesn't hit the showers is pretty high on themselves.

Machado is right and I applaud him. Papelbon is a coward.

Hey, there's a happy ending, kind of;  Papelbon has been suspended. But 3 games and a fine is not enough in my opinion.

Look at his profile picture...

Kind of looks like a mugshot.  Know what I mean?

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