1995

(GREG REEKIE/AFP/Getty Images) 

In 2007 I was given a great birthday gift by my then girlfriend/ now wife.  She got me two tickets to see the New York Giants play the New England Patriots at the old Giants Stadium.  It was cold as hell that night, but the electricity in the building kept the Big Blue Faithful warm.  The Football Giants took it on the chin that night by a small 3 point margin.  The amazing thing about the game was that EVERY New York Fan left the Meadowlands that night happy and truly excited.  I spoke to a handful of perfect strangers as we slogged out of the stadium.  We were in agreement.  That game brought the Giants to the next level.  

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

We all knew that if Big Blue saw the Pats again they'd knock those Massholes on their asses....ladies and gentlemen...THE 2007 NFL CHAMPION NEW YORK GIANTS!

As a Yankee fan that game in 07 reminded me of a feeling I hadn't felt since 1995.  Back then, as a student at Syracuse University, I saw the Bombers lose to the Mariners in a game for the ages...I wasn't sad, I was elated! 

Photo: Society for American Baseball 

The Yankees WOULD be back.  And, like Steve Austin, they'd be better, faster, stronger than they ever were before.  The kids (known now as the immortal Core 4) were progressing quicker than anyone could have foreseen.  The Bronx was back.  I couldn't wait for pitcher and catchers to report.  The league was on notice, whether they wanted to admit it or not.

Photo: New York Daily News

The other night, after Game 7 concluded, I had that old feeling again.  The Yankees were in a "Building Year" according to the experts like Olney and Heyman (By the way, can we take the "baseball insider", expert label away from those two knuckleheads?)  Bird, Judge, Sanchez, Sevy, Didi...they don't listen to experts.  They don't hear Joe Buck or John "I NEVER beat the Yankees" Smoltz.  These Yankees just play baseball...and they play it without fear.

Sure, they Yankees aren't going on to LA.  They lost to a really good team with 101 wins.  But the Yankees aren't heading home in shame, they are reloading for 2018. 

Photo: Getty Images

They have what they need and will add pieces.  Yankee fans, feel good.  Shake this one off.  The Baby Bombers have arrived....I absolutely guarantee it.  It's like 1995 again. 

Photo of Jimmy Leyritz

The Yankees are coming and coming faster than Baseball thought.  The league will watch the Astro and Dodgers and wonder what that rumbling is in the distance.  It's the coming storm of a team that is loaded and hungry. 

Photo: Getty Images

TIME TO FEED THE BABY BOMBERS.

** This was on EVERY pregame mix tape I'd ever made.  It is the song for the 2018 New York Yankees.  The Stadium will rock!  The Bombers will attack next season with a blood lust for the W!  I'm telling you.  Enjoy the off season!

 
  --Mike O'Hara
BYB Contributor
Follow me on Twitter: @mikeyoh21

BRING BACK JOE

Source: Adam Hunger/Getty Images

I was as aggravated as you were when Joe Girardi did not challenge the "supposed" hit by a pitch moment that lead to the Indians' defeat of the Yankees, adding stress to the team to win three in a row.  Sure, we eventually advanced to the ALCS, but it was a moment leading to a few days, which Joe Girardi would like to forget.  But a manager's legacy should not come down to one moment; it needs to come down to many moments, many that Joe has had over his 10 leadership tour as skipper for the Yankees.

Source:  Robert H Levey/Getty Images North America

Whether Joe comes back to the helm of the Yankees may not come down to his decision-making or over-managing; it may come down to family and dollars.

According to ESPN's Buster Olney as reported in NJ.com, "I still feel like this relationship has probably reached an expiration date," Olney said. "I do think a tipping point in these negotiations will be what's Joe's looking for. If Joe's looking for a big bump--to be at or at the top of the heap of managers in terms of what they are making--I think the Yankees leadership is at the point where, hey, managers aren't that big in terms of being difference makers. If Joe asks for a huge contract, a huge raise, I wouldn't be surprised if the Yankees move in another direction."

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

But then, who?  Who could take the Yankees to the next level? "If you want Girardi gone, someone has to take his place. Based on a deep list of candidates, the Yankees could probably come up with 10-15 names to bring into the Bronx for an interview. But would any be truly better options than Girardi?," reports NJ.com.

With the World Series in session, no decisions will be made and Yankee ownership is reportedly not ready to make any right now about Joe or GM Brian Cashman.  We will keep an eye on things here at BYB and post as we confirm news about Joe's future with the Yankees.

--Suzie Pinstripe

BYB Managing Editor
Follow me on Twitter: @suzieprof

THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN US

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"I'm sorry for your loss," said Clay, the nice man who takes a fitness class with me on Monday nights.  "But, you're gunna be dangerous next season.  No one thought you would be this good this year, right?"  And just like that, I got out of my two day funk but it was not long that I started to feel this void in my gut as my mother asked if I was going to "go to the World Series with her and root for the Dodgers."  It was right then and there that I came to the blunt realization that THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN US.

The hit NBC Show, This Is Us, follows three siblings through life by dipping into the past to explain the present.  I am suggesting that the Yankees season take on a similar approach as we watched young athletes become seasoned ones in a post season we will not soon forget.  We watched them grow up in 2017 and develop rituals, routines and a fan base so thick that I wouldn't be surprised if Aaron Judge sells more shirts this post and off season than the World Series does.

Source: Getty Images

CBS Sports posted this insightful article on Monday that got me thinking about the growth of our Baby Bombers this post season.  "If the Yankees’ young roster felt any heat at all during the playoffs, wait until they hit spring training. All of baseball nation’s attention will beam itself into Tampa with laser-like sharpness. Every move Judge, Sanchez, Bird and their growing ace Luis Severino make will be studied, dissected and extrapolated. They will head into the season as the odds-on favorite not just to participate in the ALCS, but to win it."

Source: MLB.com

The 'This Should Have Been Us' argument, in this light, really goes out the window when you think about all of the work that needs to happen now, or truthfully when the Yankees flied out for the final out of the ALCS.  The pressure is already mounting.  And we will be here to cover it, all during the winter leading up to Spring Training and into first pitch for 2018.  Thanks for letting me air this out with you as we keep close watch on our Bombers who again is on the path toward #28.

--Suzie Pinstripe

BYB Managing Editor
Follow me on Twitter: @suzieprof

ALTU-D2

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America)

Yes.  100% yes.  The title is taking a shot at Jose Altuve.  I'm a big fan of his human interest story.  Yep, outstandingly impressive to think that this guy was told "NO! and don't come back!"...and he did anyway, and in a BIG way.  Sure, he is extremely talented and, like Pedroia, he is showing the Sports World that you measure the player's heart, not height.  I love Jose's game...I just don't love Jose.

I'm guessing that Joe Buck's over the top, sickening, praise of everything he did in the ALCS soured me.  However, it was Altu-D2 himself who got to me with his jacked up antics. 

Photo: Getty Images

I love emotion.  I do.  But an MVP candidate should act like he's been there before.  I don't want to spend too comparing the MIGHTY Aaron Judge to Altu...but, what the hell.  

Photo: Getty Images

Aaron is the epitome of class and handles himself like a veteran leader...Jose seems more like somebody who didn't quite make the cast of MTV's Jersey Shore.  He beats up the beat and puffs out his chest like a clown.  Aaron is the bigger man in more way than one.  I grew tired of him and many of the Astro players early in the series.  The Yankees out classed them....it's a shame there is no stat sheet for playing the game with class.

Source: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America

Now, this post (ADMITTEDLY) is for the Yankee Fan.  I'm hurting over game 7 and am looking to take a shot at one of the game's best players...ya know what?  Altu-D2 can get bent. 

The Yankees WILL be back.  They will do it better, stronger and BIGGER than the mouthy, little man and his crew of bad haircuts.  Enjoy LA, Jose. 

Stop in to Fox Studios while you're in town...the next Star Wars movie may need an operator to stuff into a tin can to roll around with BB-8 and R2-D2.

Sorry...actually, no, no I'm not.  His act grew old.

Photo: Getty Images

**What else can you do but play the song written by the guy who wrote "We love LA".  Jose and company will learn that one too.**

 
  --Mike O'Hara
BYB Contributor
Follow me on Twitter: @mikeyoh21

BYB Stack Merchandise (2017)

LOOKING BACK ON THE CHARLESTON RIVERDOGS

In our second installment of the Yankees minor league affiliates, we head down to South Carolina, where we find the Class-A Charleston RiverDogs.

Though they were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by the Greenville Drive in their minor league season, the 2017 RiverDogs, managed by Patrick Osborn, had a great season. They won the Southern Division of the South Atlantic League with a league-best record of 79-60. This piece found on the RiverDogs is an excellent read and will tell you everything you need to know about the 2017 season. Be sure to check out the whole piece by Matt Dean, but here's a portion...

Photo of Estevan Florial / File/Brad Nettles/Staff

"The Charleston RiverDogs continued to pave forward into a new era of success in 2017, making their second consecutive postseason appearance and taking advantage of a talented farm system in their 12thseason as a Yankees affiliate. Under first-year skipper Patrick Osborn, the RiverDogs notched their second straight 77-win campaign between the regular season and postseason, broke the 300,000 mark for attendance in a year that ended in a first-round playoff exit to the Greenville Drive in the South Atlantic League Division Series."

Look, 2017 turned out to be a historic one for the RiverDogs pitching staff as they set some franchise records and led the league in many areas.

Photo of Freicer Perez / http://snapshots.mlblogs.com

In another dominant season for Charleston pitching, the RiverDogs staff set the franchise-record for strikeouts for the second straight year under pitching coach Justin Pope; the Charleston staff fanned 1,252 batters, surpassing the previous record of 1,248 set in 2016. Along with ranking second in the league in strikeouts, Charleston arms posted a SAL-best 3.07 ERA, the second-lowest in RiverDogs history and the third all-time in franchise history, bested only by the 2016 RiverDogs and 1988 Rainbows. The club's 1.174 WHIP was the best in club history, also surpassing the 2016 staff.

Could this success be a sign of things to come for the Major League pitching staff? I can honestly say I have no idea, but it's fun to think about especially with the youth movement the Yankees recently injected into the Big staff. Look, a lot of it could have to do with the level of competition in Class A ball too. Some of these kids may never see an MLB field and be career minor-leaguers.

Photo: Getty Images

Things can obviously end up being successful, or things could always derail, you never know. Hell, you cold end up like a kid named Jordan Montgomery.

Photo: Wade Spees / The Post and Courier

Another piece I found interesting on the RiverDogs page was this little nugget about Isiah Gilliam and how he was named the RiverDogs "Top Dog" of the season.

And the bottom line, this is what it's all about on this level... watching young kids perform, be stand outs and hopefully one day be good enough to make it to the Bigs.

I admire the RiverDogs success.  I really hope they continue to improve.  It's great to see.

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

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

"I hate losing more than I love winning" - Billy Beane in Moneyball

Photo: Getty Images

And I really do. I hate the word "hate" but it's so true. I'm too competitive for my own good. In a lot of ways I think I identify with Billy Beane in Moneyball. We came so close. We were almost there, but sadly 'almost' only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades so as good as this ear was I am ready for 2018 to finish what we started. To come this close and not win it all hurts but the future is bright. As bright as it may be, there are still a lot of unknowns.

1) Are Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman coming back to the Yankees in 2018?

I think Cashman is a more obvious "YES" here. The Steinbrenner's trust him and believe in his judgment. If they didn't, we wouldn't have sold off our big assets at the end of last season. Not only that, what other GM is out there that can do what Cashman has done for this team? He has been the mastermind behind the "rebuild" phase that has paid off for us so far. I can't think of another GM that can so what Cashman has done and be as successful.

But what about Joe Girardi? Some fans really like him and some may think it is time for the Yankees to find someone new. No matter how the fans feel, the Yankees may go a different direction but not be their choice. Girardi is the third longest tenured manager since October of 2007 behind Mike Scioscia (1999, Los Angeles Angels) and Bruce Bochy (2006, San Francisco Giants). Who knows exactly what his plans are going forward but Girardi as much as he loves baseball, he is a family man. That comes first, read HERE and he may decide he is ready to be a family man. It's too soon to tell at this point but it is hard to imagine the Yankees without Girardi.

2) Should the Yankees bring CC Sabathia back?

Photo: New York Post

It seems like CC has been on the team forever now. Some fans may be ready to move on but he has been invaluable both on and off the field. He has been a consistent innings eater for the past two seasons and he has shown us he still has that competitive drive. I still think he has enough left in the tank. As the Yankees continue their rebuilding they are going to need a good veteran leader in the clubhouse and he can still be a good arm for the back of the rotation. CC says he still has unfinished business with this team. When I think about the current state of the rotation for 2018 he could still be a big asset and help guys like Jordan Montgomery, Luis Severino and Sonny Gray out. If Chance Adams makes his way on the team he could be that veteran leader for another new group of young kids. CC says this is his home, and he wants to finish what he started. I am on board with giving him a one year deal, maybe an option for a second. We know he wants to stay here.

3) Will Masahiro Tanaka opt out of his deal?

Photo: MLB.com

Unlike CC, we don't know if Tanaka wants to stay he and be part of this team's future. He's been inconsistent this season but he really showed everyone that he is a postseason pitcher with a 2-1 record and a 0.90 ERA that can be trusted. Some people say his regular season stats like his wins and ERA would be a turn off for some teams. However, the free agent pitching class this season isn't very deep. Aside from Johnny Cueto, Jake Arrieta, and Yu Darvish there aren't many other attractive names out there. Who knows if another team wants to offer more money than we are paying him now or if he wants to stay with the Yankees who have a legitimate chance at winning a ring for years to come. If he wants to win he should stay but his answer was a little cold toward the media on Saturday. He sounded a little eager to find out if there were other options out there.

There is a lot to figure out now. As we move past the burn of just falling short it's time to start thinking about improving this team and making it stronger for seasons to come. Will any of these guys be a part of it going forward? I sure hope so.




--Jeana Bellezza

BYB Managing Editor 
Follow me on Twitter: @NYPrincessJ

THE 2017 ALMOST

Source: Getty Images

Almost...I know it's not good enough, but it's all I have.  We went further than anyone expected.  Our team was supposed to be still brewing, still growing and we weren't supposed to be ready for "prime time."  But we were...and we moved passed the Twins to win the AL Wild Card one and done, we came back from 0-2 deficit against Cleveland to take the ALDS.  We came back from an 0-2 deficit and won three at home against the Astros.  But we didn't close the deal.  We almost did.

Source: Society for American Baseball Research

"Because while it is true, the first thing we associate with the Yankees is winning – they do have more championships than any other team in North American professional sports, after all – it has always been something more than that. The Yankees, after all, didn’t start winning championships until they acquired a fellow named Babe Ruth," eloquently wrote the NY Post earlier on Saturday.  And we have a team of hard working players and young leaders who like Ruth, are born to win.  These guys are both on our team now and in the farm system.  We almost won the pennant this year but fear not, we will be back next year.

No one would have liked a Dodgers-Yankees World Series more than us here at Bleeding Yankee Blue and when I say us, I mean you too, our readers.  I never expected that the last time I would see a Dodgers-Yankees World Series would be in 1981  I thought they would play against each other forever.  It was all I knew in 1977 and 1978.  It was all I was told by my grandmother as a kid who fell in love with baseball with my first breath.

As the Baltimore Sun reported, "The biggest reason for the ratings boost is the presence of so many big-market teams with national followings. The Yankees won the American League Wild Card game, which put a huge market in play (along with Boston) for both AL Division Series while the Los Angeles and Chicago were already in play in the National League."

Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America

The Astros-Dodgers Series won't nearly have the depth and excitement nor fan base as a Yankees-Dodgers matchup, but I have to concede my 2017 dream of a World Series to the Astros, for now.  It is hard a thing to swallow because of all of the "thumbs down" moments we've experienced in 2017.

 Source: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America

This season will be remembered as the season we found Aaron Judge or he found himself.  It will also be remembered as the team that clicked with a beautiful chemistry of veterans and rookies.  I am thankful for this team, for making my fall exciting and for giving it everything they had.  We almost did it.  We will be back in force in 2018.

--Suzie Pinstripe

BYB Managing Editor
Follow me on Twitter: @suzieprof

THE CONFIDENCE BUILDER YANKEE FANS NEED!

Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America

I woke up sad today, but realized that it's not over. There is a Game 7 tonight.  Many have been speculating who will win and look, there is no real way to know anything.  It's just a matter of if a player, or players feel good out there... if they don't overhype themselves, if they click, whatever it is. 

I feel confident in my team and I wanted to share a few other feelings about our New York Yankees.  At least what I'm about to share will put you at ease, and trust me, reading through all of this, I feel better now. Enjoy this Yankee fans....

Brendan Kuty of NJ.com had these comments...

Photo: Getty Images

"CC Sabathia will bring his A game. The 37-year-old has come up huge for the Yankees time and time again this postseason. He’ll do it again on Saturday, for a variety of reasons.

He’s the most experienced Yankee in elimination games this year. Twice times the Yankees have needed Sabathia with their season on the line and twice he’s come through..."

Mike O'Hara texted me this after I woke up this morning:

"We need CC to feed them some serious STFU cake tonight.  The Big Man will lead us tonight. Yankees will take this game."

I received a true Yankee fan vibe from my very good friends from Australia, Joey and Charles Moses who never disappoint me.

This is them last night. These positive vibes work, folks...Yankee fans on the other side of the world. Think about that. I love these guys! This is my extended family, and it's all because of BleedingYankeeBlue.com.

And back to Brendan Kuty at NJ.com who give us this extra positive vibe:

Source: Abbie Parr/Getty Images North America

"The bats will get to Charlie Morton. They did last time, didn’t they? In Game 3, the Yankees tagged the right-hander for seven earned runs on six hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings at Yankee Stadium.

Photo: Getty Images

It happened quickly. Morton got two outs into the second inning when the Yankees strung together a pair of hits (Starlin Castro, Aaron Hicks) and Todd Frazier rocked an opposite-field home run to immediately put him in an 3-0 hole. He got through the third inning, and then a double, a walk, a single and a hit-by-pitch later and manager A.J. Hinch was pulling him for reliever Will Harris."

It's true, they have Morton's number.

My buddy Frank sent me this text...

Photo: Getty Images

"Doesn't matter who they put out there tonight, Yankee bats are there, and the only true pitchers the Yankees have trouble with are Verlander and maybe McCullers.  I don't include Keuchel in there just because they seemed to have figured him out, moving up in the batters box like Little Leaguers.  It was quite impressive. All I'm saying is the Yankees have a nice shot tonight.  Gotta stay confident... gotta fight hard."

My dad, who reads BYB and has been a Yankee fan since he was a 15 year old usher at Yankee Stadium texted me this...

"Yo... GO Yankees... YES!"

He's still learning how to text. Forgive him.

And back to Brendan Kuty... with another piece of wisdom:

Source: Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America

"Then the Yankees' bullpen will take over. Manager Joe Girardi will have everybody in his pitching staff available to him in Game 7 — except for Chad Green who pitched 2 1/3 innings and 38 pitches Friday night. Expect him to go to David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle first before handing the ball to Aroldis Chapman, who could enter the game as soon as the top of the eighth inning. It’s been a formula that’s worked well all season."

Here's my buddy Lou:

Source: Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America

"Tommy Kahnle is the most important part of this Yankee pen besides Chad Green, and Green won't be available.  The pen can do this.  Joe needs to be smart with CC, and utilize all our guys.  We got this."

And this is what I'm talking about folks.  Yankee fans believe.  Even beat writers believe.  And it's exciting to see that, because in the past, we'd be feeling out of it right about now... but many don't. And I like this about this team.  It's exciting.

If you have doubts... don't.  Yankee fans have spoken.

Like my buddy said... "We got this."

#BYB #GoYanks