BIRD DOWN! BIRD DOWN!

Photo: Getty Images

I can't take it with Greg Bird and all these injuries.  This is a guy that should way ahead now.  I keep waiting for him to get into a groove and it never happens. Drives me crazy.  Now he's got an injured foot? Come on man....

The Times-Tribune has the story...

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

"The last week of spring training might have doomed Greg Bird again. Bird was scratched from a split-squad start Saturday against the Braves in Orlando, Florida, when he felt pain in his surgically repaired right ankle during warmups.

'I’m worried about it to be honest,' Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. 'I’m not sure what we’re dealing with, but Greg, when he can’t tee it up, it’s a problem for us. He’s a vital member of our organization. ... Hopefully, if he’s going to be down, it won’t be long.'

Photo: Getty Images

Results from an MRI and CT scans taken Saturday evening revealed right foot inflammation, according to the Yankees."

Look, Bird's a strong kid.  I see him getting over this, but a foot injury can be the worst.  I just hope he recovers fully.  I'm a bit startled by Cashman's quote to the press that he's worried.  That's not typical 'Yankee-speak', but hey, I guess it's honesty and I can appreciate that.

Get well soon, Birdman.

CC SABATHIA IS THE BEST PART OF THIS YANKEE BIT

The Yankees and YES do a bunch of promos that run all season, every season and we fans love them all because it takes our Yankees and puts them in a different environment they may not be too comfortable with.  Good stuff.

Now I'm not gonna lie, sometimes they get on my nerves... but for the most part, I get a kick out of them.  The Stepbrothers scene with Didi and Castro was a real fun one and one of my favorites...




Anyway, this next spot is titled "Roll Call" Idol.  I did like it very much, but not because of the cringey acting and not because Greg Bird does every dance in American history...for like an hour (or at least that what it feels like).

I know what you're thinking... you think I think Gardner is the funniest part of this thing.  He gets so angry, he's overly critical. And no... that's not the best part for me.

CC Sabathia is the best part! He's friggin' hilarious.  It has nothing to do with what he says... he looks the part and I'm going to be totally honest here... I didn't even know it was him until the end when I saw him. When I saw the close-up, I was in tears... SO FUNNY!



Oh, and here are the outtakes!




Anyway... it's Friday.  I'm keeping it light.  Share this.

FORMER YANKEE TO GET TOMMY JOHN

(Feb. 20, 2018 - Source: Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America)

This is a big blow to the Seattle Mariners.  David Phelps is a damn good pitcher, probably more mature, seasoned and better than he was in New York.  This just plain sucks if you're a Seattle fan and management is not happy about this either I suppose.  Phelps needs Tommy John. Not his fault, this happens to a lot of pitchers. It just sucks to it happened to David.

ESPN writes:

Photo: Getty Images

"David Phelps has a torn UCL in his pitching elbow and will have season-ending Tommy John surgery, the team said Thursday. The right-hander is expected to be sidelined 12-15 months. Phelps was expected to serve in a setup role this season for Seattle, which acquired him from the Marlins last July."

Photo: Getty Images

Damn.  Bottom Line, we love David Phelps here. Bleeding Yankee Blue even interviewed him a while back.  Check out EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: DAVID PHELPS for a trip down memory lane.

Get well soon, David.

STEVEN WRIGHT SUSPENDED

Hee hee.  Imagine if it was this Steven Wright? Anyway...

The truth is the Boston Red Sox have a righty pitcher named Steven Wright.  And he was just suspended for 15 games.

Photo: Boston Globe

Here's the right Wright... see what I did there?  MLB Trade Rumors writes:

"Red Sox righty Steven Wright has been suspended for 15 games under the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, as Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston first reported.

It is believed that Wright will decline to appeal the suspension, Drellich adds. The suspension relates to a mid-December incident in Tennessee in which Wright was arrested and charged with domestic assault and prevention of a 911 call."

The fact is that putting hands on anyone is ridiculous and while this is alleged, you should treat all this stuff pretty seriously.

Just reporting this.  It's newsworthy.

PASSING THE TORCH

Photo: New York Post

Gotta appreciate a guy like CC Sabathia and all he's done for the Yankees in New York.  Most important to me is how when times got tough, he adjusted, re-learned to pitch with the problems he was having and literally re-invented himself as a leader again.  Not that he wasn't, but he was clearly struggling and trying to get back in the fan's good graces.  He never lost me as a fan. I stayed. I'm glad I did. He's a great leader and terrific mentor for these young kids on the Yanks.

Photo: NJ.com

Speaking of that, check this stuff out on NJ.com. CC is now working with Jordan Montgomery.  No doubt the kid will learn a lot from a veteran like CC.

"CC Sabathia's words of wisdom include a phrase that Jordan Montgomery says that he hears every day, 'You've got more in the tank.'...

Photo: Sporting News

Sabathia has been a mentor all spring. 'He's awesome,' Montgomery said. 'He kind of helps me out on both spectrums. He kind of tells me how to pitch like a power pitcher and how to pitch like I do. So I want to be right there in the middle.' Perhaps surprisingly to some, Montgomery will start the season right there where he was last season ... as the Yankees' fifth starter.

His spot seemed in danger during the offseason and early in spring training while rumors circulated that the Yankees were interested in signing a veteran starter, rumors that GM Brian Cashman admitted were true.

Photo: New York Daily News

'I've got to take it with a grain of salt and show 'em why they wanted to keep me around,' Montgomery said. 'I try to stay off of the internet in the offseason and even during the season. I'm off my phone a lot. This offseason, I just did my work..."

Doing the work. Putting in the work and working hard to improve.  Much of it learned through the years, but much of it pushed on by CC Sabathia.

That's what I love about this club.  The veterans helping these youngsters. Ultimately that helps a club improve.

BREWERS DO THE BEST SANDLOT YET!

Look, I loved when the Yankees did their Sandlot re-enactment a few years ago.  I'm not gonna lie... the acting was bad, but the film is a classic and just watching our New York Yankees recite the lines was a whole lot of fun. I couldn't stop watching it.

Well... that's long gone.  Have you seen the Milwaukee Brewers do their rendition of the baseball classic?  Take a minute... watch this.



Now I know, the only guy you might recognize is Christian Yelich. Well, 2 things come to mind... One. Thank God he got out of Miami. 

Photo: Getty Images

But Two... a lot of none recognizable guys, but hey, that may be why it's so loose and good.  Who knows.

I love this rendition.

But let's compare... which do you like best? Here's the Yankee one.



OK... I still love this one too.

You tell me, what do you think?

GIANTS DUMP JASON PIERRE-PAUL

Photo: SNY

Yup, it's a football thing, because as much as we love our New York Yankees... we still dabble in other New York sports when we feel like... because we can... because I'm in charge and I decide.  I love that.





Besides, Bleeding Yankee Blue not only appears in Baseball-Reference.com. We also appear on Pro-Football-Reference.com. We are one of the few baseball sites to do so as far as we know.

Anyway. The New York Giants traded Pierre-Paul to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Forbes has the story:

"The New York Giants on Thursday announced that they have traded long-time defensive end and two-time Pro Bowler Jason Pierre-Paul to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The move sends JPP along with a fourth-round pick (102nd overall) to the Buccaneers in exchange for a third-round pick (69th overall) and fourth-round selection ( 108th overall)."

Photo: New York Post

Alittle nugget for you baseball fans.  So when you run out of Yankee stuff to talk about at the water cooler... you got this Pierre-Paul jazz in your back pocket.

See? BYB looks out for you.

WHATEVER IT TAKES

Photo: Getty Images

I have always liked Ronald Torreyes. Utility men are special, important players on teams because it truly helps a manager when it comes to depth of a club. And I have to tell you, when you read this next nugget, you will smile from ear to ear because this is what "Team" is all about.

Photo: Getty Images

NJ.com has the story:

"The Yankees will start the season with the same catching tandem that they had last season, All-Star Gary Sanchez backed up by Austin Romine.

And if both get hurt in the same game ... Utility infielder Ronald Torreyes will put on the gear and do the squatting.

Photo: Getty Images

'Toe's our third catcher,' manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday before the Yankees' 9-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles. 'We had him catching a bullpen the other day as being that emergency guy..."

Yup, you read that right, if needed Torreyes will step up and catch... NO PROBLEM.

Photo: New York Times

Gotta love that.  But not only that, you have to see what I see when it comes to Aaron Boone.  He is seeing things in these players that I am not so sure Girardi saw.  There are moments... maybe just a glimmer, or maybe it's a small body of work that catches his eye and then... instead of passing it by, he thinks about it, maybe builds on it and then, gives opportunity.  It's pretty wild. I like the way he's helping to mold this young club.  This must be why Cashman was so high on Boone.  Anyway... I am slowly becoming a fan.

Happy Thursday everyone.

COULD BAD SPRING WEATHER BREAK THE YANKEES' MOMENTUM?

Source: CBS Sports New York

The New York Times printed a piece today about the Yankees having to look for something to worry about.  The Times pointed to the worry of maintaining healthy players and I agree. We need to develop a strategy to keep our players healthy since we know that injuries are commonplace. But, do we have to worry about the weather outside of the bubble of pristine Florida temperatures to break our momentum as a team ready for a run toward a 2018 Championship?

Source: Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

According to AccuWeather, “The weather can impact every aspect of the game,” said Mike Collins, head baseball coach at Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania."  And although your first thought is snow outs, since today in the Northeast is yet another version of winter finding a way to spoil spring, it may be more than just precipitation to break the Yankee long ball momentum specifically.

Source: CBS Sports Boston

"Imagine watching a baseball game in the middle of April in colder weather and a batter launches a pitch deep towards the fence, only to have it fall into an outfielder’s glove. If the game is played during the summer months, you could see a ball struck similarly, only this time the outfielder positions himself to catch the ball only to drift farther and farther backwards as the ball carries farther than expected. A fly ball out in April could be a home run in August," says AccuWeather.

Source: Newsday

And our guys are long ball hitters, which is expected when Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez are in your lineup.  According to the Times, "Maybe the Yankees’ hitters will strike out too much; Stanton and Judge did combine for 371 strikeouts last season. Then again, they also combined for 111 home runs. The Yankees can live with that." 

Source: MassLive.com

I feel like we have to get things started early and build a big lead against our AL East opponents.  And bad weather in the spring could break that momentum and this time I do mean snow outs and later on, rain outs.

Source: YES Network

Last season baseball as a whole experienced 23 postponements between April 3rd and May 20th according to Forbes. "What’s important to note is make-up games often lag behind dates in which they were initially scheduled. They become parts of double-headers, or played on Mondays where attendance has historically been low. So, the rain outs will have an impact whether the games are made up, or not."  And long games, double-headers, and postponements break the momentum of a team further compromised by low attendance and extra travel in some situations.  All of these variables could also impact the health of players, which does support the Times' original premise.

Source: Newsday

The probable inclement weather this spring could impact baseball in multiple ways.  For the Yankees, the concern is their health, their long ball and their fatigue, having to go back to cities for makeup games later in the season.  So as we dig out from huge snow falls again this season, know that this isn't only a nuisance and concern for us, but for the Yankees too.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

ALEX COBB JUST SIGNED!

Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images

And there you have it. The Orioles win the sweepstakes for Alex Cobb.  No biggie for the Yankees, but a big get for the Orioles.  Good for them.

The Baltimore Sun reports:

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

"...the Orioles have agreed to terms on a four-year deal with Cobb in the range of $56 million to $60 million and does include deferred money, according to industry sources. The deal, which is still pending a club physical, is expected to be finalized Wednesday, according to a source."

But it appears done and that's that.

Carry on, folks.

I TOLD YOU TYLER WADE WOULD MAKE IT

Photo: Getty Images

When I wrote SEVERINO EARNED THAT. WADE WILL TOO, I wasn't kidding. Tyler Wade had a moment this spring training and Aaron Boone saw something and was impressed. He said then...

"...He’s a better player than I thought... I came in, I think, with some expectations, and the organization thinks very highly of him. But getting to see him and just seeing, almost on a daily basis, something he does with his athleticism and his instincts, I think, have been impressive." 

Just like Boone did with Severino giving him the Opening Day role... he saw it in Wade too.

And now, like the Amazing Kreskin... I can confirm my prediction was true. Tyler Wade has made the Big team.

Bryan Hoch writes:

Source: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images North America

"Wade believed that he was capable of playing his way onto the Opening Day roster. That positive mindset was rewarded after Tuesday's 8-3 Grapefruit League loss to the Tigers, as manager Aaron Boone announced that Wade will indeed come north with the big club.

'I take it day by day, but I'm kind of looking at the bigger picture here,' Wade said. 'I'm just looking forward to Opening Day and getting after it with the guys."

(March 2, 2016 - Source: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images North America)

And there you have it. It's a big moment for Wade, who's only 23, but impressed his manager enough to give him a shot.

It's something that I'm not so sure we see if Joe Girardi is at the helm.  I'm being honest.  Let's hope Wade succeeds.  This is a great thing.

FISH & CHIPS

I saw Erik Boland of Newsday tweet this out yesterday and I tweeted him back... sarcastically I might add.

America’s pastime in London. Can’t wait

— Robert Casey (@BleednYankeeBlu) March 19, 2018

Now the idea of having baseball made popular globally is great, but it just seems weird to me that this even made the press.  Bottom line, the fact that there is actually a negotiation going on tells you that someone in the front office in Yankeeland, Boston and the MLB isn't jazzed about this in some capacity. Otherwise it would be a no-brainer... you just get it done.

And again, I support it... but it's a lot of work for a 2 game series across the pond.  The New York Daily News has this story:

Photo: London's Olympic Stadium

"London is calling, and the Yankees and Red Sox may be taking their rivalry across the Atlantic. The two teams are closing in on an agreement to play a two-game, regular-season series at London’s Olympic Stadium on June 29 and 30 in 2019, the Daily News confirmed.

MLB would not comment, as the deal is not yet finalized and details are still being worked out. But if it does eventually become official, it would be the first time MLB regular-season games are played in Europe.

'Really?' Aaron Boone replied when informed of the possibility. 'I’ve never been to London, so if that’s true, maybe I’m going to London.'"

Love Boone. He's growing on me. Very casual... rolls with the punches. And yeah, it will be televised and yes, we've done this thing in Japan before and the idea of getting international exposure is wonderful.

Hey... maybe I should be more excited about this.  My friends in Australia, the Moses family LOVE baseball.  They are big time followers of the Yankees.  BYB has audience in Japan... in Europe.

I defer to all of you.  This is a good thing... right?