SURPRISE! YANKS CALL UP DOUBLE-A PITCHER!

(Photo by Martin Griff)

Nice nugget here and something I appreciate. For 1, it fits the Yankees needs for this game, but it also gives a young kid a shot.

The New York Daily News writes:

"The Yankees brought up lefty Ryan Bollinger from Double-A Trenton on Wednesday. Bollinger, 27, was 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA in three starts for the Thunder."

Trenton is not the Bigs, but that being said, I like the numbers and hope he gets in.

THE YANKEES HAVE WAY TOO MANY GOOD PLAYERS

Source: Newsday

As the headline suggests, the Yankees have incredible depth this season.  They have grit.  They have confidence.  And they have way too many good players.  This means that they can't keep them all and not everyone can play consistently.  So if you are looking to find an Achilles heel in this year's team, it's that they are too good.

Source: USA Today

According to SNY.com, "On Sunday, the team optioned outfielder Clint Frazier to Triple-A Scranton. Frazier's status as a top prospect is debatable, but he is ready to at least serve as a fourth outfielder or more on many big league teams. And later this week, if first baseman Greg Bird makes his expected return from the disabled list, the Yanks will have to option Tyler Austin."  

Source: NJ.com

It has been my stance that Austin has earned his keep and that it is Greg Bird who has to earn his way back on the team.  Some of our fellow bloggers think that Bird should be traded before he gets hurt again.  "Bird was injured for the entire 2016 season and most of 2017, so why are the Yankees so in love with him," reports Ben Green of Yanks Go Yard.  He may be on to something.  With the Yankees in a current state of "roster crunch" as Green calls it, could we at least consider keeping Austin and giving Bird some alternate days?  Platoon the guys and let the best man win.

Source: USA Today

As SNY suggests, "Where this could all get interesting is if everyday players don't perform. With roster spots at a nearly unprecedented premium, what happens if Bird slumps upon his return? What if Didi Gregorius continues to struggle? Or if  (Miguel) Andujar can't push his on-base percentage to .300? Or if Frazier dominates the International League and Aaron Hicks or Brett Gardner struggles?" 

Source: USA Today

Or as the the Yankees continue to improve, which is likely as the team matures together, could they shop some players for some much needed starting pitching?  We have had our woes with starters and as much as I am rooting for guys like Domingo German, he may not be the answer.

 Source: Rodger Mallison | Fort Worth Star-Telegram | TNS

So we have too many good players but not enough of the right players, namely pitchers.  Something has to give as the Yankees finish up their final full week of May and enter into the weekend and then the beginnings of the third month of the season in June.  Let's hope we use our Achilles heel to our advantage and figure out how to move the right players out and bring in some starting pitching that helps us get to our ultimate goal: The World Series.  Happy Hump Day.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

THE FLORIAL FACTOR

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Bad news out of Tampa and something we meant to mention a few days ago. It's being reported top Yankee prospect Estevan Florial will be out for a while after exiting the game last Thursday night with a sore right wrist.   For more on that, we check in with Casey's pal, Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record, who always spreads his little nuggets...

"Highly-touted Yankees outfield prospect Estevan Florial requires hamate surgery on his right hand. It’s an injury that will cost him at least a month and could possibly keep the fleet center fielder sidelined longer. Florial, 20, came out of Thursday’s game at Class A Tampa with soreness in his right wrist... Over his first 36 games at Class A Tampa, Florial has yet to take off. He is slashing .246/.353/.343, with one home run, six doubles, two triples and 10 RBI in 134 at-bats, with five stolen bases. "

Photo: AP

Though Florial has yet to get going this year, I hope this is just a temporary setback. Reports are at least 3 months, and that sounds horrible because the kid's great. After watching him in the Arizona Fall League this past year, I believe this kid has what it takes to be in the Bigs one day very soon. Florial is a true five-tool prospect. He just needs to work on cutting down on strikeouts. 

Photo: Getty Images

Florial should move to the Yankees top-prospect as soon as Gleyber Torres loses his prospect status, and if you've seen anything with him recently in the Bronx, it's going to happen quickly.

Hoping for a speedy recovery for Estevan.  Nice piece Pete Caldera!

--Michael Carnesi
BYB Junior Writer
Twitter: @sevn4evr

HAMELS TO THE YANKS? HE SEEMS INTRIGUED

Photo: Getty Images

Kudos to Randy Miller of NJ.com for an interview with Cole Hamels where he asks him point blank about all the Yankee rumors and Cole attached to them.  He phrases it like it's us, the fans that are floating this rumor, and that's ridiculous because fans get this info from the writers, but that being said, I loved how Miller crafted this article and you should read it HERE.

Here's that exchange with Hamels and the Yankees.  As you can see, he doesn't say 'NO'. I think he realizes that at 34 years old you just want to play as long as you can, enjoy the game and if it means that there's a really good team out there that likes and perhaps wants you to play for them... if the deal is the right one, you go for it. Here's that portion:

Kim Klement | USA TODAY Sports

"Q: Are you aware that a lot of Yankee fans are bringing your name up quite a bit thinking that you're going to the final piece to their next championship?

Hamels: 'Shoot, I helped them get a World Series in ‘09, so I’m sure they like me! … No, no. I understand it. It’s kind of the nature of what happens and I think anytime you get traded once, you understand that the possibilities are there. And as you get older if you’re able to play well and keep of what I know I’m capable of doing, then it’s each year you could be on a different team hunting down a postseason. So it’s kind of the nature of where I think I am in my career and in the contract and in the situation. (The Yankees) have a tremendous team. So really looking at them, it’s some of the best baseball is now being able to watch the Yankees and Boston and I think that’s just exciting for baseball fans in general and the game and the scope of it now creates with that drama that they’ve always had in their history. It’s been good to see.'”

Source: Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images North America

Look, we will just have to see what happens with Hamels and the Yankees.  Most likely nothing. But, I will tell you that we here at BYB have been all over the Hamels rumors for a few years now.  Read an oldie but a goodie here...

May 16, 2012:WOULD YOU WANT COLE HAMELS IN YANKEE PINSTRIPES?
July 18, 2012: WOULD YOU TRADE HUGHES & JOBA FOR COLE HAMELS?
June 25, 2015: IS COLE HAMELS WORTH A SECOND LOOK?

Stay tuned...

JOSE BAUTISTA RELEASED

Photo: Getty Images

Jose Bautista was a superstar a few years ago. Now he's out of a job. The Braves released him... on his request.

The Star writes:

"Atlanta GM Alex Anthopoulos, with whom Bautista has a long and mutually respectful relationship, announced on Sunday morning that the ersatz third baseman had been released.

'We took a shot,' Double-A told reporters. 'Certainly (there) was a lot of upside for us if it clicked … We certainly didn’t feel like there was any downside.' But it was, if not an act of charity (there’s no crying in baseball), a $1-million U.S. experiment that the first-place Braves could no longer justify and money had nothing to do with it, a million a mere financial bagatelle these days. They, unlike Bautista, have roster options."

Photo: Getty Images

Now it looks like the Mets may be interested in him.  Makes perfect sense actually. The New York Post writes:

"The Mets’ need for a right-handed outfield bat with power has team officials interested in veteran slugger Jose Bautista, industry sources told The Post on Monday."

If he goes to the Mets, I'll dislike him alittle more than I do now.

Stay tuned...

BREAKING SLUMPS

Photo: Getty Images

As we wrote in AUSTIN'S POWER this morning, slumps happen.  But you can't treat a slump by sitting on the bench.  Leave it to BYB reader and Tyler Austin's mom who tweeted this today:

I have always said that the only way to break out of a slow streak or a slump is to play through it. No one has ever broken out of their slump by riding the pine.

— Kim Austin/ Kimberly N. Dean (@austinmom03) May 21, 2018

Gotta love it and there is a ton of truth to it.  How do I know? Didi Gregorius, one of the Yankees hottest hitters earlier this season is in a deep slump right now.  But is Didi 'riding the pine' as Kim Austin says? Nope.  He's in the lineup:

Photo: Getty Images

"Didi Gregorius returned to the Yankees lineup Monday night after Aaron Boone gave the slumping shortstop a two-day break that was intended to be more mental than physical. But the manager said Gregorius immediately breaking out of the 1-for-45 skid he brought into the night wasn’t something he was obsessing over.

'I’m excited that Didi’s back in our lineup and seeing him out at shortstop,' Boone said before the game. 'I won’t get caught up one way or the other if he goes out and the results happen tonight or not. I know over time the results will be there and I’m confident of that. Excited he’s back because he makes us better when he’s in there.'

Photo: Getty Images

Gregorius hit cleanup, preceded by Brett Gardner, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. 'I just felt like tonight against that team it’s better to space out the lefties a little bit,' Boone said."

With opportunity could come success.  Who knows if Didi will have a big night or not, but that being said, I'm glad he's there.  He will break out soon... just like Tyler Austin.

I have no doubt.

AUSTIN'S POWER

Slump? I think not.

Photo: Getty Images

Tyler Austin was magnificent yesterday.  Just what the Yankees and Yankee fans needed.  Especially after Suzie Pinstripe was all over certain broadcasters for their false accusation of Austin slumping hard and insinuating him hurting the Yankees team.  Read YOU KNOW WHAT? TYLER AUSTIN IS BETTER THAN YES SAYS for more, but let's put a slump in perspective...

Slumps happen often. Sometimes they are 0-18... sometimes they are 2-40. But here's the reality.  You can't get out of a slump sitting on a bench.  You can only overcome a slump by working through it, thinking opposite field, just putting the bat on the ball and remembering the world famous phrase... "Don't try to do too much."  It's frustrating for a batter, hard for a team, because automatically, you want to bench a bad player.  But sticking with that player in a slump is good as well, because it again... allows a player to work through it, and eventually... you would hope, get back to hitting.

Photo: Getty Images

The Yankees and Aaron Boone stuck with Tyler Austin for his slow spell.  And Tyler Austin got back to work.  No one knows why slow downs happen.  No one knows why you some days see the ball real good, and other days, don't.  But I do know this... Austin wasn't in a slump... he was merely in a slow down and that's fine.  It's irrelevant now anyway. He's out of it.

Ken Davidoff of the New York Post writes:

Photo: Getty Images

"The Yankees’ fill-in first baseman slammed two homers at spacious Kauffman Stadium and drove home four runs to lead a power-charged, 10-1 rout of the terrible Royals. With a 30-13 record, technical occupancy of the American League East penthouse, a 21-4 record in their last 25 games, and eight straight series wins, their best such run since the record-setting 1998 season, the Yankees are cruising on the remarkable depth of their roster."

And now the big question is... what happens next?  With Greg Bird expected back this week... will Austin be sent down? Sit the bench? We will obviously need to see, although, my thought process is with Clint Frazier going back down after this weekend, maybe that makes room for Bird, and maybe there's a platoon situation between Bird and Austin.  You don't want to take a hot bat like Tyler's out of the lineup, but at the same time, you really want to see what Bird has.

Whatever the case, I loved seeing Wonderboy crush it yesterday.  Atta boy kid.

MAKE THAT TWO INSIDE THE PARK HOME RUNS FOR HICKS!

Source: MLB.com

Aaron Hicks is the first Yankee player to hit multiple inside the park home runs in a season since 1958; and the season is only just shy of two months old.  The last Yankee to hit three inside the parkers was Mickey Mantle.  But that sixty year old record could be crushed by Hicks if he keeps up this momentum.

Source: Sporting News

With his first inside the parker coming against Detroit in April, his second was a shot deep into the outfield against Kansas City.  "Hicks' solo shot bounced off the top of the rightfield wall and back onto the warning track as Royals rightfielder Jorge Soler struggled to chase down the ball," reported SI.com.

Source: KEITH GILLETT/ICON SPORTSWIRE

Earlier in the season, SB Nation called 2018 the "Year of the Inside-The-Park Home Run."  "Sure, normal dingers take strength and coordination and they’re still very entertaining. We are not here to disparage everyday dingers. But inside-the-park home runs take strength and coordination plus luck, speed (or at least an effort to go as fast as you can in the moment), and maybe even a mistake (or three) by the outfielders responsible for getting the ball towards the plate."  

Source: Sports Illustrated

The last time an MLB player hit three inside the parkers in one season was back in 1987.  That player was slugger Ruben Sierra with the Texas Rangers.  Knowing that this is not something you see everyday, this season has seen a number already.  They are exciting to watch as much as for the fans as for the player who hit it.  There is a bit of little leaguer in the player who hits it; a boyish smile like Hicks gave with both home runs. Sometimes they occur because they are bobbled out in the outfield, but a pure one is just a well hit ball and followed by excellent speed on the bases.

Photo: Orlin Wagner, AP

After a number of rain outs, transportation woes and an uncomfortable night in the airport, the Yankees made an amazing comeback last night with traditional over the fence home runs coming from Gleyber Torres, Giancarlo Stanton and two from Gary Sanchez and of course Hicks's inside the parker.  These five home runs led to a Yankee win against the Royals in the second game of the series.  Exciting to see the long ball anytime you go to the ballpark, but an inside the park home run adds a little something special to the game.

Source: Orlin Wagner, AP

Would be cool to see Hicks tie or even break Mantle's record making 2018 even more special than it already appears to be for the Yankees.  "Hicks won't be able to notch three inside-the-parkers in a month like Mantle did during his improbable run, but if he gets even one more in 2018, he'll be the first player in 30 years to get three in one season," according to MLB.com. Would love to see him make some history.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

THAT COLE HAMELS CONNECTION KEEPS COMING BACK!

Photo: Getty Images

The Yankees are once again connected to the very talented Cole Hamels.  This nugget is out there, thank God for AJ. Herrmann of YES Network... 2 R's... 2 N's.

Report: #Yankees among "five most likely landing spots" for Texas LHP Cole Hamels: https://t.co/0HPhmOPhxI pic.twitter.com/wNqmtc6Xfk

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 18, 2018

"The New York Yankees have long been a team rumored to be searching for another big-ticket starting pitcher, and one prominent left-hander could soon be on the move. Cole Hamels, the 34-year-old Texas Rangers lefty, is one of the high-profile players expected to be dealt now that the Rangers are 'open for business,' per a recent Ken Rosenthal report in The Athletic.

Photo: Getty Images

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the five likeliest landing spots for the veteran lefty are the Brewers, Cubs, Phillies, Diamondbacks and Yankees ...

The Yankees have the financial flexibility and abundance of prospect talent to swing a deal for an impact arm like Hamels, who owns a career 3.48 ERA in the postseason. This is also not the first time the Yankees have expressed interest in Hamels, so they've done their due diligence in keeping an eye on Hamels over the years."

Photo: A.J. Herrmann with Nick Swisher

That's right, Herrmann credited two very well respected reporters. Yes, this report came from Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic, and Bob Nightengale of USA Today.  That being said... we're giving a plug to YES because we love them. Nothing against Kenny and Bob...

I am curious as to what happens next with this rumor. Could you see Hamels in the Bronx? Comment... and stay tuned.

THE TRENTON PORK ROLL WON LAST NIGHT!

Larry Murphy | For The Times of Trenton

Just recently Bleeding Yankee Blue let the world know about this new gimmick the Trenton Thunder were doing for the New Jersey Yankee fans.  Pork Roll nights in Trenton.  That's right... and if you are a NJ person, you love this.  If you don't live in NJ you have no friggin' idea what we are talking about...and that's OK. We're here to tell you. In fact, read HOLY PORK ROLL, I CAN'T WAIT! for a quick refresher.  See? There are some good things about New Jersey.

Anyway... The Trenton Pork Roll won last night.  Here's the story from Pinstriped Prospects:

Larry Murphy | For The Times of Trenton

"...While the name and the uniform might have changed for a night, the product on the field stayed the same, thanks mostly to Trenton starter Brian Keller who, you could say, was on a roll on Friday night. Keller went eight innings, allowing zero runs, two walks, and four strikeouts.

Through five innings, Keller held the BaySox hitless until a ground-ball took a funny hop towards Trenton 1B Chris Gittens and went under his glove into right field for a base hit."

And just like that, the Trenton Thunder...er ah... Pork Roll's record is now 26-14, leading their division.

Nice work, boys... keep it going.

Time for breakfast...

That's about right.

BEST PART OF THE ANGELS GAME? THE ANNOUNCERS

© Comeback Media

I tip my cap to Victor Rojas and Mark Gubicza.  Not only are they decent broadcasters... they also dressed up like Stormtroopers for their broadcast.

The force is strong in the booth tonight #StarWarsNight @Angels pic.twitter.com/VU4nA7EOQN

— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) May 19, 2018

But the best part? They didn't reference the outfits early on.  Kind of like "This is us, we're just doing a broadcast for Star Wars night. Nothing to see here..."

I loved it.  Hope you check out the video on that tweet! Classic.

LETTING FRAZIER PLAY

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

I say it jokingly, but reality is... he's going to play. Not only that, he's going to start. At least that's what we think is going to happen.

The great George King III of the New York Post writes this nugget:

"With the Royals starting lefties Danny Duffy on Saturday and Eric Skoglund on Sunday, there is a chance right-handed hitting outfielder Clint Frazier could be in the lineup for each game. 'I would say likely for [Saturday],’

Source: Stephen Brashear/Getty Images North America

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Frazier making his 2018 debut. 'But I evaluate that at the end of each day.’"

We reported on Red Thunder's arrival to the Bronx the other day (HERE) and his likelihood to play because of the lefty starting situation with KC.  Glad he's probably gonna see some at bats.

Secondly, you have to appreciate Boone not giving away too much, but still talking to the press with a possible game plan.  I mean sure, Boone could change his mind and NOT start Frazier... but hopefully he does, and hopefully Clint succeeds. 

Looking forward to it.