BIRDMAN'S COMING, WONDERBOY SHOULDN'T SWEAT IT

Source: Abbie Parr/Getty Images North America

Just an update on Greg Bird. He is making his way back, and it's possible he could be up with the club soon.  Hey Tyler Austin... You da man. You've done everything right. I wouldn't sweat a thing.

SNY writes:

"Bird went 1-for-3 with two walks in his first extended spring training game Monday as he looks to return from ankle surgery. Bird, who underwent surgery on March 27, is in his sixth week of his recovery process and is expected to need 10 to 14 days of rehab appearances before he makes his season debut with the Yankees. "

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

Now it's unclear when officiallu Bird will be back, but I gotta tell ya... Austin blends in well, and for crying out loud, he's paid his dues.  I like Bird, but I hate the disruptions. Austin has done his job and earned his spot. I asked the Yankees... keep Wonderboy there!

While I'd love to see what Bird has, I don't feel it right that Austin be moved when he returns. Bottom line, I hope not.

Stay tuned.

WILL MATT HARVEY GO AWAY, PLEASE?

Photo: New York Times

If you know anything about me, I am not a fan of Matt Harvey. I mean I am sure he's a great guy, but he isn't my cup of tea. I thought he bought into the hype surrounding him, and he is not a team player. Especially when reports were raised about his partying and Mets players not being too happy about it...read HERE.

Now Matt Harvey has been designated for assignment. You know that makes me smile.  But look, despite his fall from grace, Harvey could in fact get picked up somewhere.  Who knows if this guy just needs to get out of New York to start shining again.  Maybe a small market is just what he needs.  After all, NY is not good for him. I think it's adding to his demise.

The New York Post writes:

Photo: New York Post

"While it has been largely assumed the former star pitcher would be an unlikely trade candidate due to the $4.6 million remaining on his contract and would end up being released after being designated for assignment Saturday, MLB Network reported Monday the Rangers “have mild trade interest” in Harvey. Dan Warthen, Texas’ assistant pitching coach, was the Mets’ pitching coach during Harvey’s peak years as a starter."

I strongly doubt the Yankees would ever tap into someone like Harvey, especially because they are rolling right now, you have to wonder.

OK... I wondered enough... not happening.

Anyway, You know I couldn't pass up a chance to rip on Harvey.  If you want to read more, go check out THE END OF THE DARK KNIGHT. I enjoyed writing that.

But tell me... what do you think? Where will Harvey go? Comment.

TEAMS ARE ENVIOUS OF OUR CURRENT SITUATION

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

We came into the 2018 season predicted to win the American League East and favorites for a bid to the World Series.  And teams were envious of us, like they traditionally have been except for more recent years...like last year when we were rebuilding and predicted to go pretty much no where in year one of the rebuild.  We shocked the critics and experts alike when we went from Wild Card to one game short of facing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

When April came, we started down a rocky path, downward spiraling, causing many, including me to truly use the thumbs down as a negative vs. a Todd Frazier positive symbol.  Now in our second month of our long season, we are riding on top of a huge tidal wave toppling teams like the Los Angeles Angels, World Series Champion Houston Astros and have taken two from the Cleveland Indians, going 14 out of 15 and 6 and 1 on the road.

Now, I am watching the Red Sox like it's my job and rooting for teams like the Texas Rangers to beat them.  I have even resorted to tuning into MLB.TV and listening to NESN analysts call the game with a Boston accent so thick it is altering the way I say "Bawston Red Sawx!" To be honest, the Red Sox and their fans thought we would just go away quietly after the Boston Massacre led by Joe Kelly and our own Tyler Austin a few weeks back.  But the rematch is making this upcoming series against the Sox as exciting as a playoff game.  I think the Red Sox are one of those teams that is envious of us and our position right now as we look to unearth their lead in the AL East with one more win.

Source: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

According to the Red Sox fan-centric blog Over the Monster, "I can deal with the Yankees being favorites, though. That is not what has me excited here, as I’ve had to do enough predictions to know that most people who do predictions don’t actually want to be doing it. No, what has me all ready to hate the Yankees again — at least to the extent that I did a decade ago — is that people are calling them likable. Can you believe that? People that aren’t Yankees fans like the Yankees. It’s disgusting, and I am ready to fight the powers that be to change this perception. "

And if that is enough evidence of envy in baseball, how about this one from our cross town rivals. According to the fan-centric blog for the NY Mets entitled Rising Apple, "Don’t get me wrong, I despise the Yankees more than any other team in Major League Baseball, but they are doing exactly what I wish the Mets could do. Seeing the team from the Bronx make it to game 7 of the ALCS last season, and then improve their already solid team by adding the reigning NL MVP is infuriating. All it does is remind us how weak and small-minded ownership in Queens really is."  

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

Teams love to hate us.  They are envious and these teams have good pitching staffs, the Mets even after ditching Matt Harvey.  And its not just the obvious teams like the Mets and Red Sox, according to a poll published in NJ.com last year, "The Bronx Bombers were the only MLB team to receive more than a 40 percent unfavorable rating. People simply don’t like the Yankees, regardless of who is donning the pinstripes."  

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

Our current situation is turning heads.  Love us or hate us, we are doing something that other teams and their fans wish for every season.  We are winning, despite the poor start, despite the strikeouts by Giancarlo Stanton and despite the starting pitching woes.  We are winning with rookies who are 25-years-old and younger, as young as 21-years-old.  We have a lot of season left and many more games to play, but our current situation is exciting and the momentum is building.  Take advantage of this feeling folks and soak it all in!  Happy Sunday!

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

YANKEES UNSTOPPABLE!

Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

The Yankees won again.  No Jinx... just plain hard work and gelling among a team that is hard working and dedicated to winning the whole damn thing.

Last night, 2 stars in my mind were Giancarlo Stanton and Miguel Andujar, but as you know... on any given night, it could be any one of these players, and that's what makes this group of guys special.

David Walstein of the New York Times has the story:

Photo: New York Times

"Andujar’s single off Allen ended a wild game in which the Yankees bullpen, so dependable in recent games, suffered a jarring meltdown that resulted in two blown saves.

The relievers squandered a five-run lead in the eighth inning, costing C.C. Sabathia a chance at victory, and they gave away another lead in the ninth before Andujar restored order and delivered a 7-6 win.

Photo: Getty Images

“I was excited,” said Andujar, a rookie third baseman. “That was the first time I’ve ever had a walk-off. It was a great feeling.” His hit scored Giancarlo Stanton, who led off the ninth with a double and moved to third base on a groundout by Aaron Hicks.

That brought Andujar to the plate against a closer who helped lead the Indians to the 2016 World Series, and who went into the game with a 1.98 earned run average."

Photo: Getty Images

Now here's the bad news. Sabathia was pitching a gem and that was wasted.  DRob blew the game at one point so the Indians could tie it and at one moment, Chapman threw high and Sanchez couldn't handle it and that allowed the Indians to tie it again after the Yankees climbed back.  I blame Sanchez on that one, even though that throw from Chapman was ridiculous.

But the point is, the win happened. The Yankees climbed back again and Stanton... Andujar? They were clutch when we needed it.

Gotta love this team! No Jinx!

DAMN, I LOVE ICHIRO

Ichiro Suzuki is the man.

Photo: Getty Images

The dude's 44 years old and he's had an amazing career.  Now word is he's taking some time off... to rest. Not retiring... just taking a break I guess. No better place to do that than in Seattle where he was put on the map in the first place when he came to America.

AP writes:

Photo: Getty Images

"Roughly three hours before first pitch on Thursday night, Ichiro Suzuki jogged to join his Seattle Mariners teammates in the outfield, fully in uniform, black mitt in hand, prepping for another pregame routine of catching fly balls and hitting in the cage.

Except there was no game for the 44-year-old Suzuki to get ready for. He wouldn't be in the lineup on this night, or again in the 2018 season. And maybe his career.

'The past two months have been the happiest I've been,' Suzuki said through an interpreter. 'I knew one day that the day would come when I would have to walk away. But the Mariners have given me this opportunity to stay on. Obviously, with my teammates and how great they've been and how much they mean to me and how much I want to help is the reason I wanted to stay on and help in any way I can.'"

Turns out the Mariners are giving Suzuki a front office job, and I guess he can decide if he wants to come back and play again next season.  A lot of love and respect there.

Photo: Getty Images

Ichiro is one of a kind. Literally one of my favorite players. I'm convinced if he wanted to, if teams would allow him to, he could play until his 50s.  He takes very good care of himself.  He's fantastic.

Good luck to Ichiro.  I'm hoping he comes back to play next season.  Could be cool.

Happy Friday everyone.

THERE ARE NO JINXES WITH THIS YANKEE TEAM

Yankees win!

Who believes in the Jinx?  Furthermore... why would you ever be a fan and believe in a Jinx, meaning, why would you root against your team by suggesting that saying or doing something would 'Jinx' them? Why not just trust their abilities? Why give a false energy by suggesting there could be a flaw?

I don't believe in a Jinx, because it's stupid. 

Yankees won today by the way.

Photo: New York Post

But back to my point. A Jinx? Have you seen this Yankee team? They are pretty friggin' good. The Astros are too, don't get me wrong, but the last 3 games have been about the New York Yankees.  Not only the team, but the fact that they were playing in Houston, in the Astros' home. Unfinished business... a point to be made. Think about it... last season they lost out to going to the World Series by 1 game. One single game. 

Photo: Getty Images

Today is their 3rd win against the Astros in 3 days.  There are no jinxes with this Yankee team, and anyone who thinks so is foolish, ridiculous and isn't a true fan. Thinking about a Jinx is betting against your damn team. Everyone knows that.

The Yankees won by the way.

And by the way... if they didn't win? What does it matter? It's May... and furthermore, I can 100% guarantee that me writing the words OWNING THE ASTROS in my title didn't contribute to it. What kind of fairytale world are we living in? 

Yanks won today... did I mention that?

And look at this comment... why are people taking things so literal? The headline was provocative Trey... how long have you read me now?

Come on, man!

The Yankees owned the Astros May 1 and May 2nd.  Me writing that title not only is true, but it was accurate.  Did I know they were gonna win today? Nope. Did I think so? Yup, but that didn't go into my decision making when I wrote that title, folks.  I was specifically speaking about the first 2 games in OWNING THE ASTROS.

Yankee fans... the New York Yankees won today.

Photo: Getty Images

They have beaten the Astros 3 games in a row.  That's a good thing, and even if they lost today, I would still put my pants on one leg at a time, I would still go home and kiss my kids and wife when I came home from work and I would still go to sleep tired and relaxed. The point is, nothing would change in my life.

I am older, more mature and satisfied with my life and everything around me... AND the Yankees are still a damn good team.  And if they were terrible, guess what... nothing would change in my life... but I would still be a fan.

Photo: Getty Images

There are no Jinxes on this Yankee team.  Even if they lose tomorrow, it has nothing to do with me.  I still root and I still live my life. Most importantly though, I still love my Yankees.

Stop the freakin' nonsense. Go take a walk outside, go smell a flower. Get out of that dank basement. And don't comment if it's not constructive. I have zero patience for you.

By the way... the Yankees won today.

P.S.  I love black_tiger and 99Trey.  They always comment great content and good stuff and keep it on the level.  Today however, was strange.

Carry on.

OWNING THE ASTROS!

Source: Bob Levey/Getty Images North America

It doesn't happen often, but it's been happening very, very recently.

The Yankees beat the Astros 2 games in a row and last night it was truly great.

Bryan Hoch writes:

Photo: Getty Images

"Backed by a two-homer, four-RBI performance from Giancarlo Stanton, Severino struck out 10 and pitched the first complete game of his big league career, pounding his glove with glee after shutting out the Astros in a 4-0 victory at Minute Maid Park."

And compliments were handed out everywhere...

Photo: Getty Images

"I wouldn't want to be in the box facing him," Stanton said. "He's going to pound the zone at 100 mph, and if you look on time for that, you're going to get that 90-mph slider. It's exactly what we needed tonight and another par-for-the-course outing for him."

Severino on Stanton. “Amazing. He’s a great player. At the end of the season he’s going to hit 50 homers. I don’t care what everybody’s saying. He’s a great hitter and he’s going to continue doing this stuff.”

— Erik Boland (@eboland11) May 3, 2018

Here is the reality... we Yankee fans, and Yankee brass for that matter knew that Severino was that good. We just needed to get him there and he needed to learn about overcoming failure at a major league level.  He's matured... it's evident and he looked amazing.

Photo: Getty Images

Stanton? Well, I will hope and pray he has broke out.  We need to hope so.  We need this guy.

Big win last night against the 'Stros.  Yankees showed determination and fight.  I will take that all day long.

How are those Mets doing these days?  Those fans are quiet now... have you noticed?

THE HOUSTON HAUNTED HOUSE

Source: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

The Houston Astros are not the best team in baseball.  They aren't the second best either nor are they the third best.  Quite frankly, their record is not really better than ours given our weather-related cancellations and their offense does not necessarily beat ours.  Yet, when we come into Minute Maid Park, our bats halt, pitching is so-so, and we just go radio silent.  Some may say that Houston's starting pitching is one of the best squads in the American League but as Jack Curry stated in Monday night's coverage of the first game against the Astros, Minute Maid Park has become a virtual Haunted House for the New York Yankees.

"Needing one victory in two games to face the Dodgers in the World Series, the Yankees failed in Games 6 and 7. Luis Severino imploded on the mound in Game 6 and the Yankee bats were dead not only in the final two games but in the first two under the roof in Houston," reported the NY Post back in October following the Yankees 4-0 loss to the Astros, launching Houston into the World Series against Los Angeles.  Then, on Monday night, the Yankees dropped the first game of the four game series against Houston, culling the ghosts of the fall which scared them out of their first World Series berth in eight years.

Source: Bob Levey/Getty Images North America

"Charlie Morton proved to be just as much of a pain for the Yankees lineup as he was in last year’s ALCS. From the very beginning it seemed like it was going to be a long night. He came out of the gates throwing strikes, expanding the zone, and getting ahead early in the count. In the end, the Yankees never had much of a chance," reported SB Nation regarding Monday's game.

 Source: Bob Levey/Getty Images North America

Prior to last night, the Yankees have only scored five runs in Minute Maid Park in the their last four outings in Houston.  Then as Houston's ace Justin Verlander took the hill against the Bombers, it was the same old story.  More quiet bats, silent offense and maybe some pine tar?  Trevor Bauer of the Cleveland Indians insinuated that perhaps Houston pitchers could be using pine tar to increase their grip and spin rate.

 Source: Jason Miller/Getty Images North America

According to the Kansas City Star, "The two (Trevor Bauer and Lance McCullers) had a back-and-forth on Twitter that started Tuesday when someone wondered about the increased spin rate of some of the Houston pitchers, specifically Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander, who both have been with the Astros for less than a year."  Now, Bauer and others believe that baseball should make a ruling about pine tar, either allowing it or completely banning it.  Either way, you have to wonder if part of the potency of the Astros pitching is coming from a little extra grip to augment spin rate.

 Source: Bob Levey/Getty Images North America

Anyway you slice it, the Yankees just can't perform well at Minute Maid Park, making it an Achilles heel for the Bombers.  We need to figure out how to win in Houston, evict the ghosts and get the paddles out to revive our flat line offense against Astros in their home. Gary Sanchez is a start.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

THE GARY SANCHEZ CLUTCH!!

Troy Taormina/USA Today Sports

Gary Sanchez is pretty incredible when he needs to be.  Much better in the clutch than the terrible Giancarlo Stanton.  He's been pretty disappointing. But we'll talk about Stanton another time.

Last night the game, I have to say... was really good.  No score going into the 9th, and with Giles on the mound and Sanchez at the plate... everything changed.  ESPN writes:

Photo: Getty Images

"A day after one of his starting pitchers intimated his desire to continue pitching to a different catcher, Sanchez played as if he was unfazed. With yet another solid swing of Sanchez’s bat, and an unexpectedly long but quite strong night from the Yankees’ bullpen, New York got past the Houston Astros with a 4-0 win Tuesday...

The win also came on the heels of a dominant 14-strikeout start for Astros pitcher Justin Verlander, who threw eight scoreless innings going toe-to-toe with a Yankees bullpen that was equally as tough to solve. "

And this is my favorite part.

Gary Sanchez made Ken Giles punch himself in the face. He didn't pull that punch, either. #Yankees #Astros pic.twitter.com/TCye8qSrts

— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) May 2, 2018

The Astros when Ken Giles comes storming through the dugout pic.twitter.com/lnyV2ldmmb

— The Yankee Fan (@YankeeLiveTweet) May 2, 2018

Let's assume Verlander kicked the shit out of Ken Giles last night.  As my 15 year old says... "Giles always blows it when the pressure it on."

Thank God.

Yanks win.

MIKE SCHMIDT HAD SOME EXPLAINING TO DO... AND DID IT

Originally Mike Schmidt disappointed me, but now I'm happy to see that he came clean and walked it back.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, Mike made a sexist remark the other day and had to clean it up after he came under fire.

The Sporting News has the story:

Photo: Sporting News

"Mike Schmidt apologized Monday for sexist remarks he made during a broadcast the previous day. The comment came while Schmidt, currently a weekend analyst on Phillies games, was discussing a tweet from Amanda McCarthy, the wife of injured Braves starter Brandon McCarthy.

The tweet mentioned that the pitcher 'still can’t do the dishes' after separating his shoulder. 'I have a dishwasher at home myself: my wife,' Schmidt said. 'That was bad. Actually, I do the dishes, most of the time.'

'Me Too movement,' Schmidt continued. 'Where does that fit in?' Schmidt said Monday that he 'made a mistake while attempting to be humorous.' 'It was not my intention to offend anyone'...

Schmidt said in a statement (via Westwood One). 'My daughter passionately marches in support of the #MeToo movement in Boston, and I support her in every way. I offer my sincerest apologies to those who may have been offended.'"

I chalk this up as generational.  Back in the day, it was comedy to make fun of women and no one did it better than Henny Youngman.


But here's the thing, Schmidt's not a comedian, and even in comedy, that doesn't fly. It's offensive.  Hell, I came under fire for referring to Jose Canseco and saying something that could have been considered very offensive to women. You can read about it here. 

I AM WHAT I AM... BUT THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR CHANGE

I apologized and I too was trying to be provocative and funny. It doesn't work.  It's stupid.  So was this by Schmidt.

Photo: NJ.com

But I love that he came out and tried to fix it. I honestly don't think he meant a thing by it. But people do, and that's why we have to choose our words wisely.

Interesting story, good for Schmidt! He's back in my good graces.

Let's play ball!