AARON JUDGE: "THE NUMBER ONE GOAL IS TO WIN THE DIVISION."

Source: Butch Dill, USA TODAY Sports

At the game last night, Aaron Judge very candidly, very coolly said to YES reporter Meredith Marakovits, "Our number one goal is to win the Division."  And the way he is hitting this spring, you can certainly see his fervor for meeting this goal.  It's great to see Judge hyped up for the season, but he said, he will take the two weeks they have left to continue to work on things to be game and season-ready in 2019.

Source: Charles Wenzelberg NY Post

"No leg kick from the front leg. No toe tap. No stride. Just a powerful coiled right-handed snap swing. That is especially the case with two strikes, his new two-strike approach. Judge is doing this to increase contact but also to get to the basics of his swing," reported the NY Post about Judge's improvement plan this spring.

Source: Presswire

The Grapefruit League is different for Judge this March because he is already at 100% versus last year where he was focused on rehabbing the shoulder injury he suffered in 2017.  He is honing his skills and going for that two strike approach, which he believes will help him contribute to the team's powerful offensive in 2019.  He also says he wants to stay away from high fast balls and fences as much as he can, hoping to stay injury-free this season.

Source: USA Today

"Judge rocks and coils before he swings, anchoring his weight on his back leg, then snaps the swing. He creates massive amounts of power with his 6-foot-7, 282-pound frame. “It’s just basically the roots of it,’’ Judge told The Post over the weekend at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “That’s where it starts for me. I have to start with the no stride and then from there that’s where I can add a leg kick or some type of toe tap," said Judge as reported by The Post.

Source: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Judge is certainly putting up incredible numbers this spring with his experimental swing.  He is batting .316 with 19 at bats over eight games so far this spring.  He is hitting dingers as well as extra base hits and he is not only building confidence, he is building incredible momentum as we grow closer to the start of the season.

Source: NJ.com

The Yankees number one goal is to win the Division and Judge has his eyes focused,  gazing at that goal and looking to conquer it.  Sure, he will need the team to strive for the same goal but from the look of things, the team is squad ready and all in!

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

BECKHAM GONZO!

It's about F'ing time. Odell Beckham is gone.

I don't like troublemakers. I don't care how talented you are, if your antics off the field effect things on the field, spills and splits a clubhouse and forms negative opinions about a team and/or breaks up momentum, I say get rid of the garbage and start fresh. And that's what the New York Giants have done.  They are trying to class up their image and make things smoother and healthier in their locker room.

If you live under a rock, you need to read this. NFL.com writes:

"Parties are being thrown in Cleveland while fires are set in New York following the trade of Odell Beckham from the Giants to the Browns on Tuesday night."

Now don't get me wrong, I think Beckham is one talented cat. But I was sick and tired of the off the field garbage that kept getting picked up by the media. Party boats in Miami? Sure, he's allowed to do that, but it's when it's publicized that is where things go haywire.  The video of him allegedly doing coke with some chick?


Again... no idea what happened, but what I don't like is when it's out there for the world to see. And I think that stuff was what the Giants didn't like... and so, even though they said they were keeping him a few weeks ago... a deal's a deal and the Giants got a good one in return with a top draft pick and a clean slate. CBS Sports writes:

"According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the trade involves the Browns sending their first-round pick in 2019 (No. 17 overall), one of the Browns third-round picks this year (their second one) as well as safety Jabrill Peppers." 

Beckham will be fine in Cleveland... maybe even better than fine. But for now, it's the Giants, much like the Yankees that are trying to turn things around. And for SURE, weeding out the riff-raff to appear much classier to their fans.

WORRY? OR IS IT JUST SPRING

I hate when the media and fans alike make accusations about players sucking in the spring.  Do you have any idea how hard it is to play baseball in the first place? Now get a major leaguer in the batter's box and expect them to hit consistently. It ain't easy...especially in the spring.

When it comes to Troy Tulowitzki and Gary Sanchez, there's panic.  Here's the thing... I want to see these guys get at bats and work, but I'm not expecting much but them getting into a rhythm.  That's it. Some players are just slow early and speed up as the season goes.  Everyone calm down.

The New York Post has this about Tulo:

"... in the four games since that hot start, the 34-year-old, who missed all of last season following surgery on both heels, has gone in the other direction, going 0-for-11 with eight strikeouts.

So, which player did the Yankees sign to the veteran’s minimum salary after he was released by the Blue Jays in December? It depends on who you ask.

One scout who has seen him play this spring said Tulowitzki is 'struggling with the bat, but [I] don’t see anything yet about mobility.’

Another countered, 'He’s slowing down as we go [with both] bat speed and range.'’

That last quote is just stupid. It's way to early to write a player off.

And then comes chatter about Gary Sanchez:

"Starting catcher, Gary Sanchez, has once again looked porous at the plate. During Grapefruit League play, Sanchez is 2-for-13 with one RBI and five strikeouts. The injury narrative is getting old and it’s time for “El Gary” to show why he’s a capable starter at the MLB level... He will need to focus in and regain his confidence at the plate in the next few weeks, as the regular season will present different challenges."

Empire Sports Media there...love them. Here's the thing. I have never been a really huge fan of Sanchez. I think he's slower, I don't think he works hard and I think he's got a chip on his shoulder. And that's not me saying it today... that's me and BYB saying it a few years ago before the guy even came up. But that being said, 2-13 is a pretty small sample to panic about.  I'm sure this guy can put up 30 home runs this year... and that's really why he's there. It's not his defense.

Look, everyone needs to take a deep breath and wait and see how the season starts. When everyone starts to get some consistency at the plate and a nice sample size, then we can panic if things don't go our way. Let's not forget... this is the Spring.

Relax.

YANKEE SPRING STORIES YOU NEED TO FOLLOW

Spring Training is going by fast. There's still some time until Opening Day finally arrives, but until then the Yankees have a few things to watch. It's been a challenging spring, some of it complicated by injuries, but there are other concerns. Question is are they big or small problems and do they follow the Yankees into the start of the regular season?

1. Hicks still has a sore back

It sure sounds like the injury that the Yankees think is no big deal is turning into a big deal. Aaron Hicks is still experiencing back discomfort and will see a doctor today. Hicks hasn't felt 100% since March 1st when he first felt discomfort during batting practice and then again in a spring training appearance. He's improved some since but he's not 100% yet. Aaron Boone said they are taking a conservative approach with it but with almost two weeks of discomfort and missed time should the Yankees be more concerned about his condition? Hopefully today's doctor visit will bring some insight and a good plan to get him healthy again.

2. Tulo's in a slump

It was nice to see Troy Tulowitzki start spring with a bang with two home runs in his first three games as a Yankee. His last three games haven't been as good with his 0-for-8 record and six strikeouts. The Yankees aren't worried though, they will continue to give him reps to work through it. Whether the Yankees want Tulo to be attracting this kind of concern or not he will. After all, Tulo is the guy the Yankees signed instead of Manny Machado. He's also the guy the Blue Jays released after missing all of 2018 due to surgery for bone spurs in both heels. He will be under the radar no matter what.

3. Sanchez is sucking

The Yankees are counting on a rebound season from Gary Sanchez. They are looking for 2017 Sanchez instead of 2018 Sanchez who had a .186 BA, 18 home runs in 89 games. Sure, the injuries didn't help but if the Yankees can get the 2017 Sanchez back it makes the lineup that much deeper and really gives the Yankees an edge. So far Sanchez has only had 11 at-bats but also has a 0.91 BA which will only make the spotlight on him even brighter.

4. Battle of the first basemen continues

The New York Post has a great breakdown on this one HERE. According to Boone the Yankees will be forced to make a decision between Luke Voit and Greg Bird. There's only room for one. The other won't be a backup. I guess the best way to put it really is "two automobiles don’t fit into a one-car garage" so who should the Yankees give the job too? Is Bird doing enough to prove that he is the guy we first saw in 2015? Can Voit prove that he still deserves the spot he was given last season?

5. Rotation Depth

The Yankees will start the season with CC Sabathia and Luis Severino on the disabled list. The Yankees have three internal candidates to fill-in the rotation, but they all come with question marks due to previous inconsistencies in other big-league appearances. Can Jonathan Loaisiga, Domingo German or Luis Cessa effectively do the job until the Yankees return to full strength? So far Cessa has had the most success of the candidates, as he has allowed just one run over five innings over two outings. There have already been rumors about the Yankees possibly adding some rotation depth, and Gio Gonzalez has been a popular name. If the Yankees lose anymore rotation depth, could they possibly add a guy like Gio? At this point, should they even wait?

6. Severino is still sidelined

We are five days into Severino's two weeks on no-throwing and Boone has some optimism. He says Severino isn't experiencing the pain he did almost a week ago. He is still sore from the cortisone shot but he is getting better every day. After his two weeks are up he will be reevaluated and if his shoulder discomfort is gone he will be cleared to start his spring training all over again. He will start by playing catch and progress his way back. But even if all goes according to plan we won't see Severino until late April or early May. For now it is good news but, it is a shoulder injury after all. Shoulder injuries are always a concern for a pitcher, so can the Yankees and Severino really breathe a sigh of relief at this point?

It's Spring Training, thankfully. If this were the regular season already there would be more reason to be concerned. But as the Yankees look to build upon their close but not quite 2017 and 2018 seasons it's something to think about. We are still over two weeks away to the bright lights so it's not panic time yet. But these are things to watch...

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

FOR A GOOD TIME...

That's the number Morgan Management for Jose Canseco. I'm sure Morgan is thrilled that Jose decided to put their number on Twitter so Jennifer Lopez could call Jose so he could tell her the "truth" about ARod.

No one cares Jose, you are a loser.

@JLo if you want the truth about Alex Rodriguez call me 702-374-3735

— Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) March 11, 2019

The truth is I don't care about Alex Rodriguez and J.Lo getting engaged. Good for them. But what happens next is just immature and stupid. Jose is obviously trying to get noticed, trying to be provocative… I get it. He's irrelevant these days. But he's just inserting himself into things that are no one's business.  I don't care what ARod does.  I do care when people try and bring other people down just for their own benefit.

I also hate disrespect.  I'm no ARod fan, meaning, I really didn't love him as a player even though he was mad talented. I just didn't follow him like others did. I didn't like that he used, but hey, I don't like when anyone uses and cheats... so me not liking ARod is more about the PEDs than anything.

These days the guys reinvented himself and it's water under the bridge.  And that's my point to all of this.  What the hell can Jose Canseco really add? Butt out! Jose is the reason we even started talking about PEDs and changed the entire landscape of the game.  But right now I just want him to go away.

IT'S A STANTONIAN HOME RUN

Source: SNY

By now you have probably seen it or heard about it: Giancarlo Stanton's monstrous home run in Tampa on Friday night against the Detroit Tigers. He got all of it and then some as the laser home run made its way into the parking lot outside of George Steinbrenner Field.  This is home run may have ignited more than just excitement from the team and its fans.  It might just be what Stanton needed to jump start himself to be New York City-ready in 2019.

"Some of the expected improvement from Stanton in 2019 is perceived to be derived from attaining a comfort level in New York. It is true that Stanton and many other players endure an adjustment period when coming to the Yankees. This might have been believed to be more so a potential issue with Stanton, who came from Miami -- where the focus was to get through the season rather than win a World Series. In New York, media and fan attention focuses on each box score, which inherently increases an individual's internal pressure to perform day in and day out," reported SNY.com prior to the Stantonian home run on Friday night.

There is something to be said for Stanton, whether you respect him, like him or appreciate his contributions to the team or not.  He never hid from the press, he never made any excuses for his slumps or late production during last season.  He also appeared in 158 out of 162 games in 2018 for the Yankees. He pushed through hamstring soreness and other smaller injuries related to overuse and even worked harder with Aaron Judge out multiple weeks after he suffered a broken wrist.

Source: USA Today

"Here, Stanton demonstrated an impressive will to help his club and the ability to carry it for an extended period. At one stretch from June 4 to August 24 (72 games, while hobbled in parts), Stanton dug extremely deep and went on an extended hot stretch in which he hit .313, with a .383 OBP and .589 SLG, including 20 homers and 50 RBI," reported SNY.com.

Source: NY Times

I would take three more Giancarlo Stantons versus players who don't hustle, make excuses and don't push through overuse soreness injuries knowing that these are part of the game. He doesn't blame, he is respectful of his teammates and the media in New York.  Part of the deal of playing for the Yankees is that the spotlight is always on you and he has accepted that and handled it with grace and professionalism.

I am rooting for Stanton to have a great season, not just for the team, but for himself.  Here's hoping that this Stantonian home run is one of many key hits and RBIs we see from him in 2019.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

I'M SO PSYCHED ABOUT ESTEVAN FLORIAL

Look, I don't see this guy up with the Yankees until maybe the September call ups this year... maybe even that's a stretch. But there's no question this kid is impressing everyone. Officially? Maybe he's a year away.

Yanks go Yard shares this about the spring Florial is having and what else is coming his way with the Yankees farm system this year:

"After only reaching A-Advanced Tampa in 2018 Florial is going to have to conquer Double-A Trenton this season before he gets one step closer to putting on the pinstripes. That shouldn’t be a problem for him as long as he stays healthy and by the end of the year, he could get that call to Triple-A Scranton..." 

"With almost three weeks left to go in the spring, Florial entered Friday second on the team in at-bats with 19, hitting .368. He has an OPS of 1.060 with a home run, two doubles and four RBI. He’s also shown a good eye at the plate with two walks and when he’s gotten on base he hasn’t been hesitant to run at all stealing four bases on four attempts."

And that goes back to my thoughts on September Call-ups.  Wouldn't it be cool to get a peak of this guy on a major league level? I say it could happen. The Yankees have done that before.  Every once in a while there's some double-A kid they give a shot to and we just get a peak.  I see that happening with Florial.

Anyway look... I'm just happy he's flourishing.  I love this farm system. Looking forward to seeing this kid standing next to the likes of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez.

KEEP IT REAL OR KEEP IT TO YOURSELF

Sonny Gray clearly never learned the lesson, “if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all,” especially when it comes to your old team. After getting banished to the bullpen, Gray’s relationship with the Yankees definitely went south. Now with the Reds, Gray decided to talk some smack.

Source: The Daily News

"They love sliders," he said of the Yankees. "Sliders are a great pitch. The numbers say slider is a good pitch, but you might not realize how many (s----y) counts you're getting in while throwing all those sliders. They wanted me to be Tanaka and I'm way different from him,"reported CBS Sports.

Even though Gray thinks that the Yankees had him throwing the “wrong” breaking pitch, the pitching data in the CBS article disagrees.  He also said, “In my very last outing against the Red Sox, second to last game of the season in New York, I threw two innings out of the pen, all I did was throw cutters," Gray said. "I said, 'F--- 'em, all I'm going to do is throw cutters today.'” 

Source: NBC Sports

Which also is not true, and the data say that he did not throw a single cutter. If you’re going to go out and bash your former team, maybe you should have your facts straight. Keep it real, or keep it to yourself, Sonny.

Perhaps, Sonny should take a page from Noah Syndergaard’s book and learn to keep it real on social media and the press. Following his shaky second appearance at Spring Training, rather than blame his team, Syndergaard remained positive.

“I always think it’s great to struggle,’’ Syndergaard said following his second outing of the spring. “It separates the men from boys in how you react and how you make adjustments during a game. You recognize you don’t have your best stuff and you have to really pitch.’’Syndergaard isn’t at all worried about the upcoming season and said, “There’s a lot of time to work,” in the next four weeks, reported the New York Post.

Syndergaard also isn’t afraid to poke a little fun every once in awhile. Following Bryce Harper’s, “back to D.C.,” blunder, Syndergaard posted a photo on Instagram with the caption, “We want to bring home a title to DC... Oops... I mean Queens!” Gotta love good ole’ Thor.

Authenticity is truly a precious commodity in baseball and in life.  Transparency is equally important. Keep it real or keep it to yourself...don't blame, just accept, move on and make it work and even better, make it better.  

--Missy O'Rourke
BYB Contributor
Twitter: @missy_orourke

PRAY FOR TOM TERRIFIC

Getting old sucks.

Tom Seaver is in a sad place right now. Pray for him and his family.  Yankee announcer or not, Tom Seaver was an extraordinary MLB pitcher. I saw him get his 300th at Yankee Stadium on Phil Rizzuto day when he was with the White Sox. He was great then, but even better with the Mets.

Not too many people know this but he was the Yankee Announcer for a bit too. He was great at that as well, but now, it seems that over time, age has gotten to him. Tom Terrific has been diagnosed with dementia.

The LA Times writes:

"Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver has been diagnosed with dementia and has retired from public life. The family of the 74-year-old made the announcement Thursday through the Hall. 

They say Seaver will continue to work in the vineyard at his home in California."

It's unbelievable to think about, but it's true. This man is larger than life. What an incredible personality and playing ability.  I think the thing that gets me the most is seeing these words:

"retired from public life"

Wow.

Prayers to the Seaver family from everyone here at BYB.