AARON JUDGE HEALING FROM 'UNUSUAL' INJURY

Two months ago Aaron Judge discovered that he had a fractured rib, interestingly this injury is still not healed. Why?

Dr. Guillem Gonzalez-Lomas, an orthopedic surgeon at NYU Langone Sports Health, talked about Judge's injury. He did not treat Judge himself, however, he has experience helping people through the same exact injury. The injury is unusual because Judge fractured his first rib, which is a very unusual and rare condition. The Yankees believe he also suffered a partially collapsed lung. 

“We just almost never see stress fractures in this area,” he said. “This translates into there not being standardized rehabilitation protocols for the injury — it’s hard to derive any conclusions about treatment when our collective experience includes so few cases.”

Even with the injury, Judge played through the pain during the end of last season and the postseason. He trained through it during the winter and once he arrived in Tampa for pre-spring training workouts is when he told the team he was experiencing pain and discomfort. 

It took almost a month for the Yankees to even figure out what was wrong with Judge because he was feeling the pain in his right shoulder, not near his ribs. Strange right? But apparently to Dr. Gonzales-Lomas, this is common. 

“This means that the brain interprets pain as coming from a part of the body where a crossing nerve goes to rather than where the pain actually is,” he said. “Figuring out that the pain actually originated from the first rib, an unlikely origin, was actually tremendously insightful and likely saved Judge from an even longer convalescence.”

Aaron Boone appeared on MLB Network Radio earlier this week and provided an encouraging update on Judge. Judge is due for another CT scan to check on his progress in the upcoming weeks. 

"This time down has allowed that rib, that bone to hopefully continue to heal," Boone said. "All signs are encouraging there. Hopefully, this time down allows that rib to heal properly and hopefully have him part of all this as well."

It is hard to be thankful for the pandemic going on right now, but thankfully it pushed back baseball season so that Yankees injured players such as Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks, and James Paxton had more time to heal and will be ready to play whenever that time comes.

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

SECRETLY THE YANKEES DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIGASHIOKA

Look, I love that Kyle Higashioka as one of the Yankees catchers, but it was very evident to me that the Yankees don't have confidence that he can take the reigns as their back up or even top catcher if someone like Gary Sanchez gets hurt.

And trust me, with Gary's track record, he's gonna get hurt.

The Yanks came out and said they were satisfied with Higashioka in the backup role, but then, remember what they did? They picked up a crap load of catchers, many veterans with that experience of a backup… Erik Kratz, Chris Iannetta and Josh Thole.

To me, that's a red flag. To me, that's the Yankees saying they're not comfy with Kyle back there.  Hey, it could be me speculating, but I think I'm right about this one.

Anyway, I love Kyle's confidence regardless, and I know that he can probably prove the doubters wrong and I appreciate and respect that. George A. King III of the New York Post writes a great piece on Higashioka and here is some of it:

"Romine’s departure ensured Higashioka, 30, would be Sanchez’s backup in 2020 and, barring a spring training injury, he would be on a big-league Opening Day roster for the first time in his career on March 26 in Baltimore against the Orioles. 

'[March 26] would have been my first major league Opening Day. But, to be honest, I didn’t really think about it during the day,’ Higashioka told The Post’s Ken Davidoff for a Yankees diary entry in March...

Like Romine, Higashioka has a good relationship with pitchers and worked smoothly with Gerrit Cole in the right-hander’s final spring training outing March 10. The true value of a backup catcher is solid defense, because hitting in the big leagues is hard enough for everyday players, never mind those who play once a week. 

However, being Sanchez’s backup the past three years also entails stretches as the No. 1 catcher. Romine handled that well and was considered among the best backups in the game. Now, it’s Higashioka’s turn. 

'He has improved every year and has worked hard at it,’ an NL talent evaluator said. 'Each year he does more. He has a little power and receives the ball well. This past spring training he threw better than he did last year.’"

Look, here's the real situation when it comes to Higashioka. Spring is an early experiment. No harm if things doesn't work out, that's why those other catchers are there. If Kyle does well, those other guys eventually fall by the waste side. If Kyle flounders, you got guys like Thole or Iannetta that can jump in at any moment with that veteran grit.

In the back of my mind I think that Higashioka can prove that he's a terrific back up and hey, maybe even eventually be a starter.  Not sure about the Yankees, but somewhere.

Be sure to read the rest of that King article, it's great.

Happy Friday everyone. Be safe.

PLOUFFE SAYS BASEBALL IN JULY? CROSS YOUR FINGERS!

I'm trying not to get too excited, but I can't help it. The baseball rumors are starting again. Yes, we've heard several plans for baseball to return and we've covered some of them....but maybe it getting closer. Maybe we are getting closer to a plan. Let's cross our fingers.

I'm sure a lot of you have seen this tweet. If not, former major leaguer Trevor Plouffe started the frenzy on Monday. I didn't buy into it too much at first.

Plouffe got some blacklash on Twitter. People were asking for sources, which is reasonable. July 1st wasn't being talked about until he put it on on social media. He never offered any sources but then yesterday I saw two things that caught my eye, including another Plouffe tweet.

So Ken Rosenthal is also talking about a possible July 1st date and he references that. So there is another source. Then Plouffe says he has had texts from players in SIX different organizations telling him the same story? Sounds a little more promising....

Again, trying not to get too excited here but MAN that would be awesome. It's something to look forward to. But oh wait....not done yet. Now CBSSports is also confirming that the Cleveland Indians are preparing for a possible July 1st start, read more HERE. Maybe the Yankees are too.

Plouffe may not be playing anymore, but he has been involved in some alternative media projects, TalkinBaseball podcast being one of them. I'm sure he still has friends in the game too so I'm sure he still gets some of the inside scoop from time to time, and this is an example of how he is still very connected to the game.

I dug a little deeper, and now the New York Post reports MLB will present the proposal to the Players association by no later than beginning of next week BUT it could be as soon as the end of this week, read more HERE.

I'm sure there is a lot to figure out still. Logistically this is probably going to be a nightmare. The schedule needs to be figured out, safety and health concerns as well as family time for the players. Salaries are still a work in progress too. It's a lot to figure out in a short amount of time....but it gives us hope and something to look forward to.

I just want to see a healthy Aaron Judge (crossing fingers) hit some dingers a ripped Aroldis Chapman take the mound and most of all....Gerrit Cole make his Yankee debut and embarrass a bunch of hitters. Oh throw in a good Aaron Boone screaming match too just to top it all off. It's not too much to ask, right?

Keep your fingers crossed and send some positive vibes out there Yankee fans....we are getting closer!

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE YANKEES ARE THE BIGGEST BENEFICIARIES OF PROPOSED BASEBALL REALIGNMENT

Source: USA Today

I am as happy as you are with this headline.  You had me at Yankees are the biggest beneficiaries!  Yes, believe it or not, the Yankees are topping the ten teams in the new Eastern Division in early projections. Their closest kins are the Washington Nationals, which gave the Bombers a tough time last season.  The projected Yankees success boils down to three main reasons: 1. Starting Pitching; 2. Mashing Lineup and 3. Bottom Feeding Teams.

Let's start with Starting Pitching.  Yes, Starting pitching is a strength of the 2020 Yankees, headlined by the biggest free-agent signing of all time.  According to the Washington Post, "Gerrit Cole, their new ace, is expected to be the most valuable pitcher in baseball per FanGraphs’ calculation of wins above replacement. Cole will join a starting five that should also include Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton, J.A. Happ and Jordan Montgomery. Only the Nationals, also in the division, are projected to have a better starting rotation." Despite losing Luis Severino to Tommy John surgery, the Yankees are primed to take down teams with their starting rotation.  If everyone stays healthy and sharp, there will be a number of great pitching duels in the newly aligned Division.

Source: N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg

A Mashing Lineup.  I kinda like the way that sounds.  Even without Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, the Yankees have performed well above average with their "second string." But now that second string is the first string and after a banging season that saw guys like Brett Gardner having the season of his career, they are just getting warmed up.  "Second baseman DJ LeMahieu, shortstop Gleyber Torres, catcher Gary Sánchez, outfielder Brett Gardner, first baseman Luke Voit and third baseman Gio Urshela round out a lineup expected to be among baseball’s best," reported the Washington Post. Recall that this lineup contributed to the 306 home runs last season, one shy of best in baseball posted by the Minnesota Twins.

Lastly, with the realignment brings a number of lower-level, sub .500 teams in the Miami Marlins, Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates.  The Yankees could easily top the Division if all goes well as long as they can hold off nuisance teams like Tampa Bay and maybe even the New York Mets.

With the season still a question mark, it is exciting to at least see some plans come together, particularly those that give the Yankees a favorable chance to win. Considered part of the home park proposal, the Eastern Division could prove to provide just enough competitive action to keep the Yankees sharp while giving them the advantage they need to top the Division and take the road toward the World Series.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

LESSONS FROM THE ZOO

It seems that the argument has been around since humans were able to verbally communicate. Were times tougher then or now? Were people stronger then compared to now? Is that generation tough, while this one is weak?

The questions get posed and the answers come rapid fire…but who is actually right?

Could an overweight, orphan kid from Baltimore who became the SULTAN OF SWAT hit a dead, red heater from a guy known as THE CUBAN MISSILE (who once touched 105mph)?  The truth is we don’t really know…we guess. Short of Doc Brown showing up with McFly and the Delorean, that’s all we can do.

In this awful crisis I continue to put life squarely in the spectrum of baseball. This pandemic feels like slump we can’t shake. I mean sure, we got an “oops excuse me” knock yesterday, and seem to be seeing the ball better, but we want that 4 for 4 game with a dinger and 5 RBIs…it’ll happen.

The back of our baseball card will show up. I was lucky enough to experience a bit of the infamous Bronx Zoo years. Yes, I was a little kid, but I remember those guys so vividly. They embodied New York in the 70s. They were a snapshot of the city decked out in Pinstripes…and they were straight up animals.

When I think about Boonie telling that ump last season, “MY GUYS ARE SAVAGES IN THE BOX!” I chuckle a bit.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Aaron. His guys are tough customers in the box…but they ain’t savages like the Yanks from the Zoo. That's the truth! With all their quirky disfunction and infighting, the Yankees of the late 1970s were a magical team. They just wanted to fight for every single win.

They gutted it out day after day and night after night. Thurman, Reggie, Mick the Quick, Catfish, Goose, Nettles, Lou, Gator…they were just what we need today. Guys that didn’t win pretty. They weren’t manicured like ARod. They didn’t have personalized spikes…hell, even the field at the stadium was in rough shape…but they played through it all with fire.

THEY WERE TOUGHER Than our current generation of players.

Image Tex walking into the clubhouse to tell Billy, “Hey, this hangnail is really messing with my swing from the left side. I’m gonna sit tonight.” Martin would have bitten his finger off…not to mention his head.

We are in a spot now where we need that gritty Bronx Zoo head space. It sucks, but we play to win. We’re hurt, but there’s a game to win. We’re down…but we never stay that way. America IS the Bronx Zoo.

We don’t get along all the time. We believe that we are the individual that “Stirs the coffee”. We look to drill Jimmy Rice between the numbers just so Nettles and Bucky can bust Yaz and Pudge in the mouth when the benches clear.

We ain’t perfect, but damn are we great when we want to be. We can learn from the Zoo and we will win it all again.

Be safe, stay well…and KNOW that the streak is coming…and we will see a scrawny shortstop with caked on eye black send one “DEEP TO LEFT!” soon.

Here’s a little throwback from the Zoo to you!

A HIT FROM 1978! "HIS HAIR WAS PERFECT....DIP!"

--Mike O'Hara
BYB Contributor
Twitter: @mikeyoh21

THE BLACK MARKS OF BASEBALL & 2ND CHANCES: PART 3

This wasn't supposed to be the last uniform that Carlos Beltran was supposed to wear after his playing days were over. He had plans for the next big phase of his baseball life. It was time to transition from playing to managing. He was supposed to put on a Mets uniform.

This was supposed to be Beltran's future. He was ready. The Mets were ready....but maybe baseball won't be ready. A little more than two months after Beltran was named the next Mets manager the Mets realized this wasn't going to work. He was going to be too much of a distraction after the world learned he was a mastermind in the Astros cheating scandal. The Mets had nothing to do with that, but keeping Beltran as their leader made them part of a scandal. Who wants that?

So here he is the last piece of a complicated management puzzle. He's last the BLACKMARK of baseball and I think his future is more uncertain than disgraceful Alex Cora or weak A.J. Hinch. Those two had a chance to manage, they at least had a track record....Beltran never got his chance because he blew it.

I think it is fair to say he blew it. After Beltran won his tainted World Series ring in 2017, he was ready for his next opportunity. The Yankees made the decision not to bring back Joe Girardi and started interviewing for their next skipper. They gave Beltran an interview, insiders said the Yankees were actually impressed with him, but they ultimately gave the job to Aaron Boone.

The Yankees must've liked what they heard in his interview. He played for the Yankees from 2014-2016, so they knew what he could do as a player. He wasn't chosen for manager but the Yankees hired him as a special assistant to Brian Cashman which got him closer to his managing dream.

Beltran finally got his chance in November 2019, when he was named Mets manager. Not even two weeks after being named manager, Beltran denies his involvement in the Astros cheating scandal HERE. In January Rob Manfred releases his report on the Astros cheating scandal where Beltran is named as a mastermind in the scandal. He isn't formally punished because all players are given immunity, which we are all still mad about.

And the Mets at that point had to cut ties with Beltran. The pictures of Beltran introduced in his Mets uniform again, but this time as a manager may be the last. Beltran never led a team practice, made an appearance at Spring Training, or stepped in the dugout as skipper. Will the pictures be his only management moment?

I think they could be. Hinch and Cora have something Beltran don't....a track record. Cora's may not be long, but he got to the World Series and won whether you believed they cheated to get there or not. Beltran has not, he never established that credibility.

No credibility, and he finished off a great career in shame. He cheated. He cheated and won a tainted ring. That is his legacy, no matter how brilliantly baseball minded he may be. That is something people will remember. It's a reputation teams will remember and maybe want to forget and never take a chance on.

So Beltran never got punished as a player. I still don't agree with it but....maybe if he never gets to manage like he wants that would be the punishment?

I think Beltran would have been a good manager, I really do. But we may never know now and if that is the case I am okay with that. He made bad choices. Those choices would be distractions to future opportunities in baseball. It would be bad for baseball.

The last BLACKMARK with no managing credibility. Hell, no credibility at all now in my opinion. So does that deserve a second chance? Why or why not? Tell us.

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

JUDGE'S FAILURE TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS INJURY EARLY ON HAS MADE HIS RECOVERY MORE CHALLENGING

Source: NY Post: Charles Wenzelberg

Aaron Judge is a hardworking baseball player.  Ironically, that may be part of his problem.  I mean, if you are looking for a problem.  He has been nothing short of spectacular in the way he has shaped the franchise following the departure of Derek Jeter, who held that position for 20 years.  He has brought life back to right field as the Judge's Chambers is a permanent fixture and tourist attraction at the Stadium.  But he what he can't do is stay healthy, being bitten by the injury bug more than any of us would like.  Yet, the silver lining of this baseball pause is that Judge is healing nicely, and that rest he is getting is the best thing he can do for his body.

Source: Sue Ogrocki/AP

“It’s been very productive to have this time to allow that rib to heal, and that is happening,’’ Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on the team’s YES Network. “As to where he’s at exactly, we don’t have anything for you on that yet,’’ reported the New York Daily News.  As long as Judge is listening to the experts and his body, we are good but if he gets anxious and antsy to push himself, that is going to be a recipe for disaster.

Source: NY Post

“I think the consistent swinging and weightlifting throughout the whole offseason really didn’t give it the chance to [heal]. If somebody breaks their leg and they’re In a cast, they’re immobilized for a couple weeks or months … You give the bone a chance to heal,” Judge when the broken rib was finally announced in March. “But me, pissed about how the season ended last year, and the changes I wanted to make, I felt right back to it. We’ve all been through pain, bumps and bruises. In my head, I felt like it was something that I could fight through and I think that kind of cost me a little bit there,” said Judge as reported by the News.

Source: NJ.com

Athletes need to listen to their bodies.  It is sort of like what my company says to us when we want to do something that the organization is just not quite ready for yet:

1. What the Yankees need to do 
2. What Aaron needs to do. 
3. What Aaron wants to do.

The team is counting on Aaron Judge to perform at a very high level.  And if he puts his wants ahead of his needs and the Yankees needs, then he will hurt the team.  I appreciate his work ethic; I wish more people had that kind of grit.  Yet, right now he needs to just let the lung and rib heal, completely before trying to go balls out.

Source: The LA Times

As Dr. Alan Goldberg who has treated professional athletes writes in the newsletter Competitive Advantage, "The mental pain caused by your injury and the temporary or permanent loss of your sport can be far more devastating than the strained or torn ligaments, pulled muscles, ripped cartilage or broken bones. Unless this type of pain is directly addressed and “treated”, your overall recovery will be slow and incomplete." He lists a number of key strategies for athletes and their coaches to apply when fighting back mentally and physically from injuries.

Source: NY Post

One of the strategies is "Don't allow the athlete isolate himself from the team" which can be difficult during this baseball pause and social distancing.  The doctors are monitoring Judge closely but the uncertainty still prevails as they have not been able to connect with him for about a week.  Here's hoping Aaron is listening to his body, not doubting himself and staying calm during this uncertain time.  I hope he comes back healthy and ready to go, but if he's not ready, yet, I hope he won't mask things and be upfront with his feelings.  We need Judge healthy to win.  It is just that simple.  Let's hope that happens.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

A PITCHER THAT YANKEES PICKED UP & I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE IT!

This whole pandemic has really gotten to me, and I have to tell you, BYB is surviving just fine, but with many home, many have to deal with more, be it family, home schooling and trying to deal with work as well.  In my own personal life, BYB takes a minor back seat as I try to re-adjust and get into a new routine. A good few months in I'm finally there.

Anyway, with everything going on, I didn't even realize that the Yankees had picked up Tony Zych, a righthander and an extra piece to their bullpen we would hope. This is a solid pitcher, dude!

NJ.com wrote this weeks and weeks ago:

"The Yankees added potential bullpen depth... and newcomer Tony Zych sure is intriguing...Pitching with Seattle from 2015-17, Zych threw in the high 90s and pitched to a 2.72 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 72 2/3 innings over 70 appearances, 69 as a reliever. He has a career 3.73 ERA over seven minor-league seasons from 2011-17."

Now depending on what happens with MLB this season, we will see what happens with Zych. He signed a minor league deal so we will just have to see. But look, as far as I'm concerned, extra arms is always a good idea.

Anyway, welcome Tony, sorry I missed the news.

AARON BOONE CONFIDENT ABOUT THE 2020 SEASON

With talk of baseball coming back, Aaron Boone feels confident that there will be a 2020 season after all. Apparently, Boone has been in constant contact with his players and the front office via text, Facetime, and Zoom.

"It’s been good. I feel like guys are in a good spot, and hopefully when we do get that call to go, I feel like our guys are in a pretty good spot to be ready to hit the ground running,” he stated.

MLB has been holding meetings with the umpires union, which is another good sign of a possible baseball season. The meetings have been about the working conditions for when baseball potentially resumes. Some of the working conditions would be unique such as, quarantining away from the ballpark.

There is also a plan in place that would have teams resume their spring training, which was put to stop seven weeks ago. The plan would save teams money, they would not have to provide housing and per diems for a second spring training and would limit the challenges of traveling. 

The Yankees are expecting some players may return to Florida. "Some" players are to return to George M. Steinbrenner Field as soon as next week. 

In Florida, the "Safer at Home" orders are about to expire and businesses there are slowly starting up again. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis wants to keep sports going in the state as WWE is able to continue filming without fans.

"I think that Major League Baseball coming back, I’m hearing this, I think that that’s going to be exciting for a lot of people and I just think that there’s going to be a lot of possibilities, so let’s just be resourceful and creative,” said DeSantis.

The MLB is definitely trying to get resourceful and creative. In Suzie Pinstripe's piece, she talks about the possibility of a home park proposal. This enables teams in metropolitan areas such as the Yankees and Mets to play most of its games in their region with games starting no later than July 2, 2020.

Even if we cannot physically go to a baseball game, sitting back with an adult beverage and snacks watching the Yankees and Mets go at it would be the next best thing. With all the positivity going around it is hard to think that our sport won't return, even if it's a short season.

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