WHY HIROKI'S NO-ROKI

I have no idea what that headline means. Clearly I am brain dead after a ton of toys arrived to my house this Christmas and no Yankee news, bad combination I guess. The reality is Wally Matthews of ESPN is throwing out there that the Yankees have no real intention on offering Hiroki Kuroda a contract and Wally’s theory is that the Yankees reasoning of being interested in the 37 year old in he first place was simply orchestrated to drive up the price for the evil Red Sox. Anyway, you can read Wally HERE.

According to a “baseball source” that talked to Matthews, the price for Kuroda is to high and not in the Yankees budget. I choked on my sandwich when I read that. We are talking about the Yankees right? It just sounds so weird to hear that a pitcher isn’t in the Yankees budget, considering that is what Hall Steinbrenner wanted as soon as the Playoffs ended. But hey... that’s where we are right now… The World of Wait.

Kuroda would have wanted a deal worth between $12 and $13 million. We are currently running a poll on BYB asking whether or not the Yankees should go for Kuroda. You should vote, and once the results have concluded, we’ll write up a post and discuss the results. I can’t wait, it will be really really fun and exciting… more fun and exciting than the Yankees off-season that is.

Oh Snap!…. That’s right, I went there.

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WHY TEAMS ARE INTERESTED IN JORGE POSADA

So what do you make of the Rays possibly being interested in our pal Jorge Posada? Immediately I become aggravated. I think "Why is a rival team messing with Yankee fans at the height of our emotions tearing us apart over a horrendous slow off season?" The other side of me thinks, "Good for Jorge, hopefully get latches onto a team and proves to the Yankee brass he still has some fight in him."

According to Jorge's father, the Rays, the Phillies and the Orioles are looking at him. Read about it HERE at ESPNDeportes.com. You need to be able to read Spanish, FYI. The Rays appear to be the team that would perhaps want to make Jorge a reserve first baseman, designated hitter and get this... a back up to Jose Molina. Wow, how things change in just a few years. Wasn't Molina Jorge's backup once? And recently? Anyway, there is no doubt that if Posada can get into a rhythm at the plate, his bat will be valuable, but like I've said, at his age, he needs to have more at bats than he did in 2011 with the Yankees...consistently. The start and stop approach didn't work too well and I understood when the season was over, why Jorge was so upset. Yes, it was the end of his Yankee career, but more importantly the writing was on the wall, perhaps it was the end of him in baseball. Read WHY REAL MEN CRY.

I have always been a fan of Jorge Posada, you know that. I believe that he is a true New York Yankee and I had a hard time thinking about him in another team's uniform. But for the sake of bettering Jorge Posada's mind, having him move on to another team, to give it another shot and perhaps contribute for alittle longer in Major League baseball, I think it would be a good thing and he has my blessing. Sure, if he retires a New York Yankee, I like that too.We'll keep you up to date on the status of Jorge when we know something. The reality is, we know nothing except for the Rays may be interested and if you want to expand further, Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, read HERE, says believes the interest isn't strong at all.

Whatever the case, whether Jorge Posada retires as a Yankee or signs with another team, the best of luck too him. We're in his corner here at Bleeding Yankee Blue, no matter what.

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WHY RICH HARDEN'S A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

With Gio Gonzalez, John Danks, CJ Wilson, and Mark Buehrle all off the list of starting pitchers the Yankees could've acquired, to go along with the ridiculous trade prices of Mat Latos--who went to Cincinnati--and Matt Garza, we now have to avert to the next tier of starting pitchers. We know of Roy Oswalt and Hiroki Kuroda, but Brian Cashman hasn't been too keen of either one, or at least to the public. Like it or not, the Yankees may actually have a tight budget this winter. With that in mind, I looked through the Free Agent list, which you can read HERE, for some cheap alternative options, and I think I've found a guy that could be a fit. That guy is Rich Harden.

Before we go through the negatives with Harden, I want to look at the positives. Harden is a guy who misses bats (career 9.2 K/9), doesn't allow many hits (career 7.5 H/9), and limits runs (career 3.76 ERA).

Unfortunately, that's where the positives end. On the negative side, he walks too many batters (career 4.1 BB/9), allows a few too many homers (career 1.02 HR/9), and gets injured...A LOT. Harden has been on the disabled list nine times since 2005, with five of those DL stints being due to shoulder injuries. Check out Harden's injury history right HERE. It's not pretty, to say the least.
Not to mention, Harden hasn't been that great at all the last two years. Take a look...

2010-2011:

35 games, 33 starts, 9-9, 5.36 ERA, 174.2 innings, 1.52 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, 4.8 BB/9, 1.8 HR/9

Now, after going through all the negatives I bet you're asking why he would be a good fit. First, his stock is basically rock bottom at this point, thus it will probably only take a one year deal worth around $2-3 million, could be less, who knows. The Yankees have a tight budget, but I don't think it's that tight, so money shouldn't be a problem here.
I'd give him a shot in Spring Training, and if he produces good results, while out-pitching other guys like AJ Burnett, Phil Hughes, etc, I bring him to the Bronx and have him in the starting rotation. If he craps out, so what? It's a low risk, high reward type of move for a guy with a lot of upside. Remember, it's just a one year deal, so they can DFA him and go a different route if he struggles. If it works out, great, Cashman will look like a genius, again.



--Jesse Schindler, BYB Staff Writer



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WHY I'VE ALWAYS LINKED CHRISTMAS TO THE YANKEES

You know who my favorite ballplayer of all time is… Rickey Henderson was the guy I wanted to be in little league and I would mimic his movement as he inched away from the bag and then darted to second base. Yes, it’s true, I was a huge Yankee fan and when he was on the Oakland Athletics, it didn’t matter much to me, baseball fans do that. They latch on to guys they love to watch and appreciate. For me, that was Rickey Henderson, the Man of Steel and there was no other.

Let me also mention that when it came to little, scrawny me, I didn’t even come close to muscle or appearance, but I nailed the impersonation of Rickey, or, at least I thought so. One season I stole something like 40 bases. I remember that not because little league tallied them for us, they really didn't. I remember that because I wrote my stats on an index card after every game. Pathetic I know, but when your a kid who has a hero, you tend to want to be them. No doubt, I wanted to be Rickey. I just remember that once I perfected how to bunt, I'd steal my way around the bases and do it the Rickey way. But enough about me being 10, there is actually a point to all of this.

 

On December 5, 1984, the New York Yankees did the unthinkable… They sent a bunch of guys, Jose Rijo, Eric Plunk, Jay Howell, Stan Javier and Tim Birtsas to Oakland for Rickey and Bert Bradley. I remember at the time, it was going to be the best Christmas and the best 1985 season EVER. Soon, I was able to replace my Henderson Oakland A’s 8x10 photo with a Yankee one. I snagged up all his cards and it clearly was one of the happiest times for me as a New York Yankees fan.

Christmas and Rickey Henderson for me, will always be connected and for some odd reason, at least once, even now in my adult years, I think about Rickey when it’s December. It’s not that I’m obsessed with the dude anymore. Instead, it’s just a fond memory, it just brings be back to 1984, just for a second.

To this day I try to teach my kids the importance of speed in baseball. My 9-year-old uses it to his advantage; he’s like an gazelle, although he takes a page from the Brett Gardner handbook, a slight lean toward second with his right hand pointing toward the dugout.

Yeah, we all have heroes, but mine happens to be one I had as a giddy Yankee fan back in 1984 and I’ll forever remember where I was when I found out Rickey was coming to New York. The next several years, I loved watching him in pinstripes… it was one of the greatest moments of my life, that’s for sure and it's all coming back to me again this Christmas...27 years later. Man, how time flies.

Merry Christmas everyone.

WHY THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

As we disappear from the computers for alittle bit and enjoy our families on this Christmas holiday, I wanted to mention a few things. Bleeding Yankee Blue is thankful for all of you who read us. We are thankful to the smart bloggers out there that got us interested in creating BYB and we appreciate how we got where we are. Sure, we're still small, but you reading us every day make us feel larger than life.

To my writers, you are smart and you're funny and I appreciate the material you crank out. Thanks. It's been fun and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all.

To you guys, the readers, I wanted to give to list my favorite posts that I like right now, for you to read if, you have some down time and want to check our site. Read these, they're fun:

WHY WON'T JEET TWEET?

THE TALE OF 2 ARODS

FAMILY RIVALRY & THE LAST WORD

WHY THE "YANKEES CAN'T DEVELOP HOMEGROWN TALENT" ARGUMENT IS BOGUS

BYB EXCLUSIVE: SQUEEGEE GET REAL

HEY RUSSELL...WHAT'S COMEDY?

WHY I KNOW WHO SWISHER REMINDS ME OF

That's some and there are a ton more. But this post is also about telling you what I'll be watching and listening to the next 24 hours or so. First off, Anyone out there have Lou Rawls Christmas Album? Harry Connick Jr's? Mariah Carey? Those are the ones break out every year, they are staples in my house. Here are a sample of them:

Lou Rawls, Christmas is:



Harry Connick Jr., Sleigh Ride:



Mariah Carey, All I want for Christmas is You



I also watch March of the Wooden Soldiers with Laurel and Hardy and of course, A Christmas Story with Peter Billingsley, a true classic.



Enjoy the holiday ladies and gentlemen, enjoy the family. Laugh and sing and all that crap and don't worry about the Yankees, in the end, everything will work out right? It's the holiday season now. Take a load off...Merry Christmas.

--Casey

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WHY CESPEDES IS AS DOUBTFUL AS DARVISH

Remember Debbie Downer? She was the really bad skit on Saturday Night Live where, no matter how good the conversation was going, or how happy someone's story may be, she always chimed in and killed the moment. Click HERE to see what I'm talking about.
Marc Carig is my Debbie Downer. Not that I really mean anything negative about that. The truth is, I read Carig religiously and love him, It's just that when I read this particular tweet from him HERE, and I combine it with WHY CASHMAN HAS A LONG TERM PLAN, it's clear, the New York Yankees are not doing anything this winter. We're going to ride the tide to spring, we will pick up loose ends and low risk deals and cross our fingers until the trade deadline on July 31, 2012. It's not something to be upset about, it's just the way it is.

We wrote WHY IT'S ABOUT TO GET HOT & HEAVY FOR CESPEDES here at Bleeding Yankee Blue and we believe it will. Now, whether or not the Yankees are involved in that "Hot & Heaviness" remains to be seen. (In Photo: Jorge Soler)
Personally, knowing how Cash operates and everything that's going on this off season, I wouldn't be surprised if he snuck in and tried to snag a Jorge Soler instead. Or, better yet... nothing, just save some money and walk into the 2012 season with what we have.

Whatever the case, one thing is clear, we're still the mighty New York Yankees, no matter what, we still have 27 Championships and are thirsty for more... no matter what and we will get out there in 2012 and kick some ass as we march toward #28... no matter what. So, enjoy the holiday, forget about this Yankee dry spell and remember not to get upset, because we have justa few more hours until Santa Claus is coming to town, and dammit I can't wait to see my kid's faces...that's more important than all this crap anyway, isn't it?

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AN OPEN LETTER TO BRIAN CASHMAN

Dear Ca$h,

I'm writing this letter because like many of Yankee fans across the globe, we are getting concerned. We AREN'T worried that we won't win 97+ games again in 2012 and win the AL East. No, I think we can all agree that we probably have a good enough team to battle for that AL East crown again and land in post-season baseball. But Ca$h, can you honestly look at our starting rotation right now, and with a straight face tell the most devoted fans in the world that we can compete for another World Series Championship?

As you know, the Yankee Universe is one big extended family. From the ownership all the way down to the fans, we all Bleed Yankee Blue! So I ask you, from one Yankee fan to another, what is going on? Why haven't you made a move to improve our starting rotation?

Look, I know there are numbers to crunch, trades to be examined, etc. But we are the New York Yankees! Why can't we solidify our starting 5? Why are we HOPING and PRAYING for Hughes to be healthy and Garcia to somehow piece together 150+ innings for us? How much longer do we have to all but concede games after just 2 innings almost every 5th day that AJ pitches? What can't you fix this Ca$h?

Look Ca$h, I want you to know I am a big fan of yours. Sure you've made some mistakes but I also think you don't get enough credit, especially for those dominant teams from 1998-2001. Okay, so you were a young GM who inherited the "Core Four" and some other great young players who were groomed by Gene Michaels, Bob Watson, and Buck Showalter. But throughout those years, you were also adding key pieces to each team that brought us Yankee fans all those championships. So for that I want personally thank you!

But, the past is the past Ca$h. You know how this works better than anyone. Even 2009 is becoming a distant memory. Don't get me wrong, credit should be given to you and for that championship team but what happened after that season up to today? It seems that this Yankee teams is holding together by very, very weak shoe strings that could snap at any moment. Don't you feel that way too Ca$h? This letter is not to give you jazz about a specific trade or anything. It's not tell you which free agent you should sign either. All I wanted to do is let you know there is some concern in Yankeeland. There is some concern that not enough is being done to IMPROVE this team. Yankeeland is concerned that 97+ wins and the AL East title has now become the only goal of the Yankee organization.

As a die hard Yankee fan I want you to know I stand behind you Ca$h. I want you to succeed because if you succeed, the Yankees succeed.

Your success = Yankee Championships = happy, happy Yankee fans everywhere!

Go get 'em Ca$h!

Bleeding-Yankee-Blue-til-the-day-I-die,

--Mikey Blue

--Mikey Blue, BYB Senior Writer
Email: DonnieBaseball2323@gmail.com
Twitter: @MikeyBlu23


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WHY SWISHER WON'T MAKE WAVES

Nick Swisher spoke of the Yankees team as a whole last night on the YES Network. Chad Jennings had this story and it's HERE and Swisher is quoted here:

“I think it’s time to put us back on the map... I think with the guys we have going into this season, we feel confident. A lot of people are saying, why haven’t the Yankees made any moves? Well, we didn’t win the most games in the American League last year with just nobody. We feel we have an amazing team, and we’re going to go out there and hope we prove that this year.”

“In New York, people expect to win, and we want to win for them...Regardless of whatever lineup we put on the field, we will be competitive.”

Well, breaking down these quotes from Nick are easy. My opinion is, sure Nick you won all those games with the team you had, which were a bunch of great ball players, but in the end, you didn't win, in fact you lost in the first round of the playoffs. Secondly, they Yankees job is to win, as many games as they can, the division and hopefully the entire playoff run. Now, in fairness, Nick gives no excuses and of course he's going to defend his team. Nick's been under a microscope all winter for failing in the playoffs and he's been attached to trade talk. That being said, Nick Swisher is a New York Yankee true and true and I, after thinking it through, would hate to move him out of the Bronx. I find his personality valuable and I find things that he does to bring others joy to be undeniable. I love the guy. (Read about his Afghanistan trip HERE.)I just found Nick's quotes interesting, it's the total Yankee way, don't talk out of line and protect the family. I respect it... he's wrong, but I respect it.

The Yankees needed 1 pitcher this off season, Hal Steinbrenner said it, read HERE. We missed the boat no doubt and I'd have more respect for our guys if they just came out and said that. But they won't and I understand why... they don't want to cause waves. Now we need to grin and bear it... no big deal. We're the mighty New York Yankees and we can get #28 in 2012 because we believe... right?

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WHY I BLEED YANKEE BLUE 1 YEAR LATER

About a year ago, I was browsing my Facebook page and came across a request for writers for a blog I followed, Bleeding Yankee Blue. I had just published a book, and missed writing for fun, so I submitted a writing sample for consideration. I received a very positive response from Casey himself, and after a few days, I was writing for Bleeding Yankee Blue. At first, I was the only female staff writer, which was somewhat challenging. However, overall, fans seemed to respond to the unique “female perspective” that BYB was offering, and seemed to enjoy my wise-cracking, humorous approach to some of the hot topics we posted.

At BYB, we’re a bunch of writers that are so dedicated to the game of baseball and to the New York Yankees, watching this baby flourish before our very eyes has been magical. We do this simply out of the love and respect for the game, and for our team. We’re endorsed by you, the Yankee fans and after all, that’s who we do this for.

Over the year, the blog has grown beyond our wildest dreams. Along with great insights, game recaps, highlights and hilarity, we’ve collectively interviewed an impressive roster of well-known New York Yankees. Guys like Mickey Rivers, Chuck Knoblauch, and David Robertson were very gracious and supportive of being featured on our humble little blog.

Kimberly Jones and Jack Curry of the YES Network were also interviewed, and gave public kudos for the work that we do. Behind the scenes, management teams and public relations staff have reached out in support of Bleeding Yankee Blue. There are features such as “Fan of the Week”, games and contests that few other blogs offer. There’s a personal approach to what we do; as fans reach out to us on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, we always try to respond personally with gratitude. It’s the fans that drive the blog, the writers, and the game. Casey had a dream, and it seems to be coming true.

I think my favorite piece yet was the exclusive interview with our very own “Warrior”, Paul O’Neill. His heart and soul for Yankees’ baseball shine through in the interview, and it matches that of all of the writers for the blog. This interview is the epitome of what we’re all about. We love our team, we love baseball, and we’re not only dedicated to it, but passionate about it. For me, if you want to define Bleeding Yankee Blue, read that interview. You’ll get a clear picture of what we’re all about.

On a personal note, the writers have also become a tight-knit family of folks that stick close to one another. We’ve been through a lot of challenges together, and have celebrated success together. We all have each other’s back, and our skipper Casey is a fantastic leader that helped us gel into the family we are today. Very often you’ll see comments we make to one another that make reference to “brothers” and “sisters”. These wonderful people are truly like family to me, and will stay that way.

It's been amazing and I’d like to thank the fans who read BYB. Please continue to spread the word about us, we love your dedicated support. Without you, none of this would have been possible. We all know that Yankee Fans are the best in the world; Bleeding Yankee Blue fans are a step above the rest. Thank you so much for all of your support and friendship.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Here’s to a happy, healthy 2012, and may you all continue to "Bleed Yankee Blue"!

--Christy Lee, BYB Staff Writer



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YANKEES SAY BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

Jon Morosi of Fox Sports tweets HERE that the Yankees and the Red Sox are both pursuing Hiroki Kuroda. Remember, Kuroda was the guy who back in July when the Yankees were looking to get him, didn't want to waive his no-trade clause...read HERE. Apparently now he's willing to play somewhere else, other than Los Angeles.

Better late than never I guess. Kuroda is 37 and I have long said that I was not a terribly big fan of Kuroda. True, his ERA has improved each year, but I wonder about him and how he will adjust coming to the AL from the NL. I even wrote WHY KURODA IS NOT THE ANSWER FOR THE YANKEES because I'm not too hot on him. That being said, the Yankees and Cashman probably know much better than me and I'm just a spectator at this point. Look, if they want him, go for it. I feel totally defeated after all the ups and downs in this free agent and trade market anyway.

But, what do you think? Would you pursue Hiroki Kuroda? Vote in our new poll on our home page. I'm removing our last poll where I asked, Which you would prefer, Gio Gonzalez or Edwin Jackson? because, with Gio being traded to the Nationals, it's kind of irrelevant at this point. Check out the new poll and vote.

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WHY ROBIN VENTURA DID A WONDERFUL THING

Former New York Yankee and current White Sox Manager Robin Ventura did something that was incredibly kind and I have 10 times more respect for him now. Not that I never had it before, I actually have always loved Ventura, even before the Yankees and now, this just makes me smile. Read it and share it.

Ventura took part in a Make-a-Wish performance of a Christmas Carol. That's not the kind part. The kind part is he did it to be with a girl named Emily Beazley, a White Sox fan and a young girl who was recently diagnosed with Stage 3 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Her wish is to someday be a star. MLB Scott Merkin has this story HERE and writes:"She played a character appropriately named Emily, while Ventura, not surprisingly, played the character of Mr. Ventura. They each had one line to speak in front of the large crowd.

"Everyone here has been so nice and they treat her as a celebrity. She's getting a taste of it. She's the queen walking by. It has been awesome. Just amazing, and she's so excited."

That quote is from her mother, who as you will see in this video below, was incredibly proud. Here's the video story:

Sure, this isn't a Yankee thing, this is a life thing. I can never pass up a story like this and it chills be to the bone, makes me emotional and gives me a smile when I read about it. Sure, there are plenty of athletes who do this sort of thing every day and they don't get press, I know, and I appreciate them too, but for some reason, I'm not sure why, this story is wonderful to me.

To Mr. Ventura and the Chicago White Sox, you guys are terrific. Merry Christmas.

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IS SWISHER ON THE INDIANS RADAR?

Fox Sports has a story out hinting that the Indians and several other teams called the Yankees about Nick Swisher. Read about it HERE. I read it and thought, wow, I wonder what the Yankees and the Indians talked about?

Just the other day we wrote WHY IT'S ABOUT TO GET HOT & HEAVY FOR CESPEDES and of course discussed the Yankees crowded and talented outfield already and how someone like Yoennis Cespedes, while a perfect addition to the Yankees, may not fit unless some of the "dead weight" was cut loose. Nick Swisher is by no means "dead weight", but his post season numbers are a big issue among Yankee fans. That being said, Nick is the Bronx Elvis and no one really wants to see him leave New York.
Mark Miller of Yahoo Sports writes: "Fox Sports reports that the "Cleveland Indians are one of several clubs that have called" the Yanks about trying to make a deal for the 31-year-old who has hit 185 homers since joining the big leagues with the Oakland Athletics back in 2004.

The Yankees, though, aren't likely to trade Swisher, who is set to make $10.25 million next season, Fox notes, because the team doesn't have a "major-league ready outfield prospect" right now."

My take? You can't assume anyone on the Yankees is untouchable. What do you think? Would you give up Nick Swisher? Stay tuned for this story right here on Bleeding Yankee Blue.

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