THE PIRATES WILL WIN IT ALL...

... According to my 9 year old.

I have a baseball family.  The majority of my family are Yankee fans.  In their young age, I explained the evil of the Red Sox, the rivalry, and how the Yankees are always champions.  That’s what most of you do and that’s what Red Sox fans do with their children as well... only it's reversed.  It’s brainwashing, sure, but that’s what makes the rivalry fun.  Besides, right now it looks like the Sox have this in the bag… I tip my cap to John Farrell. It's interesting what happens to a club when players respect their manager, right Bobby V?

My 9 year old is a Pirates fan, but being their fan didn’t start this year.  That started about 4 years ago when he was much younger and had absolutely no interest in baseball.  At the dinner table one night, he asked why I had a hat in my collection with a big yellow “P” on it. 

Growing up a baseball fan, I appreciated guys like Willie Stargell and was able to witness the “We are Family” Pirates run in 1979.  For baseball, it was magical, but as we all know… the Pirates have stunk up the joint for a while since. I explained the history and how they weren't very good. He looked up from his broccoli and said...  “I pick the Pirates!"

I said, “OK, then you can have the hat.” My older son laughed at him. I grinned.  My wife said, “How sweet is he?”  

Fast forward to 2 nights ago. The Pirates clinching their playoff spot for the first time in 21 years. The next morning, I walked into my son’s room and I put that Pirates cap on his bed with the rest of his clothes for school.  I touched his sleeping cheek and he opened his eyes.  “The Pirates are in the playoffs, Peanut.”, I said.

“Does that mean they won it?” he asked… clearly he’s not a baseball fan and I don’t care, he’s the sweetest boy ever. “No, It means they’re good and they have a great shot,” I said.   

“I knew it,” he said... and he rolled over.

If you asked my 9 year old who Andrew McCutchen or AJ Burnett or Jason Grilli was, he wouldn’t know and wouldn’t care.  He likes the underdog. That’s because for much of his sporting life, my son was the underdog.  He tries, he appreciates the support in any sport he does, but he doesn’t have the coordination, nor the talent like my 11 year old does.  He chose the Pirates years ago because he knew they weren’t too good. For me, it seemed like symbolism. Whether he knew it or not is another post for another time.  The point is, the Pirates were him… and now the Pirates have a big shot of being champions and he’ll ride it, not knowing who’s pitching and not sure what the playoffs actually mean. That's my Peanut... always an underdog, yet still the most popular kid in the room.

My 9 year old is the sweetest kid in the world.  Everyone loves him.  Last night in Boston Market we were on line and he was asking many questions...like how the Rotisserie chickens were made.  He was full of questions… questions I didn’t have answers too, but I fudged it.  As he went to the drinking fountain, the cashier looked at me smiling… “Oh my God, I love him! He is so cute.” “Thanks,” I said. She was right.

My guy will suck you in...no doubt about it. He’s got a dynamic personality, an amazing vocabulary… and he’s the underdog, looking for his “thing.” The best part… he’s mine and right now no one wants the Pirates to win it all more than me. I want them to win it for him, because that symbolism is an amazing tool… it’s a thread, and if it picks up my son a bit and gives him alittle extra confidence in his life… well… that’s fine with me. Why? Because my 9 year old deserves everything that comes his way…. including having the Pittsburgh Pirates win it all.  For his sake… I hope they do.

I was hoping the Yankees made it... a Pirates vs. Yankees World Series.  OK.. fine. Now I'm just getting crazy.

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YANKEES KNOCKED OUT!

I'm not sure what to say.  It's over. I can be crystal clear right now when I tell you... I won't be watching much of the post season. In fact, I will pretty much not be watching much the next few day.  Who the hell wants to write about a crappy season and drudge up old stuff after being eliminated.  The Yankees played the best they could, I guess... but what did we learn this season as fans?  Well, we learned a lot about business.  We learned that selling fans a bill of goods isn't always sellable.  What I mean is, the fans knew since day one that this season had many question marks and we yelled and screamed and at times, the media would question the Steinbrenner's and Randy Levine all about it on our behalf.  But we were told clearly that the Yankees put the best team on the field.  We knew they were lying to us then... and we clearly know that Yankee brass is exposed now.  It's pathetic.  We're the pinstripes... we're the Yankees... we're champions, but with chatter everyday about us Yankees NOT spending money and hearing about alleged disagreements between what Brian Cashman wanted and what "the Brass" wanted... it was clear, there was a disconnect between Cashman, the Brass and the fans.  After all, look at the Alfonso Soriano signing for example.

I'm going to say something that will not shock you... I miss George Steinbrenner. Now, let me be clear. When George Steinbrenner was alive, I didn't like him. But one thing I understood was his "want: and will to win it all.  He made knee jerk signings because he liked a player's bat or wanted a guy to pitch for the Yanks. Many times it didn't work out... but some times it did.  With George and his guys, we had a good run in the 70's and the late 90's.  These days Yankee brass and namely Randy Levine are slow on the uptake...late to the party.  They aren't sure and they wait.  They dangle the money just out of reach of Brian Cashman and won't give it to him so he can do his job. In turn, players are available and then disappear and it kills the Yankees chances every time.  We also don't give young talent enough time to blossom, or the pitching we have can't get it done.  Pitching wins championships.... George knew that... these days, we don't have a clue in the front office.

This season was tough. This season was brutal, but you can't blame the players as much as you can blame the brass.  If the fans could fire anyone, it would be them. They gave us this, and granted, bad, BAD injuries didn't help the situation, but don't ever try and pass a piece of coal as a diamond and expect the fans to believe it.  That was bullshit. I'm not just mad... I'm fucking pissed, pardon my french.

2013 was a disaster, and the only thing we have left is to perhaps beat the Baltimore Orioles this season and enter 3rd place as the season ends.  Just so you know... 3rd place sucks... especially if you're the Yankees.

I'm not doing a recap tonight. You know what happened. The Yankees lost and the Cleveland Indians won to literally knockout the Yankees from the playoffs this season. In a season of the Mariano Rivera farewell tour, and the end of Andy Pettitte in pinstripes... you would think that Yankee Brass would have been smarter in marketing their team to allow us a chance to win in such a special time.  Instead, Mo and Andy walk away with nothing but memories and Yankees fans feel robbed.  I will think twice before spending hundreds of dollars on a loser team next season...trust me.

Yankee brass can try and blame the players for this... but this is on them. It's bad business and it's disgusting.

Finals: Rays 8 - Yankees 3 , Indians 7 - White Sox 2

Finally, let me say this... in the post game, Joe Girardi said, "We worked really hard..." That's when I zoned out.  Never tell me you work hard... UNLESS YOU PROVIDE RESULTS. Working hard means nothing unless you win.  Stop the madness... seriously.

And thanks for showing up... my goodness.

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YANKEES' STRENGTH & CONDITIONING NOW IN QUESTION

Dana Cavalea... Who is this guy? A lot of people are asking about him, and with good reason. As far as we the fans know, he is the expert that is supposed to keep our guys in top shape and help prevent injuries. Keyword there is "prevent." After the onslaught of injuries this year people are talking about him and asking questions. It's not the first time, but after a disastrous season it's only natural. So, what do we know about this guy and what has he done?

Obviously, he is in the hot seat right now. You can't ignore this guy and not investigate. This guy is paid to keep these guys in shape and after this season, our boys were anything but healthy. We already looked at the Yankee coaching staff and started to make our own conclusions in WHICH YANKEE COACHES ARE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK?, but this man should not be excluded and it's time to dig deeper.

No disrespect to Cavalea, because I have listened to so many interviews that he has done and you can tell he knows a lot about how the human body works. If you ever watched Yankees On Deck you also caught a glimpse of that too. He knows what he is talking about and he has the experience. Before coming to the Yankees he worked as a conditioning coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays. He graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Exercise Science and special certifications to go with it. In 2011 he even started his business call ML Strength as an off season project. He is knowledgeable, so where is the disconnect? Look at all of the injuries from this year and seasons past and you have to start to wonder....what's going on?

Some people have been quick to jump to the obvious argument of "Well....the Yankees are old. Their bodies are starting to give out." Sure, that makes sense to a point. But as an athlete keeping your body and mind in shape is your job and these guys have plenty of resources to help them do just that. If those resources don't help then it is time to start asking questions and fix the problem. Sure, the athlete has a big responsibility in that, but it is also the responsibility coach to step in and help train their bodies and correct any bad habits.

The Yankees are one of the oldest teams in all of baseball, that's a fact. But let's look at some notable injuries. Alex Rodriguez has had his fair share of hip injuries. In hopes to find a new solution to an old problem Rodriguez decided to turn to NBA star Kobe Bryant for his advice on a cutting edge treatment he received himself called "Orthokine" that has been credited to Dr. Mike Clark. It was risky and required him to travel to Germany for it. I find it weird how Cavalea signed off after everything was already explored and then jumped in to contribute down in Miami to help the rehab process. As rehab progressed, Clark explained that this was going to correct "the repetition of improper movement and the stresses they caused slowly broke down even a superior athlete," read more of that HERE. Anyone else find that statement a little odd? So, isn't Cavalea's job to mentor and teach good repetition and movements to these athletes to keep them in good condition? I thought it was. I may be reading too much into this. I am not a doctor, but it certainly is compelling.

And what about Derek Jeter? Come on, 17 games on the field is proof in itself. No doubt in my mind that Jeter's injury last season during the ALCS was crushing. At Jeter's age that is considered "old" in the baseball world and your body just does not recuperate the same way when compared to being in your 20's. Do I think the Captain pushed himself too much during the season to get back on the field? Absolutely. He is a gamer. But you mean to tell me after all of the workouts he had with Cavalea during his numerous trips to the disabled list that Cavalea didn't see something out of the ordinary? Or even think that Jeter was trying to do too much too soon? Again, I am no Doogie Howser, but the signs were all there. The frustration in Jeter's voice when he would talk to the press, the way he wasn't running full out when he came back and even how uncomfortable he looked at times while in the batters box were all good signs. Sure X-rays are a great thing, but even a clean picture can be deceiving as we now know. Once the break was healed there needed to be some more conditioning there, and he needed more time. The coaching aspect was probably a "miss" here.

Last but not least that sticks in my head is Mark Teixeira. Let's face it, he was a non-factor this year but he always seems to have some sort of nagging injury. Last year he missed a lot of time due to a nagging calf. The wrist has always been another issue for him, especially the left wrist that he has always talked about as being "weaker." This season he spoke about fixing his weak spots, and Dana Cavalea was supposed to play a big part in that, read HERE. They came up with this intense workout that was supposed to also help with his agility, which Cavalea says a lot of athletes don't pay enough attention to which is a big mistake. All of those extra workouts have yet to pay off for Tex, because after trying to make a comeback after wrist injury he eventually had to face fact that his wrist had not healed and undergo season-ending surgery. Since the initial injury Tex has said he may not use a weighted bat anymore. I wonder if Cavalea has changed his mind since giving THIS interview....more food for thought.

These are just the major injuries that come to mind for me. Let's not forget that other injuries like oblique strains have also been a huge problem for this team this year. I can't remember the last time I have heard of so many players suffering the same injuries. So far names like David Robertson, Brett Gardner, Joba Chamberlain, and Eduardo Nunez just to name a few. Surely, I can't be the only one who thinks that is a little overkill. If the Yankees are training and conditioning as needed this injury would not have been so prominent this year.

So maybe the Yankees aren't the only thing that has broken down this year. Maybe the strength and conditioning coach is a little rickety and is in need of some repair as well, but then again....what do I know? I just observe and write. I could be wrong, it wouldn't be the first time.




--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Senior Writer and Editor
Twitter: @NyPrincessJ


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THE PAST CALLED THE FUTURE... IT WENT TO VOICEMAIL

With the chants of “MARI ANO!” and Metallica’s live rendition of “Enter Sandman” still ringing in our ears we watched them. For me it was almost like seeing Richard Pryor perform one more time, or catching Springsteen play an all out show for four plus hours. Both men doing what they were born to do with the same focus and control that they’ve displayed from nearly two decades. One, a self-proclaimed “grinder”, made his way to the hill first. Andrew Eugene Pettitte, Major League Baseball’s All-time leader in Post Season wins, took the ball as he had on so many Sunday afternoons in the Bronx…but this was no ordinary Sunday.

This day would be his last appearance in Yankee pinstripes. The big lefty from Baton Rouge is walking off into the sunset from the second and final time. No longer will we see his mitt held high over his face, his cap pulled down low, leaving only a set of eyes peering down at the hitter with menacing intensity. “The Stare” that defined Andy as a competitor, and will always be a reminder of what winning meant to his generation of Yankees, will be transformed into the relaxed gaze of a father watching over his family in retirement. So seeing him “grind it out” one last time at home was a must for all Yankee fans.

New York was on life support going into the final game of the series with San Francisco. But here’s the thing, Andy Pettitte is a “George Steinbrenner Yankee”, and they were taught to fight until you have nothing left. In a performance that reminded us all of how we’ve almost taken him for granted, “Lefty” hurled a last outstanding performance. He dialed up the fastball, ran his cutter in and emptied the tank before tipping his cap to fans that will never forget him. Known as one of the good guys around the game, Andy leaves behind great memories and an example of how to play baseball with fire and class.

But if you ask the always-humble Pettitte what Sunday was all about he’d certainly say. “Mo.” The Stadium buzzed for hours before, during and after the game for Mariano Rivera. The Great Sandman also bid the fans a bittersweet goodbye. He is the best closer ever to play the game and like his long time friend from “The Core 4”, Mariano’s modesty is rivaled only by his great accomplishments. Since his first days in the big leagues Mo has quietly gone about his business and perfected his craft. His delivery is machine-like, hitting the same spot over and over again, and his heart and passion to win is almost super human.

Mo gives himself, body and soul, to what he does on the mound and Sunday was no different. Rivera is one of the players I will tell my grand kids that I got to see play, the way old guard speaks of witnessing the likes of Koufax, Gibson, Mantle and Williams. Mariano is the genuine article. He is the greatest of all-time, but to me it seems his teammates feel the only honor greater than playing with Mo, is being Rivera’s friend. It is clear he has touched as many lives as he has shattered bats. That is the measure of a man in my book.

The only thing sadder than seeing these two Yankee Legends say farewell on Sunday was knowing the days ahead may be darker than any we’ve known for a long time. The heavy, sinking feeling I had as “New York, New York” played at game’s end was profound. As fans we aren’t losing just Mariano and Andy, we are losing the way the Yankees are seen on and off the field. The players of the future are not in the same class as the players of the past.

Pettitte left the game in a 1-1 tie. He’d only given up three hits as Joe Girardi called on the “Closer of Tomorrow”. In the blink of an eye David Robertson gave up the lead. Now granted, it was Andy’s runner, but in my opinion DRob isn’t ready to be the club’s closer. Yes, it is extremely unfair to expect him to be Mariano. Nobody will ever be Mo. But Robertson throws entirely too many pitches each outing to be an effective closer at this point. He tends to jam the bases before “Houdini-ing” out of trouble. That formula won’t be effective going forward. How can it be if he is called on to pitch 3 or 4 consecutive days? Look, I think David is a great guy and when he is right his stuff is electric. I am just not convinced he has the constitution to be the end game pitcher. Can he find it? Sure. Will he be discouraged and intimidated if he struggles early next year? We’ll see.

I could take Almonte to the woodshed for his ill advised break to the plate on a chopper to short…but we all saw it. He is a rookie, but man, that was tough to watch on Mariano Rivera Day. It seemed that once Andy and Mo’s work was done the “New Look Yanks” made us all that much more nostalgic for the days of the Dynasty. Even when Robbie Cano was gunned down at home trying to tie it up in the 8th it seemed he was telling us something. The soon-to-be free agent slid into Buster Posey and came up limping as if to say, “Ouch! Thanks for the bruises this year, gang. Can somebody give me a lift to JFK? I’m going to Los Angeles.”

My day ended watching a young JR Murphy, who I think will be a great catcher for the Yanks down the road, striking out weakly to conclude the contest…I sat quietly and thought. Maybe we should listen to other team’s fans who tell us, “Haven’t you guys won enough? Give others a chance.”

No. No, you can never win enough. Why play the game if not to win all the time? That’s what “George Steinbrenner Yankees” like Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera showed us…and that’s what the Yankees seemed to really lose on Sunday Afternoon.

Thank you, Andy. Thank you, Mariano. You were New York Yankees in every respect of the word.

 

--Mike O'Hara, MLB Fan Cave Host, Season 1
   Twitter: @mikeyoh21
"Paulie was always my favorite player."

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NONE AND DONE...

No real recap tonight. I'm tired and I'm pissed and it's clear... the Yankees are out of the 2013 post season.

The final was 7-0.  The Rays had it in the bag all night.  The Yanks were flat, they played flat and don't deserve to win a damn thing.

Hiroki Kuroda went 5.2 innings, he gave up 5 hits and 5 runs. Shawn Kelley gave up the other 2.

The Yankees obviously scored zero runs and left 11 on base.  That's great... if your goal is to suck.

Final: Rays 7 - Yankees 0.

The only good news? It was Mariano Rivera Bobblehead night. It was insanely popular. The other bad news? They didn't arrive to the stadium on time.  Seems about right....

God this loss sucks.

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PITCHING FITS

The Yankees rotation next year will definitely include Ivan Nova, CC Sabathia, aaaaaand…

Oh my. Houston, we have a problem. What’s that Houston? The Astros are your problem? Okay, conceded.

 Not to be all doom and gloom here, but just who will be taking the mound for the Yankees next year? CC Sabathia isn’t going anywhere. Yeah, he’s had a bad year. But his contract and fat stats will keep him in Pinstripes. He will be a starter, and one can only hope he will improve on this season.

Ivan Nova has firmly re-gained his Starter status. He dropped his ERA almost two full points to 3.17 from his disastrous 2012 campaign, when it was 5.02. He has been a solid and confident presence on the mound, and has earned the trust of the team once more. He will be a starter after improving on last season.

Hiroki Kuroda will be lost to the Free Agent Pool, along with Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes. Three Yankee starters potentially gone. Kind of a big hole, don’t you think?

The price to keep Kuroda will most likely be too high for what he provides now. Hiroki has been very good during his time in New York. But cracks in his armor have been showing lately. This is not to say a deal shouldn’t get done. But it seems unlikely. It would have to be bottom dollar, and that’s hard to pull off in today’s MLB.
 

Phil Hughes. Fans have had their Phil of Hughes. They are calling for a Phil-a-buster. He is a Land-Phil of putrescence. Hughes has not been wonder-Phil, he has been disgrace-Phil. His stuff? Not so Phil-thy. I am Chock Phil of Hughes jokes.

So yeah, the one definite thing you can take from this article? Phil Hughes will not be back. No, he will end up somewhere else, find his talent again and win the Cy Young or something. Because that will make us all love him, right?

That leaves the Free Agent Pool. It is silly to try and guess who will end up where. Instead, let us take the attitude that I have been granted a wish to be GM for a day, with unlimited acquisition powers. Who would I select to fill out the rotation and why?

James Shields will be the prettiest girl at the dance, so to speak. Shields has lived up to his nickname “Big Game James” this year with the Royals. He sports a respectable ERA of 3.38, has gone 11-9, and most importantly, has the ability to beat the Tampa Bay Rays consistently. That is something the Yankees definitely need from a starter.

The bad news on Shields is he ain’t going to be cheap. He is easily the most desirable starter on the upcoming market, and everyone will be after him. The Red Sox may let Jon Lester go in order to secure him. Kansas City will try to re-sign him.

Expect the San Francisco Giants in the mix. They have Matt Cain and Madison Bumgartner locked up, and would be foolish not to pick up the option on Ryan Vogelsong. The Giants will be losing a grip on Chad Gaudin, Barry Zito, and Tim Lincecum. It is hard to believe they will hang on to all of them. Zito should be avoided. Gaudin would be an improvement over Hughes. That leaves The Freak.

It’s hard to believe that the Giants won’t sign him, but if they don’t, the Yankees should take a good look at Lincecum. He will be expensive and there is a risk element to that, always, but Freak seems to be returning to big game form. Relocation to Yankee Stadium might just re-energize him.

The real prize in San Francisco is Vogelsong. Bookmark that guy and check on him a lot. There is amazing talent and potential there. Should the Giants loosen their grip on him, the Yankees should wrest Ryan Vogelsong away. He would be the one I would go after.

Ubaldo Jimenez will be available, and he should be left that way. He has proven to be inconsistent and unreliable. Jon Lester should also be left alone. Same with Roy Oswalt. If you are going to go for those guys, you might as well just bring back Freddy Garcia.

Then we have those pitchers who have, at one time or another pitched for the Blue Jays; Shaun Marcum, Josh Johnson, AJ Burnett, Chien-Ming Wang, and Ted Lilly. Stay away from everyone who has ever worn a Toronto uniform.

Except one.

Roy Halladay will hit the market in 2014, after missing much of the season due to injury. But he is on the mound again when most expected him to not pitch again this year. He is doing terribly. Doc is 3-4, with an un-Halladay ERA of 7.19. There are those who say he is old and tired. That he is done. They are wrong.
If the Yankees can get Roy Halladay, they should. This writer has seen Doc perform in Toronto many times.

The man is exquisite. He has a training regimen second to none. He is dedicated, focused, and an unquestioned leader. He would bring up the level of New York’s entire staff just with his presence.

Roy Halladay has not won a Ring yet. You know he wants one. He is straining for it. Doc would be the answer to many questions. Yes he would be a roll of the dice. But so was Andy.

So, were I GM for a day, and given the unlimited ability to sign whomever I wanted from the Free Agent Pool next year, my rotation would be CC Sabathia, James Shields, Roy Halladay, Ivan Nova, and Ryan Vogelsong. I think that rotation will scare everyone else.

And while I am wishing, I would like a pony.

 
Chad R. MacDonald
BYB Features Writer
Facebook: New York Yankees the Home of Champions
My Blog: ChadRants


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WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING FOR?

I am not a quitter, that's just me. That being said, there is a force of some kind that is just keeping the Yankees from getting ahead in 2013, and any way you slice it, it will now be just about impossible for the Yankees to get a playoff spot at this point.

Sure, we play the Rays, and sure, we have to literally win every single game now to even have a chance… but no one wants chances… everyone wants the sure thing.  The Yankees are not a sure thing and it’s evident in Bleeding Yankee Blue’s readership. I know what a true Yankee fan IS, writing for you every day.  You are sad like us.

For the first time in the 3 years BYB has been in existence, we have seen 7 writers with unbelievable writers block and a readership that has tanked because of the fact that no one wants to read about losing and “fixing” a team.  We are depressed… all of us.  You can blame Joe Girardi if you want. You can blame freak injury, or Joba Chamberlain, or CC Sabathia, although, I don’t know how you can.  The Yankees were dealt a bad hand since the beginning.  

There were big moments, but those moments happened months ago.  I will tell you this… a guy like Lyle Overbay was a huge pickup and I love Mark Teixeira… but I didn’t miss him.  Overbay was a good solider and he was one of the best signings for the Yankees. Alfonso Soriano was another.  He was great for us in the short time he was here.  I love having Fonzie back!

There were bad moments and the biggest one was an interview that Derek Jeter did after the Sunday game this past weekend...  Mariano Rivera Day.  It was subtle, but he told reporters that now it’s getting real.  He told them that now he’s thinking about his own future in pinstripes with Andy Pettitte leaving and Mariano Rivera tour winding down. That’s honesty and that’s not Derek Jeter… that’s why you know it’s real.  Now, I’m paraphrasing Jeter’s quotes, but the reality is, that’s the gist of it… Yankeeland is changing.

The Yankees still have fight in them, sure, but they're limping.  Is it fair? Well, we have our own feeling that strengthening and conditioning in Yankeeland needs a major overhaul.  We will have a report about that tomorrow here on Bleeding Yankee Blue...it's important.  We also think that with a new season will bring in new blood...hopefully.  Is Tyler Austin ready? How about Slade Heathcott?

How about pitching? Will Mark Montgomery be a future Yankee closer? Will David Robertson? Who will be in our rotation? Chad MacDonald has a great piece about that… read PITCHING FITS… it’s dynamic and eye opening.

No one wants to admit it… but we’re probably done this season.  There are way too many obstacles and the stars now need to align perfectly. Under the circumstances… we did good.  We won a ton of games… but clearly not enough.  Hey, I was rooting when we were terrible in the 80’s and I’m still rooting… but reality has set in.  It’s no one's fault. It really isn’t.  Sure, if blame needs to fall on anyone, it’s lying to us that the Yankees were putting the best team on the field.  Hal said that, but I don’t think Hal really had a grasp on what they had put out there.

Travis Hafner was a bust.  We had faith in Melky Mesa, and we released him.  Boone Logan is probably a nice guy, but he’s a terrible lefty specialist.  We didn’t even give Chien-Ming Wang a shot and the majority of our team… was hurt.  Talk about bad luck or a bad omen, or whatever you want to call it… but I tell you what;  Let’s watch the final week of "the Mo farewell tour", let’s applaud greatness and let’s go away from a long winters nap.  I have no problem coming back stronger next year… it would be nice to have a clean slate.

In the meantime… there’s baseball to be played.  Be it just going through the motions, or really and truly fighting for a playoff spot… let’s do this… somehow, someway.  We are the mighty Yankees you know… even if we haven’t been that mighty this season.  I will always love my team… forever, and I know you feel the same.

Let's Go Yanks!

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NOW WHAT? SABATHIA NEWS AIN'T GOOD

Many outlets are reporting, and this is a disappointing one, but not surprising if you're a Yankee fan, that CC Sabathia is out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.  We'll take from CBSSports.com's Matt Snyder:

"The Yankees announced as much in the following press release Monday morning:

In his last start on Friday vs. San Francisco, LHP CC Sabathia suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, which requires a recovery time of approximately eight weeks. As a result, Sabathia will not be able to pitch during the rest of the 2013 season."

This season has been so painful... I'm literally speechless.

Get well soon, C... We love ya man.

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SORIANO WAS THE BEST TRADE THIS SEASON

I'd like to start this piece by saying that I was adamantly against the Alfonso Soriano trade. I had a list of reasons, as a lot of fans did. For me, I thought the excitement was more a sense of nostalgia. No one was really happy when Fonzie left the Yankees. It is a frequent topic of conversation between my husband, and myself in fact. Fonzie was a fan favorite, so of course when the news broke that he would return, fans were more than thrilled. I wasn't moved in the slightest. And I am here to say that Fonzie has made me eat my words.

For me, I couldn't understand why the Yankees would go after him. The line-up was falling apart, and in desperate need of a productive bat. Fonzie, while an excellent home run hitter, has a high strike out ratio, and that bothers me. The home run is great. Fans get excited for it. But really, what we needed, or rather what I wanted, was a guy to get on base, and move runners around. You can't do that if you have a large amount of strike outs. Regardless of what my opinions were on it, the trade went through, and Fonzie would once again grace the outfield in Yankees Stadium.

I rooted for the guy. Granted, I wasn't on board, but I will never root against a Yankee. As long as he can be productive in our line-up, and help the team, he's got my support. I mean, if I found it in myself to root for Johnny Damon, and  Kevin Youkilis, surely rooting for Fonzie wouldn't be an issue. And with his first at bat in pinstripes once again, he homered. Quite the pleasant "Welcome Back Kotter" moment, I must admit. But still, I remained unconvinced.

Since that late July day, Fonzie has continued to be an excellent addition, providing power to a line-up that had otherwise fallen flat. He has come in with big hits in crucial situations. Honestly, Fonzie is a huge part of the reason why there is the slightest glimmer of hope for the Yankees during this play-off run. It may have been possible to get here without him, but let's face it, he is making it easier.

So yes, I am eating crow. I was wrong. Fonzie was an excellent idea, and Hal Steinbrenner was a genius for not wanting to wait, and getting the deal done quickly. Write that down, because I may never call Hal a genius again. So thank you, Yankees Front Office. You got this one right. And thanks to Fonzie, for making me very happy to eat my words.

 
 
--Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer
Twitter: @e_morales1804



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FORMER YANKEES: HOW'D THEY DO?

It's coming down to the wire. With just a few games left I am already looking back at the season and checking in with some former Yankees. Some of them you may have adored, like me. Some you may not even think about anymore, and some of them you may look at what they have accomplished this year and wish that they were still here. So, where are you now fellas?

Eric Chavez: Anyone else miss him like I do? Considering how many third basemen we saw this year that made me miss him even more. I guess I am fortunate enough to live in Arizona where has been been playing for the Diamondbacks, but obviously it's not the same. It's been a rough season for Chavez. I have heard a lot of fans here blame the Diamondbacks staff for overusing Chavez to the point where he landed on the disabled twice. The first time was in May after the Diamondbacks used him 10 games in a row causing a neck injury. He was out for most of June. He went on the disabled list again in August. I guess the Diamondbacks thought thought couldn't afford to sit him earlier in the season when they were leading their division because he was a very productive player for the team. There are rumors out there that despite the rough season, Chavez really wants to sign another one year deal with the Diamondbacks next season because he lives in Arizona, read that HERE. I guess I shouldn't hold my breath hoping for a reunion.

Raul Ibanez: I admit, I am still not over the fact that the Yankees just let him walk away. I should be over it but I am not. That said, the Mariners definitely got a lot of production out of him, and at 41 years old he has been more durable for them compared to almost the entire Yankee lineup. This year he has logged more time in the outfield and had more at bats for the Mariners, then compared to last year and his second half proves he has had a lot of time out there, but his 27 home runs are impressive. Ibanez is also talking about a return next year also, so even as tired as he may be he is eager for more, read that HERE. He didn't say he was set on returning to the Mariners next season so whoever gets him will be lucky in my opinion. He is an asset to any team, and clearly the Mariners agree because they have already nominated him for the Roberto Clemente award so congratulations to him because he does deserve it. We have always been a big fan of his here, read our interview with him BYB EXCLUSIVE. IBANEZ TO SANDY VICTIMS: "I AM HERE TO HELP" for more on that and you will see why.

Russell Martin: Possibly another decision that the Yankees are regretting. Not that the Yankees could have ever predicted the injury and suspension of Francisco Cervelli, but his defense is still top notch and can't compare to Chris Stewart offensively or defensively. Martin's power has certainly been missed by the Yankees, but it has been of benefit to the Pirates. He has 14 home runs this season and he is a big part of the reason why this team is only 2 games out of first place in their division and is enjoying their first winning season since 1992. Martin's new role agrees with him, and with a contract that lasts through 2015 he is enjoying the stability. He is going to help this team become even stronger, and I know as a baseball fan I am cheering for the Pirates to win their division. It would make a great Cinderella story right?

AJ Burnett: We may not miss Burnett these days, but he certainly has rebounded since his trade to the Pirates. Obviously he and Martin are helping that team and steering them in the right direction. The team is basically a shoe in already for a wild card spot, but are still in the mix for taking the division away from the Cardinals. Burnett has been ace like for the Pirates and actually leads the National League with 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings and also has a respectable 3.43 ERA in 28 starts this year. He has already admitted to considering retirement after this season, so I am sure the team results this postseason will play a big part in his decision.

Nick Swisher: May have the last laugh here. Even after signing a lucrative deal with the Indians his first year has been rough and his bat has not been consistent. His .250BA and 20 home runs though can't be hurting the team that much though because unlike the Yankees, they at least are holding on to a wild card spot right now. As rough as his first year with the Tribe has been if you look at his numbers, they are pretty similar to what he did for us in the Bronx in several categories. Either way, Swisher is sitting pretty right now because out of all remaining schedules for wild card hopefuls, they have the easiest schedule by far. If he makes the postseason and the Yankees don't it would be ironic and depressing. Of course, we have always been big Swisher fans here though. It will be interesting to see how this wild card race plays out.

So who are you missing, anyone on this list? It looks like we could be watching a few ex-Yankees play into the postseason. GAME ON!





--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Senior Writer and Editor
Twitter: @NyPrincessJ



 

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