"TAKE THIS. NOW I GOTTA TURN MY BACK ON YA."

I'm sure Chris Capuano is a nice guy.  But things aren't working out.  It doesn't appear to matter to Brian Cashman, he keeps bringing Cap up just to outright him to Triple A.  We continue to have this guy hang on and we continue to pay him.

He was cut for the 4th time this season for crying out loud.

Here's the latest, from Bill Baer at Harball Talk:

"The Yankees have outrighted lefty pitcher Chris Capuano to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after he cleared waivers. He was designated for assignment by the team on Wednesday."

Remember Goodfellas? Remember when Henry Hill didn't do what the family needed to do to earn and he turned to selling drugs, lied about it and got pinched? Then, he had to go to Paulie and ask for money... even after he lied to Paulie about it?  Paulie looked at him dead in the eye and said:

"Take this. Now I gotta turn my back on ya."


Bottom line, Henry didn't do the job, or at least do it correctly.  Well, Cap's not doing the job. Give him a couple bucks, cut him loose. Eat the money already.

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BREAK OUT!

It was needed and necessary last night in Atlanta.  Thank God the Yankees hit to help Masahiro Tanaka win that game against the Braves.  The Blue Jays won last night too... and now, because the Yankees dug themselves into a hole and got knocked out of first, it is absolutely needed that they win every single game they can.  They need to go on a tear.  Hopefully last night was the start of it.

Masahiro Tanaka went 7 innings, gave up only 5 hits and 3 runs.  He looked sharp.  He also struck out 7.

The Yankee run scoring went like this:

In the first, 5 runs were scored. Chase Headley hit a ground-rule double knocking in 2. Didi Gregorius then hit a 3 run home run.

In the second, Greg Bird walked with the bases loaded.  Then, so did Headley.  That was topped off by  Didi singling knocking in 2.

In the 8th, Brian McCann homered. It was a 3 run homer.  Didi then singled and knocked in a run.

In the 9th, Chris Young homered.  It was a solo shot.  After that, it was McCann sacrificing home 1.

The Braves would try to catch up... the the Yankees were way too much.

In the end, this was huge.  Let's hope it continues.

Final: Yankees 15-Braves 3

Remember this song?


Yup, I'm a dork.

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THAT BAD CANO DEAL GOT ZDURIENCIK FIRED

This is pure speculation, but at the time, when the Mariners wow'ed Jay-Z and Robinson Cano with alot of money, the idea that Cano would come to Seattle, make the city love him and bring Seattle to a championship was in the air.  In New York, we couldn't believe it, and Cano became the selfish enemy to many in the Bronx.  That deal however, orchestrated by former Mariners General Manager Jack Zduriencik, now looks like the worst free agent signing in Seattle history right now.  Why? Because big boy Cano is batting .278 with 14 home runs and 87 strikeouts and it's only August.  He's lost. This is a player that used to be a .300 hitter and leader.  Now he's just one of the regular players.

News broke today that the Mariners have fired Zduriencik and there is no official reason why. Well, let me rephrase. Obviously he didn't do a good job, but more importantly, that Cano contract is worth $24 million a year until 2023.  Anyway, many have the story, but we'll go with Hardball Talk on this one:

"...the team simply never had any sustained success and many of Zduriencik’s moves were very questionable. He thrived at neither scouting nor analytics. Overall the Mariners went 505-595 (.459) with Zduriencik as GM, including just two winning seasons and zero playoff appearances."

Bottom line, he was horrible at his job, but one can speculate, that if Cano ends up going down in flames in Seattle, it will be that move that will determine Zduriencik's legacy.

Cashman's laughing his balls off right now.

You like this? Read these:
HEY ROBINSON CANO... 'NO EXCUSES'  
IS ROBINSON CANO LOST IN SEATTLE?

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DID THE YANKS CLAIM KIMBREL OFF WAIVERS?

I don't know, but you know Cashman. He's all about distractions.  Like when a young Vito Corleone kills Don Fanucci while the fireworks were going on during the San Gennaro festival in Godfather II.

It's about distractions and with everyone firing their angry energy over there about the Yankees and what they have to do to gain a spot back in first base, is it possible that the Yankees claimed Craig Kimbrel off waivers?  Well, that's what I think happened today. Hopefully we'll find out soon.

Here's the story, and it comes from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:

Source: #Padres’ Kimbrel claimed on waivers by unknown team. Club official says team has no intention of moving him.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 28, 2015

Now that makes sense.  The Padres don't need to unload the guy, but remember, the Yankees were connected at one point as to perhaps making a trade for Kimbrel.  Remember? July? Right before the trade deadline?

Now look....who knows if the Yanks are the team? I guess it's wishful thinking on my part, but I love little nuggets like this... enjoy it.

When we find out who the team is, we will bring you that news.

Stay tuned...

 

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SEPTEMBER CALL UPS? NOT AARON JUDGE

It's a collective gasp... and I heard it.  Yup, Aaron Judge won't be in that crop of September call ups for the New York Yankees.  That, my friends is a damn shame.  Let's hope it's not a mistake.

According to Chad Jennings at LoHud:

"The Yankees have no plans to bring Aaron Judge to the big leagues when rosters expand in September. Judge remains the Yankees’ top offensive prospect, but he’s hitting just .232 in Triple-A, he will not be Rule 5 eligible this winter, and there’s currently no clear role for him to play in New York.

'Just like last year with (Rob) Refsnyder, we’re not going to bring somebody just to bring them,' general manager Brian Cashman said. 'Greg Bird came up because there was a need, and obviously he was performing well. In Judge’s case, there’s currently not a need.'”

I guess the reasoning makes sense... kind of.  I always love to see youngsters mixed in with the team in the Bigs just so they can get the experience, get some at bats, get alittle confidence, learn from some of the veterans and get alittle hope.  Plus, sometimes there are big moments in September that carry over to the playoffs... and it's magical.  It's all from adrenaline.  Whatever the case... I'm bummed about that.

Anyway, we gotta move passed it now. We have a championship to go win, with or without Judge.  Rub some dirt on it and move on.

 


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CASHMAN'S NOT PANICKING, BUT THE FANS ARE

Let me state for the record that I personally am not panicked.  I'm more annoyed.  I hate winning the wild card to get into the playoffs. To me, it's like being the tallest midget in the circus.  Winning first place in your division is what teams need to play for and the Yankees have played pretty well all season to stay in first... until recently of course.

Bergen Record and the great Pete Caldera (Read NO ONE DOES THE YANKEES BETTER THAN PETE CALDERA) has a good piece today about Cashman, the Yankees and the non-panic state they are allegedly in right now. To be honest, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if they aren't panicking.  What matters is if the fans approve of their play.  The fans are the ones that want this very, very badly. Why? Well, because for the past few years, the Yankees couldn't make the playoffs. Partly was because of the personnel that Cashman put together to call a team. In other words, the 2 years we didn't make the playoffs stings for fans.  And so, now, with us being in first place pretty much the entire 2015 season and then not... well, we don't want to lose this. It's too important.

Here's some of that Bergen Record piece:

"As the Blue Jays have bashed their way atop the AL East, the view hasn't changed from the general manager's office at Yankee Stadium.

'I'm not watching them. I'm watching us,' Brian Cashman said Thursday. 'I see the scoreboard with all the participants involved, but I'm only watching our games. And it's hard to watch the offense going through what we've currently been going through.'...

And tonight the Yankees begin a weekend interleague series against the Braves without use of a designated hitter, further compromising their offense, though their DH might benefit from an extended rest....

 'Are we a good offense? Yes. When we're operating a maximum we have a very good offensive team,' Cashman said. 'But right now, A-Rod is in a massive slump, Teix and [Jacoby] Ellsbury are banged up. Gardy [Brett Gardner], I think, is hurting a little bit, too.'"...

Look, right now there are many factors.  Pete's right, the DH situation and the rest they are getting in this NL series could help a bit because of rest and ARod's recent slump. But there are little things that the Yankees have done all year that have proved that they are a solid offensive them.  Suddenly though, that has stopped.

Whatever the case, the fans want action.  Myself and many of my writers aren't even inspired to write lately, and I'd never force it.  I mean, how many different ways can you write that the Yankees suck and that they need to get it together? No fan wants to be beat over the head with that every day. Why? Because you all know it already.

Let me finish with this as well.  I'm not ready to predict that the Blue Jays will win the American League East like some bloggers are either. That's JV, especially from a fan perspective. There is something that's called fandom that I take seriously.  Sure, you can think realistically... but you never jinx your team.  You show up, you root and you go through the emotions with your team.  The day you start predicting against your team is the day you crossed over from fandom to reporter.  We don't do that here.

Dig deep... and get something done Yanks.  Here we go.

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GOTTA LOVE THE HUB LOVE

Hub love is when I reach out to blogs on the BYB Hub and we build a dialog.  I've done it with Greedy Pinstripes.  I've done it with Section 36... and I just did it with BBST and Jen Rainwater. Why? Well, I was curious...

Earlier this week I noticed that former Yankee Mike Gallego, the third base coach for the Oakland A's got canned and replaced by former Rangers manager Ron Washington.  I wrote in REMEMBER MIKE GALLEGO? HE GOT CANNED,  

"Was Gallego really that bad at being a third base coach? Really? How difficult is that job anyway?  I pose that question to BYB Hub contributor and BBST (Bullpen, Baseball & Sock Talk) head, Jen Rainwater...

Hey Jen, was Mike that bad? What are you hearing out there in Oakland?"

Well, Jen posted Hey, Jen, was Mike Gallego really that bad? and responded... and I'm glad she did.  Jen wrote:

"He was a member of the 1989 World Championship team as well as two A’s American League Championship teams. We have fond memories of the man too. So here is what I do know.

Almost everyone adored “Wash” while he was with the Athletics and some had hoped that he would be made manager one day, that job later went to Bob Geren.  So we were sorry to see Washington go when he took the managerial position offered to him by the Texas Rangers and went on to manage the team to two straight American League Pennants, as the Athletics struggled. 

Despite his more recent transgressions, Washington is a true talent when it comes to mentoring players and coaching them in the infield. It must be a fact when six-time Gold Glove Award winner in  third baseman Eric Chavez, gave Washington one of his awards, signing with not just with his name but with the words, 

“Wash, not without you…”

Look. In the end, Washington is back in Oakland is clearly, that's a good thing for A's fans.  It is true... I like to stir the pot a bit.  I mean, Gallego is a former Yankee.  I liked the dude while he was in New York, so for me, it was personal.  Sure, Washington is a good coach and manager, but I never had an attachment to the guy like I do Gallego. Plus the cocaine stuff with Washington disturbs me.  Maybe it's just me being prude, who knows, but I don't like it.  I know, I know, people that makes mistakes should be forgiven.  I hear you...

Will Gallego survive? Oh sure he will.  He's a good baseball man.  Sometimes I just side with a Yankee... that's all.

Thanks for continuing the banter Jen.




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HEY YANKEES... HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?

I have been asking that for the last four games now. While the Yankees have been slumping longer than this, the last four games are a different team. It's not just about the appearance....it's so much more. The drive isn't there. The spark is gone. The entire team is running like an energizer bunny with a dying battery.

The entire lineup is in a slump, well except Carlos Beltran because he is on a tear. In the last four games, the Yankees have had six or fewer hits, and have also only scored seven runs. They look tired, uninterested, and battered. It is the end of the season, and yes guys are going to be tired and bruised up but this is a tight division race and right now the Blue Jays are running on all cylinders. They are hungry. They have the intensity and the Yankees look like they have checked out mentally.

Monday night I sat and watched in disbelief. Jacoby Ellsbury, John Ryan Murphy and Beltran were the only ones with hits. Meanwhile the Houston Astros teed off against Ivan Nova and Chris Capuano and put up an embarrassing 15 runs. Meanwhile, the Yankees just swung at any and everything striking out 12 times and never even drew a walk. Who stole the Yankees mojo? Whoever did it, please just give it back! I don't recognize this team. I guess I should be thankful that we weren't shut out but that's not enough for me.

Meanwhile, across town the Mets are retooled and are on their own little roll. They have won six of their last seven games and finally have David Wright back on the field who has been missing in action since April. They are also in first place in their division and pulled their own Blue Jays maneuver. They caught up to a sleeping Washington Nationals team. I certainly did not expect that to happen and now I get to hear my friends and family members taunt me about how the Mets are in first place, with a better record and the Yankees are sleeping in second place.

The conclusion of the Subway series will be here in a few weeks. I certainly hope the Yankees have rediscovered their mojo by then and can win the series in enemy territory. It would definitely be a huge moral victory. Both of these teams look different then when they played each other earlier this season. The Mets have a dangerous pitching staff and now have another offensive hitter now that Yoenis Cespedes has joined the team. They feel good about their team right now and they should. Unlike us, their pitchers are healthy and getting run support and the hitting is timely. I really hope that it doesn't take this series to wake the Yankees up.

The postseason is around the corner. I don't want to be playing for a wild card spot because let's face it as Yankees fans we don't settle. But the team has to WANT to win and get back into first place. The talent is there, but they have to execute. The Yankees should be out for blood right now! They need to GRIND IT and get through these bumps. It's not too late....but we can't want it for you. So come on fellas, it's been awhile....HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?


   

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





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LOSING IS A DISEASE. HITTING IS THE CURE

There are teams in history that are unstoppable, but even they have slow, hard bumps in a season. The Yankees of 2015 have had many high times and many more lows as of late. We're at a low point, folks. 

I tweeted this today:

Dear Yankee Gods... for the love of everything Holy, please hit the ball and get runs. #SweetLord #BYB

— Robert Casey (@BleednYankeeBlu) August 26, 2015

Increasingly, and a lot lately, there is no offense on this club. I'm not sure why, but it's become a cancer and it now almost seems to be spreading to the pitching. Now I'm going to be honest....
 

Down 3-0 at one point today with the bases loaded, Girardi came out to the mound to chat with Pineda. I looked at my bud and said, "This isn't a bad situation if we were actually scoring runs." I'm right. We're just flat at the plate. I mean, we attempted to get something in this game, but the moments were few.

I liked seeing Didi Gregorius hit a 2 run homer, but where's the rest of the team? The Astros are not the Big Red Machine and they sure as hell aren't the 1998 Yankees. What they are though is in a rhythm. They have confidence and it appears that we do not have any of that.

Give alittle credit to Pineda today, getting back on the hill after his stint on the DL and no question he was shaking some cobwebs, but hitting and run scoring need to help. We don't have it, and the irony is, we have the tools... we just aren't using them. 

Blame whomever you want. People are going crazy. Blame Cashman for not getting big bats by the deadline. Why? We have the bats. Blame Girardi for miss managing. Why? These guys we put in the lineup are the right ones. They aren't doing their job. Get silly, blame the Yankees for no mustaches.

Sure, every team with facial hair seem to be playing well, but facial hair and sure as hell, Brendan Ryan's now shaved mustache did not kill the Yankees Mojo. The Yankees approach these days is "trying too hard"‎. Do what I tell my Little Leaguers. Play. Play the damn game, don't go through the motions! We're here to win a championship after 2 seasons of not making the playoffs. No excuses... do the job!

No true recap today. I'm annoyed. All you need to know quite simply is the Yankee offense isn't doing their job. Believe me, no mustache growing is gonna help that. Heart is. Let's get back to that... please. 

Final: Astros 6-Yankees 2

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PINEDA IS BACK & JUST IN TIME

Quick note, and it's an important one, especially after that blowout last night.  Michael Pineda is coming back and Chad Jennings of LoHud gives us alittle hope in his piece:

"The Yankees’ rotation returns to full strength today. In fact, this is probably the strongest the rotation has been all year.

With Michael Pineda ready to come off the disabled list, the Yankees have their five best starting pitchers in place. Had Ivan Nova not crumbled in the first inning last night, all five would have an ERA of 4.00 or lower. 

Luis Severino is up from the minor leagues, Nathan Eovaldi is on a roll, and now Pineda joins Masahiro Tanaka as the team’s dominant-on-their-best-days headliners.

'We are fighting for the division right now,' Pineda said. 'So it’s very exciting to go back to the mound, and I’m very happy for that. … Everybody has responsibility here, and we’re here for playing and winning the game, you know?'”

Wow, Pineda sounds all mature and stuff... doesn't he?

It's true, when you step back and see what we have right now, we are in the drivers seat when it comes to our pitching.  We do however need our offense to work with us and lately it seems like our bats aren't doing much. That needs to change if we want to make a successful run to the post season and beyond. 

This is the time.




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STAR OF THE GAME: BRENDAN RYAN

This recap is simple.  The Yankees scored 1 run to the Astros 15.  We didn't hit well off of Dallas Keuchel. The Astros were fierce and they beat us up pretty good. 

Ivan Nova shit the bed going 4 innings, giving up 7 hits and 7 runs. Nova's partner in bad outtings was Chris Capuano who pitched tonight too and gave up 6 runs. A terrible, terrible night.

And the best pitcher and player of the night is a BYB family member and Yankee utility guy... Mister Brendan Ryan. Ryan went 2 innings and gave up just 2 hits.  By far, the best pitcher for the Yankees this evening.

That lone Yankee run came when Greg Bird grounded out in the 9th, and Jacoby Ellsbury scored.  Otherwise, we did nothing the entire games while the Astros teed off on us.  The Yankees had 4 hits all night.  We left 4 on base.  We were 1-3 with runners in scoring position. In other words... we did nothing offensively.  But hell, I give a ton of credit to Brendan Ryan.  The dude did good tonight.  I applaud him.

The Yanks as a whole? They sucked.  We need to wake up.

Final: Astros 15 - Yankees 1

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