It's been a heck of a year. Between the Yankees coming to grips with the fact that they were not going to contend in 2016 to the Chicago Cubs beating Cleveland to win their first World Series in 108 years, this year has been full of surprises and disappointments. So when I recently heard that we could have an opportunity to make a deal for David "Houdini" Robertson, I got excited.
Source: ESPN
According to the New York Daily News, however, "while the Yankees have made it clear that they would be interested in Robertson at a discounted price, the White Sox view him as the best reliever available on the market, and would want a significant return in terms of prospects, industry sources said."
Now, that's a disappointment to add to my list of many this year.
I have always like David Robertson. Sure, he had his moments where he gave up a boat load of runs when we needed him to just hold down the fort, but he is a team player, with spunk, athleticism and a winning soul. "The 31-year-old right-hander began his career in the Bronx and pitched for the Yankees from 2008-14, compiling a 2.81 ERA in 393.1 innings. In two seasons closing for the White Sox, however, he has blown 14 saves."
Maybe Chicago just isn't "his kind of town" like New York is. I for one, despite having what many are calling another "stacked" bullpen, would like to add Robertson to the mix and have a good old fashioned bullpen reunion.
Source: USA Today
"After bringing back flamethrower Aroldis Chapman on a five-year, $86 million deal in free agency, New York's trade talks with the White Sox about left-hander Jose Quintana have expanded to include ex-Yankee David Robertson", according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
Bringing back Houdini could be nothing more than a pipe dream as the Yankees eye a salary-cap along with a farm system that needs to be rooted in time on task not time on the auction block. But, the sound of a bullpen reunion that would include Robertson makes me hopeful for things to come.
Laura Posada is bigger and better than JUST some a gorgeous woman and only that! Truth is, she's incredibly smart and hard working as well. That being said, I just wanted to share this photo below that she posted on her Instagram and Facebook. Not only that... there's a very amazing quote too. "Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." Anne Lamott #relax#40isthenew20#chillin
It's true. Everyone needs to recharge their battery once in a while! Love it Laura! Nuff said... and hubba, hubba.
But then Joel Sherman of the New York Post disputing it and then the whole Twitter world was in a tizzy, but ultimately the rumor then stalled and made the whole day boring.
Checked with few folks and #Yankees are not working on a deal that involves Quintana/Robertson #Whitesox
And that's what Baseball Insiders do. They try and top each other to get clicks and likes and all that shit. Ultimately, it's stupid and juvenile and actually if you think about it, it's re-reporting by re-branding and re-creating it for yourself. Don't know what I mean?
Photo: Getty Images
Well, this...this whole Quintana, Yankees, White Sox thing actually happened the other day when the Pirates were also involved. We wrote about it here on BYB in BIG TALK THAT McCUTCHEN COULD BE A YANKEE.... Some guy named Brian Bilek reported it first and we're watching it very closely. Nightengale just changed a couple of things and called the rumor his own. It's sad really. Truth be old, I don't know who to believe and I don't care.I just want to get you the story. But look, I'd be irresponsible to not share this with the BYB audience.
But right now... at this very moment... nothing. There is no new news on this rumor. Nothing but a few Baseball Insiders deciding to spat publicly.
Truth is, no one knows anything until it happens...and now we wait and see.
(May 1, 2011 - Source: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images North America)
Based on everything we know about major league baseball and adding in the steroid era and the writers reluctant to vote for those alleged 'roid players, one has to think that someone like Jorge Posada or Mike Mussina have a significant chance... eventually based on their numbers and ability and that fact.
But I gotta tell you something, what we know about Posada is that he was a very good hitting catcher, maybe not as good as a Mike Piazza, but still quite solid. We also know that defensively he was missing a few solid pieces and that has been long documented over the years. But again, since the writers have hedged on voting in alleged users, I believe that may give Jorge an opportunity to shine here.
(Oct. 5, 2010 - Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America)
I was reading CBS Sports Dayn Perry's piece on Posada, and I absolutely loved it. I think you should check it out too because it gives you the pros and cons of Posada and whether or not he has the chops to get in. I wanted to share a small portion...
(Aug. 5, 2010 - Source: Al Bello/Getty Images North America)
"The case for Posada
In addition to his prominent role on most
of those Yankees World Series teams of the '90s and '00s (Posada made
the playoffs every year of his career except for 2008), it's Posada's
production relative to his catching peers that distinguishes him. Across
those 17 seasons, he batted .273/.374/.474, which is good for an OPS+
of 121. Along the way, he tallied 275 homers and drew 936 walks. Among
those with at least 500 games caught, Posada ranks fifth all-time in
on-base percentage, fifth in slugging percentage, fourth in OPS and
first in walks.
There is no doubt Posada's bat was special in
the light of his manning a premium defensive position for so long.
Speaking of which, Posada spent almost 13,000 innings behind the plate.
His 1,574 games caught ranks 26th all-time, and he's top-100 all-time in
assists as a catcher. Posada's throwing arm was never regarded as an
asset, but he wasn't a grave liability in that regard (he threw out 28
percent of would-be base-stealers for his career versus a league-average
mark of 30 percent)....
(Sept. 20, 2010 - Source: Andrew Burton/Getty Images North America)
The case against Posada
According to the best of our advanced
measures, Posada was indeed a bad defensive catcher in pretty much
every regard -- controlling the running game, blocking balls in the dirt
and framing pitches. Pick your all-encompassing defensive metric of
choice, and it likely ranks Posada as among the worst defensive
full-time catchers ever. Broadly speaking, that's in keeping with his
reputation.
As for the bat, yes, it's very impressive by
positional standards on a rate basis, but the counting benchmarks aren't
there. Posada's modest 1,664 career hits are particularly lacking by
Cooperstown standards. That has a little something to do with the fact
that Posada wasn't a lineup fixture until he was 26 years old, but
that's not really a point in his favor. Yes, Posada was patient at the
plate and drew lots of walks, but making it to the Hall with fewer than
2,000 hits is very difficult. As well, Posada was a terrible base-runner
and despite having barely more than 6,000 career at-bats he grounded
into 186 double plays, which is the 143rd-highest tally in baseball
history."
(May 19, 2011 - Source: Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America)
I encourage you to read Perry's entire piece.
Now look, if you were ask me, seeing that certain numbers have dwindled over the years when it comes to standards as being voted into the Hall of Fame, and the idea that writers are trying to be all high and mighty NOT wanting to vote in alleged users, I think it helps Jorge's case.... but I guess we will have to wait and see.
(Aug. 12, 2016 - Source: Rich Schultz/Getty Images North America)
But as a fan of the guy for years... I want him there, and if I was a writer, there is no question my bias would help Jorge's cause.
Stay tuned folks... looking forward to see what happens here.
I hope everyone in Yankee Universe got the gift they wished for over the holiday weekend. Shohei Otani, the great Japanese two-way player you've read about here at BYB (Read THE NEXT BABE RUTH) got some nice ones this month, and one of them could lead to a Yuletide blockbuster the next time Santa's sleigh is dropping presents over the Bronx.
Since leading the Ham Fighters to his nation's version of a World Series championship last season, the slugging 22-year-old pitching ace has been selected to his league's All-Star team as both its starting pitcher and designated hitter.
He's also been named to the national team to play in what will likely be the final World Baseball Classic. Not only that, this past week he won his country's highest sports honor -- the Grand Prize at the annual Japan Professional Sports Awards, which has no rough equivalent in this country given the way every media outlet here flings out awards like drunks hurling cheap beaded necklaces at Mardi Gras. Read HERE and HERE and HERE.
However, when MLB recently ratified its new collective bargaining agreement, its terms appeared to drastically limit his earning potential in the States until he turns 25 in 2019; postponing every baseball fan's dream of seeing this latter-day Babe Ruth requesting a release from his team via the posting system to come pitch against the big boys on this side of the pond. But apparently either money isn't everything to this baby-faced stud or the CBA's terms aren't as airtight as some think. Why? Because a few weeks back his team let it be known they would be posting him, paving the way for him to pitch for some team next season.
Dear Santa,
Please let it be one that wears pinstripes and plays on River Avenue...
Subsequent reports cautioned that the announcement of his posting should be taken with a grain of salt because the terms of the CBA wouldn't allow any wriggle room for the kid to get paid what he rightfully deserved in today's market. But as Dave Cameron at Fangraphs recently pointed out, a sign-and-extend type deal is already an established precedent that could be used to get the kid a deal that would make it worth his while to make the move Stateside. Further, that it would be next to impossible to police such an arrangement absent language in the CBA specifically barring such a move.
So if you're like me and struggle between being naughty and nice all year, let's all try extra hard for nice in 2017. And next Christmas, maybe -- just maybe -- Santa might reward us with a big hairy arm and a big hairy bat all wrapped up in one neat package.
--Barry Millman BYB Writer Follow me on Twitter: @nyyankeefanfore
Hey, it's the Holiday Season. I am doing something for a friend of mine and an avid reader at Bleeding Yankee Blue... so brace yourself for my friend, Comedian Paul Corrigan!
That was just a sample!
Here's the reality, he's funny as hell and he deserves alittle promotion and because I'm a nice guy and in a festive mood, I am giving Paul a plug here on Bleeding Yankee Blue, just like I have for Pete Caldera when he croons at the Carnigie Club or just like I would if someone was running a charity event and need help like the South Orange Rescue Squad!
So check it out...If you live in New York or just visiting, I suggest you go out and see Paul perform some classic and original comedy! He's underrated and deserves a full house!
Save the date!
Jan 6, 2017 at 8pm, Paul Corrigan will be at Greenwich Village Comedy Club!
Jan 14, 2017 at 7pm Paul will be at a Long Island Winery!
We've been pretty supportive of Rod Carew and all he's going through with his recent heart and kidney transplant around this holiday season here at BYB. We've reported just how terrible it is for him and his family to go through. Read ROD CAREW'S FIGHT for more.
Well, I'd be a fool to not report on Mel Stottlemyre who is battling cancer and it's equally sad and terrible to read about. There was alittle news that came out about Mel the last few days around the holiday and I just wanted to get you up to speed.
"Mel Stottlemyre has rallied again against illness, as he has so many times since being diagnosed with cancer in 1999. 'He’s doing much better,' Stottlemyre’s wife, Jean, said by phone on
Saturday. 'We saw a big turnaround with Mel over the last 24 hours. He’s
not in a life-threatening situation right now.'... Fears were raised publicly when Stottlemyre’s son, Todd, himself a
former major-league pitcher, on Friday wrote on Facebook that his dad
was “fighting for his life" in the hospital.
By Saturday afternoon, however, Jean wanted to assure fans and
well-wishers that Stottlemyre was recovering quickly from the sickness. 'It’s not the cancer,' she said. 'It was that he got sick from the
chemo medicine. He was given anti-biotics to fight infection and he’s
responded well.'"
No question a son seeing his father going through such a tough situation is allowed and warranted. Todd was expressing himself... the frustration... the sadness. It's just such a hard thing to watch...when a father, someone who has been so strong in a son's life suddenly take a turn. But the Stottlemyres are fearless men, and no doubt we will be watching this story very closely for all of you!
I didn't want to ignore this story. Mel's been part of the Yankee family forever. We gotta report it and I just wanted to get you all up to speed.
About 6 years ago, I made it a point to watch It's a Wonderful Life at least 1 time around Christmas. I had seen the film a few times when I was much younger and remember a few things but as I've became a man with a family, certain moments about life struggle, happiness, helping others and integrity seemed to hit home much harder than it ever did before.
You see, George Bailey is much like me and you. A hard working individual who has many dreams. But for some, that's where it ends. There are folks in this world that take their dreams one direction when they see the fork in the road. Maybe they marry late, have kids later and do what's good for them when they want to before all that. They don't want attachments. They don't want distractions or dependents. They want to do for themselves. Hey, there's nothing wrong with that... it's a success story for some.
I'm different. I tend to take the George Bailey approach to life. I'm proud of it, but no doubt there are days I want to jump off a bridge. Not literally of course, but symbolically like Bailey wanted to in the film. Life can be hard... family can make it harder. No one tells you of all the responsibility you have when you have children, a tough occupation, a mortgage, and friends who sometimes need alittle help to make ends meet too. You try to be everywhere at once... it's not easy, but you do it...putting your own dreams on hold because you have people around you that depend on you. Stress is much, and there are days where you realize about midnight that you never really have much time to yourself to unwind, to have a glass of wine, to read alittle of that book you're trying to get through. Maybe you don't travel as much as you'd liked because the kids are constantly running your wife and you around like chauffeurs... and maniacs.
And some days... like George Bailey, you feel like maybe you went down the wrong road. I know you think it... everyone does once in a while. I do too. But then I walk through my quiet house once everything has settled down and the family is asleep and I look at each of my boys sleeping and I immediately have a rush of highlights from each of their young lives... school plays, spelling bees, Little League, a girl they might like and talk to me about... and I get emotional for the better.
It puts me at ease once again. It resets me for the moment. I'm happy again with no stress in the world. And when I finally lay down with my wife to bed, we chat about our day... knowing the hamster wheel must spin again in around 6 hours. A kiss goodnight, and soon starts all over again.
It's a whirlwind every single day. Some days my wife is going while I'm coming home from work and then, when I need to take a kid to practice, she's coming home from practice with another. But in the end... if we had to do it any other way... we wouldn't, because we love our kids to death... and we love each other too.
George Bailey had integrity. How else do you explain getting offered a big time money job and turn it down? He knew working for Mr. Potter went against everything he believed in and so, even if it could have been easier for him, he didn't do it because he had integrity and strong values of what was truly right and what was truly wrong.
I believe in integrity. Not too many people I know do. That's the truth. Look around at your own life. How many do you know who truly have integrity?
How many people do you know that when push comes to shove would actually stick to their values rather than give in to make a few extra bucks even though they didn't believe in what they were doing to make it? Not many. How many people do you know would rather be popular on a fake image of themselves for that moment, be a social climber rather than sticking to their guns, their beliefs and do it the right way? How many? Many. Right? Integrity is lost these days and it's disgusting.
Integrity is important. I believe in the importance of standing up for what's right, even if someone tells you no. I believe that if you believe in yourself and someone is putting you down, ignore it, prove to the world and yourself that you CAN.
Look at BYB. No one thought this thing could fly. They picked on us early on... telling us we'd "Never make it." I was told that I was "too soft" and "didn't know how to do it." Hmm... look at me now. Look at US now.
It's not about getting clicks for me at BYB. It's about good, solid, honest and smart content. And smart content doesn't mean Sabermetrics. It means solid opinion, presentation... product.
It's not about BYB being carried by Fansided or FOX Sports or YES or anything like that for me. It's about doing it on our own; hard work, sweat and dedication and all of that. I will never bend over because some aggregator wants my product to help them. I will work hard to get noticed because of the product WE put out and promote on our own, as a unit! That's because we believe in Bleeding Yankee Blue. This is about product, not clicks. To me, the day we start looking for clicks and stop implementing character, passion and integrity is the day we DIE as journalists. BYB will never do that. That's what I am trying to instill in our writers here. That is how I was raised, and while I will not be a rich money man doing it, at least I can stand tall and know that we did it correctly and didn't give in and strip ourselves of our balls. We will always do it the correct way.
And if I do become the richest man on the block, it's because I stuck to my guns to help and provide for my family and friends first and provide content the way you want to receive it...and along the way, grew as a person... an honest, solid and good person with friends everywhere who love and respect me.
I cry every time I watch the end of It's a Wonderful Life. Not because I think George Bailey is truly me or anything. I cry at the same moment every time I watch it. It's the part where George's brother, Harry stands in front of George, Mary and his family and friends all around and says "A toast! To my big brother George... the richest man in town."
It's not about money... it's about integrity and sticking to one's values and character. And everyone, family and friends coming together to acknowledge that and appreciate it so much.
That, my friends is what I find incredibly important in my life and that's what's threaded here throughout Bleeding Yankee Blue, and on this Christmas day, I just want to say "Thank you" to my family and friends for surrounding this product with love and appreciation for the past 6 years.
I love you all very, very much.
Merry Christmas.
Robert Casey BYB Chief, Managing Editor & Head Writer @BleednYankeeBlu
Shoppers are racing for their final buys. Travelers are rushing to planes, trains and their very own cars to officially "go on break" and visit their friends, families or long away destinations for the holidays. And Yankee fans everywhere are celebrating their holiday, for which there are 29 between now and the end of January.
Source: The Sports Basket
If your holiday is Christmas here are some statistics about the man of the next several hours, Santa himself. "The researchers estimated that Santa will therefore have to visit 5,556 homes every second on Christmas Eve to make sure every child gets a gift. With an average of 2.5 children per household, Santa will need to make 640 million stops on Christmas Eve. If he eats milk and mince pies at each of these addresses, he will consume a total of 150 billion calories in just one night - 60,000 times his daily recommended intake," according to The Daily Mail.
Source: LA Weekly
What about the average Yankee fan? Well, if you happen to be Italian, you could intake more fish and bread than you could imagine. However, the average person, according to an article published on ABC.com, "eats more than 7,000 calories on Christmas day, research carried out by Associated British Foods recently found. That's more than three times the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recommended daily caloric intake." Why all these numbers? Well, if we judge someone solely on their numbers on atypical days, then what does this say about us as a society? Are we numbers-crazy? Is an algorithm for success really providing the entire story? Should we judge a baseball player solely on his numbers?
My point here is simple. Data provide us some of the story. In fact, today, many would say we are data rich but information poor. We need to make decisions based on more than just numbers. Just because a player hits 50 home runs in one season doesn't mean he will hit more the next season and just because a player hits 8 home runs in 2016 doesn't mean he will hit close to that in 2017. And what about that player's other contributions?
Source: USA Today
Just because you spend hours on end with your family during the next week, doesn't guarantee a relationship for life. Just because you buy your daughter Beats Solo 3 wireless head phones for Christmas doesn't solidify your lifelong friendship of mother-daughter (by the way, thank goodness because I didn't spend $300 bucks on that crap). And just because you think you bought the best closer in the game, doesn't mean he will save every game, every day and bring you a championship after an 8-plus year drought.
Source: The New York Daily News
Earlier this week I read an article published by the Boston Herald about the strong possibility that the Yankees will play the Red Sox overseas in London in 2018. I thought to myself, "that's so cool: what better way to promote baseball across the pond than to bring together the game's biggest rivals." But before you get too excited, there's a numbers' glitch. "The first is that Major League Baseball must determine how it will make up for the gate revenue that will be lost by the teams giving up home games. Also, there is concern that if baseball is introduced to London with such a marquee series as Yankees-Red Sox that there will be a letdown the following year." And again, we are left with just the numbers dictating the fate of this game ever happening.
I have been preparing Christmas Eve dinner for 24 years as of this evening. On average I spend between $1000-$1200 on this dinner when you add up the fish, the side dishes, the appetizers, the wine, liquor and dessert. This doesn't count Christmas gifts, wrapping paper and all of the other logistics encompassed by the holiday festivities. So, I have probably spent close to $30000 or slightly more on Christmas Eve over the years. But those numbers say nothing about the priceless memories we have shared over these years; years of laughter, tears, little kids transforming into big kids, glasses of wine tipping over, meaningful presence, friendships, pictures that say more than words.
If you are measure the holidays, baseball and life in solely numbers than none of these would ever provide you the sheer joy of the experience. The beautifully authentic expression of your 19-year-old son when we sees the family Christmas tree glistening with lights and ornaments as he arrives home from college or the first time you put on your Yankee jersey to go to your first spring game after a cold, long winter and that moment in life where you achieved the goal you set for yourself many months ago.
Source: The YES Network
As we enter the official holiday season over the next few weeks, remember to breathe in and breathe out, love your family despite their annoying remarks about your weight or clothes and let yourself experience life and all it has to offer.
From all of us here at Bleeding Yankee Blue, thanks for reading us and embrace this time, enjoy life and have a nice holiday season.
