Bleeding Yankee Blue

DAVID AARDSMA GOT SIGNED

2013-05-20T18:25:00.000-04:00

It's been announced by the New York Mets that they just signed David Aardsma to a minor league deal. According to the Mets press release HERE, "The New York Mets today announced the club signed righthanded pitcher David Aardsma to a minor league contract and assigned him to Las Vegas (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League."

We wish Aardsma well here at BYB. We are always rooting for him.

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BRATS IN BASEBALL

2013-05-20T07:50:00.000-04:00

Earlier this week I read an article published in Psychology Today (HERE) that touts today’s youth as fragile and too protected from life’s tests, obstacles and overarching challenges that make one stronger, more able to face the day-to-day grind of living. “Whether we want to or not, we're on our way to creating a nation of wimps,” states the author of the article. I have to say, we are seeing the after effects of this kind baby attitudes in our players today and it is frankly, really annoying.

I was so sick to my stomach when I heard about the Joba-Mo shushing incident last week. I was taught to not speak over people, that there is a time and a place, and that when people are working, don’t interrupt them. Mo was working, giving an interview. His work ethic is tireless, surreal. They don’t make people like that anymore, instead, we have a bunch of brats stepping onto the infield these days and it is wrecking the game where there was honesty, respect and real, hard core competition between teams to win not between immature players who want some attention. “Chamberlain denied that he had apologized to Rivera -- "There's no need to apologize. For what?” reported ESPN last week. This is what I mean, you are fooling around with your family, acting like a clown while Mo is working and he couldn’t concentrate. He had to step up and correct Joba, because he was being loud, and obnoxious. He didn’t shush him, he politely asked him to lower his voice. "Joba, yo, bro, bro,'' Rivera could be heard saying to Chamberlain on a tape of the interview played for ESPNNewYork.com (HERE.) "Suave,'' Rivera said, using the Spanish word for soft, while making a palms-down gesture with his hands, according to eyewitnesses. Completely legitimate and professional, just as I would expect from a veteran player who didn’t get shielded from every little challenge that came his way from a helicopter parent.

And it is not just Joba. It’s Bryce Harper who threw his helmet a couple of weeks ago like a little leaguer when he was called out on strikes. The clown question Harper is truthfully a clown of a person- he is cocky and he needs to settle down. Perhaps he needed a “Suave” warning from a veteran player like Mo. And Jason Werth’s influence on the young Harper is not what he needs.

Mike Trout came into spring training weighing just about fifteen pounds heavier than last season. He seems to have let his fame go to his head. His attitude in promotional commercials for ESPN and other endorsement opportunities make him look and sound like the fat head that adorns many young little leaguers’ walls. Maybe it is just me, but I fear that he will be the next one to try and outshine a veteran like Albert Pujols.

Joe Girardi said (HERE) it best the other evening following another Yankee win with our new team. “Every superstar was a young player at one time, and when they came up they may have done some good things, but you really didn't know how good they're going to be until they get there," Girardi said. "We've had some young kids that I believe have a chance to be really good players and come up and do some special things." And I believe there is a rite of passage, a grooming period for these players- Joba must have missed that memo while he was out on the DL; perhaps that is our fault for always wrapping him in bubble wrap every time he scraped his knee.

Maybe it’s us, as a society, that enables these young players to act this way. We throw money at them; give them nothing but the best equipment; the all star treatment- top shelf all the way. We can’t wrap today’s youth in caution tape to protect them from life. They are going to get hurt, they have to make tough choices, they have to fall and even fail. And I am afraid that as more rookies enter the scene, feeling entitled, the more brats we will continue to see in baseball today.

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Opinion Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof

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GUESS WHAT MARK TEIXEIRA'S STILL NOT DOING?

2013-05-20T07:47:00.000-04:00

Remember when Brett Gardner kept having setbacks last season because he had wrist problems? I almost feel like Mark Teixieira is going the same route. And look, I'm no doctor, I'm a fan, but I see the way the Yankees operate and they always leak out a positive with their injured before a negative comes out. This morning, there seems to be another negative with Teixeira.

MLB.com's Spencer Fordin reports HERE that: "Teixeira is eligible to be reinstated from the 60-day disabled list at the beginning of June, but the Yankees still aren't sure of his trajectory. Teixeira has been able to take tee-and-toss batting practice, but he's still waiting to ramp up to a rehab assignment in the Minor Leagues... 'He has not taken live BP. He's going to have to get some swings,' said Girardi. 'And the tricky part for him is left-handed, right-handed, having to do both.'"

(In Photo: Lyle Overbay)
Trust me, this isn't good. I don't like what I'm hearing and reading lately about Mark Teixeira's injury. Couple that with Brian Cashman being both "Worried" and "Concerned" HERE about Tex.

Luckily we have Lyle Overbay. Do we need Mark now? No, but eventually we will need him.

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MARIANO RIVERA: THE G.O.A.T.

2013-05-19T10:18:00.000-04:00

On May 3rd, 2012 Mariano Rivera tore his ACL while shagging fly balls in Kansas City. It was possibly the most heart breaking moment for Yankees fans, watching the closer get carried off of the field on the back of a John Deere truck. Mo made it very clear he was coming back. "Write it in big letters. I'm not going out like this," he said.

And come back he did. But not before announcing his retirement on March 9th, 2013. "It's time," he said. It brought up a sense of nostalgia. I began to think about all his most memorable games. Games that would not have been nearly the same, if he were not out on the field. Here are eight of my most memorable Mariano Rivera moments.

#8- May 25, 1995: I cannot properly make a list of Mo's most memorable games without discussing his Major League debut. The then 25-year old, played 3 1/2 innings, gave up 8 hits and 5 runs. Yankees lost to the Angels 10-0 that game. After 10 very similar starts, the Yankees demoted him to the bullpen. And that was possibly the greatest thing they have ever done.

#7- May 17, 1996: Mo notches his first career save, while standing in for John Wetteland. And thus the legend began.

#6- Oct. 25 & 26, 2000: Games 4 and 5 of the Subway Series World Series. With these two saves, Mo past Rollie Fingers for most World Series saves. He also earned the Yankees major bragging rights, proving that New York City really was Yankeeland after all.

#5- Oct. 16, 2003: This was not a save at all. It was Game 7 of the ALCS. We tied the Red Sox in the eighth. Mo comes into the ninth and blanks them out. And then repeats the feat for the tenth and eleventh. Aaron Boone became our unlikely hero, when he hits a walk-off homer to win the AL pennant.

#4- Sept. 21, 2008: Mo throws out the final pitch at old Yankee stadium. The Captain, Derek Jeter makes an incredibly moving speech, and Mo grabs some dirt off of the mound where legends before him stood.

#3- June 28, 2009: Mo gets his 500th save. He becomes the second player ever to reach the milestone. Trevor Hoffman being the other. The idea that Mo could become the All-time Saves leader becomes more realistic. But that was not his biggest milestone that night. Mo also got his career first RBI, when he drew a walk on a bases-loaded.

#2- Sept. 19, 2011: Save #602 makes Mo the indisputable greatest closer of all time. As modest Mo tries to walk off, Jorge Posada pushed Mo to the mound, HIS mound, for a proper curtain call. It was powerful to me, because it was with Jorge that he got the majority of those saves. Yea, I got choked up. And now you may ask why this is at #2. Well...

#1- After Mo's injury there were a lot of questions over whether or not the all time saves leader would return to the game. "I will be back," Mo said time and again. April 4, 2013: Mariano's first regular season game after his injury. Mo has 16 straight saves since then, and is posting a 1.56 ERA. He was not kidding when he said to write it in big letters. Mo has returned, and has his sights sent on one thing. World Series Win.

This farewell tour that Mo has been on this season is really bitter sweet to watch. He has earned enough respect that we, the fans, understand that he is ready to hang up his cleats. He is a guy that has given 110% to this team and has never taken on any of the glory for himself. It has always been about the team. I look back at Mo's career and I feel infinitely grateful to be able to say that I have witnessed it from the beginning, to the very end. I'm grateful that my children have been able to see him play, and that one day they will be able to tell their children that they heard "Enter the Sandman" at Yankee stadium.

We'll have a new closer. As crazy as it sounds, life will go on after Mo, the way it did after Jorge left. But like Jorge, there is no replacing Mo. Not really. Players like Mo leave an imprint in the hearts and minds of fans, that lives on and is passed down, and helps mold future generations of fans.

Mariano Rivera, if you read BYB, and you happen to come across this, thank you. From every Yankee fan. Words cannot express our love and gratitude for you. You are an icon. A living legend. And we are the fortunate few to play witness to your career.

--Erica Morales, BYB Writer
Twitter: @e_morales1804

RUNYON 5K RUN AT YANKEE STADIUM

2013-05-19T10:15:00.000-04:00

This is just an important cause and something that we have helped promote every year since Bleeding Yankee Blue has began. It's the Runyon 5K run and if you aren't familiar with it, you will be after reading this.

Since the inaugural event back in 2009, the 5K run has raised more than $2 million for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation's effort to strike out cancer.

On August 18th, there will be thousands of people at Yankee Stadium. They will be runners, cancer survivors, Yankee fans, and people! People that want to make a difference. They will gather and they will run to raise money.

Do you want to be one of those who takes a moment out of their busy schedule to make a difference? Well, Registration has opened! Go to www.damonrunyon.org/yankeestadium. (Participants are responsible for a $40 registration fee and a $60 fundraising minimum. On July 1, the registration fee increases to $50.)

We've talked to plenty of people who have given their time for this important cause over the past few years. I asked my friend Kathi Sheehan, who ran in 2011, why people should jump in: (Read WHY THE RUNYON 5K RUN BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER)

Kathi: It is for a good cause! Remember the reason you are there. Having been fairly athletic growing up, I was a little nervous knowing that I wasn't in the shape I could have been for this event. But then I remembered that my ultimate goal was to raise money and awareness for this cause.

And how about my Twitter friend Rodney Zayas (HERE) who just registered for the run. I got this Tweet from his yesterday:

Of course, I am happy to re-tweet that any time and I'll do it for anyone who signs up and gets the word out about the 5k run! Send me a tweet like this and I'm happy to.

Take a moment, go to the website today, think about committing and think about making a difference. Here it is again: www.damonrunyon.org/yankeestadium

And if you need more convincing, remember the Yankee heroes that have come out, volunteered their time at the 5k run and have talked to Bleeding Yankee Blue about it. Roy White, Mickey Rivers, Ron Blomberg. 3 great guys, 3 great Yankees and as Ron Blomberg told us HERE: "Anytime you’ve been out of baseball for many years and they ask you to do something like this, it makes you feel very wanted. I’ve been very lucky in my life that I have two doctors as kids that I understand what cancer is all about. I travel all around doing charity events like this across the country. Just to be part of this at Yankee stadium and to do something with the ribbon (ceremony) it means an awful lot to me."

You gotta know how important this is now. Take a moment, register and make a difference.

FUNNY THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH BALLS

2013-05-19T10:10:00.002-04:00

OK. Calm down perv. I'm referring to baseballs... get your mind out of the gutter.

It's Sunday. The week was long, we all busted ass at work, with the kids, I needed to make it light right about now. I have found some pretty fun pictures of some baseball stars... and balls. Baseballs and the weird things they have been caught doing with them.

This our Captain Derek Jeter in what I believe was an old GQ photo shoot. Whatever the case, I actually don't ever remember seeing it, until I put together this piece.

This is Carlos Beltran with what appears to be him actually eating a baseball. Not sure where it came from, who snapped the shot and why he did it but it's funny and I appreciate the lighter side of baseball.

I took this picture last season while Bobby Valentine was making a pitching change against the Yankees. I noticed he kept smelling the ball while waiting for the new pitcher. I remember thinking "What the hell is this dude doing?" Now, players have said that sometimes when the ball is hit hard, if you smell the ball, you can sometimes smell a faint burn of wood off the ball. I'm not sure if that's true and I'm not sure what Uncle Rico is doing here but maybe that was it.

This is Jimmy Rollins in what appears him getting clocked. Baseballs to the head scare the hell out of me. I can't believe the photographer was able to capture this moment. It's nuts.

This is Joba Chamberlain in Spring Training. I remember seeing this and just snagged it for a future post.... like this. I hope he didn't fracture anything doing this... I kid, I kid.

Hope you enjoyed this. If you liked it, share it. If not, just politely click to another page... preferably on BYB. Have a good Sunday everyone.

THE YANKEES ARE ACQUIRING GUYS LIKE NUTS TODAY!

2013-05-18T18:50:00.002-04:00

The Yankees are making mad moves today! Players are being signed, players are being designated for assignment and it's all to better the club. You can criticize Brian Cashman all you want, but things are really moving lately and I appreciate what he's been doing. I realize that when it comes to this team, it's off-seasons like this that make me realize that he's the GM and I'm just a fan. Anyway, check this out:

Jon Heyman Tweeted HERE that the Yankees have traded $75,000 to the Colorado Rockies for Reid Brignac. To make that move, the Yankees had to designate Alberto Gonzalez for assignment.

That is being tweeted by Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger HERE. Gonzalez will always be remembered for pitching for the Yanks, staying a week and now possibly being claimed by another team right now. Let's see what happens. Hopefully he'll clear waivers and go back down to AAA.

Also, I just read on CLNS Radio.com, HERE, that the Yankees have just signed Josh Bell to a minor league deal. Bell is a third baseman who, according to them, "Bell will most likely report to AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Bell, 26, was released by the White Sox on May 7th after appearing in fifteen games for AAA Charlotte to start the season. In 55 at-bats, he hit .273 with 4 RBI."

Oh, and not only that, there was other movement today...

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have claimed former Yankee Chris Nelson off waivers. The Angels Tweeted that HERE. The Tweet is below:

Holy moves... enjoy the rest of your Weekend.

O'NEILL FAN GIRL, A GIRL SCOUT, & THE YANKEES WIN

2013-05-18T18:18:00.000-04:00

Today was Girl Scout Day at Yankee Stadium. They are celebrating 100 years of Girl Scouting in NYC. Cheers, ladies! Just so happens that I am a Girl Scout mom, and got to spend the day with my daughter and her troop in the "House that Jeter Built." As if that wasn't cool enough, I also saw Paul O'Neill! You know me and us here at BYB , we love the Warrior!

Of course, I had a fan girl moment that involved some squealing, and complete loss of motor skills for a moment. Trust me, it gave the girls a good laugh at my expense. By the way, be sure to read my recent piece on Paul O'Neill titled PAUL O'NEILL TAUGHT ME ABOUT LIFE.

Anyway, not to get off track... there was also a game today. It seemed like the Yankees wanted to leave a lasting impression on the girl scouts today! David Phelps pitched a phenomenal game, only giving up one run in the 4th inning.

The only other run the Blue Jays scored came off David Robertson in the 8th inning, when Edwin Encarnacion hit a homer.

Brett Gardner got the party started for the Yanks in the 3rd inning. But the real hero of the day was Robinson Cano. Robbie hit a two, 2-run homers in the 3rd and 5th inning inning. Travis Hafner also belted a 2-run homer in the 8th inning. I guess that shoulder's OK, huh?

Bonus! Then the girls got the opportunity to go out on the field to represent their troops! Pretty sure that was the highlight of my 7 year-old's day.

The Final today: Yankees 7 - Blue Jays 2

Go Yankees Go!

--Erica Morales, BYB Writer
Twitter: @e_morales1804

WHEN OLD BECOMES NEW

2013-05-18T08:35:00.000-04:00

Article after article, column after column, newscast after newscast wrote our epitaph during the MLB off season- the New York Yankees are old. Don’t get the engraving tool out just yet because, in a twist of fate, the old Bronx Bombers some how, some way took a drink from the fountain of youth and found their way to the top of the American League East. My thought, if we can do it with rookies, what will happen with the old heads come back? Now, in all fairness, I truly love our veterans- Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter, and Mark Teixeira are my guys but let’s face it, they are not available right now, so we are left with a scrappy crew of guys who were thinking about coaching careers and a bunch of rookies.

(In Photo: David Adams)
David Adams walked the tunnel onto Yankee Stadium on his 26th birthday and since then he has been doing a terrific job at third base and DH. He runs well, he is hitting and he has a great arm. Austin Romine, up to back up Chris Stewart, has found his way into the starting lineup following Stewart’s injury. And the two, hitting next to each other in the batting order on Friday night, combined for a run- just like that.

According to My 9’s broadcast of the game on Friday, Michael Kay stated that Joe Girardi is looking to give Lyle Overbay a day off, but there is no one else who can play first base. Overbay has stepped into the big shoes of Mark Teixeira seamlessly. I giggle to myself almost every night when I think about how Boston let this key player go and we reaped that reward. Ha, ha, ha, ha…

They say in the fashion world, what’s old is new. I say, wow. I am impressed with David Phelps, Preston Claiborne, Shawn Kelley, Vidal Nuno and I can’t wait to see Dellin Betances. Why not use the minor league as an oven for new young talent and rotate the roster as needed- shake it up a bit. Let’s take some risks- why not, no one predicted that we would be here and guess what we are. Second best team in baseball, leading the AL East, and let’s not forget, Toronto was supposed be amazing, along with the Angels and they are bust. Our “old” Yankees are mentoring our “new” Yankees and we are leading the pack.

So, for all of you naysayers- I say, “never say never. “ And for all of you fans that hung in there, the best is yet to come- hold onto to your hats, it is going to be a wild season.

INJURIES DON'T MEAN NOTHING WHEN YOU BELIEVE

2013-05-17T23:15:00.001-04:00

(In Photo: David Adams scores)
The Yankees are something else right now. Maybe it's giving guys a chance and them putting on the pinstripes or maybe it's just good chemistry. Who knows. Despite a loss here and there, the Yankees keep winning. They won again tonight, 5-0 and it just gets better and better every game. No stars, just players and team... that's when the baseball is played. Hey ARod... take note.

The story of the night has to be Hiroki Kuroda who went 8 innings and only allowed 2 hits... 0 runs. In fact, shutting out the Blue Jays is something just so beautiful. Especially considering the Blue Jays fans had the Yankees pegged for last place... back in March. That was their first mistake I guess. Sure, there is alot of baseball to still be played, but I have to tell you, I feel really good about my club right now. Don't look now but Kuroda is 6-2.

The hitting broke down like this: In the second inning, Robinson Cano grounded out but Brett Gardner was able to score. Then, in the 5th, David Adams scored on a Jayson Nix sacrifice. In the 7th we broke it wide open. Austin Romine doubled to send home David Adams a second time.

(In Photo: Austin Romine)
Then Gardy singled in a run and Jayson Nix sacrified home the 5th run of the game for the Yanks. There it is... 5-0...nice!

Again, tonight's score: Yankees 5 - Blue Jays 0.

The Yanks keep winning. We don't have the best team, we don't have the stars... but we have believers and that means an awful lot right now.

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STEWART AVOIDS THE DL & CERVELLI NEWS

2013-05-17T17:03:00.002-04:00

Latest out of Yankeeland is that Chris Stewart will avoid the Disabled list after his groin pull in last night's game. According to the Yankees and Mike Axisa of RAB, the MRI game back clean.

So what does this mean? It means that Austin Romine will temporarily have the starting role and Chris Stewart is there and can "pitch in" in an emergency.

In other catching news. Everyone is asking about Francisco Cervelli. Not much but he's on his road to recovery. He also states that he plans on altering his catching style a bit. I've been saying for weeks here on Bleeding Yankee Blue. I've stated that that bare hand needs to be behind his back. That's basic Little League stuff. As the Star-Ledger (HERE) had it back after the injury happened: "As Francisco Cervelli settled in behind the plate on Friday night, he said he considered the tendencies of Toronto leadoff hitter Rajai Davis. Davis often hit foul balls, and Cervelli utilized his bare right hand to help him receive. 'I’ve got to hide my hand a little bit,” he recalled thinking at the time....And that pitch? Boom,' Cervelli said."

Hopefully the guy will be back sometime and June and there are no complications. I'd love for him to continue that hot streak once he returns.

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THE AL EAST FROM BEAST TO LEAST

2013-05-17T11:12:00.000-04:00

Let’s take a look at how the AL East has been shaping up and take a guess at who will win the Division.

1 - The New York Yankees

Surprising everyone except writers at this site, our boys remain in sole possession of First in the AL East. Gone are the predictions of doom and gloom. Gone are the doubts and dread. The Yankees, it appears, are still the Yankees. This despite a continuing slew of injuries to key players.

Veteran players have experienced a career resurgence. Travis Hafner, Vernon Wells, and even Lyle Overbay have proven potent. Bats have heated up. Mistakes have been pounced upon. One player falters and another steps up.

Pitching remains strong. Hiroki Kuroda is cruising. CC Sabathia is steadying after a slow start, which is what he always does. Mariano Rivera doesn’t age, apparently. We are glad he is on our side because he is scary. Actually scary. Like, undead scary.

As the season progresses, the Yankees will have a very good chance to maintain their standing. Stars are beginning to return, with many more in the wings. Guys are going to be fresh.

Prognosis: Excellent.

2 - Boston Red Sox

The Ancient Enemy. They just don’t go away. Here they are again, nipping at the Yankees’ heels in the standings. Lester is a bona fide ace once more. David Ortiz is experiencing a near-Jeterian late-career surge. A new fire burns bright in Fenway Park.

The sentimental side of me is happy to see the Sox doing this well, as long as they don’t do better than the Pinstripers. Regardless of how they make you feel, the stronger the ball team is in Boston,
the better they make the men of the Bronx.

Prognosis: Very Good

3 - Baltimore Orioles

The O’s are legitimate contenders. They are also breathing down the Bombers’ necks and won’t be letting up anytime soon. They will visit the Bronx shortly. That series should not be missed. It feels odd to be wary of Baltimore, but they should not be underestimated ever again.

Jim Johnson is officially an elite closer. His ERA is minuscule, his K rate is solid, and his consistency is very high. This guy has an amazing future ahead of him if he remains healthy. This is bad news for everyone else in the entire League, let alone the division. Keep an eye on him. Both when you can spare them.

Prognosis: Very Good

4 - Tampa Bay Rays

This team has stumbled out of the gate. The Rays live and die by their pitching and it has been inconsistent this year. Matt Moore will have one great game and then a couple of horrible ones. David Price is nagged by bad luck in one start and left with no run support in another. James Shields is in Kansas City now, so the rotation is not quite as lethal as last season, leaving less room for mistakes.

Bats wise, things have gone South. Like Antarctica south. As in freezing cold. Ice world. We are saying they cannot buy hits in Tampa right now. Will this continue? Hard to say. Certainly any team with David Price and Evan Longoria always has a chance. But the bullpen needs some serious shoring up and somebody is going to need to thaw out the bats.

This does not mean they are to be taken lightly. The Rays up their game against the Yankees. Everyone does, sure, but Moore dominated the Bombers not long ago, and they barely escaped with a win against Price that same series.

As with a wounded beast, approach with caution.

Prognosis: Long Shot

5 - Toronto Blue Jays

Oh, man. If the Rays stumbled out of the gate, the Jays ran into the wall. And then had it fall on them. Followed by the rest of the building. And then a plane crashed on top of them. And the plane was full of lava cactus monsters that squirted acid at their genitalia before burying them in pig feces.

Toronto, what is UP with you? Seriously, this isn’t even funny. The Jays have always been this long suffering city’s best hope for a win in Major League sports. This was really looking like the year too.

The Jays finally have a smart and savvy GM in Alex Anthopoulous after the disaster that was the JP Ricciardi era. He brought in an All Star roster. Expectations were atmospheric. Fans were absolutely ecstatic. That is entirely evaporated now.

After a spate of injuries and massive ERA inflations, it can only be said that combining good players from three bad teams does not make a winner.

Also, Toronto is cursed. The sports gods hate them. Sorry, folks.

Prognosis: Not this year. Next year also not looking good.

And there’s your AL East breakdown, Beasts.

What do you think? Comment and share!

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

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AN AMAZING MOMENT FOR AMERICA & BASEBALL

2013-05-17T10:47:00.002-04:00

You have to watch this video. At the Tampa Bay Rays game last night, 9 year old Alayna Adams threw out the first pitch. Little did she know the USO arranged that her father, Lt. Col. Will Adams would be there, but not in the stands, but as the catcher of her first pitch. (Full story is HERE)

When you watch this moment, the moment when Lt. Col. Adams lifts his catcher face mask and Alayna running into her arms, you need to feel for all the families who have family members committed to protecting this great nation.

If this doesn't make you cry, there's something wrong with you.

God Bless America.

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THE DEREK JETER STORY THAT WILL TICK YOU OFF

2013-05-17T07:46:00.003-04:00

“Look at me! I want to be provocative so I’ll write a Jeter hit piece and hopefully get some clicks!” That is a quote from how I perceived a May 10th, CBS Sports piece by Jason Keidel asking if Derek Jeter should retire? Here I am, not wanting to tell you guys about it, because to be honest, I found it insulting. After all, this is Captain we're talking about and Keidel clearly wants dummies like me to talk about it. Sure, here I am, stupid me, chomping at the bit… so here it goes…

Should Derek Jeter retire? That’s the question based on a hairline fracture in Jeter’s ankle that has kept him sidelined since last October. Should Derek Jeter retire? I guess Keidel forgot about Jeter’s rejuvenation last season. You know, the one that happened after sports writers wrote off the Captain after his 2010, .270 season. That season was the beginning of the end... Remember that? Last year he batted .316. Just sayin’. Bleeding Yankee Blue was all over that "slump" back in 2010 because it was clear to us that the sports writers had no real grasp on the career of Derek Jeter, and Jason Keidel clearly doesn’t have a grasp on what the Captain can still achieve in his Yankee career.

Should Derek Jeter retire? Well… sure...one day. Over time, everyone who is a working man should retire when the time is right, but Derek Jeter isn’t close to retiring, because, quite frankly, he’s not done.

He wasn’t done when he messed up his shoulder against the Toronto Blue Jays back in 2003, he wasn’t done when he smashed his face into the seats on a diving catch against the Boston Red Sox. He wasn’t done when he was nursing his injury before he hit 3000 hits and he’s not done now. Why? Because it’s Derek Jeter silly.

Keidel starts his piece off writing “Stars are inherently and vehemently vain. Much of their motor is fueled by the conviction that they are better than everyone else.”

Right. How are you successful? You push hard to get to the top and knock over everything in your way. I’m not learning anything yet, are you? He goes on continuing to dazzle me with obvious points, “Derek Jeter is older, slower, and injured. And there will be a day when he can’t play anymore. Will it be this year or next?” The answer to that question is, we don’t know yet. What the hell are we doing here?

He finally makes his point: “’Jeter’s not a quitter!’ you bark.

Retiring after 17 resplendent seasons isn’t quitting. It’s logical. Find one shortstop in the modern era who produced at 39. Cal Ripken switched to third base at 35. Ernie Banks switched positions at 30. Even Ozzie Smith, better in the field than all three combined, was a part-time player at 39. Jeter will be 39 the next time he swings at a live pitch.”

OK, but Keidel forgets one thing. Derek Jeter won’t go out like that. I mean sure, father time is kicking Jeter’s ass, but Jeter puts father time in a headlock once in a while. When he was struggling with his swing, he figured it out on his own. Ask he goes older, he compensates, and will continue to go on until he can’t. Jeter isn’t a quitter and that’s something we’ve learned for years. While it’s “logical” that Jeter will retire soon, he will at least make his every effort to get back, because as Keidel writes, athletes are “vain” and Jeter is no different. When you do something as long as Jeter has, it ain't easy to walk away. There is one important part of this. While players come and go and all retire, Jeter is the Captain. Jeter sets the tone and Jeter is the example. He’ll tell us when he’s ready and when he is, it will be a sad day in Yankeeland, but Yankee fans are smart, we don’t want to see broken down players and we get it. But never count out Jeter… ever. It’s not in his DNA, it never was. A busted ankle, while not easy to heal, DOES in fact heal. Will he be the same? At 39, who knows, but he’s not going to determine his future until he sees if he still “Can.”

Keidel finally writes: “The question is only offensive because you love Derek Jeter. If you’re under 30, he is all you’ve known, the dynastic emblem of your youth. But just as kids once wondered who would replace Ruth found Gehrig, and then DiMaggio, and then Mantle. I was reared on Reggie Jackson and then Don Mattingly.” All true but logical thinking also doesn’t have us shipping off Jeter to an old age home. If you only grew up with Jeter, it will be hard, but I grew up with Guidry and Reggie and Mattingly and Winfield and let me tell you something, times change, we know that, but there has never been anyone quite like Jeter when it comes to that leadership role.

Yes Mattingly fans, Donnie is right there, and he played through a bad back, but there is something unique about this Captain.

All I’m saying is yes, being 39 with a healing ankle for anyone else… Yes, it logical that retirement is very, very near. For Jeter who’s 39 with a healing ankle, it’s logical to think that he’ll come back stronger because he’s always proved father time wrong… sure, we will have to see, but I have a gut feeling about this…do you?

Shout out to Jason Keidel, well done piece, you got me thinking... I like that.

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BIG NEWS FOR PINEDA, PRONK & JOBA

2013-05-17T07:45:00.000-04:00

I know... it sounds like a really bad Law firm. It's not...it's a bunch of injured Yankees.

We've been waiting for any good news about Michael Pineda. Well, we have some. Check this out:

Michael Pineda: According to Jack Curry HERE, Pineda could throw up to 50 pitches today. The goal is to get him up past the 65 mark and then the Yankees plan on getting him into a rehab game. If all is well with that, we will see this guy actually pitch in pinstripes this summer. I predict another setback. Sorry... just don't know what to make of this guy yet.

Travis Hafner: You remember the shoulder situation from late last week, early this week right? We wrote about it in CONCERN ABOUT HAFNER'S SHOULDER? We were under the impression that Pronk would be OK but there was still some pain. The update is HERE from our friend Meredith Marakovits. If there is no pain in that shoulder during BP, he'll be back. Expect him back this weekend. I am predicting Sunday... but what the hell do I know.

Joba Chamberlain: Joba Chamberlain has a strained oblique. Bryan Hoch from MLB.com HERE says they believe that Joba will need to give them 1 more start in AAA before deciding to bring him back to the big club.

If anything else happens, we'll bring it to you.

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PETTITTE'S HURT, YANKS LOSE & I'M PISSED

2013-05-16T23:57:00.002-04:00

How many more Yankees are going to get hurt? We could literally field a club of 9 with the players we have on the Disabled List. Who knows officially what will happen to Andy Pettitte, but it appeared while he was pitching his back locked up. It turns out it was a trapezius muscle, read HERE. You'd think that's all we needed... 1 more injury tonight, but no... there were 2 for the Yankees.

Chris Stewart limped off the field in the 7th inning tonight after he was running the bases. Austin Romine came in for him. It's unreal... honestly. It makes you want to punch a wall... but that would mean I would probably get injured.

OK, onto the game. The Yankees lost, 3-2. The Yanks seemed lifeless tonight. When Pettitte went down, it was like the wind came out of the sails. There were some positives though. For instance, in the 2nd inning, David Adams cranked a double and Curtis Granderson scored.

In the 7th with the score 3-1 Mariners, Robinson Cano singled and knocked in Ichiro Suzuki. That was it though, the Yankees ran out of time.

As far as pitching, like I said, Andy Pettitte pitched and he came out after 4.2 innings and gave up 5 hits and 2 runs. He had 5 strikeouts which is always nice. Shawn Kelley, Boone Logan and Adam Warren followed and did a good job. The Yankees just couldn't get over the "3" hump. Oh well.

Final: Mariners 3 - Yankees 2.

Hey, life goes on.

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DAVID ADAMS HAS ARRIVED!

2013-05-16T08:58:00.002-04:00

He's finally here. We have talked about him a lot over the past couple of years. It's been a long, uncertain round for him, but he is finally getting his shot. I know I couldn't be happier for him. I think I have been waiting for this day for awhile. I believe that he is going to an important piece to the Yankee lineup.

The Yankees drafted David Adams in the third round of the 2008 draft. He has a lot of promise, but he also struggles with injuries. I like Adams though because he is versatile and he can hit. When he is healthy he has the ability to wear pitchers out and he makes getting an extra base hit look simple.

Defensively, he has a good glove also. No offense to Chris Nelson, he had quite the hitting streak going but Adams has better range defensively.While Alex Rodriguez and Kevin Youkilis are recovering, he can give the Yankees what he need both offensively and defensively at third base. It's been difficult to give Robinson Cano a day off with all of the injuries, so if Joe Girardi wants to give Cano some rest, Adams can also take over at second.

I think Adams is ready for this challenge. He has done well done in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre hitting .316BA with 3 HR and 12RBI. As good as these numbers are, I think people know his name more because he was going to be included in the trade that would have sent him to the Seattle Mariners and Cliff Lee to the Bronx. When healthy, Adams could be a key addition to any lineup. I'm just glad he is still here.

Things could have been a lot different though. Back in march the Yankees decided to release him, and I wasn't too pleased with it, read FIRST BRANDON LAIRD, NOW DAVID ADAMS. Thankfully, three days later the Yankees resigned him. If they hadn't done that he may have went to some other team like the Miami Marlins and had a breakout year and made me more frustrated. Thankfully, that didn't happen. Instead, he is finally up getting the shot that he deserves and getting his first major league hit.

Last night Adams got his first major league hit on his birthday. I would say that is a pretty sweet birthday present and a very memorable day. Some players take a few games and battle with the nerves until they get that first hit. Not Adams though. He didn't try to do anything fancy. He saw the ball, hit the ball and made it count. That is why I like him so much.

Another reason why I like him so much is he speaks with conviction. I liked his post game interview last night. As soon as he was asked about getting his first hit he said it felt great, "but getting the W was more important." He just wants to contribute, and he wants to win. It's taken awhile for him to get the opportunity and now that he has it I am sure he will cease the opportunity and run with it.

It's been a complicated road for Adams, but it is finally paying off for him. It sucks that a lot of our guys are out right now and his opportunity comes under these circumstances. I am just glad we are finally giving him a shot to prove what he can do. Some may still have their doubts, but it's time to let some of our guys show us what they are capable of.

Welcome to the Bronx David! Oh and Happy belated birthday, too.

--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Writer and Editor

Twitter: @NyPrincessJ

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1977: SUPERMAN, STAR WARS & REGGIE JACKSON

2013-05-16T08:13:00.000-04:00

I was asked who I thought was the most influential Yankee in the 70’s. Who else? Reggie. Yes there were other players. Yes, others were just as important, if not more, than Reggie. But you asked me. And for me, it was Mr October.

Why?

I was a kid. The world held even more magic in those days. My childhood was idyllic. Lots of running around outside. Baseball gloves. Baseball cards. Comic books.

My Yankees were golden. Reggie Jackson was their leader. If the team was The Justice League, then Reggie was Superman. Had his poster next to Superman’s, actually. I saw them on the same level.

The year of 1977 was the Year of the Yankees. Everything was Reggie Jackson, Star Wars, baseball, my family, and the Yankees. I could not have been a happier kid. Memories of Reggie are tinged with gold.

I could bore you with what Reggie did. I could drone on about his legacy. I could espouse upon his sobriquet of Mr October. But if you are visiting this website, I don’t need to. You know who he is.

But just for argument’s sake, here’s one reason.

Here’s another.

And let’s make it three.

So there are a few points to back up my statement.

Put simply about Reggie Jackson, he is one of my heroes. Chances are he is one of yours too.

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

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AN AVALANCHE NAMED IBANEZ

2013-05-15T23:03:00.000-04:00

Hey. Do you remember when Raul Ibanez told Bleeding Yankee Blue how excited he was to be back in pinstripes? I remember it clearly. It was right before Christmas. It was in our BYB EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Raul, when he said the following: "I can't wait to come back to the Yankees!"

It was clear then that the Yankees would get him back. Then we heard the Yankees and Raul were talking.... then nothing. Then we found out that Raul signed with the Mariners. The reason? The Yankees never made Raul an offer. I quickly whipped up YANKEE FANS REVOLT: "ENOUGH'S ENOUGH!"
on Christmas eve and while many fans supported my frustrations, some fans, and let's call the one below an idiot, who told me I was stupid because Raul was not what we needed and I "couldn't be serious!"

(In Photo: A Genius)
Sure, we didn't need Raul, but why not just re-sign him because we like the guy and he can contribute just like he did in the post-season? It seemed like a no brainer to me and many people like me. It made sense, and it makes sense to me tonight when Raul came into the Bronx and did what he does best in New York... hit home runs.

No, I'm not writing a piece titled "I told you so." I'm just still bothered by the fact that we didn't give the guy a shot. Whatever the case, good for Raul, and like I told one of our readers on Twitter tonight:

It's true. Tonight, the Yankees lost big to Raul and the Mariners. Hey, some nights a team just can't get it together. The Yankees have been doing great this season. Tonight, well, they didn't. We just need to move on.

The Mariners scored 12 runs tonight. Why? Well, Ibanez hit 2 home runs and 6 RBIs. One of those homers was a Grand Slam. Phil Hughes lasted literally 0.2 innings tonight. He allowed 6 hits, 7 runs and shit the bed. That's the only way I can describe it. Hughes is too inconsistent. Something just ain't right and Yankeeland will erupt if he can't figure out how to pitch.

(In Photo: Alberto Gonzalez)
Preston Claiborne pitched tonight and did just fine, Brett Marshall did too. And someone else did... Alberto Gonzalez pitched 0.1 of an inning. Seriously. He's an infielder.

The Yankee runs went like this: Vernon Wells homered and Chris Stewart homered. That's it. To be honest, I would have left the Bronx in the 2nd inning if I was there. Yes, I love my Yanks, but some nights you just know they ain't clicking. Tonight was it. It doesn't make me less of a fan, it makes me tired... that's it.

Final tonight: Mariners 12 - Yankees 2.

We win tomorrow.

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HOW BAD DO YOU FEEL FOR DAVID AARDSMA RIGHT NOW?

2013-05-15T22:14:00.000-04:00

Quick report coming out of Major League Baseball. Former Mariner, former Yankee and now former Miami Marlin, David Aardsma, has been released by the Marlins, the team that took a chance on him just a few short weeks ago.

According to the Times Picayune HERE, "Aardsma, a righty who made 10 appearances with the (New Orleans) Zephyrs this season, was released by the Miami Marlins after signing a minor league contract on April 15. The contract stipulated that he could request his release if he was not called up by May 15, an option that was exercised on Wednesday.

'It kind of puts the team into a position to have to make a move,' Aardsma said of the contract stipulation. 'You've got to use that advantage of "well I might go somewhere else,' ... It's just like any negotiation. You want the ball in your court and that's what that kind of does.'"

Hey, you have to admire the attitude of Aardsma. He clearly was excited when the Marlins took a chance on him and he was obviously pushing to make it all the way back, but he ran out of time. I just hope the guy latches onto a pro team soon, he deserves it.

We're pulling for you Animal!

Side note... message to NOLA Zephrys pitching coach Charlie Corbell. No more video messages about the Zephrys players. It looks like you are in a hostage video. Just click on the Times Picayune HERE to see what I'm talking about.

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REMEMBER CORY WADE? HE'S STILL WORKING

2013-05-15T15:17:00.004-04:00

The Tampa Bay Rays have announced that they signed former Yankee Cory Wade to a minor league deal. Jason Mastrodonato of MLB.com writes HERE, "The 29-year-old has shown inconsistency at the Major League level, posting a 3.65 ERA over four seasons. He had a 6.46 ERA while striking out 38 batters and walking eight in 39 innings with the Yankees last year."

Carry on Ladies & Gentlemen.

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ROLLING THE DICE ON CARLOS ZAMBRANO

2013-05-15T15:08:00.002-04:00

Wow. Interesting chance the Philadelphia Phillies are taking. It's being announced HERE, that the Phillies have signed Carlos Zambrano to a deal. Really. Really and truly. According to Hardball Talk's Aaron Gleeman, "...today the Phillies announced that they’ve signed Zambrano to a minor-league contract... Obviously the Phillies can use rotation help with Roy Halladay out indefinitely and John Lannan also on the disabled list, but Zambrano is pretty close to the bottom of the barrel at this point."

I echo that same opinion, but you never know, Zambrano is 31, not 41... he could actually be useful. I mean, look at the Yankees and the signing of Chien-Ming Wang? You never know if there is alittle extra left in the tank for some of these pitchers.

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CONCERN ABOUT HAFNER'S SHOULDER?

2013-05-15T07:10:00.000-04:00

Don't be concerned... Joe Auriemma of the YESNetwork.com will ease your mind.

You see, there was worry that Travis Hafner may have had a shoulder injury. But there is finally some good news when it comes to injuries and the Yankees. According to Joe, read HERE, "Hafner and the Yankees received good news after he received an MRI.

'It's good,' Hafner said of the results. 'It just kind of showed some inflammation in the shoulder and got an injection in it and hopefully it clears up and I should be good to go in a couple of days.'"

As Joe Girardi described it, it was "a little tendinitis". Well... OK then.

Hopefully Travis will be in the lineup in a couple days and continues to help us win. The irony here is Hafner is used as a DH only so he wouldn't get injured... it's funny how that works.

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THE GRANDYMAN IS OFFICALLY BACK!

2013-05-15T06:58:00.002-04:00

After being out since the beginning of spring training, Curtis Granderson finally made it back to the Bronx and to the starting line-up. He started Tuesday nights game in left field.

Despite Grandy playing left instead of center, he was incredible in the outfield. He did play left, right and center during his rehabilitation in extended training, so he was not entirely rusty. I've been a huge supporter of switching Grandy to left field. I think putting Grandy in left today is a great way to, not only ease him back in, but also to get him used to the switch on a more permanent basis.

Grandy batted clean-up. He went 0 for 3, but he did score a run last night. I'm not too concerned about his hitting just yet. It's an unfortunate truth that Grandy has a high strike-out ratio, but before I get on my soap box about it, I'd like to give him the opportunity to get back into the groove.

The best thing about Grandy's return is that we now have too many outfielders. And that is not a bad problem to have. It is my guess that he and Vernon Wells will alternate for a while. Unfortunately, Vidal Nuno, who gave a stellar performance on Monday night, was optioned down to Triple-A Scranton to make room for Grandy on the roster.

It was great to see Grandy on the out there today. With all the early injuries, anything that approaches normalcy for the team seems good. There was a little bit of curiosity over how well Grandy would blend into a team that has been clicking so well together, without so many of our key players. Grandy was a variable, but did a great job at blending in just fine. But, is anyone really surprised by this? He is the Gentleman of Baseball after all.

Glad to see you in the Bronx again, Grandy! Welcome back!

--Erica Morales, BYB Writer
Twitter: @e_morales1804

NOTES THAT COULD HELP YOUR FANTASY BASEBALL TEAM

2013-05-15T06:49:00.002-04:00

Jason Kipnis has come on strong in the last two weeks, shaking off an early season slump. The Indians Second Baseman has 4 homers and 13 RBIs these last 14 days.

If you play Fantasy Baseball on the Internet, check and see if Kipnis is sitting on your wire. He may have been dropped by a manager frustrated by his early non-production.

Chris Sale is on a roller coaster this week. He went from tossing one hit shutout ball against the Angels on Sunday night to getting an abscessed tooth removed on Monday. He is not expected to miss his next scheduled start Friday, against the Angels again. He will hope to improve his already impressive 2.88 ERA so far this season.

RA Dickey seems to be at least trying to adjust to life in the AL East after a somewhat rocky start. He gained the W against the champion Giants this week and has had five quality starts in eight tries. But his ERA sits at an uncomfortable 5.06 currently, and those losses have come in bunches. Stay tuned.

The good news on Bryce Harper is that he is not hurt seriously after slamming into the outfield wall Monday night. He has no concussion and needed 11 stitches on his chin, but no major injuries were incurred. The bad news on Harper is he is sporting a measly .138/.297/.241 slash line for the last two weeks. So a few days off might do him a whole lot of good.

The Pirates are scaring people with their bullpen. Mark Melancon leads the league with 13 holds. His ERA is an itty bitty 0.47, with a WHIP of 0.68, making him the ideal set-up man. Considering that Jason Grilli is making a case for best closer in the league right now, teams should be wary of letting Pittsburgh hold a lead late in the game with their vicious one two punch from the mound.

There’s some of what’s happening with the non-Pinstripe crowd.

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

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