Roger Clemens: His eighth year on the ballot, Rocket would be in the Hall of Fame already if not for performance-enhancing allegations. Much like Barry Bonds with the Pittsburgh Pirates, had Clemens simply stopped playing after his Boston Red Sox days, his numbers would still probably be good enough to get in eventually. Spending parts of seven seasons in the Bronx, Clemens helped the Yankees win two World Series titles, four AL pennants and earned the 2001 Cy Young Award. Look for Clemens to linger longer for another year.

Embed from Getty Images

Gary Sheffield: His sixth year on the ballot, like Clemens, Sheffield would be in if not for alleged performance-enhancing allegations. Sheffield slugged 509 career home runs and won a World Series title with the 1997 Florida Marlins. Sheffield displayed toughness and tenacity while in the Bronx from 2004-06. Sheff boasted two All-Star campaigns in pinstripes, smashing more than 30 home runs in 2004 and 2005, nearly killing third base coach Larry Bowa in the process. Sheffield’s stats will more than likely keep the five-tool player on the ballot for the foreseeable future.

Embed from Getty Images

Andruw Jones: His third year on the ballot, known more for a career which appeared to have a surefire Hall of Fame trajectory with the Atlanta Braves, Jones rounded out his career with the Yankees. Spending two seasons in the Bronx, Jones smacked 27 home runs between 2011 and 2012 in a mostly platoon role. In his second year on the ballot, I would suspect Jones will remain on, but his post-Braves playing days certainly leave voters wanting more.

Embed from Getty Images

Andy Pettitte: His second year on the ballot, Pettitte looks to improve upon his 9.9% from last year. Pettitte registered a 60.2 career WAR. During his time in pinstripes, the southpaw starter was thrice an AL All-Star, earned the 2001 ALCS MVP, and helped pitch New York to seven pennants and five World Series titles. He likely comes up short, but having No. 46 retired in Monument Park is a solid consolation prize.

Embed from Getty Images

Bobby Abreu: His first year on the ballot, Abreu posted a career WAR of 60.0. Playing parts of three seasons in the Bronx from 2006-08, Abreu posted a slash line of .295/.378/.465. A Brian Cashman steal from the Philadelphia Phillies, Abreu socked 43 homers with New York. Abreu helped the Yankees earn the 2006 AL East crown. The right fielder also hit the last postseason home run in the old Yankee Stadium in the 2007 ALDS. He probably doesn’t make it but his numbers keep him on the ballot for years to come.

Embed from Getty Images

Jason Giambi: His first year on the ballot, Giambi recorded a career war of 50.5. During seven seasons in the Bronx, the first baseman smacked 209 home runs. Giambi posted a slash line of .260/.404/.521 in pinstripes. Giambi was an absolute monster in 2002 and 2003, clubbing a combined 82 homers. Thrice and All-Star with New York, Giambi’s pinnacle moment was Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS and his pair of home runs off Pedro Martinez. His numbers will keep him on the ballot, but his PED linkage will keep him out of the Hall of Fame.

Embed from Getty Images

Alfonso Soriano: His first year on the ballot, Soriano registered a career war of 28.2. Spending parts of seven seasons in the Bronx, Soriano’s career book ended in New York. Hitting 121 home runs in pinstripes, Soriano burst onto the scene by finishing third in 2001 AL Rookie of the Year voting. Helping New York to a pair of pennants, Soriano nearly cemented a fourth consecutive World Series title with his ninth-inning home run in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. A silver slugger winner and twice an All-Star in New York, Soriano nearly became a 40/40 player in 2002, leading the Junior Circuit with 128 runs, 209 hits, and 41 steals, finishing third in AL MVP voting. His numbers are interesting and keep him on the ballot but he probably comes up short.

Embed from Getty Images

Eric Chavez: His first year on the ballot, Chavez posted a career war of 37.5. During his time with the Oakland Athletics, the gold glove third baseman had a career projection akin to Don Mattingly. In a pair of seasons in the Bronx 2011-12, Chavez filled in admirably for A-Rod at the hot corner. In 2012, Chavez clocked 16 home runs and posted a .845 OPS. Likely comes up short.

Embed from Getty Images

Raul Ibanez: His first year on the ballot, Ibanez posted a career war of 20.4. Ibanez played the 2012 season with New York, hitting 19 home runs. Ibanez’ signature moment in the Bronx came in Game 3 of the ALDS when he recorded a pinch-hit, game-tying home run in the ninth and later a walk-off home run in the twelfth against the Baltimore Orioles. Hall of the Very Good.

Embed from Getty Images

Brian Roberts: His first year on the ballot, Roberts registered a career WAR of 30.4. Roberts was a doubles machine with the O’s but his 2014 season with the Yankees was forgettable. The second sacker hit a paltry .237 in pinstripes. Take a picture, he won’t be on the ballot next year.

Embed from Getty Images

The post Best of the rest: Yankees on the 2020 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.

¾ of the way through I nearly passed out, but worry not, dear reader. Because for journalistic integrity I powered on with absolutely no consideration for my stomach or general well-being. All so you can find out the top 5 and worst 5 items there.

The Top 5

#5: Diamondbacks, Churro Dog

The Diamondbacks churro dog was one of the few dessert items, which instantly helped put in the top 5. After trying 17 different sandwiches (maybe slight exaggeration) I was ready for something new. And the combination of a churro with some kind of cookie, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce was pretty great. Would I want it every time at the ballpark? No. But it’s unique and good enough for the last spot in our top 5.

#4: Reds, Bulgogi Beef Egg Rolls

There were a few attempts at Asian food at the event, and this was the only good one. The secret to why this was good? Using actual Asian food in it. Bulgogi and gyochujang sauce worked well and the egg roll was nice and crispy. If I’m not in the mood for a burger or hot dog, this would be a great alternative. As for why this was the Reds food item, I have no idea. And that’s why it’s only #4.

#3: Braves, Dagwood Grilled Cheese

This photo sucks, I’m sorry. I was well over an hour in at this point (you only get 2 hours) and was about to pass out. I made the mistake of drinking an orange vanilla coke shortly before trying this one and was moving noticeably slower. In this sandwich, the bacon, ham, and cheese worked real well together. My only complaint is there’s way too much bread. I’m not at the ballpark to load up on carbs. Give me 2 slices of bread, max. And more meat and cheese please.

#2: A’s, Brisket Nachos

This is exactly what you look for when you’re eating nachos. Crispy tortilla chips, plenty of meat and cheese, and some salsa. There was good heat from the jalapenos but it wasn’t overwhelming. Of course, nobody has ever eaten these nachos because they’re in Oakland, but a very solid choice.

#1: Rays, Beer Braised Short Rib Grilled Cheese

It pains me severely to rank the Rays as the #1 choice here, but alas I must. This was easily the best food item of the day. The sourdough bread was nicely toasted and that made all the difference. I lost count of how many sandwiches had shitty bread, and this one really stood out. The combo of short rib, onions, and cheese was great as well. I truly wonder if Tampa and Oakland have the best food in baseball but nobody knows about it because their attendance is so poor. The only reason to go to the pathetic excuse that is the Trop (unless it’s a Bronx invasion) is this sandwich.

The Bottom 5

#5: Dodgers, Smoked Pork Belly Bao Buns

This one wasn’t awful, but it was by far the most disappointing. I love pork belly and thought this one had real potential. But the pork belly was not cooked well at all and the bao I got was cold. Much like the Dodgers in October, it had high expectations but not enough execution.

#4: Cardinals, Four Hands Nachos

These nachos just didn’t make sense. The chips were way too bland as was everything here, except the jalapenos. And holy hell if you got a jalapeno you couldn’t forget about it for at least 5 minutes. There was no balance and I expected way more from a food city like St. Louis.

#3: Mets, Bases Loaded Dog

There’s no picture because I didn’t eat it. Not because I couldn’t mind you, but because why would I? It’s basically a regular hot dog with some bacon thrown on. I went to food fest looking for unique, innovative food items, not something you find at every barbecue. For a stadium that prides itself on its food to the point many fans think it’s superior to the Mecca that is Yankee Stadium, this is the shit you bring? Get out of here and don’t even think about saying you’re best in New York at anything. Only the Mets could have a ballpark of great food items and Mets it up this badly. Smdh.

#2: Tigers, Coney Egg Roll

Okay. Where to start with this?

1. Why put a hot dog in an egg roll? A bun is a better choice
2. If you do use an egg roll, at least make it crispy. Not the soggy excuse this thing had.
3. Mustard on top? It’s an egg roll. Jeez.

I know this is the 2^nd Asian-esque food in the bottom 5 and you may be wondering if I hate Asian food. It’s actually the opposite. As an Asian-American myself, I was excited for the Asian options they had and was thus significantly disappointed by the atrocity that was this hot dog egg roll. I took one bite and immediately threw the rest out.

#1: Rangers, Dilly Dog

So here we are, the worst item of the day. Basically a corn dog with a pickle inside. Sounds reasonable, but no, no it is not. Everything about this one was wrong. There was too much pickle and not enough pickle at the same time. The corn batter wasn’t on properly and even the hot dog inside wasn’t properly cooked. This was the 2^nd item of the day so I was more than hungry enough to eat it all up, but no. Just no. Afterwards I went back and took this picture:

You see that full tray of dilly dogs back there? Yet nobody is on line, nobody wants it. Because it sucks. So much. Everything may be bigger in Texas, but it sure as hell is not better.

Yankees

The Yankees had a shrimp po’boy. It was aight. The shrimp was good, it had too much bread. Could have used some sauce. Nothing spectacular, but this is a Yankee blog so I had to put this in. Overall, I 10/10 recommend Food Fest, and be sure it’s your first and only meal of the day!

For more food content from Bronx Pinstripes, check out JJ’s weekly video series Stadium Eats.

You can contact Rohan on Twitter @rohanarcot20

The post What’s the best food around MLB? appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.

Maybin is well-known for his good vibes and his celebratory hugs with teammates. He’s always spreading positivity, both in the Yankees dugout and through his interactions on social media. Not only is he a great veteran presence in the Yankees clubhouse, but Maybin has certainly made his presence known with his play on the field by slashing .308/.516/.905 with 8HRs and providing the Yankees much-needed flexibility by playing all three outfield positions.

The #TradeDeadline got everyone stressed, man… Who needs a hug? I got y’all. Bring it on in pic.twitter.com/NwQR1x276M

— Cameron Maybin (@CameronMaybin) July 31, 2019

Being a fan community, we also love to see when our guys are doing good things off-the-field, and Maybin has certainly been an active participant in the local community.  We’re very excited at Bronx Pinstripes to partner with Cam and his team by designing a great t-shirt that will help spread his positive attitude and raise money to benefit his mission, Maybin Mission, and DREAM Charter School in Harlem.

Since the first day I stepped foot in the New York Yankees clubhouse, it felt like home. Teammates have become brothers and fans have become family. I couldn’t be more grateful to wear the pinstripes. I’m excited to partner with Bronx Pinstripes and the #BPCrew on this special collaboration, so I can share my famous hugs with Yankees fans near and far and help raise funds for a cause that’s so important to me, my Maybin Mission. – Cameron Maybin

'HUG SZN' & 'Savages Gotta Hug' shirts are live on the @BronxPinstripes site

I better see some of y'all with the shirts at the next home stand! Hit me with that #HugSzn hashtag so I can see it https://t.co/h2SuuLo3QZ pic.twitter.com/CnWTJgrrSh

— Cameron Maybin (@CameronMaybin) August 21, 2019

We’re proud to say that 100% of the proceeds from the HUG SZN and Savages Gotta Hug t-shirts will benefit Maybin Mission and will be donated to DREAM Charter School in Harlem. 

Maybin Mission, which was founded by Cameron and his wife Courtney in 2016, focuses on enriching the lives of inner-city youth. Today, Maybin Mission programs and partnerships reach thousands of kids from coast to coast and everywhere in between. Through positive play, education, and cultural programming, the Maybin’s are dedicated to impacting the communities in which they live and serve.

It’s officially #HugSZN, and we’re here for it!

Purchase your t-shirt today: shop.bronxpinstripes.com

For more information about Maybin Mission: maybinmission.com

The post Savages gotta hug: Maybin brings #HugSZN to the Bronx appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.

Last week, Brian Cashman reported his car as stolen. Not long after, it was found and returned to him, but not removed from the list of stolen vehicles. On Friday, the Darien police got a call about a man with a gun, possibly driving a white “Jeep-like” vehicle, and came across Brian Cashman in his Jeep that was still listed as stolen. From there, things could’ve gotten ugly, but luckily everyone kept their cool.

One thing I didn’t like was the cop saying, “You look familiar,” and then admitting to knowing exactly who he was talking to. Brian Cashman doesn’t have time for your games about who he is, right after having a gun pulled on him. Thank the man for what he’s done for all of us, and let him go back to winning the 2019 World Series.

I’ll see you all at the parade.

PS: If you’re ever at that Shell station, there’s a place called “Uncle’s Deli” down the street that makes the best “Black Friday Turkey Sandwich” I’ve ever had. It’s a Wednesday special and if you tell them I sent you, they’ll have no idea what you’re talking about.

The post Want to see Brian Cashman pulled over at gunpoint by the police? Of course you do! appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.

I want to preface the following by saying I love Brian Cashman. He’s been the GM of the team for 21 years and has made a lot of good moves. Sure, he has made his fair share of bad (and some horrible) moves, but all in all, I think he is one of the best in the game. However, his performance this past week has been anything but stellar.

On the surface, I’m going to have to give him a big fat D. That’s simply by judging what transpired – or didn’t transpire, rather. For weeks, we have been seeing articles citing sources who were certain the Yankees were going to land some starter. And if worse comes to worst? They’ll simply add to the bullpen. Yet neither of those things happened. There was one move, however: acquiring left-hander Alfredo Garcia from Colorado for Joe Harvey. I’m sorry, but that move doesn’t matter. It doesn’t affect the 2019 championship pursuit.

We all know there is a “Yankees tax”: other teams simply ask for more from Cashman. And we know that over the past handful of years, Cashman has been rather reluctant to trade the organization’s top prospects. In other words, we used to overpay; now it seems like to we want to underpay.

Look, we were never getting Noah Syndergaard, or even Zack Wheeler. To pull off something like that with the Mets, you would have to apply the Yankees tax times ten. In my opinion, if what it took to get a Madison Bumgarner or Trevor Bauer was an extra prospect (or even two) in the lower levels of the system, you have to do it. We’ve seen flashes of magic this year. This team, when healthy, is good enough to win the World Series. But for that to happen, you would have to hope that our bats can come alive against Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, and now Zack Greinke. On that topic, it would have been some sort of consolation if teams like the Twins, Red Sox, Rays, and Astros struck out. It looked like the Astros may have been in the same boat as the Yankees yesterday as the four o’clock hour approached, but somehow Houston ended up not only with Greinke, but also with Aaron Sanchez and Joe Biagini to strengthen their bullpen. That staff won’t be fun to face in a seven-game series in October. So that’s why the Yankees standing pat stings even more.

Again, this is just judging based on the inactivity on the surface. That’s why I can’t call the situation a complete failure. It was rumored that the Diamondbacks wanted Clint Frazier plus three other prospects for Robbie Ray. You can’t do that. If the Giants came calling asking for Frazier, Deivi Garcia, Estevan Florial, Aaron Judge, and the rights to Aroldis Chapman’s car collection for Bumgarner, you hang up. We just don’t know exactly how these negotiations went down – and likely never will.

So if that’s the case, then I would ease up on my grade. But this was not a fun deadline for Yankees fans. Hopefully getting healthy is what this team needs to get them through October and over to the Canyon of Heroes.

The post Grading the Yankees’ deadline activity – or lack thereof appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.

Full Count, the new book from @dcone36 and @JackCurryYES, is now available. Read an excerpt here: https://t.co/vpqknnBjWo pic.twitter.com/3XtSRmzXnK

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 14, 2019

“Full Count: The Education of a Pitcher,” by David Cone and Jack Curry is a fun journey and provides insight into the maniacal mind of a pitching savant. I say maniacal as a term of endearment, as Cone chronicles his career and pitching acumen.

Ecstatic to announce that ⁦@dcone36⁩ and me have made The NY Times Best Seller list. We debut at #13 in Nonfiction on the upcoming list. Thanks to David for being a great collaborator. Thanks to all who helped during this process. This is really cool. pic.twitter.com/GdNip1OqhJ

— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) May 22, 2019

It’s obvious from his analysis on YES Network broadcasts and in the book that Cone could be a pitching coach and was actually asked by Bobby Valentine and the Boston Red Sox before the 2012 season. One can’t help but wonder what kind of pitcher Cone would’ve been with all of the data at the disposal of current-day pitchers and video that captures spin rate and velocity in real-time. I also loved Cone’s old school toughness too and how he mentioned that pitchers need to be trained to work through adversity and make adjustments.

Cone described the importance of being an aggressive, attacking, creative pitcher. The righty was an innovative hurler, using his legs to drop and drive and power his pitches to his strengths. As someone who emulated Cone as a kid in the backyard in the late 90s, I loved how he featured some many different pitches and arm angles and grips with his fastball, (Laredo) slider, splitter, and curveball.

Embed from Getty Images

Cone spoke to how pitchers have to test and trust themselves, pitching to lanes consistently, being aggressive and have conviction in their pitches, even as he did so flailing and throwing 147-pitches in a Game 5 ALDS loss for the New York Yankees against the Seattle Mariners.

Embed from Getty Images

At an early age, Cone learned from his father Ed, that every pitch should have a purpose.

As a young pitcher, Cone got a quick education on gaining the trust of his teammates. On the mound, you’re the center of attention and your teammates are watching you and you constantly have to prove yourself, as Cone learned from legendary Kansas City Royals closer Dan Quisenberry and New York Mets crafty veteran starter Bobby Ojeda. This also included rebounding from adversity and regaining his focus during the 1988 NLCS.

Cone also detailed some humbling moments in the minors, including coming back from an ACL injury and a story about how as a minor leaguer on a budget his diet literally caught up to him in soiling himself on the mound.

As a young pitcher trying to make an impression with scouts, Cone described how former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Joe Presko gave him the confidence that he could actually become a big league pitcher. With every top high school prospect on YouTube these days it was pretty surreal to read how Cone more or less caught the eye of scouts at an open tryout with the Royals and pitching against college kids in the Ban Johnson League. Cone’s high school didn’t have a baseball program.

He also detailed the preparation process and finding that mental edge in the pre-game bullpen session. The Yankees even had a bullpen catcher glove called the “ego mitt.”

I also loved the aspect of the dance between pitchers and catchers. Backstops like Jamie Quirk, Gary Carter, Barry Lyons, and Charlie O’Brien were always upbeat and positive pumping up Cone on the mound. Yankees catcher Joe Girardi was excellent at reading Cone’s mind, reacting and remaining in rhythm with the pitcher who stared in and liked getting signs quickly. The opposite was the case with two fiery and stubborn players in Cone and Jorge Posada.

Embed from Getty Images

Cone was also a pitcher who liked to call his own game and was incredibly detailed in preparing and having a plan of attack.

The amount of work that goes into deceiving hitters and running through signs as to not tip pitches was also fascinating.

Cone was constantly learning throughout his storied career, whether it was honing his splitter with Roger Craig, developing an X-Game approach of crisscrossing the plate with pitches from pitching coach Bruce Kison in his second tour of duty with the Royals, not being taught a spitter from Gaylord Perry. Even late in his career, choking the ball in the glove and throwing a slow curve early in the count like Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez.

Cone would even work on perfecting “bad pitches,” bouncing curves on the plate for instance.

In addition, Cone talked about consistently hitting spots and expanding the zone and taking advantage of those extra inches.

Cone was all about throwing his pitch, having conviction in those pitches and challenging hitters throughout his career.

Having watched the 90’s Yankees and reading other books from that era, I feel like I’ve heard a lot of what Cone covered or he at least confirmed my suspicions. There were a few interesting tidbits including David Wells and bullpen antics. Plus, reading about the brilliance of those players and Joe Torre, you really appreciate those teams even more.

Cone also breaks down his perfect game in 1999 and an inning of Game 3 of the 1996 World Series.

Embed from Getty Images

Overall the book is a fun and insightful read and a pitching clinic by Cone and Curry.

I couldn’t put it down, so needless to say it’s well worth your time.

The post Book Review: Cone and Curry’s “Full Count” delivers appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.

When you meet the #Cashgod and start talkin that talk about @BronxPinstripes @GeorgesBoxPod @JJFromTheBronx ! @BAT1STA with ! #ReplaceFor28 #PinstripePride pic.twitter.com/QI15Kp6J4d

— Keith McPherson (@Keith_McPherson) May 19, 2019

It was really cool to hear about Keith’s experience and how Cashman and Yankees assistant general manager Michael Fishman read the site.

The exchange also brought me back to a chance meeting I had with another legendary Yankee general manager, the late great Gene “Stick” Michael.

Embed from Getty Images

This was in the summer of 1994, the last year the Yankees housed their Double-A prospects in Albany. During the strike in August 1994 “Stick,” manager Buck Showalter and pitching coach Billy Connors were scouting the Albany-Colonie Yankees and sitting in box seats behind home plate at Heritage Park.

A 10-year-old kid, naturally I was excited and my younger brother and I were eager to meet them and hock for some autographs too. A year earlier Mr. October, Reggie Jackson, came to watch prospects from the home first base dugout, no autographs for us but my brother brushed up against Reggie’s jacket as he walked out from the clubhouse to the field, just ask him, he’ll tell you.

Much like the big ballpark in the Bronx, even those box seats were well guarded by ushers but we were cunning, determined and picked our spot. Hell, during a grand opening of the old Nobody Beats The Wiz at Crossgates Mall near Albany, I darted and cut in line for an autograph from legendary New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, ah the things you can get away with as a kid but I digress.

Between innings, the ushers weren’t looking and we made our move to the box seats. Hello Mr. Michael, hello Mr. Showalter (who once managed A-C to an Eastern League crown with a young Bernie Williams in 1989) and hello Mr. Connors (a Schenectady, N.Y. native). They were all very nice, signed for us, we thanked them and sheepishly told the ushers we weren’t sitting down there and went back to our seats.

Oh but there’s more.

Russell Davis, a power-hitting third base prospect, who had lightning quick wrists (think Clint Fraizer legendary bat speed) and earned Eastern League MVP honors in 1992, was one of my favorite players. My dad urged me to go back down and ask “Stick” to not trade Russ Davis.

Embed from Getty Images

So, I went back down to the box seats and our short conversation went as such: Me: “Mr. Michael?” Stick: “Yes?” Me: “Please don’t trade Russ Davis?” Stick: “OK kid.” He said with an endearing chuckle, entertaining roster moves from yours truly, the 10-year-old amateur GM.

It was such a cool moment having his ear and that interaction if for only a fleeting moment. I was thrilled with his response too and it felt so genuine and even looking back at how protective he was of Bernie and the “Core Four” guys, among other prospects, he probably meant it.

Embed from Getty Images

Of course, after “Stick” was fired from his GM post following the 1995 season, Davis was shipped to Seattle in the Tino Martinez deal, which worked out pretty well.

Months later the World Series would be canceled and I lost my favorite childhood team as they moved to Norwich, CT but that moment and a chance meeting with “Stick” is a memory that for me will last a lifetime.

The post My moment in “Stick’s box” appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.

Yankees

The below graph shows the relative interest over time for the topic “New York Yankees”, which includes all search terms relative to it. The peak interest occurs during the week of October 7-13, 2018, which was for their ALDS matchup with the Red Sox. Other than that, there does not seem to be anything interesting with this graph, except for the fact that interest appears to be higher during last season this this season so far.

The Yankees generate the most absolute interest in the United States. Yet if you look at it as a fraction of total searches, the U.S. is fourth. Here are the top five and their values, where 100 indicates the location with the most population as a proportion of total searches:

1. Puerto Rico, 100
2. Nicaragua, 71
3. Panama, 67
4. United States, 64
5. Dominican Republic, 60

Yankees vs. Red Sox

How about we compare the team they will be playing in the London? The graph shows worldwide interest. Obviously, the Red Sox had a lot more interest last fall when they walked their way to a World Series title. However, the Yankees hold the slight edge when it comes to average interest in the world over the past 12 months (20 to 18, relative to 100). The Red Sox also happen to be their most related topic.

England

What is the interest in the Yankees specifically in England? Well, the trends appear to be similar to those in the United States: peaking during playoff time. The initial announcement of the London Series came on May 8, 2018 (circled) – this was a relative peak but strangely nothing too big.

Players

One player I looked at was Gio Urshela, considered the unexpected impact he has had on this team. As expected, his interest has spiked in recent weeks. However, he still does not come close the most popular current Yankee Aaron Judge, even while Judge is on the IL. And looking just at Judge: what city has the most interest in him relative to total searches? Yonkers, New York (100), with NYC coming in second (60).

Lastly, if you throw Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez into the mix looking at just the last year, they still dominate. A-Rod leads the way with a average relative value of 15, Judge is at 6, and Jeter is at 5.

One last nugget: oddly enough, the month Masahiro Tanaka signed (January 2014), the relative interest was only at a 33 in Japan. The spikes in the country still occur around playoff times, most notably in 2004, 2012, and 2017.

Who is the most popular team in New York?

Yeah, when looking at the last 12 months, the Yankees took this one pretty easily. Their average relative score was 36; the Mets’ was 16.

The post How popular are the Yankees around the world? appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.

Let’s play a game of what-if. In this case, Yankees manager Aaron Boone snaps his infinity stone-batting gloved finger and all the injured Yankees get healthy at once. Well, not Jacoby Ellsbury, but everyone else. Actually, Luke Voit might have to be the one to actually snap his fingers, because he is the strongest Avenger Yankee. Okay, back to our story.

So, with everyone healthy, there’s suddenly a glut of productive ball players. Who stays? Who goes? Maybe Dr. Strange can help, or at least GM Brian Cashman, holder of the contract stone.

The following is what a completely healthy list of players looks like and is the basis for the 25-man roster:

The Infield

Reading from the right side of the infield to left: 1B: Voit, Greg Bird  2B: Gleyber Torres, DJ LeMahieu  SS: Didi Gregorius, Troy Tulowitzki  3B: Miguel Andujar, Gio Urshela  UT infielder: Tyler Wade, Thairo Estrada.

The Outfield

The outfield, from corner to corner: LF: Brett Gardner, Giancarlo Stanton, Clint Frazier, Mike Tauchman, Wade CF: Aaron Hicks, Gardner  RF: Aaron Judge, Frazier, Wade UT outfielder: Cameron Maybin.

The Rotation

Starting Pitching: Luis Severino, James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, Domingo German, Jonathan Loaisiga. (We won’t count Jordan Montgomery in here since even a magic snap of the fingers can’t heal up Tommy John surgery that quickly).

The Bullpen

Closer: Aroldis Chapman. Setup: Dellin Betances, Adam Ottovino, Tommy Kahnle, Zack Britton. Middle: Chad Green, Jonathan Holder, Stephen Tarpley. Long man: Luis Cessa, Loaisiga.  Mop up: Anyone, at any given time.

Behind the Plate

Gary Sanchez and Austin Romine. Status quo.

The Reality Stone 

From the get-go, it was very clear that the Yankees couldn’t count on Ellsbury and Tulowitzki to remain healthy in 2019. Ellsbury has been basically shut down all season and, unfortunately for Tulo, he injured his calf after a healthy Spring Training and start to the season. Things may be worse for the former All-Star after he was pulled for a pinch-runner in Wednesday’s rehab game. He had grimaced while running the bases.

Tauchman gives the Yankees some depth but after Wednesday’s loss to the Diamondbacks he had a .185/.293/.385 split. That’s utility infield numbers, not the stats of a corner outfielder, which is where he has mainly played. Tauchman hit better than .320 and averaged 18 home runs in each of the last two seasons in the minor leagues but he played in hitter-friendly Albuquerque, New Mexico. He’s expendable.

Ford enters the homestand just 4-24 (.167) on the season. Like Tauchman, Ford can be counted on to draw a walk (as evidenced by his .394 on-base percentage (OBP)), but there’s no room for him on the roster. He’ll be demoted to Scranton when the time comes.

The Power Stone 

Even with the monumental losses of Stanton and Judge, as of Thursday morning, the Yankees were still third in the American League in home runs per game (1.57), and well ahead of the league average (1.30). Imagine if the Yankees home run-hitting duo were back in the lineup?

When the pair and Frazier return, the outfielders on the roster should be: Stanton, Judge, Gardner, Hicks, and Frazier.  The timing of Frazier’s ankle injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for the team or for him personally. His .324 batting average (BA) and .632 slugging percentage (SLG) are what his current and former team (Indians) have been waiting for. Upon his return, at the very least, he needs to platoon with the streaky Gardner and get a share of DH at-bats.

Maybin is the wild card in all of this. He doesn’t hit enough in the long-term but his speed and defense are an asset to the ball club. With Hicks’ bat and glove back, there just isn’t enough room for Maybin.

The big question is whether or not the Yankees are willing to keep five outfielders on the roster, rather than four and a guy who can play both the infield and outfield.

Power is also needed back in the bullpen from Betances. His fastball and nasty breaking stuff are definitely missing from a pen that has struggled of late.

The Time Stone 

The player that both plays the infield and outfield is Wade. He’s got above-average speed and has been a proven defender no matter where the Yankees have placed him this season: 11 games at 2B, one game at SS, two games at 3B, six games in LF and one game in RF. The problem with Wade is that he hasn’t proven he can hit Major League pitching on a regular basis.

In 56 plate appearances this season, Wade’s slash line is .208/.309/.208. His slugging percentage isn’t a typo…Wade has no extra-base hits this year. While his BA and OBP are better than his career marks of .174 and .245, his SLG is below his previous two seasons. Wade has not been able to take advantage of his, albeit somewhat limited, time to show what he’s got.

There’s no room for him on a roster that contains Torres, LeMahieu, and Gregorius. The Yankees need to give him the chance to play in another organization.

As for Estrada, this is just not his time, but he has opened some eyes in the short time he’s been up with the big club. He’ll play every day for Scranton once his roster spot in the Bronx is needed.

The Soul Stone 

The injury to Severino is arguably the biggest blow the Yankees have taken this season. Losing the ace of your pitching staff for an undetermined period throws everything else into chaos. This is especially true with a pitcher that puts so much heart and soul into his performance.

So far, guys have picked up the slack, especially German, but the long-range effect of Severino being out of action remains to be seen. The Yankees may eventually have to look into a trade (Madison Bumgarner), add an unsigned free agent (Dallas Keuchel), or take a chance on a released veteran (Ervin Santana). None of them are particularly good options at the moment.

The Space Stone 

The recent injury to LeMahieu is disconcerting. He dodged a bullet in suffering only inflammation after he fouled a ball off of his right knee in San Francisco last Friday. DJLM is confident he can return to the lineup this evening when the Yankees begin a six-game homestand with the Twins and Mariners.

To date, LeMahieu has appeared in 31 games at 2B and 3B combined and made one stop at 1B. Boone needs to keep the latter as an option for now, and when and if Bird returns in the middle of the summer.

Space also needs to be left on the roster for Urshela once Andujar returns, which could occur tonight according to reports. No one expects Urshela to continue to hit at the .339/.400/.500 clip he’s currently on, but the 27-year old has displayed an outstanding glove at third base. With Andujar’s shaky defense an everyday subject, the Yankees would be wise to keep Urshela around. And, of course, Andujar is expected to hit around .290 with a .500 SLG. He’s out of minor league options and the Yankees would definitely lose him if he were made available on waivers.

The Mind Stone 

Has anyone noticed that the Mind Stone looks like a baked potato? Never mind.

Once the Yankees are back, or nearly back to full strength, Boone and Cashman need to decide who plays, who stays (on the bench), and how to best utilize the bullpen.

At the moment, Boone has taken a lot of heat from the fans. Some of it is deserved and some of it isn’t. It still comes down to players doing their jobs well.

Boone’s use of Holder in high leverage situations has to stop. He also needs to recognize sooner when a pitcher is teetering/is on the brink. Like others before him, Boone has a habit of leaving a pitcher in one batter too many.

Cashman needs to figure out his options for the impact of injured players, their return, and the farm system vs. the possible impact of the trade and free agent markets. For instance, Keuchel isn’t any better than what the Yankees system has to offer. And, of course, Hal Steinbrenner will weigh in on the hit to the tax threshold and if it will hamstring Cashman’s ability to tweak the roster.

The Endgame

The Yankees’ endgame? Snap back to reality and start beating teams with winning records. Minnesota, Seattle, and Tampa Bay immediately come to mind.

The post Yankees and Avengers: oh snap appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.

However, Higashioka has had some hardships. He missed the entire 2014 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He has also not been able to find success at the plate in the big leagues. His major-league career started with him going 0-for-22, which is the longest hitless streak to start a career by any Yankee ever. His first hit was not too bad: a home run of David Price and the Red Sox. He also homered for his next two hits, becoming the first player since 1920 to accomplish the feat.

This led to me calling him Kyle “Only Hits Homers” Higashioka. While Higashioka has a meager .143/.209/.267 slash line, he still wants to find ways to fine-tune his game and get better, whether or not there ever becomes a clear path for him to the majors.

A native of Huntington Beach, Calif., Higashioka’s father is a third-generation Japanese American. And while English is his native language, a couple of years ago he decided that he wanted to learn Japanese. The reason for the endeavor was twofold: not only would it allow him to get in touch with his roots, but it also would allow for him to more easily communicate with Japanese pitchers, namely Masahiro Tanaka.

Everyone knows how important it is for a catcher to be on the same page with the pitcher. It allows the pitcher to feel comfortable and get into a rhythm. Higashioka is able to visit the mound during a game and rattle off the names of all of Tanaka pitches in Japanese as well as different locations around the plate. Making an attempt to communicate in Japanese is apparently a sign of respect. Another is not taking the last piece of food on a plate, something else Higashioka has taken up to better get in touch with his culture.

But it doesn’t just stop with speaking Japanese – he also speaks Spanish, having taken it through high school. He can communicate with all of his Latin American pitchers and teammates and make them feel more comfortable. This all equates to Higashioka being a revered receiver and teammate in general.

He also is one who is going to keep his word. Early in his career, he promised his mother that he would eventually get a college degree. He’s been taking classes in mechanical engineering at Orange Coast College during the offseason.

We know that we won’t see Higashioka all that often, barring an injury (but with the way this season is going, who knows). We also know that he is going to keep working on his game and is willing to do whatever it takes to benefit the team.

The post Behind the mask: Kyle Higashioka appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.

The Yankees need Sir Didi now more than ever, and in the future, too. The gregarious Gregorius deserves a contract extension similar to those that his fellow shortstops recently received (Xander Bogaerts) or will receive/earn soon through free agency (Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa).

Captain, My Captain

Gregorius became a Yankee in a December 2014 trade that sent pitcher Shane Greene from New York to Detroit as part of a three-team deal with Arizona. You would have been hard-pressed to find anyone happy with the deal.

Greene had shown potential as both a starter and reliever. Meanwhile, Gregorius was all glove and no bat for the Diamondbacks. This was to be the replacement for the retired Derek Jeter?

The shortstop got off to a miserable start in NYC, both with the bat, and surprisingly, with his defensive play. But, something clicked in the second half of the 2015 season and Sir Didi has been playing All-Star caliber baseball ever since. He successfully replaced Jeter in the Yankees lineup and now it’s time for him to succeed Jeter as team captain.

Being captain of the New York Yankees is one of the most iconic leadership roles in all of sports. Among those who have held the title are current (Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig) and future (Derek Jeter) Hall of Fame members, as well as Yankee greats Thurman Munson, Don Mattingly, Ron Guidry, Graig Nettles, and Willie Randolph. Didi fits the bill.

Many in the Yankees fanbase anticipate that star right fielder Aaron Judge will be the franchise’s 16th captain. And, while that may eventually happen, Judge has only a little over 2-1/2 years of Major League experience under his belt and is still adjusting to life in the big leagues. While Judge comports himself well with the media and has some of the Jeter-esque aura about him, placing a more experienced player in the captain’s chair makes sense.

Didi is extremely popular with his teammates, who love his postgame social media recaps (teammates represented by emojis) after each Yankees win. He has acted as a mentor to youngsters like Andujar and Gleyber Torres and is a great influence on the club’s Latin and Central American ballplayers. Gregorius is also a fantastic ambassador for the game itself.

And, while he always has a smile on his face, don’t ever think that Gregorius isn’t highly competitive and tough. It appeared his 2018 season was over when he tore cartilage in his wrist in late September. But, he returned before the regular season ended and was out there at shortstop during the postseason.

Gregorius’ hustle was in full view in Game 2 of the Division Series with Boston. In the 6th inning, J.D. Martinez ripped a baseball off the section of wall in left field that juts out. Even though the ball shot across the outfield (instead of going into the left field corner as it would in most ballparks), Gregorius chased the ball down to hold Martinez to a single.

Didi is also a renaissance man off the field. His personal pursuits include painting, photography, fashion, and charitable endeavors.

After hours of drawing I put this together time for bed …. pic.twitter.com/OnPDcVSBbe

— Sir Didi Gregorius (@DidiG18) April 21, 2014

Re2pect to the captain….. Had to draw it superstar with @MonsterProducts to keep the mind right …. pic.twitter.com/eLcqRh0nDB

— Sir Didi Gregorius (@DidiG18) October 6, 2014

View this post on Instagram

Sunday funday….

A post shared by MJ Didi Gregorius (@sirdidig18) on Jun 3, 2018 at 7:48am PDT

Contracts R’ Us

Extending a young player’s contract became a trend in baseball this past offseason and early into the 2019 season. Owners can tie up a player for longer and at a lower annual average value (AAV) and players are more willing to sign extensions after seeing how long it took top free agents to sign during the Hot Stove period, not to mention how many free agents are still unsigned.

Lindor, arguably the best all-around shortstop in the game today, reportedly turned down an extension nearly two years ago that would have “approached $100M”. No length of the proposed extension was disclosed. Lindor remains without an extension today, but the Indians have control of him through 2021.

The Indians are currently doling out over $10M to Lindor, who is arbitration-eligible next year. Boston’s Bogaerts received a six-year, $120M extension last week. The new deal runs from 2020-2025 (Bogaerts receives $12M this season). The contract also contains a vesting option for 2026 based on Bogaerts attaining 535 plate appearances in 2025 and finishing the year healthy (based on someone’s definition).

Lindor deserves to top Bogaerts’ $20M average salary, so if the Indians aren’t willing to agree to such a deal, Lindor will most likely walk after the 2021 season.

One of the players for whom it could be argued is on a par with or is better than Lindor is Correa, the Astros’ 23-year old shortstop. Though injuries helped to curtail his 2018 season, Correa receives $5M this season after topping Houston in an arbitration case. It was the Puerto Rican native’s first year of arbitration eligibility, with free agency coming after the 2021 season. He too should earn more than Bogaerts over the long run but, like Lindor, it remains to be seen who will be signing his checks.

Andrelton Simmons is regarded by many as the top defensive shortstop in the Major Leagues. He earns $13M this season and a bump to $15M next year. So where does Gregorius ($11.75M salary for ’19) fit into the picture?

It’s Data Time

For the purpose of this discussion, the following comparison will be from 2016 – 2018, or the last three seasons prior to this one. It’s during that time that Gregorius really came into his own.

Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and more

Not surprisingly, Lindor tops the field with a 15.5 accumulated offensive WAR for the past three seasons. Gregorius is next at 10.1 and Bogaerts is slightly behind at 9.8.

The splits for the foursome are very similar:

The next three stats (via FanGraphs) show an interesting dichotomy between the shortstops. While Bogaerts and Correa have a significantly higher batting average on balls in play (baBIP), both also have a significantly higher strikeout percentage. While Didi may have the lowest baBIP, he also puts more baseballs into play, giving himself a better chance to reach base safely.

Finally, the weight runs created (wRC+) metric shows numbers that aren’t unexpected if you look at the quality of each of the teams’ offense over the past three seasons. Another factor is where each player has been slotted in the lineup.

In Gregorius’ case, he hit mainly between the six and eight spots in 2016. He then moved up to between fourth and seventh a year later, and last season he was found batting between third and fifth in the order most of the time.

Defensive Metrics

FanGraphs rated Gregorius as the fourth-best shortstop in the American League (eighth overall) over the last three seasons. Simmons is number one in all of baseball, followed by Lindor.  Bogaerts ranks fifth in the AL and 10th overall, while Correa ranked 10th and 16th, respectively.

To put some perspective on Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR), one of the most popular defensive metrics, a player with a +15 UZR is considered Gold Glove-caliber. A player with a +10 rating is considered great and those that are +5 to +9 are above average glovemen. Some of the factors that go into a UZR rating include range, the likelihood of committing an error, and the ability to turn double plays.

Pay Day

Despite the shaky tenure of the free agent market today, the Yankees should tie up Sir Didi before he hits the open market. He’s proven to be one of the better all-around shortstops in baseball and an even better person. Though the Yankees are not likely to give their 29-year old shortstop a contract as long as Bogaerts, they should certainly match or top the yearly average dollars Bogaerts is set to receive.

And, when the Yankees announce the new contract, they should also announce that the Yankees’ latest captain is a knight.

The post Didi Gregorius has earned captaincy and extension appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.

Following in the footsteps of recent Yankee legends Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, Aaron Judge has officially founded his own charity, the All Rise Foundation.

On Saturday night, Judge announced the beginning of the charity at a ceremony in Stockton, Calif. The purpose of the charity, according to Judge, is “to make the world a better place for children.”

The two key themes of the charity are honor and legacy. Judge said the goal is “to honor the ones who paved the way and create a legacy for those coming in the future.”

As the face of the Yankees (and maybe the face of baseball as a whole) it is nice to see Judge utilizing his platform for good. Judge has a stellar reputation as a person and a teammate, both inside and outside the Yankee organization. He has embraced the New York spotlight, a leadership role on the team and now he has embraced the opportunity to use his clout to make an impact on America’s youth.

I don’t know Judge personally, but by all accounts he seems like a well-rounded and wholesome individual. Judge was adopted, and has never met or spoken to his biological parents. Not all details regarding the charity are out yet, but I would venture to guess there will be some sort of big brother/big sister aspect involved.

As Judge continues to evolve as a player, it’s going to be exciting to see him evolve as a person as well.

The way his career is unfolding, it wouldn’t shock me if he were eventually named the next Yankee captain, as he seems to possess every attribute that a captain should have, both on and off the field.

The post Aaron Judge officially launches the All Rise Foundation appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.

On the Yahoo Sports MLB Podcast, (which is a great national baseball podcast) writers Jeff Passan, Mike Oz, and Tim Brown have a segment called “fresh or tired” in which they debate whether or not something in the baseball universe is still cool or worn out. A few months ago, they talked about our beloved Sir Didi Gregorius’ postgame emoji tweets (segment starts at 1:08:00 mark). Shoutout to Tim Brown for saying that they are fresh! As for Jeff Passan and Mike Oz, well they said that the tweets are tired in part because there were too many emojis and they did not understand them completely. Which is in part why we are here – so welcome to the Didi emoji tweet guide!

Last year, the Associated Press ran an article with some of Didi’s tweets, which you can see below. A fun nugget in the article is that players do not always know why Didi chose their emoji and Didi refuses to tell them.

Luis Severino is the baby, though that changed this year. Aaron Judge is obviously the judge. The clown is Brett Gardner, and if you listen to R2C2 (highly recommend) you know that Gardy is basically the team clown and likes to play jokes on people. The clock is for Masahiro Tanaka because Didi thinks of Tanaka’s starts as “Tanaka time.” The boxing gloves and carrot top is one of my favorites – they represent Clint Frazier most likely because of his quick hands and red hair. In the last tweet, the turkey is for Jordan Montgomery for reasons that are unclear but likely either 1) because Monty pitched for the South Carolina Gamecocks or 2) because he has long limbs and his nickname is Gumby. The rowboat is for Austin RO-mine and I like to think of it as my spirt emoji because my name is RO-han.

This year, Didi has stepped up the tweets and has a whole host of new players to depict. Below are some of my favorites.

#StartSpreadingTheNews Yankees win great start by #going 5+ innings, # with 2 for 3rbi’s (i feel bad for the balls) # with the solo hr … all around great game … bullpen and 1st of many wins for our skip today congrats

— Sir Didi Gregorius (@DidiG18) March 29, 2018

The Yankees had a great opening day victory up in Torono and Didi certainly celebrated. Severino was upgraded from baby to boy. We got our first look at the Giancarlo Stanton emoji which is a volcano. In our preseason predictions we tried to guess what Stanton’s emoji would be and Didi surprised us all. Didi also brought out the celebration emojis for this win which he uses every so often to celebrate a first hit or other milestone for teammates.

#StartSpreadingTheNews yankees win good start by # going 5strong … and offense bullpen All around great game …

— Sir Didi Gregorius (@DidiG18) April 4, 2018

This tweet was from the home opener which everyone remembers for Didi’s 8 RBI day. Of course our humble knight has never acknowledged himself in a tweet (naturally everyone uses the interlocking swords for him because he is a knight) so all we have is the child emoji for Jordan Montgomery (Did switches between turkey and child for him) and the fire emoji for the bullpen.

#StartSpreadingTheNews Yankees win great start by # going strong 7+ and offense i mean with a 2run homer to start the game… with a 2run homer… with a 2run homer and #ToenightShow with a Rbi single… bullpen WHAT A GAME!!

— Sir Didi Gregorius (@DidiG18) April 4, 2018

In this tweet we again see the boy for Sevy and volcano for Stanton. We also have our first look this season for Gary Sanchez as the octopus, most likely because Cashman compared calling him up to releasing the kraken back in 2016. Last but not least, beloved Ronald Torreyes gets a shoutout as #ToenightShow likely in reference to the pretend camera filming and interview they did in the dugout last season with Toe.

#StartSpreadingtheNews yankees win great start by going 6strong … bullpen offense all around great game … and #pikachu all with Rbis …. #BigToe como tu lo haces !!!……

— Sir Didi Gregorius (@DidiG18) April 7, 2018

Ah this game. It was the first BP Crew event of the season and while we were all freezing, Sonny Gray was sunshine for a day. Tyler Austin is also #pikachu, most likely because of socks he wore last season.

#StartSpreadingTheNews yankees win great start by going 6strong … offense # decided to for the first homer and for the second homer … #BigToe como lo haces …. All around great game…

— Sir Didi Gregorius (@DidiG18) April 14, 2018

Here we have the Hicks as the old man emoji which I think is because Hicks is bald. There’s also the nice play on one over the fence homerun and one inside the park.

#StartSpreadingTheNews yankees win Welcome back going 4strong great all around effort by team… with a rbi groundout #BigToe with a Rbi single and with a solo Homerun … WHAT A GAME !!! bullpen

— Sir Didi Gregorius (@DidiG18) April 20, 2018

Everyone’s favorite large lefty is represented with the Santa emoji. Maybe because of CC’s size but also possibly because CC likes to grow a beard. There is also Tyler Wade as a sleuth which I think is a poor choice because Wade himself has no idea why Didi made that decision. Also Torreyes is sometimes called #BigToe instead of #Toenight Show.

#StartSpreadingTheNews yankees win great start by going 6strong innings … bullpen with base clearing double … with a 2 run homer … offense All around great Game!!

— Sir Didi Gregorius (@DidiG18) April 21, 2018

Alright, this is my favorite one. For some reason, and honestly if anyone can figure this one out they’re a genius, Miguel Andujar is Japanese Ogre. I have gone down a Wikipedia rabbit hole and watched a 20 minute Youtube video to try and understand the connection, and here is all I got. The Japanese ogre is one of the Yokai, which is a supernatural creature. The specific emoji is a Namahage. During  a New Year’s ritual, men will wear masks of this creature to ward off evil spirits and demons. So my best guess is Miguel Andujar somehow protects the Yankees from evil, possibly similar to Pedro Cerrano in Major League.

#StartSpreadingTheNews yankees win Great start by Tanaka going 6+ innings … with his first major league hit… with solo homerun with a solo homerun and with a 2run homer .. bullpen all around great game … WHAT A GAME!!

— Sir Didi Gregorius (@DidiG18) April 24, 2018

Gleyber Torres is the baby bottle because of his age most likely and in a shocking twist, Tyler Austin was changed from #pikachu to a police car after the brawl at Fenway in April.

Great start by going 6strong no hit innings

— Sir Didi Gregorius (@DidiG18) May 6, 2018

Domingo German gets the ant emoji for reasons that are unexplained. And even Didi seems to be amused with himself with the grinning faces in this tweet.

#StartSpreadingTheNews yankees win great start by going 5+ innings getting 1500 strikeout on the yankees list …. with solid 1+ inning and with a solid inning… offense sac fly by … and to close it…. WHAT A GAME!!..

— Sir Didi Gregorius (@DidiG18) June 13, 2018

We finally get some relievers! Chad Green gets broccoli because duh and in beautiful fashion, Dellin Betances becomes a sauropod dinosaur, no doubt because of his height and long limbs. And at the end we get the Cuban missile for Chapman.

#StartSpreadingTheNews yankees win great start by going 5strong with 5k’s, with the sac fly, with the rbi double, with the sac fly and Yankees debut for …. WHAT A GAME!!..

— Sir Didi Gregorius (@DidiG18) July 27, 2018

Of course nothing would be complete without Greg Bird having the Bird emoji. New Yankee Zach Britton is shown as a mechanic…not sure why there.

These are only some of the emojis that Didi has used this year. For a full list, click on the images below:

Updated Didi emoji list.
One name added. Two names removed. pic.twitter.com/C9DAl8Zmz2

— soph (@itsmrstealyour_) July 29, 2018

Didi Gregorius has warmed himself up to Yankee fans not only through his stellar play but with his amazing personality. His tweets are just one reason why we love him. And the best part of every Didi tweet? It means it is time to #StartSpreadingTheNews because the Yankees won.

You can contact Rohan on Twitter @rohanarcot20

The post Didi Gregorius Emoji Guide appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.

The MLB season is long. Teams play 162 games over six months, and over that time they have to travel all over the country (plus the occasional Canada trip). But are players actually affected? Are the Yankees expected to not perform to the best of their abilities when they make the trek out west, dealing with jet lag and overall tiredness?

Heck, even my fandom is impaired when I stay up for West Coast games during the week. It is not rare for me to mistake Aaron Judge for Ronald Torreyes. Neil Walker looks like Roger Hornsby.

The Yankees typically fall in the middle of the league when it comes to miles traveled. Back in 2016, they ranked twelfth in that category, logging 35,252 miles. Of course, being on the coast will ultimately mean that you are more apt to have to travel longer distances. Teams located more centrally tend to have the easier travel schedules.

Alex Song, Thomas Severini, and Ravi Allada published a study last year in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences to examine just that. They observed results from 1992-2011 covering almost 5,000 games. Here are some brief reviews of the results:

The study showed that teams actually performed slightly worse when the jet lag (considered to be traveling across two time zones) was due to traveling east rather than west.

For example, when traveling east, the home team’s winning percentage dropped by about 35 points, while it only dropped about two points when going in the opposite direction. The researchers claim that this is more likely due to “circadian misalignment”, essentially having to adjust to a shortened day.

Furthermore, pitchers were more likely to give up home runs when traveling eastward, which led to an increase of approximately 0.1-0.2 runs per game. Additionally, the researchers hypothesized that location and velocity are also negatively affected by jet lag.

Overall, the study revealed that jet-lagged road teams ended up typically playing better statistically than jet-lagged home teams. The researchers’ suggested that in order to combat the effect of the long travel, starting pitchers should arrive a day or two before the rest of the team. For the full numerical results, check out the results of the study here.

The post How does travel affect a team’s performance? appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.

You’ll need to break out the tissue box for this one.

Earlier this season, Luca Iacono had a day he’ll never forget. The 9-year-old from Middletown, N.J., who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and underwent rounds of chemotherapy , was invited to Yankee Stadium to hang out with the Yankees and his favorite player, Aaron Judge.

Luca got a chance to hit in the batting cage with Didi Gregorius, and chat with Judge in the dugout before taking the lineup card out to home plate before the game against the Minnesota Twins. Luca then watched the game with his family and Brian Cashman in a suite.

Check out the full story on Luca and his day at Yankee Stadium below:

The post Aaron Judge grants wish to one of his biggest fans appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.

Today, Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reported Michael Kay and the YES Network are closing in on a contract extension between the two parties. The new deal is good for three years with a network option for an additional two.

Michael Kay will stay Yankees voice after unique negotiations https://t.co/p6pG2uVx2J via @nypostsports

— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) June 12, 2018

According to Marchand, Kay’s shiny new contract will pay him north of a million dollars per season, making him one of the highest-paid local broadcaster in the league.

In addition to calling roughly 125 games per season, Kay will continue to host “The Michael Kay Show” weekdays from 3:00-7:00pm.

Kay, 57, recruited a pair of top agents in Casey Close and Jim Murray to represent and assist in the negotiating process with YES. Close is no stranger to the Yankees, having represented Derek Jeter for the duration of his career.

It will be interesting to see how the YES Network’s broadcast booth unfolds next season, as beloved analyst Ken Singleton expects to retire at season’s end.

As Michael Kay opts to do less road games over time, expect the versatile Ryan Ruocco to have an increased presence in the booth for future seasons.

“I don’t see any end in sight…I want to keep doing this as long as I want to and as long as they want me to.” In an interview with the NY Post, Kay clearly stated he wants to be the TV voice of the Yankees for as long as he can.

Bottom line: Expect to hear plenty of “SEE YA” in the near future because Kay is not going anywhere.

The post Michael Kay to remain as voice of Yankees appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.

The 2018 MLB draft has come and gone. After three long days, the Yankees made 40 selections and somewhere between 20-30 of them are likely to sign and join the farm system. Here is a breakdown of the draftees by age and position:

• 31 college players, 9 high school players
• 16 hitters, 24 pitchers
• 6 catchers
• 21 college pitchers, 3 high school pitchers
• 21 righty pitchers, 3 lefty pitchers

As you can see, the Yankees went heavy on catchers, righty pitchers, and college pitchers. Below I will recap day three and give general thoughts on the Yankees’ haul. We also have detailed recaps of first round pick Anthony Seigler, second round pick Josh BRO, I mean Breaux (read the post to get the pun), and day two.

Day Three Recap

In my day two recap, I mentioned how day three is more exciting because teams take chances on a few high-end talents hoping one will sign. You use the savings from day two to try and lure prep talents with overslot bonuses. It’s very easy for someone to say that they are going to college, but sit them down with an offer for over $1 million and you never know what could happen. The Yankees took two players that fit this criteria.

In the 35th round, they picked Austin Wells, a catcher from Bishop Gorman High School in Nevada. MLB Pipeline ranked him the 170th best player overall and said that if healthy, he could be “a big strong left-handed hitter who can stay behind the plate.” Damon Oppenheimer told Mandy Bell of MLB.com that Wells is most likely going to college, but you never know. The other top talent is 37th round pick Landon Marceaux, a RHP from Destrehan High School in Louisiana. Marceaux has an advanced approach and excellent command for a high school pitcher. It is very doubtful that the Yankees can convince him to forgo college at LSU, and by all accounts, Marceaux seems like the type of player who could develop in college and be a first round pick in three years. When that happens, maybe the good will the Yankees built up by taking him and talking to him now could help if they draft him again later on.

All the Catchers

In addition to Seigler and Breaux, the Yankees took Alex Guerrero (HS) in the 18th round, Jack Thoreson (College), Patrick Winkel (HS), and Austin Wells (HS) to help replenish the catching depth in the minors. It’s no secret that catching is an organization weak spot – try to name one catching prospect on the Yankees, I can’t. Seigler has already signed and Breaux, Guerrero, and Thoreson likely will in the near future whereas Winkler and Wells will likely go to college. Adding four catchers to the system will help with depth and fill the organizational need.

Righty College Pitchers

Overall, the Yankees took a whopping 18 right-handed pitchers. 18! That’s nearly half their entire draft haul. And when you think about it, that makes a lot of sense. The Yankees are loaded with high-end pitchers in the lower levels of the system (such as Freicer Perez and Luis Medina) but have fewer pitching prospects in the higher levels of the minors. College pitchers are likely to climb the ranks quickly and could be in AA or AAA by the end of the season or early next year. The Yankees also have a history of helping college pitchers improve their stuff and become better prospects than people thought they could be (see: Jordan Montgomery and Chance Adams). If they can do the same with one or two of these guys, they would be an absolute steal based on draft position.

Concluding Thoughts

The Yankees had a nice draft overall. They started out by taking high-end high school talent with Anthony Seigler in the first round and Ryder Green in the third. Addressing catching depth was definitely a priority on day three which the Yankees did by taking four catchers. And true to their nature, they loaded up on college arms that they hope can help the team soon. The signing deadline for everyone except college seniors is July 6, in just under a month. College seniors can sign anytime up to one week before the 2019 draft, but most sign very quickly to get their pro careers started. Seeing which players sign and join the Yankees system is always exciting, and this year will be no different.

You can contact Rohan on Twitter @rohanarcot20

The post 2018 Draft: Day three recap & concluding thoughts appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.

The Yankees will finish up their series with the Astros on Wednesday and as the reigning World Series champs exit, we should expect a fresh batch of W’s to enter as we march into the dog days of summer.

The Yanks-‘Stros rivalry has become one of the best in baseball over the past few years, and this season’s series thus far have backed that up entirely. But the Yankees would not be where they are if they had to play the likes of Houston all season long, and their next stretch of games should help them pad their stats and the win column too. Let’s take a look at the next few upcoming series:

Yankees @ Orioles (5/31-6/3)

Poor Buck. The Orioles (17-37) have been one of the worst teams in baseball all season long. I dare you to name three of their five starting pitchers. Give up yet? Kevin Gausman is their current ERA leader at 4.31. Yikes. Showalter’s magic in Baltimore appears to be running out as his team looks lost on the mound and at the plate. Look for Greg Bird to take advantage of Camden Yards’ dimensions in this series and don’t be surprised if the Yankees cruise to a sweep against their once-formidable AL East rivals.

Yankees @ Tigers (6/4) Doubleheader

The Yanks and Tigers (24-29) will square off in a doubleheader after being rained out earlier in the season. The Tigers have been better than some predicted, but have still struggled to find an identity for new skipper Ron Gardenhire. Miguel Cabrera is clearly on the last legs of his Hall of Fame career and the team does not have much offense beyond the veteran first baseman. One item of note to watch here is if the team faces Michael Fulmer, who despite an up-and-down start to the season, has been rumored to be on the trading block and a piece the Yankees may want to pursue later this season.

Yankees @ Blue Jays (6/5-6/6)

Toronto is also one of the most under performing teams this season as they currently sit at 25-29, fourth place in the AL East. Josh Donaldson is not having the type of free agent season he would have hoped and the rest of the offense is not enough to carry the load after the departures of Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. Another pitcher the Yankees could be on the lookout for is J.A. Happ, a crafty lefty who has come into his own in Toronto and was named their Opening Day starter this season.

Later on: Mets, Nationals & Rays

Aside from the Nats, who have caught fire of late, the Yankees should continue their winning ways against the slumping Mets and awful Rays. All in all, this stretch of games should help the club keep pace with the Red Sox who currently have a 2.0 game lead in the AL East. It’s shaping up to be another fun summer in the Bronx.

The post Goodbye Houston, hello summer appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.

You know the Yankees are good again when a member of the ball club is featured on the first “This is SportCenter” commercial in almost two years.

This player happens to be the 6-foot-7 right fielder, Aaron Judge. Teaming up with ESPN’s Scott van Pelt, the two stars put on quite a show in both commercials.

Just like at Yankee Stadium, Judge has the jury All Rise:

All rise for The Judge. pic.twitter.com/3lP0njLgeO

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 29, 2018

In this next commercial, the 2017 AL Rookie of The Year works on his homerun trot, a sight Yankee fans hope to see numerous times this season:

Cardio day. pic.twitter.com/BMo1vfggfI

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 29, 2018

The slugger certainly did not fail to make his presence felt, even without saying a word in either commercial.

The post WATCH: Aaron Judge appears in new SportsCenter commercials appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.

Over the last couple of postseasons, many were graced with Alex Rodriguez‘s presence on FOX Sports providing in-depth studio analysis. And if you were wishing to have a larger dose of A-Rod on your television screens, look no further.

ESPN is slated to announce a deal, possibly as early as today, that Rodriguez will join their “Sunday Night Baseball” telecast. He will provide commentary along with Jessica Mendoza, Buster Olney, and new play-by-play announcer, Matt Vasgersian, who will succeed Dan Schulman. When FOX and TBS air postseason baseball, Rodriguez will still be part of their studio analysis team which consists of Kevin Burkhardt and Frank Thomas.

While we’re sure Rodriguez will have plenty of great moments on “Sunday Night Baseball”, his greatest moment will forever be the way he answered back to current MLB Network analyst Ryan Dempster hitting him with a 3-0 pitch during an August Yankees / Red Sox game. 

Rodriguez will also succeed current Yankees manager Aaron Boone as a color commentator on ESPN, and  this wouldn’t be the first time Rodriguez replaced Boone in the baseball world. During the 2003 – 2004 offseason, Boone injured his knee in a game of pick-up basketball and was expected to miss the 2004 campaign. The injury forced the Yankees to acquire Rodriguez from the Texas Rangers, and release Boone from the team.

Who knows. Maybe in the near future Rodriguez will end up being Boone’s successor as the Yankees manager. Because as we all know, everything does eventually comes in threes.

The post Alex Rodriguez to join ESPN’s ‘Sunday Night Baseball’ appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.