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]]>
Listen here!
Watch here!
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]]>The post Josh Breaux Interview, Banning the Shift and Inching Closer to Ending the Lockout appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.
]]>Finally, Andrew is joined by Yankees catching prospect Josh Breaux to talk about his career, hitting style, MLB players he emulates, banning the shift, and much more.
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]]>The post Building a championship roster: 2009 Yankees appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.
]]>We will be starting with the most recent championship squad, the 2009 New York Yankees. 2009 saw the Yankees looking to rebound from missing the playoffs in Joe Girardi’s first season leading the team. The offseason saw the departure of Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, and Mike Mussina, while Alex Rodriguez missed the beginning of the season due to a hip injury.
Catcher
The Yankees were once again be led by Jorge Posada behind the plate. Despite turning 39 during the season, Posada had one of his better offensive seasons, hitting .285 with 22 home runs, including the first home run in the new stadium. Posada initially joined the Yankees through the way of the draft in the 24th round of the 1990 MLB Draft.
He once again was joined by the strong-armed Jose Molina. While Molina was never a threat with the bat, his defense and ability to call games helped to make him a fan favorite. Molina joined the Yankees by way of the Los Angeles Angels during 2007 for minor league pitcher Jeff Kennard. In 2009 he frequently served as the personal catcher for new pitcher A.J. Burnett.
Youngster, Francisco Cervelli also joined the big league club and played his way to the backup position late in the season. The emergence of Cervelli made Molina expendable in the offseason.
First Base
One of the big free-agent signings for the Yankees was first baseman, Mark Teixeira. Teixeira started his career with the Rangers before stops with the Braves and Angels. Teixeira joined the Yankees on an 8-year deal worth $180 million. He played in 156 games while hitting 39 home runs to complement a .292 average leading to a second-place finish in the American League MVP voting.
Second Base
In 2009, Robinson Cano played in 161 games while holding down second base for the Yankees. Originally, signed as an international free agent in 2001, Cano was in his fifth season as a starter in New York. Cano finished the year with a .320 average and established himself as a premier second baseman in Major League Baseball.
Third Base
As mentioned above, the Yankees started the season without their starting third baseman, Rodriguez, due to offseason hip surgery. As a result, the Yankees used the combination of Cody Ransom and Ramiro Pena to help manage the load. A-Rod returned from injury to play in 124 games while hitting 30 home runs with 100 RBI. Ransom struggled in limited playing time leading to the Yankees acquiring Eric Hinske for the postseason stretch.
2009 was something of a breakthrough for A-Rod. Rodriguez joined the Yankees for the 2004 season in a trade with the Texas Rangers and signed an extension to stay with the Yankees before the 2008 season. While A-Rod added two MVP awards with the Yankees, he seemed to shy away during the postseason. Furthermore, A-Rod found himself entangled in steroid controversies and finally admitted to using banned substances during the 2009 offseason. Perhaps it was that monkey off his back that helped him come up huge in October.
Shortstop
2009 marked the final World Series championship for longtime captain Derek Jeter. Despite being 35, he was still a key component of the Yankees lineup and hit .334 on the season. Jeter originally joined the Yankees in the first round of the 1992 draft and his leadership was a key part in bringing the Yankees their first World Series title since 2000.
The Outfield
The Yankees started the season with the vision of Johnny Damon playing left, Melky Cabrera in center, and Xavier Nady in right. Damon, the pesky former Red Sox star, joined the Yankees for the 2006 season on a four-year deal worth $52 million. Damon hit .282 in his final season in pinstripes. Meanwhile, the Yankees turned to the 24-year-old Cabrera to man center field. Cabrera signed in 2001 as a 17-year-old and established himself along with Cano as one of the more promising young players in the organization. Finally, the Yankees had acquired Nady from the Pirates during the 2008 season.
Disaster struck for the Yankees early when Nady went down with an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery after only seven games. The Yankees turned to the newly acquired Nick Swisher to man right field. The Yankees had originally viewed Swisher as a role player capable of backing up the corner outfield spots and first base when they traded with the White Sox. Swisher would be a breath of fresh air for the Yankees and his passion quickly made him a favorite amongst his teammates and fans alike.
Finally, the 25-year-old Brett Gardner served as a valuable utility outfielder, replacing Damon late in games for defense or extra speed.
Designated Hitter
The Yankees transitioned longtime outfielder Hideki Matsui into a more permanent DH. Matsui joined the Yankees in 2003 after playing the early portion of his career in his native Japan. His booming home runs and Godzilla nickname made him a fan favorite and in his last year in the Bronx, Matsui hit 28 home runs and eventually take home the World Series MVP award.
Starting Pitchers
2009 saw the Yankees with four pitchers starting more than 30 games. The staff was led by new additions CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. Sabathia spent the back half of 2008 leading the Brewers to the playoffs after a terrific run in Cleveland. His efforts led to a then-MLB record contract for a pitcher at 7 years, $161 million. In his first year in pinstripes, Sabathia went 19-8 with a 3.37 ERA and 197 strikeouts. Sabathia was the workhorse the Yankees needed and threw over 230 innings to lead the Yankees. Meanwhile, Burnett joined the Yankees on a 5 year, $82.5 million pack after starting with the Marlins and Blue Jays. Burnett went 13-9 with a 4.04 ERA and 193 strikeouts.
Joining the two newcomers were long-time pitcher Andy Pettitte and the young flamethrower, Joba Chamberlain. Pettitte, who was drafted in the 22nd round of the 1990 draft by the Yankees, pitched to a 4.16 ERA. Meanwhile, he was joined by Chamberlain who was a first-round pick in 2006. Chamberlain finished the season with a rough 4.75 ERA and saw his stock with the Yankees plummet. At one point, Chamberlain was seen as the next great Yankees ace but never returned to his early dominant form.
The Bullpen
The Yankees were once again led by Mariano Rivera who finished the season with 44 saves. Since joining the Yankees as an international free agent in 1990, Rivera became the most dominant closer in baseball history. He was joined by former first-round pick Phil Hughes, lefty Phil Coke, Brian Bruney, and David Robertson. Of the group, Robertson established himself as a critical piece down the stretch earning the nickname Houdini for his ability to escape difficult situations.
2009 saw the Yankees led by the core-four while adding key offseason additions in Sabathia, Burnett, Swisher, and Teixeira. The Yankees returned to the playoffs and defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in six games to win their most recent World Series Championship
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]]>The post HBO announces CC Sabathia documentary appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.
]]>HBO Sports & Major League Baseball Team Up For CC Sabathia Documentary https://t.co/L0PADrvoK2
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) December 1, 2020
His Yankee career
Sabathia signed a 7-year, $161 million contract prior to the 2009 season, the highest for a pitcher at the time, and delivered immediately. In his first year in Pinstripes, Sabathia won 19 games and the ALCS MVP, helping the Yankees to their 27th world championship.
The lefty continued to dominate through 2012, but fell on hard times in 2013. His next three seasons were filled with inconsistent performances and injury. In 2015, as the Yankees were preparing to play in the Wild Card Game, Sabathia checked himself into rehab for alcohol abuse.
“I couldn’t be more grateful for the chance to give viewers an inside look into my career and to share my unfiltered story,” CC said in a release about the film. “I struggled for a long time with alcohol addiction and anxiety, which I pretty much hid from everyone I knew. It’s my hope we can inspire athletes and non-athletes alike to open up and let their friends, family and teammates know that there is a path through this. You are not alone.”
After coming out of rehab, not only did CC beat his addiction, he re-invented himself and once again became a productive pitcher for the Yankees. Sabathia posted sub-four ERA’s from 2016-2018, and was a vital part of the team’s 2017 postseason run.
His Legacy
CC finished his career with 251 wins, six All-Star appearances, and the 2007 Cy Young award. His 3,093 strikeouts are third most for a left-handed pitcher in history. In my mind, he’s a no-doubt first ballot Hall of Famer.
This documentary is going to be must-watch material. If you’re a Yankee fan and you didn’t love CC, figure it out.
After appearing to experience some discomfort on the mound, CC Sabathia leaves the game. Yankees fans give him a standing ovation as he walks off the field. pic.twitter.com/rLf7v0vM5s
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 18, 2019
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]]>The post Who’s the next Yankees Hall of Famer? appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.
]]>So, when is the next best chance for a former Yankee to attain baseball immortality?
2022
It’s a ways off but if next year’s in-person induction also gets nixed by the coronavirus, we could theoretically have Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez sharing the stage in 2022. A-Rod, who played parts of a dozen seasons in the Bronx, earned two MVP’s here and helped win the 2009 World Series. Also potentially joining those two could be Mark Teixeira. Teixeira spent parts of eight seasons in pinstripes, winning the 2009 crown, along with the home run title, gold glove, silver slugger, and MVP runner-up that season.
Will A-Rod overcome getting banged for PED? Did injuries hamper Tex’s chances too much?
2023
Carlos Beltran is the lone player with Yankee ties in 2023. Once regarded as a logical heir-apparent to Bernie Williams, it wasn’t until 2014 that Beltran made his way to the Bronx side of New York. Playing parts of three seasons in pinstripes, Beltran was essentially on his last legs. His postseason stats could potentially place him over the top. Yet, he was part of the 2017 sign-stealing scandal with the Houston Astros, so who knows?
2024
Bartolo Colon and Matt Holliday both spent a New York minute in the Bronx. Colon in 2011. Holliday in 2017. Colon had a nice first half in pinstripes and then looked like he was running out of gas, only to pitch for eight more seasons. This assumes Colon doesn’t make a comeback in 2021 but he probably won’t make it based on his PED connection as well. Holliday also had a splendid first half of 2017 and pumped up the offense before fading late. Holliday likely comes up a bit short as well, despite some impressive credentials.
2025
This is where it gets really fun and most likely for a HOF inductee. As former Yankees are concerned, CC Sabathia headlines the group. Assuming he doesn’t make another comeback, Ichiro Suzuki is also a first-ballot lock. Joining those two are Melky Cabrera, Curtis Granderson, Brian McCann, Mark Reynolds, and Troy Tulowitzki.
Sabathia spent 11 seasons in the Bronx and helped lead the 2009 team to a title with an ALCS MVP. Ichiro spent parts of three seasons in pinstripes from 2012-14 and hit .353 in the 2012 ALCS.
McCann, who spent parts of three seasons in New York from 2014-16, appeared to be on a HOF arc before fading somewhat into his 30’s. Granderson, who smacked 115 home runs from 2010-13 with New York, had a stellar career on the field and was a superb ambassador off the field.
Cabrera was a homegrown Yankee, playing in the Bronx from 2005-09. He was part of the 2009 World Series team, hitting .391 in the ALCS and he also hit for the cycle that season. Cabrera’s PED past doesn’t likely help his razor-thin chance though. Reynolds was a feast or famine player who hit six home runs in 36 contests during a forgettable 2013 season in the Bronx. Once upon a time, Tulowitzki was thought to be a potential successor to Jeter but it wasn’t until 2019 that he found his way to the Bronx, hitting one home run in five games. Tulowitzki was on a HOF trajectory but injuries likely derailed his train to Cooperstown.
CURRENT ROSTER
On the current roster, certainly Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, Gleyber Torres, DJ LeMahieu (can we re-sign him already?), Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, and Aroldis Chapman, all have potential but a long way to go with a lot of variables that could break either way.
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]]>The post Kevin Cash is a joke appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.
]]>Let’s go back to the start of this Yankees/Rays beef, the “that’s for you bitch” game in late 2018. The Rays’ postgame broadcasters claimed this was “started by CC Sabathia.” Well, I went back and took a look at that game. Saying CC started anything could not be further from the truth.
Crazy that this Yankees/Rays beef stems back to three years ago when Austin Romine was blatantly thrown at up and in. But it's the Yankees who started this according to Kevin Cash. Got it pic.twitter.com/wC1OKv2iOm
— Stanzo (@ncostanzo24) September 2, 2020
CC hits a guy pretty clearly unintentionally. The Rays respond by throwing at Romine’s head with the first pitch of the next inning. Cash admitted in his postgame press conference last night that that incident was intentional.
"It's poor judgement, poor coaching, poor teaching…" The @RaysBaseball Manager Kevin Cash on the Yankees aiming at the Rays players.
Watch the postgame FOX Sports Sun & FOX Sports Go!#RaysUp pic.twitter.com/2YA8YE689E
— FOX Sports Sun: Rays (@FOXSportsRays) September 2, 2020
Not only did Cash admit to throwing at Romine in 2018, he also threatened to have the Rays throw at the Yankees in the future. “I got a whole damn stable full of guys that throw 98 MPH” is such a reckless and unprofessional quote from a manager. You have to be better than that. That quote directly endangers both teams that will take the field tonight. Cash won’t have to step into the batter’s box, but his own players will. It’s pathetic.
As far as Chapman’s intent, I get where people are coming from. The guy isn’t a model citizen, I think even most Yankee fans can agree on that. But trying to hit Brosseau makes no sense in that spot.
I get that the Rays have had our number this year, but do they really think our notoriously wild closer would throw at a guy’s head, to bring the tying run to the plate, in a game that we desperately need, after he gave up a walkoff homer in his last appearance? Come on
— Stanzo (@ncostanzo24) September 2, 2020
If your takeaway is that someone who throws as hard and has as little control as Chapman shouldn’t be throwing up and in, I agree. However, Kittredge’s three-game suspension for throwing at Romine’s head was ultimately rescinded by MLB. If he wasn’t punished for clearly headhunting, why should Chapman be suspended for possibly trying to hit Brosseau? Because he throws harder and Cash whined about it postgame?
Let’s not forget, Cash had the Rays throwing high-and-tight to the Yankees consistently a few weeks back. When he was asked about that, he said, “We’re trying to do everything we can to win the game. And that’s kind of where I’ll leave it.” But when the Yankees employ the same strategy, Cash says it’s “poor judgement. Poor coaching. Poor teaching.” Pick a side, Kevin.
I respect the Rays as a team. I respect Cash as a manager. But his handling of this entire situation has been pathetic. I just wish we had this guy on the mound tonight.
BREAKING: Yankees sign LHP CC Sabathia to a one-day contract. He will be active for tomorrow night’s game vs. the Rays. pic.twitter.com/dIQeUIWhEI
— Stanzo (@ncostanzo24) September 2, 2020
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]]>The post CC Sabathia returns to Yankee Stadium appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.
]]>Sabathia, who literally pitched until he couldn’t anymore when he hurt his left shoulder in last year’s ALCS, has slimmed down considerably in retirement life. In January, CC revealed that he was considering coming back as a reliever for 2020, but the injury in October ended that idea.
CC is a special adviser to the front office, so it’s nice to see him still involved with the team. It’s also nice seeing him wear a mask with no one near him.
Live your best life @CC_Sabathia pic.twitter.com/DLJiTvqHdR
— Jack Jokinen (@JJFromTheBronx) July 6, 2020
CC Sabathia is a legend.
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]]>The post A Brief History: The Yankees Appearance Policy appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.
]]>On today’s history episode, Andrew discusses the Yankees appearance policy instituted in 1973 by George Steinbrenner, the infamous Don Mattingly mullet saga, and how the policy is perceived in today’s sports world.
Today’s show is sponsored by:
—BetOnline: Use code BLUEWIRE at BetOnline.AG to get your welcome bonus.
—BlueChew: Use code BLUEWIRE at BlueChew.com to get your first order free.
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]]>The post This date in Yankees history: CC3K appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.
]]>Facing the Arizona Diamondbacks in front of family and friends, Sabathia whiffed old friend and ex-Yankee batterymate John Ryan Murphy for the special K.
One year ago today, @CC_Sabathia became the 3rd lefty in #MLB history to reach 3,000 career strikeouts.
pic.twitter.com/mrUeX5qUl8
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) April 30, 2020
Sabathia joined Steve Carlton and Randy Johnson as one of three lefties in MLB history to register 3,000 K’s. Only 16 other pitchers have reached the mark period.
Sabathia would finish with 1,700 regular-season strikeouts in his Yankee career and 3,093 total on his surefire Hall of Fame career.
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]]>The post The death of the workhorse starter? appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.
]]>There were only 15 pitchers who threw 200 innings last season. Most of those guys had fantastic seasons, sans James Shields with a 5.09 FIP (yikes White Sox). Why would they let him continue to go deep into games if he was that bad? I digress. Back in 2013, MLB had 36 pitchers reach the 200 inning plateau. Most teams are smarter now than they were 10-20 years ago. They don’t give extra innings to pitchers just because they are “starters.” They have middle relievers soak up more of those innings, because in shorter spurts, relievers are usually a bit better on a rate basis. Below is a chart from the year 2000 up until last season. You can notice a pretty steep decline in the amount of innings starters are throwing.
New Yankee Workhorse?
When we actually have a season, we should all be excited to watch Gerrit Cole. We have a workhorse now that is actually “expected” to throw 200 innings. Having a workhorse guy in the rotation helps out the whole team, and we don’t have to look back very far to recall that. When CC Sabathia was in his prime, we knew we were getting 7+ quality innings every night. There are several games I can recall watching over the years when Verlander was throwing against us. He would be dominating and be at 100 pitches in the 6th inning. I am sitting there happy that “this will be his last inning,” then all of a sudden, the manager rolls him out there again for the 7th. We haven’t really had a guy like that since 2013.
The days of pitchers throwing 200+ innings are pretty much over. Yes, you will have a few outliers here and there. Maybe a certain team has an especially bad bullpen and you ride a starter more often. But with the way rosters are going, teams are carrying more reliever than ever and they are using them more as well. Remember the opener last season? I know you old school guys really don’t like that idea, but it’s definitely not going away.
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]]>The post Black History Month: All-Time African American Yankees lineup appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.
]]>Catcher – Elston Howard: The first African American player for Yanks in 1955. Ellie won four World Series titles with New York. The nine-time All-Star Howard was the first African American player in the American League to win MVP in 1963. Howard’s No. 32 is retired in Monument Park.
First baseman – Chris Chambliss: Spending parts of seven seasons in the Bronx, Chambliss won a pair of World Series with the Yanks. He blasted 79 home runs in the regular season. The 1976 All-Star is best remembered for his walk-off jolt in the ALCS of that year, sending the Yanks past the Kansas City Royals and back to the Fall Classic.
Second baseman – Willie Randolph: Playing 13-years in the Bronx, the former co-captain was a two-time World Series champ with the Yankees. Randolph was a five-time All-Star with New York. Willie tops the franchise list for runs scored, walks and stolen bases for second basemen. Randolph will be honored with a plaque in Monument Park in 2015.
Shortstop – Derek Jeter: To quote from the movie “The Other Guys,” “Derek Jeter is a biracial angel,” so he makes my list. Name an offensive category for Yankees shortstops and Jeter literally tops every single one. Jeter has five World Series titles on his ledger. The Hall of Famer is sixth on the all-time MLB list for hits, tabulating 3,465 on his career. The 14-time All-Star was also 1996 AL Rookie of the Year and won the All-Star Game MVP and World Series MVP in 2000.
Third baseman – Charlie Hayes: When I played Little League, for a few years I wore a clear face shield like Charlie Hayes did when he played for the Colorado Rockies, which as a kid I thought was kinda cool. Charlie was also a heck of a player in his two stints with the Yanks. Hayes played three years in New York and was a member of the 1996 World Series championship team, catching the final out in Game 6. During his time with the Yanks, Hayes hit 31 home runs and drove in 132.
Left fielder – Roy White: Quite possibly the most underrated Yankee ever. White was a member of two World Series-winning squads, during his 15-year run with the Yanks. White was also twice an All-Star with New York. White tops all Yanks left-fielders in games, at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI and walks.
Center fielder – Rickey Henderson: One doesn’t normally associate him with center field but Henderson played 321 games at the position in the Bronx. Henderson played parts of five seasons for the Yankees. In that time frame, Henderson was a four-time All-Star, led the league in runs scored three times, stolen bases four times and one in walks. Rickey is second in club history with 326 steals. You can’t go wrong with the best leadoff hitter of all-time.
Right fielder – Dave Winfield: Winny. If he’d played in New York in any other decade, he’d probably have his number retired too. Winfield’s 205 home runs are the fifth most of any Yanks outfielder. During his nine-year tenure in the Bronx, Winfield was an eight-time All-Star, five-time gold glove award winner and a five-time recipient of the silver slugger award. Enshrined in the Hall of Fame, Winfield played his best ball in pinstripes.
Designated hitter – Reggie Jackson: Mr. October. Reginald Martinez Jackson didn’t play as long with the Yanks as most in Monument Park but he had a “Koufaxian” impact with his bat. From 1977 to 1981, Jackson slammed 141 home runs with New York. In all five of those seasons, Jackson was an AL All-Star and in 1980 he led the Junior Circuit with 41 bombs. Reggie was made for New York and he was a huge part of consecutive titles for the Yankees in 1977 and 1978. In 1977, Jackson won the World Series MVP, batting .450 with five home runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers. During Game 6, Jackson hit three home runs at Yankee Stadium. Jackson is a member of the Hall of Fame and his number 44 is retired in Monument Park.
Starting pitcher – CC Sabathia: Sabathia was the ace on the 2009 World Series championship team. Ever the workhorse, Sabathia led the AL in victories in 2009 and 2010, winning a combined 40 games. On his Yankee career, Sabathia recorded 134 wins and a .604 winning percentage, across 11 seasons. A three-time All-Star with the Yanks, Sabathia was also named 2009 ALCS MVP. Sabathia is fourth in club history with 1,700 strikeouts.
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]]>The post Power Ranking the ‘Jeter Era’ Yankees Championships appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.
]]>Just think how fortunate we are as Yankees fans to be able to have this conversation. If a Mets fan is reading this in self-loathing hatred, they would probably spit in my face for even suggesting what I’m about to do. But here we go… I’m going to power rank the five Yankees championships in the Jeter Era.
Methodology
I’m not ranking which team is best. This is more about what the championship means. Fans have different memories of each title because they happened at different points in their life. I’ve met people through Bronx Pinstripes who cherish the 2009 title because they were too young to remember when the Yankees dominated baseball in the late-90s. I was 8 when the Yankees won in ‘96, so most of what I remember from that championship is through reading stories and wearing out the World Series VHS, but I do have vivid memories of watching the final out with my dad. The first real sports heartbreak I had was in 2001. I honestly thought there was a glitch in the matrix when Luis Gonzalez’ bloop fell. I have my reasons for how I ranked them below, and we’ll get to that in a minute, but first, here are the completely subjective questions I considered when making the rankings.
Was the championship expected?
How difficult was the postseason run?
Was there a ‘holy crap’ moment?
How often do you rewatch the moments from that season?
What were the ramifications of the Yankees not winning?
Now, to the rankings!
#5 – 1999: The Forgotten One
This is the forgotten championship sandwiched between The Greatest Team Ever and The Subway Series. Heck, the Yankees didn’t even do a 20th anniversary ceremony for it to sell a couple thousand extra tickets on an August game nobody wants to go to.
The talent on the 1999 Yankees was every bit as good as the 1998 team, they just didn’t bulldoze their way through the regular season quite as forcefully as the ‘98 squad did. In the postseason they annihilated opponents: 3-0 sweep of the Rangers in the ALDS, 4-1 gentleman’s sweep of the Red Sox in the ALCS, and a 4-0 sweep of the Braves in the World Series.
Was the championship expected?
Yes.
How difficult was the postseason run?
They beat Boston, so that’s cool, but them winning was never in doubt.
Was there a ‘holy crap’ moment?
Does Pedro throwing Zimmer to the ground count? (UPDATE: This was 2003… further proof that the ’99 run should rank 5th. I can’t believe I messed that up.)
How often do you rewatch the moments from that season?
I’m having a hard time even thinking of one to Google.
What were the ramifications of the Yankees not winning?
This is the only argument for the ’99 championship not being ranked 5th: Had they lost to Atlanta, perhaps the Yankees wouldn’t have been crowned ‘Team of the Decade,’ but do you really care about that made-up title?
The bottom line is the ’99 championship is the one I have the least fond memories of. Maybe that’s just because Chad Curtis was on that team…
#4 – 2009: The Expensive One
What does a $2.3 billion stadium, a $161 million ace, a $180 million first baseman, and a $82.5 million mistake add up to? A World Series Championship baby!
Maybe this title would have more weight had the Yankees won another title in the 2010-12 run, but they didn’t, making this championship really the last hurrah of the Jeter-led Yankees. Hideki Matsui got his signature Yankee moment, ARod got the monkey off his back, and we got to watch watch Jeter, Posada, Rivera, and Pettitte get another ring together.
Was the championship expected?
It was championship or bust after signing Sabathia, Teixeira, and Burnett.
How difficult was the postseason run?
The MLB postseason schedule allowing the Yankees to use a 3-man rotation because of an off-day between game’s 4 and 5 of 7-game series offset any difficult of having to beat the defending champion Phillies.
Was there a ‘holy crap’ moment?
There were actually a few, and they came off the bat of Alex Rodriguez, who slugged 5 homers, drove in 18 runs, and posted a robust .500 OBP in 15 games.
How often do you rewatch the moments from that season?
Occasionally I’ll throw on Matsui’s Game 6 highlights or ARod’s go-ahead double vs Philly. At least they are in high definition.
What were the ramifications of the Yankees not winning?
Imagine the complaining about expensive contracts if the Yankees didn’t have this title to show for it?
#3 – 1998: The Greatest One
The 1998 Yankees are on a short list of teams that you can argue was the greatest baseball team ever. Had the season not ended in with a championship, they’d be one of the biggest chokers ever. Had they face a more compelling opponent than the Padres, maybe this title would be #2.
Was the championship expected?
Duh.
How difficult was the postseason run?
The playoffs would have been downright boring if it weren’t for Chuck Knoblauch’s inexplicable play in Game 2 of the ALCS, allowing Cleveland to tie the series and eventually take a 2-1 lead heading to Game 4.
Was there a ‘holy crap’ moment?
How often do you rewatch the moments from that season?
This is the area where the ’98 run is lacking. There wasn’t much drama because the Yankees were just too damn good.
What were the ramifications of the Yankees not winning?
114 regular season wins would have been for naught. Just ask the 2001 Mariners about that.
#2 – 2000: The Subway Series … one
The 2000 team was not great. I don’t know if it was fatigue from the previous two seasons of dominance or the age/regression from the pitching staff, but the 2000 team limped to 87 wins and somehow turned it on in the playoffs.
Was the championship expected?
A 13-17 September record and season run-differential of just +57 left some serious doubt entering October.
How difficult was the postseason run?
It took them 5 games to beat Oakland in the ALDS and 6 games to top Seattle in the ALCS. The Mets ended up being their easiest opponent.
Was there a ‘holy crap’ moment?
The Todd Zeile/Timo Perez relay play in Game 1 of the World Series. You can always count on the Mets being the Mets.
How often do you rewatch the moments from that season?
I watch for peak Derek Jeter highlights. He put the team on his back and took the series by the balls and the Yankees never looked back.
What were the ramifications of the Yankees not winning?
Imagine winning in ‘96, ‘98, and ‘99 and then losing to the crosstown Mets? No way. It was a championship they had to win because of the opponent.
#1 – 1996: The First One
You never forget your first. The 1996 Yankees were ahead of schedule. It’s the only championship of the Jeter era where you can say they overachieved — the ‘96 Braves should have won. If the Yankees didn’t go on to win three more World Series in four years, Atlanta would be kicking themselves for losing this series even more than they probably already do. The Braves had no shot in ‘99, but were on their way to establishing a dynasty of their own in ’96.
The 1996 Yankees were much different than the teams discussed above. We didn’t know what the “core 4” was yet. Jeter was a rookie. Pettitte was in his second season. Mariano his first full season as a reliever (John Wetteland was the closer … yikes). Posada wasn’t on anyone’s radar. Tino was not beloved because he replaced Mattingly. Bernie was their best all-around player. Mariano Duncan hit .340 — wait, what?
Was the championship expected?
Hell no.
How difficult was the postseason run?
The Yankees got hot at the right time, beating the Rangers in 4 and Orioles in 5 (aided by a kid). But I cannot understate how good the mid-90s Braves were. They had a 3.52 team ERA when the league average was 4.21.
Was there a ‘holy crap’ moment?
Jim Leyritz’s game-tying homer, Joe Girardi’s triple, the Jeffrey Maier play, Pettitte-Smoltz pitchers’ duel… there are so many from this run. And let’s not forget Wade Boggs riding the horse!
How often do you rewatch the moments from that season?
A billion times.
What were the ramifications of the Yankees not winning?
It’s not hard to imagine a scenario in which the Yankees get trounced by the Braves, Torre gets fired, and Steinbrenner demands they trade Pettitte and Posada for Ken Caminiti (RIP). I don’t want to live in that alternate timeline.
In 2001 the Yankees were 3 outs away from a four-peat, and had they won, I’d have ranked that championship #1 because all it had was ‘holy crap’ moments.
I’m sure you disagree with my rankings, but let me know on social what your ranks are and why: @Andrew_Rotondi
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]]>The post CC is not having Verlander’s bull$#!+ appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.
]]>Verlander joked about the Astros being more “technologically and analytically advanced” than other teams.
Verlander just joked that "everyone knows the Astros are technologically analytically advanced." CC, 5 feet away, looks freakin' pissed.
— Peter Botte (@PeterBotte) January 26, 2020
I mean, Rubbermaid makes a fine trashcan but this is another example of why these guys need to be suspended and the Astros should be placed on one-year probation with no postseason in 2020. This comes just after Dallas Keuchel’s non-apology apology the other day.
Also in the crowd was CC Sabathia and he was not having it. Sabathia was on hand to accept his award for Long and Meritorious Service to the game. The big man and legendary New York Yankees lefty was understandably ticked after being robbed of a World Series title.
Sabathia, who has also called out the Astros prior to this, apparently left either during or shortly after the speech.
Have a friend at the BBWAA dinner who believes CC left during or right after Verlander’s speech. One can only hope he’s waiting for JV out in the lobby.
— Eric Hubbs (@BarstoolHubbs) January 26, 2020
Verlander, who has also been critical on issues like sign stealing, PED’s and domestic abuse when it comes to other players and teams should really quit while he’s ahead or before CC meets him in the parking lot.
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]]>The post Should MLB suspend the Astros’ players? appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.
]]>We now have three major league managers and one general manager get canned or they’ve “mutually agreed to part ways” as the Red Sox jokingly put it. There are even pictures circulating the web with electronic devices taped on players in post game interviews. Why are Altuve, Bregman, Correa, and company being shielded by the league?
“We should’ve won”
“There’s no way that you can tell me that we weren’t better than them. I don’t give a fuck what nobody says.”
This is what CC Sabathia had to say on his podcast this week. Seeing CC this pissed off makes me even more angry. He was of course referring to 2017, when the Yankees lost in seven games to the Astros.
“I felt that shit!” CC exclaimed. “And I fucking cried like a baby.” The Astros didn’t lose any games in their home stadium that series, and now we know why. They cheated, and they knew what was coming. I feel bad for the big man. You can bet he wants to see Major League Baseball bring the hammer down on the Astros’s core players.
Listen to more of CC’s rant here:
.@CC_Sabathia has some things he’d like to say about the Astros cheating scandal
New episode out now: https://t.co/OaOWuWYs7D
pic.twitter.com/gOrgu9oSHP— R2C2 is UNINTERRUPTED (@R2C2) January 16, 2020
Why are the players being protected anyway? They are the ones that benefited from cheating the most. They now have a World Series title that they can always point to, and they shouldn’t. If you ask me, I think the players are more to blame far more than the GM or manager. A.J. Hinch didn’t come up with the scheme. Perhaps he benefited from it as well, but he got the axe and Altuve is still out there acting like he deservedly won the MVP in 2017, and that grinds my gears. If I can find evidence on google of an Astros player cheating via a trashcan bang (See pretty much all of Jomboy’s videos), that player should be suspended. It implicates them directly. 50 game minimum.
I’m no professional lip reader, but I think it’s pretty clear what Altuve is saying here.
“I got a piece on… No.” pic.twitter.com/7z5gCnWgW2
— Unhinged Yankees (@UnhingedYankees) January 16, 2020
The players involved aren’t going to be punished according to MLB. Whatever. This will just fuel the boys in the clubhouse more than ever.
You ever seen Aaron Judge angry? No? Well you will this season. 60 home runs is absolutely on the table. What’s that Astros? You think you have a good SS? Well ours is gonna hit 40 bombs this season. This team is more motivated to win now than they ever have been. Just check their social media accounts.
Perhaps the most delicious portion of this whole thing is that we almost beat those bastards, and now we have Gerrit Cole.
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]]>The post Top 10 Yankees moments of the decade appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.
]]>But for now, we’re celebrating the 2010s. Let’s do it.
CC Sabathia carries the Yankees to the 2012 ALCS
The 2012 Yankees were on fumes, the dying embers of the Jeter dynasty. But their warhorse, the future Hall of Famer, carried them past an upstart Orioles team essentially on his own. Sabathia had already earned his Yankee stripes by then, but this moment helped cement him as a truly memorable pitcher in the Bronx. In 2012, Sabathia was still an ace, still one of the best pitchers in the world, and he did what aces do. Through quite a bit of gut and guile, the Big Man willed the Yankees on with a complete game, 4-hit and 1-run performance.
Always felt safe with the Big Man on the mound.
Raul Ibanez’s clutch blasts in the 2012 ALDS
Yeah, the 2012 Yankees were just … odd. It was clear the Jeter-era run was nearing its end, but damn if they didn’t fight to the very end. Against an annoying Orioles team, it fell to Raul freaking Ibanez to carry the day. Not one, but two Ibanez blasts lifted the Bombers to a Game 3 win. They were epic. It was thrilling, man.
Seriously, the 2012 playoffs were an emotional and not all that pleasant experience.
Brett Gardner’s epic at-bat dispatches the Indians in the 2017 ALDS
Brett Gardner’s value has always been a bit hard to quantify. Yes, as a strong defender and better-than-you-think on-base guy, Gardner has been more than the plucky white dude he’s sometimes portrayed as during national broadcasts. Gardner was a genuine star at points.
By 2017, he’d held firm, if not quite to his peak in the early 2010s. Still, and if this is just romanticism, so be it, no one else on that 2017 team was equipped to have this kind of at-bat. Gardner’s ability to foul off pitch after pitch in the tightest moment of the season fueled the Baby Bomber’s belief they could win it all. If not for some trash cans and a camera, who knows how the season ends.
Nursing a one-run lead in an elimination Game 5 in Cleveland, Gardner wore out Cody Allen fouling off five straight pitches at one point before singling to right field. With that, two runs scored and the game was firmly in hand.
Aaron Judge’s debut comes with a bang
We all knew the moment he took that big swing.
Judge was a non-typical prospect. He broke into the majors fairly old — 2017 was his age-25 season — and had struggled at each new level of competition. Who knew what this dude was gonna be? He’s freaking massive. How many Hulk-sized baseball players do you know of?
Well, all those concerns seem silly now. Judge is an offensive force, limited only by injuries that limit his onslaught. Judge is the cornerstone of this era of Yankee baseball, and what a titan he can be. Beyond just the power, Judge’s patience and underrated defensive acumen have made him a superstar.
His first career homer came in his first career plate appearance on a hot August day in 2016. It was the day after the Yankees said farewell to Alex Rodriguez, which looking back, seems fitting.
The Yankees storm back to stun the Red Sox at Fenway
Anyone else up for reliving the Freddy Garcia era??? What? No takers? (He was good in 2011, terrible in 2012.)
I could spoil the story for you if you don’t remember. But I won’t. Watch the video. Then smile and feel all warm that the Yanks added a dynamite ace this winter and the Red Sox are thinking about trading the second-best player alive so they can afford the expensive declines of Chris Sale and David Price. Love ya, John Henry!
Didi Gregorius answers back in the 2017 AL Wild Card Game
Death. Taxes. The Yankees blasting the Minnesota Twins out of the playoffs. Some things are just set in nature. Who are we to question it?
I kid. Some day, the Twins might just draw blood on the Bombers, but not if Sir Didi had anything to say about it. After Luis Severino struggled in the first inning, surrendering three runs to a feisty Twins team, Didi shut all that noise down with one swing. Listen to that crowd.
The @DidiG18 HR that changed the night!!
— Bronx Pinstripes (@BronxPinstripes) October 4, 2017
Derek Jeter’s walkoff in his final at-bat at Yankee Stadium
You couldn’t have scripted a more perfect ending to Derek Jeter’s career. In his last game at Yankee Stadium, Jeter came up to bat in the bottom of the 9th with the game tied at 5 and a runner on second. In true Jeter fashion, he slapped an opposite-field single, scoring the runner and giving the Yankees the 6-5 win. Yankee fans will never forgot that moment: a Hollywood ending to a legendary career.
Alex Rodriguez notches career hit 3,000
Alex Rodriguez was never going to have the storybook moment his teammate at shortstop got, but alas. A-Rod’s 2010s have been utterly fascinating. He’s gone from epic pariah across the sport to somewhat … liked … now? (I personally think he’s a rough color commentator, but as a studio analyst, sure!)
What a weird decade. I’m sure A-Rod feels it more than any of us. He was the Chosen One, then became the villain, then redeemed himself (2009), then became a villain again, and now is back in the light. Weird. Just weird.
The Captain delivers hit 3,000 in dramatic style
3,000 for the Captain. Just listen to the crowd willing him to the hit. Absorb the roar when he delivers.
Dramatic moments seemed to just find him throughout his career. Yes, we can quibble at his defense and sure, it’s become fashionable to trash him as he runs the Miami Marlins, but let’s not forget that Derek freaking Jeter was a tremendous hitter. Few shortshops have produced more at the plate than the kid who wore #2.
There’s only one Derek Jeter.
Exit Sandman
Mariano Rivera had planned on retiring in 2012. But a fluke injury before a game in Kansas City delayed those plans. He came back in 2013, dominated as usual, and then, just as it should have been, his old pals Derek and Andy came out to say goodbye.
The greatest closer of all-time exiting the stage.
My favorite player, as excellent as ever, leaving as gracefully as anyone ever has. Mariano forever.
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]]>The post Why Gerrit Cole’s contract is absolutely worth it appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.
]]>If you haven’t heard, the Yankees agreed to a record nine-year, $324 million contract with the right-hander. Most people (read non-Yankees fans) will view it as an overpay. But let me tell you why it’s not.
Projections
Cole is the complete package. He’s durable and intelligent. He embraces analytics. He’s ahead of the curve. This gives the Yankees more hope that he will age gracefully. Take a look at MLB.com’s ERA projections for Cole over the next seven seasons:
2020: 2.57
2021: 2.56
2022: 2.59
2023: 2.66
2024: 2.75
2025: 2.82
2026: 2.92
Similar past contracts
Take a look at Max Scherzer and his contract. In January 2015, he got a seven-year, $210 million deal. He was heading into his age-31 season. Deferrals aside, would anyone say that contract hasn’t been worth it? I view Cole in the same light: someone who takes his craft very seriously, is an absolute bulldog on the mound, and has the knowledge on how to get hitters out no matter what. Plus, he’s younger than Scherzer was. We saw this in Game 3 of the ALCS this past season – Cole by no means had his A-grade stuff, walking five batters. But he still ended up throwing seven shutout innings allowing just four hits! That’s the pitcher we’re getting.
The man has had no major injuries and has relatively low mileage on his arm with 1,195.0 regular season innings pitched in his career. Now, will he be worth $36 million a year when he’s 35, 36, 37 years old? Maybe not.
But let’s look at someone else’s deal, someone a little more closely related to the Yankees fan base. CC Sabathia was the almost the same age (he was 28, Cole is 29) when he signed his deal back in 2008. Going back to innings pitched when they were signed: CC had thrown 1,659.1 regular season innings, almost 500 more than Cole. Now I know CC also has many intangibles – he’s a great team guy and has a great personality. But who’s to say Cole can’t become that. Everyone says he’s a great leader. And how many people would say that CC’s deal wasn’t worth it even though he only won one championship (in his first year nonetheless) and deteriorated for a few years towards the end of his initial contract? Not too many.
So how will we view Cole and his contract is he wins us a ring in 2020 but that’s it? Of course, we would want more, but Cole can cement his legacy in the Bronx.
Conclusion
You’re also taking away the best pitcher in baseball from your main competition: the Astros. How much is that worth? While no one ever really expected Cole to return to Houston, the magnitude of this signing is essentially doubled. At the moment, the Yankees have to be considered the favorites in the American League (if not all of the majors) in 2020.
I wrote a few weeks back about how the Yankees needed to be bold and go for the dagger by signing Cole. He was the one they needed to invest in – not Manny Machado, not Bryce Harper. This is the move we needed to put us over the top, and it has finally come to fruition.
The Yankees are a very smart organization. You better believe they looked into how Cole will age and their plan of attack to retain players such as Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres down the line. While it is a large sum of money, the Yankees can absolutely afford this and was a necessary move that will pay dividends.
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]]>The post Giancarlo Stanton is recruiting Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg to the Yankees appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.
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: @tmz_tvGiancarlo Stanton is back home in LA for the off-season and it looks like he is already working out for next season. Forget about last season, because we can’t change anything there, and just be happy he is in the position to start training for 2020.
Aside from wearing leggings and growing a beard (WTF), the artist formerly known as Mike, is openly recruiting free agents to come to the Bronx. Stanton is a West Coast guy that plays (sometimes) in New York, CC is a West Coast guy that played in New York, and the two biggest free agent pitchers in the game are West Coast guys. Aside from backing up the Brinks truck, peace of mind that living and playing in New York City is something that is enjoyable to do, is the next factor if you want to come to the Yankees. CC and Giancarlo are doing their best to give these guys that peace of mind.
If you follow the NBA at all, you know that the players there are constantly recruiting each other. In the NFL, players are taking more control of where they get traded. It’s only a matter of time before MLB players take more control about who they play with and how they handle free agency together. If having CC and Stanton openly recruiting starters is the beginning of this transition, I’ll take it.
PS: Hey Giancarlo, get out of the street. You just lost a season to injury and now you’re just standing in the street pacing and talking to TMZ? Use your brain for me, one time.
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]]>The post CC Sabathia is recruiting Gerrit Cole appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.
]]>New episode drops tomorrow, but here's a sneak preview of @CC_Sabathia talking about his "West Coast guy" convos with Gerrit Cole 
: https://t.co/rMOb2SlpnP pic.twitter.com/BJ8JBezKiG
— R2C2 is UNINTERRUPTED (@R2C2) November 6, 2019
Ten years ago, many people thought CC Sabathia was going to sign with a West Coast team so he could be closer to his native Oakland.
Ten years ago, the New York Yankees backed up the Brinks truck and CC Sabathia came to The Bronx.
CC won a World Series and built a life in the New York area, but now he has moved on to the next phase in his career: recruiting for the Yankees.
I could go on for hours about the value in the long term about being a Yankee and winning a World Series here, but Cole is a Boras guy. We know that at the end of the day, as a Scott Boras client, Gerrit Cole is going to go with the team that give him the most money. You know it, I know it and CC Sabathia knows it as well.
“You offer that motherfucker enough money, he’s gonna want to come here!” – CC Sabathia
The truest words ever spoken. Now let’s go get him and not let our nightmare become a reality.
Is this your biggest #Yankees fear for the off-season? pic.twitter.com/CrLDhn2gcC
— George's Box Pod
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]]>The post These Yankees showed up in the playoffs appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.
]]>Today we’re going to take a look at the best Yankees postseason players. To do this, we will use the invaluable Baseball Gauge and look at Win Probability Added (WPA). Basically WPA tells you how much value a player added to his team’s win probability each game. For example, if Aaron Judge hits a homerun which changes the Yankees’ win probability from 60% to 80%, Judge gets a WPA of 0.2 for that play. Likewise, if Brett Gardner grounds into a double play which lowers the win probability, he gets a negative WPA for that play. Add it all up across the playoffs, and we have total WPA for each player.
Here are the top 3 for the 2019 Yankees in the playoffs.
1. Gleyber Torres 0.5 WPA
To nobody’s surprise, Gleyber Torres led all Yankees with a 0.5 WPA. It started in the 5th inning of Game 1 of the ALDS against the Twins with a 2 RBI double down the left field line. At that time, the game was tied and Torres’ double set the tone for the rest of the series. In Game 2, he had an RBI single and in Game 3 he hit a solo homerun. We spent all playoffs hearing about how amazing this 22 year-old is, and it is clear we are seeing the ascension of the next Yankee superstar. On R2C2, CC predicted Torres would be the breakout star of these playoffs and he could not have been more correct.
2. DJ LeMahieu 0.4 WPA
DJ does what DJ does. And in the playoffs that meant hitting .325/.386/1.011 with 3 homeruns. None of them were bigger than his game tying home run in Game 6 of the ALCS which unfortunately may be forgotten. However, DJ was the tone setter at the top of the lineup all playoffs. He did what he did all season long which was spray the ball all over the field, get on base, and score. He was also a scoop machine at first base which saved all the infielders throwing errors.
3. Masahiro Tanaka 0.4 WPA
#PlayoffTanaka showed up once again. In 3 starts he pitched to a 2.25 ERA with a 0.75 WHIP. Hilariously, that raised his postseason ERA. In Game 2 of the ALDS with the BP Crew in attendance, Tanaka was awesome throwing 5 innings of 1 run ball. Here’s an incredible action shot of the 472 #BPCrew members after a Tanka strikeout. You can see my awkwardly pointing at the 35 second mark.
He was even better in Game 1 of the ALCS outdueling Zack Greinke with 6 shutout innings and facing the minimum number of hitters. Although the series did not end well, Tanaka showed us and the Yankees that they can win in Houston which was something they were unable to do in 2017. Death, taxes, and Tanaka kicking ass in the postseason. I’m all for it.
You can contact Rohan on Twitter @rohanarcot20
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]]>The post The bold move the Yankees need to make this offseason appeared first on Bronx Pinstripes | BronxPinstripes.com.
]]>So how much money should the Yankees throw at Cole this offseason? Fellow Bronx Pinstripes writer Nick Kirby profoundly claimed “all of it.” To be fair, that assessment is not completely ill-advised. But let’s take a more realistic look at it, shall we?
Background
First, a bit of background. Cole was born in Newport Beach, California, roughly an hour and a half southeast of Los Angeles. The Yankees actually drafted Cole out of high school with the 28th overall selection in 2008, but he spurned them to attend UCLA. He later got drafted by the Pirates first overall three years later and received an $8 million signing bonus, a record at the time.
Cole’s father grew up in Syracuse, New York. So while Gerrit may be Californian, he grew up a Yankees fan (who can blame him?). Many are quick to jump the gun and say he ends up with the Angels – it’s close to where he grew up, they desperately need pitching, they have the money, and, of course, they have the one and only Michael Nelson Trout. The same, however, could have been said for CC Sabathia eleven years ago.
Cole’s value
Of course, no two free agency situations are alike – I would be shocked if it didn’t come down to the money. Cole picked a great year to have one of the greatest pitching stretches in history. It’s hard to believe he began the 2019 season 1-4 with a 4.71 ERA. Boy did he turn it around sharply. A Game 1 loss in the World Series snapped a streak of him winning 19 straight decisions, and the Astros had won 25 straight games that he started. Another reason to think it will come down to the highest bidder? His agent is none other than Scott Boras.
Spotrac has projected Cole’s market value contract to be a 6-year, $197,912,814 million pact. That’s an AAV of $32,985,469. I can tell you that he will for sure surpass that total. Let’s put it into perspective: the largest free-agent contract ever given to a pitcher belongs to David Price (7 years, $217 million). Boras and Cole already have an argument that would be tough to refute that would shatter that figure. Cole’s current teammate Zack Greinke holds the title of having the highest AAV of any starter at $34.4 million. Will Cole beat that? He certainly could.
Cole had the highest fWAR among all pitchers at 7.4 this past year. WAR is calculated differently for pitchers and position players and can’t be well compared. However, assuming it was comparable, Cole would have ranked sixth in all of baseball, behind only Mike Trout, Alex Bregman, Christian Yelich, Cody Bellinger, and Marcus Semien. Let’s say Cole averages a WAR of 5 over a seven-year deal. Based on the chart below (and assuming it was 2017), Cole would be in for a $367.5 million payday. That’s probably excessive.
My rant begins…
It is abundantly clear that Brian Cashman and his comrades are adept at developing and identifying undervalued position players. Didi Gregorius, Aaron Hicks, Luke Voit, Gio Urshela, Mike Tauchman, Cameron Maybin…the list goes on. However, the same cannot be said for pitchers. The Yankees’ ability to develop position players is akin to the Astros’ ability to develop pitchers. Therefore, I feel like the team needs to make a bold move in the starting pitching department.
When was the last time the Yankees acquired an established, bonafide number one pitcher? James Paxton? He was the ace of the Mariners by default; his stats would suggest he’s more of a number two or number three. Does he have the potential to be an ace? Sure. But he’s yet to show that consistency throughout his career. How about Masahiro Tanaka? He was an established ace in Japan, but not in the MLB. You really couldn’t be sure his stuff would translate. The last established ace I can think of is CC Sabathia. And look how that turned out. Sure, CC struggled from 2013-2015, the latter part of his contract, but I’m certain Yankee fans are okay with that given what he gave the team from 2009-2012, which includes a championship. CC turned 29 during his first year in the Bronx; Cole will turn 30 at the end of the 2020 season.
A look back
When Cashman stated that the Yankees did not pass on the handful of impact starters that have been available over the past few years, he wasn’t wrong – the team was engaged. But they aren’t as bold as they used to be, and that’s the issue.
Of course, hindsight is 20-20. Many are upset with not signing Corbin last offseason but weren’t willing to give him the sum he received from Washington at the time of the signing. Maybe it was just fans being upset about missing out on a potential target. Cole, however, is a better pitcher than Corbin, and not only would you be signing perhaps the best pitcher in baseball, but you would also be poaching him away from your biggest enemy. That’s double the impact. No one would have cared about what the Diamondbacks were losing in Corbin, but we would if it was a big piece being taken away from the Astros.
What about Justin Verlander? Many yell at the Yankees’ front office for not acquiring him. However, I disagree with that. First of all, the Astros might have been the only team who could have transformed him as they did – just look at what they did with Charlie Morton. There’s no guarantee it would have played out the same in New York. Secondly, Verlander was 34 years old when he was traded and he was owed $56 million over the last two-and-a-half years of his deal. He had a 3.82 ERA at the time of the trade. Signs pointed to a potential decline. Not many would have predicted what has transpired with him in Houston.
Be bold
At the same time, I think signing Cole is the bold move the Yankees need to make. I understand the game plan for Cashman and company, but I cannot get on board with all of it. Here’s a quote from the Yankees’ GM at the end-of-season news conference on Thursday:
“We failed in our final game, but it wasn’t a failed season….Most teams would love to be in the position we put ourselves in and the roster we have.”
That is not the Yankee way. At what point did not winning the World Series become okay? Additionally, the latter part of that quote sounds like something the Braves or the Twins would say. Not the big, bad New York Yankees.
Hal Steinbrenner has repeatedly said that he doesn’t feel like they need an exorbitant payroll to win it all. I agree. But a lot of the Yankees’ current payroll is tied up in a few players from past mistakes (I’m looking at you Jacoby Ellsbury).
This team has a roster with many good young players. But they’re not that young. Aaron Judge will be 28 in April. Luis Severino will be 26 in February. Gary Sanchez turns 27 in a little over a month. I’ll remind you that Gleyber Torres is only 22 (he turns 23 in December), but many others are entering or already in their primes. The time to win is now, and we can’t be dainty and finicky. Sometimes you just have to go for the dagger.
Gerrit Cole is a guy who you can bet on giving you at least six innings every time he steps on the mound. And I’m talking about the regular season and postseason. The Yankees don’t have anyone like that right now, at least from a consistency standpoint. Severino could be, but he hasn’t shown the ability to do some come October.
How much has the media talked about the Cole/Verlander duo at the top of Houston’s rotation? Even just looking at the ALCS, everyone was talking about how the Yankees had to beat Cole or Verlander at least once. That’s what having an established, bonafide ace does. It invokes a sense of confidence in the team that has the ace and one of fear in the opposing team. Again, there’s no one the Yankees have that does the same.
Cole can be a top-flight pitcher for the next three or four years, exactly the championship window the Yankees are looking at right now. Cole will likely go for a deal at least seven years in length and possibly $35 million a year. Take a look at the aging curve. Cole might be a little ahead of this given his stuff, but the Yankees have to be comfortable with the fact that the long-term benefits likely won’t be that significant, but the short-term ones will be. Teams anyways are likely to be willing to pay Cole a ton for his good years and reap the benefits while overpaying in the back end of the contract. That’s what the Yankees have to do.
In my opinion, the Yankees just need to bite the bullet and be bold. Will they?
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