This Day In New York Yankees History 12/9

On this day in 1988 the New York Yankees signed a twelve year television deal with the Madison Square Garden television network. The Yankees would stay with the MSG network until 2002 when they would start their own network, the YES Network. This move is generally accredited with starting the trend of getting more games on regional sports networks.

On this day in 2008 Tony Kubek would become the first person to ever receive the Ford C. Frick Award which honors broadcast members in the Hall of Fame. The former Yankee and Blue Jays broadcast personality has not watched a single game on television since he signed off in 1994.

On this day in 2009 Yankees starting pitcher Andy Pettitte receives a one year deal worth $11.75 million to return for one more season. This is fresh off of winning all three clinching games in the playoffs including the World Series at age 37. Pettitte finished with a 4-0 record in five postseason starts against the Phillies, Twins, and Angels.

CC Throws Jab At Cano As He Walks Out The Door?

I have read this quote from CC Sabathia about Robinson Cano leaving for Seattle four or five times now and honestly I have come up with two or three different reactions. First I thought "wow CC just threw a jab at Cano" and then I thought he was just playing the politically correct card and saying what he needed to say. I'm not quite sure which one it is now so I leave this up to you to decide. What do you guys and girls think of this quote from our ace starting pitcher about Cano? Is it a jab? Let me know in the comments section!

Here is the quote:

"Just a player like that, putting on the pinstripes, and being able to play your whole career in New York means something – to me, obviously," Sabathia said. "It didn't mean that much to him. It's a difficult choice being a free agent. And he made a tough choice. I know he's happy with his decision, and his family's happy. So that's good."

Masahiro Tanaka WILL Be Posted, Rejoice!

The speculation of whether Masahiro Tanaka would be posted or not has come to an end now that his former team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles, have announced that they would honor his wishes to be posted this offseason. This is all off the heels of Major League Baseball and the NPB agreeing on a posting max of $20 million and the power going to the player if multiple teams bid the max on the player, which is expected with Tanaka.

Some more news to come out of the new agreement is the team can actually name the posting limit themselves as long as it is reaches or is under $20 million. If the Golden Eagles wanted to put the bid at $10 million max for Tanaka they could although I cannot see a team not asking for the maximum for their player. Either way the Tanaka sweepstakes is set to begin as early as this week.

The Yankees Have Checked In On Mike Pelfrey

The New York Yankees have checked in on right handed free agent pitcher Mike Pelfrey in their search for starting pitching. The team announced that they would hold a fifth starter competition this spring and are continuing to look for a #2 or #3 type pitcher to pair with Hiroki Kuroda, CC Sabathia, and Ivan Nova.

Pelfrey is 29 years old and only one full season removed from Tommy John surgery and posted a 5.19 ERA in 152.2 innings in 2013 for the Twins. His best seasons have come in the National League with the New York Mets so we could not logically expect him to improve on that with a move to the AL East. If we were looking for a #4 or a #5 starter I could see it but we're not, so I don't see him coming to New York.

The Yankees Strategy This Offseason Has Been Simple

The New York Yankees strategy towards players to decline their teams qualifying offers have been simple this offseason, sign them all. Looking at the 13 players to receive a qualifying offer four of them are currently members of the New York Yankees, Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury, Hiroki Kuroda, and Carlos Beltran.

The remaining players to have draft pick compensation attached to their free agent deals, besides our own qualifying offers, are Nelson Cruz, Shin Soo Choo, Stephen Drew, Ubaldo Jimenez, Kendrys Morales, and Ervin Santana. Mike Napoli had a qualifying offer but he re-signed with the Boston Red Sox on the same night that the Yankees signed Beltran. Two other qualifying offers were made to Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano which will fetch the Yankees two draft picks in the supplemental round to play with a little.

The Yankees are presumably out on Cruz, Choo, and Morales because of the crowded outfield but what about Drew, Jimenez and Santana? Could we sign one or two of these guys? Absolutely!

The Yankees need pitching and their pitching plan was highly dependent on Masahiro Tanaka being posted, and being posted by now, and could lead them to jump in and grab a Santana or Jimenez. We could also get Matt Garza who is not linked to a qualifying offer since he was traded to the Texas Rangers from the Chicago Cubs mid-season if we like his AL East tested right arm.

Stephen Drew could also be a target for the Yankees if he is willing to play either third base or second base. The Yankees have two glaring holes there with the hole left from Robinson Cano heading to Seattle and the assumed suspension for Alex Rodriguez. He went to Boston last year over a larger deal from the Yankees because of the lack of playing time but this year, given a position change, he would not have that problem anymore. Also sticking it to the Boston Red Sox and giving up either a second round pick or a fourth round pick depending on where you read just makes it all the more sweeter.

So the offseason plan has been simple, Get Greedy Get Everybody, and I love it.

Now What Would I Like To See Happen For 2014?

Since my original ideas for what I'd like to see happen this offseason are pretty much destroyed, I figured I'd update those thoughts to go with current events.

Just to remind you of the team I would have liked to see when the offseason first started, here it is...

Catcher - Francisco Cervelli
First Base - Mark Teixeira
Second Base - Robinson Cano
Third Base - Derek Jeter
Shortstop - Stephen Drew
Left Field - Curtis Granderson
Center Field - Brett Gardner
Right Field – Corey Hart
Designated Hitter - Alfonso Soriano

Starting Pitcher - CC Sabathia
Starting Pitcher - Masahiro Tanaka
Starting Pitcher - Ivan Nova
Starting Pitcher - Michael Pineda
Starting Pitcher - David Phelps

"Yeah, that's not happening."

I've gone ahead and ignored the bullpen and the cost for each player. The reason for each omission is that 1) there is so much that could happen with the bullpen I didn't think it was worth spending the time thinking about it, and 2) the Yankees don't seem worried about the money so why should I?

Here is where we're actually at right now...

Catcher - Brian McCann
First Base - Mark Teixeira
Second Base - Kelly Johnson
Third Base - Eduardo Nunez
Shortstop - Derek Jeter
Left Field - Brett Gardner
Center Field - Jacoby Ellsbury
Right Field - Carlos Beltran
Designated Hitter - Alfonso Soriano

Starting Pitcher - CC Sabathia
Starting Pitcher - Hiroki Kuroda
Starting Pitcher - Ivan Nova
Starting Pitcher - David Phelps
Starting Pitcher -  Michael Pineda/Adam Warren/Vidal Nuno/Manny Banuelos

So here's what I'd like to see happen now...

1. Sign Omar Infante

Since becoming a regular in 2010, Infante has been exactly league average (100 OPS+). His OPS+ has actually gone between 90 and 113 in those four years, while putting up a triple-slash of .295/.327/.415. He's also an above average defender at second base. Finally, he won't cost that much in terms of money or years, as he'll turn 32 the day after Christmas.

2. Sign Masahiro Tanaka

This is definitely not a certainty due to recent events. Not only will more teams be able to negotiate with the Japanese star thanks to the new posting system, but the other "Hiro" may not get posted at all since his Japanese team is looking at getting much less in the posting fee than previously thought. But if Tanaka is made available, the Yankees should give it their all to acquire him. Tanaka has the ability to be a strong #2, or even a good #1, starter, which is something the team could really use. And he'd be less of a risk than somebody like Matt Garza, whose ceiling isn't nearly as high.

"Trade Gardy? And you thought there was outrage after I was announced as the new Batman."

While the first couple of things are much more likely to happen than the second two things, there's no reason to limit myself to only the strongest possibilities. That's not to say I wouldn't love the Yankees to trade for guys like Mike Trout, but I want to be realistic too. 

And here is my choice for the 2014 Yankees...

Catcher - Brian McCann
First Base - Mark Teixeira
Second Base - Omar Infante
Third Base - Kelly Johnson
Shortstop - Derek Jeter
Left Field - Brett Gardner
Center Field - Jacoby Ellsbury
Right Field - Carlos Beltran
Designated Hitter - Alfonso Soriano

Bench - Brendan Ryan
Bench - Eduardo Nunez
Bench - Ichiro Suzuki
Bench - Francisco Cervellli

Opening Day Lineup

1. Jacoby Ellsbury* - CF
2. Derek Jeter - SS

3. Carlos Beltran# - RF

4. Alfonso Soriano - DH
5. Brian McCann# - C 

6. Mark Teixeira# - 1B

7. Omar Infante - 2B

8. Kelly Johnson* - 3B
9. Brett Gardner* - LF

* - bats left, # - switch-hitter

Before moving onto the starting rotation, I wanted to talk about Derek Jeter batting second. I don't think he deserves to hit there, as I was originally thinking of placing him 7th, but I know it wouldn't happen. So like Joe Girardi must probably do against his will, I penciled in the Captain for the two-hole.

Starting Rotation

1. CC Sabathia

2. Hiroki Kuroda

3. Masahiro Tanaka

4. Ivan Nova

5. Michael Pineda/David Phelps/Adam Warren/Vidal Nuno/Manny Banuelos 

I have to say that while others have already written him off, I hate giving up on Michael Pineda as a starter. I'm okay with Pineda being in competition for that last rotation spot, in case one of the others stands out head and shoulders, but relegating him to the bullpen right off the bat seems wrong.

I actually already had this post written before the Carlos Beltran signing, so some editing had to be done. Speaking of which, I'd like to thank Daniel for helping me out with it. Who knows? The Yankees could very well make a move later today that makes this post moot. Oh well... at least I had fun thinking about it.

Notre Dame set to play in 2013 Pinstripe Bowl

Fighting Irish's opponent has yet to be determined

Coach Brian Kelly and his Notre Dame Fighting Irish will play in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 28. (Joe Raymond/AP)

The University of Notre Dame has accepted an invitation to play in the 2013 New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Dec. 28.

The Fighting Irish's opponent for the expected noon ET kickoff has yet to be determined. There will be a news conference with the Pinstripe Bowl participants and officials on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, with further details regarding the bowl game set to be provided in the near future.

"We are thrilled to welcome Notre Dame and its student-athletes, alumni and devoted fan base back to New York City and Yankee Stadium to play in the 2013 New Era Pinstripe Bowl," Mark Holtzman, executive director of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, said in a statement. "No two organizations in the history of American sport are more closely intertwined -- with such a rich and wonderful history -- as the New York Yankees and Notre Dame."

Notre Dame went 8-4 this season and has put together a combined 20-5 record over the past two years. This will be the second time the Irish have played at the current Yankee Stadium, as they defeated Army, 27-3, on Nov. 20, 2010, in the first football game ever played at the venue.

"Quite simply, we are thrilled to bring our football program to the New Era Pinstripe Bowl," Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said in a statement. "We were privileged to play in New York City and Yankee Stadium in 2010. The treatment our university received from the Steinbrenner family, the New York Yankees and the entire organization was unlike anything we've experienced in my tenure at Notre Dame."

Overall, Notre Dame has gone 16-6-3 in Yankee Stadium games. Notre Dame beat Army, 12-6, in 1928 at the original Yankee Stadium -- a game best known for coach Knute Rockne's famous "win one for the Gipper" speech.

This year's game will be nationally televised by ESPN. Last year's Pinstripe Bowl, in which Syracuse beat West Virginia, drew a record crowd of 41,203. Prior to the game, participating players, coaches and university staff will take part in a variety of events around the New York metropolitan area.

Tickets for the game go on sale Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET at pinstripebowl.com.

Being posted as a part of Syndicated Sunday from MLB.com and Yankees.com

Yankees Planning A 5th Starter Competition In Spring

"I spit on my competition"

The New York Yankees are planning to hold a fifth starter competition this year in Spring Training. The players mentioned in the upcoming competition were Vidal Nuno, Adam Warren, David Phelps, and Michael Pineda. As a professed prospect humper I am more then ecstatic to see homegrown players in the running for the last spot in camp, it should be fun to watch.

This also really cements the fact that the Yankees are going to make at least one more big splash in the rotation to put someone behind CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, and recently acquired Hiroki Kuroda.

Saying Goodbye: Curtis Granderson Yankees Highlights

 

Last night we wished farewell to Robinson Cano and wished him luck for the rest of his career as he heads to Seattle and this early Sunday morning we will bid farewell to Curtis Granderson. It's actually quite as today in the This Day In Yankees History post we saw that Granderson was traded for today in that big three team trade and today and we send him off. Here are Curtis's ultimate Yankee highlights. We wish you luck with the crosstown rival Mets, we appreciate everything you have done for us, and we bid you farewell.

This Day In New York Yankees History 12/8

On this day in 1966 the New York Yankees traded two time MVP and single season home run king Roger Maris to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Yankees got third basemen Charley Smith in return for Maris. Maris would win a World Series with the Cardinals the next season and a pennant the season after that enjoying immediate success with his new team.  Smith will only hit .224 in his two year tenure as a Yankee.

On this day in 2008 Yankees second basemen Joe Gordon received 10 of the possible 12 votes to be elected into the Hall of Fame. The Veteran's Committee inducted the 1942 Most Valuable Player, nine time All Star, and five time World Series champion.

On this day in 2009 the Yankees, Detroit Tigers, and Arizona Diamondbacks completed a three team trade that was considered to be one of the fairest three team trades in history. Long story short the Yankees got Curtis Granderson from the Tigers, The Diamondbacks got Edwin Jackson from the Tigers and Ian Kennedy from the Yankees,  and the Tigers got Phil Coke and Austin Jackson from the Yankees and Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth from the Diamondbacks.