MLB Hot Stove 7 Worst Yankees Contracts

MLB Network's show Hot Stove named their seven worst contracts in New York Yankees history and unfortunately this was pretty hard to look at. Of course we all knew, and agree, that Alex Rodriguez's contract was going to top the list but the rest of the list is pretty interesting, take a look.

7. Jose Contreras  four years $32 million
6. Jaret Wright three years $21 million
5. Hideki Irabu four years $12.8 million plus $3 million sent to the San Diego Padres
4. Roger Clemens one year (prorated, worked out to be four months) $18.7 million
3. Carl Pavano four years $40 million
2. Kei Igawa five years $20 million plus $26 million posting fee
1. Alex Rodriguez ten years $275 million

Sabathia: I Can Pitch Like My '09 Self in 2015

Injured Yankees' Pitcher CC Sabathia apparently doesn't think his days of dominance are over.

Talking with ESPN Radio earlier this week, Sabathia was asked if he could perform like his 2009 self again next season, to which he responded that he "definitely" can. Sabathia, now 34, is coming off a shortened 2014 campaign, one that probably wasn't good for him considering his hefty 5.28 ERA.

"I think so," Sabathia said, via The Star Ledger. "It's obviously six, seven years later now. But, yeah, I think I can definitely get back to being able to go out and dominate a game and just be myself."

Sabathia said that he has a plan for next year, which he says worked for him back in Spring Training. He put together a 1.29 ERA in 21 innings during tht month, helping the Yankees win more than half of  their exhibitions for the third time since he joined them.

"I think we've got a pretty good plan," he said. "I throw the two-seamer now. Just trying to work both sides of the plate with all my pitches. That was something we were getting accomplished in spring training (this year). I had a pretty good spring training. And I think that's something going forward that I can use to make myself a better pitcher."

Hopefully he's right about that, as the Yankees are set to pay him at least $48 million over the next two seasons.

Yankees Will Not Name Tino Martinez Hitting Coach

Told Tino Martinez is not under consideration to replace Kevin Long as #Yankees hitting instructor.
— Bob Klapisch (@BobKlap) October 11, 2014

So much for that....

2015 Yankees: The Case For Casey McGehee

The New York Yankees have a need at both third and first base heading into 2015 and while Chase Headley seems like the ideal candidate to fill both roles it would be a good idea for Brian Cashman and company to have a backup plan, enter the Marlins Casey McGehee. Headley is going to be well sought after and that may cause the bidding for a viable third baseman in a weak third base market to get out of hand. New York should not fall into the trap and overpay for Headley if McGehee is still on the market and I will tell you why.

First the back story as I am sure not many remember the 2012 trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates that saw Chad Qualls join the Pirates and McGehee join the Yankees for the postseason push. New York was fed up with the struggling Qualls and Pittsburgh was at it's wits end with McGehee so the two teams simply traded our problem for their problem and both hoped for a change of scenery that would help the player. Neither player bounced back as McGehee finished with a .151 batting average in 22 games with a home run and 6 RBI as a Yankee while Qualls continued to give up runs and blow games.

McGehee went to Japan for the 2013 season and spent time with current Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka as a teammate on the Rakuten Golden Eagles. McGehee led the Nippon Professional Baseball League with a .292 average with 28 home runs and 93 RBi while winning the Japanese equivalent of the World Series. McGehee followed that campaign up with a .282 average and four home runs with 76 RBI in 159 games with the Miami Marlins in 2014. McGehee only made $1.1 million with Miami this season while making a run at the NL batting title for much of the season and garnering the nickname "Hits McGehee."

McGehee will be entering his age 33 season and adds a clutch right handed bat to the Yankees lineup. While McGehee is not going to win a Gold Glove Award anytime soon he isn't a 40 year old third baseman with two bad hips or Brendan Ryan at first base either. Chase Headley should be Plan A for the Yankees but McGehee wouldn't be a bad Plan B for the Bronx Bombers in 2015.

Yankees Hire Greg Colbrunn For Hitting Coach

The New York Yankees have hired former Boston Red Sox hitting coach Greg Colbrunn to be their hitting coach, their hitting coach for the Low-A Charleston Riverdogs. Colbrunn was the Riverdogs hitting coach from 2007-2012 before spending the 2013 and 2014 seasons in Fenway Park as the Red Sox hitting coach. Welcome back Greg.

Red Sox Keep Chili Davis From Yankees

I was reading about some of the coaching moves and non-moves going on with the Yankees, and I came across a very interesting quote regarding Chili Davis agreeing to be the Boston Red Sox new hitting coach.

Davis was one of the guys the Yankees were looking at for their vacant hitting coach position, after he held the same position with the Oakland Athletics since November of 2011. However, on Sunday, Boston swooped in and signed Chili to a three year deal.

While a three year contract for a hitting coach isn't unprecedented (Kevin Long was signed to a three year deal with the Yankees when he was fired), it is a bit long. It turns out the Sox gave Davis a three year deal because it "was the only way Davis could be kept from signing with the Yankees."

One thing that struck me was the desperation. While Oakland went from 8th in the American League in runs scored in 2012 (the season after Davis was hired), to 3rd in 2013, and 3rd again in 2014, it's not like Davis, or any hitting coach for that matter, would turn the Yankees from the 11th ranked offense in the AL to an offensive juggernaut. But maybe my ignorance is shining through in this case.

But there's another thing...

There was a time in which I thought the Yankees cared too much about what went on in Boston. My feeling has always been that the Yankees should simply do what's best for them without caring what the other guys do. You should be trying to lift yourself up, not trying to bring others down.

But that's what Boston apparently did. Instead of simply doing what's best for their team, they made a quick decision to try and hurt the Yankees. It's that type of move that helps erase any fear I had of the Red Sox.

My Gold Glove Award Ballot

On Thursday afternoon Rawlings released their ballots for the 2014 American League and National League Gold Glove Awards. Personally I take the Fielding Bible Awards more seriously than the Gold Glove Award but I will predict them either way. It's slow around here :) so leave your predictions in the comments.

*winner prediction is bolded

AL Pitcher
Mark Buehrle, Blue Jays (4)
Felix Hernandez, Mariners (0)
Dallas Keuchel, Astros (0)

NL Pitcher
Zack Greinke, Dodgers (0)
Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (1)
Adam Wainwright, Cardinals (2)

AL Catcher
Alex Avila, Tigers (0)
Yan Gomes, Indians (0)
Salvador Perez, Royals (1)

NL Catcher
Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers (0)
Russell Martin, Pirates (1)
Yadier Molina, Cardinals (6)

AL First Base
Miguel Cabrera, Tigers (0)
Eric Hosmer, Royals (1)
Albert Pujols, Angels (2)

NL First Base
Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers (3)
Adam LaRoche, Nationals (1)
Justin Morneau, Rockies (0)

AL Second Base
Robinson Cano, Mariners (2)
Ian Kinsler, Tigers (0)
Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox (3)

NL Second Base
DJ LeMahieu, Rockies (0)
Brandon Phillips, Reds (4)
Chase Utley, Phillies (0)

AL Shortstop
Alcides Escobar, Royals (0)
J.J. Hardy, Orioles (2)
Alexei Ramirez, White Sox (0)

NL Shortstop 
Zack Cozart, Reds (0)
Adeiny Hechavarria, Marlins (0)
Andrelton Simmons, Braves (1)

AL Third Base
Adrian Beltre, Rangers (4)
Josh Donaldson, Athletics (0)
Kyle Seager, Mariners (0)

NL Third Base
Nolan Arenado, Rockies (1)
Pablo Sandoval, Giants (0)
Juan Uribe, Dodgers (0)

AL Left Field
Michael Brantley, Indians (0)
Yoenis Cespedes, Athletics/Red Sox (0)
Alex Gordon, Royals (3)

NL Left Field
Starling Marte, Pirates (0)
Justin Upton, Braves (0)
Christian Yelich, Marlins (0)

AL Center Field
Jackie Bradley Jr., Red Sox (0)
Adam Eaton, White Sox (0)
Adam Jones, Orioles (3)

NL Center Field
Billy Hamilton, Reds (0)
Juan Lagares, Mets (0)
Denard Span, Nationals (0)

AL Right Field
Kole Calhoun, Angels (0)
Kevin Kiermaier, Rays (0)
Nick Markakis, Orioles (1)

NL Right Field
Jason Heyward, Braves (1)
Gerardo Parra, Diamondbacks/Brewers (2)
Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins (0)

Introducing the BYB Hub

Our very good friends over at Bleeding Yankee Blue are venturing into a somewhat unknown adventure that we here at The Greedy Pinstripes are extremely excited about being a part of. It’s called the BYB Hub which basically breaks down as a place for bloggers to commence whether you’re a rookie or an established blogger.

While talking with Casey I mentioned, and he reiterated, that there is a ton of talent out there in the Yankees blogosphere and in baseball writing and the biggest issue most people are having is getting the necessary exposure. When we here were coming up we didn’t have a hub and neither did BYB and Casey and company want to change that. We here are 10000% behind this venture and hope that everyone reading this follows suit.

The link to the hub is www.BYBHub.blogspot.com and if you want to join the hub we need you to contact Casey on Twitter (@BleednYankeeBlu) or find him on Facebook to submit basically an application. It’s totally free, did I mention that?

We hope to see you there!

Mets Hire Kevin Long For Hitting Coach

The New York Mets are reportedly hiring the Yankees former hitting coach and self proclaimed hitting guru Kevin Long. This would make for an interesting reunion between Long and Curtis Granderson for the 2015 season. Granderson easily had his best offensive season of his career under Long after a small mechanical adjustment, although he returned to or below career norms right after. Interesting to say the least.

This Day in New York Yankees History 10/25: 2009 Yankees Reach World Series

On this day in 2009 the Yankees would win their 40th American League pennant in their storied history with a victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. This will end a six year drought in the World Series for the Yankees as they would take on the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2009 Fall Classic. This would be the Yankees first World Series win since their victory over the Mets in the 2000 Subway World Series.

On this day in 2000 Mike Piazza, yes I know a member of the Mets, became the first player in World Series history to hit a home run in both Shea Stadium and Yankees Stadium. Piazza hit the home run off of Yankees starter Denny Neagle in a 3-2 Mets loss in Game 4.

On this day in 1939 Joe DiMaggio would win his first MVP award of his career. DiMaggio beat out Jimmy Foxx and Bob Feller easily for the American League award with 15 of the 24 first place votes. DiMaggio would also win the award in 1941 and 1947 as well.