The New York Yankees earned the ultimate gift and the
ultimate curse all wrapped up in one player in 2015 and his name was Alex
Rodriguez. This isn’t meant to be negative or condescending by any means, I was
defending and asking for forgiveness for Alex before Bald Vinny made money off
of it made it cool, but him being effective and a huge part of the offense
makes the team’s options rather limited. At this point in his career Carlos
Beltran should be at least a part-time DH, if not a full-time DH, but is forced
to play the field due to Rodriguez being on the roster. With Rodriguez at DH,
Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner patrolling center field and left field
respectively and Chris Young hitting free agency it looks like the Free Agency
Royal Rumble will be a free-for-all for the final roster spot on the Yankees
bench in 2016.
Entering the ring for the rumble are a few competitors that
I think will at least be in the running for the position. The up and coming
superstar Aaron Judge, former Yankees player and current Baltimore Orioles
first baseman and outfielder Steve Pearce, Marlon Byrd of the Cincinnati Reds
and the San Francisco Giants in 2015, Drew Stubbs and another former Yankees
farm hand and current Chicago Cub, Austin Jackson.
Before the match begins Marlon Byrd asks for a microphone
and was quoted as saying the following:
“Now I know that if I win this Royal Rumble and I come to
New York my playing time will be limited and dictated by injuries, I’m not okay
with that. Also I have read numerous times that a fake Jon Heyman Twitter
account faked out Daniel Burch at the trading deadline in 2014 forcing Mr.
Burch to write over 2,000 words about me and welcoming me to the team only for
me to go elsewhere. With all that said I think I’m going to forfeit, just not
feeling it today. Thanks though. “
With Byrd out the group of remaining competitors, like they
often do in these Royal Rumble’s, gang up on the biggest man in the ring, Aaron
Judge. Judge is quickly disposed of and thrown over the top rope to the mat
leaving Pearce, Stubbs and Jackson. Pearce, being the multi-faceted player that
he is, reminds everyone that he is pennant chase, playoff and American League
East tested not only in the outfield but at first base (hello Mark Teixeira insurance
policy) and uses that to throw both Jackson and Stubbs over the top rope and to
the floor. Stubbs would have been nice, he kills lefties but his right-handed
splits aren’t much to write home about, and so would Jackson, another
outfielder with the ability to play center field allowing a constant rotation
to keep everyone fresh and healthy, but Pearce makes too much sense for the
Yankees NOT to sign in my opinion.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)