Sunday, September 25, 2016

All Gary Sanchez's 2016 Home Runs Open Thread


Gary Sanchez became the first rookie in Major League Baseball history to hit 19 home runs in his first in his first 45 games to start his career. This has shot him into the discussion, and maybe the forefront, of the AL Rookie of the Year Award so let's check out all 19 of those home runs tonight in this open thread for the night. Hope you all had a good weekend and I hope you all enjoy the video as much as I did. See you all tomorrow for the finale in Toronto. Gary is so good.

What About Edinson Volquez for 2017?


The 2016 season is all but over at this point and there's nothing left but putting in the work as far as the players are concerned. As far as upper management and Yankees GM Brian Cashman is concerned it's time to start planning for the 2017 season and while the positional players look to be better than they've been in quite some time the pitching will need some work, especially the starting pitching. The free agent market as it stands right now looks to be bleak with none other than Ivan Nova quite possibly left as the best available starter. Well, unless somehow Edinson Volquez of the Kansas City Royals finds his way to the free agent market.

Volquez has a $10 million mutual option for the 2017 season and while he has expressed an interest in returning to Kansas City next season he has also announced his intentions to decline his side of the option. If he does the Royals have to decide whether to buy-out his contract for $3 million, pick up the $10 million tag, decline the option and offer him a qualifying offer or simply let him hit free agency for any and all to have. Let's look at why the Royals more than likely want to keep him and why the Yankees would want him.

PROS:

-Volquez is a durable, veteran innings-eater that has American League, playoffs and World Series tested.

- Volquez would make an ideal 3rd, 4th or 5th starter on the Yankees. Especially if he returns to his first half form from this season in 2017.

- Volquez is a ground ball pitcher who gets over 52% of his outs via the grounder. Pitching in a home park like Yankee Stadium this could be the difference between being that 3rd starter or being that 5th starter.

- If he hits the free agent market it likely won't be after being attached to draft pick compensation as I see him accepting the option if it's offered.

- Volquez could mentor some of the younger guys along with CC Sabathia.

CONS: 

- His second half pitching has left much to be desired. Is it fatigue? That's hard to say but while sabermetrics paint a different story his ERA, BABIP, line drive percentage and other stats have not been pretty lately.

- In a weak starting pitching market and free agent market in general Volquez will command a butt-load of money. A butt-load.

- Volquez barely strikes out over six batters per nine innings.

- Volquez has also seen his walks slowly creep up lately and in this season.

- Did I say a butt-load of money? Ivan Nova wants $70 million. What would Volquez get? $100 million? Probably and without the team blinking an eye.



Should the Yankees sign Volquez if the right-hander hits free agency? Honestly it depends on the number of years in the contract. He's 33-years old and the Yankees are in the midst of a rebuild and youth movement so giving Volquez even four years may be a bit counterproductive. Yes, Michael Pineda is set to hit free agency and so is Nathan Eovaldi and CC Sabathia while Masahiro Tanaka could opt out of his contract after the 2017 season but the way I see it those are merely roster spots for more youth and an ace. Volquez for three years? Yes. Volquez for four years? Honestly, I probably would but I wouldn't exactly be happy about it. Volquez for five seasons? No thank you.

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays 9/26


Here we go ladies and gentleman, the first meaningless game of the season for the New York Yankees. The team had a great run in them with their infusion of youth but the team just couldn't get it done. That's fine though because the amount of experience in a pennant race that this team got you absolutely cannot put a number on or a stat to. So today we play like we have every other day just without the expectations or pressure. New York will send Michael Pineda to the mound while the Jays counter with Marco Estrada. The game will be played at 1:07 pm ET inside Rogers Centre and can be seen on the YES Network, TBS and MLB TV.

Nothing snazzy here. Season is over. Go Yankees!

Yankees to Hold Fan Appreciation Day Next Sunday


Here is the press release from Yankees.com:

Yankees to hold Fan Appreciation Day at Yankee Stadium

Final regular season homestand to feature other highlights and promotions

Press Release | September 22nd, 2016


The New York Yankees will return home on Tuesday for their final homestand of the year. The stretch will feature a three-game series vs. the Boston Red Sox (Tuesday-Thursday, September 27-29) - in David Ortiz's final career regular season appearances at Yankee Stadium - and a three-game set vs. Manny Machado and the Baltimore Orioles (Friday-Sunday, September 30-October 2).

Fan Appreciation Day will take place on Sunday, October 2, when the Yankees also honorfirst baseman Mark Teixeira in a ceremony prior to their 3:05 p.m. game vs. Baltimore. In honor of Teixeira's final regular season game, fans may receive up to 25% off the price of tickets for this game when using the promo code TEX25 and a MasterCard atwww.yankees.com, www.ticketmaster.com or at the Yankee Stadium Ticket Office. Please note that all ticket specials are subject to availability.

In addition, 25 fans wearing apparel with Teixeira's No. 25 at the game on October 2 will be randomly selected to receive special prizes and 25 other fans will have the opportunity to be randomly selected for a lucky seat upgrade. All fans in attendance will also receive a voucher valid for two tickets to select 2017 Yankees regular season home games.

Fans can also take part in the festivities on social media. One lucky fan in attendance at Yankee Stadium on October 2 who shares their game experience on Twitter or Instagram will be randomly selected during the game to win the "Ultimate Game Day Experience," which includes an upgrade in the Legends Suite seating area and a gift bag. One other lucky fan will be randomly selected during the game to win the "Ultimate Game Day Experience" for any 2017 home game of their choice. The package will include 4 Legends tickets, a scoreboard message, and a gift bag.

During the entire homestand, the first 75 fans that check-in daily at Yankee Stadium on Facebook can redeem a seat upgrade by showing their check-in to the staff at the AT&T Fan Zone located on the Main Level behind home plate. For further details on all of these promotions, please visit www.yankees.com/fanappreciation and follow the Yankees' official Twitter and Instagram accounts - @Yankees.

Roger Maris Bobblehead Day will take place on Saturday, October 1, on the 55th anniversary of his record-setting 61st home run of the 1961 season. The first 18,000 Guests in attendance will receive a bobblehead, courtesy of AT&T. The bobblehead is part of a limited-edition series of collectible player bobbleheads, presented by AT&T - the fourth series in a collection of Yankees bobbleheads. Additionally, Maris' son Randy will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game.

For the sixth consecutive year, the New York Yankees will join with NewYork-Presbyterian - the official hospital of the New York Yankees - Columbia University Medical Center, Weill Cornell Medicine and Ed Randall's Fans for the Cure (fans4thecure.org) to help save lives from prostate cancer during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month by offering a free screening.

Prior to and during the 7:05 p.m. game against the Red Sox on Wednesday, September 28, ticketed fans, game day employees and media members 40 years of age and older are encouraged to visit the area near Main Level Section 220, where medical personnel under the direction of Dr. James McKiernan, Urologist-in-Chief, NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, will be standing by to administer quick and simple PSA blood tests to all who request one.

Youth Game ticket specials will run on Saturday, October 1 and Sunday, October 2, subject to availability. For a complete list of ticket specials, including game dates, seating locations, and terms and conditions, fans should visit www.yankees.com/ticketspecials.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.yankees.com, www.yankeesbeisbol.com, at the Yankee Stadium Ticket Office, via Ticketmaster phone at (877) 469-9849, Ticketmaster TTY at (800) 943-4327 and at all Ticket Offices located within Yankees Clubhouse Shops. Fans with questions may call (212) YANKEES [926-5337] or email tickets@yankees.com.

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays 9/25


Good morning everyone and Happy Sunday to you all. This could possibly be the first meaningless game of the Yankees season this afternoon inside the Rogers Centre after the New York offense has made it a habit of disappearing at the worst possible times here down the stretch. So here we go as the New York Yankees send Michael Pineda to the mound to face off with the Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada.

Pineda looked much better than he had in his last start where he struck out 11 Tampa Bay Rays batters while allowing just two runs on five hits in 5.1 innings of work. Pineda also pitched well against Toronto last time out against them as well throwing five scoreless innings on August 16th in the Bronx. 



The game will be played at 1:07 pm ET inside the Rogers Centre and can be seen on the YES Network, TBS and MLB TV. I said this on Twitter yesterday but it's worth repeating again today. It's funny how teams say you can't win a division in April or May but if you can't win one how come you can lose one? The Yankees started out this season 9-17, swap those records and the Yankees are in the postseason. Even out the records at 13-13 and the Yankees are four games closer to the Wild Card and the division. Check the standings and do the math. Depressing, isn't it? Go Yankees!

The Finale Weekly Prospects Check In: Clint Frazier


Started from the bottom now we're here. The final weekly prospects check in for the 2016 regular season ends with the Yankees top prospect in the system, Clint Frazier. Frazier came over in a mid-season trade with the Cleveland Indians and immediately got acquainted with Triple-A and more importantly got acquainted with winning.

The season is over the Triple-A Champions are the Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders. Clint Frazier was a part of that team so let's end this regular season showcase with a bang. A redheaded bang.

YearAgeAffGPARH2BHRRBISBBBSOBAOBPSLGOPS
201621CLE-NYY119520751222716551348122.263.335.447.782

This Day In New York Yankees History 9/25: Derek Jeter is Amazing




Derek Jeter played the final game of his Yankees career inside Yankee Stadium on this day in 2014 and Jeter went out only the way that Jeter could go out, dramatically. New York had a huge lead in the contest leaving many to speculate how and when manager Joe Girardi would take Jeter out for his standing ovation but David Robertson blew a save in the 9th inning setting up Jeter's heroics one last time. Jeter came up in the bottom of the ninth and laced the first pitch he saw through the hole on the right side scoring Antoan Richardson to give the Yankees a walk off victory. Jeter. Is.Amazing.


The 2009 New York Yankees team was good, really good in fact, and absolutely earned the nickname of the Bronx Bombers. On this day in 2009 Alex Rodriguez hit a third inning home run for the Yankees 127th home run at home of the season, a new franchise record. The 2004 and 2005 Yankees both went yard 126 times each at the old Yankee Stadium before the new record was set.


Also on this day in 1998 the Yankees set an American League record with their 112th win of the season, a 6-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The 1906 Chicago Cubs went 116-36 and still hold the major league record for victories in a season.


Finally on this day in 1968 Mickey Mantle stepped up to the plate for his last Yankee Stadium at bat. Coincidentally tonight is Derek Jeter’s final Yankee Stadium at bat but I digress. Mantle would walk against Luis Tiant before the Yankees fell to the Indians 3-0.