It's Showtime for the 2026 New York Yankees...

   

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Jeff Chiu/AP)

World Series or bust, otherwise known as the Road through Chavez Ravine…

The new MLB season is upon us.

Regardless of what the Yankees did or did not do in the offseason, I am excited about the 2026 New York Yankees.

The Yankees’ attention to upgrading the quality of minor league pitching in recent years is proving fruitful. Much like fine wine, it takes years to reach perfection. The Yankees had a plan, and they executed it. A plan not designed for immediate gratification, but one to strengthen the organization for years to come. I thought Cam Schlittler would be a decent major league pitcher after the years of glowing praise when he was in the minor league system (I thought a solid number three starter), but I did not imagine he would be an upper-rotation guy with the potential of being a team’s ace.  Schlittler makes up for GM Brian Cashman’s inability to acquire a strong starting pitcher in the offseason. If Will Warren takes the next step, it is just icing on the cake. For as much blame as he gets (from me included), Cashman deserves some credit for the elite focus on drafting and signing some of the game’s future pitching stars.

With Luis Gil heading to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start the season since the Yankees do not need a fifth starter during the early weeks of the season, here are your 2026 New York Yankees:

Starting Lineup:

Catcher: Austin Wells

First Base: Ben Rice

Second Base: Jazz Chisholm, Jr.

Shortstop: Jose Caballero

Third Base: Ryan McMahon

Left Field: Cody Bellinger

Center Field: Trent Grisham

Right Field: Aaron Judge

Designated Hitter: Giancarlo Stanton

Bench/Utility:

Outfield/Utility: Randal Grichuk, Amed Rosario

Catcher: J.C. Escarra

First Base: Paul Goldschmidt

Starting Rotation:

Max Fried, LHP

Cam Schlittler, RHP

Will Warren, RHP

Ryan Weathers, LHP

Bullpen:

Closer: David Bednar

Setup/Middle Relief: Camilo Doval, Fernando Cruz, Tim Hill, Paul Blackburn, Ryan Yarbrough, Jake Bird, Brent Headrick, Cade Winquest

Injured List:

Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt, Anthony Volpe

I am honestly relieved that Volpe is on the injured list. I do not wish injuries or surgeries upon anyone, but I love the opportunity for Jose Caballero to be the everyday shortstop. It is not going to last. Volpe will be back in May, but I hope Caballero makes it very hard for Manager Aaron Boone to choose between the two. The bloom is off Volpe. I do not feel that he should be the starting shortstop for the most storied franchise in Major League history. A replacement for Jazz Chisholm, Jr. at second base when the Yankees make the financial decision to let Jazz walk? That’s a better long-term plan if Volpe can improve his game. Caballero may not be the long-term answer for shortstop, but he is better than Volpe. 

Jose Cabellero

Another player I would replace is DH Giancarlo Stanton. I love Stanton when he is healthy, and nobody can crush a baseball with ease as he does, but he is getting older, and he WILL spend time on the injured list. Trying to believe this will be an injury-free year for him is foolish after the years he has proven wrong. Jasson Dominguez, and his major league-ready bat, are sitting in Triple-A. I would trade or, despite the financial cost, cut Stanton to make Dominguez the everyday DH.  Jasson’s fielding is not sufficient for Yankee Stadium standards, so he needs to be a bat-only type if he is going to play for the Yankees. His only roadblock is Stanton.

I thought Trent Grisham was great last year, but I am skeptical he can match it. It felt like his Brady Anderson year. One season of epic proportions followed by a return to mediocrity.  If Spencer Jones takes Grisham’s place in center field before the season’s end, I am okay with it. Grisham is not coming back next year unless he proves last year was not a fluke. Play the best player regardless of the size of the contract.

This is why I do not want the Yankees to trade either Dominguez or Jones. I feel both can play vital roles for the Yankees when and if they get their chances.

While I am glad Cade Winquest made the Opening Day Roster, he has much to prove to deserve a roster spot for the entirety of the season. The first test will come when the Yankees need a fifth starter and call up Luis Gil. As an extra reliever, Winquest holds the weakest position on the roster.  He may be back in the St Louis Cardinals organization before the end of April. I hope he improves and can secure his roster spot to continue his Yankees career. I am just not optimistic that it can happen.

I try to avoid the articles about Paul Skenes and the Yankees’ attempts to acquire him at last year’s trade deadline. When Paul Skenes reaches free agency, the odds he will be a Los Angeles Dodger or a New York Met are far greater than his chances of pulling on the pinstripes. It is what it is. Love the guy, and I think he would be a great Yankee, but it seems incredibly unlikely to me, given the vast financial resources of the Dodgers and the Mets, and Hal Steinbrenner’s financial conservatism. I feel we are going to go through years of speculation for Skenes to the Yankees, only to see him go to one of the MLB’s wealthiest teams. There was a time when the Yankees were the wealthiest, but times changed. This is why I wish the Steinbrenner Family would cash in their chips and let a big financial boy (or gal) take over. Teams create cash flow, and the Yankees are among the best, but the intangibles are the owner's wealth and income streams beyond baseball. Hal Steinbrenner is dependent on the Yankees, so he does not add anything in terms of financial might beyond what the Yankees generate. As such, the Dodgers and Mets ownership groups will be able to run circles around the Yankees in the fight for the game’s best players.  Will the Mets make the right decisions? That’s debatable, but the Yankees are at a disadvantage with the current ownership regime. 

As an out-of-market Yankees fan, I am excited to attend a game at Yankee Stadium this season. I will be there in July when the Yankees host the World Champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Looking forward to Shohei Ohtani versus Aaron Judge. I no longer live in the Los Angeles area, having moved to New Mexico nearly a year ago. Baseball in Albuquerque is limited to the Triple-A club for a bottom-feed MLB team (the Colorado Rockies). I am looking forward to some legit baseball in July. On a side note, the Triple-A facility in Albuquerque for the Isotopes is a good venue, but it is not Major League Baseball. So far, I have only attended when the Dodgers’ Oklahoma City squad has paid a visit.

After years of no concerts, I decided that 2026 would be different. So far this year, I have seen KC & the Sunshine Band perform at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, and John Waite, accompanied by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, at Buffalo Thunder Casino in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Harry Wayne Casey, better known as KC, is a master entertainer, even at 75. He was all over the stage despite his age and weight gain, and the audience was literally on their feet for most of the concert. He still delivers his songs as strongly as he did in the seventies. John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band are best known as the voices for Michael Pare and his band in his lead role in the movie Eddie and the Cruisers, but they were terrific. They sang a new song called "Day in the Sun," which was fantastic. Cafferty said the State of New Mexico was interested in the song for their marketing campaign (we have something like 320 sunny days per year)…not unlike Denver, but the sun is prevalent in New Mexico. I hope the state makes the deal with Cafferty. I was thinking John Waite, former lead singer of the Babys and Modern English, would have a tough job to top Cafferty, but he did. Waite’s Missing You has always been one of my favorite songs. He threw multiple guitar picks that were snatched by those around me. I was a bit disappointed until he threw a second batch, and I nabbed a pick before the guy next to me could get one. It now hangs on my wall. Waite, at 73 years old, delivered his songs as strongly as he did in his younger days.

John Waite

Later this year, I have concerts to see Midland (for the fifth time), Loverboy, Lionel Richie, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Barry Manilow. Outside of Midland, a current country group, every performance is a trip down memory lane. I hope the upcoming concerts can match the intensity of the first two.

Despite the concerts, the Yankees in July remain the marquee attraction for me. I had an opportunity to see a game in 2009, but it rained out. Four hours in Yankee Stadium with no game. I went to the old Yankee Stadium multiple times, but life has kept me away from New York since the new stadium opened. I am excited but obviously hope for good weather. Another rainout would suck. I am envious of those who get to experience Yankee Stadium as often as they would like. When you do not live in the greater New York metropolitan area, it is not as easy. It does not mean that we love the Yankees any less.

As always, Go Yankees!

The King of the World...

  

Josh Donaldson, Anthony Rizzo and Michael King / Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg, New York Post

Now pitching, Number 34, Michael King…

It is easy to point to Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo as Team MVPs after twenty-five games. Yet, the Yankees would not be 18-7 and sitting atop the AL East without the huge contributions of Michael McRae King.

Michael King / Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY Sports

The case can be made that he has been the Yankees’ most valuable pitcher (starter or reliever). As confidence in closer Aroldis Chapman has started to decline in recent seasons, King’s ability to go multiple innings with his vast array of pitches, shutting down powerful bats, has been tremendous. King, who turns twenty-seven later this month, has been dominant (ya think?). In 17 2/3 innings, he has struck out 39.7% of the batters he has faced, while walking only 4.8%. He is 2-0, with one save, and 0.51 ERA. His fWAR of 1.2 (according to FanGraphs) is the highest among relievers and tied for third among all pitchers with Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly. They trail only Toronto’s Kevin Gausman (1.9) and San Francisco’s Carlos Rodon (1.3).

Armed with four pitches (four-seam and two-seam fastballs, slider and change-up), King keeps batters flustered as they fail repeatedly. There has been much talk about his mastery of the breaking ball thanks to last year’s tutelage by former Yank Corey Kluber. It is unfair to give full credit to Kluber. I am sure that the Klubot has offered plenty of advice to other pitchers over the years, but credit to the student for taking the feedback and implementing the necessary changes to make the pitch above average in his arsenal which obviously enhances his other pitches.

I remember when Chad Green was a starter, and I felt that he would be more effective as a reliever. It played out to perfection as Green was an elite reliever for a few years although he has slipped in recent seasons. King is the reliever that I would love to see become a starter. Maybe not this year. I loved the 2009 dominance of Phil Hughes as a reliever until he later moved back into the starting rotation in subsequent seasons. King is the 2022 version of the elite reliever for a championship team. Hopefully, if any of the starters miss time, the first call for replacement will be Clarke Schmidt and not King. But for next year and beyond, Michael King should be in the starting rotation with his deadly weaponry.

King was primarily a starter in the minor leagues with fifty-nine starts in eighty games pitched. If Jameson Taillon is not re-signed this coming off-season (he should be), King needs to be the arm that is slotted as his replacement. I love Nasty Nestor Cortes, Jr, but I would prefer him as the long reliever and spot starter with King in the rotation. Not this year…I would not want to disrupt a good thing…but as a future thought.

King was born in Rochester, New York on May 25, 1995. He went to high school in Rhode Island and pitched collegiately for Boston College. He was taken in the 12^th round (353^rd selection) of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins. The Yankees acquired King from the Marlins after the 2017 season, along with international bonus money, for starting pitcher Caleb Smith and first baseman/outfielder Garrett Cooper. I have been down on GM Brian Cashman in recent years, but this rates as one of his best trades, regardless of the spotty success Smith and Cooper have had at the Major League level. It is why I do not blink an eye if Cashman trades a veteran for a young prospect (like he did this past Spring when first baseman Luke Voit, a man without a position, was shipped to San Diego for pitcher Justin Lange or when he sent 4A outfielder Jake Cave to Minnesota a few years ago for RHP Luis Gil). Give these types of moves the necessary time to marinate.

King’s mission is simple. Help bring a World Championship back to the Bronx. There is no doubt he is doing his part. It is up to the other twenty-three men on the roster (purposely excluding Judge and Rizzo for their stellar play) to match King’s level of play.

Tim Locastro has been a blessing. When the Yankees acquired Locastro on July 1^st last summer from the Arizona Diamondbacks, the reason was simple. Speed. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL less than three weeks later and his 2021 season was ended. He was waived on November 5^th and claimed by the Boston Red Sox. Fortunately, he was non-tendered by the Red Sox after Thanksgiving, and he signed with the Yankees as a free agent in March after the lockout had ended.

Locastro beat out Ender Inciarte to make the team out of Spring Training and has been an invaluable weapon in reserve. As they say, speed plays. I must admit that I had my doubts. The anterior cruciate ligament injury is serious, and I had concerns it would rob Locastro of his elite speed. Thankfully, Locastro has not slowed down and he is helping to have influence for this year’s club when his name is called upon.

Blue Jays C Tyler Heineman and Tim Locastro (scoring) / Photo Credit: Christopher Katsarov, The Canadien Press via AP

Brian Cashman is smarter than us. Okay, to be fair, I probably have not changed my opinion that it is time for change in the Yankees organization. We cannot change the owner, but general managers have shelf life and Cashman has had a good run. His last championship was in 2009 and he has had his share of clunker moves. The Yankees have made significant strides by upgrading coaching throughout the organization (albeit maybe not at the managerial level). At some point, the Steinbrenner Family faces the decision of whether they can improve the general manager’s seat. With his contract expiring at season’s end, the time could be near. Of course, a World Series championship this Fall would bring the inevitable extension. But I digress. On to the point…

Brian Cashman makes his decisions with the longer-term in view. This past off-season saw the Yankees pass on the elite shortstops, the team’s most pressing need. We now know how well Isiah Kiner-Falefa has fit into the Yankees lineup and has proven to be a better fit than any of the big three elite free agents. I wanted Carlos Correa and yet he has gotten off to a slower start than IKF. He suffered a hand injury earlier this week that was first thought to be broken but has received better news within the past day. Once Correa was off the board, I wanted DJ LeMahieu’s former Colorado teammate, Trevor Story. I was disappointed when he signed with Boston. In retrospect, Story has been a big reason the Red Sox (10-17) currently languish in last place in the AL East, BEHIND the annual cellar-dwelling Baltimore Orioles.

Trevor Story / Photo Credit: Barry Chin, Boston Globe Staff

Story is batting .212/.292/.294 with .270 wOBA and 73 wRC+. He does not have any home runs and only ten RBIs. The other night, when he struck out four times, he immediately secluded himself in the batting cage with a couple of teammates to avoid the press. He stayed in the batting cage until after the clubhouse closed to the media. Dan Shaughnessy of The Boston Globe said it best. “Trevor Story not making himself available to media after 4-Ks and getting booed at Fenway is a bad sign. Fans want new players to succeed. But ducking questions never cuts it here. He’s a veteran. He knows the drill. That’s a ducking move. He can take a few questions, then go off and hit all night.”

Story’s behavior would not play in New York either. Credit to guys like Giancarlo Stanton, who have taken more than their fair share of heat over the years, they are always ready and available to field questions after games. I am sure Story’s bat will come around but suffice it to say that I am glad Brian Cashman was right and I was wrong. Credit where credit is due.

Brian Cashman / Photo Credit: Adam Hunger, Getty Images

No Yankees baseball for the third day in a row. Today’s game, like yesterday, has been postponed due to rain. Friday’s game against the Texas Rangers was rescheduled for tomorrow with a single-admission double-header. Today’s game against the old buddies of Joey Gallo, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Jose Trevino has been moved to Monday with 1:05 pm Eastern start time. Hopefully, the time off will not slow down the Yankees. I never get too excited about winning streaks because the Yankees have a habit of following up with a losing streak. Maybe the added rest days will help re-energize the team for another extended winning streak. The downside of the days off is that Aroldis Chapman is going to be horrendous in his next appearance since he never does well with too much time off.

Soggy Yankee Stadium / Photo Credit: AP

Here's hoping for better New York weather tomorrow…

As always, Go Yankees! 

Bats, Balls & Gloves Together Again...

Photo Credit: AP

The return of Spring Training brings familiar sounds…

Before I say how glad I am we have baseball again, I’d first like to say I hope Masahiro Tanaka is okay and he does not suffer any long-term health consequences after the mishap today when Giancarlo Stanton’s line drive to Masa’s head at Yankee Stadium workouts left him on the ground motionless for ten minutes. I say this for Masahiro’s sake first and foremost. Although I wouldn’t want to lose Masahiro this season, the Yankees are purely secondary when it comes to the pitcher’s health. It’s always tough to see those types of accidents as pitchers are clearly the most vulnerable players on the field once they release a pitch. For now, he’s resting at the hospital and will begin concussion protocol. 

Photo Credit: Brendan Kuty, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

I don’t get the hate on social media that was directed at Stanton. It’s not like he intentionally did it, and Stanton knows all too well what kind of damage a hard, fast traveling baseball can do. It’s just an unfortunate situation but hopefully all tests are negative and Masa has no lingering effects. We love you, Masa. We need you and we want you to be happy and healthy. If baseball’s not in the cards immediately, that’s fine. We’ll be here when you are ready, my brother. Word has been received that Masa has been released from the hospital. As he recovers from home tonight, our thoughts and prayers are with him. 

It’s been a little strange to have summer training at MLB stadiums after being so conditioned for training to only occur in Florida and Arizona. Living near Angel Stadium, I thought I’d see more activity around the stadium but I haven’t. I am sure the Angels are inside working out, no doubt, but from the outside, it appears to be business as usual which has been fairly quiet during my three months in the neighborhood. 

Listening to Mike Trout talk about the difficulty in making a decision to play, it would hurt to see the game’s best player take a seat at home but with all honesty, I can’t blame him. This is a personal choice that each player must make. Not sure what I’d do if I were in his/their shoes. I’d probably play but that doesn’t mean I am critical of any player who decides the risks are too great. Today, David Price announced he had decided to opt out, depriving the Los Angeles Dodgers of their first look at the Yankees’ former batting practice toy. I am okay with Price’s decision. I think he can help the Dodgers but it’s his decision to protect his family and I respect his choice. The 2021 baseball season will be here soon enough and the Dodgers have Price for two more years. The downside to Price’s choice is the Boston Red Sox are off the hook for the money they owed Price this year (approximately $6 million from what I’ve read). As for Trout, his first child is due in August and he doesn’t want to be deprived of the opportunity to welcome the newest Trout into the World. I get it, I really do.

I kept thinking Gerrit Cole might decide to opt out but with the birth of his son, Caden Gerrit Cole, on June 30th, it appears he is motivated to make good on his contract in Year 1. Selfishly, I am glad but conversely, if he had decided to stay home, I’d honor and respect the choice. I am envious of Caden. He gets to learn baseball from one of the most incredible baseball minds in the game. How cool is that? He has the benefit of inheriting Gerrit’s DNA too. For Caden, life is good, and it hasn’t even started yet. The little boy has an amazing future whether he likes it or not.

I know it’s not Yankees news but it’s hard not to associate Joe Girardi with the Yankees so please excuse the slight detour. Girardi has lost his best starting pitcher, Aaron Nola, who has been placed on the COVID-19 List. With no offense to Jake Arrieta, the Philadelphia Phillies cannot afford to lose Nola for an extended period. I am sure Joe’s anxious for a fast start with his new team, but he’ll need Didi Gregorius and others to step up in a big way.  

Photo Credit: Jose F Moreno, The Philadelphia Inquirer

I just saw a report that D.J. LeMahieu, ugh!, and Luis Cessa have tested positive for the coronavirus. LeMahieu is asymptomatic while Cessa has mild symptoms. I hope the guys are okay and can recover soon. I had really been looking forward to Season 2 for LeMahieu, especially with a new contract in the balance, but it will obviously be delayed. Can Matt Duffy play second? For the record, yes, but it has been awhile. Looks like we are back in the market for a second baseman again assuming the Yankees leave Gleyber Torres at short. I suppose Tyler Wade could play second in a pinch. Kyle Holder (or Wade) could play short, to push Torres back to second.  Interesting decisions ahead for Manager Aaron Boone.  After being down on Cessa the last few years, last year’s improvement had left me with hopes that he could be the new Ramiro Mendoza. But as with LeMahieu, we’ll have to wait and hope for their full and complete recoveries. Given LeMahieu, eats, sleeps, and dreams baseball, you know this must be killing him. Hoping all goes for the two week quarantine for both. Once the quarantine at home is over, they’ll have to clear at least two tests for the virus before clearance to play. For D.J., there’s still time to make the Opening Day Roster.  

I think it’s cool the Yankees will debut the 2020 season in Washington against the World Champions. A pitching match up featuring Gerrit Cole against Max Scherzer is a little bittersweet given how the Yankees were the favorites to sign Max a few years ago. But then again, if they had signed Max, would Cole be a Yankee now? Probably not, so as they say, things probably worked out for the best (with no disrespect intended for Max, who I feel is an incredible pitcher). A second game pitching match up with the Nationals, potentially, featuring James Paxton against Stephen Strasburg is almost as exciting. It should make for a great start to the 2020 season.

MLB is expected to officially announce the 2020 schedule on Monday. The Yankees and Mets will meet for 6 out of 60 games so Dellin Betances is going to get a good view of what the Yankees look like from the other side. Sorry Dellin, I hope the Yankees pin an “L” or two on you. 

Photo Credit: Alejandra Villa Loarca, Newsday

I am not sure what this season will bring. It’s a little sad we can’t say with 100% confidence it will even be completed. In Southern CA, the reopening has been rolled back for at least three weeks. Masks are mandatory, bars are closed, restaurants can only be open for outside dining or pickup. Movie theaters remain closed and I have to endure those long lines just to wait to get into a Trader Joe’s. Feels somewhat like trying to see a Star Wars movie in the 1980’s. If the coronavirus continues its strong upswing, it could potentially end the baseball season before it gets started. Minor League Baseball has already tossed in the towel. I long for the day when a coronavirus vaccine is readily available and life can return to some degree of normalcy. Maybe it’s me but there should have been a solid Plan B in place for life in the event of a pandemic. Unfortunately there was not and our period in time will be evaluated as a very unprepared, narcissistic, and sadly, racist group of people. We are better than this and I hope actions going forward prove the current generations of a legacy to remember. 

I hope this is a good 4th of July for you and your families. I can’t say great since so many fireworks celebrations have been cancelled but still, I trust you are with the ones you love and everyone is happy, healthy and safe. That’s all we can ask.

As always, Go Yankees! 

The World Series is Back On in New York!

Welcome back to the blog!

As I am sure most everyone has heard, baseball is back for the 2020 season. Despite the concerns surrounding the country right now, including COVID-19, Major League Baseball and the Players Union have agreed to a 60-game season here in 2020. The 2020 season will be unlike any other that any of have seen during our lifetime, and not just because the number of games being played is significantly less than the usual 162-game marathon. The universal DH will be making its way to the league, giving the National League their first real taste of the designated hitter. Also, there will be a schedule change that will include 40 games within your own division and 20 games against teams in the NL that share your divisional alignment (The AL East plays the NL East, the AL Central plays the NL Central, the AL West plays the NL West). The Yankees will play 10 games each against the Baltimore Orioles, the Boston Red Sox, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays while they will also play 4 games each against the Atlanta Braves, the New York Mets, the Miami Marlins, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the defending World Series Champion Washington Nationals.

There will be no expanded playoffs, and whether anyone likes it or not... the World Series WILL count for 2020. It's in the record books, deal with it. No asterisk. Wouldn't be an asterisk if the Red Sox, Astros, or Mets won it, so there won't be one when the Yankees win it. Deal with it and save your tears.

I am so excited to be back, ladies and gents. The game needed this, in some opinions the country needed this, and I really, REALLY needed this.

Brett Gardner WILL Get a Plaque in Monument Park (Opinion)

Gardner will probably get a plaque in Monument Park tbh. He didnt have the WS that Tino, Paul O, etc. Had, but still.

— Greedy Pinstripes (@GreedyStripes) November 12, 2019

When I made the above tweet, I had no idea how much discussion and general uproar that it would start among Yankees Twitter. On a lazy Monday night in mid-November when there was no Yankees-related news to really be found, I found myself defending the fact that the New York Yankees will likely give Brett Gardner a plaque inside Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park before it is all said and done. Do I believe that he deserves one? That is up for debate, and something I will try to determine over the course of this post, but whether I believe he deserves one is irrelevant. If history is any indicator of the future, Gardner’s bald head, goofy smile, and #11 uniform number will all be on a plaque inside Yankee Stadium during my lifetime.

Now before the outrage starts and before we start unfollowing me on Twitter, @GreedyStripes for the shameless plug, let me explain my thought process behind this. At one point and time, Monument Park and the subsequent retired numbers that generally came with being a legendary New York Yankee was an exclusive club. Names like Miller Huggins (the first ever inducted into Monument Park, trivia time), Lou Gehrig, Jacob Ruppert, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Joe McCarthy, Casey Stengel, Thurman Munson, Elston Howard, Roger Maris, Phil Rizzuto, Billy Martin, Lefty Gomez, Whitey Ford, Bill Dickey, and Yogi Berra, to name a few, were scattered throughout the center field area of Yankee Stadium, rivaling the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

And then George Steinbrenner and crew came along and kind of watered it down a bit.

When the Boss took over as the owner of the New York Yankees the dilution of the retired uniform numbers, the plaques or monuments inside Monument Park, and the Yankees captaincy, among other things, slowly began to mean less and less. At least in my opinion. Monument Park went from being a shrine to not only the greatest Yankees to ever play or touch the game, but some of the best in the sport to ever leave their mark on the game that we all love. Sure, under George’s tenure the Yankees added plaques or monuments for the likes of Ron Guidry, Allie Reynolds, Bob Sheppard, Red Ruffing, Jackie Robinson, and others… but there were also a few questionable decisions in there as well along the way.

Reggie Jackson played a whopping five years for the New York Yankees, 1977 – 1981. Sure, Reggie won a couple World Series championships with the New York Yankees, and yes, I am well aware that he hit three home runs in three at-bats while doing so, but still. There is no way that Reggie deserves a plaque in Monument Park, let alone his number retired by the club. Not after the “Bronx is Burning” years of feuds with then manager Billy Martin, and not after he dipped town after just one contract with the Yankees. Sure, Reggie had five great seasons in the Bronx averaging a .281/.371/.526/.897 quad slash while averaging around 30 home runs and over 100 RBI per season with a cumulative 17.2 WAR, but is that deserving of having his number retired and having a plaque inside Monument Park? Well, that’s debatable. In my opinion, the answer is no, but I respect if anyone else wants to say yes. I am well aware of the Yankees World Series drought before Reggie arrived on the scene, and if that weighs into the decision more than it should, fine… but what about Phil Rizzuto?

Now while the comparison may not be exactly fair, Rizzuto lost the 1943, 1944, and 1945 seasons to World War II and his service with the US Navy, this may be the closest comparison that we can come up with. Gardner has played in 12 seasons with the Yankees while Rizzuto played in 13 and the stats are pretty similar. Again, not comparing the players... but I am comparing the stats. Gardner never won an MVP like Rizzuto did in 1950, and Gardner never finished second like Scooter did in 1949. I am comparing THE STATS while keeping in mind, again in my opinion, that the requirements for Monument Park have been watered down a bit over the years. 


Gardner career: .260/.342/.401/.743 with 124 HR, 524 RBI, 41.6 WAR, 12.5 dWAR.
Rizzuto career: .273/.351/.355/.706 with 38 HR, 563 RBI, 40.8 WAR, 22.9 dWAR. 

You wanna laugh?

Gardner has a lifetime 41.6 WAR

Tino, who played parts of 7 years with us, lifetime 29 WAR.
Paul O'Neill = 38.8 WAR
Posada = 42.8 WAR
Jeter 72.4 WAR

Gardner ranks higher than both Tino & O'Neill.https://t.co/SkXMm1aMgr

— The Bronx Zoo (@TheBronxZooNYY) November 12, 2019

I am in no way saying Gardner is Phil Rizzuto, or even better than the Yankees he is likely to pass in 2020 assuming he comes back and has a productive season (a 1.6 WAR in 2020 would put him past Don Mattingly and Jorge Posada, and within striking distance of Thurman Munson… all who have plaques inside Monument Park), but what I am saying is that I can see the Yankees giving Gardner his spot inside Monument Park before it is all said and done. If you can make a case for Rizzuto being in there, and Reggie Jackson being there, Jorge Posada being there (check the stats… Gardner is right there with Jorgie statistically and in five less seasons), etc., then you can at least make the argument that Gardner will be there as well.

And while we are on the subject, where is Roy White Day and his plaque inside Monument Park? Talk about a travesty.

May the 4th Be With You All

Happy Star Wars Day everyone!!

Love, 

The Evil Empire. 

Yankees Off Day Walk-Up Music Recommendation: DJ LeMahieu

The Yankees are off today, so enjoy this walk-up music recommendation from the team. Every time DJ LeMahieu walks up to the plate inside Yankee Stadium the song "Ready" by Wide Awake blares through the speakers in the Bronx. Now it can also blare through your speakers this morning. Enjoy.

This Day in New York Yankees History 4/4: Happy Opening Day 2016

On this day in 1994 a total of 56,706 fans flocked to Opening Day at Yankee Stadium, the largest crowd ever at the House that Ruth Built. Jimmy Key would beat Kevin Brown and the Texas Rangers 5-3 in front of the record breaking crowd.


Also on this day in 1989 Tommy John tied a record on Opening Day by playing in his 26th season. The New York Yankees veteran would beat the Twins 4-2 on this day for his 287th win, putting him 19th overall at the time in career wins.

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers 4/3

Game six of the young 2019 campaign will be an afternoon game in the Bronx between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers. In the finale of this three-game set inside Yankee Stadium the Yankees will send Jonathan Loaisiga to the mound to face off with Matthew Boyd of the Tigers. The game will be played at 4:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB Network. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV and on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman. Enjoy the game and go Yankees!!

This Day in New York Yankees History 4/3: Yankee Stadium & Citi Field

On this day way back in 2009 the Yankees and the Mets both debuted their new stadiums on the same day. The Yankees hosted the Cubs at the new Yankees Stadium and the Mets hosted the Red Sox at Citi Field. Both teams would win their debuts in these exhibition games and the Yankees would bring home a World Series ring in the same season.

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers 4/3

The New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers will finish off their three-game set this week in the Bronxc with the rubber match this afternoon. In the finale the Yankees will send --- to the mound to face off with Matthew Boyd for the Tigers. These are not must-win games for the Yankees, but these have the potential to be games you look back at in September and October and wish you had, so let’s get to it here in the Bronx.

Loaisiga will make his season debut for CC Sabathia, the veteran Yankees lefty that served a five-game suspension before being placed on the 10-Day injured list to start the season. Good luck, Johnny Lasagna. 

Boyd is a fly-ball pitcher. Mix that in with the fact that the ball travels inside Yankee Stadium, especially during the day, and this could make for a long day for the Tigers left-hander. Boyd allowed three runs on five hits in six innings of work in his last start in the Bronx in September, including two home runs allowed. Boyd did not pitch well in his first start of the season, a loss against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The game will be played at 4:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB Network. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV and on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman. Enjoy the game and go Yankees!!

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers 4/2

The time has come, it is game time here in the Bronx between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers. Game Five of the young 2019 season for the New York Yankees, let’s get to it. The Yankees will send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound to face off with Jordan Zimmermann for the Tigers. The game will be played at 6:35 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and can be seen on the YES Network. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV and on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman. Enjoy the game and, as always, go Yankees!!

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers 4/2

The New York Yankees have been through the rotation once, technically, and will turn the rotation over for the first time tonight here in the Bronx. In the middle game of their three-game set with the Detroit Tigers, the Yankees will send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound for his second start of the young season. Opposing Tanaka will be Jordan Zimmermann who was almost unhittable in his first start of the season. It should be an interesting matchup to say the least, so let’s get to it here in the Bronx.

Tanaka ripped the Opening Day monkey off his back here in 2019, limiting the Baltimore Orioles to just two runs, one of them earned, over six hits in 5.2 innings pitched. The Yankees won the game while Tanaka became the first Yankees starter to record at least five strikeouts without a walk on Opening Day snice Catfish Hunter.

Zimmermann was equally as strong on Opening Day in Toronto against the Blue Jays, pitching 6.2 perfect innings before giving up a hit. Zimmermann has pitched well inside of Yankee Stadium lately including a streak of 12 innings without giving up a run over the last two seasons.

The game will be played at 6:35 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and can be seen on the YES Network. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV and on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman. Enjoy the game and, as always, go Yankees!!

Opening Day Game Thread: Baltimore Orioles @ New York Yankees 3/28

Opening Day 2019. The lines have been drawn on the field, the stadium is packed, the vendors are running their tails off, and the players are on the field. Let’s do this!!!!! In the start this afternoon the Yankees will send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound to face off with Andrew Cashner for the Orioles. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and can be seen on the YES Network, ESPN and MASN 2 in the Baltimore area. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV and on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.

Enjoy the game. Go Yankees!!

Opening Day Game Preview: Baltimore Orioles @ New York Yankees 3/28

It’s here, it’s finally here, and we finally made it. Opening Day 2019. The New York Yankees will begin their quest for the 2019 World Series Championship this afternoon in the Bronx against the Baltimore Orioles. Game one, where everyone is in first place. The Yankees will start Masahiro Tanaka this afternoon in the opener while the Orioles will counter with Andrew Cashner.

Tanaka will make his fourth career Opening Day start for the Yankees this afternoon after Luis Severino was not quite ready to start the season due to a shoulder issue. Tanaka has not earned a victory in these starts, posting an 0-2 record with a 9.49 ERA on Opening Day, so the Yankees, and Tanaka specifically, will look for better results this afternoon in the Bronx.

Cashner also makes the Opening Day start this afternoon due to injury. Cashner will make his second career Opening Day start after the Orioles learned that Alex Cobb could not make the start due to a strained right groin that he suffered in his final spring training start. Cashner was 4-15 last season with a 5.29 ERA.

The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and can be seen on the YES Network, ESPN and MASN 2 in the Baltimore area. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV and on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.

Enjoy the game. Go Yankees!!

Tanaka vs Cobb, Let's Get This Party Started...

In two weeks, the doors of Yankee Stadium will open…

Ready or not, Opening Day is a scant fourteen days away. On Thursday, March 28th, at 1:05 pm EDT, Masahiro Tanaka will fire the first official 2019 pitch at Yankee Stadium against the Baltimore Orioles and we’ll be off to the races for 162 games PLUS (heavy emphasis on the ‘plus’). The Orioles have announced RHP Alex Cobb will get the Opening Day nod over Dylan Bundy and Andrew Cashner.  

Cobb signed with Baltimore as a free agent in late March last year and it showed with disastrous April results. He lost his first three starts with 13.11 ERA and 2.83 WHIP.  A 6.03 K/9 pitcher for the year, he was unable to strike anyone out in two of those first three games. With the benefit of a full training camp, Cobb should be more prepared for his second season in Birdland. Steamer projects a 9-13 record in 31 starts with 4.89 ERA (4.50 xFIP) and 1.6 fWAR. Hopefully we won’t have to wait long to hear Michael Kay’s first “There it goes! See ya!” of the new season. I don’t think any of the Orioles pitchers strike fear in the hearts of the Yankees, and it should be a good opportunity to get the season started on the right foot.   

It was reported this week the MLB Players Association and MLB have agreed upon the elimination of the waiver trading deadline in August which makes the July non-waivers deadline a hard date for player trades. This year’s trading deadline is Wednesday, July 31st. In theory, it should spark more trade activity in July than in years past and will force teams to make earlier decisions about whether they are buyers and sellers. I am probably most concerned about potential injuries in August and the need to fill unplanned vacancies from within the organization. Depth at certain positions can be weak so it will force organizations to work harder to cover depth at all positions in the off-season which I suppose is an intended consequence.  The change is effective this year. 

Another change is the expansion of roster size from 25 to 26 players in 2020 with a maximum of 13 pitchers. On September 1st of 2020, the expansion of rosters will be reduced from 40 to 28 players and no more than 14 pitchers. At face value, I am glad to see the addition of a bench spot for another position player. The transition of the game to deeper bullpens has left bench roles perilously thin. Hopefully the addition of a player will help keep guys fresher for the long season. While the change is not effective this year, the potential 26th men at the present time are Clint Frazier and the expected loser of the first base competition, Greg Bird.

The new MLB-MLBPA deal is expected to be announced today. 

Per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, other changes include the three-batter minimum for pitchers although a start of a new inning would allow a pitching substitution. I think back a couple of years and wonder what it would have been like if the Yankees had been forced to use Tyler Clippard for at least three consecutive batters on days when he simply didn’t have it. I can see a pitcher coming into a game with an inability to throw strikes and suddenly the bases are loaded…or worse. I get the pace of play implications but I guess the traditionalist in me would like to see the game decisions in the hands of the managers. Silly me. There’s also a new $1 million bonus for the winner of the All-Star Home Run Derby. Makes me wonder if it will influence a lower paid guy like Aaron Judge to participate. I know Judge makes most of his money through endorsements right now but I am sure that a way to pick up an extra mil is enticing for some.  

It was a bummer that last night’s Spring Training game against the Philadelphia Phillies was not televised. Although the game ended in a 5-5 tie, it was Bryce Harper’s first Phillies start against the Yankees.  If for no other reason, I am looking forward to the regular season so that every game is televised. Harper was booed  unmercifully by the Yankee fans at Steinbrenner Field or so they say since I didn’t actually see it. I don’t really get it. It’s not Bryce’s fault that he is not a Yankee.  The Yankees chose not to pursue him in free agency despite the wishes of the fans. Bryce is on record saying the Yankees never reached out to him despite his childhood love for the Pinstripes. If Bryce historically crushed Yankee pitching, then maybe that’s a reason to boo him but he has been largely ineffective in his short body of work facing the Yankees. I would have liked for the Yankees to sign Harper but they didn’t and we must move on. I know I am very excited to see what Year 2 brings for Giancarlo Stanton. Regardless of whether you preferred Harper over Stanton, I think Stanton is going to be more relaxed this year and will more closely resemble the player that dominated baseball in 2017 for the Miami Marlins.  

Back to the first base competition, I thought it was funny when it was reported yesterday that Aaron Boone was wearing a Luke Voit t-shirt in the clubhouse. Boone also commented that Voit batting cleanup (as he did last night) could carry into the season, adding that he could see Voit anywhere from third to sixth in the order. In other words, it is Greg Bird and not Voit who should be making living accommodations in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area.  

Jose Canseco, shut up! Your fifteen minutes of fame came and went. Let it go, Cheater. Alex Rodriguez owes you nothing.

Credit: Getty Images

For those of you who are New York Jets fans, my apologies for the Anthony Barr situation but I am glad it worked out the way it did. Granted, Barr, a linebacker, is not a superstar level player but I like his role in Minnesota’s defense. I’ve been a lifelong Vikings fan. I think Barr is capable of so much more and I hope the Vikings use Barr as an edge rusher like the Jets intended to do. For those of you not following, Barr had agreed to a free agent deal with the Jets on Monday, only to renege the next morning and subsequently sign an extension to stay in Minneapolis. I had been dreading NFL free agency, fearful of losing Barr. The Vikings had done a good job of signing their young core players despite the massive overpay for QB Kirk Cousins, but Barr had remained unsigned. With salary cap implications, it appeared Barr would be wearing a different uniform this Fall. For a few hours earlier this week, the Jets fans thought he’d be wearing hunter green and white.  For all of Minnesota’s free agents, Barr was the one I wanted to keep. Jets fans were unhappy about his change of heart but I was truly grateful. It kind of reminded me of the time David Wells had a change of heart after agreeing to a two-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks and signed with the Yankees on a napkin. There may not have been a napkin involved with Barr but the impact is the same. Glad he’s on my team.  

As always, Go Yankees!