The Atlanta Braves are Stockpiling Former Yankees Prospects

When the Yankees parted ways with former scout Gordon Blakely this offseason there wasn't much press about it. When I did a search on the blog to see if I even wrote about it I found just one article, not the article stating that he left but an article where I just lumped it into the Trey Hillman Hired by Houston article. This was not on anyone's radar but after an offseason where the Braves cherry picked and picked off many former Yankees prospects maybe it should be on our radar now.

Many former Yankees including Manny Banuelos, Chien-Ming Wang, Zoilo Almonte, Corban Joseph, Francisco Rondon, Jairo Heredia, Eury Perez and Jose Veras among others are currently in Atlanta Braves spring training camp. While there aren't any All Stars on this list and while I acknowledge that all of them but Banuelos were acquired because they were allowed to be free agents for good reason this may be the beginning of a trend in Atlanta.

Blakely was the man who signed Robinson Cano. What that means now doesn't mean what it mean't back about 10 years ago but I think the former Yankees scout is trying to find lightning in a bottle again at the Yankees expense. If any team can take a reclamation project and turn them into a serviceable MLB piece it's the Atlanta Braves so remember that list above. You may be seeing their names soon.

Yankees Bring Back Prospects, Lose Prospects

Just a quick catch me up regarding what the Yankees are doing down on their farm system this offseason.

 - New York has re-signed minor league free agent Ali Castillo for at least one more season. Castillo has been playing shortstop in Double-A Trenton and has been lighting up the ball in Winter Ball this season.

 - Fellow shortstop Walter Ibarra left the Yankees and has signed on with the Arizona Diamondbacks on a minor league deal. Yeah, like they need more shortstops.

 - Zoilo Almonte has signed a major league deal with the Atlanta Braves. World War Z is local for me now. Chien Ming Wang will be joining him in Atlanta on a minor league deal.

 - Russ Canzler has been in the Yankees system for two straight seasons but now finds himself with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Three Yankees Minor Leaguers Elect Free Agency

It's that time of the year again when minor league players are designated for assignment and outrighted to minor league camps and off 40 man rosters. Three members of the New York Yankees minor league system elected free agency tonight rather than spend another season in the Yankees farm. Antoan Richardson, Zoilo Almonte, and Scott Sizemore are now all free agents and will presumably be looking for major league deals or minor league deals with better chances to make the big show.

Good luck to these three men and thank you for the memories while you were here in New York.

The Bachelor: New York Yankees Edition

You guys have all watched The Bachelor, or at least heard of it, right? This one guy goes on all these dates with these women and hands the women he wants to keep a rose at the end of the show and the one woman without one goes home. Sounds a lot like free agency, doesn’t it? Enter the 2014 New York Yankees Bachelor class:

Brandon McCarthy, you have been the anchor to my pitching staff. You were the savior when so many others left me. Here’s your rose, welcome to the 2015 Yankees.

Chris Young, I feel like the best is yet to come with some people but I don’t get that vibe with you. Thank you for the memory, you’re going home.

Hiroki Kuroda, I believe your intentions are to go back to Japan or return to the Dodgers. I would offer you a qualifying offer for that reason but the team needs to get younger. I’m sorry, it sounds like you’re going home.

David Robertson, I offered you a qualifying offer and if you decline it I will hand you a blank contract and tell you to fill it out and get back to me in the morning. Here is your rose, welcome to the 2015 Yankees.

Ichiro Suzuki, you were good while you were here and while I think Hal Steinbrenner will find a way for you to chase 3,000 hits in the Bronx again I cannot give you a rose tonight, I’m sorry but you’re going home.

Chase Headley, you are the anchor to this infield going forward. You are a great third baseman, a more than suitable backup at first base, you have played shortstop in your career, and you have played outfield at the major league level. I believe you are the most important free agent signing this winter so here’s your rose, welcome to the 2015 Yankees.

Jose Pirela, many around the league including myself consider you to be a little Martin Prado. I love flexibility, I love versatility, and I love fire. You have all three, here is your rose and welcome to the 2015 Yankees bench.

Kyle Roller, under normal circumstances I would give you a rose in a heartbeat but with suitable backups at first now in Chase Headley, Brian McCann, and other warm bodies like Alex Rodriguez, Francisco Cervelli, and Brendan Ryan manning the position this season I have to let you go. I’m sorry but you’re going home tonight.

Zoilo Almonte, I have fought and fought for your playing time and I have beat many drums in your favor and you have let me down time and time again. You are only a switch hitter on paper and your defense leaves much to be desired. I will never forget you World War Z, but I will never regret sending you home tonight. I’m sorry.

Stephen Drew, you’re not my first choice although you’re not my last either. I would like to see Asdrubal Cabrera in pinstripes as well as Jung-Ho Kang from Korea. I would have also liked to see JJ Hardy before the back issues, the decline in power, and the richest contract currently being paid to a shortstop but that’s the game these days. Here’s your rose and here is to hoping a normal offseason and a full spring training can help you get back to being what you’ve always been.

That’s it for this episode folks. Check back soon for the next edition of the New York Yankees Bachelor where we look at free agents that did not spend the 2014 season with the club. 

*notice. I saw a similar post on another Yankees site the other day. I am not copying, I had this wrote up in a draft on Saturday. Just now finishing it. Sue me. 

Shutting Down Beltran, Gardner, and Prado

The New York Yankees are finishing up their 2014 season and barring a miracle will miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season. The Yankees have lost quite a few members of their team to injuries this season and have a few members of the walking wounded as well as the team fights through September. Should the Yankees simply shut down Martin Prado, Carlos Beltran, and Brett Gardner for the rest of the season and star getting ready for 2015?

Prado has been battling a hamstring injury for more than a week now that obviously has manager Joe Girardi concerned. Prado played in the finale of the Kansas City Royals series and had three hits and ran the bases multiple times but you could tell he was protecting and nursing the injury the entire game. Now Prado is back to sitting on the bench in fear of making the problem worse and causing a more severe injury. With the Yankees seemingly out of the playoff race wouldn't it make more sense to shut him down to let the injury fully heal? I would think so as New York has Prado under team control for two more seasons after this one.

Gardner has an abdominal strain that has kept him out of games for almost a week as well and this isn't the first time this injury has flared up this season. Right before the All Star Break Gardner missed one game with the injury before taking the All Star break off to rest it. When an injury continues to flare up and re-occur that usually points to something more severe. It would be in the best interest of the Yankees and for Gardner to shut him down and make sure the injury is 100% healed before this becomes an all the time kind of injury. Gardner is under team control for quite some time in New York and they need his abdominal muscles to be at their best for his swing and his ability to run the bases.

I wrote yesterday that Beltran should be shut down simply because he is hurting the team and I want to reiterate that today. Beltran is going to be 38 years old and the more time he has to rest and rehab an elbow surgery, however minor, the better for both him and the club. Beltran stand to earn nothing in these final two weeks and the Yankees stand to earn nothing as well from Beltran playing in these final two weeks. Shut him down, get the operation and get that elbow cleaned up, and let’s work on coming back stronger and healthy in 2015.

Rest these veterans and get them back healthy for Spring Training 2015 while getting a small glimpse into the future at the same time. 60 day DL trips for these three can potentially open up three 40 man active roster spots for the likes of Robert Refsnyder, Jose Pirela, Zoilo Almonte, and others. The latter two are minor league free agents at the end of the season anyway so you would not be giving them a long term roster spot and Refsnyder deserves one anyway. I don’t believe the Yankees have the balls to pull off these moves, but they should. 

Yankees Outright Zoilo Almonte To Triple-A

Zoilo Almonte has cleared waivers after being designated for assignment and has been outrighted to Triple-A with the Scranton RailRiders. Correct me if I am wrong but I don't believe Zoilo can deny his assignment and cannot elect free agency so he is with the Yankees at least until the end of the season. This is better than losing the switch hitter for nothing (yes I realize and agree that Antoan Richardson is nothing).

Quick Hit: I'm Finally Convinced, Fire Brian Cashman

Brian Cashman 20 minutes before making his September call up decisions........

I have been one of the biggest supporters and apologists for Brian Cashman during his tenure as the New York Yankees general manager but after yesterday's round of roster moves and September call ups I'm done defending him. Fire Brian Cashman, sooner rather than later. If you want to save face let him continue to ruin the team and the organization for the remainder of the season and give him the boot after the season. This is ridiculous and I'm tired of it.

So you let Matt Thornton go and build up Tyler Webb and Jacob Lindgren to call up Rich Hill and trade for Josh Outman. What do we do in September? We bring Hill back and totally ignore Lindgren (more on him later specifically) and Webb.

We start the clock on Slade Heathcott and designate switch hitter Zoilo Almonte for a month's worth of Chris Young and some guy named Antoan Richardson. To be completely honest I am pretty familiar with Richardson but I was trying to drive home my point with the decisions going on right here.

You call up John Ryan Murphy and once again slap Austin Romine in the face. You make a roster move for Preston Claiborne but you leave Manny Banuelos in the minor leagues, oh yeah we have Rich Hill. Is this guy doing it on purpose or do the personnel people really know something I don't?

I'm utterly wordless right now.

New York Yankees Flurry of Roster Moves For September Call Ups

It's September so the rosters have expanded from 25 players to 40 players and the Yankees, as expected, had a flurry of roster moves today before their game with the Boston Red Sox. New York called up RHP's Chaz Roe, Chase Whitley, Bryan Mitchell, and Preston Claiborne, LHP Rich Hill, catcher John Ryan Murphy, and outfielders Antoan Richardson and Chris Young.

To make room on the 40 man roster the Yankees transferred Masahiro Tanaka and Slade Heathcott to the 60 day DL and designated Zoilo Almonte for assignment. Matt Daley was also released. What?

This roster will definitely put the Yankees over the top while evaluating the future of the farm system all at once. /endsarcasm.

Article Revisit: Possible 2014 September Call Ups

We have posted one article this month already showcasing some of the possible call ups for the Yankees this September but a lot can change between then and now so we are in need of a mulligan.

First let's take a complete look at the players on the 40 man roster that are not on the active roster:

Manny Banuelos

Zoilo Almonte

Bryan Mitchell

Gary Sanchez

Zelous Wheeler

Austin Romine

Now let's look at the players currently injured and on the disabled list that are likely to be back before 9/1:

Preston Claiborne 

Ramon Flores 

Matt Daley

John Ryan Murphy

And finally the players (likely) lost for the season:

Jose Campos 

Slade Heathcott 

Jose Ramirez

Andrew Bailey

Looking at this list I can see Almonte, Mitchell, Wheeler, Romine, Claiborne, Daley, and Murphy being called up in the first weeks of September, if not right away. Sanchez is unlikely to come up this September, especially with likely four catchers already in the Bronx by the time the season ends, and Flores is unlikely to come up with the outfielder logjam the team already faces.

There could always be a Robert Refsnyder, Jose Pirela, Kyle Roller, Tyler Webb, James Pasoz, Jacob Lindgren, Nik Turley, etc. added to the 40 man roster and called up but the Yankees seem stingy with these spots. They also don't like to start the clocks of players unless they absolutely have to so I wouldn't exactly look out for that either.

Reinforcements are on the way but they aren't likely to be enough. It's inventory time in New York.

Yankees Call Up Zelous Wheeler, Demote Chase Whitley

The New York Yankees have called up Zelous Wheeler for an extra player on the bench and have sent Chase Whitley down to Triple-A. The Yankees have been going with a short bench in recent weeks and Whitley has been struggling coming out of the bullpen so the move makes some sense. Considering that Beltran’s elbow is barking again it also makes sense to have a guy that can play both in the infield and the outfield like Wheeler can.

I am somewhat surprised that the Yankees didn’t call up the other “Z man” Zoilo Almonte to help replace Beltran but Wheeler is more versatile and flexible than Almonte is. 

So Much Talent Being Wasted In Scranton

The Yankees offense continues to struggle while there is so much talent just being wasted in Triple-A right now. The Scranton Wilkes Barre RailRiders offense may be better than the big league club's offense right now. I continue to beat the drum and I continue to ask the question, why are these guys still sitting in the minor leagues while guys like Ichiro Suzuki and Stephen Drew continue to make outs in the Bronx?

Name	Age	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Zoilo Almonte#	25	89	393	368	45	103	17	1	17	66	6	3	23	87	.280	.323	.470	.793
Taylor Dugas*	24	44	158	137	13	43	5	1	0	14	2	2	15	23	.314	.391	.365	.756
Ramon Flores*	22	53	230	199	27	52	16	3	5	19	3	2	29	38	.261	.352	.447	.799
Adonis Garcia	29	80	345	320	53	103	18	3	9	44	11	3	17	48	.322	.357	.481	.838
J.R. Murphy	23	43	167	153	14	36	8	0	4	21	0	0	11	38	.235	.283	.366	.649
Ronnier Mustelier	29	13	53	51	4	16	3	0	0	3	1	0	2	9	.314	.340	.373	.712
Jose Pirela	24	116	522	480	80	146	19	9	8	51	12	7	34	64	.304	.352	.431	.783
Rob Refsnyder	23	61	269	233	41	70	15	1	8	29	3	4	32	51	.300	.388	.476	.864
Kyle Roller*	26	88	374	322	53	91	19	3	15	44	0	0	44	105	.283	.380	.500	.880
Zelous Wheeler	27	79	325	295	48	88	25	0	9	38	1	0	24	58	.298	.363	.475	.838

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

September Call Ups 2014: Redux

We have posted one article this month already showcasing some of the possible call ups for the Yankees this September but a lot can change between then and now so we are in need of a mulligan.

First let's take a complete look at the players on the 40 man roster that are not on the active roster:

Manny Banuelos

Zoilo Almonte

Bryan Mitchell

Gary Sanchez

Zelous Wheeler

Austin Romine

Now let's look at the players currently injured and on the disabled list that are likely to be back before 9/1:

Preston Claiborne 

Ramon Flores 

Matt Daley

John Ryan Murphy

And finally the players (likely) lost for the season:

Jose Campos 

Slade Heathcott 

Jose Ramirez

Andrew Bailey

Looking at this list I can see Almonte, Mitchell, Wheeler, Romine, Claiborne, Daley, and Murphy being called up in the first weeks of September, if not right away. Sanchez is unlikely to come up this September, especially with likely four catchers already in the Bronx by the time the season ends, and Flores is unlikely to come up with the outfielder logjam the team already faces.

There could always be a Robert Refsnyder, Jose Pirela, Kyle Roller, Tyler Webb, James Pasoz, Jacob Lindgren, Nik Turley, etc. added to the 40 man roster and called up but the Yankees seem stingy with these spots. They also don't like to start the clocks of players unless they absolutely have to so I wouldn't exactly look out for that either.

Reinforcements are on the way but they aren't likely to be enough. It's inventory time in New York.

Quick Hit: Possible September Call Ups For Yankees

Here is a short list of possible September call ups for the Yankees next month. To be a September call up obviously you must be on the 40 man roster, not that players cannot be added after the fact so keep that in mind when you read this list. It's also a total guess at it, anyway I digress, but here you go with the list:


100% coming up:

Jacob Lindgren - LHP
Zoilo Almonte - OF
Zelous Wheeler - INF
John Ryan Murphy - C

Maybe coming up:

Ramon Flores - OF
Austin Romine - C
Jose Ramirez - RHP
Bryan Mitchell - RHP

Not likely to come up:

Slade Heathcott - OF (DL)
Gary Sanchez - C
Preston Claiborne - RHP
Jose Campos - RHP
Manny Banuelos - LHP

Jose Pirela or Kyle Roller may be added to the 40 man roster as they both seem major league ready but that would be pure speculation at this point. Lindgren could easily help out the bullpen right now and Zoilo, Zelous, and Murphy helps New York on the bench. Heathcott, Campos, and Banuelos are hurt or still technically rehabbing injuries and are also unlikely to come up.

Meet a Prospect: Esmil Rogers

Esmil Rogers is the latest arm to be thrown into the revolving door that is the Yankees bullpen. The Yankees acquired Rogers off waivers on July 31st from the Toronto Blue Jays. Scott Sizemore was released to give Rogers a 40 man roster spot and Zoilo Almonte was optioned back to Triple-A to make room on the 25 man roster for Rogers. Rogers is now a right handed option for Joe Girardi out of his bullpen so we might as well get to know him. This is Meet a Prospect, the Esmil Roger edition.

Esmil Antonio Rogers was born on August 14, 1985 in the Dominican Republic. Rogers was signed as a amateur free agent in 2003 by the Colorado Rockies and wouldn't begin his professional career until he reached rookie league ball in 2006. Rogers was not long for the minor leagues as he was promoted to the big leagues for the Rockies in September of 2009 and made his major league debut on September 12, 2009. Rogers spent his 2010 season in Colorado as well and pitched in 28 games, eight of them being starts, going 2-3 with a 6.13 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Rogers was a start in Colorado in 2011 as well after he replaced Ubaldo Jimenez in the starting rotation and went 3-1 with a 6.33 ERA in April. Rogers would join Jimenez in Cleveland in 2012 when the Rockies traded him to the Indians for cash considerations after Rogers was designated for assignment. Rogers had a 0-2 record with an 8.06 ERA with Colorado in 2012 and went to Cleveland looking for a new start.

Rogers was well improved in Cleveland after getting out of Coors Field and went 3-1 with a 3.06 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 53 innings and 44 games with the Indians. Rogers opened eyes up in Toronto and was traded to the Blue Jays in the offseason before the 2013 season for Mike Aviles and Yan Gomes. The first time Rogers would face his old team in Colorado he took a no hitter into the sixth inning and left the game with an 8-2 lead after 6.2 innings. After the game Rogers ERA was lowered to 1.71 and continued to have a great season for Toronto. Rogers pitched with Toronto until this season when he was designated for assignment after starting the 2014 season with a 6.97 ERA in 16 appearances. He cleared waivers and accepted his Triple-A assignment only to be designated again on July 27 without making another appearance with the team.

The Yankees claimed him and acquired Rogers on July 31st to be a part of their bullpen and hoping that another change of scenery will help the right hander. Welcome to New York Esmil, make us proud.

Gardner-Led Yankees Out-Slug Rangers in Middle Game

Brett Gardner led off the first with a solo home run and the Yankees scored 7 runs in the top of the sixth, but in the end, it took a late two-run shot from Mark Teixeira and an Adrian Beltre flyout with the bases loaded to help the Yankees beat the Rangers 12-11 tonight at Globe Life Park. 

Going into that sixth inning, surprisingly, the Yanks trailed 4-1, appearing done after Brandon McCarthy (6 IP, 4 ER) surrendered three in the third and J.P. Arencibia drove one over the wall in the fifth.

Instead, though, New York put up a touchdown to take the advantage, rallying off Nick Martinez (5 2/3 IP, 6 ER) and Shawn Tolleson when Carlos Beltran singled in a pair, Brian McCann tied things with a sac fly, Zoilo Almonte hit home the go-ahead run, and Brendan Ryan connected on a two-run double before scoring on a missed catch error by Alex Rios.

Yes, Arencibia would later collect a grand slam after the stretch and the Chase Whitley/David Robertson duo would allow another three in Texas' last two at-bats, but since Almonte and Chase Headley still knocked in two more in the seventh and Teixeira one-handed that aforementioned homer in the eighth the Yanks did hang on for the W, their first since Friday.

Article Revisit: Yankees Need A Fourth Outfielder

A few weeks back we discussed the need for a fourth outfielder in New York after the injury to Carlos Beltran and Ichiro Suzuki coming back down to Earth. We mentioned, once again before anyone else, that Alex Rios would be a good fit that could fit into the Yankees plans and budget. Now that the rumors around Rios joining the Yankees are in full tilt let's take a look back at where it all began, right here on TGP:

Going into the 2014 season the New York Yankees had too many outfielders and not enough positions to accommodate. Here we are at the end of July in the same season and the Yankees don't have enough outfielders to make a real run at a division title or a Wild Card. You really can't predict baseball Suzyn.

The Yankees started the season essentially with Brett Gardner as their left fielder, Jacoby Ellsbury manning center, Carlos Beltran as your right fielder, Alfonso Soriano as your full time designated hitter, and Ichiro Suzuki on the bench. Three months later you still have your mainstays in Gardner and Ellsbury but a bone spur has Beltran limited to DH only starts, Soriano is not on the team anymore, and Ichiro is essentially your every day right fielder.

The problem is Ichiro is a singles only hitter and has been exposed lately as an every day player. The Yankees don't seem comfortable with Beltran in the outfield at all this season and Ichiro is not going to cut it everyday, the Yankees need an outfielder. Since the Yankees won't call up Robert Refnsnyder and seem unwilling to call up Zoilo Almonte, Adonis Garcia, or Jose Pirela New York may instead turn their attention to the Texas Rangers Alex Rios.

Rios, at the time of writing this, is batting .302/.330/.405 with only four home runs and 16 stolen bases. Rios defense has actually been better than Ichiro's this season and his right handed bat would compliment the lineup well. The biggest issue is a six team no trade clause that is written into Rios' contract that includes the Yankees. Rios is in the last year of a monster deal but there is a team option for the 2015 season worth $13.5 million with a $1 million buyout.

The Yankees and the Rangers start a four game series tonight in Yankee Stadium and will play seven times before the trading deadline which is a perfect showcase for Rios and the Yankees. Will the Yankees make it happen? Stay tuned...

Zoilo Almonte Called Up, Jeff Francis DFA'd

Zoilo Almonte has been called up for tonight's game with the Texas Rangers finally giving the Yankees another option off the bench. Jeff Francis was designated for assignment to make room on the 25 man roster for Zoilo. Finally the Yankees can give Ichiro a day off or two while going with a four man bench. Francis was stinking up the joint and a move was inevitable for the lefty.

The Mark Teixeira Decision Expected Any Minute Today

The Mark Teixeira decision is expected to be made today, for better or worse. Either the Yankees will get bad news and have to place Teixeira on the disabled list or he will be in the lineup tonight. Obviously the Yankees are hoping for the latter more than the former although the Yankees are winning without him. 

The Yankees can backdate a DL stint for four days as Teixeira say out the entire series with the Texas Rangers. If the Yankees place Teixeira on the DL Zoilo Almonte will probably be the player called up to replace him. 

Kyle Roller should get a shot but I think we all know how much Brian Cashman seems to be against calling up the young guns. 

Bryan Mitchell Up, Zoilo Almonte Down

The New York Yankees have brought up a fresh arm for tonight with Bryan Mitchell. Zoilo Almonte was sent down to make room for Mitchell on the 25 man roster. The Yankees don't expect many innings out of Whitley tonight so calling up Mitchell makes sense, maybe they catch lightning in a bottle like they did with Shane Greene. Zoilo was going down anyway to make room for Carlos Beltran when he gets off the 7 day DL so no big deal here. Carry on.

The Daily Dozen - July 9, 2014

THE DAILY DOZEN
(Twelve Takeaways from Tonight's Game - July 9th, 2014 Edition)

1a. I had this mostly written during the long stretch of non-scoring between both teams.  

UPDATE: Ellsbury wins with a HR in the 14th! Boy was that last out scary!  I am getting too old for 14 inning games that last until Midnight.

1b. Nick Swisher continues to kill the Yankees. His 2-run single in the 1st virtually knocked McCarthy out of the game.  But for once the Yankees were able to score past the 3rd inning.  How about that strikeout in the 10th with the bases loaded though?  Weren't we all expecting him to at least get a sacrifice fly to win the game?

"Come on! You know you love me!"

2. How many times have Yankees opponents scored with 2 outs?  No seriously I want to know this...I tweeted during the game to the crack staff at the YES Network but as of yet haven't heard back.

3. The Yankees are really just losing to lesser teams to keep more teams in the playoff race.  They are all about making things competitive and ensuring that EVERY game counts! Heavy Sarcasm...

4. Welcome Back to the American League Brandon McCarthy!  After a rough 1st inning against (once again) a very good Indians offense, he was able to settle down only giving up only 1 more run the rest of his outing.  With the news of Tanaka heading to the DL, the Yankees can use every decent start they can get.  Of course Nuno pitched lights out for Arizona last night in his debut...

"Really glad to be on a playoff contender...wait, what? Tanaka is on the DL?..."

5. If Ichiro bats the ball to 3rd base...it's over.  Don't even attempt to throw the ball to first.  Seriously..don't.

6. Tanaka joins an ever-increasing list of Yankees on the DL.  Literally the entire starting rotation sans Kuroda is on the DL.  This is starting to look like 2013 all over again.  Gardner is hurt, Beltran is ailing, who's next? (Please no one...)

7. Having 2 players with first names starting with 'Z' is not as intimidating as it sounds.  Could the offense besides Teixeira have any less pop?  #BronxBombless

He needs to go back to Staten Island...

8. I am convinced that the Indians got Chris Dickerson to mess with the Yankees.  I'm predicting he will be leaving town when the Yankees do.  He is the new #YankeeKiller.  Furthermore, I fully expected Jason Giambi to come out and pinch hit a walk-off home run.  Former Yankees are killing them this season.

9. I think it's time for a new direction.  It has been stated on here before, but Kevin Long needs to go.  The situational hitting stinks on this team and they have no POP.  Maybe a guy like TINO MARTINEZ could do something about it.  I am still convinced that the Yankees, even with the 09 World Series title made a mistake by not hiring Don Mattingly by the way...Just Saying...

Bring Back Tino AND Mattingly!

10. Is Teixeira's home run output worth his lofty contract.  After tonight I would instantly react with YES...he now has 17 home runs, on pace for another 30 HR season...probably closer to 35 HR as he starts out badly every year.  The thing that used to make his contract worth it, however, is his defense.  His defense isn't what it used to be...could be old age, could be all the nagging wrist injuries...

11. The name Asdrubal is the spanish version of the name Hasdrubal, which according to BehindTheName.com means God Helps...maybe the Yankees should really go after him in the offseason to replace Jeter...

12. Tomorrow night may be the last time that I get to see Derek Jeter play live.  VERY SAD.

Unless they make the playoffs...