The Chase Utley Rule is Coming

Ladies, gentleman and Justin Upton the Chase Utley rule is coming. Much like Major League Baseball, and specifically Commissioner of Major League Baseball Rob Manfred, vowed to protect the catchers in the game the league is now making strides towards protecting their middle infielders as well. We all know the back story by now, Chase Utley went hard and late into second base during the NLDS against the New York Mets sliding well past the bag in a play that resulted in a broken fibula for the Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada. The slide was dirty and it was late but the slide was no worse than any other in recent memory but despite all that Utley was suspended for two games, which he is appealing, for the play. The league, its fans and the players, Justin Upton I’m looking at you here, were immediately up in arms about the play voicing their opinions and those opinions have been heard.

The Chase Utley rule is coming. The rule likely won’t be called that but I think the nickname will stick. Manfred wants to meet with the owners, the players, the umpires and the unions to hammer out a plan to protect middle infielders before the beginning of the 2016 season. Manfred said he began contemplating a rule change as early as this summer, before the Utley and Tejada incident, before the Didi Gregorius and Jose Altuve incident, before the Jung Ho Kang and Chris Coghlan incident that also resulted in a broken leg for the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie and other incidents happened this season. The Utley and Tejada incident was just the icing on the cake for Manfred to work with the league to get a deal done in some capacity.

The league may be reactive instead of proactive here but with a union, the strongest union in the world mind you, and so many moving parts sometimes that can be impossible. Kudos to the league for doing something to protect their assets, MLB is a business first and foremost, and for protecting the young stars playing the game. Some may say the game is getting soft or following in the NFL’s footsteps (the No Fun League) but let them talk because Ruben Tejada’s not having any fun right now and neither is Chase Utley. 

Trenton Thunder Fireworks Shows Planned for 2016

Thunder fans will get 21 chances to see a post-game fireworks show during the 2016 season at ARM & HAMMER Park and on Wednesday the team announced the scheduled dates. Fireworks shows will run on select Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights throughout the season.

"Our awe-inspiring fireworks shows are the best in the Greater Mercer County Area," said Thunder General Manager Jeff Hurley. "Droves of fans come out to ARM & HAMMER Park, each and every season, to witness these spectacular display."

The first show of the 2016 season will take place on Friday, May 6 after the game against the Harrisburg Senators (Washington Nationals) and then on select nights throughout the rest of the season. The team's annual Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza will take place on Sunday, July 3following the Thunder's game with the Richmond Flying Squirrels (San Francisco Giants). The final fireworks show of the season is scheduled forSunday, September 4 after the Thunder take on the Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies) in their final night game of the 2016 regular season.

The dates below will feature a post-game fireworks show:

Friday, May 6 @ 7pm
Saturday, May 7 @ 7pm
Thursday, May 12 @ 7pm
Saturday, May 14 @ 7pm
Thursday, May 19 @ 7pm
Saturday, June 4 @ 7pm
Thursday, June 16 @ 7pm
Saturday, June 18 @ 7pm
Thursday, June 30 @ 7pm
Saturday, July 2 @ 7pm
Sunday, July 3 @ 7pm
Thursday, July 14 @ 7pm
Saturday, July 16 @ 7pm
Thursday, July 28 @ 7pm
Saturday, July 30 @ 7pm
Thursday, August 4 @ 7pm
Friday, August 12 @ 7pm
Saturday, August 13 @ 7pm
Thursday, August 18 @ 7pm
Saturday, September 3 @ 7pm
Sunday, September 4 @ 7pm

Your Thunder will open the 2016 season at ARM & HAMMER Park on Thursday, April 7 when they host the Erie SeaWolves (Detroit Tigers). Season tickets, group outings and Pic-A-Plan renewals are on sale now. Single game tickets will go on sale in March 2016.

Fans can stay in touch with all the latest information about the Thunder by signing up for Fun on Deck, the team's bi-weekly newsletter. CLICK HEREto sign up.

2016 Schedule with Fireworks Dates

This Day in New York Yankees History 10/16: Aaron Bleeping Boone

Watch the entire Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS right here for free on the blog. 

The most hated and closely played rivalry in Major League Baseball history is between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. This rivalry was never stronger, at least during my years of being a fan, then in the early and mid-2000’s. On this day in 2003 the Yankees and the Red Sox played Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. After the Yankees came storming back late in the game off Pedro Martinez Aaron Boone came to bat in the bottom of the 11th inning to face Tim Wakefield. On the first pitch he saw the Yankee third baseman slammed a home run down the left field line helping the Yankees capture their 39th American League pennant of the franchise’s history and yet another decisive blow to the Red Sox.


Speaking of the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry in the postseason and Pedro Martinez it was on this day in 1999 when Martinez faced off with the Yankees ace Roger Clemens in the ALCS. This was touted as one of the best pitching matchups of all time on paper but that did not translate onto the field. Clemens did not last three innings in the contest as the Red Sox blew out the Yankees 13-1.



Also on this day in 1962 the Yankees beat the San Francisco Giants in Candlestick Park in Game 7 of the World Series to capture the team’s 20th World Series Championship. The Giants threatened late before Willie McCovey lined out to the Yankees Bobby Richardson as New York won the game 1-0.


It is also worth mentioning that the New York Post sucks... sucked back in 2003 and it sucks now.

As we remember Aaron Boone hit that dramatic walk off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning in Game 7 of the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox in 2004 to cap off an improbable comeback for the New York Yankees. The NY Post didn’t share the same enthusiasm and confidence as the team apparently as the newspaper released early editions of the paper claiming that the Yankees had fallen to the Red Sox in Game 7. The game was over shortly after 11:00 pm… whatever.

2015 New York Yankees Highlights

We've gone over some of the specific player highlights and achievements, why not the entire team?

Bring me Tyler Clippard

The New York Yankees may or may not be in on a right-handed relief pitcher this coming offseason as the team continues their goal towards building a super bullpen. As of right now I am banking on Adam Warren somehow working his way into the 2016 starting rotation leaving a large gaping hole in the Yankees bullpen, especially from the right side of the pitching rubber. Darren O'Day would be nice, albeit expensive, but would a familiar face for the Yankees be even better? Remember the Yankees once traded away their former top pitching prospect for a relief pitcher named Jonathan Albaladejo in 2007, that man's name was Tyler Clippard.

Clippard has had success both in the American League and the National League as the 7th inning guy, the 8th inning guy and most notably in the closer position. Clippard has pitched with the New York Yankees, the Washington Nationals, the Oakland Athletics and the New York Mets thus proving he is suited just as well in either league and seemingly suited for a big market like New York during a pennant chase and a playoff series. Clippard is legit and would not be attached to any sort of draft pick compensation after being traded before the July 31st trade deadline.

I'm not quite sure what Clippard would want in terms of a contract but if he was willing to come to New York for three years and an average annual value of $10 million I sign him every day of the week. If Clippard wants to sign a two-year deal to be off the books after 2017 just in time for the luxury tax plan to come to fruition for a higher AAV then I am okay with that too. Clippard allows the team to move Adam Warren to the starting rotation and completely locks down the back end of the bullpen from the 5th or 6th inning on. He's that good and he makes the bullpen that good.

Bring me T-Clip so I can go back to 2005 when I was quite possibly Clippard's biggest fan.

What If Alex Rodriguez Retires This Winter?

I hate to even bring up things like this because I have a tendency of being right for whatever reason but what would the New York Yankees do if Alex Rodriguez retired this winter rather than returning to the club in 2016? The last time I made one of these “worst case scenario” posts I wondered what the Yankees would do if Robinson Cano walked via free agency and most of the Core Four retired, and they did, so what if lighting strikes twice? Will it be a blessing in disguise for the Yankees or will it be the straw that already broke the camel’s back in 2016?

First and foremost the man jumping up and down the most, well besides former Commissioner of Major League Baseball Bud Selig, if Alex announced his retirement would be Greg Bird. Bird seems like the odd man out in the Bronx right now assuming Mark Teixeira comes back fully and healthy after fracturing a bone in his shin earlier this season. The man jumping up the second highest, but not too high I hope, is Carlos Beltran who could be penciled into the full-time DH position allowing the Yankees the roster flexibility to sign a Justin Upton or another right-handed outfield option. Seeing Alex retire, as much as it would bother me as a fan, may be the best thing to happen to the team as long as Hal Steinbrenner is willing to reinvest that money he is owed.

Speaking of the money owed to Rodriguez for the 2016 and 2017 season, and someone correct me if I’m wrong, the Yankees DH and former third baseman would still be entitled to that money whether he steps foot on the baseball diamond or not. The Yankees have insurance on the contract so they may be able to recoup around 80% of that, I’m honestly not sure how that works exactly, but at minimum the team is eating 20% of a huge amount of money. Hal, using the bottom line as a mindset, would not be able to reinvest that money per se as it would still be on the books for two more seasons.

If Alex were to retire in the winter of 2015 Alex would be able to do it in true Alex fashion, at least prior to 2015. Alex would shock the baseball world, Alex would leave the fans with yet another reason to hate him and he would leave behind a trillion questions and a media circus. It’s unlikely that Alex retires, he has stated in years past that he wants to pass Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds on the all-time home run list, but if he did he would definitely change the whole face of the winter before 2016 and the 2016 New York Yankees.

You Kept the Prospects, Now Use the Prospects

As a fan of the New York Yankees first and Major League Baseball second I am thoroughly enjoying the 2015 edition of the MLB Playoffs, with or without the Yankees. There have been touch pitching matchups with great arms like Dallas Keuchel, Jake Arrieta, Masahiro Tanaka, Gerrit Cole, Marcus Stroman, Clayton Kershaw, Jacob deGrom, Zack Greinke, Cole Hamels and a slew of other names I could throw out there. There has also  been exciting young talent also making a name for themselves, players like Colin McHugh, Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Stephen Piscotty, Robert Osuna, Josh Donaldson, Michael Conforto, Greg Bird, Carlos Correa and a slew of others I could also throw out there. Watching the 2015 MLB Playoffs got me thinking about the Yankees, their direction the team is going and the 2016 season specifically. In July of 2015 the Yankees held onto their prospects rather than acquiring a Ben Zobrist, a David Price or a Johnny Cueto revealing half of their plan, the other half of the plan just has to include using those same prospects.

Taking a quick glance at the Chicago Cubs depth chart you can see homegrown and young talent at many key positions including first base (Anthony Rizzo), second base (Tommy LaStella and Starlin Castro), shortstop (Addison Russell), third base (Kris Bryant), left field (Kyle Schwarber), center field (Dexter Fowler), right field (Jorge Soler) and the pitching staff (Travis Wood, Neil Ramirez, Hector Rondon, Jake Arrieta, Kyle Kendricks, etc.). The Cubs are a team with a plan, to build from within their deep farm system and fill in the rest via free agency, and it’s a model that the Yankees should consider emulating.

The Cubs were terrible for many years and that will not fly in New York, there are no rebuilding years with the Yankees simply re-tooling years, but it can still be done with the proper plan. It’s just going to take longer. The plan was put into play this season when the team refused to part with Luis Severino, Aaron Judge, Jorge Mateo or Greg Bird and it needs to continue with Robert Refsnyder, Rookie Davis, Brady Lail, Domingo Acevedo and the rest of the team’s top prospects. Stockpiling prospects is great, well until Rule 5 Draft time anyway, but they are useless unless you use them. So be more like Theo Epstein and the Cubs and use them already. 

Are We Still Worried About Tanaka in 2016?

The talk of the offseason before the 2015 season around many New York Yankees fans water coolers was centered around all the question marks entering the year. Would Mark Teixeira be healthy and able to beat the shift? Was Carlos Beltran done and would Brian McCann improve? Would the shoulder of Michael Pineda, the elbow of Ivan Nova, the knee of CC Sabathia and the elbow of Masahiro Tanaka hold up? While many of those questions were answered in 2015 a few of them probably still linger into the 2016 season, is Tanaka’s elbow one of them?

First and foremost, before I get bombarded with tweets and emails about how Tanaka needs to get the surgery done to “repair” a ligament that isn’t broken (per five doctors including Dr. James Andrews, not just speculating), Tanaka should not just go get Tommy John surgery just for kicks and giggles. That’s the wrong opinion and there’s no doubt about it. If the ligament tears then you get the surgery, not before. Tommy John surgery has come a long way since becoming so prevalent in Major League Baseball but it’s not 100% effective. Ask Ryan Madson, ask these guys getting their second and third UCL’s replace ask anyone who has had the surgery since Tommy John made it mainstream and never made it back to the mound. That’s like saying we should completely break Mark Teixeira’s leg and start from scratch because the fracture, which is exactly what Tanaka’s less than 10% tear that was treated with rest and rehab, is.

Anyway, sorry I had to get that off my chest. The Yankees pitched Tanaka as often as they could on five days of rest or more in 2015, should we expect the same out of the club in 2016? Honestly I think they will, the team is going to milk Tanaka’s arm out and baby it as long as they can (and again before you flood my email let’s remember that Ervin Santana had a partially torn UCL and never had the surgery and Adam Wainwright pitched for a long, long time before needing the surgery) with the hopes of at least getting him to his 2017 opt-out date healthy.

New York has a laundry list of names that will be vying for a starting rotation spot and once again most of the team would benefit from the extra rest that would come along with a true six-man rotation or an occasional 6^th man. Luis Severino’s innings may become a concern if he makes 30+ starts, Ivan Nova is still recovering from Tommy John surgery himself, Michael Pineda’s shoulder will probably always be a concern, Nathan Eovaldi’s elbow inflammation is scary for a former TJS recipient and CC Sabathia’s knee could break at any second. So if you’re asking me if Tanaka will still be handled with delicate white gloves in 2016 the answer is probably a YES. 

Quick Hit: Coaching Changes on the Way in the Bronx?

The 2015 season is over for the New York Yankees and I am turning almost all my focus to the 2016 season. I know I've said this before but I want to drill it into everyone's heads when they ask me why the blog is not posting more about the postseason or the World Series, it's because the Yankees aren't in it. I'm still watching, don't get me wrong, but this blog is a Yankees-based blog for a reason. With that said I got thinking the other day that widespread change could actually come to New York this offseason, but it will have to come in the way of coaching changes.

The contracts of bench coach Rob Thomson, first base coach Tony Pena and hitting coach Jeff Pentland expire when the 2015 World Series comes to an end and there is no guarantee that any of the three will be back in 2016. It seems like Pena will be back if he doesn't find a managerial position elsewhere but Pentland may fall on the blade after the team's offense disappeared for much of the last month and a half of the season.

Thomson was a terrible third base coach, let's not equivocate, but seemingly did better as the team's bench coach. It's hard to quantify how well he did but he has been with the organization for a while now and the team may look to head into a new direction in 2016 with a new and maybe a familiar face for the young guys like Dave Miley.

This Day in New York Yankees History 10/15: 2001 Yankees Move On

Just days after Derek Jeter saved the Yankees season in the ALDS against the Oakland Athletics with “the flip” the Yankees clinched the ALDS victory and a trip to the 2001 ALCS with a 5-3 victory over the A’s. The Yankees became the first team ever to win a best of five series after losing the first two games at home.


Also on this day in 1981 the Yankees clinched their 33rd American League pennant in the franchise’s history with a 4-0 victory and sweep of the Oakland Athletics. Dave Righetti, Ron Davis, and Goose Gossage combined for the victory sending the Yankees to play the Dodgers for the third time in the past five Fall Classics.


Finally on this day in 1923 the New York Yankees captured their first World Series championship when they beat the New York Giants in six games. The Yankees, still playing in the Polo Grounds at that time, would win the game by the score of 6-4.