Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Rodriguez hits an all time low as he faces suspension

250px-Alex_Rodriguez_2008-04-19


Alex Rodriguez isn't the most popular choice for a Yankees fan. Heck, who could blame them? A-Rod's career isn't as glorious as half the women that he publicly has dated over the years. When the Yankees signed A-Rod, they knew what they were bargaining for. Rodriguez publicly revealed that he used steroids during his years with the Texas Rangers, causing Yankees fans to become uncertain with their newest 3B addition. Rodriguez has done some good for the Yankees; he helped win the World Series for the Yankees in 2009 (though most of the World Series heroics came from Hideki Matsui) but some good came with a price for the Yankees. A-Rod has struggled in the postseason every year aside from 2009, he's been riddled with injuries and his antics on the field have caused uproars (going back to last postseason when A-Rod asked for a female fans phone number on a baseball). However, what could possibly come next for A-Rod overshadows the good and the upsetting things that he's done in the past.


In Spring Training, there were reports that Alex Rodriguez was tied to the Biogensis reports, reports that said high profile ball players received illegal substances from a Miami clinic. Other names were mentioned such as Robinson Cano (who I've been told is not going to be suspended since his spokeswoman was the one tied, not him), Francisco Cervelli (who is in danger of being suspended 50-games), Ryan Braun (who on a technicality had his ruling overturned after he was suspected of using steroids during the offseason), Melky Cabrera (who already faced a suspension last season), Nelson Cruz and so many others. MLB agreed to look into the reports, leaving fans to wonder what could happen to some of these players.


Yesterday, MLB announced that they were planning on suspending players such as A-Rod, Ryan Braun and about 20 other players that were tied to the Biogensis reports. Rodriguez and Braun would face 100-game suspensions since they had used illegal substances in the past. With 20+ names on the Biogensis reports, why does A-Rod's stick out like a sore thumb? Because of his 10-year contract with the New York Yankees that makes him one of the highest paid players in baseball.


If Rodriguez is proven guilty and MLB suspends him, this would be the ultimate all-time-low for A-R0d, tainting his career to the point of no return, and making him a disgrace to baseball. It's easy for us to automatically assume that A-Rod is guilty given his past, but A-Rod's fate could lie in the hands of the Biogensis reports and Major League Baseball.


I took to Twitter yesterday during the Yankees game, asking fans that if A-Rod was suspended if it would be the end to his career in Yankees pinstripes. Here's what some tweeters had to say:










170px-Alex_Rodriguez_2008-05-28A-Rod is a player that has too much baggage, but the Yankees can't easily get rid of him if he is guilty of using illegal substances once again. As some of the tweets mentioned, A-Rod is under contract and his contract is pretty ironclad to prevent him from losing everything if he decided on cheating again. The Yankees may be stuck with A-Rod's contract for the next four years, but Major League Baseball can decide if A-Rod's contract should be null and void. A-Rod's fate is no longer in the hands of the Yankees, but in the hands of Major League Baseball, meaning that his future and possibly his career is on the line.


Major League Baseball will release more information in the coming days, elaborating on which players will be suspended and which players are off the hook. Looking from the business standpoint and the fan standpoint, both teams are feeling the exact same way when they look at A-Rod; disappointment. They can only hope that A-Rod doesn't fall into a deeper hole.

Yankees MLB Draft 1st Round Picks Since 2000


The MLB First Year Players Draft starts on June 6th on MLB Network with the New York Yankees owning three first round picks in the draft. I wanted to take a look at these picks since the year 2000 and see if it tells us anything on whether we should be optimistic about the picks or should we still be cautious in the biggest crap shoot of a draft in all of sports.

2000

David Parrish - C

2001

John Ford  Griffin - RF
Bronson  Sardinha - SS
Jon Skaggs - RHP

2002

- No 1st Round Pick-

2003

Eric Duncan - 3B

2004

Phil Hughes - RHP
Jeff Marquez - RHP
Jonathan Poterson - C

2005

CJ Henry - SS

2006

Joba Chamberlain - RHP
Ian Kennedy - RHP

2007

Andrew Brackman - RHP

2008

Gerrit Cole - RHP
Jeremy Bleich - LHP

2009

Slade Heathcott - CF

2010

Cito Culver - SS

2011

Dante Bichette Jr. - SS

2012

Ty Hensley - RHP


Let's get the obvious out of the way by saying that the 2009-2012 drafts are obviously still works in progress as every one of the players drafted is still in the lower to mid levels of the Yankees system. Slade Heathcott is in AA with the Trenton Thunder, Cito Culver is in Low A with the Charleston Riverdogs with fellow first rounder Dante Bichette Jr. Ty Hensley is set to miss the entire 2012 season but was playing in Gulf Coast League with the Yankees team there.


Gerrit Cole did not sign in 2008 with the Yankees so we cannot really grade him here but Jeremy Bleich was a complete bust. Jeremy spent six seasons in the Yankees system including missing all of the 2011 season and never made it above AA before flaming out. Andrew Brackman was always considered to be a project with his big tall right handed frame but the project never seemed to be completed as he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds where he was later released. Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy may be the most attractive parts of this series as Joba has turned into a huge part of the Yankees bullpen and Ian Kennedy, although he did it in Arizona after being traded, is a former 20 game winner. CJ Henry was one of those cant miss prospects that was traded in the Bobby Abreu trade that later got released by the Phillies, resigned with the Yankees, only to bust and flame out again for the Yanks. We all know Phil Hughes contributions as a Yankees pitcher, mainly in the middle or back end of the rotation, so I wont spend much time here but let's just say he has been the best starting pitcher we have developed in many years and that may be sad if you think about it. Jeff Marquez bounced around a lot after being released from the Yankees before getting to the majors with the Chicago Whitesox before flaming out again. The rest of the first rounders were complete busts being highlighted by Eric Duncan who was thought to be the next big thing at the hot corner for the Yankees only to fizzle out early.


The MLB draft is, again, the biggest crap shoot in all of sports when it comes to the draft and I think this list only exposes that fact more. The Yankees have had more luck in the later rounds than they have the early rounds in recent memory surprisingly. The Yankees may have three first round picks this season but unless they spend them on very polished four year college pitchers or hitters they expect to fly through the system I would not bank on selling these guys rookie cards as a retirement plan just yet. 

Cleveland Indians @ New York Yankees 6/5


The New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians will finish their three game set this afternoon at Yankees Stadium. The Yankees will send their newly re-found ace in CC Sabathia to the mound to face off with Corey Kluber. The game will be televised at 1:05 pm ET on YES and on MLB TV.

Yankees Release Clay Rapada


The Yankees have granted lefty Clay Rapada his unconditional release and have made him an unrestricted free agent. The 32 year old lefty specialist has fallen too far behind in the depth chart with Cesar Cabral set to finish his 30 day rehab window any day now. Clay posted a 4.66 ERA in just under 10 IP this year for Scranton before his release. Good luck Clay!

Game 59 Lineup: Indians vs. Yankees

It's getaway day in the Bronx today as the Yankees attempt to go for the series sweep! Here is your starting lineup!

Brett Gardner CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Travis Hafner DH
Vernon Wells LF
Lyle Overbay RF
Kevin Youkilis 3B
Jayson Nix SS
Chris Stewart C

CC Sabathia LHP

Morning Bits

Good morning everyone! The morning always seems a lot brighter and energized if the Yankees have won the night before doesn't it?

Mark Teixeira blasted his second home run in two nights and lead the Yankee offense in a 4-3 win over the Indians last night.

David Phelps bounced back from a nightmare outing with a strong six innings, allowing no runs on only one hit.

Mariano Rivera notched his 21st save out of 22 attempts on the year to finish things off.

The Yankees will attempt the sweep of the Tribe today at 1:05 PM at Yankee Stadium with CC Sabathia(5-4 3. 71 ERA) taking on Corey Kluber(3-3 4.36 ERA) The game will be televised by YES.

Now on to today's news:

Peter Botte of the New York Daily News writes about the possible distraction that Alex Rodriguez' possible suspension could cause the Yankee clubhouse.

Matt Ehalt of ESPN NY writes about Eduardo Nunez suffering a setback in his attempt to get back on the field and needing to go for an MRI.

Joel Sherman of the NY Post writes about the Yankees missing out on recent superstar draft picks due to their consistent winning ways.

Enjoy the game and everyone have a great day!

This Day In Yankees History 6/5


On this day in 1939 the Yankees were shut out for the first and only time of the season when Tommy Bridges of the Tigers shut down the Yankees offense.