Thursday, July 31, 2014

Brian Roberts Designated For Assignment


Breaking news out of New York as second baseman Brian Roberts has been designated for assignment. Robert's 25 man and 40 man roster spot will go to the newly acquired Stephen Drew. I am not sure if this means Drew will be playing second base or if it's just a coincidence but I don't believe in many coincidences. Either way the Brian Roberts era is over and the Stephen Drew era has begun. We may or may not get a upgrade offensively but we definitely will defensively and that's always a start.

Trade Deadline Off Day Walk Up Music Recommendation


The trading deadline has come and gone and now it's safe to take a look at some Yankees walk up music from this season. We have listened to Brett Gardner's Derek Jeter's, Jacoby Ellsbury's, Carlos Beltran's, Brian McCann's, and others walk up music already on Yankees off days this season and today we listen to the music that Hiroki Kuroda enters the game to.

Kuroda enters to a song called "The Whip" by Locksley. I have never even heard of this before and I bet you haven't either so check it out. What else is there to do tonight? The fun is over and the Yankees are off, enjoy your night Yankees family. We'll be back to work tomorrow.

Yankees Deadline Moves: Prado, Drew, Rogers Heading to New York

Going into today's trade deadline, it was well known to us all that the Yankees needed a few pieces.

The 55-52 team, currently three games behind the Blue Jays for the second and final wild card spot, is presently stuck with an unproductive second basemen in Brian Roberts and an unreliable middle reliever in Chase Whitley, two of their many big problems.

No, not all of those issues were resolved this afternoon, but yes, the said two definitely seem to be, with the Yanks acquiring both the Diamondbacks' Martin Prado and Red Sox' Stephen Drew while also claiming Toronto's Esmil Rodgers off waivers.

According to MLB.com, Arizona will get catching prospect Peter O'Brien and a PTBNL for the .270-hitting Prado, arguably the biggest name in the group.

As for Drew, he's been exchanged for injured veteran Kelly Johnson, something that could turn out badly considering the former's hit just .176 this season. 

Either way, it seems fair to declare that today was a good one for New York's AL representative, as the Prado/Drew duo is obviously an upgrade over what they have now and Rogers (who's been in the minors since May 21 after putting together a 6.57 ERA in 20 2/3 innings) has thrown the ball well lately at Triple-A.

Yankees, Red Sox Swap Stephen Drew for Kelly Johnson

Details to come when I am not mobile 

Yankees Acquire Martin Prado From Arizona

Its official according to Joel Sherman. Martin Prado is a Yankee. More to come

Second Wild Card Has Killed The Trade Deadline

Please don't sue me....

I don't know about you guys but the trading deadline was always the second best part of the baseball season for me. As a Yankees fan the playoffs and World Series was always the best but I thoroughly enjoyed the trading deadline and the winter meetings and such. I can remember, way back in the good ole days when we couldn't get roster updates on our baseball games, scouring the web and watching Baseball Tonight for all the Yankees moves so I could go manually update my team in my game. The Yankees getting greedy and consistently adding talent when they needed to even spawned off this blog in a way. Ever since the second Wild Card though that aura is gone, isn't it?

The past two seasons have been generally quiet and rather boring for the most part. Before the second wild card there was a significant trade going down every day in the final week to week and a half of July. This week I believe the most notable trade, at the time of this writing anyway, is Justin Masterson and his disabled list knees and 5.51 ERA heading to St. Louis for their top outfield prospect. 

In year's past you had the fire sales and the big names traded away and you're simply not seeing that anymore. The Tampa Bay Rays seem content to hold onto David Price, for example, even though they are seven games back in the AL East division. Why? They are still in the discussion for the second wild card. 

The second wild card was a great idea on paper until they announced it was a one game playoff and not a three game playoff and now it's screwing up my favorite time of the summer. I'm not sure how you fix it, or if you even can, but something needs to be done. As a fan this is pretty bland. Who agrees?

Remembering Yankees of the Past: Eric Chavez


Eric Chavez announced his retirement from Major League Baseball yesterday so now seems like a good of time as any to showcase his few short years in New York. Congratulations to Chavez on a great career and we wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors both in and out of baseball.

Without further interruption let's look back at Chavez's career as a Yankee:

Chavez signed with the Yankees in February of 2011 on a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Chavez ultimately made the team and had his contract purchased on March 28, 2011. The biggest weakness of Chavez's game at this point of his career would be his injuries and that would not change while in pinstripes. Chavez broke a bone in his left foot on May 5, 2011 while rounding second base and missed over two months with the injury.

Chavez finally hit his first home run of his Yankee career in 2011 when he launched a two run shot against the Chicago White Sox on August 3. Chavez did enough in New York to warrant another one year deal for the 2012 season that would guarantee him $900,000 with an additional $3.05 million to be made in incentives for being healthy and in the lineup. May of the 2012 season he suffered a concussion and spent his seven days on the concussion disabled list. Chavez made the postseason both years in New York but never got the World Series ring he was presumably chasing.

Chavez left New York for the Arizona Diamondbacks after the 2012 season and that is where his career would end. Chavez finished his career with a .268 average, 260 home runs, six Gold Glove Awards, and a Silver Slugger in 2002. It's a shame he never got a chance to play for a World Series but he's still a winner.

Speculating A Move For Asdrubal Cabrera


This is pure speculation here and probably more coincidental than anything but something seems fishy when it comes to how the Yankees have been handling Brian Roberts lately. Roberts is two at bats away from an incentive in his contract that would pay him an additional $250,000. While I realize that is chump change to any team, especially the Yankees, you have to think something is up. You especially question the Yankees motives when the next day it is announced that Roberts needs "a couple days off" to rest. Coincidentally those couple of days takes us through the July 31st trading deadline.

Enter Asdrubal Cabrera who has been made available by the Cleveland Indians. Cabrera is an average at best shortstop but could easily give the Yankees an upgrade offensively and defensively at second base. Cabrera would come cheap as a pure rental with diminished productivity. He fits the Yankees needs perfectly on the field, in the wallet, and down on the farm.

It's probably a coincidence and Joe Girardi will place Roberts in the lineup tonight after the deadline has come and gone but something stinks here.

Potential Trade Targets For New York Today


Here is a quick list of who the Yankees could realistically acquire today before the trading deadline at 4:00 pm ET. This is pure speculation and based on trade rumors, not inside sources, so take this with a grain of salt. The Yankees tend to keep their trade rumors quiet when they actually make a deal so I will likely whiff on all of these but you have to be in it to win it.

Marlon Byrd of the Phillies, Justin Ruggiano of the Cubs, and Dayan Viciedo of the White Sox all look like potential trade candidates for the Yankees outfield. Josh Willingham has been thrown around a lot in rumors but the Yankees need a right fielder and Willingham has never played right in his career. It's also worth mentioning that his arm would be below average in right field. Alex Rios is a right fielder and could fill the void that will be there in 2015 as well making him attractive.

Asdrubal Cabrera could be a potential target at second base that I like a lot over Brian Roberts.

The marginal upgrades at starting pitcher include Jorge De La Rosa of the Rockies, Brett Anderson of the Rockies, Cliff Lee of the Phillies, and Ian Kennedy of the Padres.

Bullpen help could come with an Antonio Bastardo trade with the Phillies, Joaquin Benoit from the Padres, and James Russell of the Athletics.

The pipe dream list includes Troy Tulowitzki of the Rockies, Cole Hamels of the Phillies, David Price of the Rays, and Jon Lester of the Red Sox.

Quick Hit: 2015 Trenton Thunder Schedule Released


With 14 home games still to come in the 2014 Trenton Thunder season, the first glimpse of the 2015 schedule was released on Wednesday afternoon.

The Thunder will begin the 2015 season on the road at the Erie SeaWolves (Detroit) on Thursday, April 9.  The home opener at ARM & HAMMER Park against the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston) is slated for Thursday, April 16. The Thunder will play their final home game and end the season onMonday, September 7 at 1:00pm against New Hampshire (Toronto).

The Thunder will face their top rivals 23 times at home. The Double A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, the Portland Sea Dogs, will visit Trenton 10 times in 2014. The Sea Dogs will make their first trip April 16-19, followed by May 29-31, and July 27-29. Philadelphia Phillies fans can catch the Reading Fightin Phils in Trenton for nine games next season, June 16-18August 4-6, and August 14-16. The Binghamton Mets (NY Mets) will visit ARM & HAMMER Park July 23-26.

The Thunder will play 7 home games in April, 17 in May, 13 in June, 14 in July, 13 in August, and 7 in September. The team plays 71 home games against all 11 Eastern League teams.

Mid-week day games will continue in 2015, with the first one, a 10:30am “Education Day” slated forWednesday, April 23 with others being held on Thursday, May 7 and Wednesday, May 20. Popular12:00pm "Camp Day" games are scheduled for Monday, July 13 and Wednesday, July 29. The Thunder will play a 2:00pm "Business Person's Special" game on Wednesday, August 29.

The schedule of fireworks dates and promotions will be released at a later date.
Fans can join a waiting list for 2015 ticket packages by calling 609-394-3300.

This Day In New York Yankees History 7/31: The MLB Trading Deadline Day


Can you believe the only notable trade for the New York Yankees in the past twenty years or so has been the Cecil Fielder trade that happened in 1996? The Yankees have made moves, marginal more than anything, but Cecil was the deal that stuck out. On this day in 1996 the Yankees sent Ruben Sierra and prospect Matt Drews for Fielder in the first trade in Major League history that included two players that have hit more than 220 home runs are traded for each other.

On this day in 2001 the Yankees lost out on relief pitcher Ugueth Urbina to the Boston Red Sox. Boston got Urbina for two minor league pitchers in Tomo Ohka and Rich Rundles after the Yankees had a deal in place for the closer that fell through earlier in the season. Urbina failed his physical, the Yankees backed out of the deal, and the rest is history for the former Expos' closer.

Remember above when I said the only notable trade that happened in the last 20 seasons was the Fielder trade? You see why here as just minutes before the trading deadline ended in 2004 the Yankees shipped their struggling pitcher Jose Contreras (8-5 5.64 ERA) for the White Sox struggling starter Esteban Loaiza (9-5 4.86 ERA). Both pitchers were 32 years old and having down seasons based on their past performances and neither player really performed for their new teams this season.

Get ready because we're a mere 16 hours away from the trading deadline coming to a close.