Fan Time.....

Hello everyone, I’m back again and so far the Yankees are off to what I think is a slow start at 9 and 9. But like any other Yankee fan, I know its way too early to be concerned and they will pull it together just like always. Don’t forget I Still would love to chat with all of you, drop me an email anytime at JamesCPalma@yahoo.com. 

 

I’m here with another edition of Fan Time and boy do I have a treat for you this week. I have interviewed The Greedy Pinstripes own Daniel Burch! For myself and I’m sure for many of you readers, I like his work and agree with most of his opinions, so I figured who better to ask a few questions. I will start this interview with a question most of us can assume we know his answer, how long has he been a Yankee Fan?

 

Daniel: “As far as I can remember, I have been a Yankees fan my entire life. I can remember my parents telling me that I would be glued to the TV for a few innings at a time as young as two-years old. I became a religious Yankees fan who watched 140+ games a year (school, etc. got in the way sometimes) back in 1994, and I have been ever since.” 

 

Me: “How long have you been with The Greedy Pinstripes?”

 

Daniel: “Well Bryan and I started The Greedy Pinstripes (TGP) on January 6, 2012 and we have been plugging away ever since. Bryan and I had a few ventures we worked on together before we started TGP including a couple sports forums we frequented, but we never really liked the way things were done everywhere else. We always wanted to do things our way and differently... so we did, and the rest, as they say is history.”

 

Me: “Anything the readers here don’t know about you that you would like them to?”

 

Daniel: “Well… generally I am a private person so there is probably plenty that I could tell that many people don't know. The problem is I’m not entirely sure any of it would be all that interesting hahaha. If I had to choose one thing, it would be how much I truly appreciate every reader and every fan that interacts with us. I know everyone says that, but I truly mean it more than anyone will ever know! I am just a regular guy with a blog. I don't have a degree in writing or in English for that matter. I wouldn't call my HTML code writing or website design "great" by any means. I don't live in New York anymore and I don't get to watch as many games as I would like to because of work or because of life, yet you guys and girls tune in and read my stuff every single day. It is amazing to me, it blows my mind and it truly humbles me. There's so much competition in the Yankees blogosphere, and you choose to read my stuff. It's amazing, and it is truly appreciated. I don't make a dime off this site. It’s a money suck if I’m going to be honest. But I hope that it shows I don't care by the way I write and the way I conduct myself on the site.” 

 

Me: “The Yankees are 9-9 and seem stuck in neutral worried yet?”

 

Daniel: “I am never worried! I’m always the eternal optimist. I predicted the Yankees would win the American League East and the World Series in 2018. It’s in black and white on the blog, and I am not one to back away from that. I stand by my predictions, my words and my opinions. Always have, always will!” 

 

Me: “That is a great quality for any person to have! Do you make a reactionary move now and call up Gleyber Torres?”

(Interview conducted before call up)  

Daniel: “I don't think it would be a reactionary move to call up Gleyber. The organization has all but said they would delay his free agency by a year by keeping him down in Triple-A, and they will stick to that. Once he is ready he should be here, period. There's nothing left to prove down in Triple-A and it isn't reactionary in my opinion, it makes good baseball sense.”

 

Me: “What are your thoughts on the next wave of baby bombers?”

 

Daniel: “I think that is the best part about this new set of Yankees, the reinforcements are here and a new set isn't far behind them. The Yankees system may not be ranked the best, but it is one of the deepest I think I have ever seen in my entire Yankees fandom. Chance Adams, Justus Sheffield, Freicer Perez, and so many others I could mention, it is borderline un-fair! The team still has all their international money for this signing period that begins on July 2, 2018. The team didn't give up any draft picks by signing free agents and the future looks brighter and brighter as scary as that is for the rest of the league, by the day.” 

 

 

Me: “Do the Yankees win the division or the wild card?”

 

Daniel: “Division by four games. That was my prediction and that is still my prediction.” 

 

Me: “I think the Yankees would be better served with this line up: at leadoff, Gardner then Judge, Didi, Stanton, Sanchez, Hicks, Austin, Walker, and at 9th Torres. What are your thoughts?”

 

Daniel: “I got killed in the offseason for suggesting that Didi hit third. He has done nothing this season but make me look like the genius that I already know I am. I am not AT ALL sarcastic either, haha. But really, I love that lineup. Gardner the table setter, Judge with the high OBP, Didi with the power as one of the purest hitters and all-around hitters on the team in the third slot where your best hitter is suppose to be, followed by the big boppers. Imagine that lineup when Greg Bird gets back healthy and can hit sixth... scary!” 

 

Me: “It’s already scary without Bird but I totally agree. Should the Yankees look for help? If so, at what position and who? Any trade ideas?”

 

Daniel: “Honestly I don't see a glaring need on the team right now. The starting pitching could be upgraded, but it has been more than serviceable thus far this season. The bullpen has sucked but the track records of those guys and the history of the game suggests to me that the only way they can go from here is up. We have all said "once the hitters get hot, watch out." Does the same not apply to the bullpen? But if I had to play along and pick one position to trade for it would obviously be starting pitching. In the offseason I mentioned acquiring a true rental like Cole Hamels if the Texas Rangers were to fall out of contention and I still think that would be a huge upgrade over CC Sabathia right now, and I love CC just as an FYI.” 

 

Me: “Good point, so do you think it was a mistake we didn’t add a starter this off season?”

 

Daniel: “I really wouldn't call it a mistake. Do I think the Yankees could have used one? Sure, I clamored for Alex Cobb and others all offseason long. Would I call it a mistake though? No, not really. I used to kill the Yankees on the blog and on the sports forums I used to frequent when I felt they made a move just for the sake of making a move. Sacrificing prospects and such just for the sake of it isn't ideal in my opinion. If the right move was there I feel like Brian Cashman would have made it. It wasn't, so we didn't add a starter. That doesn't mean we won't in June or July though when we still have all those pieces available down on the farm.” 

 

Me: “I agree, Cashman knows what he’s doing but I want the best of the best lol. Who from next years free agent class do you sign and why?”

 

Daniel: “Everyone expects me to say Bryce Harper, Manny Machado or Clayton Kershaw if he opts out but truth be told I'd pass on all three. Machado wants to be a shortstop and I want to extend Didi while Harper plays a position where we already have two or three long-term outfielders. If the price was right for Harper, a contract similar to what Giancarlo has left on his deal (not the entire deal) then sure, snatch him up and let's Get Greedy, but that isn't going to happen. I'd love Kershaw as well but I am not convinced he is going to opt out, or come to the east coast. The guy I want more than anything is Dallas Keuchel. I would break the bank for that guy, 10 times out of 10.” 

 

Me: “Okay, I can agree with that, I like Keuchel as well. These next few questions/statements are going to be true or false starting with Judge wins batting title and/or MVP.”

 

Daniel: “FALSE. I picked Josh Donaldson to win both.”

 

Me: “Stanton winds up as a bust.”

 

Daniel: “FALSE.”

 

Me: “Chance Adams gets a shot this year.”

 

Daniel: “TRUE. Even if it is as a reliever or September call up.”

 

Me: “Justus Sheffield is a September call up.”

 

Daniel: “FALSE. 40 man roster crunch. But injuries could change that.”

 

Me: “Yankees win 90 plus games.”

 

Daniel: “TRUE.”

 

Me: “Yankees make a huge in season trade.

 

Daniel: “FALSE. Huge, probably not, Stanton was huge. They will make a trade or two though.”

 

Me: “Aaron Boone gets fired in season.”

 

Daniel: “FALSE.”

 

Me: “Yankees win the word series”

 

Daniel: “ALWAYS TRUE!”

 

Me: “Alright we are just about done here, just a few more questions. What is the biggest Yankee memory you have?”

 

Daniel: “The biggest Yankees memory I have, believe it or not, came down after I moved out of New York and came to Georgia. I hadn't seen the Yankees live in probably six years before they came down and I shelled out a ton of money to sit in the third row right next to the visiting Yankees dugout. I could see into the dugout the entire game, which was amazing. Also before the game Derek Jeter stood out and signed autographs for at least 45 minutes. It was a madhouse. I unfortunately did not get my autograph, but the fact that he did that on a Tuesday night in the rain for 45 minutes just showed what kind of person and player he was. It was things like that which always impressed me about Jeter, the stuff that the cameras never saw but the true fans always knew if you asked them.” 

 

Me: “Yeah, Jeter is a stand up guy and always showed that in everything he did. Who is your favorite all time Yankee and Why?”

 

Daniel: “It's not Derek Jeter, don't kill me! Honestly it is Tino Martinez. I don't know why but I was always driven towards him. I loved his batting stance, I loved his swing and I loved that fire and intensity he played with. He was no Paul O'Neill, but he did okay. LOL.” 

 

Me: “Very awesome answer! Paul and Tino are amongst my all time favorites as well. Tino is definitely an all time great Yankee who doesn’t always get his true credit or what I feel is deserved. Okay, last question, any final thoughts on this year’s team?”

 

Daniel: “As usual, World Series or bust!” 

 

Me: “Thank you Daniel it’s been a real pleasure. The Yankees are stuck playing .500 ball but as you I’m not worried. The Yanks will right the ship and bring home number 28!!!”   

Thanks again to Daniel for taking the time to help me out with this. A smart baseball man and loyal Yankee fan. I for one am glad that he and Bryan started TGP and I’m very happy to be part of the family.

 Keep in mind folks I’m going to need your help to continue with Fan Time. Please email me with any questions, comments, and/or would like to be interviewed. I look forward to hearing from you. I’m always looking for my next victim lol. Well thanks fans for reading and have a great week… LET’S GO BOMBERS!!!!