This Day in New York Yankees History 6/28: Mariano Rivera's 500th Save

On this day in 2009 the great Mariano Rivera joined Trevor Hoffman in the 500 career saves club. The Yankees would beat the New York Mets 4-2 in Citi Field while Rivera got the save and his first and only RBI of his career with a bases loaded walk.

Also on this day in 1949 Joe DiMaggio finally came off the disabled list for the Yankees after missing the first 69 games of the season with a heel injury. Joe D would hit four home runs in a three game sweep of the Boston Red Sox fresh out of the box.

Also on this day in 1939 the New York Yankees established the major league record for most home runs hit in a game in a doubleheader with a total of 13. The Yankees would sweep the Philadelphia Athletics on this day by beating the A's 23-2 in game one with eight home runs and 10-0 off five home runs in game two.

Finally on this day in 1907 the Yankees had a catcher that gave up 13 stolen bases in one game, none other than Branch Rickey. While he was not a great catcher he was the man that brought Jackie Robinson to the game so he gets a pass in my book.

Article Revisit: My Second Trip to AT&T Field to Watch the Chattanooga Lookouts

So you all may or may not remember, or you may be new to the blog so if so… welcome, but last year my son Evan won an annual award from his school for being the Most Improved Student. What you get for this besides the obvious learning ramifications is a free ticket and food at the Chattanooga Lookouts AT&T Field. Well Evan won again this year so we made our second trip to Chattanooga on Wednesday night to watch the Lookouts take on the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.


Last year Evan’s little brother, Hayden, was a little too young to attend the game but this time around he made the trip with us for his first baseball game. Boy did Hayden have a good time. The chants, the mascots, the game and of course the hot dogs and ice cream he was a huge fan of. Plus at Minor League games the kids can be kids and aren’t confined to a small, cramped seat surrounded by thousands of people. It was nice and the boys had a great time. Evan almost caught a foul ball too but he missed it by about 10 feet, maybe next time kid!


It really is a great time. They have lots of things to keep you entertained in-between innings and such and the atmosphere is just nice. I love it there. I loved seeing old Yankees in new places like Angelo Gumbs, Matt Tracy, Nik Turley, Eric Jagielo and others along with new faces that I had never seen before. Nick Gordon was the starting second baseman for the Lookouts and Paul Clemens started the game which was cool to see live.





It was just a really enjoyable experience and I fully recommend it for anyone who is in the neighborhood. Next time though it’s going to be with you. Hey you. I love you.

As We Say Goodbye to 2017 I Do So w/ a Bittersweet Temperament

Good afternoon, good morning or good evening depending on where you are reading this, and when. Either you're reading this in 2017 or you are one of the first to be reading it in 2018, either way I thank you for your continued support of not only myself personally but the blog as well. I am not going to lie, and I am not going to turn this into one of those cliche "eff 2017" posts either so don't worry, 2017 was a tough year. It had its ups, and when I say ups I mean the most awesome of ups, but it also had its downs just like any year.

2017 was a hard year for me but I don't want that to be mistaken as me looking for a pity party or as me complaining. To be 100% honest I would not change a thing in 2017 because I fear the butterfly effect and changing one thing could potentially take me away from the healthy and fulfilling life that I will be sharing with you all and have shared with you here in 2017.

As you may or may not have seen in my George Steinbrenner and the Ghosts of Yankees Past Part IV post I shared that last year I went through a separation. While many tell me I'm sorry I can only say that I am not. Sometimes two people are good people but just bad for each other and that was just definitely the case. I am much more secure in myself now and I am much more happier now that I have met, fallen in love with and moved in with my sweet, sweet and absolutely beautiful Kari. She was the first person I spoke to when 2017 struck at midnight, albeit on the phone only in a message as she FELL ASLEEP ON ME AND SLEPT RIGHT THROUGH IT. I'm not bitter, do I sound bitter? LOL, I'm really not but I felt like some comedic relief was needed here. I digress.

Throughout the year I had "life" thrown at me at every turn. I went through like four or five cars this year which was a constant struggle and a constant stress on me but that has finally calmed down and settled down, hopefully. Work sucks, work has gotten worse than it has ever been and work seemingly cares less and less as the work just piles on. "Do it or you know where the door is" kind of mentality, but you know what? I'm thankful I have a job, I am thankful my bills are paid and I am thankful that I have the means and ability to continue to speak to you all on a daily, or as often as possible kind of basis.

So yeah, in my personal life 2017 some would say "sucked." I am not one of those people though. Life happens. It was hard but Kari was there by my side, my kids are healthy and we have grown closer than we ever did, which is weird considering that I went from seeing them 365 days a year and 24 hours a day to just two weeks out of the month. I don't take the things for granted that I used to and I am so very appreciative and grateful for the things I have, and the things that Kari and I continue to build together. She saved me ladies and gentleman, she is my genuine hero.

The Yankees did well in 2017 as well which only helped getting just one win away from the World Series. While that was disappointing to some I just saw it as a learning experience and an experience that left room to grow. I loved it and I look forward to the 2018 calendar year and season.

I love you all and I thank you for your continued support, fandom, viewership, friendship and love. I appreciate each and every one of you individually and as a whole. Remember, if you think your 2017 sucked... you may be surprised if you sit down and think of all the blessings you had this year and add them up in one column while you put the "shit" in the other column. I know I was and that is why I have this newfound optimistic look out for 2018. Close the door on 2017, but make sure you at least learned something from it.

And I want to give a very special shout out to everyone on this blog, the writers and the readers. I can't do it alone. Without you this blog is just me whining and crying and suggesting crap all day long and that would get old reading just one man's opinion.

And of course a very special shout out to anyone I have given my heart to along the way. Kari Ann Burch (soon enough), Evan Burch, Hayden Burch, Jacob Taunton and Brianna Taunton. I love you all with all my heart and soul and you are the reason for me being the man that I am today. Stay well, stay safe and we will talk again in 2018 because rest assured, I still have a lot of fight left in me and I still have a whole lot more to say. Stay tuned and be well.

Daniel Burch

Merry Christmas from The Greedy Pinstripes

Merry Christmas from everyone here at The Greedy Pinstripes! It's been a heck of a year, at least for me, and truth be told I'm surprised I made it this far. The blog has done well, my baby boy turned four years old and my oldest boy started second grade at his school. A lot has changed in my routine and a lot has changed in my life but I truly think its all been for the better. We made it though, and that's all that matters.

As we wake up this morning we see that Santa has been good to us this year, probably better than we deserve. We are truly blessed and we appreciate everything in our lives and everything we get from this blog. We have some of the best commentators, Twitter followers, readers, followers and fans. I've said it a million times but I only say it because I mean it. We are NOTHING without you guys and girls. Thank you, I truly mean that.

Merry Christmas everyone! If you don't celebrate Christmas then Happy Holidays! No matter what you believe or what you celebrate we still appreciate your support and wish you nothing but the best this year and next.

So it Seems… Brian Cashman the Hall of Famer

Good morning everyone and what a Winter Meetings week this has been for the New York Yankees. With the Winter Meetings now done, and maybe the majority of the Yankees heavy lifting done, you have to look ahead and wonder what this means for the future of Brian Cashman. Cashman took over for Al Watson back before the 1998 season essentially walking into a dynasty and now has all the pieces to start another dynasty, this time all on his own. Cashman, even now in my opinion, has to be a Hall of Fame General Manager, doesn’t he?

Cashman’s led 1998 Yankees, again he didn’t really build this team and I totally understand that, won an American League record 114 games en route to their second World Series Championship in two seasons. Cashman and his Yankees would then win the 1999, 2000 and 2009 World Series Championships while also winning the American League Pennant in 2001 and 2003. Cashman also put the team on the field that made it to the AL Championship Series multiple times including the 2012 and 2017 seasons.

Sure, Cashman has had the money to throw at players and sure, talent can overcome a lot of bad decision making sometimes but no one can deny that the Yankees GM has been an absolute wizard in the trade arena. I mean, come on. Cashman essentially turned Brendan Ryan into Giancarlo Stanton player wise and turned Chase Headley and Starlin Castro into Giancarlo Stanton money wise. That’s genius and the scary part is after signing a new five-year deal, Cashman is far from done.

Cashman is a Hall of Fame GM right now, in five years we may be talking about possibly the best GM in the history of Major League Baseball. Especially if he can swing a trade for Manny Machado from the Chicago White Sox, but more on that later and so much more.

Speaking of the Hall of Fame, you my Kari are definitely a Hall of Famer. No woman has ever been more beautiful, more awesome, more caring, more kind or more generally awesome as you. And somehow, someway, you are mine. I thank God every day for you multiple times a day, usually after looking into those gorgeous blue eyes. I loves you, always have and always will.

Have a great day everyone!

So it Seems… Breaking the Silence

Good morning everyone, it’s time I break the silence. The MLB offseason is a frustrating one at times, a boring one at other times, while sometimes it is merely too much for one person to keep up with as a writer. It is a good problem to have because I thoroughly enjoy writing but at one point in my life, for whatever reason, it got to the point where I forced content. I wrote just to have something on the blog every single day and at first it was fun. Before long it became tiresome, staying up until 2:00 am just so things were on the blog for the next day. Those days, fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, are over as I have refocused and reprioritized what was truly important in my life, my lovely wife Kari and my family.

I just wanted to get that out there in case people begin to wonder where I am during the long, cold and boring winter ahead. I’m around, I am always reading and I am always thinking of new and hopefully exciting content to bring you guys and girls reading. I just won’t force it anymore, and I think my work will be better for it anyway when I don’t. So it’s time to break the silence as Shohei Otani checked the “NO” box on the love letter from Brian Cashman and company, Aaron Boone has been hired as the new Yankees manager, 26 new free agents have entered the fold, 13 new international free agents hit the market this winter, and another former St. Louis Cardinals “Matt” may be finding his way in the Bronx if I get my way. So without further ado and delay from me, let’s get to it.

And you… my love, my soulmate, my arm candy, my everything. I loves you. I hope you have the very best day, I know I will… because you’re mine. 

So it Seems… Happy Thanksgiving

Good morning everyone, I hope everyone reading this is well. I know Thanksgiving isn’t technically until tomorrow but there will be no guarantees that I will be around then so I wanted to go ahead and send my warm wishes to you all today instead. Happy Thanksgiving to all reading who celebrate, and to everyone else… just enjoy your day.

May your day be filled with love, friends, family, food, football or whatever could possibly make this day special to you. Enjoy and remember, those $1.50 towels at Wal Mart and those “cheap” TV’s aren’t worth it people. They aren’t. Enjoy your day and thank you for your continued support of the blog.

Especially you. Hey you. I loves you. Everything I am is because of you so everything I am thankful for begins and ends with you. You are at the center of everything, you are my universe. You are my soul. You are my heart. I love you. 

So it Seems… VIEWS THROUGH THE ROOF!!!

Good morning everyone, I know it’s been a while and I know that it is the offseason but I was on the site the other day and boy was I just blown away. VIEWS THROUGH THE ROOF!!! Overall views are down, obviously it is the offseason and we aren’t at the Winter Meetings and such yet, but views were post are way, way up. I’m not sure what the difference is from a couple weeks ago but boy am I grateful, thank you to you all. I am truly appreciative of everyone that reads my content and everyone that supports the blog. Without you all, we are nothing in every sense of the word.

So what’s on the docket today, you know since views are up I felt compelled to write a lot today. We have an article about Shohei Otani and whether I think the Yankees will, and should, allow him to be a two-player pitching as a pitcher and as a hitter. We also have a trade idea that Brian Cashman probably hasn’t thought of along with a “Get Greedy” move with a twist. Stay tuned for those posts and more today and let’s keep these views per post numbers way up there.

Thank you all again, especially you. My rock, my world and my everything. Kari Ann Burch. I loves you. Always have. Always will. 

So it Seems… The Complete List of 161 MLB 2018 Free Agents

AMERICAN LEAGUE

BALTIMORE (9) — DH/1B Pedro Alvarez; 2B Ryan Flaherty; OF Craig Gentry; SS J.J. Hardy; RHP Jeremy Hellickson; RHP Ubaldo Jimenez; OF Seth Smith, LHP Wade Miley; RHP Chris Tillman.

BOSTON (8) — LHP Fernando Abad; RHP Blaine Boyer; OF Rajai Davis; RHP Doug Fister; 1B Mitch Moreland; INF Eduardo Nunez; RHP Addison Reed; OF Chris Young.

CHI. WHITE SOX (2) — RHP Mike Pelfrey; C Geovany Soto.

CLEVELAND (6) — LHP Craig Breslow; OF Jay Bruce; OF Austin Jackson; C Carlos Santana; RHP Bryan Shaw; RHP Joe Smith.

DETROIT (1) — RHP Anibal Sanchez.

HOUSTON (5) — DH Carlos Beltran; RHP Tyler Clippard; RHP Luke Gregerson; LHP Francisco Liriano; OF Cameron Maybin.

KANSAS CITY (8) — OF Melky Cabrera; RHP Trevor Cahill; OF Lorenzo Cain; SS Alcides Escobar; 1B Eric Hosmer; 3B Mike Moustakas; RHP Peter Moylan; LHP Jason Vargas.

L.A. ANGELS (11) — RHP Andrew Bailey; RHP Jesse Chavez; 3B Yunel Escobar; RHP Ricky Nolasco; RHP Bud Norris; INF Cliff Pennington; RHP Yusmeiro Petit; 2B Brandon Phillips; OF Ben Revere; RHP Fernando Salas; RHP Huston Street.

MINNESOTA (5) — RHP Matt Belisle; RHP Bartolo Colon; RHP Dillon Gee; LHP Glen Perkins; LHP Hector Santiago.

N.Y. YANKEES (5) — 3B Todd Frazier; LHP Jaime Garcia; DH Matt Holliday; RHP Michael Pineda; LHP CC Sabathia.

OAKLAND (0) — None.

SEATTLE (7) — 1B Yonder Alonso; INF Gordon Beckham; OF Jarrod Dyson; RHP Yovani Gallardo; RHP Hisashi Iwakuma; C Carlos Ruiz; 1B/3B Danny Valencia.

TAMPA BAY (9) — OF Peter Bourjos; RHP Steve Cishek; RHP Alex Cobb; 1B Lucas Duda; RHP Tommy Hunter; 1B Logan Morrison; 3B Trevor Plouffe; OF Colby Rasmus; RHP Sergio Romo.

TEXAS (4) — RHP Andrew Cashner; OF Carlos Gomez; RHP Miguel Gonzalez; RHP Jason Grilli.

TORONTO (5) — LHP Brett Anderson; 2B Darwin Barney, OF Jose Bautista; C Miguel Montero; OF Michael Saunders.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ARIZONA (7) — Gregor Blanco, of; Jorge De La Rosa, lhp; David Hernandez, rhp; Chris Iannetta, c; J.D. Martinez of; Fernando Rodney, rhp; Adam Rosales, inf.

ATLANTA (2) — R.A. Dickey, rhp; Jason Motte, rhp.

CHICAGO (8) — Jake Arrieta, rhp; Alex Avila, c; Wade Davis, rhp; Brian Duensing, lhp; Jon Jay, of; John Lackey, rhp; Rene Rivera, c; Koji Uehara, rhp.

CINCINNATI (4) — Bronson Arroyo, rhp; Zack Cozart, ss; Scott Feldman, rhp; Drew Storen, rhp.

COLORADO (9) — OF Alexi Amarista; RHP Tyler Chatwood; OF Carlos Gonzalez; C Ryan Hanigan; RHP Greg Holland, C Jonathan Lucroy; LHP Jake McGee; RHP Pat Neshek; 1B Mark Reynolds.

L.A. DODGERS (7) — RHP Yu Darvish; OF Andre Ethier; OF Curtis Granderson; OF Franklin Gutierrez; RHP Brandon Morrow; 2B Chase Utley; LHP Tony Watson.

MIAMI (4) — Mike Aviles, inf; A.J. Ellis, c; Dustin McGowan, rhp; Ichiro Suzuki, of.

MILWAUKEE (3) — Matt Garza, rhp; Anthony Swarzak, rhp; Neil Walker, 2b.

N.Y. METS (1) — INF Jose Reyes.

PHILADELPHIA (4) — Andres Blanco, inf; Clay Buchholz, rhp; Hyun-Soo Kim, of; Daniel Nava, of.

PITTSBURGH (3) — Joaquin Benoit, rhp; John Jaso, 1b; Chris Stewart, c.

ST. LOUIS (4) — Zach Duke, lhp; Lance Lynn, rhp; Juan Nicasio, rhp; RHP Seung-Hwan Oh, rhp.

SAN DIEGO (4) — Erick Aybar, ss; Jhoulys Chacin, rhp; Jordan Lyles, rhp; Craig Stammen, rhp.

SAN FRANCISCO (4) — RHP Matt Cain (retired); C Nick Hundley; 1B/3B Jae-Gynn Hwang; OF Michael Morse.

WASHINGTON (12) — RHP Matt Albers; RHP Joe Blanton; OF Alejandro De Aza; 2B Stephen Drew; RHP Edwin Jackson,; OF/2B Howie Kendrick; RHP Brandon Kintzler; 1B Adam Lind; C Jose Lobaton; LHP Oliver Perez; OF Ryan Raburn; OF Jayson Werth.

List courtesy of the USA Today*

So it Seems… The Long Offseason Ahead

Good morning everyone. I know it’s been a minute since we last spoke but it’s the offseason, it’s a time to recharge the batteries. Life hasn’t slowed down a bit and work has gotten out of control with no end in sight and it may or may not affect the site going forward. I promise to do everything and all that I can to pop in whenever I can but you all must know that this will likely mean that daily posts, at least through the offseason, may not happen. I promise to do the best I can, and I am always looking for new writers to help carry the load and keep you guys with something to read. If you’re interested or know of anyone who is tell them to send me an email at Daniel Burch 1102 at Yahoo dot com.

Oh, and hey you. I love you. I’ve missed writing about you because you’re so damn special to me.

So it Seems… Happy Birthday to Me!

Good morning everyone. I know it’s been a while since we last spoke, and for that I once again apologize, but life is just crazy right now. Life is crazy, work is even crazier and I just needed a day to myself. Today. Today is my birthday and against my better judgement I took the day off to recharge the batteries. I’ll pay for it when I return to work but I’ll worry about that when I get back. So Happy Birthday to me, the big 32, and thank you for all your continued support of me, the blog and the team we all share a love for.

Have a great day everyone. Especially you my lovely wife who took the day off with me to spend with me on my birthday. You’re the best and I loves you, because loves is plural and is so much more than just love. 

So it Seems… HELP WANTED

Good morning everyone, it is that time of the year again where we ask for help with writing here on the blog. The offseason is full of rumors, news, speculations and opinions and frankly I just can’t keep up with it all myself, so I am asking for a little help. Obviously, this is a volunteer-only job, I don’t even make a dime off the site, so you would not be tied down to minimums and such. Just post what you can, when you can.

For whatever reason the Gmail address we have for the site is acting funny, I won’t get emails for months at a time and then boom… flooded with them, so send me an email to my personal email if you’re interested at Daniel Burch 1102 at Yahoo dot com. Thanks in advance.

HEY YOU. Good morning. Another day of being blessed, another day of being happy because it’s another day of being your man. I love you Kari. 

So it Seems… I Got a Little Cocky and a Little Bit Ahead of Myself

Good morning everyone. What a way to start the day huh? Me, Daniel Burch, admitting to being a little cocky and getting a little bit ahead of myself. Let me explain. I was on a roll during the postseason with my predictions and my writing here on the blog. I explained in full detail why I was not afraid of the Minnesota Twins in the AL Wild Card Game and the Yankees beat the Twins decisively to move on to the ALDS with the Cleveland Indians. Another series, another prediction and another post labeled “Why I’m not afraid of the Cleveland Indians in the Postseason.” Another victory against unlikely odds so why would I stop there? I continued my series with “Why I’m Not Afraid of the Houston Astros in the ALCS.” The stars aligned for this to be another great show and prediction by the self-proclaimed Yankees wizard as Justin Verlander took the mound against the Yankees with New York just one win away from the World Series. I took a chance and I didn’t wait for the Yankees to record those final 27 outs before advancing to the World Series, I went ahead and wrote my “Why I’m Not Afraid of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series” post like a moron.

Did I jinx the Yankees? Is Michael Kay laughing at me right now for even suggesting that I jinxed the Yankees? Who knows but I hate to waste content so here is my pie in the face, my eating crow if you will, and my post about how I was not afraid of the Dodgers in the World Series that the Yankees never made it to. Insert foot in mouth and have a great day. Especially you. HEY YOU!! I loves you.

Oh, and remember before flooding me with hate mail. Most writers have stuff written in advance, especially if it cannot be dated quickly, and I am no different. If you can do better please send me an email at Daniel Burch 1102 at yahoo dot com. We are always looking for new writers. Thanks.

Why I’m Not Afraid of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series

Yeah, I am going there. Call me bold, call me dumb or call me crazy, I don’t care but I just don’t think you will be calling me a loser when the dust settles here in the 2017 World Series. Don’t get me wrong the Los Angeles Dodgers are a hell of a team, congrats once again to them for winning the National League pennant, and the Dodgers could very well knock off the Yankees and take home the crown… I just don’t think it will happen. I’m not psyched out by Clayton Kershaw, I’m not entirely worried about Kenley Jansen and I think this team can limit Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner and company over a seven-game series. I just do, and here is why.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a great team and that great team is anchored by a great pitching staff but beating great pitching is nothing new to the Yankees this season. The New York Yankees have beaten Corey Kluber twice this postseason (sure, the record books state the team lost Game 2 of the ALDS but we all know the Yankees beat Kluber), Trevor Bauer once, Ervin Santana once, Dallas Keuchel once and Justin Verlander once. One could argue that Kluber has been just as good, if not better than Kershaw over the last three seasons or so which should give the Yankees some hope as they may have to face Kershaw three times in the upcoming World Series.  

Before the postseason began I ranked the 10 teams in the playoffs by their bullpen effectiveness and the Los Angeles Dodgers had the fourth best bullpen in the field, right behind the New York Yankees. The Dodgers bullpen has been great this postseason but there are definite holes in the pen that the Yankees can extort if the starters don’t give Los Angeles seven innings, something that won’t always happen given that the pitchers have to hit in the National League.  

The Dodgers will have home-field advantage here in this World Series after having the best record in the National League here in 2017 and the second-best record overall, second only to the Cleveland Indians. You know, that team the Yankees already eliminated this postseason despite the team winning 22 games in a row at one point during the regular season. The Dodgers are not unbeatable, and they are not unstoppable, their September record showed us that as the team faded down the stretch with a 12-17 record. The Yankees just have to do what the Yankees do, hit the ball, pitch well and win while having fun doing it.

The Dodgers will easily be the hardest test for the Yankees this postseason but let’s look at this playoff run for New York. Aside from the American League Wild Card Game the Yankees have been severe underdogs in both of their series and the team has not had home-field advantage in either of their series. Didn’t seem to slow down or stop the team then and it won’t here against the Dodgers. By the end of the series we’ll be comparing Todd Frazier to Thurman Munson and our team will once again be the “Damn Yankees.” The 28 World Series championship ring holding Damn Yankees, thank you very much.

Happy Third Birthday to the BYB Hub

The BYB Hub. What can I say about the BYB Hub here now in its THIRD year of existence? The Hub started out as an idea from Robert Casey and Bleeding Yankee Blue as an opportunity for newer blogs or lesser known blogs to get free exposure all in one central hub and it's done that and more. So here we stand three years later still going strong. Still fighting, still clawing our way to the top. And that climb and that fight and that struggle is made so much easier thanks to the Hub.

So Happy Birthday to the Hub and once again, and I can't say it enough, thank you to Mr. Casey and the crew over at BYB.

So it Seems… Thank You for an AMAZING 2017 Season

Good morning everyone, I hope you’re all doing well this morning. I have to say I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth Saturday night and this is the first that I could really talk about it. I know everyone is saying the right things, that this team wasn’t even expected to make it this far and the such but that doesn’t take away the sting for me whatsoever. I believed in this team, I called this team special from very early on and I was not ready to be done watching baseball this season. Not without the organization’s 28^th World Series Championship ring in hand.

Now that I have had a couple nights to sleep on this I can say that I do appreciate this team and the effort that this team put in here in 2017. It was an amazing ride, a fun ride and a ride that gave this team a certain amount of experience that you absolutely cannot quantify. This team is special and this team has all the makings of being special for a very long time. Thank you for that, thank you to all involved.

Speaking of special, hey you. Thank you for sitting by my side and dealing with my roller coaster of emotions during this postseason and thank you for taking an interest in something that I know you have no interest in. I love you for it and I love you for a million and one other reasons. Always have, always will. Have a great day.

So it Seems… 2009

The New York Yankees are one win away from making a return trip to the World Series for the first time since 2009. With that in mind I am feeling a little nostalgic this morning so I decided to take a look back, waaaaaaay back, to the World and the Yankees back in the old days of 2009.

In 2009 I had zero children. While I would have my first son five months after the New York Yankees would win the World Series it is hard for me to imagine a life now without my children in it.

In 2009 the Yankees steamrolled through everyone in the postseason with veteran players on huge contracts. Players like CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher and Alex Rodriguez. Now the team is doing it with youth, aggression, and a demeanor that cannot and will not be stopped.

The team was in year one of a $1.1 billion stadium that no one sat in or attended. Now it seems, at least during the postseason, that the new Yankee Stadium is finally starting to find its voice. Also it seems like maybe a ghost or two has bitten the bullet and made the trip over.

I was a 23-year old know-it-all in 2009. Now I’m a 31-year old know-it-all. Some things never change.

In 2009 I didn’t know you, and that is the biggest tragedy of them all. HEY YOU. It only took me eight more years to find you, but I did and that’s all that matters. I love you!

So it Seems… How Many Different Heroes?

Good morning everyone and welcome to what could possibly be the final day of travel for the New York Yankees this season. Sure, if the team doesn’t make the World Series they always have to travel back to New York but they would be doing so with the season over with, and I don’t know about you but I am not ready to see this team stop playing just yet. This team is special, I have said that all season long, and this team just doesn’t know when to quit. This team is exciting and it seems like they have a new and different hero every single night.

Whether it be CC Sabathia who doesn’t lose after a Yankees loss, whether it be Didi Gregorius who made an entire culture and fan base stop talking about one of the greatest players in their franchises history, whether it be the New Jersey native Todd Frazier who keeps the screams for him to be on the team in 2018 flowing with a great consistency, whether it be Aaron Judge with the bat or in the field as he makes everyone in the Bronx All Rise regardless, whether it be the Yankees bullpen who has saved the team from utter destruction on more than one occasion this postseason, whether it be Gary Sanchez who was just waiting to break his 0-13 skid when the Yankees needed it the most, so on and so on and so on. I could go on forever because there is a new hero every night.

That’s when you know a team is special and that’s when you know you have more than just a collection of players, that you have assembled and molded a ball club. Win, lose or draw here in Houston over potentially the next two games I couldn’t be prouder of this team, the men who assembled the team and the men who keep them together day in and day out. Thanks for the memories, although I’d be lying and going against everything that is greedy if I didn’t say I wanted just a few more. Thanks in advance.

And hey you. What a week huh. There have been ups, there have been downs but there’s been one rock throughout it all. You. Thank you for being there and thank you for being you. I love you Kari. 

So it Seems… I’ve Been Quiet and Now I’m Explaining

Good morning everyone and Happy Wednesday. It has been a bit quiet on the blog here lately and for that I apologize. The last time we really spoke I described how work was getting busy, well work got busy. When work started to slow down I got sick. I don’t get sick very often but when I do, usually once or twice a year, I generally tend to get really, really sick. I had a fever for over five days straight and that was with taking ibuprofen every four hours or as often as I could stand it. As I finally started to get better now my baby is starting to get sick, ugh.

First I want to thank you for all your patience with the blog. I am not going anywhere, we are not going anywhere and we will continue to push on, together. I then want to thank my beautiful love, Kari, for taking care of me as I have been sick. You’re the best baby. Oh, and I’m sorry I got you sick. Ugh again. I guess it’s time to return that taking care of you favor, huh? I’ll do it happily, because I love you.

Have a great day everyone, except for Dallas Keuchel. Screw that guy. I love you all, especially you. HEY YOU. Have a great day and I hope you’re feeling a little better this morning.

So it Seems… Just When I Needed it Most!

I’m going to be honest, yesterday was not a good morning for me. Without going into too much detail it was just one crap storm after the other. Now I can’t complain too awful much, I did wake up next to my best friend and the one put on this planet for me while all my kids were both healthy and alive but it was just the little stuff that just kept on snowballing. Little things, big things, trivial things and things that I shouldn’t let bother me like I do. Then I went to work, which is always fun on a Monday, and found out that my computer was worked on over the weekend. What that means in my company is if the IT guys work on your computer you can expect it to not work when they get done with it, period. And it didn’t, again. It worked before they touched it, but I digress.

As I was sitting there watching them “fix” my computer I had an email come through that caught my eye. It has a quote on it and I’ll be damned if that quote didn’t sum up my morning and my thoughts on the day in one sentence. That quote is below, maybe it can help someone else too.

“Greatness is not measured by what a man or woman accomplishes, but by the opposition he or she has overcome to reach his goals.” -Dorothy Height

I may not be great, but I will be. I won’t give up until I am. I LOVE YOU. Hey you. Let’s keep this damn thing together. Have a great Tuesday everyone. 

So it Seems… ALCS

Good morning everyone and welcome back to the American League Championship series! By a show of hands who had this rebuilding Yankees team in the ALCS here in 2017? Probably not many, not even I did to be frank. This team has grown up together, molded together and is so much more than just a group of players wearing the same uniform. I have said all season long that this was a true TEAM and that this team was fun to watch and they have not disappointed here in the postseason, congratulations to them.

The work is far from done though as the team travels to Houston tonight to begin their ALCS series. Who had the Yankees playing for the American League pennant? This all still blows my mind in the best possible way. Go Yankees!

And hey you. I know this hasn’t been a great week with me being sick and all that and for that I apologize. I will find a way to make up it up to you, I promise. I loves you!! Kari Ann Burch, I loves you.