The Dawn of Something Great?...

October Baseball is on our Minds...

Everyone is talking like the New York Yankees are already in the World Series but I do not view (potentially) two games in Houston against the Astros to be a cakewalk.  Tonight, the Yankees send their best (Luis Severino) against crafty veteran Justin Verlander who is very clearly a big game pitcher.  If the Astros win tonight, they have to be viewed as the favorite for Game 7 in Minute Maid Park.  We’re not in the Bronx anymore. But the Yankees have already defeated the best team in the American League in a best-of-five series and they are a single game away from reaching the Fall Classic.  This Yankees team has incredible heart and a 'no-quit' drive like none other.  

Regardless of what happens, I am very proud of the 2017 Yankees.  Going into the season, it seemed like the experts were forecasting a .500 season at best.  It was unclear if Aaron Judge or Aaron Hicks would win the right field job.  Questions were abound about whether Brett Gardner and CC Sabathia had seen their better days.  Or if Starlin Castro and Didi Gregorius could continue their development in the middle infield.  I was one of many uncertain if Luis Severino's stronger future was in the starting rotation or the bullpen. The Yankees answered those questions (and more) and now stand one game away from the World Series.  There is nothing that the Houston Astros can do to take away from the huge accomplishments achieved by the Yankees.  This is a young team that is only going to get better.  As the saying goes, 'the future is so bright, I’ve got to wear shades!'

If the Yankees do make it to the World Series, they’ll be heading to Los Angeles next week.  The Los Angeles Dodgers dethroned the Chicago Cubs last night to win the NLCS, 4 games to 1.  The Dodgers throttled the Cubs, 11-1, behind the power of their utility outfielder.  Enrique “Kiké” Hernandez put his name into the history books with three home runs and seven RBI’s as the Dodgers coasted to the victory behind the three-hit, one-run pitching of the great Clayton Kershaw over seven innings and three innings of scoreless relief from the bullpen.  Kenley Jansen, the closer, is a stud, but where did Brandon Morrow come from?  The one-time former closer of the Seattle Mariners and ex-Blue Jay has been ‘lights out’ for the Dodgers.  He was 6-0 with a 2.06 ERA in 45 games this year, and in 4 games against the Cubs in the NLCS, he allowed only one hit, a walk, and no runs over 4 2/3 innings while striking out seven.  There won’t be too many late inning rallies against the Dodgers.

Credit:  Wally Skalij-Los Angeles Times

For the Dodgers, their ten consecutive appearances in the post-season without a championship is the longest streak in MLB history. During that time, the Dodgers have been defeated in the NLCS four times, including last year on the very field they spilled champagne last night.  This makes their eleventh appearance in post-season play since they defeated the Oakland A’s in the 1988 World Series. 

Credit:  Wally Skalij-Los Angeles Times

Growing up watching the Yankees-Dodgers World Series (three times over five years from 1977 to 1981), it is very exciting and intriguing to think the Yankees might finally have the chance to avenge their loss in the 1981 World Series.  Ironically, the 1981 Dodgers also had to get past the Houston Astros (in the NLDS) to reach the World Series.  They defeated the Montreal Expos in the NLCS that year.  The 1981 World Series was also the time when Owner George Steinbrenner allegedly got into an altercation with two Dodgers fans in the elevator of a Los Angeles hotel.  Steinbrenner told reporters, “I clocked them.  There are two guys in this town looking for their teeth and two guys who will probably sue me”.  Steinbrenner was not sued and the two guys were never identified.  Who knows if Steinbrenner really faced anyone in that elevator but the Yankees finally have the chance for redemption in the City of Angels if they can win one more game against the Astros (just one, let’s do it!).  I am sure that the Boss would be very pleased.

Credit:  Heinz Kluetmeier for Sports Illustrated

The Managerial Musical Chairs…

The MLB Post-Season has certainly not stopped other teams from taking action, or at the very least, talking action.

The Detroit Tigers are expected to announce former Twins manager and current Arizona Diamondbacks bench coach Ron Gardenhire as their manager later today (replacing the fired Brad Ausmus).

Ausmus remains a candidate for the job to replace John Farrell in Boston as the Red Sox manager, however, all reports indicate that current Astros bench coach Alex Cora is the likely choice.  Cora is certainly getting a firsthand view of what he may be facing next year. 

Credit:  Houston Chronicle

No word on the open jobs with the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets, but former Yankees and current Mets hitting coach Kevin Long has emerged as a favorite for the post in Queens. 

I personally think that it is a shame for current Chicago Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez hasn't gotten stronger consideration for managerial openings.

It remains to be seen if Yankees manager Joe Girardi returns next year.  While one would think that it is a foregone conclusion that Girardi will be back with a new agreement in hand, it is also possible that family considerations could cause Girardi to walk away.  I think the latter is a greater possibility if the Yankees lose the ALCS to the Astros.  I continue to hope that Girardi and the Steinbrenner family come together on a new deal.  I honestly do not see a better alternative currently available. 

Have a great Friday!  Like last night, let’s hope the road team is pouring champagne in the visitor’s clubhouse after the game.  Go Yankees!

How Long is the Leash on Alan Cockrell?

Ever since the Yankees let their hitting coach Kevin Long hit free agency and head over to the crosstown rival New York Mets the position has been filled by a few names that not many really know. Since the Kevin Long firing in the Bronx the Yankees have watched as Jeff Pentland and Alan Cockrell took the bull by the horns and watched as the duo helped the team to the second highest scoring total in all of Major League Baseball in 2015. 2016 brought new change with Pentland now gone and Cockrell in charge and Marcus Thames as his assistant but despite having much of the same cast of characters the Yankees offense has gone from Bronx Bombers to Bronx Bombless leaving me to wonder just how long the leash for Cockrell truly is in New York.

Before simply blaming the coach and not the players, which is not what I am doing whatsoever, one must keep a few things in mind. Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann and the core of the Yankees is another year older and another year past their primes so a regression was to be expected but if it works for one it works for the other. At this point in the season Didi Gregorius has been much better in 2016 than he was at this point in 2015 while Beltran looked like Beltran in his prime for much of the 2016 campaign, another big shot in the arm when comparing this year to last year. Starlin Castro has led the Yankees in most offensive categories after the team suffered through Stephen Drew for much of last year and McCann has been McCann and possibly the MVP of the club when you factor in his defense and game calling. So what has changed?

Mark Teixeira is nowhere to be found and continues to refuse to make any adjustments at the plate while also sticking to his “I’m not going to beat the shift I’m simply going to hit over it” mantra. That isn’t exactly working out this season and for much of the season anything Chase Headley has done hasn’t worked out either. We never heard talk of adjustments being made or anything, just excuses, and while Headley had a stretch of about a week where he was hitting well he is seemingly heading back into his old ways. Gardner’s numbers are seemingly down across the board as are Jacoby Ellsbury’s and Alex Rodriguez’s. Rodriguez has an excuse, a pair of injuries and a 40-year old body are expected to slow you down, but Ellsbury, Gardner, Headley and Teixeira do not.

So will the Yankees fire Alan Cockrell if things don’t turn around and should they? Hal has already stuck up for his coaches and blamed the players so the first question is a likely a hard “no” but the second one is a little harder to judge. How much bearing does a coach really have on a veteran team like the Yankees? Very little to none? Am I correct in that assumption? If I am than why even bother firing him? Fire the players. That would be my plan but I guess that’s why I’m sitting here in my office writing about it and not making the decisions, huh?

The Yankees Connection to the World Series

The 2015 World Series is underway now with the New York Mets and the Kansas City Royals fighting for the ultimate crown. Neither team has won a World Series in nearly 30 years, the last victory for the Royals coming in 1985 and the last victory for the Mets coming in 1986, but would either team be in the position to finally reward their players, fans and organization if it weren’t for the Yankees? Maybe not.

I may be putting on just a bit but it’s true, there are plenty of connections to the New York Yankees in this World Series. From players to coaches former members of the Bronx Bombers are everywhere and it may seem like the Mets and Royals are getting the last laughs on New York.

Currently on the Mets roster the team boasts hitting coach Kevin Long (Yankees hitting coach from 2004-2014 including the minor leagues and Major Leagues), right fielder Curtis Granderson (Yankees center fielder from 2010-2013) and relief pitcher Tyler Clippard (Yankees farm hand and pitcher from 2003-2007). Currently on the Royals roster the team boasts pitching Dave Eiland (Yankees pitching coach from 2000-2010 including the minor leagues where he coached Ian Kennedy, Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain among others).

Now the fun part, to play Devil’s Advocate. Would the Yankees be in the World Series if they had this cast of characters on their roster in 2015? Well we know what the offense did with Kevin Long when they have a suitable cast of characters but you have to think the team couldn’t have been much better with Long, the team had the second most potent offense in the league behind the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees offense would have been better with a healthy Mark Teixeira, not a new hitting coach. Down the stretch the pitching became the problem but I’m not sure the pitching coach, Larry Rothschild or Dave Eiland, could have fixed it. The team was wore down and the sample size was humongous, that’s what happens when you’re starting rotation only goes five innings a night.

Would Curtis Granderson help the Yankees offensive woes? Probably would, sure, but it would make the Yankees even more dependent on the home run or nothing. Carlos Beltran, presumably who Granderson would replace, would simply make the Yankees even more dependent on the long ball and even more left-handed. He may have added a few RBI and home runs along the way but New York is still likely shut out in the Wild Card Game. You can’t win a game when you don’t score any runs so having Clippard on the team would likely be a moot point as well, the problem was the offense.

It’s a great story to follow, former Yankees winning it all elsewhere, but it’s nothing to lose sleep over and it’s nothing to make you wonder if they are getting the last laugh on the team. Some decisions work out, some don’t and some only work out elsewhere. That’s life and that’s baseball. 

Weekly Check In: Jaron Long

Picture courtesy of Pinstriped Prospects

The New York Yankees pitching depth will be under more scrutiny in the next few weeks with the team in contention for a playoff spot, the teams behind them in the division stacked and ready to make a run at the American League East crown and with the likes of Michael Pineda injured. New York has already called up Luis Severino to the Major Leagues and he made his Major League debut last night while Bryan Mitchell has been moved back to the bullpen after his first start of 2015. Who becomes the new “go to” pitcher if the Yankees need to make another move? Is it Jaron Long?

Long, the son of former Yankees hitting coach and current New York Mets hitting coach Kevin Long, is currently in Triple-A with the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and may now be at the top of the pitching depth chart. Danny Burawa is working out as a starter now but he couldn’t conceivably be relied on for huge lengths of time if a player was to go on the disabled list so the rotation may all hinge on Long if someone goes down.

The good news for the Yankees is Long has followed up his breakout campaign of 2014 with another solid season in 2015 that garnered his promotion to Triple-A. Now Long is knocking on the door hoping to sit on the same bench that his father sat on for all those years inside Yankee Stadium. 

Year	Lev	W	L	ERA	G	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP	H9	HR9	BB9	SO9
2015	AAA-AA	8	8	4.58	22	110.0	140	67	56	8	27	70	1.518	11.5	0.7	2.2	5.7
2015	AA	3	2	3.33	5	24.1	25	12	9	1	4	17	1.192	9.2	0.4	1.5	6.3
2015	AAA	5	6	4.94	17	85.2	115	55	47	7	23	53	1.611	12.1	0.7	2.4	5.6
3 Seasons		21	14	3.23	56	265.0	274	118	95	12	52	201	1.230	9.3	0.4	1.8	6.8
Rk (1 season)	Rk	1	0	0.00	4	6.2	4	1	0	0	1	7	0.750	5.4	0.0	1.4	9.4
A (1 season)	A	3	1	1.64	11	49.1	44	15	9	0	8	46	1.054	8.0	0.0	1.5	8.4
A+ (2 seasons)	A+	2	3	3.60	8	30.0	24	13	12	2	5	28	0.967	7.2	0.6	1.5	8.4
AA (2 seasons)	AA	10	4	2.60	16	93.1	87	34	27	3	15	67	1.093	8.4	0.3	1.4	6.5
AAA (1 season)	AAA	5	6	4.94	17	85.2	115	55	47	7	23	53	1.611	12.1	0.7	2.4	5.6

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Kevin Long Compares Michael Cuddyer to Derek Jeter

The title is not a typo, the former hitting coach for the New York Yankees really did compare new Mets outfielder Michael Cuddyer to former Yankees captain Derek Jeter. When you read the quote you can see that ultimately Long may or may not be right but he of all people should have had a little better judgement. There are plenty of hardworking players out there that truly love the game and play the game the way it's supposed to be played. Why compare him to Jeter? Anyway, here is the direct quote from Long who just can't seem to stop talking:

"I didn't know Michael at all but he reminds me of Jeet in a lot of ways. His demeanor, his mentality; he's a gamer. He brings it every day. And he goes to the plate every time with a total belief in himself. It's a mentality that 'I'm better than the pitcher.' With Jeet I couldn't tell whether he was 20-for-20 or 0-for-20; his mind-set never changed. He went to the plate in his next at-bat convinced he was better than the guy on the mound. Michael's got that too."

Kevin Long: Getting fired by Yankees hurt me

Kevin Long was admittedly upset when the Yankees fired him.

The 48-year-old ex-player, now the hitting coach of the Mets, said being axed by the Yankees "sucked" when asked about it earlier this week, though he still took the time to express his appreciation for the team during the discussion. Long, who had held the same position with New York since 2007 before the two parted ways in October, helped the Yankees bat at least .263 each year from 2007-2012, but seemed to watch his popularity diminish this past season when that average dropped to just .245.

"At first I masked [being fired]," Long told The New York Daily News' John Harper. "I said, 'it's part of the game, it happens.' But you know what, yeah, it hurt. I've never been fired before. I've never been cut from a team. I've always been the first one picked."

The Yankees hit .290 under Long in 2007, leading all of baseball in that category. In 2009, they impressed again with a .283 line, so it certainly wasn't all bad when Long was in their dugout. 

Long said he is thankful for the time he got to work with the Yankees, and received a nice goodbye from them.  

"I don't have hard feelings now," he said. "I'm grateful for the years I had with the Yankees. But it was hard accepting that I had been fired, for whatever reasons they want to come up with. I got a lot of heartfelt texts from players I'd worked with, though, and then it was nice having all these teams calling me and saying very complimentary things about my work."

Long was hired by the Mets October 23, just 13 days after his departure from the Yankees. The details of his deal with them have not yet been released, but it reportedly pays less than the one he had with the Pinstripes. 

Long's contract with the Yankees still has one year and $750,000 left on it, possibly the reason for that occurrence.  

Yankees to Delay Search for Hitting Coach Until Holidays are Over

In the early stages of the offseason, it was thought the Yankees would hire a new hitting coach before the conclusion of the World Series. But they haven't done so yet, nor will they try to at all in 2014.

Team GM Brian Cashman revealed that that's New York's plan going into the new year Monday, telling reporters he'll instead deal with the opening in January. The Yankees interviewed Dave Magadan and Chili Davis for the job back in October, but walked away empty-handed after choosing not to employ either. 

“I am not doing anything with the coaches until the holidays are over,’’ Cashman said, via The New York Post's George King.

The Yankees are searching for a successor to Kevin Long -- now with the Mets -- whom they fired October 10. They batted just .245/.307/.380 under Long last season, and ranked 20th in the league in runs scored. 

They aren't currently looking at anybody to fill the position, though, with the only recent news regarding the vacancy being speculation about old-timer Jeff Pentland. 

“He was suggested to me about a month-and-a-half ago,’’ Cashman said, referring to Pentland. “I haven’t called him. That doesn’t mean I won’t call him.’’

Pentland's spent 15 years as a major-league hitting coach, last working for the Dodgers from 2010-2011. His 2003-2005 stint with the Royals and 2005-2008 one with the Mariners are the only periods in which he competed in the American League, making the AL East the only division yet to acquire his services. 

Still, that doesn't mean he'd neccessarily have a tough time fitting in if signed by the Yankees, as Pentland coached club manager Joe Girardi (then a player) with the Cubs from 2000-2002 and was a colleague of bench coach Tony Pena during his aforementioned time in Kansas City. 

Long Cites Contract as Possible Reason for McCann's 2014 Struggles

The pressure brought on by his five-year, $85-million deal may have contributed to Brian McCann's struggles this season, Former Yankees and current Mets Hitting Coach Kevin Long said.

According to Long, contracts as large as McCann's often cause slumps in players. McCann made $17 million this year, a 42% increase from the salary he earned with the Braves in 2013.

He also batted just .232 with 23 home runs and 75 RBI, numbers many considered to be dissapointing.

“I think it’s common that the first time you come into an organization after you sign a big contract I think it plays a little more difficult than it might seem,” Long told NJ.com's Brendan Kuty.

Long compared McCann's situation to that of Curtis Granderson, who played for the Yankees from 2010-2013. He signed with the Mets for four years and $60 million last offseason, before underperforming similarly to McCann.

“In Curtis’ case that probably played into it," he said. "I know Brian McCann, as the season progressed, he got better and better and more comfortable."

That observation is true, though it still doesn't mean McCann's stats don't have to improve. His offensively-productive backup, Francisco Cervelli, recently got traded to the Pirates, and McCann will likely be expected to make up for his loss in the future.

TGP Daily Poll: Yankees Will Hire a Hitting Coach This Week

The New York Yankees are still without a hitting coach but I predict that they will sign one by the end of the day Sunday, November 16.

Vote in our poll!!

And the Yankees Still Don’t Have a Hitting Coach

"My bad..." - Brian Cashman

News broke shortly after the New York Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs that the team was firing Kevin Long as the team’s hitting coach. Multiple reports on multiple news sites stated that New York would likely have a replacement in house by the time the World Series started. When the World Series ended the team announced that they had interest in Kansas City Royals DH Raul Ibanez for the job and then Ibanez expressed a mutual interest for the position. Then the Tampa Bay Rays announced their pool of potential managers for 2015 and Ibanez was on the list and is now presumably holding up the entire operation. I said all that to say this, the Yankees still don’t have a hitting coach.

I understand and admit that a hitting coach is not going to make or break anything on this team full of veterans and stars. Free agents will not stay away from New York due to the unknown on who will coach the hitters in 2015. Players won’t be disgruntled and demand or ask for trades simply because the team doesn’t have a hitting coach. It’s just a hitting coach but don’t the Yankees kind of need one or two?

What’s the hold up here?

P.S. this was written yesterday afternoon and scheduled for this morning so if news breaks late that the team signed a hitting coach, you're welcome. That usually happens when I schedule and write posts in advance. 

The Yankees Will Get Younger Next Season

There has been an outcry from the fans over the past three or so seasons pleading with the Yankees to get younger and build their team from within. The thought process here is that the “Dynasty Yankees” had the core four and just filled in the blanks with veteran deals and timely hitting. While I agree with that line of thinking I will also add that it has to be done right to be effective, that sounds simple but it’s harder than it looks apparently. I believe that the New York Yankees will get younger this season no matter what moves they make this offseason, which should pacify some fans, which could lead to a World Series Championship.

If you think about it the Yankees are replacing three of the oldest players in Major League Baseball from the 2014 season in Ichiro Suzuki, Derek Jeter, and Hiroki Kuroda. New York has already replaced the now 41 year old Ichiro with a 31 year old Chris Young as the team’s fourth outfielder. At some point one of Jacob Lindgren, Tyler Webb, Manny Banuelos, and/or James Pazos will come up to inject some left handed youth in a bullpen replacing a now 38 years old Matt Thornton from 2014. Also the team is eyeing 31 year old free agent Brandon McCarthy as the most likely to replace the 40 year old Kuroda in the rotation. Whoever the Yankees get to replace Jeter will presumably be younger than 40 years old making the average age of the team come down even more.

Can the team be more effective though as they get collectively younger? I think so, yes. Young can outperform Ichiro if used right in my opinion especially if he continues to use the tweak in mechanics that Kevin Long taught him last September. While Kuroda was great down the stretch last season McCarthy was even better and should outperform the Japanese righty if he stays healthy, albeit a big if. As much as I love and will miss Derek Jeter I can’t see the Yankees getting worse production next season out of the position then they did this season.

All in all I believe the Yankees will get younger and get better in 2015 due to the addition by subtraction via free agency. 

Remembering Yankees of the Past: Kevin Long

Kevin Long was let go as the hitting coach for the New York Yankees a couple weeks back and has since landed across town with the New York Mets in the same position. Let’s take a look back at Long’s tenure as a member of the New York Yankees and see if he warrants the nickname “The Hitting Guru.”

Kevin Richard Long was born on December 30, 1966 and played minor league baseball in the Kansas City Royals organization. Long was drafted in the 31^st round of the 1989 MLB First Year Player’s Draft by the Royals out of the University of Arizona. Long never amounted to much in the minor league and officially retired at the end of spring training in 1997 after being assigned to Triple-A Omaha still in the Royals organization. Long was named the Class-A Wilmington Blue Rocks manager that season and stayed in A-Ball through the 1999 season. Long was promoted to hitting coach for the Double-A team from 2000-2001 and Triple-A for the 2002-2003 seasons before heading to the Yankees Triple-A team, the Columbus Clippers for the 2004 season.

Long spent the 2004 through 2006 seasons in Triple-A with the Yankees before being promoted to major league hitting coach for New York before the 2007 season. During that 2007 season Alex Rodriguez won the MVP Award, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, and Rodriguez won Silver Slugger Awards, the team led the majors in runs (968), hits (1,656), home runs (201), RBI (929), team batting average (.290), slugging percentage (.463), on-base percentage (.366), and total bases (2,649). The Yankees claimed four of the American League’s top 15 spots in batting average that season.

The Yankees had a down year offensively in 2008 under Long before bouncing back in 2009 to win the team’s 27 World Series championship in their franchise’s history. Long led impressive offensive teams in 2010-2012 before having a drastic fall off in both the 2013 and 2014 seasons which ultimately cost him his job in New York with the Yankees. No worries though you can still see the hitting guru in New York as he coaches the New York Mets through at least the 2015 season. 

Let's See How Many Swings Will Be Ruined by Kevin Long

Just a quick look at the New York Mets depth chart and starting squad so we can see how many swings will be ruined by new hitting coach Kevin Long.

Curtis Granderson
David Wright
Travis d'Arnaud
Lucas Duda
Daniel Murphy
Wilmer Flores
Dilson Herrera
Juan Lagares
Matt den Dekker

This post had a lot of sarcasm behind it, unfortunately the Mets will probably lead all of Major League Baseball in hitting for a season or two while the New York Yankees continue to struggle. That's baseball and you can't predict it.

Yankees Will Not Name Tino Martinez Hitting Coach

Told Tino Martinez is not under consideration to replace Kevin Long as #Yankees hitting instructor.
— Bob Klapisch (@BobKlap) October 11, 2014

So much for that....

Mets Hire Kevin Long For Hitting Coach

The New York Mets are reportedly hiring the Yankees former hitting coach and self proclaimed hitting guru Kevin Long. This would make for an interesting reunion between Long and Curtis Granderson for the 2015 season. Granderson easily had his best offensive season of his career under Long after a small mechanical adjustment, although he returned to or below career norms right after. Interesting to say the least.

Long Excited to Join "On the Rise" Mets

Former Yankees Hitting Coach Kevin Long is excited to join the Mets.

Long, 47, was hired for the same position by New York's NL representative yesterday. In eight seasons with the Yanks, in spite of his struggles lately, Long often proved contributive, helping the club average at least 4.5 runs per game each year from 2007-2012.

"I'm excited to get the opportunity to work with a team that I think is on the rise," Long said yesterday, via MLB.com. "I had a great meeting with [GM] Sandy [Alderson] and [manager] Terry [Collins] yesterday, and I can't wait to get started and help in any way I can."

Alderson also expressed confidence in Long switching boroughs, calling the move to acquire him a "very positive step" for the team. 

"Kevin's experience, success, and wealth of knowledge make him the perfect fit as our hitting instructor," he said. 

As those attributes should, with Long's Yankees only batting lower than .260 twice during his tenure with them. Nonetheless, since that duo did unfortunately come over the last two seasons it's basically a mystery how Long's offenses will perform now that he's in Queens, especially since the Mets are obviously a lot younger going into 2015 than their crosstown rivals.

Jason Giambi the Next Yankees Hitting Coach?

The New York Yankees are still without a hitting coach after firing long time hitting guru Kevin Long. Many names, nostalgic or not, have been named as possible replacements including Tino Martinez, Paul O'Neill, Jorge Posada, Hideki Matsui, Dante Bichette, Chili Davis, and others including former Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi.

Giambi was the Yankees first baseman replacing Tino Martinez from 2002-2008 as he passed the torch to Mark Teixeira and is still listed as an active player at age 43 with the Cleveland Indians. Giambi hit well during his major league career but his biggest asset was getting on base. Giambi will likely retire with a .399 OBP with 1,366 walks which is 32nd best all time. This is all before you consider his 440 career home runs and MVP Awards and hitting titles with the Oakland Athletics.

Giambi has quite the reputation with the players and has drawn praise from current manager Terry Francona in recent years for his leadership and coaching ability. Giambi has also been one of the few players that have used PED's, admitted it, and came back better and better for it in the league. If anyone can use Giambi as a mentor more than a coach isn't it Alex Rodriguez? A Rod, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann, etc. already know how to hit but if they can learn something from Giambi I think he would be worth his weight in gold. Giambi could also be great teaching McCann and Mark Teixeira especially because he faced the shift, and went against the shift, for many years during his playing career.

Giambi was called a future manager by Terry Francona and could use the Yankees hitting coach position as a stepping stone for his ultimate goal. If the Yankees want to bring the Giambino back they have my vote of confidence.

Tino Martinez and Time for Forgiveness

My name is Daniel Burch, I am a fan of the New York Yankees, and I forgive Tino Martinez. It’s crazy that I even had to start out a post like that but it’s getting ridiculous out here. Martinez, the former Yankees legend who has a plaque in Monument Park for God’s sake, is being bashed all over the Yankees blogosphere by bloggers and beat writers when the idea is brought up that he should be the next hitting coach in New York. Everyone is extremely quick to bring up his time in Miami, his choking allegations, and his ultimate firing as reasons to not bring him into New York again on the coaching staff. It’s over people and it’s time to forgive, again.

It looks like the Yankees have already forgiven and forgotten, or don’t care as they shouldn’t since it happened in MIAMI not NEW YORK, as they held Tino Martinez Day at Yankee Stadium this past season. If the Yankees can forgive then so should you. I could be wrong but I don’t believe Tino ever admitted to physically choking a player, although I believe he did admit to physical confrontation which is probably not all that uncommon in the clubhouse, and even if he did so what? People make mistakes, it’s the first time I can remember his name ever being dragged through the mud for negative reasons, and everyone should get at least one free pass and get out of jail free card in life.

Tino screwed up but only because Tino has the fire that this lackadaisical Yankees squad needs and lacks. Tino was a professional hitter and has been hanging around Yankee Stadium and awful lot lately which leads me to believe that he could at least be in consideration for the job, and he should be in consideration for the job.

Tino was the Marlins coach in 2013 and it’s about to be 2015 so it’s time to forgive and forget. If you’re not comfortable with forgetting, then simply forgive. Besides, fear is the ultimate motivator so maybe this is what Brian McCann and Mark Teixeira need to finally start beating the shift. I kid, somewhat. 

TGP Daily Poll: Hideki Matsui Will Be Next Yankees Hitting Coach

Yankees GM Brian Cashman noted the next Yankees hitting coach would bring a little more international flare to the team, which sounds a lot like Hideki Matsui to me. What say you?

Vote in our poll. 

Quick Hit: Red Sox, Braves, Blue Jays, Mets, Others Interested In Kevin Long

Recently fired Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long is not expected to be out of a job long and the list of teams is already starting to take shape.The Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays, and the New York Mets are all said to be interested in retaining the hitting guru for their hitting coach positions. One would think that the Oakland Athletics and others would be interested in Long as well if their current hitting coaches, Chili Davis specifically, were to leave for another team.

Reportedly teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Milwaukee Brewers also have varying degrees of interest in Long as well.