Hello… Mike Francesa Joins Twitter

Who needs a Yankees game today or a Royal Wedding when Mike Francesa of WFAN has joined Twitter and promised to use it this weekend? Nothing. Exactly.

Mike Francesa’s Twitter account is LIVE. Follow him @MikeFrancesa (how in the world was that tag not taken already?). This is surprising given the fact that Mike had often talked down about the possibility of joining Twitter with the rest of the world, but apparently a change of heart has been made. Or WFAN is making him, which wouldn’t surprise me in the least.

Mike told us he didn’t plan on responding to tweets that were sent his way though, which could be a good or a bad thing for him. Saying this out loud opens yourself up to flame wars, but at the same time it opens yourself up to criticism if you ever do respond. Whatever. I’m still going to have fun with it.

Follow us on Twitter by following @GreedyStripes. We may not talk like a moron and have zero baseball knowledge and credibility but at least we’ll answer you. Whether you’re a starting pitchah or not.

You can also follow the most amazing, beautiful and special woman in the world on Twitter as well, my Kari Ann. I loves you my baby girl and I hope you have the very best day.

The Last Time the Red Sox Spanked the Yankees…

Let’s not mince words, let us not beat around the bush and let’s leave all the equivocation at the door. The New York Yankees got spanked by the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday to the tune of a 14-1 final score. While my beautiful girlfriend sat in bed with me working from home, she is a CPA so this is crunch time for her, I laid there beside her disgusted while I watched the game on my phone. I am not disgusted because I forgot the very real fact that every day is a new day in Major League Baseball, but I was because of the backlash that I was sure to read on Twitter. The Red Sox fans bragging, the Yankees fans running around trying to avoid the sky from falling on their heads, etc. I just avoided social media altogether, but today I am feeling a little more level-headed and today I remembered that one game is just that, one game. There’s theoretically 161 others throughout the course of an MLB season and this isn’t the first time, nor will it be the last time, that either the Red Sox spanked the Yankees or vice versa. Life went on then, and life will again, but just in case you were doubting that as a Yankees fan base this week I wanted to take the opportunity to remind everyone reading just what happened the last time the Red Sox spanked the Yankees. 

The date was five years ago on Saturday, June 1 of 2013. The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox were facing off head-to-head inside Yankee Stadium and the pitching matchup was Phil Hughes (Yankees) vs. Felix Doubront (Red Sox). The final score was 11-1 in favor of the Red Sox in a game that took a shade under three-and-a-half hours to complete. The Red Sox were in first place at the time while the Yankees were in second place trying to chip away at the early lead by Boston. While New York didn’t that night, and things probably looked at grim then as they did Wednesday morning when everyone woke up, looking at the rest of the season may give us all some hope. 

The Yankees finished the 2013 season with an 85-77 record, but an embarrassing 6-13 record with the Red Sox head-to-head. The Yankees spent just 17 days in first place that season and the team missed the postseason entirely. Now why would this give us Yankees fans hope? Well the starting lineup on that day for New York was Brett Gardner, Kevin Youkilis, Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira, Vernon Wells, Jayson Nix, David Adams, Ichiro Suzuki and Chris freaking Stewart. That’s disgusting just reading that, and this 2018 team is much more talented, much deeper and flat out better than the team Brian Cashman and company put out there in 2013. Despite this lopsided loss at the hands of the Red Sox and despite a roster that rivaled some team’s Triple-A team in 2013 the Yankees won 85 games in 2013, so what do you think the 2018 version of the Yankees will do with a much deeper roster? 

The team will bounce back, they will win, and this game will just be a blip on the radar come October. The sky didn’t fall, and the world didn’t end back in 2013, and it won’t here in 2018 either. Calm down, exhale, and let’s get back to winning baseball games in this rivalry tonight inside Fenway Park.

Yankees Postseason History Recap: Alex Rodriguez in 2009

The 2009 season was a season for the Yankees and their fans that came with a lot of hope but a lot of pressure at the same time. The team had went out and signed huge free agents like CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Mark Teixeira while acquiring the likes of Nick Swisher from the Chicago White Sox while their big-money star third baseman Alex Rodriguez started the season on the DL with a hip injury. Alex came back seemingly healthier than ever hitting a home run on the first pitch he saw this season and he ended up with 30 home runs and 100 RBI on the dot after a huge final game of the season.


Alex was riding high into the postseason as he looked to finally break out like a 13-year old boy and while the Yankees searched for the 27th World Series title in the franchise’s history. Alex finished the 2009 postseason with a .365 average, six home runs and 18 RBI but no home run may have been bigger than the one he hit on October 9th, 2009.


On this day against the Minnesota Twins the Yankees DH slugged a two-run home run late to tie the game, a game that the Yankees ultimately went on to win. Without that win the ALCS and eventually the World Series may never have come.

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!

Article Revisit: 2017 Closes the Door on Another Era

Back almost one year ago to the day I wrote the following article labeled “2017 Closes the Door on Another Era” and the basic premise of the article was “out with the old and in with the new.” In the article I described how Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira would be riding off into the retirement sunset while other veterans such as Andrew Miller, Carlos Beltran, Ivan Nova and (temporarily at least) Aroldis Chapman had said their goodbye’s after being traded away. I opinioned that in their place would come members of the Yankees as a youth movement would finally hit the Bronx and I finished the article with the words” Embrace the change, it’s coming either way.” Who would have thought the change that was coming was going to be this sudden, this extreme and this damn fun? Well besides me of course. Enjoy the article as we look back on it from one year ago.

Saturday, October 1, 2016

2017 Closes the Door on Another Era

The 2016 season has been a huge season for not only the New York Yankees team but for the entire Yankees organization in many ways. Out with the old and in with the new seemed to be the theme as players like Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira either retired or announced their intentions to retire while other players like Andrew Miller, Carlos Beltran, Ivan Nova and Aroldis Chapman said their goodbye’s after being traded to other teams. The door is being shut on the era that began back in 2009 when Brian Cashman unloaded on the free agent market adding any and all top talent that he wanted and that door and era will be completely shut after the 2017 season.

Leftovers from that era are CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda, Nathan Eovaldi and Masahiro Tanaka among others and all four could be free agents after the season. Sabathia, Pineda and Eovaldi’s contracts run out while Tanaka can opt out after the 2017 season while looking for a new deal and assuming his health I find that opt-out a true possibility heading into next season. In their spots may be a combination of Luis Severino, Luis Cessa, Bryan Mitchell, Chad Green, James Kaprielian and others.

Yes, Brett Gardner has a deal that runs through the 2018 season while Jacoby Ellsbury is owed somewhere near $90 million but while Gardner is moveable the Ellsbury contract is probably not. We won’t see a 100% turnover after the 2017 season but the era will be closed nonetheless, especially if Gardner is moved this offseason or next July. Brian McCann may also be moved this offseason back to the Atlanta Braves so they can sell tickets in their new stadium. Either way the only constant is change and a new door is opening for New York beginning in 2017.

That door is labeled “youth” and it’s a beautiful thing. So as we say goodbye to the latest era of bad contracts and veteran presences in the clubhouse we say hello to manageable contracts, youth and possibly a new core. Or maybe a new dynasty. I’m not going to be the one to tell them it won’t happen. Embrace the change, it’s coming either way. 

2016 Article Revisit: Is This 1995 All Over Again? It May Be!

This article was written right at one year ago to the date asking the question of whether the 2016 version of the New York Yankees were like the 1995 Yankees who not only made the postseason as the Wild Card but also helped sparked a dynasty. As we sit here in 2017 asking the question of whether this version of the Yankees can be like the 1996 Yankees I thought now would be a good time to revisit this article and see just how much of a fortune teller I really am. Enjoy the article and what's left of this long weekend.

Saturday, September 3, 2016

Is This 1995 All Over Again? It May Be!

The New York Yankees just got done celebrating and honoring the 1996 edition of the Bronx Bombers that defied the odds all the way to the World Series last month and this month they could do some more honoring if the cards fall in the right place. See that 1996 team would have been nothing, strong words I know but they are my opinion only, without that 1995 season that scrapped and clawed its way to the first ever Wild Card spot in MLB and the American League. It was the push, the drive, the experience and some kid named Derek Jeter (Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera were on the Yankees in 1995) that led the 1996 Yankees to the World Series championship. It was youth, hunger and fire and we are seeing a lot of similarities in the team we see on the field today to that 1995 team. Could it be de ja vu all over again?


The 1995 Yankees were under the .500 mark at the All-Star break and many had suspicions of their first baseman Don Mattingly hanging it up at seasons end. Now while the Yankees were doing well heading into the break and hovering around the .500 mark the team was not meeting or exceeding expectations which led to a sell off of veterans and a youth movement in the Bronx. Mark Teixeira announced his retirement at season’s end and Alex Rodriguez rode off into the sunset as well but despite all the roster moves and “losses” the Yankees have continued to get better as the season has gone along. Just like the 1995 Yankees did.


The 1995 Yankees entered September five games out of the Wild Card with 32 games remaining but Buck Showalter and company were up to the task. The Yankees won 25 of their remaining 32 games that month and clinched the Wild Card with 24-year old Andy Pettitte leading the pitching staff along with key veterans and an absolute ton of youth.

The Yankees probability of making the postseason were low that season and the team simply refused to quit and refused to lie down without a fight. They slugged their way, clawed their way and pitched their way to the postseason much like these Yankees today led by Gary Sanchez, Didi Gregorius and so many others are doing today. I’m not saying they will run the gauntlet and come out on the other side again in 2016 much like they did in 1995 but I have a feeling manager Joe Girardi and his crew won’t go down without at least letting the other 19 teams (slight exaggeration) in the AL East and 2nd Wild Card hunts know that they’ve been in a fight.


Let’s go boys, let’s get this done.

While We Wait: 2009 YES Network Yankeeography

While we wait for the game.... anyone fancy a movie? How about the YES Network's Yankeeography on the 2009 Yankees World Series team? Enjoy!!

This Day In New York Yankees History 8/2: That's a lot of Teix Messages and RIP Thurman Munson

Many switch hitters have played this game of baseball but none have had more games in which they hit a home run from both sides of the plate than Mark Teixeira. Teixeira sent a Teix message on this day in 2011 from both sides of the plate for the 12th time in his career. The amazing part was that the two home runs game in a rain shortened victory in Chicago. Teixeira passed Eddie Murray and Chili Davis for the record.

Also on this day in 2007 the Yankees started an inning by giving up eight runs to the Chicago White Sox in a single frame. The Yankees would answer in the bottom of the inning by scoring eight runs of their own to tie the game in an eventual 13-9 loss. This marks only the second time in major league history that eight or more runs were scored in the same inning by each team.

Finally on this day in 1979 the Yankees captain Thurman Munson is killed when the Cessna Citation I/SP jet he is learning to fly crashes near a Canton-Akron airport. The Yankees catcher had been learning to fly for over two years so he could get home to his family in Ohio during off days. Munson was 32.

Can CC make it 2 opening wins in a row?…

Today could very well be the start of the final season in pinstripes for Carsten Charles Sabathia, Jr.  With his contract expiring at the end of the year, I can easily see the Yankees opting to pay a cost-controlled young pitcher to take Sabathia’s spot in the rotation as opposed to shelling out the $10 million or so that it will take to re-sign the soon-to-be 37-year-old Sabathia.

CC has been one of the most revered members of the Yankees clubhouse and he’s made his mark on a franchise that will ensure he’s invited to many future Old Timer’s Days.  

CC was an undisputed ace when he originally signed with the Yankees prior to the 2009 season.  His arrival, along with A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira, helped power the Yankees to their last World Championship. 

Credit:  Andrew Theodorakis, New York Daily News

The first four years of CC’s contract were good.  He had records of 19-8, 21-7, 19-8, and 15-6, respectively.  Then age and injuries hit.  In the last three years combined, CC has won less games than he did in any single year between 2009 and 2011. 

Until last year, CC had never won his first start of the season.  I took a look back at his first starts and the results are ugly.  In his first seasonal starts covering eight years, CC is 1-4, with 3 no decisions.  It doesn’t bode well for today but like last year, he could surprise or at least I hope he does. 

April 6, 2009

Baltimore Orioles 10, New York Yankees 5

4 1/3 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 0 SO (Loss)

April 4, 2010

Boston Red Sox 9, New York Yankees 7

5 1/3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO (No Decision)

March 31, 2011

New York Yankees 6, Detroit Tigers 3

6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO (No Decision)

April 6, 2012

Tampa Bay Rays 7, New York Yankees 6

6 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO (No Decision)

April 1, 2013

Boston Red Sox 8, New York Yankees 2

5 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO (Loss)

April 1, 2014

Houston Astros 6, New York Yankees 2

6 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO (Loss)

April 9, 2015

Toronto Blue Jays 6, New York Yankees 3

5 2/3 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO (Loss)

April 9, 2016

New York Yankees 8, Detroit Tigers 4

6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO (Win)

If CC plays true to form, he’ll go about 6 innings and give up approximately 8 hits and 5 or 6 runs. 

I hope Gary Sanchez has better results waiting in his bat than an 0-for-5 performance like Opening Day.  We’ll need the offense.

Given this may be CC’s last year, I am hopeful that he provides one of his best season opening starts for his time with the Yankees.  I know that Mark Spitz once said “Past performance speaks a tremendous amount about one’s ability and likelihood for success”, but it doesn’t have to be.  I prefer the quote “Do not give your past the power to define your future.”  If this is indeed CC’s farewell season in Pinstripes, here’s hoping that he provides us with some vintage Sabathia (just not the 'first start of the season' variety).  

Turn back the clock, and let’s go.  

Have a great Tuesday!  A winning Tuesday works for me.

Joe Girardi’s Plan to Fix the World Baseball Classic

Joe Girardi has more important things to fix than the World Baseball Classic in my extremely invested, yet ultimately unimportant, opinion but that was just what he was talking about this week with the New York Times. Rather than spending time on who is going to take the fourth and fifth spots in the Yankees starting rotation or who is going to pitch in the middle innings each and every day the Yankees manager is discussing ways to improve the WBC so why not talk about it. If you can’t tell my sarcasm meter is going off the charts right now, let me reign that it. Be right back.

Okay, I’m back. Really though the Yankees manager has a plan and a few ideas to fix the World Baseball Classic. Let’s be real, the WBC needs fixing. Having these players play in games that are intense and as important as they are in the middle of March is simply irresponsible in my opinion and too many injuries are happening for a glorified exhibition tournament that represents your home land. Again, my opinion.

Girardi’s plan is simple, make the game that is loved worldwide and played in the warm weather months played in the warm weather months. Period. Girardi wants the WBC moved to the summer months instead of two or three weeks into Spring Training for many of these players that attend. Girardi suggests moving the first two rounds of the tournament back even a week or so to help players, and especially pitchers, have some work under their belts and on their arms before fulling letting it go in a WBC game. Girardi then suggests playing the semifinals and the finals during the downtime at the All Star Game every single season.

There’s some validity to the idea and the backlash of having the WBC played in early March. There are more elbow injuries that require Tommy John surgery in April than any other month and we’ve seen many injuries early in spring and during the WBC including Mark Teixeira’s wrist injury in 2013. Whether that will be taken into account after this WBC or not remains to be seen but what Girardi is saying, for once, makes sense. Let’s see if anyone is listening.

A little Birdy told me…

Credit:  Getty Images

Actually, I have no friggin’ idea.  The question?  How will Greg Bird hit this year?  

‘With a bat’…alright, I set myself up for that one.  But seriously, what results will that bat produce this season for the Yankees new first baseman?

The Yankees have a long history of strong first basemen in recent memory.  Don Mattingly was beloved from beginning to end, but back problems reduced his effectiveness toward the end of his career.  I remain convinced that he would have had a Hall of Fame career if the back problems had not robbed him of crucial years.  

When Donnie Baseball retired after the excruciating loss to the Seattle Mariners in the 1995 play-offs, there was uncertainty over who would fill his shoes.  On December 7, 1995, the Yankees traded third baseman Russ Davis and pitcher Sterling Hitchcock to the Seattle Mariners to acquire first baseman Constantino “Tino” Martinez, along with relievers Jim Mecir and Jeff Nelson.  It set up the chain of successive great first basemen for New York.  

After collecting a truckload of World Series rings, Tino left as a free agent following the 2001 season.  To replace Martinez, the Yankees dipped into the free agent market and snagged the Oakland A’s slugging first baseman Jason Giambi.  After the PED issues and deteriorating performance, Giambi left as a free agent following the 2008 season.  To replace the Giambino, the Yankees dipped back into free agency to pick up Mark Teixeira (the same year they signed CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, which led to the 2009 World Series Championship).

Like Giambi, but unrelated to PEDs, Teixeira’s performance, as we sadly know, also deteriorated with time.  Injuries, age, his wife’s shopping habits, whatever the cause, it wasn’t pretty at the end.  Teixeira retired after the end of last season which leads us to our new first baseman, Gregory Paul Bird. 

It’s been a long and winding road to get here but nonetheless here we are.  

Since he missed most of last year due to injury, the Yankees haven’t seen Bird since he played 46 games in 2015, hitting 11 home runs and 31 RBI’s to go with a .261 batting average.  Bird represents the youngest first-time, full-time (at the beginning of the year) starting Yankees first baseman since Donnie Baseball.  Mattingly was 23 when he made his first major impact in 1983. He had played 91 games the year before but ’83 was the first full season as the team’s starting first baseman.  I remember when Mattingly was in the minors.  Steve “Bye-Bye” Balboni drew all the raves for his massive home runs.  Mattingly was viewed more as a singles hitter. Yet, Mattingly succeeded and Balboni went to Kansas City for the start of a journeyman career.  It would have been impossible to predict how Mattingly would perform at the major league level based on his minor league stats.  That’s where I am with Greg Bird.  

With Bird, I see a professional hitter.  I have no doubt that he’ll be successful.  I just don’t know how successful.  I clearly prefer Bird under trial and error versus handing the job to Chris “I only hit home runs” Carter or giving the job to Tyler Austin when he returns from the broken foot. 

Bird has big shoes to fill when you look at the inaugural year, as Yankees, for the above-referenced line of Yankees first basemen.

First full year as Yankees first baseman

PLAYER	AGE	GAMES	HR	RBI	BA
Mattingly	23	153	23	110	0.343
Martinez	28	155	25	117	0.292
Giambi	31	155	41	122	0.314
Teixeira	29	156	39	122	0.292

First full year with original team

PLAYER	AGE	GAMES	HR	RBI	BA
Mattingly	23	153	23	110	0.343
Martinez	24	136	16	66	0.257
Giambi	25	140	20	79	0.291
Teixeira	23	146	26	84	0.259

For the purposes of my analysis, I defined the first full year as the first with more than 100 games played.  

If Bird approaches these numbers (in the neighborhood), the Yankees will be very pleased.  My guess, which is absolutely worthless, is that Bird will hit about 20 homers and 70 RBI’s.  He should also hit for average (unlike his backup).  

Obviously, how Bird’s predecessors hit have nothing to do with how he will perform, but you would expect numbers comparable to those put up by Martinez and Giambi during the debut seasons with their original teams.  If he puts up Mattingly’s numbers, we might be talking about how the Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox to take the AL East.   Okay, that statement might be a little overly aggressive but how wonderful it would be if he did.

When the season is done, I think the Yankees will be happy with Bird’s performance assuming he stays healthy.  

A trip down California’s Pacific Coast Highway through Pebble Beach might have been a prettier route to take than the one I just did to get to Bird’s forecast, but what do I know.  I am just a fan.

MiLB.com has released their Top Ten Overall Farm System Rankings.  They have the Yankees at #2, citing Gleyber Torres of the “new face of the youth movement”.  They also referenced Clint Frazier, Blake Rutherford, Aaron Judge, Jorge Mateo, James Kaprielian, Justus Sheffield, and Albert Abreu as reasons for the high ranking.  The Atlanta Braves were the only team rated higher, thanks to a stronger pitching pipeline.

So much for the 53-man NFL roster, the Yankees sent 5 more down to minor league camp for re-assignment. Counting the players away at the WBC, that leaves 48 players in the march to 25. The latest departees are RHP Johnny Barbato, RHP Giovanny Gallegos, RHP Chance Adams, LHP Dietrich Enns, and 3B Miguel Andujar.  I can’t say that I am really surprised by any of the cuts, although I had expected Adams to get more looks during spring training.  He appeared in 3 games for a total of 4 innings, with 2.25 ERA.  However, more walks (6) than strikeouts (5) was troubling.  If he can solve his control issues, there’s a good chance we’ll see him again.  

Wow, that’s the Big Mike I want this year!  I know, I know, spring stats mean zilch (especially with numerous major leaguers away at the WBC), but Michael Pineda put up great numbers (or rather perfect numbers) last night against the Philadelphia Phillies.  5 innings, no hits, no runs, no walks, 8 strikeouts.  

After Aroldis Chapman contributed his usual scoreless inning, Chad Green finished up the game, allowing the only hit and run for the Phillies as the Yankees cruised 3-1.  The Yankees offense was completely Baby Bomber-powered.  A home run by Greg Bird, a run scoring single by Gary Sanchez (who was 2-for-2), and a sac fly by Dustin Fowler.  Phillies starter, and former Red Sock, Clay Buchholz took the loss (his second loss to the Bombers this month).  

Austin Romine left the game after being hit in the hand with a wild pitch from Green, but, fortunately, x-rays after the game proved negative.

Veteran reliever Ernesto Frieri was in the Yankees clubhouse prior to the game and it is speculated that he may sign a minor league contract with the team as soon as today.  Frieri recently pitched for Columbia in the WBC but hasn’t been in the major leagues since 2015.

The Yankees improved their spring record to 14-5.

James Kaprielian will make his long-anticipated first start in Grapefruit League action later today in Dunedin, FL against the Toronto Blue Jays.  

Have a great Thursday!

So it Seems Voyeurism May be Back in the Bronx

I may or may not be using the term “voyeurism” as Kode but the general gist of the message is the same, people may actually begin coming back to Yankee Stadium in 2017. The Yankees have added amenities to the stadium and not just any amenities but amenities that the fans actually wanted to see added to the Cathedral in the Bronx. The fans, as a general consensus and as a whole if we are using the term loosely, also wanted a youth movement and a rebuild and they are getting that as well. Gone are the Alex Rodriguez’s and Mark Teixeria’s long past their prime and in their spots are Greg Bird and Gary Sanchez who haven’t barely hit puberty let alone their primes yet.

These are exciting times in the Bronx. The winds of change are blowing and they will keep blowing. They will keep blowing as they bring REASSURANCE that the things I say will happen. Some things are harder to do and say when there are young guys involved. It’s hard to find the words and begin the process but once you do it will begin to flow and it will all come out at once until this thing is done, and over and dead. Just be patient and know that the better times are coming, no not nearly as fast as anyone would have hoped or imagined, and they are going to be the best times ever.

A dynasty is coming and an unstoppable force is being born. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and it wasn’t torn down in a day either just as a quick reminder, but the greatness that was Rome did happen and that should and will never be forgotten. Just enjoy the ride. 

This Day in New York Yankees History 12/23: Mark Teixeira vs. Nick Johnson

On this day in 2009 Nick Johnson signed a one year deal worth $5.75 million to return to the New York Yankees. Johnson would come back to be the DH after Hideki Matsui was let walk to the Angels. Johnson was traded before the 2004 season for Javier Vazquez the first time.


Also on this day in 2008 the Yankees also signed first basemen Mark Teixeira to a eight year contract worth $180 million. Teixeira was coming off a season in which he posted a .308 batting average with 33 home runs and 121 RBI's. Teixeira joins recently signed AJ Burnett and CC Sabathia as big names the Yankees have signed this offseason.


Finally on this day in 2005 the New York Yankees introduced their clean shaven Johnny Damon to the fans and media at Yankee Stadium. Damon was one year removed from the cavemen 2004 World Series Boston Red Sox championship team and signed a four year deal worth $52 million.

My Thoughts on the Possibility of Kendrys Morales in the Bronx

Boy my Twitter has not blown up like it did this week in quite some time. That’s why I enjoy the hot stove season and offseason so much I guess. One little rumor and people start losing their minds. This little rumor was the rumor that the New York Yankees had inquired about the former Kansas City Royals designated hitter Kendrys Morales. Of course thoughts immediately went from Morales to the possibility of having a deal in place for Yankees catcher Brian McCann causing many Yankees fans to speculate and lose their minds. Well I was at work when all this was going down and I want to lose my mind too with speculation… so here goes.

Morales would add another switch hitter into the fold and a power hitter into the fold much like the Yankees are losing this winter in Mark Teixeira. Morales hit 30 home runs during the 2016 season and does not come linked to any sort of draft pick compensation so he would make sense for any team, including the Yankees. The Yankees won’t be without their competition though as the Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox among others would also be interested presumably just looking at the current state of their rosters. This all hinges on being able to move Brian McCann though for the Yankees.

I also like the fact that Morales could add some depth and insurance at first base for Greg Bird and Tyler Austin, assuming both make the roster out of spring training, which is never a bad thing to have. Morales would definitely be a Plan C or Plan D at the position, he has only played there 15 times in the last two seasons, but having someone at least familiar with the position would be a great addition to the ball club in my opinion.

The power is nice, the positional depth is also nice and the fact that he is a switch hitter almost always fits in with the Yankees way of doing things. It all comes down to the contract though. At 33-years old handing out a deal any longer than two seasons just seems foolish to me. One year at most is what I would personally want to go but I can see a team like Boston giving him two or three making that a moot point. Do I want Morales? Sure, I think he would fit the squad well. Do I think the Yankees will ultimately sign him? Honestly, I don’t know. Again, this all hinges on a move for Brian McCann.

I love the offseason. Stay tuned. 

Free Agency: Complete List of 163 MLB Free Agents

MLB free agency has officially begun and 163 players including players with club options, player options and vesting options will officially hit the market. While the free agent class is presumed to be pretty light by all accounts there may be a few diamonds hidden in the rough for the Yankees to take a waiver on. Here is the complete list for your reference thanks to the crew over at USA Today.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

BALTIMORE (10) — Pedro Alvarez, dh; Michael Bourn, of; Brian Duensing, lhp; Tommy Hunter, rhp; Logan Ondrusek, rhp; Steve Pearce, 1b; Nolan Reimold, of; Drew Stubbs, of; Mark Trumbo, of; Matt Wieters, c.

BOSTON (5) — Ryan Hanigan, c; Aaron Hill, 3b; Junichi Tazawa, rhp; Koji Uehara, rhp; Brad Ziegler, rhp.

CHICAGO (5) — Matt Albers, rhp; Alex Avila, c; Austin Jackson, of; Justin Morneau, dh; p-James Shields, rhp.

CLEVELAND (4) — Marlon Byrd, of; Coco Crisp, of; Rajai Davis, of; Mike Napoli, 1b.

DETROIT (3) — Erick Aybar, ss; Casey McGehee, 3b; Jarrod Saltalamacchia, c.

HOUSTON (4) — Jason Castro, c; Doug Fister, rhp; Colby Rasmus, of; Luis Valbuena, 3b.

KANSAS CITY (6) — Drew Butera, c; Luke Hochevar, rhp; Kris Medlen, rhp; Kendrys Morales, dh; Peter Moylan, rhp; Edinson Volquez, rhp.

LOS ANGELES (7) — Andrew Bailey, rhp; Jhoulys Chacin, rhp; c-Yunel Escobar, 3b; Tim Lincecum, rhp; Geovany Soto, c; Jered Weaver, rhp; Chris Wilson, lhp.

MINNESOTA (1) — Kurt Suzuki, c.

NEW YORK (2) — Billy Butler, of; Mark Teixeira, 1b.

OAKLAND (2) — Ross Detwiler, lhp; Sam Fuld, of.

SEATTLE (5) — Franklin Gutierrez, of; Chris Iannetta, c; Dae-ho Lee, 1b; Adam Lind, 1b; Drew Storen, rhp.

TAMPA BAY (3) — Kevin Jepsen, rhp; Logan Morisson, 1b; Alexei Ramirez, ss.

TEXAS (6) — Carlos Beltran, of; Ian Desmond, of; Carlos Gomez, of; c-Derek Holland, lhp; Colby Lewis, rhp; Mitch Moreland, 1b.

TORONTO (10) — Jose Bautista, of; Joaquin Benoit, rhp; Brett Cecil, lhp; R.A. Dickey, rhp; Edwin Encarnacion, dh; Scott Feldman, rhp; Gavin Floyd, rhp; c-Jason Grilli, rhp; Dioner Navarro, c; Michael Saunders, of.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ARIZONA (2) — Daniel Hudson, rhp; Rickie Weeks, of.

ATLANTA (3) — Emilio Bonifacio, of; Eric O'Flaherty, lhp; A.J. Pierzynski, c.

CHICAGO (9) — Trevor Cahill, rhp; Aroldis Chapman, lhp; Chris Coghlan, of; Dexter Fowler, of; c-Jason Hammel, rhp; Munenori Kawasaki, 2b-3b; David Ross, c; Joe Smith, rhp; Travis Wood, lhp.

CINCINNATI (2) — Ross Ohlendorf, rhp; Alfredo Simon, rhp.

COLORADO (6) — Jorge De La Rosa, lhp; Daniel Descalso, inf; Nick Hundley, c; Boone Logan, lhp; Ryan Raburn, of; Mark Reynolds, 1b.

LOS ANGELES (11) — Brett Anderson, lhp; Joe Blanton, rhp; Jesse Chavez, rhp; Rich Hill, lhp; J.P. Howell, lhp; Kenley Jansen, rhp; p-Scott Kazmir, lhp; Josh Reddick, of; c-Carlos Ruiz, c; Justin Turner, 3b; Chase Utley, 2b.

MIAMI (7) — Andrew Cashner, rhp; Mike Dunn, lhp; Jeff Francoeur, of; Chris Johnson, 1b-3b; Jeff Mathis, c; Dustin McGowan, rhp; Fernando Rodney, rhp.

MILWAUKEE (2) — Blaine Boyer, rhp; Chris Capuano, lhp.

NEW YORK (9) — Jerry Blevins, lhp; Yoenis Cespedes, of; Bartolo Colon, rhp; Alejandro De Aza, of; Kelly Johnson, 2b-3b; James Loney, 1b; Jon Niese, lhp; Fernando Salas, rhp; Neil Walker, 2b.

PHILADELPHIA (7) — Andres Blanco, 3b; Peter Bourjos, of; A.J. Ellis, c; Jeremy Hellickson, rhp; David Hernandez, rhp; Ryan Howard, 1b; Charlie Morton, rhp.

PITTSBURGH (5) — Neftali Feliz, rhp; Matt Joyce, of; Ivan Nova, rhp; Sean Rodriguez, inf; Ryan Vogelsong, rhp.

ST. LOUIS (4) — v-Matt Holliday, of; Brandon Moss, 1b-of; Jordan Walden, rhp; Jerome Williams, rhp.

SAN DIEGO (6) — Edwin Jackson, rhp; Jon Jay, of; Brandon Morrow, rhp; Clayton Richard, lhp; Adam Rosales, 3b; Carlos Villanueva, rhp.

SAN FRANCISCO (8) — Gordon Beckham, 2b; Gregor Blanco, of; Santiago Casilla, rhp; Javier Lopez, lhp; Joe Nathan, rhp; Angel Pagan, of; Jake Peavy, rhp; Sergio Romo, rhp.

WASHINGTON (9) — Matt Belisle, rhp; Sean Burnett, lhp; Stephen Drew, 2b; Chris Heisey, of; Mat Latos, rhp; Mark Melancon, rhp; Yusmeiro Petit, rhp; Wilson Ramos, c; Marc Rzepczynski, lhp.