My 2020 IBWAA Awards Votes for AL and NL Managers of the Year

 Aaron Boone is not the American League's Manager of the Year. In fact, I didn't even list him on my ballot (and for good reason). The New York Yankees were supposed to steam roll the entire American League en-route to a trip to the World Series and an eventual 28th World Series Championship for the franchise. All these things could still happen, but it will have to come as the 6th seed in the American League playoffs. To quote the manager that Boone replaced, it's not what you want. 

American League Manager of the Year: Rick Renteria (CHW)

Not many had the Chicago White Sox shocking the world and making the postseason in 2020, but I did, and the reason for much of their success has to start at the top. Their management rebuilt from within and did it the right way, and dividends are starting to pay off for the team, the management, and for manager Rick Renteria. Renteria had the AL's top spot until the final weekend of the season and absolutely deserves the AL's top manager award in my opinion. The only other manager who could give Renteria a run for his money, in my opinion, is Kevin Cash of the Tampa Bay Rays. 

                        National League Manager of the Year: Don Mattingly (MIA)

The National League is a no-brainer for me, and not much needs to be said about it. Don Mattingly led the Miami Marlins, 60-game crazy season or not, to the postseason. David Ross and David Bell would have probably been frontrunners in any other season, but not in 2020. The undefeated (in the postseason) Miami Marlins enter the postseason ready to upset some people, and I am here for it. 

Meet the 2019 Yankees: Giancarlo Stanton

The New York Yankees line of thinking is this (and of course I am speculating here) when it comes to acquiring or not acquiring generational talent like Manny Machado or Bryce Harper this offseason. The Yankees already feel like they have some generational talent of their own in Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, Gary Sanchez, and the man we are prepared to meet again this afternoon, Giancarlo Stanton. Will Stanton improve on, all things considered, what was a pretty damn good first year in pinstripes? Well, you will just have to stay tuned to find that out.

Giancarlo Stanton, 29-years old, is a right-handed and throwing outfielder and designated hitter for the New York Yankees that will likely split his time between left field, right field, and DH here in 2019. Stanton, all jokes aside about his closed stance, is a steady hitter that is capable of hitting .300 while also smashing 50 home runs a season if he ever learns to lay off pitches low and outside the strike zone. Giancarlo is prone to the strikeout, but when he makes contact it goes a long way, hard and fast.

Giancarlo Crus Michael Stanton was born on November 8, 1989 in Panorama City, California to father Michael Stanton and mother Jacinta Garay. Stanton attended Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga, California for two years before transferring to Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California where he was a three-sport athlete and caught the eye of the Miami Marlins. Giancarlo had previously accepted a scholarship to Tulane University while also turning down offers from UCLA, UNLV and USC to play football, but ultimately decided to sign with the then Florida Marlins who selected Stanton in the second round, 76^th overall, in the 2007 MLB First Year Players Draft. Stanton signed with Florida for a modest $475,000 signing bonus and began his professional career in the Gulf Coast League with the Gulf Coast League Marlins.

By 2009, Stanton had already begun receiving invites to Marlins spring training camp. Stanton participated in the 2009 All-Star Futures Game as well as the Arizona Fall League after the 2009 season. Stanton began the 2010 season back in Triple-A, but he wouldn’t stay there for long as the Marlins called Giancarlo up on June 6, 2010, making Stanton the third youngest player to ever make his MLB debut for the Marlins. Giancarlo finished a strong rookie campaign by being named to the 2010 Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team and to Baseball America’s 2010 All-Rookie Team. Stanton struggled in his sophomore season, though, dealing with leg and eye injuries throughout the season that limited him to just 516 at-bats. Stanton would bounce back in 2012 and post an All-Star season that would include a trip to the Home Run Derby. Stanton missed both events with knee surgery, though, but Stanton still finished the season with 37 home runs and a .290 batting average. Another season for Stanton in 2013, and another injury riddled season for the young outfielder. Stanton participated in the World Baseball Classic in 2013, representing Team USA, but missed six weeks due to a Grade 2 hamstring injury, limiting him to just 116 games.

Stanton returned to his All-Star form in 2014, finishing the season with a .288 average with 37 home runs and 105 RBI to go along with 94 walks, a .555 slugging percentage and a .950 OPS. Stanton finished second in the NL MVP Award voting to Clayton Kershaw. After the season the Marlins gave Giancarlo a 13-year deal worth $325 million, the most lucrative contract in sports history, that also included a no-trade clause and an opt-out written into the contract after the 2019 season. Stanton had another injury riddled season in 2015, but yet another All-Star season as well, seeing his season end prematurely after breaking his hamate bone in his hand. Stanton had 27 home runs in just 74 games at the time of the injury. Stanton was not selected to the All-Star Game in 2016, but he did decide to participate in the Home Run Derby. Stanton hit 61 home runs in the Derby and took home the championship, en route to a great season that ended, once again, in injury.

Giancarlo looked to remain healthy and steady in 2017 and did just that for the first full season of his career. Giancarlo would win the National League MVP Award in his final season with the Marlins, posting an impressive stat line that included a .281 batting average, 57 home runs and 132 RBI. After the season, and under new management, the Miami Marlins decided they could no longer afford the massive contract that they gave Stanton just three years prior and decided to trade the face of their franchise. Miami agreed to a deal that would have sent Stanton to the St. Louis Cardinals, but Stanton refused to waive his no-trade clause and shot down the deal. Days later the Marlins agreed to trade Stanton to the San Francisco Giants, but once again Stanton refused to waive his NTC and killed any possibility of a deal. Third time was the charm for the Marlins, though, as the team agreed to send Stanton to the New York Yankees along with cash considerations for second baseman Starlin Castro and prospects Jorge Guzman and Jose Devers.

Stanton would hit a home run in his first at-bat for the Yankees and would finish his first season in the Bronx with a .266 average in 158 games played, notching 38 home runs, 34 doubles, and 100 RBI. Stanton would help lead the Yankees to 100 wins during the regular season and a victory in the AL Wild Card Game over the Oakland Athletics. Unfortunately, the Yankees season would end prematurely in the ALDS against the Boston Red Sox, but all-in-all you have to think that Stanton had an extremely successful first season in the Bronx. It gives you a lot of hope when you think about what we as a fan base could be in store for here in 2019. Good luck, Giancarlo!

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Miami Marlins 8/21

And just like that it is game time here in the Bronx between the New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins. In the first game of a quick two-game interleague play series the Yankees will send out Masahiro Tanaka while the Marlins will counter with Pablo Lopez inside Marlins Park. The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET inside Marlins Park in Miami and can be seen on the YES Network. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat app and by tuning into the Yankees radio broadcast with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.

Follow us on Twitter, @GreedyStripes, and “Like” us on Facebook, The Greedy Pinstripes, to keep up with us and the Yankees all season long. Enjoy the game, get out healthy and alive, and go Yankees!!

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Miami Marlins 8/21

Tonight the New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins will begin a quick two-game interleague series down in Marlins Park, welcome back Giancarlo! In the start tonight the Yankees will send Masahiro Tanaka out to the mound looking to start a new unbeaten streak while the Marlins will counter with a young pitcher in Pablo Lopez. Let’s get to it down inside Marlins Park in Miami.

Tanaka has lost each of his last two starts after going 14 starts consecutively without taking a loss prior. In his last start the Yankees right-hander allowed just two runs over six innings against the Tampa Bay Rays, but ell victim to bad run support from the Yankees offense in a loss.

Lopez was shaky in his last start against the Atlanta Braves allowing six runs in 5.1 innings pitched in a loss for the Marlins. Lopez will be making his ninth career MLB start tonight and will look to improve on his 38 K’s and 12 walks that he has allowed thus far.

The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET inside Marlins Park in Miami and can be seen on the YES Network. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat app and by tuning into the Yankees radio broadcast with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.

Enjoy the game, Tanaka better strike out every time he comes up to bat and go Yankees!!

Hello… Breaking News from the White House

Breaking news coming out of the White House this morning. President of the United States Donald Trump has officially renamed the months of the year going forward. Here are the new names as follows per a press release from FakeNews.com:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

Giancarlo

September

October

November

December

Stay tuned for more, but for now that is all. Hey you, I loves you!!!

Nathan Eovaldi’s Highlights as a Yankee

Nathan Eovaldi was acquired by the New York Yankees in a five-player deal with the Miami Marlins that saw Eovaldi, Garrett Jones and Domingo German come to the Bronx for right-handed pitcher David Phelps and third baseman Martin Prado. This deal was considered to be one of the few “losses” in a trade in recent years for Brian Cashman as Eovaldi made 48 starts for the Yankees in two seasons. Eovaldi posted a 4.45 ERA in 279 innings of work before having to undergo Tommy John surgery. Eovaldi was subsequently released by the team and snatched up by the Tampa Bay Rays who have rehabbed him back to the Major League level. That return to the MLB level continues tonight in the Bronx as he takes the mound against the Yankees with his new team, let’s take a look at the high spots for Eovaldi inside a Yankees uniform.

New Faces & Slow Starts in New York Are Nothing New

There is a lot that can be said about the George Steinbrenner era of New York Yankees baseball, but one thing that could not be said is that the team did not tend to always get their man. If the Yankees needed a first baseman they went out and got the best first baseman available each and every time. Need a pitcher? A few days after the determination was made prospects were being shipped out the door and a fresh new arm was headed to the Bronx. It was where the “Get Greedy” mantra began, and we got a glimpse of the past this winter when Brian Cashman and son of the Boss, Hal Steinbrenner, acquired reigning NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton from the Miami Marlins. Stanton has started his Yankees tenure off slower than expected, but he isn’t the first big time Yankees slugger to be acquired only to have a slow start to his Big Apple career. Let’s compare.

We all as Yankees fans know that there have been a few key acquisitions that started awfully slow, but ultimately rebounded to have good first seasons in New York and career's with the Yankees. That list of names includes Alex Rodriguez who was acquired in a trade with the Texas Rangers, Jason Giambi who was signed as a free agent from the Oakland Athletics and Johnny Damon who was signed as a free agent after leaving the Boston Red Sox. Does their past give us hope for Giancarlo Stanton's future?

Alex Rodriguez

2003 w/ TEX: .298/.396/.600/.995 with 47 HR and 118 RBI

2004 w/ NYY: .286/.375/.512/.888 with 36 HR and 106 RBI

Career w/ NYY: .283/.378/.523/.900 with 351 HR and 1096 RBI (12 seasons)

Jason Giambi

2001 w/ OAK: .342/.477/.660/1.137 with 38 HR and 128 RBI

2002 w/ NYY: .314/.435/.598/1.034 with 41 HR and 122 RBI

Career w/ NYY: .260/.404/.521/.925 with 209 HR and 604 RBI (7 seasons)

Johnny Damon

2005 w/ BOS: .316/.366/.439/.805 with 20 HR and 94 RBI

2006 w/ NYY: .285/.359/.482/.841 with 24 HR and 80 RBI

Career w/ NYY: .285/.363/.458/.821 with 77 HR and 296 RBI (4 seasons)

Giancarlo Stanton

2017 w/ MIA: .281/.376/.631/1.007 with 59 HR and 132 RBI

2018 w/ NYY: .227/.313/.455/.768 with 7 HR and 19 RBI (34 games)

Career w/ NYY: Stay tuned

As you can see a slow start or even a bad season to begin their tenures do not always spell the end or doomsday for these players. Stanton has plenty of contract left and an immense amount of talent to showcase before his Yankees tenure is in the books. I wasn’t worried when Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi or Johnny Damon got off to slower starts than you would like, and I am not worried about Stanton’s slow start either. We will try and revisit this post in October, that will be more telling than his stats as we entered the week here in May.

I said all that to say this, some fans need to just calm the hell down.

All stats courtesy of and thanks to Baseball Reference.

USA Today’s Weekly MLB Power Rankings

Let me start this post by saying that I am not happy to bring you this set of weekly MLB Power Rankings by the USA Today. Why? I think we all know why, because I think we all know who will be on top of the list. UGH. Oh well, carrying on now. Maybe this is all a dream like that 2004 season was, I hate that Major League Baseball cancelled that season. The Yankees were doing so well too…

In all seriousness though the Boston Red Sox are at the top of the Weekly Power Rankings list this week, and ultimately, they should be. Right now, they are the best team in Major League Baseball and all I can do is tip my cap to them and move on towards brighter, greener and better days. Following the Red Sox and rounding out the Top 5 in descending order are the Houston Astros (#2), the Arizona Diamondbacks (#3), the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (#4) and the New York Mets (#5).

The Yankees were 7^th in the last set of rankings and the team fell two spots to the 9^th spot on this set. That is not the direction you really want to trend if you’re the Yankees, but despite what you read on various Facebook groups around the web it is STILL early. Plenty of time to make up ground, and the team seems to be finally turning things on now. I’m not worried.

The Milwaukee Brewers were the biggest risers of the week winning six straight games and moving up five spots to the #11 position while the Colorado Rockies were the biggest fallers on the list dropping eight spots to the #18 position. Better luck next time kids.

To round out the American League East we obviously have the Red Sox in the top spot and the Yankees have the 9^th spot while the Blue Jays give the AL East a third team in the Top 10 at tenth. The Tampa Bay Rays are 23^rd while the Baltimore Orioles are 26^th. Womp, womp.

You guys want some early surprises to the list? How about the Arizona Diamondbacks who have won each of their first seven series to start the season, the first team to do so in 15 seasons? Not impressed? How about the Dodgers and Nationals being 12^th and 13^th respectively? These both looked to be Top 10 teams easily, but again it is early. They better watch their backs though because the Philadelphia Phillies, yes, those Phillies, are within striking distance of them both at the #14 position. The Atlanta Braves are 16^th… Not a typo. The Miami Marlins aren’t last either!! But they are 29^th…

Giancarlo Stanton Starts Slow... Nothing New

Okay Yankees fans, listen. Giancarlo Stanton has started his Yankees tenure a little slow and with a few more strikeouts than we, the fans, are comfortable with. You know what I say to that? So what? It is nothing new for Stanton and the man wearing the #27 in pinstripes has been exactly what he was when the team acquired him, a bit of a slow starter, but a finisher.

In the upcoming months, Stanton will improve and therefore, the Yankees' odds on winning the World Series will get better. Keep track of those odds through reliable sports books listed over at My Top Sportsbooks. They're easy to navigate and have been reviewed by experienced users.
Let's take a look at a month-by-month breakdown of what Stanton has done throughout his career with the Miami Marlins and the New York Yankees, courtesy of Baseball Reference.

March/April: .252/.341/.494/.835 with 38 home runs in 170 games
May: .277/.362/.587/.949 with 49 home runs in 162 games
June: .268/.346/.513/.859 with 44 home runs in 190 games
July: .262/.369/.573/.942 with 44 home runs in 158 games
August: .283/.381/.620/1.001 with 56 home runs in 168 games
September/October: .263/.358/.539/.898 with 39 home runs in 152 games

And for your reference here are Stanton's stats through 15 games:

.210/.310/.435/.735 with three home runs and 10 RBI. The keyword being FIFTEEN games.

As you can see it is nothing new for Stanton to heat up the warmer it gets outside, and that was down in Miami where it is generally a lot warmer than in New York. There is no reason why Stanton won't and can't do that again in 2018, at least if he is given the backing by the fans of the New York Yankees. Us. Stop booing the guy, support the guy, and ride his bat all the way to October... just like it was intended all along. World Series Championships are not won in March and April, and if I were a betting man I would bet on the Yankees being right in the thick of things in September and October, due in large part to the slow starting Stanton.

Meet a Prospect Special Edition: Giancarlo Stanton

Wow guys, Daniel Burch be slacking. Somehow, someway the New York Yankees shocked the world acquiring the reigning National League MVP from the Miami Marlins in Giancarlo Stanton and I did not formally and officially introduce him to the Greedy Pinstripes family. My apologies, I do not know how this one slipped through the cracks. With that said, and I don’t need to say much because it is Giancarlo freaking Stanton we are talking about here, let us honor and introduce one of the newest members of the Yankees the only way we know how. This is Meet a Prospect Special Edition: The Giancarlo freaking Stanton Edition baby!!

Giancarlo Cruz Michael Stanton was born on November 8, 1989 as a future man of many names. I say this because his mother calls him Cruz, but his father and other relatives call him Mike or Mikey. Stanton was known as Mike Stanton all the way through High School, his minor league career and through the 2011 season MLB season before letting it be known that he preferred to be called Giancarlo. Giancarlo comes from African American, Irish and Puerto Rican descent and grew up idolizing both Roberto Clemente and Ivan Rodriguez, who are both from Puerto Rico.

Stanton attended Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga, California for two years before transferring to Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California where “Mike” became a three-sport athlete. Stanton obviously played baseball, but also played wide receiver and cornerback in football, and also played basketball. Stanton was offered football scholarships from UCLA, UNLV and USC to play football but decided that baseball was his passion leading him to accept a scholarship from Tulane to play baseball, thus beginning his amateur career. Well, that was the plan anyway until the Florida Marlins came calling in the second round, 76^th overall, of the 2007 Major League Baseball First Year Players Draft with a $475,000 signing bonus. Rather than go to Tulane to play baseball like he committed to Giancarlo was headed to the minor leagues instead with the Gulf Coast League Marlins.

Giancarlo was moved through the Marlins system quickly after signing making quick pit stops in the Gulf Coast League, the Class-A Short Season New York – Penn League, and A-Ball through the 2008 season. While in A-Ball with the Greensboro Grasshoppers Giancarlo showed the Marlins what kind of power he could possess hitting 39 home runs with a .293 batting average and 97 RBI. Giancarlo opened a lot of eyes within the Marlins organization and even received an invitation to the 2009 Marlins spring training camp after winning numerous post-season awards for his performance in the 2008 minor league season. With that showing Giancarlo was ranked as the 16^th best prospect in all of Major League Baseball according to Baseball America, all at age 18 (soon-to-be 19).

Stanton continued his quick move towards the Major Leagues in 2009 with stops with Class A-Advanced and a trip to Double-A after being named to the All-Stars Futures Game for Team USA. After the season Giancarlo represented the Marlins in the Arizona Fall League and was named the 3^rd best prospect in all of Major League Baseball and the top prospect in the Marlins system according to Baseball America and John Manuel. Stanton began the 2010 season in Triple-A for the Marlins, but he was not long for the league as Florida decided to call up Giancarlo to the Major Leagues on June 6^th of 2010. Giancarlo was just 20-years old at the time of his call up making him the third youngest player in Marlins history to be called up to the Show behind Edgar Renteria and Miguel Cabrera. Stanton debuted with a 3-for-5 night with two infield singles and two runs scored. Giancarlo had a great rookie season that ended with him being named as an outfielder on Baseball America’s 2010 All-Rookie Team as well as an outfielder on the 2010 Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team.

For as many highs as Giancarlo had in 2010 he had just as many lows in 2011 due to leg and eye injuries that kept the outfielder from really being consistent at the plate. Stanton overall finished the season with 34 home runs and 87 RBI in 516 at-bats but finished with just a .262 batting average. Giancarlo used the injury riddled season as motivation for him in the 2012 season which saw Stanton be named to the National League All-Star Team for the first time in his MLB career. Giancarlo was slated to participate in the Home Run Derby as well that season but ended up missing both events after undergoing knee surgery in July of 2012. Despite the injury and missing the Mid-Summer Classic Giancarlo finished the season with a .290 batting average, 37 home runs, a .361 OBP, and a .608 slugging percentage. The 2013 season was another typical season for Giancarlo, just with a few more injuries than he would have like sprinkled in.

Stanton represented Team USA in the World Baseball Classic before the 2013 season, but it was downhill after that as by the end of April the right fielder was on the disabled list with a Grade II hamstring injury. Stanton missed six weeks of the season ending the season with just 425 at-bats, a .249 average, 106 hits, 62 RBI and 24 home runs including his 99^th and 100^th of his career. Stanton came into the 2014 season more determined than ever to stay on the field and stay healthy, and that he did with another NL All-Star Game appearance representing the Marlins. Stanton finished the 2014 season with a .288 batting average, 37 home runs, 105 RBI, and 94 walks, but his 2014 season may best be remembered as the season he took a fastball to the face off then Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Mike Fiers. Stanton was hit in the face with the ball resulting in multiple facial fractures, lacerations and dental damage which is why he wears the protective head piece on his batting helmet that he can be seen wearing even today, four years later. Stanton, despite the injury, finished second in the NL MVP vote behind Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw. The runner up position in the NL MVP vote was likely disappointing, but he wasn’t disappointed long after the Miami Marlins approached their right fielder about a contract extension that offseason.

On November 17, 2014 the Marlins and Stanton agreed to the most lucrative contract in sports history when the two teams decided on a contract that would pay Stanton $325 million over the next 13 seasons. The deal included a no-trade clause and an opt-out clause written into the contract that Stanton could exercise after he turns 30-years old. Stanton’s salary would increase each year he played for the Marlins per the terms of the deal. Heading into the 2015 season all eyes were on Stanton and whether he could live up to the most lucrative contract given in all the major North American sports and Stanton did everything he could, and everything his body would let him, to do just that. Stanton hit bombs in 2015, 27 of them in 74 games, but his season would end prematurely once again due to injury in 2015 after breaking the hamate bone in his left wrist during the month of June. Once again, a season ended much earlier than it should have for Stanton.

Stanton was determined to make the 2016 season not only a full season, but his best season yet at the Major League level. Stanton did not get elected to the National League All-Star team in 2016, but he was selected to participate in the 2016 Home Run Derby and Stanton made a statement for all to see on that eventful Monday night. Stanton hit a total of 61 home runs winning the Derby, a new record for a single Home Run Derby, including the 10 longest home runs hit that night and 18 of the 19 longest among the eight competitors. Stanton once again missed time in August and September after suffering another Grade II hamstring strain, this time missing 22 games. Stanton ended the season with a .240 batting average, 27 home runs and 74 RBI. While this was a down season by all accounts for Stanton he was able to make it back on the field by the end of the 2016 season, something that his doctors and the training staff did not see happening after the hamstring injury.

Stanton finally put it all together for a complete season in 2017 earning his fourth selection to the All-Star Game as a representative for the National League. Stanton once again participated in the Home Run Derby but lost in the first round by one home to the New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez despite putting on another show for the fans. Stanton set a Marlins franchise record for the most home runs in a season with his 43^rd home run on August 14, passing Gary Sheffield’s 42 home runs set in 1996, and even hit a home run in six consecutive games in 2017, also a franchise record. Stanton ended the 2017 season with 59 home runs, 132 RBI and a .281 batting average earning Giancarlo not only his second Hank Aaron Award of his career, but his first National League Most Valuable Player Award as well, beating out Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto by two voting points.

During the offseason of the 2018 season the Miami Marlins ownership changed hands to a group that included former Yankees legend Derek Jeter. New ownership sought to dump salary and start fresh with the organization which began and ended with Stanton. The Marlins began the process of trying to deal Stanton and his no-trade clause to the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants, but Stanton exercised his NTC in both deals. In the end the New York Yankees acquired Stanton and cash considerations from the Marlins for Starlin Castro and minor leaguers Jorge Guzman and Jose Devers. Stanton became just the second player in Major League history to be traded the season after hitting 50 home runs, the other being Greg Vaughn, but instantly the reigning NL MVP became first in the hearts of Yankees fans after his acquisition.

Stanton has immediately become a fan favorite in New York and the “best friend” (as evident by the tweet sent by his new teammate on Twitter after news broke of the trade) of current Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge. Stanton will split time between the outfield and the DH position here in 2018, something that will hopefully keep him fresh and healthy all season long and should be penciled in for about 173 home runs this season. Marlins Park was named one of the six hardest parks to hit a home run out of in 2017, so hitting inside Yankee Stadium III at least 81 games a season should truly benefit the right-handed slugger.

I know I am late and I know this has probably been said numerous times before, but better late than never. Giancarlo, Mike, Cruz, whomever. Welcome to New York, welcome to the biggest stage, welcome to the team, welcome to the tradition and the history that is the Yankees, and most importantly WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!!!

TGP 2018 Predictions: 2018 MVP’s

And for my grand finale, the American League and National League Most Valuable Player Awards!!!! But really, in all seriousness the MVP Awards in both leagues are the big one, the award that every player wants and the award that only a select few get to obtain during their Major League tenures. We all grew up pretending to be the batting champion, the World Series MVP that came up with the big hit in Game 7, and the perennial MVP and that feeling undoubtedly doesn’t change as you grow older and your dreams begin to come to fruition. The childhood dreams of being the league’s MVP is about to come true for these two men.

Will Aaron Judge get robbed again? Will he get robbed by one of his own teammates in Giancarlo Stanton or Gary Sanchez? Will Judge truly get robbed by someone who can’t even see over the counter at McDonalds? In all seriousness, no he won’t in my opinion. That doesn’t mean I think he will win it either, although I do foresee a special kind of productive season for him once again here in 2018. No, I like to go bold and a little bit against the grain in these decisions. With that in mind I am going to go with Josh Donaldson of the Toronto Blue Jays as your 2018 AL MVP. Now I know what you are thinking, Dan… MVP’s generally don’t go to a player on a losing team. No, they don’t. But Donaldson is in the final year of a contract with a team that doesn’t look likely to contend even for a Wild Card here in 2018, which means there is a huge possibility that the Blue Jays third baseman will be traded at or before the July 31^st trading deadline. If Donaldson were to be traded to an American League team where his stats don’t have to be started over I truly think the Toronto right-hander will win the award and head into free agency fresh off a huge statistical season.

Remember when Miguel Ozuna hit over .300 and smashed 37 home runs in a season? It feels like it was forever ago, but it was just last season with the Miami Marlins. Now that Ozuna has some protection in the lineup and is on a team in the St. Louis Cardinals that is expected to contend here in 2018 I think a lot more people will start to know and recognize the name, and just what he brings to the table. Ozuna could easily surpass 40 home runs here in 2018 with an average around .285. Sprinkle in 100+ RBI and a nice OBP and SLG percentage and ladies and gentlemen, we have an MVP in the making. It is a bold prediction, mainly because it isn’t Bryce Harper or Paul Goldschmidt, but that’s what I do. Bold predictions, and sometimes they come true. Stay tuned.

That’s it. Prediction Season is over here on The Greedy Pinstripes. I hope you enjoyed, and we will see you after the season concludes to check in on some of these predictions to see how well I did. Until then, ciao and enjoy your day.

New York Yankees 2018 Grapefruit League Schedule

Friday, 2/23 – 1:05 pm ET

Detroit Tigers @ New York Yankees

Saturday, 2/24 – 1:05 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Pittsburgh Pirates

Sunday, 2/25 – 1:05 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Philadelphia Phillies

Monday, 2/26 – 6:35 pm ET

Philadelphia Phillies @ New York Yankees

Tuesday, 2/27 – 1:07 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays

Wednesday, 2/28 – 1:05 pm ET

Detroit Tigers @ New York Yankees

Thursday, 3/1 – 1:05 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Philadelphia Phillies

Friday, 3/2 – 1:05 pm ET

Atlanta Braves @ New York Yankees

Saturday, 3/3 – 1:05 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox

Sunday, 3/4 – 1:05 pm ET

Tampa Bay Rays @ New York Yankees

Tuesday, 3/6 – 1:05 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers

Wednesday, 3/7 – 1:10 pm ET

New York Yankees @ New York Mets

Thursday, 3/8 – 1:05 pm ET

Philadelphia Phillies @ New York Yankees

Friday, 3/9 – 6:05 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Atlanta Braves

Saturday, 3/10 – 1:05 pm ET

New York Mets @ New York Yankees

Sunday, 3/11 – 1:05 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Miami Marlins

Monday, 3/12 – 6:35 pm ET

Minnesota Twins @ New York Yankees

Tuesday, 3/13 – 1:05 pm ET

Detroit Tigers @ New York Yankees

Wednesday, 3/14 – 1:05 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Baltimore Orioles

Thursday, 3/15 – 1:05 pm ET

Pittsburgh Pirates @ New York Yankees

Friday, 3/16 – 6:36 pm ET

Houston Astros @ New York Yankees

Saturday, 3/17 – 1:05 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers

Sunday, 3/18 – 1:05 pm ET

Miami Marlins @ New York Yankees

Monday, 3/19 – 6:35 pm ET

Tampa Bay Rays @ New York Yankees

Tuesday, 3/20 – 1:05 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers

Wednesday, 3/21 – 6:35 pm ET

Baltimore Orioles @ New York Yankees

Thursday, 3/22 – 1:05 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins

Friday, 3/23 – 1:05 pm ET

Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees

Saturday, 3/24 – 1:05 pm ET

New York Yankees (SS) @ Atlanta Braves

Toronto Blue Jays @ New York Yankees (SS)

Sunday, 3/25 – 1:05 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays

Monday, 3/26 – 7:35 pm ET

New York Yankees @ Atlanta Braves

The Miami Marlins and Quite the Opposite of “Getting Greedy”

photo credit to the Miami Herald

Blame the slow offseason and hot stove market but yeah, I am going to talk about the Miami Marlins this morning. Any baseball talk is better than nothing at this point, at least I am hoping so, especially when we can throw in a Derek Jeter reference or two while we are at it. The reason I want to talk about the Marlins this morning is not because of the Giancarlo Stanton trade that brought the reigning National League MVP to the Bronx, or another trade for that matter, but is because Mr. Jeter is letting me down right now if I am being completely honest. Derek Sanderson Jeter is not “Getting Greedy” but is, in fact, doing quite the opposite of that.

Now I am being a bit sarcastic in the first paragraph and in the title of this post admittedly, but I do want to talk about the projected payroll of the Marlins going forward and the basic “promise” that the team would turn a profit here in 2018. How can Jeter make such a statement after trading or attempting to trade anything with a pulse that isn’t tied down? Easily, actually. Every Major League team will receive, or have already received, a one-time lump sum of $50 million after Disney acquired BAMTech, a figure I got from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Jeter and the Marlins expect their payroll to be around or under the $90 million mark in 2018 with the figure dropping to $81 million in 2019 and $84.8 million in 2020 according to the same article from Jackson, although obviously a lot can change between now and the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Of course, Miami is going to turn a profit, the team only has to make $40 million in sales and revenue in 2018 to turn a profit, and that number is only that high with the salaries of Edinson Volquez ($9 million), Brad Ziegler ($9 million), Junichi Tazawa ($7 million), Christian Yelich ($7 million), Starlin Castro (10.857 million) and J.T. Realmuto (third year of arbitration) currently on the roster. If any or all of these men are traded that number becomes increasingly smaller.

Jeter went out and called his shot saying the team would make a profit, good for him. This is a business first-and-foremost and the ultimate goal, despite what George Steinbrenner would say if he were alive right now, is to make money. The old days of operating in the red, buying up anything and everything on the free agent market and winning 100 games a season are over. I just want everyone to have all the information available to them before once again anointing Mr. Jeter for another job well done. Here’s to Mr. November, Mr. December and his ownership group down in Miami. I hope you do well, the city and the organization need it and definitely deserve it. Stay well. 

Oh, and that makes me wonder what Hal and company are doing with that $50 million. Hmm....

Did Giancarlo Stanton "Rip" The Miami Marlins Today?

Giancarlo Stanton took to social media to say his goodbye's to Miami an hour before being introduced officially as a member of the New York Yankees. In his statement some think that Stanton intentionally took a shot at the Miami Marlins organization while others simply think many are looking too far into his words. What say you? Here is the text from his social media account, leave your thoughts on it below in the comments section and let's get this conversation started.

“Thank you to the Marlins Organization & the amazing city of Miami! The city that adopted me at 17 with open arms. I’ve loved this place over the years and it will always be special to me,” Stanton wrote. “I appreciate All my teammates & coaching Staff that battled day in and day out

"I feel for u fans, you’ve stuck with me as we’ve shared some roller coaster years. I’ve always tried to be as professional as possible during the unprofessional , circus times there! Regardless of the Ups&downs, I’ve grown n learned a lot as a Person/Player. So for that I give thanks, I hope there are better days in Miami . The city & the people are too great not to be! Stay positive & much love!.”

BREAKING NEWS: Yankees to Acquire GIANCARLO STANTON

The New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins have agreed to a deal that would send Starlin Castro and a package of "lower level prospects" to the Marlins for outfielder and reigning NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton.

Yankees expected to take on ALL of Stanton's contract while holding onto top prospects like Gleyber Torres and others.

More as this develops.

The Marlins Are Strong-Arming Giancarlo Stanton

By now you may have seen the reports....

Giancarlo Stanton has been told by the Miami Marlins that if he doesn't waive his no-trade clause he would be the only star on a rebuilding team, as the Marlins would apparently look to cut payroll by trading others.

I want to note that no names from within the Marlins organization have been attached to that message, but I really... really... hope it wasn't Jeter.

I was going make this another "You're A Tool" post, but I can't bring myself to say that when it's in any way pointed at Derek.

Unlike with Alex Rodriguez and his last huge contract, where those that were around when he signed that deal were still in charge and therefore shouldn't complain about it, the same can't be said with Giarncarlo. However, when the new ownership bought the team they knew what they were getting into with the current National League MVP. So it's ridiculous for them to treat Stanton like that.

I wouldn't be surprised if the MLBPA got involved here, as Stanton should not be strong-armed into giving up his no-trade clause if he doesn't want to. He earned the right to say "I don't want to play there, so I'm using my no-trade clause."

It's bad enough when a player gets traded by a team he loves playing for, and is visibly saddened by the news. But when a player has the right to decline a trade and is then treated like this it not only makes me sad for him, it makes me angry as well.

Especially if he were to be traded to the Red Sox. Grrrrrrrr!!!!!!

Hopping Aboard The Giancarlo Train

I'm an assistant manager for a men's formal clothing store, and seeing as how Black Friday has pretty much come to an end it goes without saying that I'm not totally "with it" right now. So the following may be completely insane, but just bear with me. Cool?

I'm all about trading for Giancarlo Stanton. For a while I thought we may as well wait for Bryce Harper in a year. After all, at that point Harper will only cost money, and the Yankees could have plenty of it without have to live with a huge Luxury Tax hit. But then I looked at how much time is left on Stanton's contract, while comparing it with what Harper could get.

Going into 2018, Giancarlo has ten years remaining on his contract (assuming he doesn't opt-out after the 2020 season), which would take him through his age 38 season. Meanwhile, Harper could very well get a 13 year deal that would match the length of the one Stanton got, which would also take run through his age 38 season.

Not to mention that Stanton's 13 year deal was worth a total of $325 million, while Harper is likely to get around $450 million. So while money may not be a big deal to the Yankees after this next season, they could very well spend significantly less with Stanton than Harper... minus the value of the prospects in a trade for Giancarlo.

And the opt-out part of Stanton's contract doesn't bother me that much since Harper is liable to get an opt-out in his contract too. Although Bryce's opt-out would likely come a few years after Stanton's currently does, meaning the Yankees would have Harper for a little while longer during his prime years.

In the end I'm not going to be that upset if the Yankees do not trade for Giancarlo, which is a good thing since they likely won't. The only thing that would bother me is if he went to the Red Sox. But just imagine...

1. Brett Gardner
2. Aaron Judge
3. Giancarlo Stanton
4. Gary Sanchez
5. Didi Gregorius
6. Greg Bird
7. Chase Headley
8. Starlin Castro
9. Aaron Hicks

And by the way, I am seeing the bench consisting of Jacoby Ellsbury, Ronald Torreyes, Tyler Austin, and whatever backup catcher.

Oh, and as for the guys being sent to Miami... Clint Frazier, Chance Adams, Tyler Wade, and a couple of other prospects in the low minors (yeah, yeah... my trade proposal sucks).

If you think he'll cost more than that then you've been smoking the same thing that Derek Jeter and his cronies have. I mean, sure, Giancarlo Stanton would probably get more on the open market (at least dollar-wise), but it's not so much more that he should cost a team more than that in terms of prospects. Heck, Miami would be getting three players with at least five years of team control, and a couple of others whose MLB clocks won't even start for 2-3 years.

If the Marlins would kick in some money, then fine... give them more in prospects. But if they expect the Yankees to take on his entire contract, then they should take that package and run with it.

It brings a tear to my eye looking back at that lineup. The 2-6 hitters could bash 170+ home runs alone. And with prospects like Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar, and Estevan Florial still to come.

And with that, my friends, it's time for me to get some sleep. Have a great weekend!

Scott Boras, STFU!

When Scott Boras talks it seems that a lot of people around Major League Baseball, both the fans and the people directly associated with the game, tend to listen which has proven to be a great power for the super-agent over the years. The problem with some people is when they learn that they let that power and their ego go to their head and it ruins them. Now I’m not saying this has happened yet with Boras or that it will happen at all but I will say one thing, his comments on Derek Jeter and the purchase of the Miami Marlins really kind of rubbed me the wrong way. It made me want to scream, it made me want to head down to the GM Meetings and tell Boras to simply “STFU!” 

Boras was very critical of Jeter and his group of investors that purchased the Miami Marlins and their decision to slash payroll by subsequently trading away Giancarlo Stanton. Boras was quoted as saying the following in a USA Today interview from the GM meetings: 

“When you’re looking at building a market and you have an All-Star outfield with all he dynamics,’’ Boras said, “and you have a club being purchased at $1.2 billion, what happens is that you got a marketplace saying the new owners are coming in here and saying they’re making the franchise better. We’re excited. And then where we are now creating a plan where we are not going to win five or six years.

“We’re going to basically reduce our payroll. We’re going to rid our team of our substantial stars. We’re going to set up this five-, six-year plan. We basically have a system in baseball where we have sales of franchises, and we have a reduction.

“Basically the idea is to reduce the debt service to pay for the franchise by reducing all major league payroll, not being competitive, basically using the argument that we’re going to build a successful team through development.

“That has nothing to do with the fans. It has nothing to do with winning. It has nothing to do with anything other than a financial plan that suits ownership without consideration of the impact it has on Major League Baseball.’’ 

So let’s discuss this. Is Boras more worried about the fans of Miami and the fans of Major League Baseball, or is he more worried about himself and how a trade of the likes of Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich or whoever else the Marlins decide to trade could affect his clients on the free agent market this season, and how that could affect his wallet? Call me pessimistic but I am leaning towards the latter. I am leaning towards Boras knowing that he has that platform and the power to say and change things around the league during this time of the year and I think that Boras is taking full advantage of that. Who could blame him? I don’t, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I have to agree with his actions either. 

IBWAA SELECTS ALTUVE, STANTON IN MVP VOTE

IBWAA SELECTS ALTUVE, STANTON IN MVP VOTE

 

Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the winners in its Most Valuable Player category Thursday, with the Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve winning the group’s American League award, and Giancarlo Stanton, of the Miami Marlins, being selected in the National League.

 

Altuve received 107 first-place votes (72.79%) and 1838 points while being named on 146 of 147 ballots (99.32%). Others receiving first-place votes include Aaron Judge (28), Mike Trout (7) and Francisco Lindor (2).

 

Stanton received 58 first-place votes (40%) and 1492 points while being named on 144 of 145 (97.96%) ballots. Others receiving first-place votes include Paul Goldschmidt (25), Nolan Arenado (20), Joey Votto (16), Charlie Blackmon (15) and Anthony Rendon (7).

 

Election results are as follows:

 

AL MVP

 

1^st Place:                  Jose Altuve, Houston Astros – 1838 points
2^nd Place:                 Aaron Judge , New York Yankees – 1341
3^rd Place :                  Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 1067

4^th Place:                 Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians – 997

5^th Place:                  Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians – 562

6^th Place:                  Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians – 389

7^th Place:                  Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox – 376 

8^th Place:                  Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox – 280

9th Place:                 George Springer, Houston Astros – 207

10^th Place:                Andrelton Simmons, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – 202

 

NL MVP

 

1^st Place:                  Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins – 1492 points
2^nd Place:                 Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks – 1115 
3^rd Place:                  Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds – 1025

4^th Place:                  Charlie Blackmon , Colorado Rockies – 1003

5^th Place:                  Nolan Arenado , Colorado Rockies – 959

6^th Place:                  Anthony Rendon , Washington Nationals – 577

7^th Place:                  Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs – 512

8^th Place:                  Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers – 253

9^th Place:                  Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers – 243

10^th Place:                Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals – 185

 

Ballot tabulations by Brian Wittig & Associates, using the Borda Method.

 

The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as a digital alternative to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). Voting for full season awards takes place in September of each year, with selections being announced in November. The IBWAA also holds a Hall of Fame election in December of each year, with results being announced the following January.

 
Among others, IBWAA members include Tim Brown, Yahoo! Sports; Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports Hardball Talk; Bill Chuck, Billy-Ball.com; Derrick Goold, St. Louis Post-Dispatch; Jon Heyman and Jesse Spector, Today’s Knuckleball; Danny Knobler, Bleacher Report; Kevin Kennedy; Kostya Kennedy, Sports Illustrated; Brian Kenny, MLBN; Will Leitch, Sports on Earth; Bruce Markusen, Hardball Times; Ross Newhan; Dayn Perry and Matt Snyder, CBSSports.com; Tom Hoffarth and J.P. Hoornstra Los Angeles Daily News; Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times; Tracy Ringolsby, MLB.com; Ken Rosenthal, TheAthletic.com; Eno Sarris, FanGraphs; David Schoenfield of ESPN.com; Jim Bowden and Bill Arnold.

 

Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a $75 lifetime fee. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available. Members must be 18 years of age to apply.

For more information please visit www.ibwaa.com.

Contact:

 

Howard Cole
Founding Director, IBWAA
baseballsavvy@aol.com

Listen, I’m All for Getting Greedy But We Are NOT Getting Giancarlo Stanton

How is that for a little bit of irony? The guy who owns The GREEDY Pinstripes and the guy screaming up and down to “get greedy” and to sign this guy and that guy is about to make a post about how the New York Yankees are NOT going to get probably the top player available this winter via trade. Yes, it’s true and no, hell has not frozen over. I have always been greedy but that doesn’t mean I have always been levelheaded at the same time. With that in mind I am prepared to explain to you why the New York Yankees will not acquire Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton this winter, even if it means that Stanton heads to the Boston Red Sox.  

The New York Yankees set out years ago to get under the luxury tax threshold and while losing Robinson Cano to the Seattle Mariners and the domino effect of big signings that followed including the signings of Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann and Jacoby Ellsbury put that thought process on hold the plan is back and is now in full effect. This is the year that the Yankees get under and stay under the threshold for the entire 2018 season thus resetting the penalties that the team pays for every dollar they spend over the luxury tax threshold just in time to blow by the threshold again in 2019. Remember, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado lead a very strong free agent class next season that the Yankees are positioning themselves to take advantage of next season. Stanton will not win the Yankees a World Series Championship alone in 2018 and Stanton will all but keep the Yankees “financially strapped” and away from those big time free agents.  

Now I want to say that I believe Stanton is an amazing talent, an amazing selling point and attraction to the fans and that I personally, Daniel Burch the fan, would love to see Stanton in pinstripes playing alongside Aaron Judge next season. I would, but I cannot fathom the Yankees not only giving up the major prospects that it would take to acquire Stanton but I also cannot see the team being willing to pay the richest contract in Major League Baseball again just a month or two after getting out from under the last richest contract in MLB history before Stanton’s mega deal and a few other notable deals since including the Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw deals. It’s just not going to happen. Period. 

Stanton is 28-years old and is owed $295 million over the final ten seasons of his contract. No, that is not a typo. Stanton has ten years LEFT on his contract. Stanton has a full no-trade clause, something that would limit the Yankees down the road if he were to… I don’t know… not live up to the deal a la Alex Rodriguez, and would be under contract through his age 38 season. This would be a huge undertaking for a team that can usually afford to take these chances, but the team cannot here this offseason. They just can’t. The Yankees are looking to get under the $197 million tax threshold and giving Giancarlo Stanton $25 million (his AAV is much higher) just doesn’t fit the budget and is fiscally irresponsible for the team. 

Pipe dreams are nice every once in a while, but sometimes they have to remain just that, dreams. Giancarlo Stanton will not be a New York Yankees in 2018, period. Next question.