The Be(a)st of the AL East...

 

Anthony Rizzo & Aaron Judge / Photo Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Yankees roll into May with the division lead…

The World always seems to be a better place when the Yankees are winning. The current seven-game winning streak has Yankees fans feeling joyful and optimistic. Of course, it will end with the next two-game losing streak, but it is quite enjoyable for now. When they are losing, there is no one that hates the Yankees worse than Yankees fans, so it is nice to see happy Bronx Bomber fans while it lasts. Shiny happy people…

In all seriousness, this team is special. Remembering the fun of the 2017 Yankees, there was a huge sense of team camaraderie with the Baby Bombers. They took us deep into October and potentially, if not for the banging of trash cans, might have won a World Series championship. Since then, there has been something missing with each subsequent team (no…I am not referring to Joe Girardi). I am not trying to sell those other teams short, but there is an intangible “it” factor that has been missing.

Aaron Judge, Anthony Rizzo & Giancarlo Stanton / Photo Credit: Instagram

The Yankees’ front office finally woke up to smell the coffee last July when they aggressively acquired Anthony Rizzo and Joey Gallo at the trading deadline. The infusion of much needed left-handed bats into a heavily righthanded lineup. I know Gallo has largely been a disappointment but the recognition that the makeup of the team needed to change was important for this year’s success. Not sure why it took Brian Cashman and company so long to figure out when fans have been clamoring for lefty bats for years. The move that began last July continued into Spring when the Yankees moved out Gary Sanchez and Luke Voit, clear additions by subtraction. Gio Urshela went too but that was more of a consequence in having to add value with Sanchez to make the move with Minnesota, bringing in Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and that muscular dude fighting the oblique injury. As much as we wanted an elite shortstop this past off-season, IKF has been a vast improvement for this year’s team. Although more was expected from Donaldson, I think he will hit as the weather continues to warm, his greater value might be the ‘edge’ he brings to the clubhouse. I think it has been a significant contributing factor to developing this year’s team chemistry and the cohesive bond that has developed.

The Dachshund Brothers / Photo Credit: Instagram

Thank you to Anthony Rizzo for all that you do. I am so grateful he is with the team. Quietly, the team MVP thus far, even if Aaron Judge is starting to dominate.

After last night’s 12-2 rain-shortened win over the Kansas City Royals, Judge discussed the team’s diversity. Speaking to reporters, he said “I think that’s what makes this team different from other years, just having that diversity in the lineup.” Again, not sure why it took Cashman so long to figure it out, but I am glad we are here. We will have our times of frustration this season, but it seems there will be more highs than lows, and not quite the roller-coaster that we rode last season.

No doubt that Nestor Cortes, Jr has played a huge role in positioning the Yankees (14-6) atop the AL East. He finally picked up his first win of the season last night but that sells short how invaluable he has been. He compensated for Gerrit Cole’s slow start and now that Cole appears to be rounding into form, it will only get better for the starting rotation…from top to bottom. I suppose it was appropriate to see Frankie Montas get pounded for a couple of home runs in Oakland’s 9-8 loss to the Cleveland Guardians last night. While I still think Montas would be a nice add, last night was a brief reminder that sometimes the best trade is the one never made. While Montas was getting hammered, Cortes, who likely would have been displaced in the rotation had the Yankees acquired Montas, battled the Royals. He gave up only two runs (one earned) despite eight hits scattered over five innings and put the Yankees in position, along with the bullpen, to let the bats do the talking with nine runs in the final two innings. Something to be said for the man who just knows how to pitch.

Nasty Nestor Cortes Jr / Credit: FOX Sports

I know it is early, but it is fun looking at stats. Here is a look at one position.

	G	PA	HR	AVG	OBP	SLG	wOBA	wRC+	WAR
1	18	65	0	.311	.338	.377	.320	113	0.6
2	18	76	1	.217	.289	.304	.274	80	0.1
3	19	84	3	.256	.298	.385	.301	100	0.5
4	16	69	0	.210	.290	.274	.264	68	-0.1

The 2022 salaries for these players, in order from 1 through 4, are: $4.7 million; $35.1 million; $33 million; and $20 million. The best production from the lowest paid player. Thank you, Isiah Kiner-Falefa. I am sorry that I ever doubted you. The others are obviously the “Big 3” from last year’s free agent market, Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, and Trevor Story, respectively. I am sure the stats will normalize as the season progresses, but for now, it is fun to look at.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Congratulations to Giancarlo Stanton for his 350^th home run. The slugger formerly known as Mike Stanton hit his first home run, a grand slam, on June 18, 2010, for the (then) Florida Marlins off Matt Garza of the Tampa Bay Rays.

"Mike" Stanton / Photo Credit: Doug Benc, Getty Images

The 350^th came on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles when Stanton went yard in the first inning off O’s starter Tyler Wells. 

Giancarlo Stanton / Photo Credit: Frank Franklin II, AP

His 351^st came quickly yesterday, another first inning dinger, this time off Royals starter Kris Bubic. It is always fun when Stanton goes on a roll. I can remember back in the 1980s when Dave Winfield would get hot and throw the entire team on his back for a winning streak. Stanton is that guy. Coincidentally, Alex Rodriguez hit 351 home runs…as a Yankee. Stanton only has 84, so he has some catching up to do.

Congratulations to Aaron Hicks and his wife, Cheyenne Woods (Tiger’s niece), for the birth of their first child. Cameron Jaxson Hicks was born on April 26^th. Weighing in at 8 pounds and 20 ½ inches, he will be on the fast track for the Major Leagues…or PGA. Aaron rejoined the team in Kansas City yesterday after spending parental leave in Arizona. Very cool for Aaron and Cheyenne!

Aaron Hicks & Cameron / Photo Credit: Instagram

Finally, the NFL Draft is always one of the best times of the year. I look forward to the NFL Draft every year, particularly the first few rounds. I know most of you are Giants or Jets fans (terrific drafts so far for both teams), I am a long-suffering fan of the Minnesota Vikings. For as many championships as my favorite baseball team has won in my lifetime, the Vikings are the polar opposite with none. While I respect the new leadership of GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Head Coach Kevin O’Connell, their first two draft day trades were suspect.

The Vikings held the 12^th pick in the first round, but when their pick rolled around, they traded it to the division rival Detroit Lions, dropping down to the 32^nd pick. The Lions selected a talented wide receiver, Alabama’s Jameson Williams. Then, with the 34^th pick they had acquired from the Lions, they traded it to the bitter division rival Green Bay Packers to give Aaron Rodgers a receiving target (Christian Watson of North Dakota State) to help make up for the loss of Davante Adams, recently traded to the Las Vegas Raiders.

I know the Vikings picked up some additional draft picks, but trading with division rivals are painful. Somehow, I suspect both Williams and Watson will be as painful to watch as seeing Garrett Whitlock thrive with the Boston Red Sox. Good thing the Vikings used their first two draft picks on defensive backs (safety Lewis Cine of Georgia and cornerback Andrew Booth, Jr of Clemson). They will need them to defend against the Lions and Packers passing attacks. Hopefully Kwesi, a brilliant mind, learns that it is better to trade outside of the division. The Vikings need to hit on those draft picks they acquired in the trades. Otherwise, these trades will haunt the team for years.

As always, Go Yankees!

Manfred Tosses Softball to Red Sox...

Commissioner proves his ineptness, again…

It’s been awhile since I’ve sat down to write a post so I guess I should get to it. Admittedly, with the stay at home orders in effect for the COVID-19 Pandemic and  the absence of Major League Baseball, there’s a general sense of disconnection with our favorite sport, at least for me. 

Since the COVID-19 Pandemic began, I’ve relocated 1,100 miles from Denver, Colorado to the warmer confines of Orange County, California. I know, not the best time to make a cross-country move. Three weeks ago, I endured cold temps and a snowstorm as I was preparing to leave Colorado. Yesterday, the temperature reading outside was 99. Winter to Summer faster than DJ LeMahieu can scoop up a hard grounder off the bat of Xander Bogaerts. Oh well, it only means that I’ve seen my last snowfall and that’s a good thing.

The news of the week was obviously the commissioner’s announcement of the penalties (very loose use of the word, sorry) handed down to the Boston Red Sox for their involvement with cheating activities during the 2018 season. Frankly, I expected the punishment to be very light. Like many, I’ve reached the conclusion that Rob Manfred is a weak commissioner and I didn’t expect him to take a stand against the Red Sox. Even if we felt Houston got off easy, I didn’t think MLB would come close to the penalties assessed on the Astros for Boston. Unfortunately, I was right. Probably my biggest surprise was how easy former Red Sox manager Alex Cora emerged from the penalty phase despite dishonest tactics that contributed to World Series championships in two consecutive years for him. Since it was so light (he was basically penalized for 2017 but not 2018), I fully expect him to return as Red Sox manager at some point. I know Boston removed the “interim” tag from current Manager Ron Roenicke, but I think his tenure will be short. The surprise for me will be if Cora does not return as Red Sox manager.  

Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

As frustrating as it may be that Boston was only forced to forfeit a second round draft pick (and the video replay-operator was suspended), I am glad to put the entire cheating scandals behind us. If the Red Sox cheated, I never felt they did it as openly and dishonestly as the Astros. I am not trying to condone what the Red Sox did but I am ready to move the game forward in a positive light and put the misdealing’s of two Major League clubs in the archives. I hope, if those two teams, or any teams, are subsequently found to be guilty of further incidents of trying to cheat to win, the penalties and will be swift and severe. Granted, the hammer should fall harder on the Astros and Red Sox with multiple offenses to their record, but really no team should get off as easily as the Red Sox did.  

Yankees manager Aaron Boone pretty much echoed those words in a recent interview which appeared in The New York Post:

“I’m glad that we’re kind of through those situations,’’ Boone said. “Hopefully, as I’ve said all along and I do believe this, hopefully just as a sport we’ll be better moving forward knowing that you mess around and they’re coming for you. And I think that’s a good thing.”

I saw some criticism of Boone for his words, but I get it. We need to move on. I think the toughest part for any of us is wondering when that may be since it is all contingent upon when MLB play can be resumed. Shortened season, no fans in the stands, limiting games to certain states…we’ve seen plenty of alternative options discussed but realistically the cancellation of the entire season remains in play. I don’t think anyone wants to see the season wiped away, particularly not the owners and their need for greed. But until clear vision for how to restart the season emerges, the possibility of no season exists. 

I am saddened that we could potentially lose one of Gerrit Cole’s prime years. There’s little question he’ll be much less effective in the latter half of his contract so the worth of his huge contract is literally dependent upon his successes in the early years, much like CC Sabathia a decade ago.

Photo Credit: Frank Franklin II-AP

On the bright side, there is probably a good chance that both Giancarlo Stanton and James Paxton (and possibly even Aaron Hicks) will be ready depending upon when/if the season is resumed.  

It’s been good to have the NFL Draft the last couple of days to give us some degree of Sports in our universe. My TV has tuned into ESPN for the first time in a long time. I had to figure out what channel it was even on since I hadn’t ever watched it during my very short time in Southern California.  

Still wondering if the Los Angeles Angels will refund me for the tickets I bought for the Yankees’ three-game series in Anaheim over Memorial Day Weekend or if they’ll just apply them to future games. In advance of my move, I had bought tickets to multiple baseball games and two concerts over the summer and there’s a chance none come to fruition. Wasted money at this point. 

As much as I want the World to return to some sense of normalcy, I am concerned about doing too much, too soon, and bringing the arc of the coronavirus back up. I miss baseball and the distraction it creates for our daily lives (a much needed and therapeutic distraction, I should add). I look forward to watching baseball games on TV and in person. I know we’ve been given many options to watch games of years gone by but it’s not the same. I want to see Giancarlo Stanton smash a massive home run far into the outfield crowd or depending where the games are played, far over the outer reaches of the ballparks…in real time. I want to watch Gerrit Cole dominant his opponents, and see him annihilate his former Houston teammates. One day, some day…

I hope everyone is healthy and safe. For those of you who have been adversely impacted by the deadly coronavirus, we stand with you and keep you in our thoughts and prayers. We’ll make it through this, and we will stand united again in our love of baseball and the Yankees.  

As always, Go Yankees!

NFL Quarterbacks Drafted into MLB

Good morning everyone and welcome to NFL Draft day. Now I have to admit that I am not the hugest fan of the NFL anymore, both because life got busy and because of the shenanigans that the league continues to not only allow, but also condone, I do admit that this day still means a lot to whole lot of people. With that said, and seeing as this is a baseball blog, I wanted to take a quick look at the ever-growing list of successful NFL quarterbacks that were once drafted by a Major League Baseball team. This is far from a complete list, to be honest, but I did try and include as much of the Yankees-related drafting news that I could as well as hitting the high spots with the actual players themselves. Enjoy!

The Colorado Rockies drafted Russell Wilson in the 2010 MLB First Year Players Draft before ultimately losing him to the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL. The Texas Rangers also acquired his services and recently traded him to the New York Yankees who had him in their spring training camp here in 2018. Wilson worked out with the team and even received one at-bat this spring, that at-bat resulted in a strikeout for the successful Super Bowl winning quarterback.

The San Diego Padres drafted Johnny Manziel in 2014 before “Johnny Football” went to the Cleveland Browns. Manziel lasted two years with Cleveland before the team ultimately cut him.

The Texas Rangers drafted Jameis Winston in 2012 with the promise of all the crab leg buffets that he could eat after every game. Too soon? As a Georgia Tech fan, I would lean towards that answer being a “no.” The whole ACC rivalry thing and all, but maybe it was a low blow. You decide.

The Chicago Cubs drafted Colin Kaepernick in the 2009 Draft. You have to wonder what could have been for Kaepernick and the Cubs had he tried to kneel during the national anthem in Chicago, and not in San Francisco. Who knows, another debate for another blog I guess.

Jake Locker was drafted twice, once in 2006 and once again in 2009, by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. I guess the Angels really wanted Locker.

Matt Moore was also drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, this time in the 2004 MLB Draft. The only Matt Moore I know is the one who used to terrorize the Yankees with the Tampa Bay Rays and now pitches, last I checked, with the Texas Rangers. I assume this isn’t the same one (it isn’t, it is called sarcasm ladies and gentlemen).

Matt Cassel was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in 2004 joining Moore in the 2004 QB class.

Dennis Dixon was drafted twice out of college, the first time in 2003 by the Cincinnati Reds and again by the Atlanta Braves in 2007. I guess I would have went to play with the Pittsburgh Steelers too if the Reds or Braves drafted me.

The New York Yankees took Brandon Weeden in the 2002 Draft. The Yankees traded Weeden, Jeff Weaver and Yhency Brazoban a year later to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Kevin Brown, and the rest, as they say, is history. Weeden never played above High-A Ball and ultimately quit the game after the 2006 season after injuries and a lack of performance began to pile up.

The Colorado Rockies drafted Michael Vick in the 2000 MLB Draft with the promise of dog…. Yeah it is still too soon for jokes like that, even for me. The baseball fan in me though would like to see what Vick could do on the basepaths though. Could he be the next Ricky Henderson, speed wise?

Brooks Bollinger was drafted in consecutive years, 2000 and 2001, both times by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Chad Hutchinson was drafted twice also by MLB teams, the first time coming in 1995 when the Atlanta Braves drafted him, and the second time coming in 1998 when the St. Louis Cardinals organization called his name during the draft.

The New York Yankees drafted Drew Henson to be their third baseman of the future in 1998. We all know how that worked out for Henson, both with the Yankees and with the Dallas Cowboys.

Move over Brett Gardner 

New York also drafted Daunte Culpepper in the 1995 Draft. The Yankees love their quarterbacks, apparently. Culpepper went on to have a successful career with the Minnesota Vikings after turning the Yankees down.

And of course, you cannot have one of these lists without mentioning that the Montreal Expos drafted Tom Brady back in the 1995 MLB First Year Players Draft. I guess some would say that Tom made the right decision going to the Patriots and not to Montreal, which is now the Washington Nationals.

A lot of people forget Dan Marino was also drafted into MLB by the Kansas City Royals in 1979. Even though Marino went to Miami I would also call that a great decision for Dan.

Not to be outdone though John Elway was drafted not once, but twice by MLB teams including the Kansas City Royals who also drafted Elway in 1979 along with Marino, and the New York Yankees who drafted Elway in 1981.

Will the New York Yankees, or any MLB team for that matter, take any future NFL quarterbacks tonight in the NFL Draft? Stay tuned tonight and find out. The Yankees game today is an afternoon contest, so all our attention can turn to the Draft.

Hello… NFL Draft Day

Good morning and welcome to NFL Draft Day here in the states. While I don’t watch football much anymore I do still tune in for the first round or so of the NFL Draft generally. I don’t know if I enjoy seeing the top few picks more or seeing NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell booed off the stage every time he opens his mouth. It is a close call between the two to be honest. Either way I know a lot of people enjoy the draft, so I hope your team gets who they want or need, or that they get greedy and get both.

We have some additional NFL Draft discussions to have later on in the day and maybe a rant or two about the unbelievable things I have been seeing while checking out some more of these Facebook Yankees groups. These groups raise my blood pressure, but they are giving me a ton of ideas to write about… so the good outweighs the bad? Maybe? Stay tuned for the rant before you answer that.

And a special good morning to you my love. I love you and I hope you slept well last night. Enjoy your day.