Looking Back at My 2016 Cy Young Award Predictions

Before you jump all over my predictions, which I admit were atrocious, be sure to link me to where you predicted that Rick Porcello would be a 20-game winner and where you said that Jon Lester, Madison Bumgarner and others would be fighting it out in the National League. Until then I respectfully stand by my predictions and take the “L” like a man because boy was I wrong. Here are my predictions that originally went live in April of this year in all their glory.

The award, as much as I hate to say this, has to go to the Boston Red Sox ace David Price. Give David Price two runs of support or more and on most days that’s in the bag. While Boston did little to improve their offense on paper their core is getting a year older and closer to their prime while Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval almost can’t be as bad or worse for Boston then they were in 2015. The Cy Young can be an individual award sometimes more so than a team award and Price is the kind of pitcher to throw you eight or nine innings and win the game himself or hand it off to Craig Kimbrel in the 9th. Price for Cy Young, again.

In the National League the award has to go the new ace of the staff in Pittsburgh, and former New York Yankees draft pick, Gerrit Cole. Cole is an elite starter with an elite defense behind him and an offense that can win him games even on his off nights. Cole won 19 games last season with a 2.60 ERA and it seemed like many didn’t blink an eye thanks to Jake Arrieta, they will blink an eye this season as Cole takes the next step forward in his career. 

Yep, I bombed these predictions. Oh well. Maybe next year Cubs fans. 

ICYMI: Brian Cashman Refuses to Acknowledge the Problem He Created

For many, many years the biggest gripe among Yankees fans was the constant meddling in the player acquisition and trades aspect of the game. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was known for “getting his man” at whatever cost and at whatever risk and damage it did to the team in the long term. Just win and just win now. This caused many of the current Brian Cashman supporters to use this notion as a means of defending the GM and for a while it was true. Cashman was held down by bulky contracts he fought against giving and aging veteran players past their primes that he wanted no part in acquiring. That is still the case to an extent these days with current owner Hal Steinbrenner but Cashman has seemingly been given more power than ever over the Yankees and yet the team is still in a pickle, a pickle that Cashman refuses to acknowledge and refuses to fix.


No longer can one say, in my opinion anyway, that this is a Hal Steinbrenner led and assembled team. Sure he has had his hands in acquiring the likes of Ichiro Suzuki and Rafael Soriano and sure the Alex Rodriguez contract that is set to run out was against Cashman’s wishes but for the most part Cashman handed out most of these deals and made most of these trades. This is finally Brian Cashman’s team for better or worse and as a Brian Cashman apologist I find it hard to stick up for the man these days. Especially when he has basically told the team and the media that this is the team we are running with for now until he is “forced to” change and improve the team and that we basically have to deal with it. Say what?


Cashman told the media after the Yankees sweep in Boston this past weekend that he is not willing to bench Chase Headley much like the Red Sox have done with Pablo Sandoval. He’s just not going to do but don’t worry he finished the topic with this little nugget. “If anybody wants to earn opportunities in the future they have to earn it.” So let me get this straight, anyone who wants to replace Headley has to “earn” it but until then we’re going to sit on our hands and watch the guy set a new low in batting average, defense and slugging.


I’m done. I’m done defending Cashman and I’m done defending this team. I’m not giving up on this team, that’s a whole other story and a huge difference, but I am done spraying hope all over the blog and Twitter for better days and for the team to turn things around. Attitude reflects leadership and if Brian Cashman doesn’t care then I don’t either.

Easy Ways to Fix the Yankees Struggling Offense

The New York Yankees offense is struggling in the worst way this season. Many key contributors have struggled or are currently struggling and the team’s issues with hitting with runners in scoring position are already well documented across the Yankees blogosphere. Brian Cashman won’t fix it. He’s already said as much as we learned earlier today. So how can the Yankees “kick start themselves” and turn this thing around without an addition or a trade?

You can start by benching Chase Headley. The Boston Red Sox had no problem telling Pablo Sandoval, who makes almost twice as much as Headley does before you make this about money, to ride the bench and earn his spot so why do the Yankees refuse to? Headley is hitting for zero power, he isn’t getting any extra-base hits and even his walks are negated by everything else. His defense is stellar at times and atrocious at others and his line drive percentages and other advanced metrics just aren’t giving anyone a warm and fuzzy feeling right now. Headley finished the month of April with a .150 slugging percentage. Let that sink in, only 12 players in MLB history have done that. Put in Ronald Torreyes, call up Robert Refsnyder, do what you have to do but it’s obvious that this experiment is not working.

Give Dustin Ackley more at bats. Ackley finished the month of April with just 16 at-bats after being donned the Yankees super utility player in the spring. Aaron Hicks has almost twice as many at-bats as Ackley and he has a pair of hits to show for it. Ackley gave the Yankees a spark and some good at-bats at the end of last season after coming off the disabled list and it bothers me to think he is rotting on the Yankees bench while Headley stinks up the joint.

Add chemistry. The Yankees 2015 squad was littered with team chemistry. You could see it on the field and you could see it in the dugout. They are painting a much different picture here thus far in 2016. Is Nick Swisher the answer for that? Is there a clear and concise answer for that? This I do not know but this team looks bored, complacent and lackadaisical right now and it’s showing not only on the field but in the wins and loss columns as well.

The final way to improve the offense is to fix the pitching. Send Luis Severino down, insert Ivan Nova into the starting rotation, move CC Sabathia to the bullpen, pitch Masahiro Tanaka every second or third day. Do what you have to do but desperate times call for desperate measures and the Yankees have to be feeling awfully desperate right about now, aren’t they?

Brian Cashman Refuses to Acknowledge the Problem He Created

For many, many years the biggest gripe among Yankees fans was the constant meddling in the player acquisition and trades aspect of the game. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was known for “getting his man” at whatever cost and at whatever risk and damage it did to the team in the long term. Just win and just win now. This caused many of the current Brian Cashman supporters to use this notion as a means of defending the GM and for a while it was true. Cashman was held down by bulky contracts he fought against giving and aging veteran players past their primes that he wanted no part in acquiring. That is still the case to an extent these days with current owner Hal Steinbrenner but Cashman has seemingly been given more power than ever over the Yankees and yet the team is still in a pickle, a pickle that Cashman refuses to acknowledge and refuses to fix.

No longer can one say, in my opinion anyway, that this is a Hal Steinbrenner led and assembled team. Sure he has had his hands in acquiring the likes of Ichiro Suzuki and Rafael Soriano and sure the Alex Rodriguez contract that is set to run out was against Cashman’s wishes but for the most part Cashman handed out most of these deals and made most of these trades. This is finally Brian Cashman’s team for better or worse and as a Brian Cashman apologist I find it hard to stick up for the man these days. Especially when he has basically told the team and the media that this is the team we are running with for now until he is “forced to” change and improve the team and that we basically have to deal with it. Say what?

Cashman told the media after the Yankees sweep in Boston this past weekend that he is not willing to bench Chase Headley much like the Red Sox have done with Pablo Sandoval. He’s just not going to do but don’t worry he finished the topic with this little nugget. “If anybody wants to earn opportunities in the future they have to earn it.” So let me get this straight, anyone who wants to replace Headley has to “earn” it but until then we’re going to sit on our hands and watch the guy set a new low in batting average, defense and slugging.

I’m done. I’m done defending Cashman and I’m done defending this team. I’m not giving up on this team, that’s a whole other story and a huge difference, but I am done spraying hope all over the blog and Twitter for better days and for the team to turn things around. Attitude reflects leadership and if Brian Cashman doesn’t care then I don’t either. 

Predicting the AL & NL Cy Young Award Winners

And so begins the meat and potatoes of the award predictions here on The Greedy Pinstripes, the American League and National League Cy Young Award winners. This award goes out to the best pitcher, either starter or reliever although it is generally reserved for starting pitchers, in each league every single season so who will win it this season? Truth be told I have no idea, so much can happen between then and now, but here is who I predict right now.

The award, as much as I hate to say this, has to go to the Boston Red Sox ace David Price. Give David Price two runs of support or more and on most days that’s in the bag. While Boston did little to improve their offense on paper their core is getting a year older and closer to their prime while Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval almost can’t be as bad or worse for Boston then they were in 2015. The Cy Young can be an individual award sometimes more so than a team award and Price is the kind of pitcher to throw you eight or nine innings and win the game himself or hand it off to Craig Kimbrel in the 9^th. Price for Cy Young, again.

In the National League the award has to go the new ace of the staff in Pittsburgh, and former New York Yankees draft pick, Gerrit Cole. Cole is an elite starter with an elite defense behind him and an offense that can win him games even on his off nights. Cole won 19 games last season with a 2.60 ERA and it seemed like many didn’t blink an eye thanks to Jake Arrieta, they will blink an eye this season as Cole takes the next step forward in his career. 

Comparing the Yankees & Red Sox Lineups

The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox rivalry is one of the most storied and at times hated rivalries in all of North American sports. While the rivalry has taken a back seat in recent years these two teams are always a high-and-tight fastball away or two good teams away from rekindling the flame. That season could come in 2016 as the Red Sox look to rebuild and retool in hopes of getting back to the playoffs and out of the cellar of the American League East Division. We will do a run of these lineup comparisons now, as they stand, today and we will have to do another the closer we get to the regular season. A trade in Boston is coming, you don’t give former Yankees outfielder Chris Young a multi-year deal if you’re not about to trade one of your talented outfielders, and that trade may change the entire landscape of the AL East. 

Catcher

Brian McCann/ Ryan Hanigan

First Base

Mark Teixeira/ Hanley Ramirez

Second Base

Robert Refsnyder/ Dustin Pedroia

Third Base

Chase Headley/ Pablo Sandoval

*could be a push. Homer in me makes me go Headley

Shortstop

Didi Gregorius/ Xander Bogaerts

Left Field

Brett Gardner/ Rusney Castillo

Center Field

Jacoby Ellsbury/ Jackie Bradley Jr.

Right Field

Carlos Beltran/ Mookie Betts

Designated Hitter

Alex Rodriguez/ David Ortiz

Looking at the final tally I have the New York Yankees “winning” five spots out of the nine. Remember, bolded player wins. I think we all thought the Yankees would have the advantage in the lineup department over the Red Sox, especially now, but I think we all know a lot of change is coming to Bean Town. With Dave Dombrowski at the helm and a plethora of prospects for him to trade for established talent I don’t expect the Red Sox to stay down long, especially in David Ortiz’s last season. I can see the Red Sox going all in this season with their young core and established farm system. This is not good news for the New York Yankees so enjoy the “victory” while you still can.

Also it’s worth mentioning that the Boston Red Sox had one of the worst records in the American League in 2015. They finished in last place in the AL East Division and were a whopping 15 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for first place. I’ve already shown why I think the Yankees have a better offensive player in six or seven of the nine positions over Toronto but have  New York winning less positional battles here. This goes to show you that it is a team sport, not a sport for individuals, and it all comes down to actually putting in the work and getting the job done. Winning on paper is fun, winning in real life is so much better. This is the perfect example, to answer a question I received on the Toronto vs. New York lineup comparison, of how the Blue Jays can outscore the Yankees by over 120 runs and lead the league in offense and still “lose” the head-to-head battles. 

Most Popular Article of the Week: The Quote That May Haunt Brian Cashman for the Rest of his Yankees Tenure

Let’s end the night with something to think about when you go to bed tonight, the one quote that may define and ultimately haunt the Yankees GM Brian Cashman for the remainder of his Yankees tenure. This quote came in the offseason when the Yankees were being second guessed about their free agent strategy and the decision to pass up the likes of David Robertson, Hanley Ramirez, James Shields, Pablo Sandoval and other big named free agents. Cashman may be hoping right about now, as the Blue Jays continue their aggressive play while the Yankees simply look tired out and ready for another winter of hibernation, that this quote could forever be forgotten and lost in the web that is the internet but I remember it and I remind you all of it today.


“Playoffs and then beyond,’’ GM Brian Cashman told The Post. “Be a good enough team to get to the playoffs, allow me to tweak in-season to make it good enough to win a World Series.’’


http://nypost.com/2015/03/09/what-must-go-right-for-yankees-to-hit-world-series-expectations/


Has Cashman lived up to this “promise” or did he let the team down? I’m truly asking because I know the responses will be a mixed bag of opinions. Some, including myself, are okay with the prospects being relied on more (although if you’re going all in on prospects where the hell is Robert Refsnyder?) while others are not. Leave your thoughts in the comments section or let us know on Twitter by following and tweeting @GreedyStripes.

The Quote That May Haunt Brian Cashman for the Rest of his Yankees Tenure

Let’s end the night with something to think about when you go to bed tonight, the one quote that may define and ultimately haunt the Yankees GM Brian Cashman for the remainder of his Yankees tenure. This quote came in the offseason when the Yankees were being second guessed about their free agent strategy and the decision to pass up the likes of David Robertson, Hanley Ramirez, James Shields, Pablo Sandoval and other big named free agents. Cashman may be hoping right about now, as the Blue Jays continue their aggressive play while the Yankees simply look tired out and ready for another winter of hibernation, that this quote could forever be forgotten and lost in the web that is the internet but I remember it and I remind you all of it today.

“Playoffs and then beyond,’’ GM Brian Cashman told The Post. “Be a good enough team to get to the playoffs, allow me to tweak in-season to make it good enough to win a World Series.’’

http://nypost.com/2015/03/09/what-must-go-right-for-yankees-to-hit-world-series-expectations/

Has Cashman lived up to this “promise” or did he let the team down? I’m truly asking because I know the responses will be a mixed bag of opinions. Some, including myself, are okay with the prospects being relied on more (although if you’re going all in on prospects where the hell is Robert Refsnyder?) while others are not. Leave your thoughts in the comments section or let us know on Twitter by following and tweeting @GreedyStripes.

Most Popular Article of the Week: The Boston Red Sox are officially DEAD

This post was originally the post that would have seen Johnny Cueto coming to the New York Yankees in a trade with Brandon Phillips but since he was traded to the Kansas City Royals last night it seems redundant. So here is the second most popular article of the week, the Boston Red Sox are officially dead!

The Boston Red Sox were making their yearly run before the All-Star break and before they welcomed the New York Yankees and Robert Refsnyder to town. The Red Sox took the first game of the series with the Yankees taking the final two heading into the break and ever since then the bottom has fallen out of the Red Sox season. That escalated quickly.


After the All-Star break the Red Sox were still in last place in the American League East Division but were a good week or two away from being back in contention for a division title. Boston had their pitching looking the best it has been with Clay Buchholz at the top and their young core was performing as well as could be expected. That was then, this is now. Boston came out of the gate losing eight games in a row essentially ending the Red Sox season. If this losing streak came at the beginning of July or the beginning of August that would be a different story but this close to the July 31st trading deadline their season is essentially over and it is time to sell.


Ben Cherington, the Red Sox GM, is ready to sell, the fans are ready for players to be sold and the players are ready to go to a contender. Boston is not completely dead, they won’t be trading the likes of Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Blake Swihart, Hanley Ramirez, Pablo Sandoval, David Ortiz or Eduardo Rodriguez, but players like Justin Masterson, Koji Uehara, Shane Victorino and others may be preparing their ways out of Boston as we speak.



Any day the Red Sox lose is a good day and any season that Boston finishes in last place is a good season so it looks like 2015 is shaping up to be a great season for Yankees fans.

The Boston Red Sox are officially DEAD

The Boston Red Sox were making their yearly run before the All-Star break and before they welcomed the New York Yankees and Robert Refsnyder to town. The Red Sox took the first game of the series with the Yankees taking the final two heading into the break and ever since then the bottom has fallen out of the Red Sox season. That escalated quickly.

After the All-Star break the Red Sox were still in last place in the American League East Division but were a good week or two away from being back in contention for a division title. Boston had their pitching looking the best it has been with Clay Buchholz at the top and their young core was performing as well as could be expected. That was then, this is now. Boston came out of the gate losing eight games in a row essentially ending the Red Sox season. If this losing streak came at the beginning of July or the beginning of August that would be a different story but this close to the July 31^st trading deadline their season is essentially over and it is time to sell.

Ben Cherington, the Red Sox GM, is ready to sell, the fans are ready for players to be sold and the players are ready to go to a contender. Boston is not completely dead, they won’t be trading the likes of Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Blake Swihart, Hanley Ramirez, Pablo Sandoval, David Ortiz or Eduardo Rodriguez, but players like Justin Masterson, Koji Uehara, Shane Victorino and others may be preparing their ways out of Boston as we speak.

Any day the Red Sox lose is a good day and any season that Boston finishes in last place is a good season so it looks like 2015 is shaping up to be a great season for Yankees fans. 

The Daily Dozen (Plus): The Night The Lights Went Out in the Bronx Edition

The Daily Dozen: The Night the Lights Went Out in the Bronx Edition

Twelve (Nineteen)Takeaways from Tonight's Yesterday's This Morning's Game:

1. Yankees vs. Red Sox Eternal...as in the games last forever.  Extra innings seem to be made for this rivalry.  And once again, this one goes LATE into the night...and the next day.  I can't tell you how many times I fell asleep watching my ESPN App since I don't have The MLB Network.  Okay, I can...3 times...

2. Pace of Play.  MLB has begun to inform its players by way of snail mail as to their disdain for players taking too much time in the batter's box and that they are serious about penalizing players.  I wonder if David Ortiz will receive as many letters from MLB as supposed drug tests?

"So You're Saying We Are on Some List...?" (Photo Credit: NY Times)

3. The 2015 Red Sox Resemble the 2004 New York Yankees.  Remember when the Yankees organization began to OVERSPEND on talent that was past its prime (Giambi, Johnson, Rodriguez).  Well, it seems that Boston is now filling that role what with its lineup of All-Stars from 2012 in Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez, Pablo Sandoval, Mike Napoli, and Shane Victorino.  Heck Ramirez was traded BY the Red Sox in his prime to the Marlins in return for guys named Josh Beckett (still hate that guy) and Mike Lowell (former Yankee)...in 2005.  The Yankees are now trying to the be the Red Sox of old staying away from the big free agents past their prime.  Okay...so they still were doing it last year with...AHEM...Beltran and McCann...but they totally redeemed themselves with Ellsbury and re-signing Gardner along with getting cheaper alternatives such as Headley, Gregorius, and Garret Jones...all while allowing their prospects evolve.

4. Extra Innings Games Sap Your Stats.  Just a quick look at the stat lines for both teams through THIRTEEN innings reveals the following:  only 6 players total had over a .300 average for the night and only five guys had multiple hits.  Perennial consistent hitter Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 6, the Panda was 2 for 6, Nava was 2 for 3 before being replaced by Victorino.  Gardner was 2 for 6, Gregorius was 1 for 3 as a late replacement, and Alex Rodriguez...2 for 5.  The Binder probably wishes he would have left him in the game right about now (12:00 AM).  The remaining players for the Red Sox were 4 for 33.  The remaining players for the Yankees were 3 for 31.  Update: as the teams roll into the 18th, the stats keep on going down, but on a sidenote they are the only ones still playing as the West Coast games just ended (1:33 am EDT).

5. #NAPPYBEARD.  Since The Greedy Pinstripes adopted the hastag last season, Napoli hasn't been the same player.  We here at TGP are glad this has happened and take full credit.  As of this typed No. 5 in the Daily Dozen he was 0 for 6 through 14 innings with 3 strikeouts...although he did get a walk in the 6th and scored one of Boston's 3 runs.  His batting average for 2015 is a stellar .000.  Interestingly, I actually typed the 0 for 6 with 3 strikeouts before he actually struck out...Fear the #NAPPYBEARD  Update: 0 for 8 through 18 innings.

"....mabye I should shave...?"

6. Chase Friggin' Headley.  What more can be said about Chase?  I mean sure he's mired in a .188 batting average, but like I said a couple of days ago...he seems to be clutch when it matters most.  What a huge Home Run to tie the game back in the bottom of the 9th off of Mujica (who coincidentally is on my Fantasy Baseball team...arrgh).

This may never get old... (Photo Credit: Newsday)

7. Fantasy Baseball Hint.  Just a word to the wise...NEVER draft guys from the team you like onto your fantasy squad...right now after almost a week's worth of games I am firmly atop the leaderboard of my Rotisserie league with 3 Boston players on roster with only Brett Gardner from the Yankees (auto-draft).  Either way I win...if the Boston guys suck it up...GOOD...if for some reason they don't...STILL GOOD (for me).  Having Pedroia is also a good idea...the guy just flat out rakes, like WICKED HAAAD.  Update: Mujica is on my bench tonight...shoo!

8. How many buckets of balls could the Yankees get for Stephen Drew?  This is subject to change if he somehow miraculously wins the game in the Bottom of the 14th as I type this, but WHY did the Yankees not afford Refsnyder a shot at second base again?  Oh that's right, to make room for the .071 hitting juggernaut Stephen Drew.  At least he has company down there with Beltran (.071).  Update:  Drew flew out to right to lower that stellar average to .067.  Update 2:  I'll give him another chance as he gave the Yankees a chance in the bottom of the 16th to win it and he's now at a SCORCHING .125!!!

9. Who is leading the team in batting average you ask?  Why that would be everyone's favorite villain, Alex Rodriguez at .286.  I mean sure he had 3 strikeouts...but did you see the smash double he had in the bottom of the 11th...that should have netted the Yankees a win since he was on 2nd with only 1 out?  Yeah, I think Mr. A-Rod is welcome in that clubhouse right about now.

10. To play shortstop in this rivalry you have to have a crazy name.  Xander Bogaerts.  Didi Gregorius.  Nuf' Said.  Pretty much the only normal name at short has been Derek Jeter...I mean, come on...Nomar Garciaparra?  Nomar is Ramon spelled backwards for the kids playing at home.  And yes, I realize that Stephen Drew also played SS...but I don't care.  Update: Bogaerts, crazy name and all is 4 for 8 through 19 innings and  hitting a crisp .421 on the early season.

More Like Nomar Hamm! Fogedaboutit

11. Pitchers, Batters, and Strikeouts.  Through 14 innings the Yankees pitchers faced 60 Red Sox hitters.  The Red Sox pitchers faced 53 Yankees hitters.  The teams combined used 16 pitchers.  It's too bad the game devolved into such a bullpen affair as both Wade Miley and Nathan Eovaldi pitched decently; Eovaldi in his Yankees debut with a final line of 5-1/3 innings and only 3 earned runs against such a good hitting Red Sox squad (ESPN will tell you that...just wait).  Miley gave up 1 less earned run in the same timeframe.  So how many strikeouts in the game (as I type this..they are in the top of the 15th)...?  24 strikeouts total -- 12 for each team.  The Indians pitchers got 16 on Thursday in a regulation game, but still 24 is a lot.  Update: top of the 16th...now at 26 Ks, 13 each.  Update 2: 17 pitchers as Wright entered for the Red Sox in the bottom of the 15th.  Update 3: 28 Ks...15 for BOS, 13 for NYY in Top 19th

12. The Didi-Ells-Gardy Show.  I'm predicting the game will end in the 15th with a manufactured run by the speedsters.  The lineup was set in order to do just that...get Gregorius on base and turn over the lineup to Ellsbury and Gardner to wreak havoc on the basepaths.  If you can't beat 'em with power, beat 'em with SPEED!  Update: Didi struck out, Ellsbury lined out to short, and Gardner walked...1 for 3 ain't bad!  Update #2: Garrett Jones promptly lined out to center to send the game to the 16th.  Anyone wish that A-Rod was still in the game yet???

13. Oh you thought this would end at Twelve?  I mean a dozen is twelve, but since the Yanks and Sawx can go extra innings, so shall I!  How many times have you watched a Yankees game when the stadium lights went out?  That was the title of this edition of the Daily Dozen and you read all the way to this point, so I'll tell you...I can't remember a time that the game was delayed due to the lights going out at Yankee Stadium.  This game was delayed 16 minutes in the bottom of the 12th as fans attempted to illuminate the field with their mobile devices.

Is this a baseball game or a Bon Jovi Concert?

14. Of course Ortiz would homer off of Rogers in the 16th.  What kind of name is Esmil anyways...arrghhh.  Rogers' first hit given up this season is a big one as in David Ortiz' first home run of the season.  I hope I didn't stay up until 1 am just to see (by see I mean watch the game via ESPN Gamecast probably 30 seconds after it actually happened) Big Papi win another game at the Stadium with a big home run.  Update:  Esmil Rogers gave up another run in the 18th...and has given up 3 ERs in 6.1 innings while the rest of the bullpen has surrendered only 1 ER in 18.1.  Update 2: Make it 4 ERs in 7.1...arrgh!

"Man...the guy at GNC told me it was just Orange Juice..."

15. The Panda Express.  Any time you give Pablo Sandoval eight at-bats, he'll probably find a way to hurt you.  Through 16 innings he was 3 for 8 raising his season average to .250.  While he isn't likely the player he was with San Francisco, he can still hurt you if you give him enough chances.

16. Steven Wright! You're So Wrong!  I imagine that was the call by John Sterling when Mark "Teix-Message" Teixeira launched the game-tying home run to start the bottom of the 16th.  If it's not, then he should have said it.  And by the way...Mr. Marky Mark waited until his birthday (April 11th) to do the damage.  Happy Birthday Teixeira!  You're on the MARK!  Update:  A colleague of mine has just informed us all via the Twitterverse that Mark is 35...which makes him the same age as me (he's hitting home runs in Yankee Stadium while I am blogging in my basement watching a "live" feed on the intranet  internet).

You gotta love A-Rod's reaction to the home run by the way: See A-Rod React Like a Little Leaguer

17. Mark Teixeira came up to the plate once again in the bottom of the 17th against Steven Wright.  He is now .500 against him with 1 HR in his career.

18. Baseball is a fickle game.  Teams can go SIX whole innings without scoring...and then boom they both score on solo home runs in the 16th.  Gotta love it...or hate it??  No runs in the 17th as both teams threatened.  Then in the 18th...the Red Sox score 1 and the Yankees promptly score again tying it 5-5.  And they did it with McCann and Beltran doubles no less...guys that were a combined 1 for 10 previously.

19. It's the small things.  Caught stealing, a pick off, allowing a stolen base, a passed ball...all of these were instrumental in the Red Sox scoring runs and ultimately led to their demise.  Well...that's it folks...hopefully you stuck with this post as long as I did with the game!

Would Juan Francisco Make Sense For New York?

The Boston Red Sox designated corner infielder Juan Francisco for assignment and then non-tendered him to make room on the roster for Pablo Sandoval making Francisco a free agent, would he make sense for the Yankees bench in 2015? In a word, abso-freaking-lutely. Francisco is a first baseman and third baseman in name only at this point in his career, honestly he should be a DH full time, but he can get it done in a pinch. Francisco is not likely to be exposed playing an inning or two here or a game or two a week there. His bat may not be adequate to land an everyday job, even as a DH, but his power would be a welcomed addition to the 2015 edition of the New York Yankees.

Francisco is a career .236 hitter so the team would not be getting a .300 type hitter that is going to change the dynamic of the lineup. Instead the Yankees would be getting a left handed power hitting bench option that could stumble into 10-20 home runs in Yankee Stadium if healthy and productive. Francisco can play some third base and some first base backing up Martin Prado, Chase Headley, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira or whoever else is plugged in between then and now while taking a turn a game a week at the DH position.

At 27 years old Francisco has been asked to come off the bench, fill in at both corners of the infield, hit for power and hit at the bottom half of the lineup. That's nothing more than the Yankees would need or ask of him in 2015 and he makes a ton of sense for what is looking like an offensively deficient team next season.

Boston Making Things Extremely Difficult for the Yankees

The Boston Red Sox pulled a George Steinbrenner’s New York Yankees move when the team bought up the top hitting free agents on the market in Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez. Looking at the market now, especially for the left side of the infield, New York may be almost forced to make a trade to compete. If Chase Headley decides to sign somewhere other than New York then the Yankees would truly be in trouble and may be forced to either gut the farm or miss the postseason for a third straight season.

After Headley the most enticing third base options are Mark Reynolds, Alberto Callaspo and Kelly Johnson. I would take a flyer on Reynolds but for the others I would give a very emphatic “no thank you.” Shortstop is not much better as the best available right now are Jed Lowrie, Stephen Drew and Asdrubal Cabrera. Lowrie is going to take advantage of a weak market to get way too much money for way too many years while Drew takes a pillow contract for one season. Cabrera is basically a second baseman at this point in his career although I’m sure Yankees fans wouldn’t notice his lack of range after watching Derek Jeter run around at age 40 last season.

Enter the Chicago Cubs who have Starlin Castro, Addison Russell, Javier Baez and others along with the Arizona Diamondbacks who have Didi Gregorious, Jake Lamb, Brandon Drury, Chris Owings and others. You can always throw in the Philadelphia Phillies willingness to trade Jimmy Rollins and Chicago’s willingness to move Alexei Ramirez into the fold for the Yankees as well. The problem for New York? Boston has a huge stable of major league ready prospects and established major league players, Yoenis Cespedes for example, that could be had without mortgaging the future prospects wise or money wise. Boston can have any player that they want, and that is available obviously, and could swoop in and steal any potential player in a trade that the Yankees could be targeting. Could you imagine Troy Tulowitzki in Fenway Park in 2015?

Boston has made things extremely difficult for the Yankees and this is going to be the first offseason in a long time that Yankees GM Brian Cashman is going to have to use his brain and not his checkbook to make the team better. Stay tuned and damn you Boston!

Happy Thanksgiving Yankee Fans! Or Is It?

Another off-season, following another disastrous year for the Yankees. What's next for Yankee Universe? Is there any hope of returning to those glory days, now fading away? Or at least some semblance of a team that George Steinbrenner would have put on the field?

Per media reports, the Boston Red Sox have signed both Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval. (Note: the Yankees can cross another potential Derek Jeter replacement off the list).  With that being said, Brian Cashman is now on the clock.

So far, the Yankees’ strategy has been to make an offer and play a waiting game. It worked for Chris Young, but it will not work for Chase Headley or Brandon McCarthy. We want to believe the Yankees’ will make their usual off-season splash, but will that be enough? No.

While signing Max Scherzer and/or Jon Lester would be “splash” worthy, the Yankees’ have a ton of holes they need to fix. Most notably, finding Derek Jeter’s replacement.  (Here’s A-Rod!) I’m kidding, or not.  

Boston May Be Signing All the Free Agents BUT….

We’re still the ones that killed Omar Gaddafi… just saying. Keep up Boston. Stay strong. 

Red Sox Get Hanley and Panda, Should We Worry?

The Boston Red Sox are re-tooling and rebuilding their team after missing the postseason in 2014 and the New York Yankees should take notice and worry. The Boston Red Sox will no longer be the whipping boy in the American League East after signing maybe the top two offensive free agents in this class. Each player reportedly will receive a five year deal and both players will receive somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 million each. Paying for guys entering or leaving their primes to mega contracts and stealing all the attention in the media, isn’t that the Yankees job?

Hanley and Sandoval should take advantage of the Green Monster in Fenway and have huge offensive seasons in 2015 assuming health. The worst part about it is that Boston is likely not done this hot stove season either. The team could always bring back Jon Lester and/or trade away depth, Will Middlebrooks and Xander Bogaerts for example, for even more pieces to complete the puzzle. The team could always move Ramirez to left field since the dimensions are so small out there if the star would be willing to make the move allowing the team to keep and build around Bogaerts and creates a controversy.

Currently the Red Sox have Yoenis Cespedes in left field, Shane Victorino in right field, and a combination of Allen Craig, Daniel Nava, Brock Holt, and others. I said all that to say this, the Red Sox are far from done and that group of management has a track record of doing things efficiently and the right way. If I were the Yankees organization I would be scared right about now because I know, as a fan, I am. 

Kuty: Locking Up Headley Might Now Be Yankees' Biggest Concern

With Pablo Sandoval now guaranteed to be a member of the Red Sox for multiple seasons, re-signing Chase Headley may become the Yankees' main concern, NJ.com's Brendan Kuty argues.

According to Kuty, Sandoval coming off the table makes Headley this offseason's most desirable third baseman. He is coming off a 77-game stretch with the Yankees in which he batted a solid .262, and is likely not going to ask for the money Sandoval did.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean inking Headley will be easy for the Yankees, as another coastal contender could soon begin to compete for his services.

From Kuty's report: 

"It’s likely Headley will want a deal that guarantees him at least three or four years, considering Sandoval’s reported $90-million haul will come over a five-year span. And there are several teams who could give Headley what he wants.

The Yankees have been in contact with Headley’s agent, Casey Close, general manager Brian Cashman has said. The Giants, Sandoval’s old team, could also emerge as serious contenders, considering their sudden need at third base and that Headley has spent almost his whole career in California."

That the Giants didn't push harder for Sandoval after he helped them take home three championships in five years is definitely strange, but nonetheless, that doesn't mean they'll just go away.

They are still looking to improve their team, while the Yankees seem to just be trying to keep theirs together. That being said, it's very important that the Yankees find a way to keep Headley in their uniform, as no other reliable options appear to be available at the position. 

Headley, 30, is a career .265 hitter, and was well known for his defensive talent during his recent time in pinstripes.

My Worries for the Offseason: Offense

When I picked up my phone the other day and I saw that the Detroit Tigers had signed Victor Martinez to a four year deal I immediately began to worry. The New York Yankees had one of the worst offenses in all of Major League Baseball in 2014 and the hopes of all the fans was that this would/could be fixed this offseason. If the V Mart signing taught us anything it is that offense is going to come at an absolute premium this offseason.

This tells me that New York will go the route that they went at this past season’s trading deadline acquiring middle of the road talent and veteran players that the team expects to bounce back. There will be no Hanley Ramirez’s, Pablo Sandoval’s, etc. coming to New York this offseason. It is like we will see Chase Headley get a four year deal, Martin Prado play second base, John Ryan Murphy snag the backup catcher job, and we call it an offseason offensively. 

My 2015 MLB Free Agents Predictions

Here are my predictions for free agency for this offseason. List via MLB Trade Rumors.

Catchers

J.P. Arencibia (29) - Texas Rangers
John Buck (34) - Miami Marlins
Ryan Doumit (34) - Seattle Mariners
Nick Hundley (31) – $5MM club option - Chicago White Sox
Gerald Laird (35) - Detroit Tigers
Russell Martin (32) - Pittsburgh Pirates
Jeff Mathis (32) – $1.5MM club option - Miami Marlins
Wil Nieves (36) - Retirement
A.J. Pierzynski (38) - Retirement
David Ross (38) - Boston Red Sox
Geovany Soto (32) - Texas Rangers

First Basemen

Daric Barton (29) - Chicago White Sox
Billy Butler (29) – $12.5MM club option with a $1MM buyout - Kansas City Royals
Mike Carp (29) - Chicago Cubs
Michael Cuddyer (36) - New York Yankees
Jozzen Cuesta (25) - Toronto Blue Jays
Corey Hart (33) - Texas Rangers
Adam LaRoche (35) – $15MM mutual option with a $2MM buyout - Milwaukee Brewers
Adam Lind (31) – $7.5MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Mike Morse (33) - San Francisco Giants
Carlos Pena (37) - Retirement
Mark Reynolds (32) - Milwaukee Brewers
Kevin Youkilis (36) - Retirement

Second Basemen

Emilio Bonifacio (30) - Atlanta Braves
Mark Ellis (38) - Retirement
Rafael Furcal (37) - Miami Marlins
Brandon Hicks (29) - Oakland Athletics
Kelly Johnson (33) - New York Mets
Brian Roberts (37) - Retirement
Ramon Santiago (35) - Retirement
Rickie Weeks (32) – $11.5MM vesting option - Toronto Blue Jays
Josh Wilson (34) - Cleveland Indians
Ben Zobrist (34) – $7.5MM club option with a $500k buyout - Tampa Bay Rays
Jose Fernandez - San Diego Padres

Shortstops

Mike Aviles (34) – $3.5MM club option with a $250k buyout - Cleveland Indians
Clint Barmes (36) - Pittsburgh Pirates
Asdrubal Cabrera (29) - New York Yankees
Stephen Drew (32) - New York Mets
Jed Lowrie (31) - Oakland Athletics
John McDonald (40) - Retirement
Hanley Ramirez (31) - Boston Red Sox

Third Basemen

Alberto Callaspo (32) - Toronto Blue Jays
Jack Hannahan (35) – $4MM club option with a $2MM buyout - Cleveland Indians
Chase Headley (31) - New York Yankees
Kelly Johnson (33) - New York Mets
Donnie Murphy (32) - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Chris Nelson (29) - Boston Red Sox
Aramis Ramirez (37) – $14MM mutual option with a $4MM buyout - Milwaukee Brewers
Hanley Ramirez (31) - Boston Red Sox
Mark Reynolds (32) - Milwaukee Brewers
Pablo Sandoval (28) - New York Yankees

Left Fielders

Melky Cabrera (30) - Baltimore Orioles
Mike Carp (29) - Chicago Cubs
Endy Chavez (37) - Retirement
Tyler Colvin (29) - Cleveland Indians
Nelson Cruz (34) - Toronto Blue Jays
Chris Denorfia (34) - Miami Marlins
Cole Gillespie (30) - Chicago White Sox
Jonny Gomes (34) - San Diego Padres
Tony Gwynn Jr. (32) - Oakland Athletics
Scott Hairston (35) - Retirement
Reed Johnson (38) - Retirement
Jason Kubel (33) - Retirement
Ryan Ludwick (36) – $9MM mutual option with a $4.5MM buyout
Nyjer Morgan (34) - Japan
Mike Morse (33) - San Francisco Giants
Alfonso Soriano (39) - Retirement
Josh Willingham (36) - Retirement
Chris B. Young (31) - Minnesota Twins
Delmon Young (29) - Detroit Tigers

Center Fielders

Emilio Bonifacio (30) - Atlanta Braves
Endy Chavez (37) - Retirement
Nyjer Morgan (34) - Japan
Colby Rasmus (28) - Detroit Tigers
Grady Sizemore (32) - Philadelphia Phillies
Denard Span (31) – $9MM club option with a $500K buyout - Washington Nationals
Chris B. Young (31) - Minnesota Twins

Right Fielders

Norichika Aoki (33) - Tampa Bay Rays
Endy Chavez (37) - Retirement
Tyler Colvin (29) - Cleveland Indians
Nelson Cruz (34) - Toronto Blue Jays
Michael Cuddyer (36) - New York Yankees
Chris Denorfia (34) - St. Louis Cardinals
Scott Hairston (35) - Retirement
Torii Hunter (39) - Detroit Tigers
Nick Markakis (31) – $17.5MM mutual option with a $2MM buyout - Seattle Mariners
Alex Rios (34) – $13.5MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Nate Schierholtz (31) - St. Louis Cardinals
Ichiro Suzuki (41) - New York Mets
Yasmany Tomas (24) - Philadelphia Phillies
Chris B. Young (31) - Minnesota Twins

Designated Hitters

Billy Butler (29) – $12.5MM club option with a $1MM buyout - Kansas City Royals
Ryan Doumit (34) - Seattle Mariners
Adam Dunn (35) - Retirement
Jason Giambi (44) - Retirement
Jonny Gomes (34) - San Diego Padres
Corey Hart (33) - Texas Rangers
Raul Ibanez (42) - Retirement
Jason Kubel (33) - Retirement
Adam Lind (31) – $7.5MM club option with a $1MM buyout - Toronto Blue Jays
Victor Martinez (35) - Chicago White Sox
Kendrys Morales (31) - Seattle Mariners
Delmon Young (29) - Detroit Tigers

Starting Pitchers

Brett Anderson (27) – $12MM club option with a $1.5MM buyout - Arizona Diamondbacks
Scott Baker (33) - San Francisco Giants
Chad Billingsley (30) – $14MM club option with a $3MM buyout - Los Angeles Dodgers
A.J. Burnett (38) – mutual option - Retirement
Chris Capuano (36) - Colorado Rockies
Bruce Chen (38) – $5.5MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout - Retirement
Wei-Yin Chen (29) – $4.75MM club option with a $372K buyout - Baltimore Orioles
Kevin Correia (34) - San Francisco Giants
Johnny Cueto (29) – $10MM club option with an $800K buyout - Cincinnati Reds
Gavin Floyd (32) - Atlanta Braves
Yovani Gallardo (29) – $13MM club option with a $600K buyout - Milwaukee Brewers
Jason Hammel (32) - New York Yankees
J.A. Happ (32) – $6.7MM club option - Toronto Blue Jays
Aaron Harang (37) - Atlanta Braves
Dan Haren (34) – $10MM player option - Los Angeles Dodgers
Roberto Hernandez (34) - Miami Marlins
Hisashi Iwakuma (34) – $7MM club option with a $1MM buyout - Seattle Mariners
Josh Johnson (31) – $4MM club option - San Diego Padres
Kyle Kendrick (30) - San Francisco Giants
Hiroki Kuroda (40) - Retirement
Jon Lester (31) - Chicago Cubs
Colby Lewis (35) - New York Yankees
Francisco Liriano (31) - Los Angeles Dodgers
Paul Maholm (33) - Chicago Cubs
Justin Masterson (30) - Pittsburgh Pirates
Daisuke Matsuzaka (34) - Seattle Mariners
Brandon McCarthy (31) - New York Yankees
Brad Mills (29) - Houston Astros
Franklin Morales (29) - Seattle Mariners
Brandon Morrow (30) – $10MM club option with a $1MM buyout - Toronto Blue Jays
Felipe Paulino (31) – $4MM club option with a $250K buyout - Tampa Bay Rays
Jake Peavy (34) - San Francisco Giants
Wandy Rodriguez (36) - Los Angeles Dodgers
Ervin Santana (32) - Minnesota Twins
Joe Saunders (34) - Baltimore Orioles
Max Scherzer (30) - Seattle Mariners
James Shields (33) - Boston Red Sox
Misael Siverio (24) - Philadelphia Phillies
Kevin Slowey (31) - Minnesota Twins
Carlos Villanueva (31) - Toronto Blue Jays
Ryan Vogelsong (37) - Pittsburgh Pirates
Edinson Volquez (30) - San Francisco Giants
Jerome Williams (33) - Philadelphia Philies
Randy Wolf (38) - Houston Astros
Chris Young (36) - Seattle Mariners
Kenta Maeda - Detroit Tigers 

Closers

Jason Grilli (38) - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
LaTroy Hawkins (42) – $2.25MM club option with a $250K buyout - Colorado Rockies
Casey Janssen (33) - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
David Robertson (30) - New York Yankees
Francisco Rodriguez (33) - Milwaukee Brewers
Sergio Romo (32) - Detroit Tigers
Rafael Soriano (35) – $14MM vesting/club option - Chicago White Sox
Huston Street (31) – $7MM club option - Los Angeles Angels
Koji Uehara (40) - Boston Red Sox

Right-Handed Relievers

Mike Adams (36) – $6MM club option
Matt Albers (32) - Houston Astros
Burke Badenhop (32) - Boston Red Sox
Andrew Bailey (31) - New York Yankees
Ronald Belisario (32) - Los Angeles Dodgers
Matt Belisle (34) - Pittsburgh Pirates
Heath Bell (37) - Retirement
Jared Burton (34) – $3.6MM club option with a $200K buyout - Minnesota Twins
Joba Chamberlain (29) - Kansas City Royals
Jesse Crain (34) - Cleveland Indians
Kyle Farnsworth (39) - Retirement
Jason Frasor (38) - Toronto Blue Jays
Kyuji Fujikawa (34) – $5.5MM club/vesting option with a $500K buyout - Seattle Mariners
Luke Gregerson (31) - San Francisco Giants
Matt Guerrier (36) - San Diego Padres
Luke Hochevar (31) - Boston Red Sox
Jim Johnson (32) - New York Yankees
Matt Lindstrom (35) - Milwaukee Brewers
Jeff Manship (30) - Miami Marlins
Daisuke Matsuzaka (34) - Seattle Mariners
Dustin McGowan (32) – $4MM club option with a $500K buyout - Toronto Blue Jays
Jason Motte (33) - St. Louis Cardinals
Pat Neshek (34) - Los Angeles Dodgers
Darren O’Day (32) – $4.25MM club option with a $400K buyout - Baltimore Orioles
Juan Carlos Oviedo (33) - Los Angeles Dodgers
Joel Peralta (39) – $2.5MM club option - Tampa Bay Rays
Chris Perez (29) - Chicago Cubs
J.J. Putz (38) - Retirement
Sergio Santos (31) – $6MM club option with a $750K buyout - Texas Rangers
Joakim Soria (30) – $7MM club option with a $500K buyout - Detroit Tigers
Kevin Slowey (31) - Minnesota Twins
Jose Veras (34) - New York Mets
Jamey Wright (40) - Retirement

Left-Handed Relievers

Joe Beimel (38) - Retirement
Craig Breslow (34) – $4MM club option with a $100K buyout - Boston Red Sox
Sean Burnett (32) – $4.5MM club/vesting option with a $500K buyout - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Phil Coke (32) - Baltimore Orioles
Neal Cotts (35) - Minnesota Twins
Scott Downs (39) - Toronto Blue Jays
Zach Duke (32) - Detroit Tigers
Tom Gorzelanny (32) - Atlanta Braves
Andrew Miller (30) - New York Yankees
Franklin Morales (29) - Baltimore Orioles
Josh Outman (30) - Boston Red Sox
Joe Thatcher (33) - Minnesota Twins

Sports Illustrated: Top 50 Free Agent Rankings

On Monday we looked at MLB Trade Rumors predictions and rankings for the Top 50 free agents this offseason and where the crew thinks they will land. Today we will look at the list that Sports Illustrated released to compare. CLICK HERE to see the full article but I have picked the Yankees related excerpts for you here.

MAX SCHERZER

Position: SP | Age: 30

Current Team: Tigers

Best Fit: Yankees

2014 Stats: 18-5, 3.15 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 10.3 K/9

Scherzer bet on his health and his performance by turning down the Tigers' reported offer of a six-year, $144 extension last March. We've got a winner. He exceeded 30 starts for the sixth straight year, and he even surpassed the standard he set during his Cy Young-winning 2013 in a few ways, including strikeout rate and innings pitched. Now he's in line for a richer deal and can play where he chooses. Rather than list the reasons why he'll end up in New York, it might be easier to ask: Why wouldn't he end up in New York?

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  HANLEY RAMIREZ

  Position: SS | Age: 30

  Current Team: Dodgers

  Best Fit: Yankees

  2014 Stats: .283 BA, .817 OPS, 13 HR, 71 RBI, 14 SB

  Ramirez is the scariest type of free agent. He is a player whose superior talent will earn him lots of money for a long time, but who has at various points had issues with attitude, effort and injury (he's missed at least 34 games in three of the past four years), and who is no longer exactly young. Still: the talent. You might have heard that the Yankees need a shortstop, and while Ramirez should really be playing third at this point in his career, the shortstop market is thin, especially after the Orioles resigned free-agent-to-be J.J. Hardy in September. They could turn to Ramirez, with the idea that he'd move fifty feet to his right after a few years.