TGP Trivia and Fact of the Day for February 13th, 2019

Good morning Yankees family and welcome to, officially, the first day of spring training for the New York Yankees. Pitchers and catchers officially report to George M. Steinbrenner Field today, if they haven't already, signifying that baseball season is officially right around the corner. It also marks the beginning of the return of me as a daily (or as close as I can) writer here on the blog. Welcome back to me as well, did you miss me?

I have done a few different things here in the 7:00 am ET slot and this year will be no different. I will be posting either a Yankees fact or asking a trivia question that can be answered down in the comments section below. Let's have some fun with this and have some fun this season.

What player for the New York Yankees holds the MLB postseason record for most games, at-bats, runs, hits, singles, and doubles - and is tied for the most ever triples in postseason play?

Highlight below, no cheating!!, for the answer.



Derek Jeter



And a huge thank you and vow of appreciation to my amazing WIFE, Mrs. Kari Ann Burch. Without
you this, and nothing I do in this world, would be possible. I love you.

So it Seems Life is Getting Busy Again

Yes, but have no fear for I am here for you guys and girls. If’ I’m being honest my life is about to get really, really busy again. This week my son is out of school for his winter break so the grind of dodging school buses and soccer moms in mini vans is done for a week but next week it’s back to it. Also the process of promoting me and having me learn multiple new jobs at the same time has begun at my job which is always a time suck. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited and I’m humbled by the opportunity. Hell I am humbled by what my life is right now if we’re being completely honest. The issue is I do, and if they read this I probably wouldn’t be getting this potential promotion hahaha, most or close to all of my writing at work.

I vow to not disappear again. When I disappeared I had so many distractions, and granted they were all the very best distractions, that it became the new normal to go to work and work. To go home and do what I was doing. Not to write. I fell into a slump and I hit an absolute wall on the writing, writers block should be considered one of those naughty four-letter words in my opinion, but I will not and cannot allow that to happen again. So you may not see five-or-six posts a day on the blog but at the very least you will see me speaking to you every morning just as I am right now.

So look out for it… because it’s coming. Have a great day everyone. 

This Day in New York Yankees History 2/21: So About This Weather

Unfortunately this is the second day in a row without any notable major league history or specifically Yankees-related history to report. Maybe this day in Yankees history 2017 will be better? If so, something needs to happen today. Anyway, about this weather. I know I live in the south and Georgia weather is specifically and especially crazy, but I don't know whats going on right now.

Make up your mind before everyone gets pneumonia. Please.

So it Seems the Grass isn't Always Greener...

So we meet again members of my extended family. Not the family I was born into but the family that I choose. Feel special, because you are. So we meet again on just another manic Monday but hopefully where it lacks in some departments it makes up for it in another. While waking up early in the morning sucks it's the good mornings that make it all worth it. While we have to wake up and go to work we'll always have lunch breaks and down time that get us through the day or simply keep us going. And there's always 4:30.

So while we have another manic Monday on our hands there's always a way to turn a negative into a positive, you just have to look for it. As the Yankees prepare to take the field again this morning for spring training workouts I leave you with this last word of knowledge and positive thinking, the grass is not always greener on the other side but it's always green where you water it.

Have a great Monday everyone.

This Day in New York Yankees History 2/20: Just Another Manic Monday

There is surprisingly no notable news that has happened on this day in Yankees history. Not much to talk about here. Pitchers and catchers have reported and they've even had their first workouts together. Today is just another day unfortunately. Maybe caption this picture for fun?

So it Seems it’s Going to Be a Good Saturday

So it seems like today is going to be a good day. I’m back to writing, and to be honest I didn’t know how much I missed it until I stopped doing it and then started it back up again, it’s Saturday and I don’t have too much planned for the weekend. I have to help a friend this morning clean out his garage so he can buy himself a brand new boat to park in the empty slot but I am glad to help out a friend. It’s also going to be a good day because we came up with the idea to simply vent and talk here every morning, while mixing in Yankees baseball whenever possible of course, right here on the blog. Again, I know this is a Yankees-centric blog and I appreciate you guys just listening to me ramble on like I tend to do each and every morning.

Yankees positional players report to camp this morning if they haven’t already which truly kicks off the spring training season, so naturally that’s exciting. I can’t wait to see how everyone looks and see how much work everyone has put in over the offseason. Fun times, fun times.

Hope everyone has a great Saturday and a great weekend overall. 

So It Seems the World Works Against Us Sometimes

Good morning everyone and happy Friday to you all. I want to start this morning off by talking to you a bit and by thanking you for your continued support. There’s not likely to be too many blogs out there that can take the hiatus that I did and still come back to all hands on deck on Twitter and in the comments section of the site. I’m truly humbled and I’m forever grateful for you all.

It seems like the world works against us sometime. For example, this week I returned to the blog after the aforementioned long hiatus that I still can’t fully understand or explain. I just simply and completely checked out of the world entirely. I shut myself out to everything and everyone that does not live in my house and I don’t have a true explanation as to why.

This week has been tough. I’ve been enjoying writing again and I’m getting back into the habit and into the groove of writing again but life just continues to throw their curve balls that they love to throw. Work has been incredibly busy, and don’t tell my boss but I do the vast majority of my writing while I am at work, and my life outside of work has been twice as busy. Just this Wednesday I got a call from the woman who watches my son while I work and the call stated that he had fallen and busted his chin. Long story short and four hours later in an emergency room I was home at 10:00 pm, drained and not wanting to write.

You know what I did? I wrote anyway, and it was the content you saw yesterday featured on the blog, and you know what? It made me feel better. I’ve had so many special people come in and out of my life and I am truly blessed. You are my favorite thing.

Have a great Friday everyone. Position players are set to report to Yankees camp tomorrow if they haven’t already. 

This Day in New York Yankees History 2/21: So About This Weather

Unfortunately this is the second day in a row without any notable major league history or specifically Yankees-related history to report. Maybe this day in Yankees history 2017 will be better? If so, something needs to happen today. Anyway, about this weather. I know I live in the south and Georgia weather is specifically and especially crazy but I don't know what'd going on right now.

We had an ice storm on Monday, rain Tuesday and Wednesday and by Saturday and Sunday it's almost 70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. What? Make up your mind before everyone gets pneumonia. Please.

This Day in New York Yankees History 2/20: Just Another Saturday

There is surprisingly no notable news that has happened on this day in Yankees history. Not much to talk about here. Pitchers and catchers have reported and they've even had their first workouts together yesterday afternoon. Today is just another day unfortunately. Maybe caption this picture for fun?

Things to Watch Before Pitchers & Catchers Report Day

The New York Yankees will watch as their pitchers and catchers report to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa on February 18^th which a few new faces in the fold. The Yankees did nothing to change or improve their starting rotation, whether they needed to or not is still up for debate, but the bullpen will have a new look with former Yankees prospect Adam Warren and former Pittsburgh Pirates lefty Justin Wilson gone from last year’s team. In their places are about 15-20 Yankees prospects and a man named Aroldis Chapman which is just one of the many story lines facing this team as Spring Training workouts and such officially begin in about two weeks. 

Masahiro Tanaka enters spring training camp with question marks about his elbow, again, after having bone spurs removed from it in a surgery this winter. Tanaka’s surgery was as routine as they come and he should be fine but that will not stop the masses from harping on every single pitch he throws, every walk he surrenders and every earned run, as few and far between as they are, he gives up. A good friend once told me this, and you should keep this in mind if you are one of these people, doubters are not doctors and doctors told Tanaka he didn’t need Tommy John surgery back in 2014. They also told him he didn’t need Tommy John surgery in 2015. Leave him alone in 2016, please? 

Probably overshadowing Tanaka and his elbow though will be Aroldis Chapman who may face a suspension from a domestic violence incident last October. After coming over from the Cincinnati Reds this winter the Yankees new closer may face a suspension that will have a great bearing not only on the 2015 season but the 2016 season as well. Remember, if Chapman is suspended for more than 45 days (not games) he will be ineligible for free agency after the 2016 season. 

I don’t consider Nathan Eovaldi to be a question mark heading into this season but some do so I felt compelled to at least mention him here in this post. Eovaldi was going to be added to the postseason roster for the ALDS if the Yankees had beaten the Houston Astros this past season. The Yankees baby their pitchers and if he wasn’t healthy the Yankees wouldn’t have made the move or announced that the move was coming. He was ready in October so I have no reason to believe that he won’t be ready in February, March or April of 2016. 

One Yankees pitcher I do feel will be a question mark all season long though is CC Sabathia. How is the knee, how is pitching with the knee brace and how is sobriety treating you? All questions we will see answered in the coming months. Stay tuned. 

Books about Baseball to Pass the Time

The MLB offseason right now has went from a snail’s pace to something slightly slower than a snail’s pace and frankly, I’m bored. When I’m not working on the blog, working my 9 to 5 or being a dad I am usually reading so I figured why not share my favorite baseball related books that I’ve read. Maybe they can help you pass the time while we wait on pitchers and catcher to report, Justin Upton, Wei-Yin Chen, Chris Davis, Yoenis Cespedes and other to sign and Opening Day. If I missed one or haven’t read one then please leave that in the comments section below for everyone to take advantage of, thanks.

Five Seasons: A Baseball Companion by Roger Angell

-       -   This book collected Angell’s New Yorker columns from 1972 to 1976 which talked about changes in the game of baseball, the Oakland A’s Moustache Gang, Hank Aaron’s pursuit of Babe Ruth’s home run record, the 1975 World Series and so much more.

Red Smith on Baseball: The Game’s Greatest Writer on the Game’s Greatest Years

-       -   Many of these columns are a bit outdated for my liking, the 1940’s and 1950’s, but the amount of wit and humor that Smith uses encourages me and drives me to be a better writer.

Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis

-          - Who hasn’t read Moneyball or at least seen the movie right?

The Bronx Zoo by Sparky Lyle with Peter Golenbock

-          - The author and the title kind of give this one away but it is the story of the 1978 World Series champion New York Yankees. George Steinbrenner, Billy Martin (again) and Reggie Jackson make for pure entertainment. 

2016 New York Yankees Spring Training Scheudle

The New York Yankees announced last week that pitchers and catchers would report to Yankees camp down in Tampa on February 18, 2016. The first workout for these players will be the next day, February 19, and position players will arrive on February 24. The team's spring training schedule begins on March 2 against the Detroit Tigers inside George M. Steinbrenner Field and ends with a pair of exhibition games inside Marlins Park against the Miami Marlins.

photo and schedule courtesy of Lohud.com

Pitchers and Catchers Catch Me Up

Pitchers and catchers reported to spring training camp for the New York Yankees today finally marking the return of baseball to all of our lives. Not too awful much went on today but here is a quick catch me up if you will to get caught up on what transpired. 

Joe Girardi held his annual press conference at the beginning of spring training and touched on the fact that this may be the camp with the most competition he has ever been a part of. 

Adam Warren has faced live hitters already which leads many to believe he will be the spring opening starter. 

Girardi is open to having co-closers. I'm not. 

The following numbers have been assigned to the players per Lohud:

STARTING PITCHERS
19 Masahiro Tanaka
26 Chris Capuano
27 Scott Baker
30 Nathan Eovaldi
35 Michael Pineda
39 Chase Whitley
45 Kyle Davies
47 Ivan Nova
52 CC Sabathia
65 Bryan Mitchell
73 Jose De Paula
81 Vicente (Jose) Campos
91 Luis Severino

RIGHT-HANDED RELIEVERS
29 David Carpenter
31 Jared Burton
40 Andrew Bailey
43 Adam Warren
53 Esmil Rogers
61 Chris Martin
68 Dellin Betances
70 Wilking Rodriguez
71 Jose Ramirez
72 Danny Burawa
75 Domingo German
76 Branden Pinder
82 Nick Goody
88 Diego Moreno
90 Nick Rumbelow

LEFT-HANDED RELIEVERS
41 Justin Wilson
48 Andrew Miller
64 Chasen Shreve
87 Jacob Lindgren
89 James Pazos
92 Tyler Webb

CATCHERS
34 Brian McCann
55 Austin Romine
66 John Ryan Murphy
67 Eddy Rodriguez
78 Gary Sanchez
83 Francisco Arcia
84 Trent Garrison
85 Juan Graterol
86 Kyle Higashioka

INFIELDERS
12 Chase headley
13 Alex Rodriguez
14 Stephen Drew
17 Brendan Ryan
18 Didi Gregorius
25 Mark Teixeira
33 Garrett Jones
60 Nick Noonan
62 Cole Figueroa
63 Jose Pirela
94 Kyle Roller
95 Greg Bird
96 Cito Culver
97 Jonathan Galvez
98 Rob Refsnyder

OUTFIELDERS
11 Brett Gardner
22 Jacoby Ellsbury
24 Chris Young
36 Carlos Beltran
74 Slade Heathcott
77 Ramon Flores
79 Tyler Austin
80 Mason Williams
93 Jake Cave
99 Aaron Judge

Meet a Prospect: Jared Burton

Jared Burton signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees after spending much of his career setting up and closing for the Minnesota Twins and Cincinnati Reds. Burton has an invitation to Spring Training camp this season and will look to latch on to the Yankees overly crowded bullpen with a strong camp so now is a better time as any to get to know the soon to be 34 year old RHP. This is Meet a Prospect, the Jared Burton Edition.

Levi Jared Burton was born on June 2, 1981 in Westminster, South Carolina where he attended West-Oak High School. Burton spent his college years attending Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina where he caught the attention of the Oakland Athletics who drafted him in the eighth round of the 2002 MLB First Year Player’s Draft. Burton spent five seasons in the A’s farm system before being eligible for and picked up in the Rule 5 Draft by the Cincinnati Reds.

Burton made his major league debut with the Reds on April 4, 2007 pitching one third on an inning while walking three batters. Four days later he found himself on the disabled list with a strained hamstring which was the icing on the cake to his miserable beginning as a major league player. Burton spent more time on the disabled list on July 19, 2008 when he suffered from a strained muscle in his chest which also led to a setback in August that cost him another two full weeks. Burton spent more time on the disabled list in 2009, he began the 2011 season on the DL with shoulder inflammation and ended his Reds tenure after the 2011 season before latching on with the Minnesota Twins.

Burton latched on with Minnesota for the 2012 season after signing a minor league deal and impressing the team with a strong spring beating out now potential teammate Scott Baker for a spot. Burton made the roster out of Opening Day and went on to appear in 64 games that season posting a 3-2 record with a 2.18 ERA and 55 strikeouts, definitely his break out season. Burton’s ERA rose a bit in 2013 to a respectable 3.82 but his record fell to a miserable 2-9 mark in 71 games for Minnesota. Burton’s ERA continued to climb in 2014 and his fastball velocity continued to dip, now below 92 MPH, which led him to becoming a free agent this offseason.

New York signed Burton to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training as the RHP tries to find a way into a very deep and extremely crowded Yankees bullpen. Good luck to you Jared and pitchers and catchers report TODAY to the Yankees complex in Tampa. The mission starts here. 

Books about Baseball to Pass the Time

The MLB offseason right now has went from a snail’s pace to something slightly slower than a snail’s pace and frankly, I’m bored. When I’m not working on the blog, working my 9 to 5 or being a dad I am usually reading so I figured why not share my favorite baseball related books that I’ve read. Maybe they can help you pass the time while we wait on pitchers and catcher to report, James Shields and Max Scherzer to sign and Opening Day. If I missed one or haven’t read one then please leave that in the comments section below for everyone to take advantage of, thanks.

Five Seasons: A Baseball Companion by Roger Angell

-       -   This book collected Angell’s New Yorker columns from 1972 to 1976 which talked about changes in the game of baseball, the Oakland A’s Moustache Gang, Hank Aaron’s pursuit of Babe Ruth’s home run record, the 1975 World Series and so much more.

Red Smith on Baseball: The Game’s Greatest Writer on the Game’s Greatest Years

-       -   Many of these columns are a bit outdated for my liking, the 1940’s and 1950’s, but the amount of wit and humor that Smith uses encourages me and drives me to be a better writer.

Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis

-          - Who hasn’t read Moneyball or at least seen the movie right?

The Bronx Zoo by Sparky Lyle with Peter Golenbock

-          - The author and the title kind of give this one away but it is the story of the 1978 World Series champion New York Yankees. George Steinbrenner, Billy Martin (again) and Reggie Jackson make for pure entertainment.