My Goodbye Letter to David Ortiz

David,

What can I say that 29 other teams haven’t already said to you this season? The truth. Now before you simply wad this letter up and throw it away at least give me a chance to explain myself. When I say the truth I don’t mean I am going to be disrespectful or that I’m going to slander you or anything. Instead I am going to give you a fan’s perspective, specifically a Yankees fan’s perspective, on your career and what comes after you hang up your cleats after this season. 

You failed a drug test. We all know you failed a drug test. It may have been “some damn thing you got over the counter at GNC” but you failed a drug test nonetheless. Just admit it. Be the poster child for forgiveness and be the first player with a failed drug test to enter the Hall of Fame. Honestly, I want you to. Set the tone and allow others who did what was in the full spectrum of Major League Baseball’s rules at the time get in as well. I’m asking you to lead the charge and I’m definitely not bagging on you. We’ve forgiven all steroid users here including Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun and we can do the same for you, we just ask for a little help and getting the rest of the world and the rest of the game caught up to the idea is all. 

You killed the Yankees. You killed them from pretty may day one as a member of the Red Sox. You killed them in the regular season and you killed them in the playoffs. Chill! But really what you have done stats wise, numbers wise and clutch wise is truly amazing. You were a huge part of the team that broke the Curse of the Bambino and you didn’t do it backing in, you walked right up to the Yankees and slapped them in the face four times in a row and you did it a couple times against the greatest closer of all-time in Mariano Rivera. You have to respect that, much respect. 

I may not agree with everything that you say or do on and off the field and I have may have called you a baby or self-entitled at times but coming from a Yankees fan that’s got to be the biggest and most sincerest form of respect. You hurt the Yankees? The fans boo you. It’s as simple as that, it’s a rite of passage. Haters keep you famous. You must be doing something right. So as you step into the batter’s box one last time inside Yankee Stadium I leave you with one bit of advice. Blink. Blink and so much will pass you by. 

Much love and much respect,

Daniel Burch

Revealing My 2016 MLB All-Star Game Ballot

Voting for the 2016 MLB All-Star Game inside Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, is now over and I am now ready to reveal my ballot for the contest. Not that you guys care but that is just one of the many benefits to owning your own blog, you can do what you'd like. Go me! On a serious and less "tongue-in-cheek" note I wanted to reveal the ballot that I posted 35 times this season just to see how well I did. I went based on stats alone and less on popularity and such so I may whiff on a few of these selections but I'm okay with that.

American League:

C: Salvador Perez (KC)

1B: Miguel Cabrera (DET)

2B: Jose Altuve (because eff Robinson Cano) (HOU)

SS: Francisco Lindor (CLE)

3B: Manny Machado (I wanted to go with Danny Valencia) (BAL)

OF: Carlos Beltran (NYY)

OF: Mookie Betts (BOS)

OF: Mark Trumbo (BAL)

DH: David Ortiz (BOS)

National League:

C: Wilson Ramos (WAS)

1B: Paul Goldschmidt (ARI)

2B: Daniel Murphy (WAS)

SS: Corey Seager (LAD)

3B: Nolan Arenado (Matt Carpenter may deserve it more) (COL)

OF: Carlos Gonzalez (COL)

OF: Ryan Braun (MIL)

OF: Miguel Ozuna (MIA)

The official teams will be announced on Tuesday, July 5th at 7:00 pm ET on MLB Network. You can only assume that they will also announce the nominees for the final All-Star Game spot via a fan vote. Leave your gripes, omissions and snubs in the comments section. Thank you.

Most Popular Article of the Week: The Call for Ryan Braun I’ve Only Been Making for Three Years Now

The New York Yankees, up until about a week ago anyway, were offensively deficient and up until about three or four years ago the Milwaukee Brewers were good. Now the Brewers are terrible and in the midst of a rebuilding phase while the Yankees still have a huge check book and a gaping hole in the middle of their offense. In years past I have made the comment and written the blog posts that the Yankees should bring a talent and a personality like Ryan Braun to the Bronx and every year it was largely dismissed. The steroid issues, the injury issues and the declining numbers never helped my cause much but Braun is seemingly clean, healthy and back to being effective in 2016 and now Ken Rosenthal floated this original idea on his site. He suggested that the Yankees buy low on Braun eating his contract and giving up lesser prospects. Hmmmm. 

I’ve been saying this since October 8, 2013: http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/2013/10/the-yankees-should-trade-for-ryan-braun.html. And again I said it on December 6, 2013:http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/2013/12/calling-ryan-braun-train-is-making-stop.html. And I’ve said the same exact thing many, MANY times since. But when Ken Rosenthal says it now everyone is on board. How frustrating. 

But let’s say I agree with Rosenthal and his original idea of trading for Braun, does it still make sense? Sure it does in my opinion. With a soon-to-be 41-year old DH the thought of having five outfielders doesn’t bother me in the slightest. Alex can DH or have the night off while Beltran DH’s giving Braun and Aaron Hicks ample playing time. The playing time and the rotation is not something I’m worried about. Joe Girardi does a great job rotating players in and out and injuries can and most certainly will happen here in the Bronx. What I’m worried about is the money and how having him and Alex Rodriguez on the same team would be. 

Not to quote myself again but HERE http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/2013/08/alex-rodriguez-leaked-ryan-brauns-name.html we discussed Braun’s name being leaked to the league by Rodriguez. Sure it was however many years ago but look at David Ortiz, people can hold grudges, and you have to wonder if that will mess with the team chemistry. Also you have to wonder if Hal Steinbrenner would be willing to take on the six years and $111 million he’s owed including his $15 million mutual option in his final year. My gut tells me no but that amount of money and baggage also tells me that the likes of Gary Sanchez, James Kaprielian and Domingo Acevedo may be safe from being included in the trade. 

Notice I didn’t say Jorge Mateo though. If the Yankees can pull off a trade for a power threat and big name like Ryan Braun and include a top prospect who is being pulled from games for lack of hustle and who is being caught stealing almost as often as he’s stealing bases while just in A-Ball I don’t see how you can say no at this point. The trade, like I said in my original articles stated above and I will say it again today, is unlikely and unrealistic but if it would happen that would incredibly change the dynamic of this Yankees team and this Yankees offense for the better. 

The Call for Ryan Braun I’ve Only Been Making for Three Years Now

The New York Yankees, up until about a week ago anyway, were offensively deficient and up until about three or four years ago the Milwaukee Brewers were good. Now the Brewers are terrible and in the midst of a rebuilding phase while the Yankees still have a huge check book and a gaping hole in the middle of their offense. In years past I have made the comment and written the blog posts that the Yankees should bring a talent and a personality like Ryan Braun to the Bronx and every year it was largely dismissed. The steroid issues, the injury issues and the declining numbers never helped my cause much but Braun is seemingly clean, healthy and back to being effective in 2016 and now Ken Rosenthal floated this original idea on his site. He suggested that the Yankees buy low on Braun eating his contract and giving up lesser prospects. Hmmmm. 

I’ve been saying this since October 8, 2013: http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/2013/10/the-yankees-should-trade-for-ryan-braun.html. And again I said it on December 6, 2013: http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/2013/12/calling-ryan-braun-train-is-making-stop.html. And I’ve said the same exact thing many, MANY times since. But when Ken Rosenthal says it now everyone is on board. How frustrating. 

But let’s say I agree with Rosenthal and his original idea of trading for Braun, does it still make sense? Sure it does in my opinion. With a soon-to-be 41-year old DH the thought of having five outfielders doesn’t bother me in the slightest. Alex can DH or have the night off while Beltran DH’s giving Braun and Aaron Hicks ample playing time. The playing time and the rotation is not something I’m worried about. Joe Girardi does a great job rotating players in and out and injuries can and most certainly will happen here in the Bronx. What I’m worried about is the money and how having him and Alex Rodriguez on the same team would be. 

Not to quote myself again but HERE http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/2013/08/alex-rodriguez-leaked-ryan-brauns-name.html we discussed Braun’s name being leaked to the league by Rodriguez. Sure it was however many years ago but look at David Ortiz, people can hold grudges, and you have to wonder if that will mess with the team chemistry. Also you have to wonder if Hal Steinbrenner would be willing to take on the six years and $111 million he’s owed including his $15 million mutual option in his final year. My gut tells me no but that amount of money and baggage also tells me that the likes of Gary Sanchez, James Kaprielian and Domingo Acevedo may be safe from being included in the trade. 

Notice I didn’t say Jorge Mateo though. If the Yankees can pull off a trade for a power threat and big name like Ryan Braun and include a top prospect who is being pulled from games for lack of hustle and who is being caught stealing almost as often as he’s stealing bases while just in A-Ball I don’t see how you can say no at this point. The trade, like I said in my original articles stated above and I will say it again today, is unlikely and unrealistic but if it would happen that would incredibly change the dynamic of this Yankees team and this Yankees offense for the better. 

My Thoughts on Goose Gossage’s Thoughts on Jose Bautista, Yoenis Cespedes & “Nerds”

Excuse me while I leave my Yankees bias and “homerism” at the door because Goose, “you wrong buddy.” On a serious note though Goose Gossage was interviewed last week by ESPN New York’s very own Andrew Marchand and in the interview the former Yankees pitcher was very critical of some of the game’s best both in the front office and on the playing field. Gossage got to share his thoughts so I figured I would share mine as well, because why not?

First this article means nothing if you don’t know exactly what Gossage said so to quote the article the Goose said “(Jose) Bautista is a f***ing disgrace to the game. He’s embarrassing to all the Latin players, whoever played before him. Throwing his bat and acting like a fool, like all those guys in Toronto. (Yoenis) Cespedes same thing… Ryan Braun is a f***ing steroid user. He gets a standing ovation on Opening Day in Milwaukee. How do you explain that to your kid after throwing people under the bus and lying through his f***ing teeth? They don’t have anyone passing the f***ing torch to these people.”

Grammar nazi here, but Bautista is AN f***king disgrace to the game, not A disgrace to the game. Why is Goose going after Cespedes and Bautista directly? Has David Ortiz never flipped a bat? And why just Latin players, did Colby Rasmus not flip a bat against the Yankees in the AL Wild Card Game in 2015? Has about a million instances of bat flipping happened before Bautista did it? Be consistent, don’t just pick and choose who you attack. Braun is a steroid user and got a standing ovation, Alex Rodriguez is also a steroid user and got plenty of them in 2015. He also got a gig covering postseason and World Series baseball for Fox. No mention of this, no mention of Barry Bonds and his standing ovations he receives in San Francisco or his new gig in Miami as a hitting coach. Again, consistency.

But wait, there was more. “The game is becoming a freaking joke because of the nerds who are running it. I’ll tell you what has happened, these guys played rotisserie baseball at Harvard or wherever the f*** they went and they thought they figured the f***ing game out. They don’t know s***. A bunch of f***king nerds running the game. You can’t slide into second base. You can’t take out the f***ing catcher because Buster Posey was in the wrong position and they are going to change all the rules. You can’t pitch inside anymore. I’d like to knock some of these f***ers on their ass and see how they would do against pitchers in the old days.”

I don’t think the nerds you are referring to, the ones that rely on analytics and sabermetric stats to tell the tale rather than the eye test, had anything to do with Chase Utley sliding into second base and hurting the Mets Ruben Tejada and ending his season. The media and in turn the Commissioner Rob Manfred has everything to do with that, not sabermetricians. The same can be said for the catcher rule, what does looking at how a certain player would perform in a vacuum or how he stacks up against the league in certain categories, basically what sabermetrics does, have anything to do with Buster Posey getting hurt? Nothing, you’re right. Pitching inside can be more prevelant than ever, FYI, because the hitters go up to the plate in basically full chain arm and won’t feel a thing… so go ahead and pitch inside, no one cares. You’re just upset you couldn’t intimidate hitters and you would have to rely on your talent rather than your head games, that’s okay. And one final note, you’ll catch more bee’s with honey than you will with crap and the use of vulgarity makes you lose all credibility with some whether what you are saying is 100% accurate and correct or not.

You’re a Hall of Famer and an ambassador not only to the New York Yankees but to the entire game of Major League Baseball but you sure aren’t acting like it right now. You’re better than this Goose!

ICYMI: The Aroldis Chapman Rant You All Knew Was Coming

I know I’m going to catch flak for this but truly I don’t care. I left my Yankees bias at the door and I am looking at this as a fan of Major League Baseball. The fact that he wears a Yankees uniform means nothing to me, I’ve also spoken up for Ryan Braun, Barry Bonds and others as the owner of this blog. This whole Aroldis Chapman thing has me pretty upset, pretty angry, and pretty furious. I’m sure you could tell in the way I’m writing. I’m not shoot a gun in a garage furious bit I’m pretty agitated and I’m here to tell you why.


First and foremost I am all for punishing anyone, sports players or not, for committing domestic violence. I am also for punishing an idiot, my opinion, with a gun shooting it off in his garage with a baby in the house. Call it what it is though and it’s not semantics. You cannot, well apparently you can, suspend a player under a domestic violence policy when there is little to no evidence that domestic violence occurred. Witnesses changed their testimonies, there were no marks on Chapman’s girlfriend the night the cops came out to his home and there were no files charged. The police declined an easy opportunity to book, arrest and get some money through fines and probation (at minimum) from a celebrity who would pay it without blinking an eye because why? Because they are fans? They are nice guys? No, because they are upholding their oath to uphold the law and to serve and protect. There was no evidence that there was any protecting that needed done.


Depending on what you read Chapman may have been the one assaulted, not the other way around. The last thing I read was that her brother pushed Chapman down sparking the whole incident. So you get potentially pushed, the cops are called and they are told a story about domestic violence and the police find zero evidence of the fact. The police don’t press charges and no one was arrested, etc. and yet Commissioner Rob Manfred believes he has the power to suspend a guy for domestic violence under his new policy? Stop me when any of this makes sense.


I am not ignorant to the fact that something happened that night but it shouldn’t be on Chapman to prove it didn’t happen it should be on the police and the authorities to prove that it did. The cops took pictures, investigated and followed through with the protocol for a domestic violence case and found nothing. If Manfred wants to show up Ray Rice, the NFL and Roger Goddell then lay it on Jose Reyes, someone who is actually going to court and has charges filed against him for what he did. Not Chapman, not without evidence. And no I don’t believe the decision to waive his right to appeal shows any evidence of wrongdoing and I don’t hear any evidence of that in his statement. The league told Chapman, according to Joel Sherman anyway, that he could reduce his suspension by 10-15 games if he didn’t appeal. If he appealed and got a 45 game suspension he is delaying his free agency by another season, why would he do that?


Chapman is taking the month off, will look to build his value and his character back in 2016 and hit free agency again in 2017. Not appealing does not show any evidence of wrongdoing it shows that he is making the best business decision for him and his family. Manfred had to know that if he was suspended for 45 days that the Yankees would get another year of control over Chapman and he used it against the left-hander. This is rotten all the way around and it’s crap. If you want to suspend the guy for endangering the lives of others for shooting his registered gun that he owned in a garage that he owned then call a spade a spade. If you have evidence that he hurt his girlfriend, pointed the gun at her, etc. then suspend him for domestic violence. Don’t hide behind some policy that you just enacted and don’t hide behind the fact that you’re trying to send a message and make an example out of Reyes, Chapman and Yasiel Puig.



Don’t piss on me and tell me it’s raining, especially after you just pissed on Aroldis Chapman.

The Aroldis Chapman Rant You All Knew Was Coming

I know I’m going to catch flak for this but truly I don’t care. I left my Yankees bias at the door and I am looking at this as a fan of Major League Baseball. The fact that he wears a Yankees uniform means nothing to me, I’ve also spoken up for Ryan Braun, Barry Bonds and others as the owner of this blog. This whole Aroldis Chapman thing has me pretty upset, pretty angry, and pretty furious. I’m sure you could tell in the way I’m writing. I’m not shoot a gun in a garage furious bit I’m pretty agitated and I’m here to tell you why.

First and foremost I am all for punishing anyone, sports players or not, for committing domestic violence. I am also for punishing an idiot, my opinion, with a gun shooting it off in his garage with a baby in the house. Call it what it is though and it’s not semantics. You cannot, well apparently you can, suspend a player under a domestic violence policy when there is little to no evidence that domestic violence occurred. Witnesses changed their testimonies, there were no marks on Chapman’s girlfriend the night the cops came out to his home and there were no files charged. The police declined an easy opportunity to book, arrest and get some money through fines and probation (at minimum) from a celebrity who would pay it without blinking an eye because why? Because they are fans? They are nice guys? No, because they are upholding their oath to uphold the law and to serve and protect. There was no evidence that there was any protecting that needed done.

Depending on what you read Chapman may have been the one assaulted, not the other way around. The last thing I read was that her brother pushed Chapman down sparking the whole incident. So you get potentially pushed, the cops are called and they are told a story about domestic violence and the police find zero evidence of the fact. The police don’t press charges and no one was arrested, etc. and yet Commissioner Rob Manfred believes he has the power to suspend a guy for domestic violence under his new policy? Stop me when any of this makes sense.

I am not ignorant to the fact that something happened that night but it shouldn’t be on Chapman to prove it didn’t happen it should be on the police and the authorities to prove that it did. The cops took pictures, investigated and followed through with the protocol for a domestic violence case and found nothing. If Manfred wants to show up Ray Rice, the NFL and Roger Goddell then lay it on Jose Reyes, someone who is actually going to court and has charges filed against him for what he did. Not Chapman, not without evidence. And no I don’t believe the decision to waive his right to appeal shows any evidence of wrongdoing and I don’t hear any evidence of that in his statement. The league told Chapman, according to Joel Sherman anyway, that he could reduce his suspension by 10-15 games if he didn’t appeal. If he appealed and got a 45 game suspension he is delaying his free agency by another season, why would he do that?

Chapman is taking the month off, will look to build his value and his character back in 2016 and hit free agency again in 2017. Not appealing does not show any evidence of wrongdoing it shows that he is making the best business decision for him and his family. Manfred had to know that if he was suspended for 45 days that the Yankees would get another year of control over Chapman and he used it against the left-hander. This is rotten all the way around and it’s crap. If you want to suspend the guy for endangering the lives of others for shooting his registered gun that he owned in a garage that he owned then call a spade a spade. If you have evidence that he hurt his girlfriend, pointed the gun at her, etc. then suspend him for domestic violence. Don’t hide behind some policy that you just enacted and don’t hide behind the fact that you’re trying to send a message and make an example out of Reyes, Chapman and Yasiel Puig.

Don’t piss on me and tell me it’s raining, especially after you just pissed on Aroldis Chapman. 

Fantasy Baseball: Who are the Milwaukee Brewers?

Fantasy Baseball season will be here before you know it, if it’s not already here for some, and I have been focusing on some of the players you can draft later on in your draft that can win you your league. With a team like the Milwaukee Brewers you know that Ryan Braun is going to carry the team and you know that even in a down year like 2015 Jonathan Lucroy is still going to be one of the better catchers in the league but what about a few of the names that you don’t necessarily know? Names like Jimmy Nelson, Chris Carter, Will Smith and Corey Knebel.

Jimmy Nelson enters 2016 ready for his age 26 season and ready to be the ace for the Milwaukee Brewers. Nelson has struggled with his control to date but he is a physical pitcher that can give you wins with a low ERA. Nelson is not a huge strikeout guy and is more of a pitch to contact type pitcher with a nice ground ball rate and may be available around Round 15 or later. He’s not David Price or Zack Greinke but he’d be a fine fourth or fifth starter on your team, especially in those leagues that are especially deep.

Chris Carter, former Houston Astro, looks to be the starting first baseman in Milwaukee in 2016 which could be a good thing for you if you’re looking for some power. Carter may hit 30-40 home runs a year with Braun hitting behind him or in front of him in the Brewers lineup but the problem is he’s likely to only add about a .220 average along with it and not many RBI. If you need a home run guy later in the draft that is almost guaranteed to play every day then Carter is your guy. If you need a mix of power, speed, runs scored and average then stay away from Carter because he’s not going to give it to you.

Finally the Brewers look like they will have a closer by committee or an intense competition this spring for the newly vacated closer spot left behind by the trade of Francisco Rodriguez. Vying for the saves in Milwaukee will be Will Smith, Corey Knebel and even Jeremy Jeffress may get a shot or two to close. Smith is a high strikeout guy averaging almost 13 K’s per nine innings while Knebel, just 23-years old, had almost 10 K’s per nine in 2015. All three could get chances to close games this season and as you know even the team with the worst records still have closers who save 30-40 games almost every single season.

Those are my picks, if I overlooked or over-valued someone please let me know below in the comments section or by sending me a tweet on twitter @GreedyStripes. 

If the Milwaukee Brewers Keep Selling...

We have done quite a few of these now because quite a few of the teams in Major League Baseball are selling off tradeable pieces and beginning their rebuilds. Teams like the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Rays who have made all of their starting pitching available not named Chris Archer, and teams like the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers have sent Adam Lind, Mike Fiers, Carlos Gomez, Francisco Rodriguez, Aramis Ramirez and others in the last calendar year and may have a few more pieces they might be willing to move for a long-term gain, do the Brewers and Yankees match up as trade partners?

The Brewers have Jonathan Lucroy behind the plate and he is probably their highest sought after trade piece on the team. Lucroy has two years left on his contract and will make just a shade under $10 million as a plus-offensive catcher, despite his injury plagued season in 2015. The problem is the Yankees don't really need a catcher and for all the plus reasons for Lucroy that would entice the Yankees to trade for him those same reasons would also be huge reasons why Milwaukee would want to keep him. Especially considering that the veteran guy behind the plate will do wonders for their young pitchers they have coming up right now. It seems like the Brewers are unlikely to trade Lucroy and very unlikely to trade him to a team like the Yankees.

Speaking of veterans Ryan Braun is extremely expensive and has seen his production go down in a huge way since he began to battle thumb and hand injuries over the years. Milwaukee undoubtedly wants out of that contract and they undoubtedly would take less in the terms of prospects if they can get some salary relief out of it. I could also see Milwaukee eating some of the $21 million AAV left on his contract through the 2020 season. There is a mutual option for the 2021 season on his contract worth just $15 million as the final season of a heavily front loaded contract. Braun, even injured and having multiple "down" seasons, is better offensively than both Carlos Beltran and Brett Gardner, is younger at just age 32 and is right-handed which balances out the lineup. I've asked for Braun multiple times during my time as a blogger and I'll ask at least one more time, Cashman... please?

Most Popular Article of the Week: Milwaukee Brewers Potential Trade Partners

The New York Yankees are still atop the American League East despite essentially black holes at second base and right field while the bullpen that was showcased as a plus has been anything but. I’ve said it in every one of these posts and I’ll say it again here, the American League East Division will be decided by the July 31st trading deadline. While the last two teams we covered, the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox, are unsure of whether they will sell or not but one thing for sure is the Milwaukee Brewers will sell this summer, could the Yankees take advantage?


Milwaukee has stated that they would like to build around, not sell off, pieces like starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson, catcher Jonathan LuCroy and shortstop Jean Segura but the team would be willing to sell on about anyone else. The list of available players for trade is highlighted by center fielder Carlos Gomez and closer Francisco Rodriguez while Aramis Ramirez and others will likely be shipped off before seasons end. The only two players that would really fill a need for New York would be second baseman Scooter Gennett, who the team would like to hold onto if they could, and very expensive outfielder Ryan Braun. Gennett is hitting .240 and has posted a .279 OBP this season with four home runs and 16 RBI. Gennett would not come cheap and is likely out of the Yankees budget as far as prospects go. Young middle infielders with upside, good defense and pop are hard to come by these days making Gennett unlikely to even be traded, let alone to the Yankees.


Braun is intriguing to some, not so much to others. He has had issues with his thumb for the last few seasons and has seen a steep decline in his numbers as well. Braun was also involved in the Biogenesis scandal that cost Alex Rodriguez his 2014 season while he also comes attached to a hefty salary with all these questions marks making his acquisition questionable. What is not questionable is his on the field performance which is evident by his .273 average, .339 OBP, 15 home runs and 55 RBI. Braun would give the Yankees another middle of the order bat that hits from the right side and an enormous upgrade over Carlos Beltran. If the Yankees take on the whole salary they could also pay less in terms of prospects, but would they?



Honestly New York would not make the trade for Braun. The team has aspirations of getting under the luxury tax threshold either in 2017 or 2018 and Braun’s contract that runs through the 2021 season (his age 32-37 seasons) for $111 million doesn’t exactly fit into that plan. If Braun was able to replicate his numbers he posted earlier in his career he’d still be a bargain for $20 million or less annually and could replace the production left behind when Mark Teixeira and A-Rod’s contract expires but I just can’t see the Yankees doing it. It makes too much sense to do it now when they can wait until he’s broken down and 35 or 36 years old and get him in a “salary dump” type trade. Silly Yankees.

Potential Trade Partners: The Milwaukee Brewers

The New York Yankees are still atop the American League East despite essentially black holes at second base and right field while the bullpen that was showcased as a plus has been anything but.  I’ve said it in every one of these posts and I’ll say it again here, the American League East Division will be decided by the July 31^st trading deadline. While the last two teams we covered, the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox, are unsure of whether they will sell or not but one thing for sure is the Milwaukee Brewers will sell this summer, could the Yankees take advantage?

Milwaukee has stated that they would like to build around, not sell off, pieces like starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson, catcher Jonathan LuCroy and shortstop Jean Segura but the team would be willing to sell on about anyone else. The list of available players for trade is highlighted by center fielder Carlos Gomez and closer Francisco Rodriguez while Aramis Ramirez and others will likely be shipped off before seasons end. The only two players that would really fill a need for New York would be second baseman Scooter Gennett, who the team would like to hold onto if they could, and very expensive outfielder Ryan Braun. Gennett is hitting .240 and has posted a .279 OBP this season with four home runs and 16 RBI. Gennett would not come cheap and is likely out of the Yankees budget as far as prospects go. Young middle infielders with upside, good defense and pop are hard to come by these days making Gennett unlikely to even be traded, let alone to the Yankees.

Braun is intriguing to some, not so much to others. He has had issues with his thumb for the last few seasons and has seen a steep decline in his numbers as well. Braun was also involved in the Biogenesis scandal that cost Alex Rodriguez his 2014 season while he also comes attached to a hefty salary with all these questions marks making his acquisition questionable. What is not questionable is his on the field performance which is evident by his .273 average, .339 OBP, 15 home runs and 55 RBI. Braun would give the Yankees another middle of the order bat that hits from the right side and an enormous upgrade over Carlos Beltran. If the Yankees take on the whole salary they could also pay less in terms of prospects, but would they?

Honestly New York would not make the trade for Braun. The team has aspirations of getting under the luxury tax threshold either in 2017 or 2018 and Braun’s contract that runs through the 2021 season (his age 32-37 seasons) for $111 million doesn’t exactly fit into that plan. If Braun was able to replicate his numbers he posted earlier in his career he’d still be a bargain for $20 million or less annually and could replace the production left behind when Mark Teixeira and A-Rod’s contract expires but I just can’t see the Yankees doing it. It makes too much sense to do it now when they can wait until he’s broken down and 35 or 36 years old and get him in a “salary dump” type trade. Silly Yankees.

Remember Who Asked To FORG1V3 First

This is a post from November of 2013 when I began the campaign to forgive all the steroid users, specifically Alex Rodriguez. I just find it ironic now that Bald Vinny and others have began to forgive around Yankee Stadium and around the country with others getting the credit for this thing. I'm not bitter, I'm not, I just want to give everyone a friendly reminder of who had it first.

Hi my name is Daniel Burch, I love the New York Yankees, and I forgive Alex Rodriguez.
— Greedy Pinstripes (@GreedyStripes) November 6, 2013

I have made it my new goal and mission in life, for this blog, and in general to remove the bad juju that is fumigating around the New York Yankees right now due to steroids, suspensions, and all that jazz. I have made it my job to try and convert as many people as I can to the side of forgiving the steroid users that have admittedly given a black eye to the sport that we all obviously love. I will not defend their bad decisions, nor will I ever support their bad decisions, but I will look at this from a fans perspective. I am a father to a three year old and soon to be another future Yankees player so I know, understand, and appreciate the message that it sends to children but I also think that that's where parenting steps in. Sure we can look up to these guys as super heroes but we also have to understand, even at a young age, that these men are just that, men. They are human and they make mistakes and it is how they handle themselves and the situation after the fact that they should be judged on. I personally do not believe in throwing the first stone, especially when my closet is probably not as clean as I would like it to be, and I do not believe it is my place to judge them.I was taught to forgive those who need it, not those who ask for it, and that is what this is all about. Agree, disagree, feel indifferent, it is what it is.

Hi my name is Jerry, I love the New York Yankees, and I forgive Alex Rodriguez Im always late on these things @GreedyStripes @CANiPETTITTE
— Jerry Von Doom (@YankeeLovinMofo) November 6, 2013

I'll be honest this whole thing started out as a joke and a way to just fill time during a lull in Yankees news but it has turned into a borderline obsession. The more I wrote the more I got to thinking why in the hell should I be mad at Alex Rodriguez, Francisco Cervelli, etc for failing steroid tests? I did not allow him to take them and turn a blind eye to their use because it brought back a game that was on life support, that's ownership and management. I did not put A Rod's face on every television show, newspaper, blog, and internet site finding anything and everything to bash the guy about and ignoring the "guilty until proven innocent" mindset that has made this country great, that's the media. I'm not the one who paid reportedly $5 million to get a testimony from the guy selling and supplying the players with the PED's, that was Bud Selig. I am the one who supports, loves, and lives all things New York Yankees. I am the one who is here to be entertained and watch my team win as many games as they can and I have done all that and more in my Yankees watching lifetime. I have been entertained watching Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield, Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, and whoever else was linked to steroids.

I am a lifelong Yankees fan and former season-ticket holder and awesome Yankees blogger :) I forgive A-Rod @GreedyStripes #ForgiveARod
— Bryan Knepper (@dm23HOF) November 6, 2013

If there was a clean slate across the board I may feel differently but as much as we all loved watching the dynasty Yankees how do we know who did and who didn't? I know one thing I balled my eyes out when Andy made his final start in New York and then again when he made his final start in Houston. I didn't because Andy played the game clean, he didn't, and I didn't because he admitted it, although that helps, I did it because I love the New York Yankees.

Hi my name is Mel, I love the New York Yankees, and I forgive Alex Rodriguez. (I even just told you all my name for him!) @GreedyStripes
— Can I Pettitte? (@CANiPETTITTE) November 6, 2013

What we as the fans do not understand is these guys are not on call 24/7. They are not firefighters, police officers, super heroes, doctors, nurses, etc etc etc. These men are baseball players and they get paid, quite well I might add, to play a kids game and entertain us. These guys are not on call they get paid to play a game a few hours a night for 162 games plus a season, that's it. Who cares if their significant others feed them popcorn while playing a game, get over it. Who cares if they don't wear their seat belt, it's their life in their own hands. Who cares if they took steroids, how did it affect you personally? How did they cheat a game that was reeling and dying after the greed of Bud Selig wanting a salary cap to maximize revenue for himself that is now flourishing not only in the states but world wide? They cheated themselves, sure, but that's between them and their God. Who am I to judge?

Im Genine Yankee Fan Who Forgives Alex Rodriguez Francisco Cervelli any1 else that comes up Bottom Line Hateme if you want @GreedyStripes
— Pinstripe_Princess (@NYPinstripes4ev) November 6, 2013

I don't buy my MLB TV subscriptions, my Yankees jerseys, hats, tickets, memorabilia, and run this blog because of what the players do off the field. I will not stop doing or purchasing any of these things if every damn one of them failed a steroid test tomorrow. I love this team, this team is my passion, and I support any and every player that puts those pinstripes on their back. I don't agree with them doing steroids or anything illegal to the game or to the law but that is not my place to judge them and make them out to be the second coming of the devil. These men are here to entertain you. That's what they are paid to do and that's why we continue to pay them, whether directly or indirectly, to do that. That's it.

@GreedyStripes I'm a NYY season ticket holder and a lifelong diehard fan. I forgive Alex. I'd forgive our Captain too. People make mistakes.
— Connor (@cgrif5) November 6, 2013

  I want ONE Yankees fan, notice I said fan, to come to me and tell me that they were not entertained watching Alex Rodriguez hit 50 home runs a season or leading us to the 2009 World Series. I want ONE fan to say they did not enjoy Francisco Cervelli get clutch hit after clutch hit last season for us in limited time. I want ONE fan to tell me they did not enjoy watching Andy Pettitte's career, support the hell out of him, and cry their eye balls out when he pitched his final game in New York and in Houston. Go ahead, I'll give you my email address. You have my twitter account name. I'll give you my cell number, I feel that strongly about this.

@GreedyStripes my name is Mike and i forgive Alex Rodriguez. I would also forgive Jeter if he ever failed a test.
— Mike Iannaccone (@Mike_Iannaccone) November 6, 2013

When you look at a guy like David Ortiz who can relax at the plate and doesn't feel like he has the weight of the world and his city on his shoulders and he can come out and hit in the .700's in the World Series. The first thing you think about when you think of David Ortiz, a steroid user, is not his past in most cases. A Rod on the other hand is vilified. A Rod could go out there and hit .800 in the World Series and still be asked questions about the other two at bats where he made an out. The last time the entire team, fans, and city had A Rod's back seemed like it was 2009 and look how that worked out for us. This is not just A Rod too, this is all steroid users. We need to forgive Ryan Braun, we need to forgive David Ortiz, we need to forgive Barry Bonds, we need to forgive Roger Clemens, we need to forgive Rafael Palmeiro, we need to forgive them all. If you can forgive ONE of them you have to forgive them all. If you want Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame then you have to forgive them all. If you even know who Shoeless Joe Jackson was then you have to forgive them all.

Hi, my name is Judy, I LOVE the NY YANKEES and I forgive Alex Rodriguez. @GreedyStripes 😜😜😜
— Babe⚾Ruthless⚾ (@auh2o14) November 6, 2013

My last question that I leave with everyone is this... if Derek Jeter failed a test tomorrow would you forgive him?

ARod Could Seek Injunction & Accept 65 Game Ban

According to the New York Daily News Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez could seek an injunction from a judge if he feels that arbitrator Frederic Horowitz's ruling is unfair, which is very likely. He is obviously very unlikely to get one from a judge but it is right to ask for one and with him suing the world lately why not right? The NYDN also reported that Alex would accept a 65 game or less suspension without a fight which I think is absolutely fair and what he should receive anyway. This would obviously match the suspension that Ryan Braun accepted last summer in the same Biogenesis fallout. Just waiting on you Horowitz.

Calling Ryan Braun, Train Is Making A Stop In Milwaukee

The forgiveness train that is, it is making a stop in Milwaukee to visit the Brewers and to forgive Biogenesis suspended Ryan Braun. I know Braun is not a Yankee and this is not Yankee related, and last I checked this is still a Yankees site, but this is much bigger than team lies and loyalties. This comes down to getting ahead of the curve when it comes to forgiving steroid users. People may call me crazy now but there once was a time it was thought to be outrageous for a black baseball player to play. There once was a time where it was crazy to think players should become a free agent after so many seasons. There once was a time where Babe Ruth was the single season home run king no matter what Roger Maris did. There was once a time in baseball where the World Series was cancelled and a great Yankees team never got to see their true potential thanks to a greedy Bud Selig who wanted a salary cap and was willing to shut it all down to get it in 1994. The point I am getting at is one day MLB Network, ESPN, your favorite blogs, the Hall of Fame voters, and your favorite people on Twitter will say that it's okay to forgive these guys and I want to be able to tell you I told you so.

Ryan Braun screwed up, whether it be once or twice I don't think we will ever know the truth, he admitted it, he took his suspension, he apologized to the fans, and wants to get back out there to prove it rather then say it. If he can't prove it in Milwaukee because they want to cut ties with him then fine, ship him to New York and let him prove it here. The Yankees already have Brett Gardner in left field, Jacoby Ellsbury is centerfield, and Alfonso Soriano in right field. We could easily, and benefit from, make Soriano a "full time" DH and insert Braun right into right field. Braun adds the right handed pop we are still lacking, improves our offense and defense, and would not cost as much as a guy who hits .300 and 30 home runs annually I wouldn't think. The St. Louis Cardinals put the game, the business, and winning ahead of past mistakes, ask Jhonny Peralta, so why can't we? The Cardinals are the model organization right now so any way we can be like them is a good thing in my eyes.

So I ask again, and I know I ask a lot and I know I ask often, but repeat after me:

"My name is ________, I love the New York Yankees, I want to win a World Series, Ryan Braun if available helps us win a World Series, I forgive Ryan Braun." Thank you.

We Must Forgive All Steroids Users Starting Right Now

Hi my name is Daniel Burch, I love the New York Yankees, and I forgive Alex Rodriguez.
— Greedy Pinstripes (@GreedyStripes) November 6, 2013

I have made it my new goal and mission in life, for this blog, and in general to remove the bad juju that is fumigating around the New York Yankees right now due to steroids, suspensions, and all that jazz. I have made it my job to try and convert as many people as I can to the side of forgiving the steroid users that have admittedly given a black eye to the sport that we all obviously love. I will not defend their bad decisions, nor will I ever support their bad decisions, but I will look at this from a fans perspective. I am a father to a three year old and soon to be another future Yankees player so I know, understand, and appreciate the message that it sends to children but I also think that that's where parenting steps in. Sure we can look up to these guys as super heroes but we also have to understand, even at a young age, that these men are just that, men. They are human and they make mistakes and it is how they handle themselves and the situation after the fact that they should be judged on. I personally do not believe in throwing the first stone, especially when my closet is probably not as clean as I would like it to be, and I do not believe it is my place to judge them.I was taught to forgive those who need it, not those who ask for it, and that is what this is all about. Agree, disagree, feel indifferent, it is what it is.

Hi my name is Jerry, I love the New York Yankees, and I forgive Alex Rodriguez Im always late on these things @GreedyStripes @CANiPETTITTE
— Jerry Von Doom (@YankeeLovinMofo) November 6, 2013

I'll be honest this whole thing started out as a joke and a way to just fill time during a lull in Yankees news but it has turned into a borderline obsession. The more I wrote the more I got to thinking why in the hell should I be mad at Alex Rodriguez, Francisco Cervelli, etc for failing steroid tests? I did not allow him to take them and turn a blind eye to their use because it brought back a game that was on life support, that's ownership and management. I did not put A Rod's face on every television show, newspaper, blog, and internet site finding anything and everything to bash the guy about and ignoring the "guilty until proven innocent" mindset that has made this country great, that's the media. I'm not the one who paid reportedly $5 million to get a testimony from the guy selling and supplying the players with the PED's, that was Bud Selig. I am the one who supports, loves, and lives all things New York Yankees. I am the one who is here to be entertained and watch my team win as many games as they can and I have done all that and more in my Yankees watching lifetime. I have been entertained watching Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield, Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, and whoever else was linked to steroids.

I am a lifelong Yankees fan and former season-ticket holder and awesome Yankees blogger :) I forgive A-Rod @GreedyStripes #ForgiveARod
— Bryan Knepper (@dm23HOF) November 6, 2013

If there was a clean slate across the board I may feel differently but as much as we all loved watching the dynasty Yankees how do we know who did and who didn't? I know one thing I balled my eyes out when Andy made his final start in New York and then again when he made his final start in Houston. I didn't because Andy played the game clean, he didn't, and I didn't because he admitted it, although that helps, I did it because I love the New York Yankees.

Hi my name is Mel, I love the New York Yankees, and I forgive Alex Rodriguez. (I even just told you all my name for him!) @GreedyStripes
— Can I Pettitte? (@CANiPETTITTE) November 6, 2013

What we as the fans do not understand is these guys are not on call 24/7. They are not firefighters, police officers, super heroes, doctors, nurses, etc etc etc. These men are baseball players and they get paid, quite well I might add, to play a kids game and entertain us. These guys are not on call they get paid to play a game a few hours a night for 162 games plus a season, that's it. Who cares if their significant others feed them popcorn while playing a game, get over it. Who cares if they don't wear their seat belt, it's their life in their own hands. Who cares if they took steroids, how did it affect you personally? How did they cheat a game that was reeling and dying after the greed of Bud Selig wanting a salary cap to maximize revenue for himself that is now flourishing not only in the states but world wide? They cheated themselves, sure, but that's between them and their God. Who am I to judge?

Im Genine Yankee Fan Who Forgives Alex Rodriguez Francisco Cervelli any1 else that comes up Bottom Line Hateme if you want @GreedyStripes
— Pinstripe_Princess (@NYPinstripes4ev) November 6, 2013

I don't buy my MLB TV subscriptions, my Yankees jerseys, hats, tickets, memorabilia, and run this blog because of what the players do off the field. I will not stop doing or purchasing any of these things if every damn one of them failed a steroid test tomorrow. I love this team, this team is my passion, and I support any and every player that puts those pinstripes on their back. I don't agree with them doing steroids or anything illegal to the game or to the law but that is not my place to judge them and make them out to be the second coming of the devil. These men are here to entertain you. That's what they are paid to do and that's why we continue to pay them, whether directly or indirectly, to do that. That's it.

@GreedyStripes I'm a NYY season ticket holder and a lifelong diehard fan. I forgive Alex. I'd forgive our Captain too. People make mistakes.
— Connor (@cgrif5) November 6, 2013

  I want ONE Yankees fan, notice I said fan, to come to me and tell me that they were not entertained watching Alex Rodriguez hit 50 home runs a season or leading us to the 2009 World Series. I want ONE fan to say they did not enjoy Francisco Cervelli get clutch hit after clutch hit last season for us in limited time. I want ONE fan to tell me they did not enjoy watching Andy Pettitte's career, support the hell out of him, and cry their eye balls out when he pitched his final game in New York and in Houston. Go ahead, I'll give you my email address. You have my twitter account name. I'll give you my cell number, I feel that strongly about this.

@GreedyStripes my name is Mike and i forgive Alex Rodriguez. I would also forgive Jeter if he ever failed a test.
— Mike Iannaccone (@Mike_Iannaccone) November 6, 2013

When you look at a guy like David Ortiz who can relax at the plate and doesn't feel like he has the weight of the world and his city on his shoulders and he can come out and hit in the .700's in the World Series. The first thing you think about when you think of David Ortiz, a steroid user, is not his past in most cases. A Rod on the other hand is vilified. A Rod could go out there and hit .800 in the World Series and still be asked questions about the other two at bats where he made an out. The last time the entire team, fans, and city had A Rod's back seemed like it was 2009 and look how that worked out for us. This is not just A Rod too, this is all steroid users. We need to forgive Ryan Braun, we need to forgive David Ortiz, we need to forgive Barry Bonds, we need to forgive Roger Clemens, we need to forgive Rafael Palmeiro, we need to forgive them all. If you can forgive ONE of them you have to forgive them all. If you want Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame then you have to forgive them all. If you even know who Shoeless Joe Jackson was then you have to forgive them all.

Hi, my name is Judy, I LOVE the NY YANKEES and I forgive Alex Rodriguez. @GreedyStripes 😜😜😜
— Babe⚾Ruthless⚾ (@auh2o14) November 6, 2013

My last question that I leave with everyone is this... if Derek Jeter failed a test tomorrow would you forgive him?

Yankees Fans & JuJu Believers, It's Time To Forgive Again

Remember back at the beginning of October when I asked everyone who believed in bad juju and all Yankees fans to forgive Alex Rodriguez for the benefit of the team? Well if you don't HERE IT IS again so you can get caught up because it is time to forgive again. The Yankees had another, albeit lower profile and name, player linked to Biogenesis and the steroid clinic down in Miami run by Anthony Bosch in catcher Francisco Cervelli.

If we can forgive Andy Pettitte for taking it "one time" to "heal an injury" then, and just as an FYI check the video of his send off this season in New York and in Houston to see if we really forgave him as a fan base or not, we can forgive Cervelli. I have a serious issue with players who do not hustle, do not play the game like they love the game, and players who treat this like a paycheck and not a passion.Say what you will about Cervelli but he has fun every day, plays the game the way it should be played on the field, and has worked his butt off more than once to get his shot with this club.

The guy screwed up, bottom line, and the guy lived up to his mistake and admitted it eventually. I am totally not cool with the fact that he denied it at first but he got there eventually and I can respect that. He did not appeal his suspension, and no he wouldn't have if he were healthy anyway in my opinion, and took the suspension on the chin with class and a humble character. You could tell Cervelli knew he screwed up and disappointed the game unlike Alex Rodriguez who has a holier then though aura around him. Another FYI here is that you still have to forgive him too though if you haven't already, thank you.

Long story short is Cervelli messed up, confessed, and shows no reason to believe that he will not do it the right way from here on out. He does not have the $300,000,000 contracts to "live up to" and all that and just wants to play the game  and sometimes that is enough. Think about it this way when you go to church this Sunday are you sitting in a room full of saints or a room full of sinners? Enough said, I hope anyway. The Red Sox forgave David Ortiz and I really think that is a lot of the reason that Ortiz is beloved while Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun are so hated. The Yankees and their future depend on this, the juju is bad and only we can do something about this.

Repeat after me....

"My name is (fill in the blank), I love the New York Yankees, and I forgive Francisco Cervelli."

The Yankees Should Trade For Ryan Braun

Current Yankee, Former Yankee, Future Yankee?

Anyone who reads any Milwaukee Brewers blogs have seen the speculation that the Brewers could be trying to trade Ryan Braun this offseason after his steroid suspension from this season. Obviously there are a few hurdles that need to be cleared including Braun's  hefty contract that will, including a mutual option year, take him through the 2021 season, Braun's no trade clause, and his baggage upon baggage he brings. No one wants to take on a guy that is connected to the whole Biogenesis fall out, especially just a year or two removed from the "FedEx guy tampering with his sample" and getting a pass on one failed test already. 

For the fun of reading and fandom let's just assume that the Yankees have the pieces to trade for Braun, who would have zero trade value just for the record, and that Ryan was willing to waive his no trade clause to New York. Let's also assume, again for simplicity sake, that the Yankees throw out the entire luxury tax threshold and the $189 million mandate and go all in for 2014 and beyond. Let's assume that George Steinbrenner is reincarnated into Hank and Hal Steinbrenner's balls and the Yankees ownership gives a shit about winning just one more time. Let's assume....

Ryan signed a 5 year contract extension before the 2012 season worth $105,000,000 with a mutual option for the 2021 season worth $15,000,000. Braun will be 38 years old when this contract runs out which is more encouraging then having a 42 year old Alex Rodriguez making big money in his final season in pinstripes. If I understand the new collective bargaining agreement the way I think I do, which could really be very little because you have to be a lawyer to understand that thing, Braun's AAV started being calculated in 2012 with the extension and everything before then is excluded. If this is the case Ryan will have an AAV of $15,833,333 for the next seven seasons. If they include the four seasons prior, which again I do not believe that they do even though it was an extension and not a new contract, his AAV drops down to $10,621,429. 

Braun is a left fielder by nature but could easily play right field for a season with speedster Brett Gardner in center field covering a ton of ground. Braun's right handed bat could really stack and balance the lineup, even in Yankees Stadium, and would return us to our glory days of 200+ home runs a season. Also I think if any market in the world could handle having three previous steroid suspended players on the team in Braun, Alex Rodriguez, and Francisco Cervelli I think it is New York. Braun would likely take a back seat to the media circus anyway with the whole "Derek Jeter Effect" and would especially if Jeter decided to announce that 2014 was his final season. Braun also helps his own cause being a humble character, whether proactively or re-actively, as we all saw when Braun was calling season ticket holders apologizing for his steroid suspension.  Braun seems like a great clubhouse guy and would seemingly fit in the New York clubhouse. 

The greatest part of this is, again assuming this trade even went down realistically, that Braun could be had for the low low price of Brett Marshall, Greg Bird, JR Murphy, David Adams, and Tommy Kahnle. I know it sounds like a ton but when you think about it it's really not. Milwaukee is rebuilding so they want young talent and controllable talent, plus we still have a bit of a 40 man roster crunch so it works for us too. We have to be "realistic" here and know that we are trading for premium talent, even clean as his would suggest, and cannot have him for nothing. We have to include Greg Bird, arguably a top five prospect of ours, and we have to include one of our catching trio of Murphy, Austin Romine, and Francisco Cervelli. Kahnle and Marshall do not seem to have a future in New York being way down on the totem pole and with both needing Rule 5 draft protection this winter it seems like the perfect time to get something for them. David Adams gets one more season of development in Milwaukee behind Aramis Ramirez before having to take over the full time role in 2015. This trade seems to help both teams achieve their respected goals, we compete in 2014 and beyond, and the Brewers continue to rebuild and retool. 

Is this unrealistic? Hell yeah. Was it fun to think about a lineup of Gardner, Soriano, Cano, Braun, Teixeira, Rodriguez, Granderson(DH), Jeter, Cervelli?, Another hell yeah. Does a post like this popping up already mean something? Yes, unfortunately, it means this is going to be a looooong winter and off season. Keep dreaming Yankees family!

Alex Rodriguez Leaked Ryan Braun's Name To MLB

Alex Rodriguez and his associates are in deep water in this Biogenesis scandal that just will not go away. Reports came down today that A Rod's associates not only obtained but also leaked documents linking other players, including Ryan Braun, to the Biogenesis clinic that is so famous now down in south Miami. This report is coming from 60 minutes and was reported this morning.

Rodriguez's lawyer David Cornwell obvious is denying the reports today, and why wouldn't he, that they acquired the documents and leaked them to Yahoo! Sports. Are we really to believe though that Alex would leak papers that could potentially implicate himself? Also if A Rod and his people are leaking the documents why did he get the highest suspension of anyone ever? Doesn't make much sense to me but stay tuned because I am sure this is not the last we are going to hear from the Bronx is Burning Part Two.

Biogenesis Suspensions Will Be Announced Monday

And the soap opera goes on and on and on....

First we heard that the suspensions associated with the Biogenesis steroid fall out would be announced the week after the All Star Game and that did not happen. Most recently we heard that they would be announced this week sometime and that did not happen either. Then we heard that these would be handed down today, Friday, and now I bring to you the announcement that the suspensions will not be announced until Monday. Well that is if you believe anything that comes out of anyone's mouth that is associated with these shenanigans anymore because I don't personally.

The timing is convenient for Sunday or Monday because most teams will have right at or around 50 games left in the season and most players not named Alex Rodriguez or Ryan Braun are expected to receive 50 game suspensions. Either way I am beyond ready for this whole ordeal to be over, processed, and passed us so we can stop speculating and talking about it already.

Francisco Cervelli & Fernando Martinez To Be Suspended

Lost in all the Ryan Braun and Alex Rodriguez speculation and suspensions are Yankees players Francisco Cervelli and Fernando Martinez and their links to Bogenesis.  Obviously Martinez was signed to provide depth in AAA with what seems like the entire AAA team up with the Yankees at some point in this season but the Cervelli suspension could really hurt us this season. It is no secret that we have struggled offensively behind the dish this season and it is also no secret that Cervelli was hitting the cover off the ball before his broken right hand. With no obvious upgrades out there on the free agent wire, the waiver wire, or the trade deadline wire this could be a huge blow for the Yankees. The Yankees have been trying to rehab Cervelli and get him back to "save" this offense behind the dish but this suspension may totally derail his 2013 season. The Yankees may have serious problems behind the plate if Cervelli gets a full 50 game suspension because Austin Romine and Chris Stewart is not a competent catching duo on a playoff team in my opinion let alone a World Series contender.