Remembering My 2018 Predictions: Comeback Players of the Year

The original post was written below on March 23, 2018 stating that Tim Lincecum and David Wright would win the American League and National League Comeback Player of the Year Awards for their respective leagues. Boy, what a good war to start off my prediction recaps… WRONG! 

Lincecum was released by the Texas Rangers on June 5th after his rehab clock for a blister problem that popped up in Spring Training ran out. No one else signed Lincecum for the 2018 season and his career is likely over after another failed comeback attempt. David Wright will play in one last game for the Mets, his only game of the season, before calling it a career and retiring at the end of the season. I went bold, and unfortunately being bold backfired on this one. Maybe on the next prediction.  

The Comeback Player of the Year Award is generally given to a player who has not only a great season but has a great story behind their great season. For example, if a player misses a bulk of the previous season or seasons due to injury they are generally a candidate for the award if they come back the next season and have a strong season. Remember when Bartolo Colon basically came out of retirement for the New York Yankees only to shock the baseball world by showing that he could not only still pitch, but still pitch effectively at the Major League level? Or remember last season when Greg Holland returned from missing the 2016 season with Tommy John surgery to lead the National League for a chunk of the seasons in saves in 2017? Those are the kind of stories that win you a Comeback Player of the Year Award, and here are my 2018 stories. 

I know I am reaching way out in left field on this one, but you almost have to with any of these sorts of predictions at this stage in the year. No one knows who is going to come back healthy, and nobody knows who is going to be the “next big thing” in Major League Baseball. So why not go bold? Why not predict that Tim Lincecum will not only make the Major League roster at some point in the 2017 season with the pitching-starved Texas Rangers, but why not predict that he will do well for the team in whatever role they use him in? It could happen, and according to my predictions it will happen. The Freak is back, likely as a reliever, and he wants some more hardware for his shelves at home. 

The National League version was a little harder to come up with, so I decided to go bold once again in predicting that David Wright finally makes his way back onto the field with the New York Mets. At this point Wright doesn’t even have to be all that effective to earn to award, the story in itself of him working his way back to the Major League level would be story enough. Wright is currently working on trying to get back to the Mets after undergoing shoulder surgery in September of 2017 and an additional surgery on his lower back in October of 2017. Currently at the time of this writing Wright has been shut down from baseball activities for at least eight weeks, but if the Mets former third baseman can make it back by June or July he would easily be the story of the second half around Major League Baseball.---

This Day in New York Yankees History 6/27: Wade Blasingame’s Debut & Goodbye

On this day in 1972 Wade Blasingame made his last start of his career and his first career start for the New York Yankees. The Tigers would hit three consecutive home runs in the first inning when Aurelio Rodriguez, Al Kaline, and Willie Horton went deep. The Tigers would beat the Yankees 5-2.

This Day in New York Yankees History 6/12: Lou Gehrig’s Final Game

On this day in 1939 Lou Gehrig plays his final game as a member of the New York Yankees while in an exhibition game. A record crowd of 23,864 fans filed into Ruppert Stadium to see the Kansas City Blues play the Yankees. Gehrig played three innings and batted eight while grounding out weakly to second base in his only at bat.


Alex Rodriguez did something pretty significant as well and it pertains to Gehrig as well but more on that later....


Also on this day in 1928 Lou Gehrig has a week of it by collecting fourteen total bases when he collected two triples and two home runs in the same game. The Yankees would beat the Chicago White Sox 15-7 in Comiskey Park behind Gehrig's outburst.


Finally the New York Highlanders, later to be named the New York Yankees, were never known for being a good team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. On this day in 1907 the Highlanders committed a total of 11 errors in one game, and that's not a typo. Eight different Highlanders committed an error in a 16-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers. The Highlanders shortstop Kid Elberfeld committed four errors by himself while playing in front of the home team at American League Park.


Also on this day in 1990 in a bit of non-Yankees related news Cal Ripken Jr. continued his attack of Lou Gehrig's consecutive games streak while playing in his 1,308th consecutive game. Ripken would move into second place on the all-time list ahead of former Yankees and Red Sox shortstop Everett Scott. Scott played consecutively from 1918-1925.

Adios, Arrivederci, Au Revoir, Cheerio, and Goodbye to Stephen Drew

What a sad day in Major League Baseball and in the Greedy Pinstripes world, former Boston Red Sox player, New York Yankees player, and Major Leaguer Stephen Drew has announced his retirement from the game this week. We have given Stephen a hard time over the years after his short tenure with the Yankees and even have an award named after him in his honor that we give out here on the site. The news of his retirement hit me hard and it left me with just one thing to say… Stephen Drew still sucks.

On a serious note the former 15^th overall pick in the 2004 Major League Baseball First Year Players Draft has announced his official retirement from the game after not finding a job this winter. Drew had spent the last two seasons with the Washington Nationals in their organization where he enjoyed a strong 2016 season, before injuries robbed him of his 2017 and final season.

Drew was drafted and developed by the Arizona Diamondbacks where he spent parts of seven seasons with the organization. Drew was ultimately dealt to the Oakland Athletics in August of 2012 where he finished strong before hitting free agency for the first time in his career. Drew signed with the Boston Red Sox for the 2013 season where he put in a mediocre .253/.333/.443 triple slash. Boston extended Drew a qualifying offer for the 2014 season, but Drew declined the offer and ultimately sat out until June 1, 2014 when he was eligible to be signed without the signing team giving up draft pick compensation for his services. Drew ultimately went back to Boston on a one-year deal but was later traded to the New York Yankees where he finished his 2014 season.

Drew was back with the Yankees for the 2015 season further frustrating and infuriating fans of the Bronx Bombers slashing just .185/.257/.347 over the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Drew landed with Washington in a utility role for the 2016 season where he bounced back a bit slashing .266/.339/.524 with eight home runs before injuries robbed him of his 2017 season, and any chance of erasing his legacy with us here at the site.

Drew will coach his children now that his playing days are over. Never forget, and always remember… Stephen Drew Sucks. Enjoy your retirement, and no hard feelings. It is all in fun.

Article Revisit: Who is Going to Say “No” to CC Beyond 2017?

We discussed this earlier in the season but we also discussed it almost one year ago today as well, should the New York Yankees bring back CC Sabathia for the 2018 season? You know what my opinion is now, a couple weeks back I opined that the Yankees should bring back the veteran left-hander on a one-year deal with a reasonable base salary, but what did I think back in 2016? Find out in this article revisit from the 2016 season. Enjoy and leave your comments below on CC and whether the Yankees should retain him for next season below in the comments section. Thanks!

 Saturday, October 1, 2016

Who Is Going to Say No to CC Beyond 2017?

The New York Yankees were officially eliminated from playoff contention on Thursday night despite completing a sweep of the Boston Red Sox in a three-game set. Too little too late for the Bombers this season but it may not be too little too late for the man who was on the mound in that start, CC Sabathia. Once thought to be “done” and “washed up” after losing velocity on his fastball and after dealing with a degenerative knee condition the Yankees veteran left-handed has learned how to finally “pitch” rather than just throw the ball by everyone in the league and the results have been spectacular. After a relatively healthy season in 2016 and a solid season by all accounts Sabathia has his eye not only on 2017 but beyond that as well once his current contract expires with New York. Right now, who is going to tell him no that he can’t come back to the Bronx in 2017? Not me.

Sabathia was a machine from 2009 to 2012 with the Yankees posting a 74-29 record but his health and velocity dropped off suddenly leaving CC unsure of what to do. CC was used to rearing back and finding 95+ MPH to get him out of any situation, not Sabathia was left with an 88 – 92 MPH fastball that he had to pinpoint every single time to be successful. After working with pitching coach Larry Rothschild and a former Yankees ace that went through a similar transformation in Andy Pettitte the big man seems to have finally figured it out in 2016. We saw Sabathia make steps towards putting it all together in recent years but when he got into trouble he could still be seen trying to simply blow hitters away, now CC isn’t afraid to walk a guy or pitch around a guy to maximize efficiency and outs making him a perfect and durable candidate to anchor a young and upcoming Yankees rotation from the 5th starter spot.

CC will never be the 2009 version again by any stretch of the imagination but CC has somehow found a way to be dominant nonetheless while also leading the team in starts made and innings pitched. Overall Sabathia finished the year with 29 starts, a 4.02 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP but I can remember at the beginning of the season when CC held a sub-3.00 ERA and a 3.17 ERA into the month of July before getting hit around a bit. I can’t think of a team that wouldn’t take a veteran arm who’s been there on a reasonable contract at the back end of their bullpen, especially if he brings the health and stability he brought to the Yankees this season. Why not make that team the Yankees?

I know a lot can happen between now and this time in 2017 but if you’re asking me right now, this instant, I’m signing him up if he’s healthy. You can have all the young guns and rising stars in the rotation you want but they are going to need the old, savvy veteran to show them how it’s done. That’s CC.

This Day In New York Yankees History 9/25: Derek Jeter is Amazing

Derek Jeter played the final game of his Yankees career inside Yankee Stadium on this day in 2014 and Jeter went out only the way that Jeter could go out, dramatically. New York had a huge lead in the contest leaving many to speculate how and when manager Joe Girardi would take Jeter out for his standing ovation but David Robertson blew a save in the 9th inning setting up Jeter's heroics one last time. Jeter came up in the bottom of the ninth and laced the first pitch he saw through the hole on the right side scoring Antoan Richardson to give the Yankees a walk off victory. Jeter. Is.Amazing.


The 2009 New York Yankees team was good, really good in fact, and absolutely earned the nickname of the Bronx Bombers. On this day in 2009 Alex Rodriguez hit a third inning home run for the Yankees 127th home run at home of the season, a new franchise record. The 2004 and 2005 Yankees both went yard 126 times each at the old Yankee Stadium before the new record was set.


Also on this day in 1998 the Yankees set an American League record with their 112th win of the season, a 6-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The 1906 Chicago Cubs went 116-36 and still hold the major league record for victories in a season.


Finally on this day in 1968 Mickey Mantle stepped up to the plate for his last Yankee Stadium at bat. Coincidentally tonight is Derek Jeter’s final Yankee Stadium at bat but I digress. Mantle would walk against Luis Tiant before the Yankees fell to the Indians 3-0.

Alex Rodriguez’s Return to Baseball?

Holy clickbait, Batman! Both here and by Alex Rodriguez on his Instagram account. On Alex’s Instagram account, the Yankees former third baseman and DH in case you’re new to the universe, Alex posted a video of him and his girlfriend Jennifer Lopez working out, presumably in their home. Alex captioned the video with “Comeback???” Later on in the post you could tell that this was an obvious joke and that he was just showing him and his Bronx-born girlfriend working out but I figured let’s have a little fun with it anyway here on the blog and get everyone excited about the man they call A-Rod pulling a Bernie Mac in Mr. 3000 and making a comeback.

Did I have you going? Check out the video. Alex is doing pushups, both with and without J-Lo on his back, and Lopez is seen dancing on the video to “Hypnotize” by the Notorious B.I.G. It’s worth a watch or two. Enjoy!

Alex Rodriguez Career Highlights

Alex Rodriguez. What more can be said by us that hasn’t already been said a million times throughout his career and especially over the last week. With Alex retiring rather than harping on one thing here or one thing there why don’t we just bring you his entire career timeline and let us battle it all out in the comments section or on Twitter? Sounds like a good idea to me so here we go, the Alex Rodriguez career timeline.


- Alex was drafted first overall by the Seattle Mariners on June 3, 1993 and decides to sign rather than attend the University of Miami on a full baseball scholarship.


- Alex was not long for the minor leagues as he made his MLB debut on July 8, 1994 at shortstop against the Boston Red Sox inside Fenway Park. He was 18-years old. The very next day he would record his first hit finishing the game 2-for-4.


- It would take almost a full calendar year before Alex recorded his first home run and it came on June 12, 1995 against Kansas City Royals hurler Tom Gordon. It would another two calendar year’s later that Alex recorded his first ever cycle on June 5, 1997. Alex was the fifth youngest to ever do it and he did so at the expense of the Detroit Tigers.


- Alex went from fan favorite to villain on Dec, 11 2000 after leaving Seattle via free agency for the Texas Rangers on a 10-year deal worth $252 million. This is easily the largest contract at the time in all of professional sports.


- Four years later he went from being hated to being reviled after accepting a trade to the New York Yankees on February 16, 2004 for Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named later. Texas agreed to pay $67 million of the $179 million still remaining on his contract thus beginning his Yankees tenure.


- On April 26, 2005 Alex Rodriguez went off on Bartolo Colon and the Los Angeles Angels to the tune of three home runs and 10 RBI in a single game. A Rod also joined the 400 home run club on June 8th and won his second AL MVP Award in November after slugging 48 home runs.


- On August 4, 2007 Alex joins the 500 home run club against the Kansas City Royals. Alex is the youngest member to do so and only the 22nd in MLB history. Alex would win his third AL MVP in 2007 after slugging 54 home runs and knocking in 156 RBI but not before opting out of his deal during the World Series leaving $72 million on the table. Alex would sign a new deal with the Yankees on Dec, 17 2007 worth $275 million over 10 years just a day after going on 60 Minutes and telling the world that he has never used steroids or human growth hormones. The Mitchell Report, which was released on December 13, says otherwise.


- Bombshell. On February 7, 2009 Sports Illustrated announced that Alex had tested positive for steroids back in 2003 and days later Rodriguez admitted it on national television while being interviewed by Peter Gammons. Alex was out with a hip injury at the time and would miss the beginning of the 2009 regular season.


- Alex broke out in a big way in 2009 during the postseason including his Game 2 game-tying home run in the ninth inning against Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan eventually giving the Yankees a victory. In 15 playoff games that postseason Alex hit .365 with six home runs and 18 RBI leading the Yankees to the World Series.


- Another year, another drug scandal for Alex. This time it came on February 28, 2010 when Alex was linked to Tony Galea, a Canadian doctor facing charges for smuggling drugs into the United States, according to the New York Daily News. No charges were filed and no suspensions were levied. Later that season Alex joined the 600 home run club on August 4th joining six other players to do so.


- On December 3, 2012 it was announced that Alex would have to have his other hip surgically repaired and he did not return to the field until well into the 2013 season. He did not return before Jun 4, 2013 when ESPN broke the news that 20 players were linked to an anti-aging clinic down in Florida known as Biogenesis. Alex was one of those players, of course he was. On August 5th of that year it was announced that Rodriguez would be suspended 211 games, Alex immediately appealed and continued to play in the next Yankees game.


- A few nights later on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball the Boston Red Sox starter Ryan Dempster intentionally threw behind and at Alex four different times before Alex got his revenge hitting a home run off the Boston righty later in the contest. Alex mocked David Ortiz’s home run trot and pose at home plate rubbing salt in the wound.


- On September 20, 2013 Alex set a Major League record when he broke a tie with Yankees great Lou Gehrig when he hit his 24th grand slam of his MLB career.


- 2015 was Alex’s last hurrah as he not only recorded his 3000th hit on June 19, a solo home run off Justin Verlander, but he also hit his 660th and 661st home runs of his MLB career tying and eventually passing Willie Mays on the all-time home run list.


- 2016 was a different season and has been a different story for the Yankees DH though and on August 7th, 2016 he announced that today, August 12th, would be his final game in his MLB career after 22 MLB seasons. Alex finishes his career just a few home runs away from 700 home runs in his career.

There were so many more things and events that I could have touched on but there was just not enough time in the day and enough space on the blog. That’s how you know you’ve put up great stats and had a great career. It’s had its ups and downs and boy was it full of controversy for a long, long time but time heals all and time can begin the healing process now. Alex is done. Career over. Alex wins.

So it Seems Dillon Tate is Good Again & We’re Remembering Alex Rodriguez Today

Good morning everyone and Happy Saturday. Another rainy day here in North Georgia but I guess I’ve gotten used to that by now. It seems like any day now all the people who get all sparkly in the sun are going to move down from Forks County here to my neck of the woods….. yeah I used a Twilight reference at 7:00 am on a weekend. I would un-bookmark the site too, so no hard feelings.

On this day in 2016, as we saw in our aptly named post this morning, Alex Rodriguez played his final game in Major League Baseball and with the Yankees so I want to take a chance to look back at his career a little bit one more time today. I also want to praise Brian Cashman once more because it seems like he may have found a diamond in the rough with Dillon Tate.

Tate was traded from the Texas Rangers last year at the August 1^st trading deadline for outfielder Carlos Beltran and Tate came with many question marks. Tate’s velocity was down and so was his production but either the Yankees coaches, a change of scenery or a little bit of both have seemingly turned Tate around and turned the young right-hander and former first round pick into a beast once again.

At the time of the trade Tate was sporting a 5.12 ERA for the Low-A Texas Rangers affiliate. His velocity was down and not even he knew where the ball was going when it left his hand after being the fourth overall pick in the 2015 MLB First Year Players Draft but the Yankees have seemingly turned him around. Tate was recently called up to Double-A Trenton and will make his debut there today after posting a 6-0 record and a 2.62 ERA in nine starts with the Tampa Yankees. Tate’s velocity is back up to 94 MPH and his slider is devastating to opposing batters… just like Brian Cashman knew it would.

And a special good morning to you my love. I love you and I hope you’re doing well this morning. It was a tough week but it’s getting easier and better all the time… and it’s getting closer and closer to forever too. I love you. HEY YOU.

This Day in New York Yankees History 6/27: Wade Blasingame’s Debut & Goodbye

On this day in 1972 Wade Blasingame made his last start of his career and his first career start for the New York Yankees. The Tigers would hit three consecutive home runs in the first inning when Aurelio Rodriguez, Al Kaline, and Willie Horton went deep. The Tigers would beat the Yankees 5-2.

Meet a Prospect: Derek Jeter

What else can be said about Derek Jeter that he has not said by himself, only with his bat? The owner of the Yankees Captain spot, 5 World Series rings, and basically anything else he wants, Derek Jeter has been the poster boy for all of baseball and especially the New York Yankees since the 1996 season. Jeter has done so much throughout his career and he continues to succeed in every aspect off the field as well since his retirement becoming a true inspiration to us all. So tomorrow as the New York Yankees allow the Captain to stand beside fellow Hall of Fame players and legends of the sport like Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth we will all, once again and one last time, stand by and merely watch in amazement at all that he has done.

This is a Derek Jeter Day special edition of Meet a Prospect…. The Derek Sanderson Jeter Edition.

Derek Sanderson Jeter was born on June 26th, 1974, in Pequannock, New Jersey to parents Dr. Sanderson Charles Jeter and Dorothy Jeter. Derek's parents, a substance abuse counselor (Sanderson) and an accountant (Dorothy), met while serving in the United States Army in Germany. Derek's parents, at a very early age, were very strict and hard on him but very consistent. As a child his mother instilled Derek's positive attitude in him, insisting that he could not use the word "can't". Derek even had to sign a contract every year that set acceptable and unacceptable forms of behavior. Derek lived in North Arlington, New Jersey, until he was four years old when he moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. Derek and his sister, Sharlee, attended New York Yankees games while spending the summers with their grandparents in New Jersey and became very passionate about the Yankees. Derek later said that as a child Yankees stand out Dave Winfield inspired him to pursue baseball. 

Derek spent his high school days at Kalamazoo Central High School where he played baseball and basketball. In his sophomore year he batted .557 and followed it up with a .508 average in his junior year. In his senior year he hit .508 with 23 RBIs, 21 walks, 4 home runs, and a .831 slugging percentage with a .637 on base percentage, 12 stolen bases in 12 attempts, and just a single strike out. After a stellar season like that Jeter received an All State honorable mention, the Kalamazoo Area B'nai B'rith Award for Scholar Athlete, the American Baseball Coaches Association 1992 High School Player of the Year Award, 1992 Gatorade High School Player Of The Year Award, and USA Today's High School Player of the Year. This kind of acknowledgement got him a scholarship offer to play baseball from the University of Michigan that he obviously declined. Much later in his career Kalamazoo Central High School inducted Jeter into their Athletic Hall of Fame, in 2003, and renamed its baseball field in Jeter's honor in 2011. 

Derek was drafted straight out of High School by the New York Yankees in the first round of the MLB First Year Players Draft 6th overall. Hal Newhouser, a scout for the Houston Astros team that had the first pick overall that season, lobbied for his team management to select Jeter although the Astros feared that Jeter would require a salary bound of at least $1 million to skip college and go pro. The Astros, instead, drafted Phil Nevin and signed him for $700,000. Newhouser felt so strongly about Jeter and the waste of a pick that he quit his job with the Astros in protest. The Yankees gave Jeter a $800,000 signing bonus to skip being a Wolverine and instead become a Yankee. Yankees scout Dick Groch said he would not go anywhere but "Cooperstown". 

Derek played four seasons in the Yankees minor league system, beginning with a struggle in the Gulf Coast League. His manager even had to bench him at the end of the season in 1992 so his average did not drop below the Mendoza Line, .200 Batting Average. In 1993 though he came out of the offseason determined and was voted the Most Outstanding Major League Prospect  by the South Atlantic League managers after hitting .295 with 5 home runs, 71 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases. He was also named to the All Star team even though he committed a South Atlanta League record 56 errors. Somehow, though, he was named the SAL's Best Defensive Shortstop, Most Exciting Player, and Best Infield Arm by Baseball America. In 1994 he was named the Minor League Player of the Year Award by Baseball America, The Sporting News, USA Today, and Topps while winning the MVP of the Florida State League. The 1994 MLB strike and mild inflammation in his right shoulder while in the Arizona Fall League kept Jeter from the majors, officially, in 1995 but he would be called up for the post season run to sit on the bench and take in the experience of playing for New York. 

Derek was named the Yankees starting short stop starting for the 1996 season after Joe Torre stood up against George Steinbrenner, who as we all know was never happy about the growing pains young players have to go through. Steinbrenner even approved a trade that would have sent pitcher Mariano Rivera to Seattle for short stop Felix Fermin because Gene Michael and Brian Cashman convinced Steinbrenner to give Jeter an opportunity. Aren't we glad that he did? 

Jeter was the first rookie short stop to start the season as a starter for the Yankees since Tom Tresh in 1962 and he did not waste any time getting acclimated, hitting his first MLB home run that day. He won the Rookie of the Year award after hitting .314 with 10 home runs, scoring 104 runs, and driving in 78 RBIs. His first post season home run came in the ALCS against the Baltimore Orioles, the Jeffrey Maier home run.  Jeter won his first World Series ring in that rookie season when the Yankees defeated the Atlanta Braves in 6 games, the first Yankee World Series since 1978. Jeter batted .361 in that post season. 1998 was Jeter's first All Star Game appearance while the Yankees won 114 games during the regular season while on, in my very biased opinion, the greatest team of all time. Jeter would finish third that season in MVP voting but most importantly Derek had his second ring as the Yankees beat the Padres in 4 games. Another All Star appearance in 1999 and another World Series ring with the Yankees beating the Braves again for Jeter's third ring. After the 1999 season Derek agreed to a 7 year $118.5 million dollar contract but George Steinbrenner did not want to set a salary record and pay Jeter more than Juan Gonzalez, who was working on an 8 year $143 million dollar extension, so the Yankees agreed to a 1 year deal worth $10 million. That ended up being a "mistake" because Jeter had another All Star appearance, including the game winning hit and All Star Game MVP, and had yet another World Series ring when the Yankees beat the Mets in 5 games.  Jeter, while winning his fourth World Series ring, won the World Series MVP and became the only player to ever win the World Series and All Star Game MVP in the same season. Jeter then signed a 10 year $189 million dollar deal, making him the second highest paid player in baseball behind Alex Rodriguez, which was much more than the original extension proposal

Derek would make his fourth All Star game appearance in 2001and also made the "flip play" in the ALDS against the Oakland A's that will forever be remembered. Jeter would also earn the title "Mr. November" when he hit a game winning home run as the clock struck Midnight on November 1st, the first World Series to ever be played in November. The Yankees would lose the 2001 World Series to the Arizona Diamondbacks in, again in my biased opinion, the greatest World Series of all time.  Jeter would dislocate his left shoulder on Opening Day of the 2003 season when he collided with Blue Jays catcher Ken Huckaby at third base, missing 36 games. That season Derek Jeter was recognized as the 11th captain in Yankees history eight seasons after Don Mattingly, the last Yankees captain, retired. After typical Jeter seasons from 2003-2007 Jeter tied Lou Gehrig's record for hits at Yankee Stadium with his 1,269th hit with a home run off of Ray's pitcher David Price in 2008. He broke the record two days later when he got a hit off of White Sox pitcher Gavin Floyd. 

2009, after the Yankees missed the playoffs for the first time in 14 seasons, reloaded with many free agents signings and trades that brought CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Mark Teixeira, and Nick Swisher to name the big ones. This would also be the season that Derek would return to the lead off role when Girardi flipped him and Johnny Damon in the batting order. Jeter recorded his 2,675th hit as a short stop, passing Luis Aparicio's previous record for short stops, in August of the 2009 season. Jeter followed that up by passing Lou Gehrig as the Yankees all-time hits lead when he singles off of Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman on September 11th, 2009. Jeter would win his 5th World Series championship in 2009 when the Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in 6 games to win their teams 27th World Series Championship of their storied history. Jeter also won his 5th gold glove that season and finished third in the MVP voting behind eventual winner Joe Mauer and teammate Mark Teixeira. In July of 2011, off of pitcher David Price of the Rays, Derek collected his 3000th hit on a home run to left field at Yankee Stadium. He is now assaulting Pete Rose's all-time hit record. 

Derek Jeter created the Turn 2 Foundation in 1996, a charitable organization, to help children and teenagers avoid drug and alcohol addiction. It also rewards those who show high academic achievements. Derek also serves as an ambassador for We Play, a website designed to get children involved in sports.  Jeter, when not being a good charitable person, is probably hanging out with a beautiful woman. Derek's little black book includes girls like Scarlett Johannsson, Minka Kelly, Mariah Carey, Miss Universe Lara Dutta, Gabrielle Union, Joy Enriquez, Jordana Brewster, Vanessa Minillo, Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba,  and the list goes on and on... until it presumably stops with his wife Hannah Davis Jeter. I hate you Derek Jeter J

Entering the 2012 season Jeter put to bed the concerns and discussions about his age and whether he could continue to man the shortstop position for the New York Yankees. Jeter started the season batting .411 and received praise from Alex Rodriguez and manager Joe Girardi who both claimed Jeter looked like he was 25-years old again. Jeter once again made the All-Star Game in 2012 and with a single in the contest he passed Mickey Mantle for the most hits by a Yankee in the All-Star Game ever in the franchise’s history. Jeter finished the season leading the league in hits with 216 and even got into the Top 10 of all-time with his 3,284^th hit of his career passing Willie Mays. Jeter exploded in the ALDS before his ankle gave out in the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers. Jeter had a fractured ankle and his season was over just four wins before the World Series.

Jeter had surgery on the ankle on October 20^th and was expected to be back with the team before Opening Day 2013. While rehabbing the ankle Jeter suffered a small crack in the area of the fracture and he began the season on the disabled list. Jeter returned, finally, on July 11^th of 2013 but after just one game Jeter was back on the disabled list with a quad strain. Two weeks later Jeter returned off the DL to hit a home run but eight days later it was right back on the disabled list for the Yankees captain. This time a Grade 1 calf strain kept Jeter off the field until September when Jeter came back once again for New York. Jeter was not long for the field in 2013 once again though after the calf strain as the Yankees had to place Jeter on the disabled list for the third time this season on September 11^th due to complications with his surgically repaired ankle. After just 17 games played and a .190 batting average many thought that Jeter’s playing days were done. Jeter, on the other hand, did not think so.

Jeter had one more season in him and that final season would be in 2014. The Yankees signed Jeter to a new one-year deal worth $12 million for his final season and Jeter set out to give the Yankees every pennies worth back on the field, and that he did. Jeter started at shortstop in the 2014 MLB All-Star Game and batted leadoff for the American League. Jeter went two-for-two in the contest and finished his All-Star Game career batting .481. The Yankees held Derek Jeter Day at the stadium on September 7^th of 2014 and the team wore #2 on their hats and jersey’s to honor their shortstop for the remainder of the season. In Jeter’s final game at Yankee Stadium against the Baltimore Orioles the Yankee Stadium Gods were at work again as the Yankees went into the 9^th inning with a big lead. David Robertson blew the lead giving Jeter one last shot at the stadium and in classic Derek Jeter fashion he came through in the clutch. In Jeter’s final Yankee Stadium at-bat he laced a single the other way in a walk-off victory for the Yankees.

Jeter played as a DH only in his final series of his career inside Fenway Park and in his final at-bat he hit an infield RBI single off Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz before walking off the field to a standing ovation. Jeter’s career as a player was done.

The Captain…. Derek Jeter ladies and gentleman….. Numbah two. 

Quick Hit: Derek Jeter’s One Regret in MLB

"Yo, I should have started this blogging stuff YEARS ago"

The YES Network recently had an interview with former Yankees captain and shortstop Derek Jeter before his number is retired with the team and before a ceremony goes down on Mother’s Day in the Bronx. In the interview, which can be seen on the YESNetwork.com Jeter spoke about numerous things but one topic in particular caught my eye when I read it, Jeter talked about his one and only regret during his 20-years in Major League Baseball.

Keeping a journal. Derek Jeter’s one and only mistake from his entire 20-year tenure in Major League Baseball and with the Yankees is that he did not keep a journal for the first 19-years of his career. Jeter said in the interview that he did keep a journal during his final season and wished he had done so during his entire career.

How cool would it be to be the child of Derek and Hannah Jeter and to read that journal? How awesome would it have been to read a journal from his entire 20-year tenure with the Yankees? I don’t think you could put a price on that but if you could I would pay it without blinking an eye.

Name your price Jete. Name it. 

Pre-1980 Non-Vested Retirees Not Receiving Pensions from MLB

Happy Saturday all. I received this email a few weeks back and just now got around to reading it, my apologies to the sender but this is proof positive that I do read every single email you guys send me… it just takes a while sometimes… because distractions.. because the very best distractions, and the subject matter kind of shocked me. It’s pertaining to pre-1980 MLB non-vested players and the fact that said players are not receiving their pensions from Major League Baseball. Rather than try to disseminate the email and put my own spin on it I am simply going to copy and paste it straight from the horse’s mouth for your viewing and reading pleasure. Usually I say enjoy but this is not one of those articles that you enjoy, this is the type of article that tugs at your heart and puts anger in your soul towards people who don’t take care of other people. Or maybe it’s just me. 

Don't know if you're familiar with the above, but there are 500 or so former players, being hosed out of pensions by the league and the players' association.

All these men have been getting since 2011 are non qualified retirement payments of $625 per quarter, up to 16 quarters, or a maximum payment of $10,000 per year.

Meanwhile, the maximum IRS pension limit per year is $210,000.

One of these men is Bill Burbach, of Johnson City, Tennessee. Born in Dickeyville, Wisconsin in 1947, Mr. Burbach attended Wahlert High Scholl in Dickeyville as well as Iowa State University.

Mr. Burbach, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, turns 70 in August.

A pitcher who spent parts of three seasons, in 1969, 1970 and 1971 in the Show with the New York Yankees, Mr. Burbach appeared in a total of 37 games, 28 of which were starts. He recorded six wins, including two complete games and one shutout during his career.



The union representing the players, the MLBPA, doesn't have to be the legal advocates for these men, the league doesn't have to negotiate about this matter and the alumni association is too busy putting on golf outings.

Neither the league nor the union want to retroactively restore these men into pension coverage; instead, taxes are taken out of the nonqualified retirement payment, which cannot be passed on to a surviving spouse or designated beneficiary. So when Mr. Burbach passes on, the payment he is currently receiving is not passed on to any of his loved ones, such as his wife, Wanda. They are also not eligible to be covered under the league's umbrella health insurance plan.



Former pitcher Steve Rogers is a special assistant to Tony Clark, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association. He is the players' pension liaison; his email address is stever@mlbpa.org.



Doug Gladstone, Author
"A Bitter Cup of Coffee; How MLB & The Players Association Threw 874 Retirees a Curve"

OK Guys, Calm Down About Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter, Jeb Bush and their group of investors haven’t officially purchased the Miami Marlins yet and I have to say I am already so sick and tired of hearing about it, especially from the fans of the New York Yankees.

Let’s start at the beginning. Jeter, Jeb Bush and a group of investors have come together and made a bid to purchase the Miami Marlins franchise for a shade over $1 billion. Depending on where you read the group have either won the bid or not been awarded with the top bid, I’ve read both as of the time of this writing although that is subject to change, but what I am being bombarded with more so is all this nonsense from Yankees fans who are actually upset about Jeter purchasing a stake in a franchise other than the New York Yankees. Say what?

I’ve seen quotes something along the lines of that Jeter is “no longer a true Yankee” and such as that because he is buying the Miami Marlins franchise, reportedly anyway. Again. Say what? So with that line of thinking I guess that Tino Martinez, a beloved Yankee who had his own day inside Yankee Stadium a couple seasons back, is not a true Yankee either since he was the hitting coach for Miami and played for other teams including the St. Louis Cardinals. Paul O’Neill? Not a true Yankee, he played for Cincinnati. Don Mattingly? Nope, he managed the Los Angeles Dodgers. Joe Girardi? Nah, he played for the Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies among other teams and also managed the Miami Marlins before the Yankees. I can keep going but I think you get the point. I get it, I do. It’s Jeter. Jeter is supposed to be and built up to be the exception to the rule by Yankees fans but come on…. I think this is exaggerating just a little too much and taking it a wee bit too far.

Chill, people. Jeter spent 20 seasons at shortstop for the New York Yankees and left everything he had on the field every single night and during the latter part of those 20 years Jeter was quite vocal about owning an MLB franchise one day. Sure he would probably like to and prefer to buy the New York Yankees but they aren’t for sale. Don’t be mad at Jeter for that and let that tarnish his career and his legacy with you, blame Hal Steinbrenner and his greedy brother Hank for that. 

Derek Jeter the Potential Owner!

Major League Baseball, are you ready for the return (potentially) of the great Derek Jeter to the game? No the Yankees shortstop is not returning to the field as a player but the future Hall of Fame player is trying to get back into the game in another way, as an owner. The Miami Marlins are reportedly up for bid and Derek and his wife Hannah are one of three potential bidders for the franchise.

Jeter, who is represented by Gregory Fleming in the potential transaction, is joined by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and a group of businessmen from Goldman Sachs as potential buyers for the franchise.

Jeffrey Loria bought the team back in 2002 for a whopping $158 million and the potential price tag for Mr. Jeter or Mr. Bush could go anywhere from an estimated $800,000 to $1.6 billion. Loria is putting the team up for sale after reports came out that stated he may be nominated by President Trump to become ambassador for the United States to France.

You know what I am going to say to the potential return of Derek Jeter to the sport and game we all love. Yes please. I’m rooting for you Jeter! Good luck. 

This Day in New York Yankees History 3/31: Welcome to Coors Field

On this day in 1995 in front of a crowd of 47,536 the New York Yankees lost the first ever game at Coors Field, an exhibition game, 4-1 to the Colorado Rockies.


Also on this day in 1984 Roger Maris announced his #9 jersey retirement from the Yankees on an episode of ABC's Sports Beat with Howard Cosell. New York planned to retire the jersey number at Old Timer's Day that July. Maris showed much disbelief in learning the news and was very happy to be recognized for his seven years in pinstripes.

This Day in New York Yankees History 3/20: Keep Out the New York Mets

On this day in 1961 the New York Yankees announced the team will oppose any plans that would enable the new National League expansion team from New York, later to be called the New York Mets, from using Yankee Stadium. The decision leaves the Polo Grounds as the only viable option for the new team until Shea Stadium was built.


Also on this day in 1958 the Phillies purchased Joe Collins from the New York Yankees after Collins had spent his entire ten season career in pinstripes. Collins, rather than report to the Phillies, decided to retire and finish his career with seven World Series appearances and a .256 lifetime batting average. Good for him, Yankee or bust.

Quick Hit: Alex Rodriguez to Expand Role as FOX Analyst

Alex Rodriguez’s days as a player are officially over, although next time he sneezes or goes to a sports store there will be some dumb ass blog or news publication out there “wondering” if it’s because he is gearing up for a comeback, but his days as a FOX Sports analyst are just beginning. According to a few reports Alex is getting his role with the network expanded in fact which may further confirm that his playing days are over.

After spending each of the past two postseasons as a guest studio analysts for FOX the former Yankees third baseman and DH will now be a game analyst and feature reporter for both FOX Sports and FS1 while also working in the studio as he did before.

Alex signed a multi-year deal with the network but none of the terms were obviously disclosed.

Eric Gagne Wants to Return to MLB

Team Canada has a couple old and recognizable names currently on their World Baseball Classic and while one is a complete douche bag that is such a bad pitcher it took him four tries to INTENTIONALLY hit Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Dumpster and no that’s not an autocorrect or a typographical error, the other was a pretty damn good closer for a long time for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gagne is now looking to potentially make his way back to the Los Angeles Dodgers or any team in Major League Baseball for that matter and he is hoping the World Baseball Classic can act as his audition for such a comeback.

It’s been nearly 10 years since Gagne was seen in a MLB stadium pitching in an MLB game but in his first audition for Team Canada he was seen throwing a scoreless inning against the Toronto Blue Jays. In the contest Gagne’s fastball was clocked at 93 MPH which is great considering the fact that he is not 41-years old.

Gagne won the 2003 NL Cy Young Award with the Los Angeles Dodgers and finished his 10-year career with a 33-26 record with 187 saves including 55 saves in 2003.

If Gagne wants to take a minor league deal with the Yankees you know what I always say…. There’s no such thing as a bad minor league deal. I’d be down. What say you?

Spring Training Around New York: Could David Wright Retire?

Good morning everyone and Happy Saturday to you all. The New York Yankees aren’t giving me much to talk about in all honesty so this morning I wanted to broaden my horizons a bit and expand at least to another borough of New York and talk about the “other” captain in the city, David Wright. Wright injured his shoulder again this spring a shoulder that has nagged him for a few seasons now, leaving many to wonder if the 34-year old New York Mets third basemen would retire. This caught my attention and I wanted to talk about it… so I will. New rules and such, putting more of “me” into this site. .

Wright’s shoulder was sore after his first throwing session of the spring which is concerning for both Wright and the Mets given his recent injury history with his right throwing shoulder. Talks of moving Wright to first base had even been made public due to the severity of the shoulder injury but he had to prove he could throw before any of those talks came to fruition. One throwing session and two visits to two different doctors later and Wright was once again shut down with a serious shoulder impingement.

Wright claims to be working out at the team’s minor league complex as he tries to keep his body in shape but at some point the team, and Wright, are going to have to make a decision on this thing. Wright played in just two games as a designated hitter for the Mets before a neck surgery ended his season prematurely in 2016 and all signs point to him missing a huge chunk of time again in 2017. At 34-years old you have to start wondering if it’s worth trying to come back or if it’s better to ride off in the sunset while you can still presumably life your arms above your head. The future may be now for Wright and it may be time to walk away. His body is presumably trying to tell him to walk away… but will he listen?

Wright seems to still enjoy and love the game of Major League Baseball so I truly doubt that he will retire, and he is definitely saying all the right things about the whole situation, but like the New York Lottery…. Hey, you never know.