YES Network Writer Makes Case For Why Yankees Should Sign Cabrera

A YES Network article has made the case for why the Yankees should sign former Indians Infielder Asdrubel Cabrera.

Doug Williams, a writer for the channel's website, laid out the opinion in a post published Thursday. Cabrera, who spent the last few months of this season with the Nationals, will be a free agent this winter, and is expected to garner at least some interest from New York's AL representative.

"The best word to use when describing Asdrubal Cabrera would be solid," Williams argued. "You can expect 15-20 home runs and 60-70 RBI from him on a yearly basis."

Williams used Cabrera's age and price as further reasons for his viewpoint. 

"He's only 28 years old and is a two-time All-Star," Williams said. "The combination of being young, experienced, and not wildly expensive is what makes Cabrera the best option out there. And if the Yankees sign him to a two or three-year contract and decide to upgrade at any point, he's a valuable piece on the bench with the flexibility to play multiple positions and hit from both sides of the plate."

Cabrera, an eight-year veteran, is a .268 career hitter. Of his 87 total home runs, interestingly, 69 have come since 2011, easily making him a desirable power option.

Quick Hit: Yankees/Red Sox Game that’s Probably Still Being Played

Set the stage, 2004 ALCS between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. It’s Game 5 and the Yankees have a commanding 3-1 lead over the Red Sox after taking the first three games of the series. No team has ever won four straight in a best of seven series to win the series after trailing 3-0. The game goes into extra innings and may or may not still be being played.

After 5 hours and 49 minutes and a whopping 471 pitches thrown between the two teams the Red Sox beat the Yankees 5-4 to crawl back in the series 3-2. David Ortiz became the hero and the first player in major league history to have two walk off hits in the same postseason, and they came on back to back nights.

Ortiz ended the longest game in ALCS history with a two out single scoring Johnny Damon from second base in the 14^th inning at Fenway to send the series to a Game 6. Ah, memories. 

Watch Game 7 of the 2001 World Series Here

We have been watching full playoff games here on the blog and there has been a common theme in all of them, the Yankees won them all. Without losing one every once in a while you cannot truly appreciate the victories so here it is, Game 7 of the 2001 World Series with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Yankees. Curt Schilling without the bloody sock and Mariano on the mound in the 9^th with a lead. The perfect way to cap off the greatest World Series in the history of the game in my very humble and even more biased opinion. Enjoy Yankees fans!

Bryan Mitchell the Next Yankees Sleeper

The New York Yankees have made it a habit over the Joe Girardi tenure of turning out starting pitching and bullpen pieces from the farm system. Obviously none of them have come up and been the ace that takes the league by storm in the starting side of the equation New York has brought along some really effective and helpful bullpen pieces, see Dellin Betances. The list of names is impressive when you think about the amount of talent the Yankees system was pushing out just five or so years ago, names like David Phelps, Adam Warren, Shane Greene, Ivan Nova, could Bryan Mitchell be next?

Mitchell was awfully effective when used by Girardi in 2014 both out of the bullpen and in his one spot start this season. Most pitchers exhibit a little rust or inability to get outs after sitting on the bench for weeks at a time but Mitchell never seemed to skip a beat. His preparedness and his heart really shown through in each and every opportunity he got this season and he made the most out of it.

For every Jose Ramirez the Yankees bring up they have two more Chase Whitley’s and it seems like Mitchell is going to be the next Greene, Whitley, Betances, or maybe just the next Mitchell. Either way the kid deserves a shot in the majors not because of the hype but because he has earned it. See you in 2015 kid. 

TGP Daily Poll: Royals in Six

The Kansas City Royals have yet to lose a game in the postseason while San Francisco hasn’t lost more than one in a series so something has to give in the 2014 World Series. I am predicting the Royals in six representing the American League.

Vote in our poll. 

ICYMI: Reggie Jackson Becomes Mr. October

Here is video proof of Reggie Jackson belting his three home runs on three consecutive pitches in the 1977 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Just in case you missed it. 

This Day in New York Yankees History 10/18: Mr. October

Reggie Jackson was brought in by owner George Steinbrenner to propel the Yankees to their first World Series title in what felt like forever, and that he did. On this day in 1977 Reggie hit three home runs on three consecutive pitches in the World Series in the clinching game of the Yankees 21^st World Series title. The nickname Mr. October stuck immediately as he had hit a home run in his last at bat of the previous game as well making for four consecutive home runs across two games.

Also on this day in 1960 a mere five days after losing the World Series to Bill Mazeroski and the Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 7 of the World Series manager Casey Stengel was fired. The Yankees cited the fact that Stengel was too old to manage in which Stengel replied “I’ll never make the mistake of being 70 again.”

Magadan Claims Yankees Will Hire New Hitting Coach This Weekend

Rangers' Hitting Coach Dave Magadan claimed that the Yankees will hire a new man for the same position sometime this weekend.

Magadan, who has worked for Texas for one season after being with the Red Sox for six, is currently one of many candidates for Kevin Long's former job. He was interviewed by the Yanks Wednesday, but said that he won't be the only who has done so by the beginning of the World Series.

"They told me they were going to interview a couple of other candidates," Magadan recently told The New York Post's George A. King III. "I don’t know if that was going to happen Thursday or Friday. They said they would make a decision shortly thereafter."

Magadan said that he thinks the meeting went nicely.

"I thought it went well," he said. "But they are the ones who need to think it went well.’’

That's certainly true, as Magadan isn't the only guy the Yankees seem to like right now. Oakland's Chilis Davis, for example, also talked to the team yesterday, and is always a possibility for the occupation due to his notable playing past.

Cashman: Girardi Talked to A-Rod About Playing First

It appears the Yankees really are serious about having Alex Rodriguez play first.

In a conference call team GM Brian Cashman had Friday, it was revealed that Manager Joe Girardi has talked to the veteran about the idea. Rodriguez, 39, is coming off a suspension that kept him out all of last season, and is a major question mark when it comes to his defensive abilities.  

"Joe Girardi conveyed to me he talked to him, briefly, about him getting some work at first base," Cashman told Newsday. "Joe had a conversation recently about that. How extensive that conversation was, I don't know, but he conveyed it to me." 

Cashman said that he thinks Rodriguez wants to start at third next season, but that he wants to have "protections" available in case he can't.

"I expect if you talk to Alex, he's going to push hard and compete hard and focus hard and expect to be the everyday guy at third," he said. "I just need to make sure I have the protections in place to provide alternatives.''

Among those possible alternatives are Chase Headley and Martin Prado, who were both traded to the Yankees in July. Headley, a current free agent, was used primarily at the corners, while Prado usually got his work in at second.

NJ.com's Top 20 Yankees Prospects List

NJ.com released their Top 20 Yankees prospect list and here it is. Click the link to see the write ups and to give those guys a view or two, they do great work and deserve it. Here is the list:

1. Luis Severino
2. Gary Sanchez
3. Aaron Judge
4. Robert Refsnyder
5. Ian Clarkin
6. Eric Jagielo
7. Jacob Lindgren
8. Manny Banuelos
9. Butch Wynegar (this must be a mistake)
10. Tyler Austin
11. Bryan Mitchell
12. Jake Cave
13. Greg Bird
14. Ramon Flores
15. Jose Ramirez
16. Slade Heathcott
17. Gosuke Katoh
18. Mason Williams
19. Ty Hensley
20. Austin DeCarr