Ty Hensley Signs With The Yankees

Looking Good Kid

The Yankees announced that they have reached an agreement with their first round pick Ty Hensley. Hensley signed for a below slot amount of $1.2 million a day ahead of tonight's deadline. Hensley signed lower then slot because of some "abnormalities" in his MRI in his throwing shoulder. We may want to keep an eye on that but he shows no symptoms of anything being wrong and he has no pain and the Yankees signed the deal so they must feel confident about it. That is enough for me. The Yankees have plenty of cash, around $650K last I checked, to sign players without surrendering a draft pick. So much for the draft spending stopping the Yankees from getting what they want.

David Phelps Promoted To AAA Empire State Yankees

In another no news story David Phelps is done dominating AA hitters and will take that dominance to AAA with the Empire State Yankees. This is merely a formality in my opinion as I think he will be called up to either take Andy Pettitte's next turn in the rotation, which is my preference, or will take the long man spot temporarily from Freddy Garcia, which I find unlikely since Phelps was sent down to be stretched out, in the coming weeks. I know someone being called up from AA to AAA is not really news worthy... but hey we have not had Yankees baseball in four days now.

David Aardsma Gets Clearance To Start Throwing Again

David Aardsma as you know was shut down two weeks ago after feeling pain in his right elbow after three rehab appearances. The doctor has claimed that the pain was nothing more then a normal progression in the arm after not throwing a baseball for over a year and a half. Two more weeks of rest is the remedy for this and Aardsma will start his rehab assignment again at the end of July.

Who Is In... Who Is Out?

Today being another off day got me thinking just what the Yankees are going to do when all of their current disabled and DL'd players come back to action. The Yankees have quite an impressive list of players on the DL currently including Brett Gardner, Mariano Rivera, CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte, Joba Chamberlain, David Aardsma, and some other guys that we do not expect to see this year. The 40 man roster is full... what do we do?

Let us start with Joba Chamberlain who just got off of an ankle surgery after a freak trampoline accident and a tommy john surgery. He threw his first rehab game pitching 1 IP with 2 K's and an unearned run. The most important part, to me, was the 97 mph. We have not seen that kind of velocity since he was a dominant set up man for Mariano Rivera. Who goes down when Joba makes it all the way back to the majors? If you ask me today, and I know I am going to shock some people, but I say DJ Mitchell will go back down to AAA Empire State Yankees. I know a lot of people think Chad Qualls was just keeping the seat warm for Joba but he has pitched very effectively in a ROOGY kind of position. I like his veteran leadership and I love matchups in the pen. That is why Rapada stays for me and keeps me two left handers in the bullpen. Do not get me wrong I love what I see out of DJ Mitchell but he is a young guy and has plenty of time to make the pen out of spring training next season.

Brett Gardner has played a total of nine games this season to the tune of 28 at bats. He has been battling an elbow injury and elbow setback after elbow setback. The Yankees really "need" his speed and presence in the lineup, if anything to get Raul Ibanez back on the bench where he belongs. We currently are carrying 6 outfielders because of the lack of need of a 5th starter right before and right after the All Star break. We will not have five when Gardner comes back, which is slated to be in late July. I expect that Darnell McDonald be cut and David Phelps to be called back up, now fully stretched out and dominating AA batters, to fill the starting spot for Andy Pettitte or long man spot for Freddy Garcia. DeWayne Wise has been a pleasant surprise for the Yankees this season and some even say that he may have turned the Yankees season around... but when Brett Gardner comes back he is going to be DFA'd.

I do not expect Mariano Rivera to pitch again this season after tearing his ACL shagging fly balls in the outfield. Even with a partial tear it will still be tough after sitting and waiting for about a month to get rid of a blood clot and reduce swelling before he even had surgery. Also the fact that it would be a September comeback anyway means the rosters would be expanded so we would not need to make a roster move. My question is what do we do, saying he comes back and is healthy and effective, come playoff time? I would have to think that Clay Rapada , as of today, would have to lose his roster spot and we keep Qualls, Joba, and co. This is probably all wishful thinking though.

If David Aardsma can get good news from his little set back and fully come back from tommy john surgery and be healthy then we have a cluster and a big "problem" in our bullpen. That means with Joba back, assuming anyway, that someone who is very effective would have to go down. I mean I guess we could push him back till September when the rosters expand but that is no fun to speculate about. Would a very effective and big surprise in Cody Eppley be sent down? This is certainly a good problem to have.

The Yankees do not really need to make any moves in this years July 31st trade deadline. The Yankees have an ace, a #2 starter, a dominant closer, a dominant (at times) set up relief pitcher, and an all star caliber speed demon of a left fielder coming off the DL soon in reserve. All the Yankees have to do is get healthy and they will add more to their team then any team will at this year's trading deadline.

Booing At The Home Run Derby

There should not be any boos at the Home Run Derby. Hell, there shouldn't be any boos at the All Star game, but that's a whole other subject that I'm not interesting in tackling right now. Right now I want to get the boos out of the Home Run Derby.

Why not? 

The results of the derby mean nothing. Neither the Royals nor Billy Butler himself would benefit from being in the Home Run Derby, let alone winning the thing. I'm not trying to dog on the fans of Kansas City. Like I said on our Facebook profile... I understand the booing. Cano didn't pick the hometown boy, Robbie's on the Evil Empire, and he's pretty damn good to boot. If they didn't boo Cano then I would have questioned the passion KC fans have for the game. The booing shows they care, and caring is never a bad thing. Especially when it comes to a sport being bashed left and right.

This guy should buy one of those fancy new televisions that get more than one channel, so he can watch something other than baseball.

Back to the topic of why there shouldn't be booing... it's supposed to be a fun event. A spectacle. An exhibition. Fans are supposed to relax for a night, where they don't have to feel anxious about their team's upcoming game, and just watch a few dozen balls get launched over the fence by sluggers like Prince Fielder and Jose Bautista.

I realize that I've contradicted myself a bit here. On the one hand I'm okay with Cano getting booed by KC fans, but on the other hand I don't want to see boos during the Home Run Derby. Look, just because I understand something, doesn't mean I agree with it. I understand why my work can't pay me more money, but that doesn't mean I'm okay with it. I understand why gas prices are so high, but that doesn't mean I'm okay with it.

Just kidding... I have no idea why gas prices are so high. 

One idea I've heard is for MLB to open up voting for the Home Run Derby participants to the fans, just like they do the All Star Game. That makes sense to me, as fans won't be able to direct their anger at a participant. But I don't think that totally solves the problem we saw last night, or like last year when Prince Fielder didn't choose Justin Upton for the derby that took place in Arizona. The fans could still be without a hometown player to really cheer for, and therefore react negatively towards the event. 

The other problem I have with voting is the fact that it becomes a popularity contest. Strange coming from a Yankee fan, isn't it? Well... it's the truth. Derek Jeter is 6th in the American League in fWAR among shortstops (Elvis Andrus is the clear leader with a 2.7, vs. Jeter's 1.2). Out of seven qualified catchers in the AL, the ASG starter... Mike Napoli... is 6th in fWAR (Joe Mauer has a 2.9, vs. Napoli's 0.9). Ian Desmond leads all National League shortstops in wOBA with a .355 mark, but it's Rafael Furcall and his .311 wOBA that will be starting at that position tonight. So you can see where I'm hesitant to leave voting to the fans.

I don't care what uniform he has on... I hate Jonathan Papelbon, and he doesn't deserve to be apart of the All Star Game.

So here's what I think... appoint a player from the host city/team as the captain of their respective league's team. In this year's case, Billy Butler would be the team captain, as he leads the Royals in home runs. If Billy doesn't want to do it, then he can appoint a teammate such as Mike Moustakas, who is 2nd on the team in HR. Or, if Butler couldn't actually participate, then he'd simply pick somebody to take his place with the bat, and just cheer the team on. 

That way, not only can't the fans get upset because a player from their favorite team isn't hitting, but they can't really get upset at the others on the team as their hometown boy chose them. Well, I suppose they can still get upset, but their case is drastically watered down. Besides, people will find a way to be mad, because some just love misery. But this would solve the problem we've seen at the last two Home Run Derbys, in which a player was booed because they didn't choose a hometown boy to be part of the event. 

It's certainly a better idea than trying to boost interest in the All Star Game by making it determine home field advantage in the World Seires.

2012 Major League Baseball All Star Game

The Yankees will have to win their 28th World Seried Championship without the luxury of Home Field Advantage as the National League beat up on Justin Verlander and the American League.

8-0 National League Wins!

Tonight at 7:30 pm ET on FOX we will have the latest installment of the Major League Baseball All Star Game. Just a reminder, not that anyone needs one, that this game does mean something. Like it or not this game decides who will be getting home field advantage in the World Series come this October/November.  

I fully expect American League manager from the Texas Rangers, Ron Washington, to manage this game very aggressively and trying his best to win the game. He knows what it feels like to start a game 7 of the World Series on the road and lose, as recently as last year against the Cardinals, and his team is in a great position to go to the Series for the 3rd straight season.

Just as another pointless remind the Yankees have three starters in the game and they are the only Yankees that are making the trip to Kansas City and Kauffman Stadium. Yankees SS Derek Jeter, 2B Robinson Cano, and OF Curtis Granderson are the three Yankees that are All Star's this season. CC Sabathia was named as a SP All Star but will not pitch in the game due to his groin injury. 

For a look at the full and updated rosters for the game for both sides please click here. 

Here are the lineups for the game:

AMERICAN LEAGUE 
Derek Jeter SS
Robinson Cano 2B
Josh Hamilton LF
Jose Bautista RF
Prince Fielder 1B
Adrian Beltre 3B
David Ortiz DH
Mike Napoli C
Curtis Granderson CF

RHP Justin Verlander

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Carlos Gonzalez DH
Melky Cabrera CF
Ryan Braun LF
Joey Votto 1B
Carlos Beltran RF
Buster Posey C
Pedro Sandoval 3B
Dan Uggla 2B
Rafael Furcal SS

RHP Matt Cain

My prediction is that the American League pitching will be solid and do just enough to win the game. For fun Ill throw out a score of 7-5 with the O's Jim Johnson getting the win, Padres closer Huston Street taking the loss, and Rangers closer Joe Nathan getting the save. Where am I getting those predictions from? Well this is a family blog so we will not go there :)

I just hope for the fans to be entertained, everyone to come out of the game healthy, and everyone involved having a safe and good time. Enjoy!

2012 State Farm Home Run Derby

Your 2012 Home Run Derby Champion

It is that time of the year again. It is time for the 2012 State Farm Home Run Derby. Four of the best home run hitters from both the American League and the National League will go head to head and hopefully put on a show for the fans. Our very own Robinson Cano is the team captain for the American League and the defending Home Run Derby Champion.

The Home Run Derby will begin at 8 pm ET on ESPN (which really means like 8:45 after all the "festivities" and Chris Berman rants). The Home Run Derby would not be the same without him though so I cannot complain too much. 

 Here is the field of players.

American League

NYY Robinson Cano - 0 HRs

DET Prince Fielder - 5 HRs

TOR Jose Bautista - 11 HRs

ANA Mark Trumbo - 7 HRs

National League

COL Carlos Gonzalez - 4 HRs

PIT Andrew McCutchen - 2 HRs

STL Carlos Beltran - 7 HR's 

LAD Matt Kemp - 1 HR

I am going to go ahead and put my predictions down here on paper so everyone can see just how horrible I am at predicting these sorts of thing. I am going to pick Toronto's own Joey Bats Jose Bautista to beat out Cano to represent the American League in the finals. For the National League I have Carlos Gonzalez beating out Carlos Beltran to represent the National League in the finals. In the end I think Joey Bats puts on a show and wins the 2012 State Farm Home Run Derby.

The first round totals are above. I will try and keep up with the 2nd round below but I make no promises because I have a job (blogging does not pay? what???) and have to be up in like 7 hours and we're on the 3rd batter.

Reggie Jackson Gets A Vacation

Earlier today Buster Olney reported that the Yankees have told Reggie to essentially stay away from the team. I don't think this is a permanent thing, but a way for the whole issue to blow over without it being a distraction. At least not as big a distraction as it would be if Reggie wasn't reprimanded or sent away at all.

Oh, and if you don't know what "issue" I'm referring to, then let me start off by saying "congratulations for getting out from under that rock you've been living". Then I'll refer you to my post a few days back regarding Reggie Jackson, which not only goes over what he said, but also points out a few other reasons why I'm not the biggest Reggie fan in Yankee Universe.

Michael Wilbon, of Pardon The Interruption fame, said that he doesn't agree with this action taken by the organization. He wants to hear Reggie say these things, and believes that Reggie has the right to do so. The problem with that thinking is that Jackson isn't just some former ballplayer. Brooks Robinson, and others, have spoken out against steroids in baseball, but the Human Vacuum Cleaner and those other guys aren't currently on the Yankees payroll. So there's a key difference in this story, Mr. Wilbon.

If you or I publicly talked trash about somebody at our workplace we'd be fired. I'm not sure what Jackson said merits termination from the Yankee organization, but a suspension surely fits. Even though Reggie hasn't played for the Yanks for nearly 31 years, as part of the front office he represents the team and those a part of it. And in this case he didn't do so respectfully. That may fly in places like Boston*, but not New York.

*Unfair joke? Yeah, but it's the Red Sox, so who cares?

CC Sabathia To Come Off DL July 17th

Joe Girardi announced late yesterday that CC Sabathia would be coming off the DL to pitch on July 17th against the Toronto Blue Jays.  CC was placed on the 15 day DL with a groin strain last month and will miss only two starts. The replacements have done adequately in his abscence but it is still a good feeling to have your big man, your work horse, and your ace out there every 5th day.

Yankees @ Red Sox 7/8/12

Yankees win 7-3

The last game before the All Star Break will showcase the Yankees and the Red Sox going head to head one more time, the fourth time this weekend. The Yankees have won the first two games of the series before losing one last night (Thank you Cory Wade) so this game is sort of important. The standings look a whole lot better if the Yankees can take 3/4 from the Sox rather then split the series with the rivals. All hands should be on deck as far as the bullpen goes because none of our starters or relievers will be making the trip and pitching in the all star game so they will have three days rest. I hate to say play the game like a must win but that is what I would do personally.

Ivan Nova will start for the Yankees against the Boston ace, and third straight lefty to face the Yankees, Jon Lester. The game will be televised at 8:05 pm ET on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. Everyone enjoy the last game before the break.

Lineups

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano DH
Nick Swisher RF
Andruw Jones LF
Jayson Nix 2B
Chris Stewart C

Go Yankees!!