Big Maple Landing......

The Big Maple Has Landed!!!

James Paxton is a New York Yankee, Jutus Sheffield is not. Gone too our Erik Swanson, and Dominic Thompson-Williams. Trading Sheff is a move I saw coming specially when the Yanks didn’t use him during the rough patches of 2018. Our rotation today is better then it was yesterday. Cashman still has work to do bringing in another starter and 2 pieces of the bullpen. (Possibly). Once he accomplishes that it’s time to go BiG FisH hunting. Cough cough. 

Let’s G⚾️ Yankees!!

JamesCPalma@Yahoo.Com

2019 MLB Hall of Fame Ballot

Mariano Rivera
Roy Halladay
Todd Helton
Andy Pettitte
Edgar Martinez (last chance on the ballot)
Fred McGriff (last chance on the ballot)
Barry Bonds
Roger Clemens
Mike Mussina
Curt Schilling
Manny Ramirez
Sammy Sosa
Larry Walker
Omar Vizquel
Andruw Jones
Scott Rolen
Jeff Kent
Gary Sheffield
Billy Wagner
Lance Berkman (first time ballot)
Roy Oswalt (first time ballot)
Rick Ankiel
Jason Bay
Freddy Garcia
Jon Garland
Travis Hafner
Ted Lilly
Derek Lowe
Darren Oliver
Juan Pierre
Placido Polanco
Miguel Tejada
Vernon Wells
Kevin Youkilis
Michael Young

News & Rumors Wrap-Up

Between home stuff, work, and officiating basketball, the holidays and the time leading up to them are always very hectic for me. So I tend to be quiet around here during that time unless something big happens. But I'm going to try and write a weekly news and rumors wrap-up article each week. 

"Try" being the key word here.

To begin I decided to talk about what I see as the six biggest bits of news and rumors so far this offseason. If there is something you'd like to hear me talk about now or in a future article, then let me know. 

With that said, though, you're better off emailing me (link to the side of this page) or messaging me on Twitter (@Bryan_TGP), as I don't get into the comments here very often.

So without further adieu let's jump into it...

CC Sabathia & Brett Gardner Are Re-Signed

These two signings really showed how stupid some fans can be. First, the Yankees signed Brett Gardner, and the next thing I read was outrage from some fans saying this means the Yankees are out on Bryce Harper because Gardy will be the starting left fielder for the Yankees next season.

No... it doesn't. The Yankees can afford to pay their 4th outfielder $7.5 million. Besides, there are very few players in the history of baseball that you make room for, and Bryce Harper is one of them. That doesn't mean I believe the Yankees will definitely sign Bryce, but neither Brett Gardner nor $7.5 million is going to stop them from trying to bring in a 26-year-old elite player.

The same can be said for the signing of CC Sabathia. To be fair, the outrage was certainly to a lesser extent since the Yankees need to acquire more than one starting pitcher. Most of it came from people that believe CC's signing means the Yankees won't bring back J.A. Happ. But even if the Yanks signed Patrick Corbin, there's still room in the rotation for someone such as Happ. I'm not totally sold on Happ, so I'd like to see the team do better, but the bottom line is some fans need to step back from the edge and take a second or two to think.

CC and Brett are solid players and are leaders in the clubhouse, however, they will not keep the team from making splashier moves.

Possible Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, and James Paxton Trades

Speaking of splashier moves that could be made, Yankees fans rightfully lit up when it became known that the Indians and Mariners were willing to move their star pitchers.

I have a hard time believing the Yankees could trade for Kluber or Carrasco without paying too much. The Indians won the American League Central division last season, and their only big loss to free agency is Michael Brantley. It's smart to listen to any and all offers because, regardless of who's involved, if it makes your team better that's all that matters. But the Indians are going to have to be swept away by an offer for either pitcher, and I don't believe the Yankees need to go there.

On the other hand, James Paxton seems like a good shot. Seattle may have won 89 games last season, but with the Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics in their division, making some long-term plans is likely the way to go.

Although Paxton's strikeout rates the last two years are really good, I'm not blown away by the guy. I mean, I don't think there's any guarantee that he would be among the top three starters for the Yankees going into the postseason in 2019. If the Yankees do sign Corbin you have him and Severino as locks for a postseason start in any series, then you have Tanaka, who in five postseason starts has an ERA of 1.50.

So Cashman should absolutely take a look at James, but if Seattle wants anything that could be deemed as "a lot" for the guy then forget it. Like I mentioned above, just round out the rotation with someone like J.A. Happ instead. Then again, who knows what other pitchers are available?

Gary Sanchez Out Three Months After Shoulder Surgery

I'm absolutely on board with Sanchez getting surgery. The team had tried cortisone shots last year, but the problem hasn't gone away. And since Gary more than likely will be ready for Opening Day, I see no reason to hold off on just getting the shoulder cleaned out now.

Now, is that shoulder to blame for his poor season? I suppose it could have been a contributing factor, along with his groin issues, but let's not get too excited for an easy fix. My hope is that Gary eventually returns to baseball activity in mid-February, and works his butt off both at the plate and behind it. The team can't allow him to think that getting healthy is the only thing that needs fixing.

As for a possible replacement should Sanchez not be ready on Opening Day, I'd rather just go with what's in house. Brian Cashman has already said they'd be comfortable using Romine and Higashioka. If it turns out Sanchez is going to miss a month or more of the season, then I'd like to see Cashman get a better catcher to hold down the position, but if we're talking about just a couple of weeks then don't bother wasting any resources there.

The Yankees Are Not Interested In Paul Goldschmidt

This one I can believe. Not that the Diamondbacks aren't serious about trading Goldschmidt, as they'd be stupid not to try and get something good to great before he hits free agency next offseason. It's not like Arizona is in the same spot as Cleveland, as the D-backs have a tough hill to climb to unseat the Dodgers in the NL West. Even a wild card spot will not be easy thanks to teams like the Cubs, Cardinals, Rockies, and look out for the ready-to-spend Phillies.

As sad as it's been seeing the Yankees get little to nothing from what is traditionally a productive offensive spot, I don't believe Brian Cashman should spend big for a first baseman... at least as far as trading prospects. I feel the same way about trading top prospects for corner outfielders. Those positions are typically fairly easy to fill. If the Yankees are to spend big on those areas then do it with money, which is something they have plenty of. Holding onto prospects is the biggest reason the Yankees are so close to creating another dynasty right now.

I admit that writing a lineup that includes Goldschmidt would be freakin' sweet, but since this is reality and not fantasy baseball, I agree that the Yanks should pass.

Bryce Harper Can Play First Base

I don't doubt for a second that Harper could play first base. When going over my postseason plan a little while back I mentioned that Bryce is athletic enough to play well in left field despite the fact he hasn't played on that side of the outfield in over four years. And that is true even at first base, a position that he's never played at the professional level (Baseball Reference notes he made an appearance at 1B last season, but with zero innings).

Although I don't trust Scott Boras at all, as he's just trying to say the right things to get his client as much money as possible, I can't help but believe this bit of news is important to the Yankees. It allows them to take a chance on Luke Voit being able to build off of his great run with them last season, and have a backup plan in Harper should Luke need to be benched.

Hal Steinbrenner Will Spend If It Means Winning

For a long time now I've put up with Yankees fans calling Hal "cheap". And to a point, I agree with them. The Yankees make enough money that paying the Luxury Tax is not a problem. Just consider the Luxury Tax payment as paying for a 41st man on the roster, instead of it being a penalty for spending too much. Maybe then it would be seen as a good thing, rather than bad.

The fact of the matter is professional sports are businesses. Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, Major League Soccer, etc are there to make money. Hell, contrary to what they may say, those running the National Collegiate Athletic Association are about making money too. So it's silly to get all up-in-arms when a team's owner tries to save money. Does it suck? Yeah... sometimes. But it's a fact, so we can either deal with it or give ourselves heart attacks screaming about it.

With that said, though, I 100% believe that Hal wants to win. Like the saying goes... "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree", and George Steinbrenner wanted to win as much as any other "tree" in the forest. That's not to say that he's going to approve a payroll of $300 million, but I don't think any team has to spend that much to win, either.

I firmly believe the Yankees will sign Patrick Corbin and one of Bryce Harper or Manny Machado, which alone would put them over the Luxury Tax threshold for next season. And I see them spending a little more on one of David Robertson or Zach Britton. And if they sign Machado, I could see someone like Micheal Brantley starting regularly in LF over Brett Gardner.

Hal wants to win, and he's not stupid. Even if there's something he doesn't know he has guys like Brian Cashman and Randy Levine there to inform him. Call me "naive" if you so desire, but I believe in those guys and the New York Yankees.

Now Available, Number 55...

Photo Credit: Getty Images (Patrick McDermott)

Yankee Fans await the departure of Sonny Gray…

If you listen to the so-called Yankee GM’s on Twitter, the end of the road could be near for Sonny Gray. We know he’ll be gone by the time the guys pick up their bags to head to Tampa, Florida for Spring Training in February, but the only question is when, where and for whom.  

When Sonny’s college pitching coach was on the Milwaukee Brewers coaching staff, there were lots of trade speculation with the Brewers. Now that the coach (Derek Johnson, formerly pitching coach of Vanderbilt) has moved on to the Cincinnati Reds in the same capacity, the Reds have become the “favored” trade target for the Twitter GM’s. I am sure Yankees GM Brian Cashman is talking to the Reds, as reported by the real insiders, but he’s talking with other teams too. I have no doubt Sonny Gray will perform better in a less-pressurized environment. We’ve seen it with the guys traded to Pittsburgh in recent years (most notably A.J. Burnett and Ivan Nova).  

When the Reds are mentioned as a Gray destination, the name of Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett repeatedly comes up. If the Yankees are successful in acquiring the left-handed bat of Gennett, it is going to take more than Sonny Gray to make it happen. Gennett is only 28 years old, and has had great numbers the last two years, but he is a free agent after the 2019 season. I’ve heard people nix the thought of trading for Arizona’s premier first baseman Paul Goldschmidt because of his impending free agency next off-season. Not sure why you’d trade a talented Gray for short-term assets. Gennett’s productive bat would slot nicely into the Yankees lineup, but I just don’t think he is part of a Gray trade unless the team is willing to let go of some top prospects too. 

Photo Credit: Getty Images (Jamie Sabau)

One writer mentioned 2B/SS Jeter Downs as an option but young Downs is only 20 years old and while drafted in the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft (32nd pick), he has not played higher than Single A and is not ready to help in the immediate future. But, of course, you’ve got to like the name considering he was named for the Yankees future Hall of Fame shortstop. Still, I don’t see the Reds parting with one of their top prospects for Gray unless the Yankees sweeten the pot on their end.

The Oakland A’s and San Diego Padres are other teams mentioned, but there are others. While some have speculated Cashman’s return for Gray could be better than expected, I am anticipating it will be for minor league names that may or may not have heard of before. When you try to sell an asset, it’s generally not a good idea to tell the world how poorly it performs. I know that Cashman sells Gray’s upside in phone conversations with other GM’s, but he certainly has not avoided negative comments in his talks with the media. Nothing like giving a player a chip on his shoulder.

I am trying to keep expectations low for Gray’s return. I’d prefer not to see him go to a team the Yankees could potentially see in the playoffs, such as the A’s. I fully expect Gray to become the pitcher he once was when he exits the main stage in New York. He’ll also be a pitcher with an axe to grind given the disparaging words by our own general manager. While I don’t think Gray is a pitcher for the Big Apple, I won’t easily dismiss him when he is playing in another uniform. He will be a formidable foe in the future. There were some jokes that the Yankees should trade Gray to Oakland for Dustin Fowler, Jorge Mateo, and James Kaprielian. Regardless of where he goes, we have to be prepared that he’ll pitch more like the ace he once was in Oakland.  

The next milestone date for Major League Baseball is Tuesday when MLB 40-man rosters must be set in advance of December’s Rule 5 Draft. After November 20th, additions to the 40-man roster can only be made through trades and free agent acquisitions. With Tuesday’s roster deadline, there will be a flurry of activity as teams move to protect their best Rule 5-eligible prospects. The Rule 5 Draft is held on the Thursday (final day) of the Baseball Winter Meetings which will be December 13th in Las Vegas, NV this year.  

Most people are speculating the Yankees will trade Gray before they begin aggressive pursuit of other pitching options like Patrick Corbin, J.A. Happ, James Paxton or Nathan Eovaldi. With its potential impact on the 40-man roster, it’s possible we could see Gray moved within the next couple of days. Otherwise, I think we’re going to have to be a little more patient and may not see anything until after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  

On the bright side for whomever pulls on #55 next, the most recent guy to wear it is former Yankees great Hideki Matsui. Godzilla wore the number on the recently completed MLB All-Star Series in Japan as first base coach for MLB All-Star Team Manager Don Mattingly.  

Photo Credit: AP (Toru Takahashi)

Speaking of pitching, MLB.com posted a column this week about the potential 2019 rookies of the year for each team. For the Yankees, Justus Sheffield was the choice. Per the column written by Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Mike Rosenbaum for MLB.com, “The Yankees’ greatest need is starting pitching, and Sheffield should crack the Opening Day rotation.  His fastball, slider and changeup all can be three plus pitches, so it won’t be a shock if he’s New York’s second-best starter after Luis Severino”.  That’s probably a little more aggressive than my expectation heading into the new season. So long as he’s not included in a trade for a top starting pitcher, I don’t think Sheffield grabs a spot in the rotation out of Spring Training. I think CC Sabathia is holding the spot Sheffield will take when he’s ready. My expectation is the Yankees will acquire at least two starting pitchers this winter which will delay Top Sheff’s arrival. I hope Sheffield comes to Spring Training and absolutely dominates but I don not really think it will happen…yet. For the top four spots in the rotation, the Yankees need certainty and reliability. It’s great that CC Sabathia is back, but the team should not pin its 2019 hopes on his arm or his bum knee. He’ll be a year older and closer to the inevitable end of the line. I know it’s his last year, but there are no guarantees he’ll pitch like he did last season. He’ll be 39 next summer and he is not exactly in “Mariano Rivera-like” condition. Maybe he pitches solidly throughout the year, but then again, the end could come suddenly and without warning. The Yankees do not need more than one question mark in the rotation if they intend to de-throne the Champions.  

Former Yankees managerial candidate Chris Woodward, recently named as the new manager for the Texas Rangers, has appointed a new pitching coach for the Rangers who has Yankee roots. Julio Rangel, most recently a minor league pitching coordinator for the San Francisco Giants, spent six years in the Yankees farm system from 1994 through 2000 but only made it as high as Double A. Still, he’s a Yankee by birth and I wish him the best for his first job as a Major League pitching coach. 

I think November is probably my least favorite month as a blog writer. There really isn’t much happening and just lots of speculation, ranging reasonable to absolute ridiculousness. But it is the calm before the storm as we are only a few weeks away from all hell breaking loose with the Baseball Winter Meetings. January tends to be quiet but at least by that time, we’ll have shiny new toys on the roster we can talk about and get excited about the approaching call of Spring Training.  

There are two MAJOR free agents available right now…genuine superstars and potential future Hall of Famers…but frankly, I am tired of hearing their names and refuse to write them with this post. If the Yankees sign one of them, great. If not, life goes on. I know one thing for sure, the Yankees roster in January will be much stronger than it is today. Until then, let’s enjoy some turkey and gravy, and spend quality time with our families.

As always, Go Yankees!

IBWAA SELECTS DEGROM, SNELL IN CY VOTE

Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the winners in its Cy Young category Wednesday, with the Tampa Bay Rays’ Blake Snell winning the group’s American League prize, and Jacob deGrom, of the New York Mets, being selected in the National League vote.

 

This is the tenth annual election for the IBWAA in the Cy category.

 

Election results are as follows:

 

AL Cy Young:

 

1^st Place:                  Blake Snell, Tampa Bay Rays – 731 points
2^nd Place:                 Justin Verlander, Houston Astros – 462
3^rd Place:                  Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox – 336

4^th Place:                 Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians – 298

5^th Place:                 Gerrit Cole, Houston Astros – 150

 

NL Cy Young:

 

1^st Place:                  Jacob deGrom, New York Mets – 828 points
2^nd Place:                 Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals – 564 
3^rd Place:                  Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies – 389

4^th Place:                 Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies – 155

5^th Place:                 Patrick Corbin, Arizona Diamondbacks – 92

 

Ballot tabulations by Brian Wittig & Associates, using the Borda Method.

 

The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as a digital alternative to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). Voting for full season awards takes place in September of each year, with selections being announced in November. The IBWAA also holds a Hall of Fame election in December of each year, with results being announced the following January.

 

Among others, IBWAA members include Jim Bowden, Pedro Moura, Ken Rosenthal and Eno Sarris, The Athletic; Tim Brown, Yahoo! Sports; Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports Hardball Talk; Bill Chuck, Billy-Ball.com; Chris De Luca, Chicago Sun-Times; Jon Heyman, Fancred; Tyler Kepner, New York Times; Danny Knobler, Bleacher Report; Kevin Kennedy; Kostya Kennedy, Sports Illustrated; Brian Kenny, MLBN; Will Leitch, New York Magazine; Bruce Markusen, Hardball Times; Ross Newhan; Dayn Perry and Matt Snyder, CBSSports.com; Tom Hoffarth, Los Angeles Times; J.P. Hoornstra Los Angeles Daily News; Tracy Ringolsby, MLB.com; David Schoenfield, ESPN.com; and Bill Arnold.

 

Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a $75 lifetime fee. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available. Members must be 18 years of age to apply.

For more information please visit www.ibwaa.com.

Contact:

 

Howard Cole
Founding Director, IBWAAbaseballsavvy@aol.com

2018 World Series Champions: The Boston Red Sox...

Photo Credit: Getty Images (Bob Levey)

Equates to VICTORY for Julia, not me...

I am writing this as a result of a lost bet with a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan named Julia (@werbiefitz). During the recent World Series, I took the side of my favorite National League team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, while Julia stayed with the team she has stood with since her childhood, the Boston Red Sox. The loser of the bet (which turned out to be me) was forced to read a book chosen by the winner. Upon completion of reading the book, the loser was required to write an essay about the ten things they learned from the book. Not a book review, that wasn’t really the point of the exercise, but rather how did the book affect you.  

The Red Sox won the 2018 World Series in five games to cap an incredible season which saw the team win a franchise high 108 games during the regular season. It represented the fourth World Series Championship for Julia since the Curse of the Bambino was broken in 2004. For me, it was a tough post-season. My favorite team, the New York Yankees, won 100 games but were eliminated in the ALDS by the Red Sox. Then, my favorite NL team gave me second life. A renewed opportunity to take down the mighty Red Sox. It was not meant to be and I suffered two heart-breaking series losses to Boston in the same October. Victory to Julia, and some book reading and an essay for me. I also had to change my FaceBook cover photo to one showing the Red Sox celebration for one week upon conclusion of the World Series.

The book Julia chose for me was Shut Out: A Story of Race and Baseball in Boston by Howard Bryant. At first glance, it would be easy to find the negatives in the book about the city of Boston and the Red Sox franchise, but admittedly, I found this a story of redemption.  

I was shocked almost from the start when I found out the Red Sox had the first opportunity in Major League Baseball to sign the great Jackie Robinson on April 16, 1945 but passed due in large part to racism that existed within the fabric of the franchise. I didn’t know former Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey but I do know that he hired his drinking buddies to hold key executive positions within the franchise and their racist beliefs prevented potential Red Sox teams that could have featured Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays and Ted Williams in the same lineup. It’s scary to think what the trio would have been capable of together. They certainly would have had a say in the great Yankees Dynasty of the 1950’s.  

I qualify this book as focused on the Red Sox but to believe that racism did not occur within the halls of other MLB organizations, including the New York Yankees, would be very wrong. Even the Dodgers organization, as the first team to feature a black player on its roster in 1947, was later marred by the racist words of their former General Manager, Al Campanis, who was fired in 1987.  The book briefly mentioned Elston Howard, who was the first and sadly only black player on the Yankee rosters for years during the 1950’s. Howard later played for the Red Sox.  

Tom Yawkey purchased the Red Sox in 1933. Yawkey had admired Eddie Collins, a former second baseman with the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox, and appointed him as the team’s vice president and general manager when he took over control of the team. Collins had been with the White Sox during the infamous Black Sox scandal of 1919 when they threw the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds but Collins had been cleared of any wrongdoing. In 1935, Yawkey traded for Washington Nationals shortstop Joe Cronin, developing close friendships with both Collins and Cronin. From basically 1933 through 1958, Collins and/or Cronin controlled all player movement within the Red Sox organization. With these two men, I believe, Yawkey tarnished his legacy. Whether he was racist or not is not really the point, he allowed racism to exist to the detriment of the city and the franchise and that makes him responsible.   

After passing on Jackie Robinson in 1945, the Red Sox had a unique opportunity to sign Willie Mays four years later due to an exclusive lease arrangement that existed between a Red Sox affiliate, the Birmingham Barons, and the Negro League’s Black Barons. Cronin, by that time the GM for the Red Sox, had been tipped off about the incredible talents of the 18-year-old Mays and he sent a reluctant and racist scout to Alabama to watch Mays. According to stories, it rained for three days and the scout sent the Red Sox front office a negative review, perhaps without ever laying eyes on the legendary Say Hey Kid. It was another missed opportunity for the Red Sox, although I am sure the New York/San Francisco Giants didn’t mind.  

The Red Sox were the last Major League Baseball team to add a black player to its roster. While the rest of the Major League teams were slowly starting to integrate, it would take the Red Sox over a decade before they would finally add a person of color to their team. Elijah “Pumpsie” Green, Jr. was born in Richmond, CA (East Bay near Oakland) in 1935. His brother, Cornell, someone I’ve been aware of since my childhood, was a star defensive back for the Dallas Cowboys. However, I never knew who Pumpsie Green was until reading the book. Fighting through racism within the organization and at the team’s training facility in Scottsdale, Arizona, Green believed that he was going to open the 1959 season as the first black player for the Red Sox. At the eleventh hour, one of the noted racists within the Red Sox organization, manager Mike “Pinky” Higgins demoted Green to the minor leagues. Fortunately, it would prove to be a temporary decision. Higgins was fired 73 games into the ’59 season and replaced by Bill Jurges.  By that time, Eddie Collins was dead and Joe Cronin had left the Red Sox to become President of the American League. Green finally got the call to join the Red Sox later during the summer and on July 21, 1959, Pumpsie became the first African American player to take the field for the Red Sox when he was inserted as a pinch-runner for Vic Wertz and stayed in the game to play shortstop in Boston’s 2-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox. After the game, Green wept in the clubhouse. I cannot begin to imagine the emotions he must have felt that day.   

On a side note about Pumpsie Green, Red Sox Hall of Famer Ted Williams routinely warmed up with Green before games. It became a superstition for Ted but for Pumpsie, he remembered Williams as one of few who treated him both as a ballplayer and a man. I personally haven’t followed Red Sox history, but the way Williams approached Green gives me newfound respect for the Hall of Famer.  

Photo Credit: AP

Pitcher Earl Wilson might have been the first African American player for the Red Sox if not for a two-year military commitment. Originally drafted as a catcher, Wilson blossomed as a hard-throwing pitcher and roomed with Pumpsie Green for a time. But for Wilson, the Red Sox years were hard ones. After the ’59 season was over, Tom Yawkey fired Billy Jurges and restored the racist Pinky Higgins as manager. As their careers moved into the early 1960’s, Green’s career was quietly coming to a close (the lack of consistent playing time prevented him from realizing his potential) while Wilson was becoming more prominent. In 1962, Wilson (12-8, 3.90 ERA) threw a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Angels. 

Photo Credit: AP

When Yawkey fired Higgins as manager in 1962, Wilson felt Yawkey was finally opening his eyes to what a divisive man Higgins had been. Unfortunately, Yawkey surprised everyone by making Higgins his general manager.  Higgins was the GM in June 1965 when the Red Sox traded Earl Wilson to the Detroit Tigers along with Joe Christopher for Don Demeter and Julio Navarro. Wilson won 22 games for the 1967 Tigers, although the Tigers finished a game behind The Impossible Dream Red Sox that year, and he accumulated 338 victories overall for his career. Although Wilson lost Game 3 of the Series, he celebrated a World Series Championship with the Tigers in 1968. It’s sad that a pitcher primed for tremendous MLB success in Boston saw his greatest days in Detroit.  

In a twist of irony, Tom Yawkey fired Pinky Higgins as GM on September 16, 1965, the same day Red Sox pitcher Dave Morehead tossed a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians. After his firing, while in Louisiana, Higgins drove his car into a group of black highway workers. He killed one man, a white World War II veteran and injured three others. He was charged with driving while intoxicated and sentenced to four years. However, he was paroled after serving only two months in 1969. But just two days after his release, Higgins dropped dead from a heart attack. As Earl Wilson would say while in Detroit when asked to comment on his former manager, “Good things happen to some people”. 

I was appalled to learn that The Elks Club, as recently as the 1980’s, condoned racism. The Elks Club in Winter Haven, FL, the site of Red Sox spring training at the time would issue invitations to white players, but not the blacks. Growing up in the Midwest in the 70's, my step father was an active member of The Elks Club and served as the Exalted Ruler for the local chapter in my hometown in 1978. I was unaware the organization condoned racism and I am deeply saddened to have been connected to such a pitiful organization. I may have been a kid but I feel a responsibility that I should have known better. I only hope that my step-father's chapter did not practice racism like the Winter Haven chapter did. My mother and step-father have passed away so it is not a discussion I can have with them.  

To back up a little, I vividly recall when Jim Rice and Fred Lynn burst onto the Major League scene for Boston in the mid-70's. They were great players from the start.  Living far away in the Midwest, I didn't see how the players were treated differently in their own city. Jim Rice, backed by his superior talent, had the power to be a major voice for the black community but it wasn't his personality.  He was introspective and to the media, he was unfriendly and considered sullen. I know Rice has gotten into tiffs with Derek Jeter and CC Sabathia over the years for whatever reasons, but I am not trying to indict the man. He was an incredible ball player. In a career spent entirely in Boston, Rice hit 382 home runs and drove in 1,451 runs. His career batting average was a healthy .298 and he had 2,452 hits in a career that spanned from 1974 to 1989. He was an eight-time All Star, AL MVP in the Bucky "F**king" Dent year of 1978, a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, three-time AL home run leader, and two-time AL RBI leader. Yet, his number (14) was not retired by the Red Sox until two days after his Hall of Fame induction in July 2009. No one wore the number after his retirement but still, Rice is among the Red Sox Legends and deserved better treatment. Rice was charitable and a humanitarian. I think he is misunderstood because of his personality and I'd like to think he could have done more to help pave the way for black players in Boston, but there is no denying the man was one of the best in the history of the Red Sox to pick up a glove, bat and ball.  Noted baseball columnist Peter Gammons believed history would have been significantly different had Rice taken an active role in voicing his thoughts about the climate and culture of the Red Sox organization. To Rice's defense, I'll use this quote from the book's author: "Had Rice been white, he would have been lauded as a modern-day Gil Hodges: strong, silent, important. Being black, though, meant Rice was moody, arrogant and distant."  These words prove to me that I have absolutely no idea what it was like to walk in Jim Rice's shoes.  

Photo Credit: Boston Globe (Stan Grossfeld)

The next great superstar in the Red Sox organization was slugger Mo Vaughn. He was drafted in Rice's last year in 1989. For an organization that had featured so many outsiders over the years, Vaughn was a New Englander. He was from Norwalk, CT and had frequently visited Boston while growing up.  He was hailed as the first local Red Sox star since Carlton Fisk. As a Yankees fan, I despised Vaughn coming to the plate, much like how I'd later feel about David “Big Papi” Ortiz or more recently, Mookie Betts. These men knew/know how to use Fenway Park to their full advantage. 

Vaughn was the AL Most Valuable Player in 1995.  The city of Boston accepted Vaughn as their own and he was able to transcend the issue of race in his city.  Vaughn loved the city of Boston and wanted to spend his entire career there. The GM at the time, Dan Duquette, brought an era of diversity to the Red Sox. He corrected many of the wrongs committed by previous regimes and reconnected with former black players like Tommy Harper, Dave Henderson, Reggie Smith, and Jim Rice. But for all his positives, Duquette had his faults. He had a reputation of being difficult to work with and he frustrated those who worked for him. The relationship between Duquette and Vaughn became irreparable in 1998 when Vaughn was led to believe that he would be offered four-year contract for approximately $42 million (Peter Gammons believed they had reached agreement). Yet, when the offer came, it was only two years for $17 million. Using the media, the Red Sox orchestrated a smear campaign on the popular Vaughn. Vaughn had put together six monster years for the Red Sox, but on November 25, 1998 as a free agent, he left the team to sign a six-year, $80 million contract with the Anaheim Angels. It was a sad day for Boston and for Baseball in general. Vaughn was not a So-Cal kind of guy. He was a New Englander who should have called Fenway Park home for his entire career. I certainly do not feel that Dan Duquette is a racist but this might have been one of the saddest stories while reading the book.  

On February 22, 2002, the legacy of Tom Yawkey was ended when John Harrington sold the club to an ownership group led by John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino. It brought much needed closure for the Yawkey Era, and it set the Red Sox on a path that has yielded four World Series championships in fourteen years. Before reading the book, I am not sure that I fully understood the huge impact John Henry has had on the Red Sox organization and how he has, through actions and not just words, rebranded the Red Sox organization into an exemplary model of professionalism and class. Well, maybe not for Yankee fans like me, but the current ownership group should be applauded for making a difference.  

As Julia pointed out to me, while the history of the Red Sox organization wasn't always pretty, the other Boston sports franchises were ground-breakers with integration. Willie O'Ree is referred to as the "Jackie Robinson of ice hockey" (the first black player in the NHL). He made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins on January 18, 1958. Chuck Cooper became the first black player drafted in the NBA when he was selected with the first pick in the second round of the 1950 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. Legendary Celtics coach/executive Red Auerbach put together the NBA's first all-black starting five in 1964. In the inaugural American Football League draft in 1960, the Boston Patriots selected running back Ron Burton in the first round as their first-ever pick. Rommie Loudd became the AFL's first black coach when he was named linebackers coach for the Patriots in 1966. Loudd later became the first black top executive in major league sports as the owner of the World Football League's Florida Blazers in 1974.

There is so much more to the book than I've touched on with this short essay. Racism continues to be a big part of our everyday life in 2018 and it must stop. We've made some progress, but we are not where we need to be. We live in a current climate of hatred and blame which allows racism to survive. If I have one wish, it is a hope and prayer I live to see the end of racism as we know it. Even this week, there were reports out of the Seattle Mariners organization that their former Director of High Performance, Dr. Lorena Martin, has made allegations of derogatory comments made by GM Jerry DiPoto, Manager Scott Servais, and Director of Player Development Andy McKay with racial and sexist overtones. Maybe it is a case of a disgruntled former employee, but maybe it is not. Where there's smoke, there's generally fire. If true, this is unacceptable behavior that cannot be tolerated. I think all of us want a better tomorrow for our children and their children. The work to make it happen starts here.  No looking back, the focus should be on now and the future, and how we can help each other be successful and live meaningful, rewarding lives.  As they say, none of us are getting out of here alive.  We should live these days to the best of our ability and to share love and happiness around the World.  

That’s a wrap. While I wish that I had won the bet with Julia, I learned a great deal from the book and hopefully I can be a better person as a result. Enjoy your World Series championship, Julia. Your team earned it. But rest assured, the New York Yankees will be back, stronger than ever in 2019.  Until next time…

OFFSEASON RECAP: Welcome Back, Get Caught Up

Hello again Yankees family. This offseason, as I have been doing for a couple offseason’s now, saw me take a bit of a break after the season. Refresh the batteries, keep me sane, whatever. LOL. Either way, you have my apologies for being “pathetic” and for missing five days of rumors, and no real subsequent news of any capacity. Sorry. Let’s get caught back up.

Miguel Andujar finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year Award balloting behind the Angels star Shohei Ohtani. Gleyber Torres finished third. Honestly, I feel like Andujar got robbed and should have won the award, but I don’t mean that to discredit what Ohtani does. When someone can say, for good reason anyway, that this is the first time something has happened since Babe Ruth… I’m sorry, but people take notice. When I submitted by IBWAA awards ballot I had Ohtani third, some called it bias, others called it being a homer, but I called it my opinion. I think if you look at the stats that Ohtani was the third best rookie. If you think differently and want a vote, create a blog or a publication, pay your dues, and apply for an IBWAA membership. One thing I will make mention of, though, is Baseball Reference’s formula for WAR. Ohtani’s 2018 WAR was 3.9 while Andujar’s was 2.2. With Ohtani playing DH a ton and pitching I feel like WAR was the only, and the fairest, way to judge and compare these two players… and that number would explain the landslide in the voting, so I feel like I am not alone here.

Dallas Keuchel will shave his beard to be a Yankee. Cool. I guess this is one of the rumors I missed and declined to talk about, because this site has always kind of done it their own way and refused to simply recycle the same garbage as everyone else does. That’s likely what drew you here, but for some reason… now it’s different.

Bryce Harper turned down 10-years and $300 million from the Nationals before the end of the season. Okay. Maybe he wanted to test free agency? Maybe he doesn’t want to play in Washington? Maybe Scott Boras made him? It’s not news, it’s speculation, and it has no bearing on his free agency goals this winter until we hear from either him, another team with actual information, or his agent otherwise. Not news. Neither was the fact that he got offered to the Houston Astros in a trade last July. The Yankees say there is no chance he will sign here, but neither would Johnny Damon, Bubba Crosby is out starting center fielder, blah blah blah. Why would Brian Cashman show his hand now? Why would he bid against himself? I’ll answer that, he wouldn’t.

The Yankees requested medicals on Manny Machado as well as backgrounds information. That’s news. I bet they did on Patrick Corbin, Adam Ottavino, Bryce Harper, and a slew of others… but that never made the news. It doesn’t mean a signing is imminent, it means that Cashman is doing his due diligence, and his job. WHEN it becomes more than that, I will be here to speak on it. Trust me.

News on Patrick Corbin and the Yankees, aside from Cashman mentioning his agent by name (still not news, hence why it wasn’t reported… because I don’t feel the need to post garbage just for views and clicks), has been hard to come by. Isn’t that kind of Cashman’s thing? When all is quiet on the western front, that is when the players are generally signed or acquired. I expect Corbin to be with the Yankees before, or during, the Winter Meetings.

The Yankees are interested in James Paxton. Awesome. This is an arm that Cashman has coveted since the lefty broke into the league, or that’s the way it feels anyway. Would I give up a top 3 prospect for him? I’d personally be reluctant to do so, but I would get it if the Yankees did. I would just hate to give up on Justus Sheffield while he is on the cusp of the Major League level for a Major League starter that would come with less control and more dollars attached to him. Especially if we got similar or comparable production. That’s why I wouldn’t trade Sheffield for a guy like Paxton, Madison Bumgarner, etc., but I would ship him up myself for someone with team control like Carlos Carrasco and Jacob deGrom. Paxton is great, don’t get me wrong, but his injuries, and a potential bidding war with the Houston Astros, scares me.

Sonny Gray is still a Yankee.

Corey Kluber also scares me, his velocity is down, and his walks are up and all the other stuff you have read all over the internet while I was being pathetic. The thing is though, the window to win in the Bronx is now (it is wider than just now, but the team is expected to win in 2019… no more excuses), and Kluber helps the Yankees win now. Kluber helps the Yankees win next year. Kluber likely helps the Yankees win throughout the remainder of his contract. As a prospect humper I suggest trading a top prospect or two for Kluber. Sheffield and Florial? Reluctantly, I’d do it. Loaisiga and Florial? I’d wrap a bow around them myself and welcome Kluber in with open arms. These types of trades hurt, but that is because they generally work for the better. Oh, and the Indians don’t need a third baseman… so please stop offering Miguel Andujar in the trade (or in any trade, but I digress). Stop offering up Giancarlo Stanton in trades as well. He has never said he would or that he wanted to go to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he ultimately controls his fate. He came here because he wanted to be here, and one year in the Bronx is not likely to change that.

I’m sure I missed something, but that will do for now. Love you guys, and I have missed you terribly. Now, let’s get to work.

The Bidding for James Paxton Begins...

Photo Credit: The Canadian Press (Fred Thornhill)

Will Paxton join Gerrit Cole in Houston?…

Last year, the Yankees missed an opportunity to acquire top starting pitcher Gerrit Cole from the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Houston Astros swooped in to grab the talented righty. It’s possible that the Yankees could be outdone by the Astros for the second consecutive year. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic tweeted this morning that Houston is in on the potential trade  talks for James Paxton of the Seattle Mariners along with the Yankees and other clubs.  

I wanted Cole last winter although a number of Yankee fans did not. Honestly, it’s unlikely Cole would have pitched as well in the Bronx as he did in Houston so perhaps the opposing fans were right. This is a new year, and now the trade speculation is on Paxton, Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco. My initial desire is to place Kluber at the top of the list, but the more you think about it, the less likely you feel the Cleveland Indians would actually move their aces. The Indians remain a contending team so unless it is a serious overpay, the Tribe is not going to part with Kluber or Carrasco. So it leaves Paxton as potentially the best available trade target assuming the Mariners decide to move him. Seattle GM Jerry DiPoto is, of course, very unpredictable but the Yankees and Mariners have matched up for lesser deals in recent years so there is history of successful negotiations. I have no doubt DiPoto would trade within division for the right mix of players so Houston is a serious threat for the Yankees if they identify Paxton as the guy they want. The Astros may lose Charlie Morton to free agency and they’ve already lost Lance McCullers, Jr for the 2019 season due to Tommy John surgery. So the Astros are just as motivated to add top starters as the Yankees.  

As much as I like Paxton, he is not someone I would trade Miguel Andujar for (or Estevan Florial or Justus Sheffield for that matter).  Kluber or Carrasco, yes, but not Paxton. Paxton carries much greater risk with his inability to stay healthy. So, as much as I would hate to get punked by the Astros again and as much as I’d like Paxton on the staff, there is a price I’d draw a line. If Houston wants to overpay, let them.  If GM Brian Cashman can get Paxton at his price, great. I’ll be excited to see Paxton join the Yankees starting rotation…with Miguel Andujar continuing to field grounders at third in Yankee Stadium.  

A pic of a shaved Dallas Keuchel has been floating the Internet with talk about how the “beardless” one would look in the Bronx.  

With no offense to Keuchel, I don’t really want to see him in the Bronx. I know he’s been tough on the Yankees over the years but I cannot find myself with the desire to root for him.  Keuchel will only be 31 when the season begins, however, I think Keuchel and Patrick Corbin are on opposite trajectories for their 30’s. Corbin, like fine wine, stands a much better chance of aging well. If the Yankees miss out on Corbin and others, it is possible they have to make a run at Keuchel but I really hope that’s a potential option which never comes to fruition. Bring me Corbin and J.A. Happ and I’ll be happy.

Trying to brace myself for the possibility the Yankees pass on the big ticket purchases this winter, I think Marwin Gonzalez and Jurickson Profar represent the best options for the infield to help cover for the loss of Didi Gregorius. I’ve liked Daniel Murphy in the past but I don’t feel he really fits the Yankees at this stage in his career. Both Gonzalez and Profar have positional diversity which makes them very valuable with the current group of Yankees. Who knows, maybe this is the year Tyler Wade puts it together to launch his Major League career in full force. It’s not really a bet I’d make but it is not my team or my money. Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner is on record that he is tired of lining the pockets of other owners and it’s his right to make the financial decisions in the best interests of the Steinbrenner Family. I think most of us thought the Yankees were positioning themselves for a big splash into the 2018-19 free agent market but the reality is that we need to be prepared for Team Fiscal Restraint. I am hopeful Hal sees the potential salary relief when guys like Jacoby Ellsbury come off the books in just a couple of years but we’ll see.  

It was tough in years past to see the Yankees pass on the big name free agents. Max Scherzer stands out as one. At the time of his free agency, the Yankees were cited as one of the favorites to sign him. They didn’t and Scherzer moved from Detroit to Washington and has continued to pitch at an elite level. Even if the Yankees weren’t ready to add an elite pitcher at the time of Scherzer’s availability, he’d certainly look fantastic in the starting rotation today. The price would have meant the inability to bring payroll under the luxury tax threshold this year so the decision to pass on Scherzer remains debatable. It’s amazing how the decision to sign Jacoby Ellsbury has haunted the Yankees for so many years. I guess that’s a strong argument for not going hog wild in the current free agent market.  

Before I close, I’d like to send out our prayers and thoughts to all those affected by the wildfires in Northern and Southern California. For some, there will never be recovery. I hope the fires are brought under control soon and we suffer no further loss of life. For those of you in California, please stay safe.

View of Malibu from Santa Monica Pier

Lastly, Happy Veteran’s Day! We can never forget those who served and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to maintain our freedom. Today, and every day, we honor you.

As always, Go Yankees!