State of the Yankees

The 2013 Yankees: Why A-Rod, Teixeira, and Granderson Need to Stay Away

 

 

 

Before the 2013 season started Yankee fans were up in arms over some of the signings made by the team. Vernon Wells? What the hell do we need him for? Travis Hafner? Don’t we have enough injuries? Kevin Youkilis???? This is a joke right? Is this really happening? He’s the enemy!!!! Then the season started and the Yankees lost 2 of 3 to the hated Red Sox. That’s all the vindication the fans needed. End the season now, there’s no reason to play another 160 games, this team is pathetic and dead in the water. Since that point though the team has gone 8-3 and is showing signs of a team that is in it for the long haul. The fans? They’re back on the bandwagon in full force ready to cheer this team into the World Series. Funny, who would have thought a New York fan base would overreact? No one saw that coming.

These 2013 Yankees aren’t your Daddy’s Yankees, hell, they aren’t even your little brother’s 2012 Yankees, and that is a very, very good thing. These new additions are playing with a chip on their shoulder, eager to prove they still have what it takes to perform at the big league level on an everyday basis. Same goes for Francisco Cervelli, a Yankee veteran but a guy trying to prove he can be a starter in this league despite the fact that he isn’t going to put up huge numbers. He’s been around this team, he knows the pitchers, and all he needed was a chance. This effect of trying to prove something and grinding out at bats is rubbing off on the rest of the team and is making this group a fun one to watch.

Another big difference between this team and ones of years past is the home run dependency. Sure, the ability to hit the long ball isn’t lost on this group but they can put crooked numbers up on the board by stealing bases, playing small ball, and driving pitches into the gap as opposed to the upper deck. And therein lies the rub. When Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, and Curtis Granderson return it completely changes the dynamic and makeup of this team.

Alex Rodriguez at this point, to Yankee fans, doesn’t even exist. This is pure speculation (wink wink) but he’s breaking down with injuries and not putting up typical Alex Rodriguez numbers because he stopped juicing and using performance enhancers. Besides all that and despite the fact that he was a big part of the 2009 World Series win he can’t escape Derek Jeter’s shadow and will never live up to his standards despite superior numbers, and even though he would never admit it, it eats him alive and he made a mistake staying here as long as he has. Rodriguez has a reputation of not being comfortable in his own skin and trying desperately to have everyone like him, and here in New York, even if you help win us a World Series, you’re not going to get a pass forever.

Mark Teixeira is a wizard defensively at first base there’s no denying that. There’s also no denying that he can hit monster home runs to sections of seats other wish they could hit, but on offense his at bats result in walks, home runs, or strikeouts. He’s Adam Dunn with a glove. He is a switch hitter but most at bats come from the left side and at Yankee Stadium all that means is eyes bulging out his head staring down that short porch in right field. He fell in love with the long ball and his game has suffered because of it. Same goes for Curtis Granderson, the same guy who in 2007 became only the 7^th player ever to hit 20 doubles, 20 triples, and 20 home runs in the same season (Jimmy Rollins also achieved this feat the same season). Yes there’s a big difference between Comerica Park and Yankee Stadium but Granderson too fell in love with the long ball. Although unlike Teixeira his at bats usually don’t result in the occasional walk, only home runs or strikeouts.

Adding these players, despite the money they are being paid, to a lineup that excels at what they fail at is a recipe for disaster. If the Yankees were smart they would look to trade Granderson yesterday. He can bring back some value and a change of scenery will do wonders for him. He is a classy guy who says and does all the right things, that can’t be taken away from him, but in order for him to be great once again, he needs to go. Getting rid of Teixeira and Rodriguez is a pipe dream. They’re stuck here and will eat up at bats this season and in future seasons from guys who deserve them more and would be better suited to help this team win but so is the life of a Yankee fan nowadays. Too much money doled out for too little in return.

Shipping Up To Boston

Shipping Up To Boston

 

 

 

As a New Yorker and a Yankee fan I will be the first to admit I’ve had my fair share of moments where the hatred for the sports teams of the city of Boston has overtaken me and I’ve said things that are unfit to print. However, events like those that occurred yesterday help remind all of us that despite sports allegiances, city allegiances, and state pride, what matters most is the allegiance to each other as people. Boston, like New York is a wonderful city in this country. There are so many similarities between our attitudes, our upbringings, and most importantly our fighting spirits that never allow us to cower or get down when adversity strikes. Maybe in the grand scheme of things that’s why we feel the way we do about each other, we’re exactly the same and we don’t like it.

For as long as I could remember Patriots Day and the Boston Marathon have always been one of my favorite days as both a sports fan and as an American. Watching the 11:05 Red Sox game and keeping tabs on the Boston Marathon happenings were a beloved pastime. They still will be in the future but I will no longer be able to think about it without first recalling the bombings of yesterday. Patriots Day and the Boston Marathon are supposed to be happy times when we realize spring is here and summer is right around the corner. Damn those responsible for tarnishing what we had.

Yesterday’s events were plain and simple acts of terrorism. There are no two ways about it. Whether those acts were foreign or domestic we’re unsure of at the moment but it goes without saying that regardless the outcome, we as Americans will not let it break us.

Unfortunately with the world we currently live in there is always going to be that threat and in the back of our minds whatever huge gatherings we attend as sports fans, music lovers, or anything else we as society flock towards in masses, we will be wondering if something will happen. Terrorism is always going to exist but terrorists are nothing compared to the massive numbers of good hearted people who will do whatever it takes to help others and stand united against the threats against us.

Too many innocent lives have been lost because of acts of terrorism and too many more will be lost in the future but always remember we are fighters, our spirits cannot be broken, and good will always far outnumber evil. With that said, I’m now going to pull up a stool at Warren Tavern, order myself a Sam Adams, and drink to the lives lost and those severely injured yesterday. I’m not even going to end this by saying “Stay Strong Beantown” because we all know you will.

The NL East Arms Race

The NL East Arms Race

 

 

 

The most exciting part of being a baseball fan, besides possibly getting to watch your team make a World Series run, is watching young prospects come up and perform to their potential or possibly beyond. Year in and year out new stars make their way to the grandest stage with all the hype and hyperbole one can muster up and are thrown into the ocean, being told to either “sink or swim.” Taking a look at the NL East this season and you get the feeling that there are some great swimmers who won’t be needing a life raft. Some are far more established than others but all 5 teams have a young pitcher who can carry a rotation and carry a team for years to come.

The Philadelphia Phillies are the first team to come to mind and their ace Cole Hamels is a grizzled veteran and ready for the retirement home when compared to the other pitchers who will be profiled. Hamels is 29 years old and is beginning his seventh year in the majors. Besides all that, he is already a World Series champion, winning with the Phillies in 2008. In addition to the ring Hamels also won both the NLCS and World Series MVP posting a 4-0 record in the postseason. His lifetime record in the postseason is 7-4 so he has proven not only that he is an ace but also has the moxie to handle the playoffs. The Phillies have an older roster surrounding Hamels and their postseason successes may be few and far between over the next few years but Philadelphia fans and all of baseball know that Hamels will do all he can to make sure that failure isn’t an option.

Next up are the Atlanta Braves. The Braves have a plethora of young arms but the one that stands out above the rest is Kris Medlen. Medlen started his career as a reliever and spot starter for Atlanta but last year was converted to a full time starter and since then both he and the Braves haven’t looked back. In twelve starts last year Medlen posted a 10-1 record to go along with a 1.57 ERA. He had 120 strikeouts and of the 12 starts, two were complete games, one being a shutout. So far this year Medlen has a 1-1 record with a very respectable 1.50 ERA. Tim Hudson may be the veteran leader and the guy all the other pitchers will turn to for advice and guidance, but they all know that Kris Medlen is the key.

The next stop on the tour around the NL East brings us to our nation’s capital. The Washington Nationals, like the Braves, have a number of young pitchers but the ace of the staff and the engine that makes the car run is without question Stephen Strasburg. Already in his career Strasburg has had to undergo Tommy John surgery and rebounded quite well from it, even if the controversy of shutting him down last year was a hot topic around baseball. My personal opinion, they were justified in doing so. Gio Gonzalez was having a Cy Young year, the rest of the pitching staff was quite formidable, and with the money they have invested in Strasburg they wanted to protect both his future and the future of the franchise. Strasburg before he is done will have a Cy Young or two on his mantle along with a World Series championship or two. The young core of players that Washington boasts will carry them to success for many years to come.

As readers of this blog know I am from New York City, the craziest, wildest media circus known to man. Here in New York, Mets fans like to think that there is a rivalry between themselves and the Yankees, when in reality, we all know to be considered a rivalry there needs to be sustained success on both sides. However, with all that being said, the future sure looks bright for a rivalry to be brewing. Despite their financial struggles, which according to the team are over, the Mets have built a good young nucleus of players to carry them forward for years to come. Besides “Captain America” David Wright the one name that comes to mind with the Mets future is Matt Harvey. Harvey made his Major League debut last season as July call up for the team and pitched well despite a 3-5 record. The problem last year was the Mets were a horrible run scoring team, whereas this year they lead the league in that category. All Harvey has done this season is remind fans of Doc Gooden, posting a 3-0 record while allowing only six hits in 22 innings pitched. Those numbers are ridiculous and are almost incomparable. Some records Harvey has already set are being the first pitcher since 1900 to win first three starts by having 25+ K’s and 6 or fewer hits yielded. Also, since World War 2 only three pitchers have started a season with 7+IP, and 3 hits or fewer allowed, those being Jim Rooker, Nolan Ryan, and Matt Harvey. In 13 career starts Harvey has 95 strikeouts which rank him 3^rd in franchise history through that many games trailing only Nolan Ryan and Doc Gooden. Whether Yankee fans like it or not the Mets will be for real soon enough and will boast the best pitcher in the area by far.

Finally we look at our youngest contestant in the contest for best young pitcher in the division. Down in South Beach the Marlins do things that make fans scratch their heads and turn on the franchise on a consistent basis. I shudder to write anything positive about this guy for fear he will be traded because of his stats thus far and the unwillingness to have to pay him in the future. The man I am talking about is Jose Fernandez. Fernandez is all of 20 years old and has never pitched above A-Ball but since making his debut last week due to injuries in the rotation, all he has done is shut down the Mets and Phillies. Fernandez is of Cuban descent and has one hell of a story to tell about getting this far, including three thwarted defection attempts that led to prison terms, and on his fourth attempt, which was successful, his mother fell overboard and Fernandez had to jump in and save her. Dealing with circumstances like that isn’t going to affect a guy standing on the mound staring down any hitter in the box. His fastball hits 97 and his breaking pitch has the velocity of a slider but the movement of a curve. He is also working on a changeup that will be devastating as well from the looks of it once he has mastered it. Last night against the Phillies he also showed an ability to hit as he drove in a run on a base hit to left field. His swing is forceful and one of a guy who knows what he is doing in the box. Hopefully he is a pitcher that Marlins fans can enjoy and cheer on for years to come, but so often that isn’t the case and he will end up somewhere where he can be truly appreciated by fans and ownership alike.

The next few years in the NL East will provide a lot of good games and matchups people will go out of their way to see. The fights for division titles and playoff spots will define excitement, and as a baseball fan I’m glad I have a front row seat.