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In a cruel twist of fate, the Yankees will need A-Rod the most
Two weeks ago, it appeared that the Alex Rodriguez era in New York was coming to a crashing conclusion. MLB had announced they are seeking to suspend him and about twenty other ballplayers for having connections to Anthony Bosch, the PED supplier from the Biogenesis clinic in Miami.
Many Yankees fans reacted with pure joy, believing that A-Rod and his mess of a contract could finally be shed by the team. With him taking only baby steps in his long road back from a second hip surgery, the looming 100-game suspension almost certainly would ensure that 2013 would be a year without the 37-year old has-been slugger.
As the Yanks had just gotten Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis back off of the disabled list, there was little doubt that the team wouldn’t continue its surprisingly hot start to the season. Yet, just returning home after losing six out of ten games on the West Coast, the Bombers have hit a low point. The offense can barely score more than two runs a game, and the pitching has been average at best.
Adding injury to insult, Tex and Youk were both placed back on the disabled list with the same injuries that had them land on it in the first place. Inflammation in the right wrist for Mark, and a herniated disc for Kevin, one that was just operated on and will take 10-12 weeks at the minimum to heal.
If it explains their anemic performance since first returning from the DL, so be it. But the fact remains that the disabled list has once again inflated back to including all of the potent Yankee hitters not named Robinson Cano. With Youkilis almost certainly done for the year, and the constant threat of Teixeira suffering the same fate, it is not looking promising for the lineup to get any better any time soon.
That is, until A-Rod comes back.
You read that right. As far as the public knows, the only evidence MLB has been able to sniff out of Biogenesis is the journal of names and drugs Bosch allegedly kept for keeping tabs on all his clients. If I were a betting man, the investigation could go on well into the winter. Meaning (when he is physically ready), A-Rod can come back and be re-inserted as the team’s everyday third baseman.
It sounds ridiculous and trust me it’s not something I want to see happen. I am just like the common fan who would forever love Brian Cashman if he was able to get #13 out of the Bronx somehow. But, putting all the baggage Rodriguez brings with him aside, the Yankees need offense in the worst way possible. The trade market looks incredibly thin for impact bats, and the Yankees probably don’t have the pieces to acquire one even if they tried to.
So if I’m the Yankees and I can count on A-Rod hitting .280, driving in runs, and having the occasional power to hit one out, why the hell wouldn’t he be welcomed back? The fact is, no one knows if Curtis Granderson will still have enough pop in his broken hands to be the main power source of the lineup, or if Derek Jeter’s cranky ankle will hold up for him to be a reliable top-of-the-order hitter for the stretch run.
At this point in the year, as the lineup looks as bad as its been in decades, Alex Rodriguez may be the last hope for the Yankees to have a shot at competing for a playoff spot. The Red Sox, Orioles, and Rays are not going away anytime soon, and they have the younger, more athletic, and overall healthier ball-clubs.
Counting on Lyle Overbay, Vernon Wells, and Travis Hafner to be a potent middle-of-the-order bunch come the dog days of summer and the tense moments of a pennant race is not the way to go. As lost as the season once seemed for the Yankees’ oldest, most banged-up stars, it may be up to the Captain, and more importantly A-Rod alone, to keep Yankee Stadium’s lights glowing for the month of October.
As crazy as it sounds, it may be the only rational route to another Yankee playoff berth.
A-Rod releases statement amid PED scandal
Dan Barbarisi of the Wall Street Journal tweeted that Alex Rodriguez made a statement amid the PED scandal that could have him and 20 other players suspended from Major League Baseball. Rodriguez said the following:
Myself and others are being mentioned in a media report before the process is even concluded. I would hope this thing would follow the guidelines of our basic agreement. I will monitor the situation and comment when appropriate. As I’ve said previously, I am working out every day to get back on the field and help the Yankees win a championship.
– Alex Rodriguez
Some of the Yankees players sounded off about A-Rod’s possible suspension from the MLB with the most logical words coming from Brett Gardner.
We haven’t had him the last two months. It won’t change anything.
– Brett Gardner
However, after that statement Gardner said that A-Rod is like a brother to the team. CC Sabathia said that he team will welcome A-Rod back with open arms while Mariano Rivera said that while he won’t press Alex Rodriguez to talk about the scandal, he will listen with open ears if A-Rod has any thoughts, comments or concerns.
Rodriguez hits an all time low as he faces suspension
Alex Rodriguez isn’t the most popular choice for a Yankees fan. Heck, who could blame them? A-Rod’s career isn’t as glorious as half the women that he publicly has dated over the years. When the Yankees signed A-Rod, they knew what they were bargaining for. Rodriguez publicly revealed that he used steroids during his years with the Texas Rangers, causing Yankees fans to become uncertain with their newest 3B addition. Rodriguez has done some good for the Yankees; he helped win the World Series for the Yankees in 2009 (though most of the World Series heroics came from Hideki Matsui) but some good came with a price for the Yankees. A-Rod has struggled in the postseason every year aside from 2009, he’s been riddled with injuries and his antics on the field have caused uproars (going back to last postseason when A-Rod asked for a female fans phone number on a baseball). However, what could possibly come next for A-Rod overshadows the good and the upsetting things that he’s done in the past.
In Spring Training, there were reports that Alex Rodriguez was tied to the Biogensis reports, reports that said high profile ball players received illegal substances from a Miami clinic. Other names were mentioned such as Robinson Cano (who I’ve been told is not going to be suspended since his spokeswoman was the one tied, not him), Francisco Cervelli (who is in danger of being suspended 50-games), Ryan Braun (who on a technicality had his ruling overturned after he was suspected of using steroids during the offseason), Melky Cabrera (who already faced a suspension last season), Nelson Cruz and so many others. MLB agreed to look into the reports, leaving fans to wonder what could happen to some of these players.
Yesterday, MLB announced that they were planning on suspending players such as A-Rod, Ryan Braun and about 20 other players that were tied to the Biogensis reports. Rodriguez and Braun would face 100-game suspensions since they had used illegal substances in the past. With 20+ names on the Biogensis reports, why does A-Rod’s stick out like a sore thumb? Because of his 10-year contract with the New York Yankees that makes him one of the highest paid players in baseball.
If Rodriguez is proven guilty and MLB suspends him, this would be the ultimate all-time-low for A-R0d, tainting his career to the point of no return, and making him a disgrace to baseball. It’s easy for us to automatically assume that A-Rod is guilty given his past, but A-Rod’s fate could lie in the hands of the Biogensis reports and Major League Baseball.
I took to Twitter yesterday during the Yankees game, asking fans that if A-Rod was suspended if it would be the end to his career in Yankees pinstripes. Here’s what some tweeters had to say:
@dfiregirl4 No. They owe him 130+ mil for the next 4 seasons. He isn’t retiring. They are stuck with him.
— Drew (@getcarter_) June 5, 2013
@dfiregirl4 Nope, he is going to serve his 100 suspension and come back. — Mr. Antisocial (@BibiDaBoss) June 5, 2013
@dfiregirl4 I say yes.Right now, I wish ARod would just go away. He’s way too much baggage.#Yankees — Felix, Zachary’s Dad (@FelixZacharyDad) June 5, 2013
@dfiregirl4 I could only hope, but he is under contract…They wouldnt be able to dump him.
— dan (@highspeeddg) June 5, 2013
@dfiregirl4#Yankees I hope so .. this is embarrassing and I don’t care if we eat his contract, he’s always more bad news
— monica bhattacharjee (@monahawk217) June 5, 2013
A-Rod is a player that has too much baggage, but the Yankees can’t easily get rid of him if he is guilty of using illegal substances once again. As some of the tweets mentioned, A-Rod is under contract and his contract is pretty ironclad to prevent him from losing everything if he decided on cheating again. The Yankees may be stuck with A-Rod’s contract for the next four years, but Major League Baseball can decide if A-Rod’s contract should be null and void. A-Rod’s fate is no longer in the hands of the Yankees, but in the hands of Major League Baseball, meaning that his future and possibly his career is on the line.
Major League Baseball will release more information in the coming days, elaborating on which players will be suspended and which players are off the hook. Looking from the business standpoint and the fan standpoint, both teams are feeling the exact same way when they look at A-Rod; disappointment. They can only hope that A-Rod doesn’t fall into a deeper hole.
Teixeira and Youkilis Desperately Needed
Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis began their rehab assigment in Double A Trenton this morning and it could not come at a better time for the Yankees. When the Yankees were playing great baseball behind great pitching and newcomers like Vernon Wells, Travis Hafner, and Lyle Overbay getting the job done, many Yankees fans were saying how they did not want veterans like Mark Texiera, Kevin Youkilis, Curtis Granderson and Alex Rodriguez to come back. That was an insane notion then and it is proving true right now.
The Yankees are now 6-7 in their last 13 games and have scored four or fewer runs in nine of those 13 games, including less than two runs in five of those games. The Yankees have averaged a pitiful 3.7 runs per game in May. You can only ask your starters to pitch great under those circumstances for so long and expect your bullpen to hold every one run lead you give them. Obviously, over the last two games David Robertson and Mariano Rivera each blew a game, but those losses were on the offense for only scoring a combined two runs in those games.
The middle of the order for the Yankees struggling has been the main reason for their terrible offensive output in May. Robinson Cano is only hitting .247/.311/.464/.775 in May and the Yankees need him to carry them like he did in April. Cano is hitting .328/.403/.672/1.075 with 11 home runs in Yankee wins and .235/.261/.341/.603 with two home runs in Yankee losses. That tells you all you need to know. Cano has not gotten much support in May either, as Vernon Wells (.229/.260/.375/.635 in May) and Travis Hafner (.190/.309/.328/.636 in May) have cooled off considerably. When you combine those players not playing well with the black holes the Yankees have at catcher, shortstop and right field, you are not going to score many runs.
It is obvious that Teixeira and Youkilis are needed. However, as Mike Axisa of River Ave Blues points out, they are coming back at postions where the Yankees have gotten good production. Lyle Overbay and David Adams have held up very well at first and third base. Texiera and Youkilis will be upgrades over them, but their real issues are at shortstop, catcher, and the outfield.
However, they will not be getting reinforcements at those positions anytime soon. Curtis Granderson will be inactive for at least four weeks and will probably take about two more weeks to rehab. Derek Jeter is nowhere near returning and Francisco Cervelli just got the pins out of his hand and has not started to rehab yet. The Yankees made their own bed at these positions in the offseason, as they willing let Russell Martin and Nick Swisher go and did not adequately replace them. Also, they did nothing to upgrade at utility infielder when they knew Jeter was an injury question mark.
The Yankees have a tough roster conundrum with Teixeira and Youkilis coming back. The Yankees are short on outfielders and it will be hard to carry Overbay and Hafner, since between them both they can only play one position. Ivan Nova will probably be the pitcher out of the bullpen sent to Triple A, but who goes with him is the question. The options are to send Brennan Boesch or Adams to Triple A or DFA Overbay. Sending Adams down would be the easy call, since you can always bring him back up, but he would be the best option as a DH against righties at the moment. Boesch is easily the worst player out of the three, but if you send him down than Jayson Nix is your fourth outfielder. You can probably get by like that for a little while, but long term having Nix as your fourth outfielder will not work. That is why Overbay may not be on this team for much longer.
This is not meant to discredit Overbay at all, as he has filled in better than anybody could have hoped for, but people need to pump the brakes on him a little bit. He is only hitting .251/.295/.468/.763, which is not great for a first baseman. Teixeira at his worst does much better than that. Overbay has been a great clutch player for the Yankees this season, but you cannot rely on that to continue. Good “clutch” hitting is more statistical randomness than anything sustainable because it is not really a skill.
For people who say Teixeira isn’t clutch he hit .390/.466/.932/1.398 in late and close games last year, .289/.360./.578/938 in high leverage situations and .285/.370/.646/1.016 in innings 7-9, so that is just a narrative and a fallacy that he doesn’t get any big hits. Unfortunately, if Teixeira starts out slow he will hear about it, but that is just silliness, as Overbay is nowhere near the player Teixeira is and there is a reason he was released by Boston three days before the end of spring training. Once Teixeira proves he is healthy there is not really room for Overbay on the team anymore. Obviously, that is not fair to him, but unfortunately it’s the business and the reality of the situation. Overbay would be a great option to pinch hit late in games for the catcher, shortstop or Ichiro, but again can you really afford to have Nix as your fourth outfielder for six weeks?
I am really excited to get Teixeira and Youkilis back. It has been frustrating watching bad hitters take bad at bats lately. Unfortunately, like I said before you will still have three terrible hitters batting seventh, eighth and ninth but at least the middle of the order will be more intimidating. People telling themselves that the Yankees are better off without the veterans hopefullt have seen over the last few weeks why they are dead wrong. What do you guys think should happen when Teixeira and Youkilis come back? What would your roster moves be?
Off-Day Notes: Chamberlain, Robertson, Rodriguez, Jeter, Teixeira, Pineda, Nelson, Granderson
Beauty comes with a price, doesn’t it? On a day where it’s 73 degrees in New York City…there had to be some news about the Yankees somewhere. Let’s get to them.
– Joba Chamberlain was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a tight oblique. He said he felt something when he was warming up to pitch on Tuesday and complained of soreness when he arrived at the stadium yesterday. Brian Cashman said that the strain is “mild” and Joba should be back to pitch in two weeks. There wasn’t a move on the roster to replace Chamberlain but Cashman did say that he had three names in mind when it came to taking that roster spot: Mark Montgomery, Preston Claiborne and Sam Demel.
– David Robertson spent his off-day at the doctors office after feeling discomfort near his knee/hamstring. The doctors did an MRI and the diagnosis is a “cranky hamstring”. Robertson won’t have to go on the DL; instead he is day-to-day.
– Alex Rodriguez posted on Facebook that he had been cleared to do baseball activities and that he will head to Tampa on Monday in order to join Curtis Granderson rehabbing their way back to the team. Rodriguez is still expected to be back after the All-Star break, along with Derek Jeter.
Derek Jeter
– Derek Jeter is still in the walking boot, but he’s able to remove it to do exercises. He’s expected to be back after the All-Star Break.
– After doing tee and toss, Teixeira will stay with the Yankees until the end of the homestand, then head off to Florida to rehab with A-Rod and Granderson. Teixeira is expected to be back in June.
– Michael Pineda is throwing to hitters down in Florida. He’s reached 93-95 MPH on his fastball.
– After being acquired by the Yankees late last night, he’s officially been put on the 25-man roster and is activated for tomorrow. Corban Joseph was optioned to Triple-AAA to complete the roster move.
Curtis Granderson
– Curtis Granderson is on the road back to the Yankees today. He took more at-bats in an extended Spring Training game. If all goes well, Granderson is slated to come back in about two weeks.
Love them or hate them: The John Sterling home-run calls
Ever since 1989, John Sterling has been in the broadcast booth calling Yankees games through thick and thin. He’s entertaining, he’s interesting and one of the few radio announcers I can turn to when it’s time to mute a FOX game. One of the reasons that I enjoy listening to Sterling is for his inventive and interesting home-run calls. His home-run calls are one of those staples that are needed to be memorized by every Yankees fan. Over the years, he has created home-run calls that cannot be forgotten. Remember Bernie William’s famous home-run call “Bern Baby Bern” or Tino Martinez‘s “Bam-Tino?” Yep, that was John Sterling’s entertaining mind. When a new Yankee hits a home-run, fans turn and ask “What’s John Sterling’s home-run call for this player?” Well, being the John Sterling radio fanatic that I am, I compiled a list of some of our favorite New York Yankees home-run calls for the players on the current team. (that includes our new Yankees brethren as well).
Brett Gardner: Brett Gardner has two home-run calls, depending of the mood that John Sterling is. Personally, I love hearing them both since Gardner rarely hits HR’s. The first one is fun to say because he went yard, yet the second one is a pun on his last name ‘Gardner’ which is an actual word.
1) “Gardy goes Yardy!”
2) “Gardner plants one in the (left or right) field seats!”
Ichiro Suzuki: Ichiro’s home-run call. I felt like John Sterling could have been more inventive with Ichiro’s home-run call, but it is what it is.
“Ichiro, the Yankees rising son, says sayonara.”
Curtis Granderson: The second home-run call is one of my favorites. The first one is a pun on his last name, but the second one you get to sing! Every time Granderson goes to bat, I find myself singing it. I can’t wait to start singing it when Granderson comes back from the DL.
1) “Isn’t he something sort of Grand-ish?”
2) “Oh, the Grandyman Can! Oh, the Grandyman can!”
Derek Jeter: Derek Jeter is the captain of the Yankees, so his home-run call is rather fitting.
“El Capitan.”
Mark Teixeira: Mark Teixeria is another one of those Yankees that has two home run calls. I actually enjoy the first one more since it’s a pun on getting a text message. (And I like to look at my smartphone and ask why haven’t I got a ‘Tex’ Message yet when he goes to the plate).
1) “Mark sends a Tex Message to the (left or right) field seats!
2) “You’re on the Mark, Teixeira”
Alex Rodriguez: Everyone knows A-Rod’s HR call. It’s not a secret.
“An A-Bomb for A-Rod.”
Robinson Cano: If I were John Sterling, I would trademark this home-run call. It’s became a very popular saying among Yankees fans.
“Robbie Cano, Don’t Ya Know!”
Francisco Cervelli: I personally am a sucker for this home-run call. It simply reminds me of food.
“Cisco the Kid Cerv’s one up!”
Travis Hafner: All right, I love John Sterling and all but…this call was L-A-M-E! It lacks the magic. Did Sterling figure that he wasn’t going to be a Yankee past this season and gave him a home-run call that was sad yet lame?
1) “The Pronx Bomber.”
2) “A Hafner Homer.”
Vernon Wells: So Vernon Wells has two HR calls that are slightly better than Travis Hafner’s. Wells’s walk-up song may be awesome…but his HR call is something that’s almost cringe-worthy.
1) “The Bronx is Vernon.”
2) “Wells rings the bells.”
Kevin Youkilis: So all of my favorite things in life has to have carbon copies of something? My favorite T.V show has carbon copies of the original characters and Kevin Youkilis’s HR call is a carbon copy of Alex Rodriguez’s.
“A Nuke for Youk.”
Yeah, that was really inventive.
Yep, we may love them and we may hate them but the John Sterling HR calls are iconic to the Yankees. When a new Yankee hits a home-run, you never know what call John Sterling could come up with.
Some notes to end the Spring: Hafner, Eppley, Warren, Boesch, Rodriguez, Gardner
Spring Training officially came to a close today after an exciting day with the Yankees playing (and winning) against Army. Here were some final notes from the Spring Training front on who got the last three roster spots for the Yankees.
1. Brennan Boesch made the team as the player on the bench but Boesch is the only player who doesn’t really have a specific role. Girardi could DH him, start him in the outfield, pinch hit him. The possibilities for the Yankees and Boesch are endless.
2. Cody Eppley and Adam Warren both got the final two spots on the roster. The Yankees gave Eppley the benefit of the doubt after a bad Spring, but he looked sharp in his final outing, getting all four hitters he faced.
3. Travis Hafner was scratched from the lineup today due to some stiffness but it’s nothing to worry about. The Yankees simply said Hafner didn’t have enough time to loosen up. He should be fine for Monday’s opener.
4. Alex Rodriguez is expected to be with the team on Monday for the Opening Day festivities. Yankees however aren’t sure if he’ll address the media or not.
5. An interesting fact that I got from YES today. The only player that had actually faced Army (However, not the current 2013 team) was Brett Gardner. In 2005 he was apart of the NCAA with the College of Charleston and one of their opponents was Army.
6. One final note: the Yankees start the home opener on Monday, but there are only two players that are expected to start Opening Day that played last season: Brett Gardner and Robinson Cano. So we lost 7 of the guys to either the DL or to other teams.
Enjoy your night everyone and I will see you back here Monday morning where I will be blogging (and tweeting) about the home opener with the Yankees against the Red Sox!
Opening Day is coming, so how’s the team shaping up?
Brett Gardner could be a valuable player in the Yankees lineup…
In a little less than three weeks, the Yankees will begin their home-opener against the Boston Red Sox with CC Sabathia on the mound. However, this year’s Opening Day lineup might be a little different than what we’re used to due to all of the injuries the Yankees were plagued with during the 2013 season. The Yankees are missing Curtis Granderson (broken forearm), Mark Teixeira (strained forearm) and Alex Rodriguez (hip surgery) in their offense which is sure to look like the ‘Robinson Cano Show’ for the first month and a half. But with still some time to go, just how are the Yankees shaping up as they prepare for the season?
Lineup:
The Yankees lineup has many question marks after losing so many players to free agency and injuries. The bats of Nick Swisher, Russell Martin, Raul Ibanez and Eric Chavez will be with different ball clubs, while we will most likely have to wait for Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson to return to their post in early to mid-May. However, the lineup hasn’t looked as puzzling as it did when Spring Training started. The Yankees proved that they can manufacture runs by using a key element that they possess: speed. Players like Brett Gardner, Ichiro Suzuki and Eduardo Nunez are capable of getting on base, going station to station on their own before a key teammate has to drive them in with an RBI. Speed will play an important part this season since the Yankees have lost over 100 home runs than in season’s past. But just because the Yankees are relying on speed, it doesn’t mean we should start calling them the ‘Bronx Bunters’. They will still find a way to hit home runs with Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira making their way back into the starting lineup.
Starting Pitching:
Throughout the course of Spring Training, the starting pitching has been one early glimpse of how our starters will perform during the 2013 season. It looks as if they left off from last season. Hiroki Kuroda looks to be in mid-season form, David Phelps has a 0.63 ERA 14 Spring appearances Ivan Nova has an ERA of 1. Andy Pettitte has still proven that his pitches are effective although he’s the oldest starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. And as expected, there is no concern over CC Sabathia, whatsoever. The starting pitching looks to be one of the Yankees strong points like it was in season’s past. Let’s hope that the pitching can carry the Yanks this season.
Bullpen:
…while Mariano Rivera could be a dynamic piece to the Yankees bullpen
The Yankees bullpen was another one of their key pieces that helped define the Yankees last season. With pitchers such as David Robertson, Boone Logan, Clay Rapada and Joba Chamberlain, it seemed like an easy task to get the ball to the 9th inning before handing it off to the greatest closer of all time, Mariano Rivera. Last season’s bullpen dynamic was different since there was no Mariano in the bullpen due to an ACL injury, giving the Yankees a glimpse of what it would look like if Mariano Rivera wasn’t there. With Rafael Soriano, the Yankees were able to still close games with a dominant force but this year there is no Rafael Soriano. Mariano Rivera plans to retire after the 2013 season, which gives Yankees fans one last look of the greatest closer before he hangs up his cleats and says goodbye to the game. The bullpen is expected to be a strong part of the Yankees once again, and from Spring observations, I wouldn’t be surprised if Shawn Kelley and David Phelps get spots in the bullpen. With both of their arms this spring, the Yankees bullpen could become an iron gate to prevent runs from scoring.
There’s only 17 days until Opening Day so from now until Spring Training is over, it would be a good time to start watching the games to see who has a legitimate shot of making the team. And from what I’ve seen all Spring so far, there are quite a few who have a chance to go north.
On This Day in History | 2004
A-Rod strokes his 600th HR (Photo courtesy of Flickr)
On this day 9 years ago the Yankees finalized a deal that brought Alex Rodriguez to New York for Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named later. The framework of the deal included Texas agreeing to pay $67 million of the $179 million left on his contract, giving A-Rod roughly $16 million a year, or $14,403 per nine innings.
Has it really been 9 years?
During that span we have seen one of the greatest players of all-time (even if you don’t like the guy you have to admit this) win two MVPs, destroy everyone in the 2009 postseason, and hit his 400th, 500th, and 600th career home runs. We have also seen him disappear in more than a few postseasons, admit to taking PEDs, date Madonna, and slap the ball out of Bronson Arroyo‘s glove. Has there ever been a more schizophrenic career in the history of baseball? (Don’t say Milton Bradley because he may have actually been schizophrenic.)
There are two interesting subplots to this story that are often forgotten. The first is that the Yankees were not even in the market for a third baseman until Aaron Boone tore his ACL during a pickup basketball game in late January, an unfortunate injury that not only ended his season but violated his contract with the Yanks. All of sudden there was a hole to fill.
Secondly, Boston blew it. They had A-Rod locked up and I spent most of the ’04 Christmas season petrified that A-Rod would end up with Sox and hit pop flies onto Lansdowne Street for the next ten years; but Boston couldn’t get out of its own way. They nearly landed Rodriguez in December, but a proposed deal fell through that would have sent Manny Ramirez to Texas. Boston was golden until the Players’ Association stymied their attempt to restructure Rodriguez’s monster $252 million contract that apparently would have lowered its value by roughly $32 million. Ten months later the Sox didn’t look so foolish as they wrapped up their World Series sweep, giving them their first title in 86 years, nevertheless, it’s an interesting backdrop to one of the biggest trades in Yankee history.
What are your favorite/least favorite A-Rod moments? Share them in the comments section below.
Spring Training Notes 2/12/13: State Of The Yankees Address
Photo taken by Mark Feinsand of the Daily News
Today may be the State Of the Union Address for the United States of America, but today was the State of the Yankees Address live from the minor league complex by none other than the Yankees manager Joe Girardi (who might I add is in the final year of his contract). Girardi covered a plethora of topics but one of the biggest topics that Girardi covered was Alex Rodriguez. Here’s some notes and news from today.
Girardi on Alex Rodriguez:
“There really isn’t a lot to talk about. My concern is for him to get healthy. This club is used to having what people might call distractions.”
Girardi hasn’t spoken to Alex Rodriguez about the PED topic and has confirmed that Alex Rodriguez will not be in camp this spring. Instead, Rodriguez will rehab in New York.
Girardi on the 2013 team:
“We’re going to have to find a different way to score runs. Our offense is going to be different but I believe [we're going to score runs].”
Girardi also believes that the Yankees are going to win 95 games and the World Series. “There’s a lot of talent in this room. If we play up to our capabilities, I believe we’re a very good team.”
Girardi’s biggest concern:
Girardi’s biggest concern is finding a right-handed DH bat before the actual season begins.
Girardi on Brett Gardner, Curtis Granderson and Ichiro Suzuki:
As of today, Brett Gardner will be in LF, Curtis Granderson will be in CF and Ichiro Suzuki will be in RF. There’s no plans on moving Gardner and Granderson as of yet, but it could change as he discusses it with his coaches.
Girardi on concerns of Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera:
He doesn’t have any concerns on both Yankees who are coming off of injuries.
MORE AROUND YANKEES CAMP
– Austin Romine came into camp thirteen pounds lighter and his back in very good shape. He believes he sees an opportunity.
– CC Sabathia is also 100% after having elbow surgery over the winter. He says that the surgery was a relief and he now has complete mobility of his elbow. Sabathia also lost a lot of weight, now weighing in at 290. His first bullpen session will be on Thursday.
– We also have new locker arraignments and numbers in Yankees camp. Here they are:
-Travis Hafner takes Nick Swisher‘s old number and will now wear #33. Hafner’s locker is now next to Youkilis, formerly vacated by Eric Chavez.
-Francisco Cervelli will now wear #29, formerly worn by Rafael Soriano.
-David Phelps changed his number to #35. Mike Mussina used to wear #35 back in the day as did Michael Pineda last season (who we never saw during the season).
-Michael Pineda will now wear #43. His previous number was #35.
-Kevin Youkilis wears #36 and now has Nick Swisher’s old locker.
- David Aardsma will now wear #34.
- Matt Diaz will now wear #22.
- Dan Johnson will now wear #27.
- Juan Rivera will now wear #54.
Hop Aboard the A-Rod Coaster
Rodriguez in 2008 (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
If a roller coaster was created with the same sharp rises, abrupt plunges, and spine-bending curves of Alex Rodriguez’ Yankee career, its G-Forces would kill anyone foolish enough to ride it. Here are some of the rises and falls of A-Rod’s nine seasons in pinstripes. [Rises in bold]
- Feb. 15, 2004 | Traded to NY from the Rangers. He chooses #13. No one finds this ominous.
- July 24, 2004 | Brawls with Jason Varitek at Fenway
- Oct. 9, 2004 | Finishes ALDS with .421 BA
- Oct. 19, 2004 | Swats the ball out of Bronson Arroyo’s glove in Game 6 of the ALCS
- Apr. 26, 2005 | 3 HR and 10 RBIs vs. the Angels
- Nov. 14, 2005 | Wins 2nd AL MVP, 1st with the Yanks
- May 30, 2007 | Shouts while passing a Toronto 3B, causing him to drop a pop up
- Aug. 4, 2007 | 500th HR
- Oct. 8, 2007 | Dating back to Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS he is 0 for 29 with RISP in the postseason.
- Oct. 28, 2007 | Opts out of his contract.
- Nov. 19, 2007 | Wins his 3rd AL MVP, 2nd with the Yanks.
- Feb. 9, 2009 | Admits to using steroids from 2001-2003
- May 8, 2009 | Returns after missing first month of the season, hitting a 3-run HR on 1st pitch.
- Aug. 7, 2009 | Walkoff 15th inning HR vs. Red Sox
- Oct. 9, 2009 | Ties Game 2 of the ALDS with a 2-run HR in the 9th inning
- Oct. 17, 2009 | Ties Game 2 of the ALCS with a 2-run HR in the 11th inning
- Oct. 31, 2009 | HR off a camera in RF in Game 3 of the World Series
- Nov. 4, 2009 | Wins World Series, finishing postseason with 18 RBIs
- Aug. 4, 2010 | Hits 600th HR
- Sept. 29, 2010 | Record 13th straight season with 30 HR/100 RBI
- Oct. 22, 2010 | Finishes ALCS with .190 BA
- July 11, 2011 | Undergoes arthroscopic knee surgery
- Aug. 4, 2011 | ESPN reports he participated in illegal, underground poker games
- Oct. 6, 2011 | Finishes ALDS with .111 BA
- June 12, 2012 | Hits record-tying 23rd grand slam
- July 24, 2012 | Breaks hand on HBP
- Oct. 13, 2012 | Reportedly hits on female fans during Game 1 of the ALCS
- Oct. 18, 2012 | Finishes 3 for 25 in the postseason
- Jan. 16, 2013 | Has surgery on his left hip
- Jan. 29, 2013 | Linked to PEDs again through his connection to a Florida clinic
- Jan. 30, 2013 | The Yanks look into voiding his contract
It’s anyone’s best guess what tomorrow will hold.
* * * * *
Follow Dan on Twitter @161st_and_River
Yankees Offseason Notes: Cashman speaks little about A-Rod saga
Brian Cashman was on ESPN radio with Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco earlier today, and one of the most popular topics was Alex Rodriguez. Now, Cashman didn’t get into details about A-Rod, but he did acknowledge that he was aware of the situation.
– Before we get into the Alex Rodriguez drama, Brian Cashman confirmed the Yankees signed Travis Hafner with a plain “yes.” That’s all. Now, onto A-Rod.
First off, Brian Cashman wouldn’t comment about the Alex Rodriguez saga which isn’t surprising. The Yankees released a statement earlier this week saying that they had no comment. “I am not commenting other than we are in full cooperation with Major League Baseball.” Cashman said that he did find out about the New Times article last week when the Yankees received a letter about the article, wanting a comment from the Yankees. “Our immediate reaction was, once we saw that, we turned it over to Major League Baseball.”
Earlier this winter, Cashman said that the Yankees might not expect A-Rod to play this season and he’s also not certain as of today, but is expecting him for the summer.
“Alex, we’re expecting back in the summer. If we can get A-Rod back under that scenario as expected, that will certainly be a significant contribution as we move forward. But to count on it, I think, would be a mistake from my position as a general manager.”
The biggest question for Brian Cashman? Would the Yankees try to void Alex Rodriguez’s contract?
“I’m not going to comment on anything. I could say, and would say, those types of suggestions and speculations are all premature until you have all the facts (from MLB investigation.”
– Now to move on from the Alex Rodriguez soap opera, Cashman spoke about Derek Jeter and his ankle injury, believing he would be ready for Opening Day.
“We’re just going to take him out slowly because we have time. The goal is starting shortstop Opening Day against Boston. There’s no reason that’s not going to happen. He’s really 100% healthy and he’s just now knocking the rust off.”
Yankees Offseason Notes: Alex Rodriguez will not retire; Yanks sign Travis Hafner
Once again, the main focus of the day belonged to none other than Alex Rodriguez in his ongoing saga about the PED report. For fans that were hoping that Alex Rodriguez would retire out of shame–it’s not happening. A source close to Rodriguez spoke to the press today, addressing the fact that Rodriguez will not retire, meaning that it would take a bigger effort to strip A-Rod of his contract, should the report be true.
“Alex has no plans to retire at all.” The source told ESPN New York early Thursday morning.
While the media continues to buzz about the story of A-Rod possibly using PED’s again, a spokesperson for A-Rod spoke on behalf of A-Rod’s, discussing his rehab and him possibly returning to the field–if he’s not caught cheating and suspended first.
“Alex says he’s working diligently on his rehabilitation and is looking forward to getting back on the field as soon as possible.”
If A-Rod is working to get back on the field and if all of the allegations are proven true, I believe that this could be the last we see Alex Rodriguez in Yankees pinstripes. It would be hard to strip them from him, but if true, a man that repeatedly cheats the game of baseball isn’t worthy of wearing the sacred pinstripes that stand for all that is good to the New York Yankees.
Yankees sign Travis Hafner to one-year deal
The Yankees have signed Travis Hafner to a one year deal, filling the role for the DH–at least against right handed pitching. The numbers of the contract haven’t been revealed as of yet, but he will don pinstripes for the Yankees, filling a vacant role that previously belonged to Raul Ibanez during the 2012 season. Hafner spent nine seasons with the Cleveland Indians, before the Indians declined his option for the 2013 season, sending him to the free agency market.
Reactions from Alex Rodriguez PED report (Plus other Yankees notes)
While the baseball world is not at all shocked that Alex Rodriguez has been linked to PED’s (again), there are more statements and news surrounding the latest chapter that is the Alex Rodriguez-saga. Earlier today both Joel Sherman and the Yankees issued statements about the Alex Rodriguez Miami report. Here’s what the Yankees had to say:
“We fully support the Commissioner’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The matter is now in the hands of the Commissioner’s office. We will have no further comment until the investigation has concluded.”
Here’s the statement A-Rod’s camp gave to Joel Sherman.
” The news report about a purported relationship between Alex Rodriguez and Anthony Bosch are not true. Alex Rodriguez was not Mr. Bosch patient, he was never treated by him and he was never advised by him. The purported documents referenced in this story –at least as they relate to Alex Rodriguez– are not legitimate.”
As soon as the PED story broke from the Miami New Times, ESPN reported that Rodriguez hired a lawyer, Roy Black, who has represented several celebrities. Along with Alex Rodriguez being linked to the PED report, Nelson Cruz and Gio Gonzalez were also linked. Gonzalez gave his own statement to the press.
“I’ve never used performance enhancing drugs of any kind and I never will. I’ve never met with Bosch or used any substance provided by him. Anything said to the contrary is a lie.”
As we get more information on the A-Rod saga, we will post it here so stay tuned.
Pettitte won’t pitch in the WBC
Andy Pettitte had an extended invitation to pitch in the World Baseball Classic, especially after Kris Medlen of the Atlanta Braves pulled out but now, Pettitte won’t pitch for Team USA and will instead be with the Yankees at camp during Spring Training. With Pettitte now out of the mix, the Medlen roster spot could now go to Justin Verlander. As much as I love the World Baseball Classic, Andy Pettitte and the Yankees made the right decision. This could possibly be the last year for Pettitte (provided he doesn’t make another comeback in 2015 after taking a one year break in 2014) so to preserve him for the 2013 season was a good idea.
Chris Dickerson signs a deal with Baltimore
Chris Dickerson easily became a fan favorite for the Yankees, but it became apparent that he wasn’t going to have a spot on the roster and in return the Yankees granted Dickerson his release. As of today, Dickerson has a ball club. He signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles with an invitation to Spring Training. Although I’ll be sad that I can’t see Dickerson play for the Yankees anymore, I am glad that he will finally get a chance to show the talent that he has.
Freddy Garcia finds a job. Yes, really
After I was almost a thousand percent positive that Freddy Garcia was going to hang it up after a bad year with the Yankees, he eventually found a new job with the San Diego Padres organization. He has a minor league deal worth $1.3 Million and another $1.25 Million in incentives. Good luck to him.
Would the Yankees mind if A-Rod never came back?
UPDATE: per Daily News, ARod, Melky, Gio Gonzalez, Nelson Cruz and others linked to Anthony Bosch, who is target of HGH/drug investigation by DEA & MLB. The below is straight from the Daily News:
As the Daily News first reported Saturday, federal investigators from the DEA and Florida, as well as MLB’s Department of Investigations, have been probing the link between Bosch and the Yankees’ third baseman, and as many as 20 other active players, for several months. According to sources, federal agents have already interviewed Bosch.
“It’s the tip of the iceberg,” said one law enforcement source.
Rodriguez’s name appears many times in Bosch’s reports and in a notebook, according to the Miami New Times, under his own name as well as the aliases “Alex Rod” or “Cacique” — his nickname at the now-shuttered clinic — as having received testosterone cream and insulin-like growth factor and other types of growth hormone. Rodriguez’s account with Bosch was “paid through April 30th” of 2012, according to the records cited by the newspaper. The account dates back to 2009, according to the report. Rodriguez still has five years, $114 million remaining on his Yankee contract.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: I was skimming through the New York Daily News website on Saturday to read the sports section wanting to know what some of the columnists had to say about the idle Yankees, and there was one article that caught my eye. Under the Yankees section of the Daily News, Bill Madden wrote about the on-going Alex Rodriguez saga. We all knew that Alex Rodriguez was going to have hip surgery. We all knew that he could have been out at least until mid-July. But the title of the article had me wanting to read more. “Yankees would not be at all unhappy if Alex Rodriguez misses next season or never comes back.“
Would the Yankees miss A-Rod if he decided to never come back?
Brian Cashman made a call to WFAN to talk about Alex Rodriguez possibly missing the season and while he showed some uncertainty over the future of A-Rod, he didn’t seem all that sad about it. It could be because he’s a business man and is supposed to be professional about his players but from the way Cashman spoke on the phone, his tone implicated that he wasn’t at all concerned.
The Yankees went out to get a new third baseman in the former Red Sox turned Yankee, Kevin Youkilis, probably meaning that if Youkilis performed up to par then the Yankees wouldn’t miss A-Rod as much. Alex Rodriguez is easily one of the most controversial Yankees of this decade, practically being paid gigantic money for mediocre numbers, also adding to the fact that A-Rod had taken PED’s in his past.
I understand that the PED’s was a mistake (as most ballplayers that are caught using steroids say), but A-Rod’s on-going antics on the field is what get’s fans riled up, and not in a good way. Last season, A-Rod was constantly injured, had an abysmal postseason which we could easily say was the hip injury and flirted with female fans, while the Yankees were losing! The New York Post front cover after the Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs still hurts to this day.
The good news is that the Yankees would easily be able to eat up A-Rod’s contract, keeping the $28 Million promised to A-Rod due to having an “insurance policy” on the player. The insurance works if a player has missed more than four months of the season and it’s minimal unless the player misses the entire season. (To answer questions before they are asked, neither Mariano Rivera nor Brett Gardner had insurance policies in their contracts even though they missed almost the entire season last year).
From a business stand point, the Yankees would probably want A-Rod to never come back since it would eat up his remaining contract and save them more money in the long run. I personally will always be grateful for the 2009 A-Rod run to the World Series, but honestly, I think this time he might want to consider hanging up his cleats for good. His body is breaking down, and fans don’t want to pay money to watch A-Rod decline if he ever comes back.
To read the Daily News article, Click Here
Yankees Offseason Notes: Third-to-First pick-off move banned
Do you remember watching those games where the pitcher would throw from third-to-first and you would either A.) throw your cap down in annoyance, B.) click your tongue at the annoyance of the play or C.) Spill your beer (and maybe food) and once again, would be annoyed? Well, that won’t happen any more! MLB has imposed a rule that a pitcher that fakes to third, then throws to first will be charged with a balk. It makes sense to change the rule since the pick-off move hardly ever worked since the existence of baseball.
Jeff Nelson (who now is a contributor for MLB.com) said, “The managers say it’s all about speeding up the game. I think now, the runner at first might get a little bit of an advantage. All it’s used for is to keep the runner at first close. I might have done it 100 times and gotten two guys on it.”
”A large majority of the managers, I mean really a good amount, wanted to eliminate it, So we presented it.” Joe Torre, the executive vice president in the commissioner’s office (and former New York Yankees manager) weighed in on the situation. “To me, it’s been inconsistent because sometimes it’s called a balk and sometimes it isn’t. Obviously, it gets a little disjointed that way. Just my experience, added to what they want, I made a case for it. The feeling was, you’re deceiving the runner or the hitter.”
MLB proposed to ban the players association last season, but it was rejected. It was later overridden by the sport.
The rule is slated to take effect during the 2013 season.
In Other News:
– The New York Yankees and David Robertson agreed to a one-year, $3.1 Million contract, avoiding arbitration. Robertson’s pay now increases the Yankees projected payroll to approximately $206 Million. Prior to Robertson’s deal, the Yankees had 17 players on the roster whose contracts combined to a whopping $197.3 Million. In addition, the Yankees owe the Pittsburgh Pirates $8.5 Million from the A.J Burnett deal which took place last February.
– The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) and MLB are investigation an adviser to who has been linked to performance enhancing drugs and Alex Rodriguez, according to the New York Daily News. Anthony Bosch worked with Rodriguez on training, nutrition and dietary supplements along with other Latin ballplayers in Southern Florida. Bosch’s name sounds familiar? His father Dr. Pedro Bosch was investigated in 2009 for his PED ties to Manny Ramirez while the ballplayer was playing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Rodriguez, who will most likely miss the entire 2013 season has been known for taking steroids, admitting his PED use in 2009.
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