Going into spring training this year, the Yankees made moves to considerably improve their starting rotation. After all, the Yankees have had no emergencies in the closer position for the last decade and a half since that have future Hall of Fame shoo-in, Mariano Rivera.The Yanks also found a consistent setup pitcher in David Robertson, who is the most likely candidate to succeed Rivera when he retires.It has been the starting rotation that has left the coaching staff and the fans scratching their heads in concern for the past few ...
The setup man is the unheralded hero in baseball today. His is the role of keeping things status quo until the game can get to the closer. Ultimately, if he does his job well, he'll receive little recognition other than an "hld" next to his name in the following morning's box score.The New York Yankees' David Robertson is the best of these unheralded heroes.The 27-year-old hurler joined the big league club in 2008, but it wasn't until 2010 that he started getting serious time on the Yankee Stadium mound. He ...
New York Yankees prospect Dante Bichette Jr. was passed over by other teams when the Yankees picked him up, and he was criticized by scouts who believed that his quick success in the minor leagues would be short lived.Bichette was selected by the Yankees in the second round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of high school. Once he began to play third base in the Gulf Coast League, he achieved success quickly.In the 2011 season, he won the Gulf Coast League Player of the Month, he became ...
A couple of days ago, I did a column wondering if the Yankees should look into a potential reunion with Bobby Abreu.The former Yankee was just released by the Los Angeles Angels in favor of calling up minor-league prospect Mike Trout. Abreu was hitting .208 with five RBI but was mostly relegated to a bench player for the Angels in 2012.After this past weekend, I am now making my pitch for Brian Cashman to bring back Abreu.As of right now, two of the three starting outfielders for the Yankees are ...
Way back in December of 2008, numerous sources rumored a trade that would send Robinson Cano to the Dodgers in exchange for Matt Kemp.Obviously, the deal never materialized and each young superstar is still with their original club.There were mixed feelings about the deal at the time, as both players flashed signs of potential.Cano, a powerful second baseman with a strong arm, was coming off of a down 2008 season that saw him benched by manager Joe Girardi in September.Kemp, on the other hand, was showing signs of improvement in ...
My hometown Detroit Tigers wrapped up a series today against perennial powerhouse New York Yankees and as the final game came to a close, I came to the strong realization of how high of a level Derek Jeter is currently playing at. In other words, Derek Jeter has still got "it." What "it" is remains to be seen, but the Yankee great is off to his best start in years and appears poised to place him name on the short list of greatest hitters who have ever played the game.I concede ...
If there were ever a song that best epitomizes life as a Major League starting pitcher it would no doubt be the Rolling Stones, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” Well, that is unless you are New York Yankees hurler Ivan Nova. Now let me caveat by saying I think the world of Ivan Nova. I think he is a tremendously gifted pitcher with an outstanding arm and all the tools to be a dominant pitcher for years to come. But does it not feel like stealing every ...
Nick Swisher left Sunday's game between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers in the third inning with a tight left hamstring, tweets Daniel Barbarisi.He will undergo a precautionary MRI to ensure that there is no serious damage.Swisher struck out swinging in the first inning following his two home-run performance on Saturday, then followed that up by walking in the third inning.After seeing two pitches to the next batter, Raul Ibanez, and a throw over to first base, Swisher asked to leave the game.Andruw Jones was called upon to pinch-run.Losing ...
Alex Rodriguez has been give the reputation as a player that rarely produces when it counts, which is ridiculous.Until his 1956 Triple Crown season, the same was said of Mickey Mantle. Today, Mantle is considered one of the most "clutch" New York Yankees ever. A Mantle home run ended the game 13 times. A-Rod has done it nine times, four with the Yankees. Mantle hit eight grand slam home runs. Rodgriguez will tie Lou Gehrig's record of 23 grand slams with his next one. Now to "meaningless" home runs. A ...
It was reported on Sunday morning that the New York Yankees have decided to move Freddy Garcia to the bullpen (via Bombers Beat).The move comes as no surprise, especially after Garcia's exceptionally poor outing on Saturday.On the season, Garcia owns an ERA of 12.51 and an 0-2 record. His WHIP is currently 2.195.The move suggests that right-hander David Phelps, who has pitched very well in a long relief role this season, will swap places with Garcia.Phelps, who is in his rookie season, owns a 3.57 ERA in six appearances spanning ...