ORIOLES ARE STILL CREEPING AROUND ICHIRO...

Which is actually creepy.

Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun, a Orioles Insider apparently, says that the Orioles "might" be willing to give Ichiro Suzuki a 1 year deal, but that's a big "might":

"...The Orioles have had multiple discussions with the representatives of free-agent outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, according to an industry source.

There are those in the organization who aren’t sold on Suzuki. He is 41 years old, and his offensive numbers have declined over the past two seasons as his role with the New York Yankees decreased, though that might be more of a statement of how great he was previously...

The Orioles are still in search of a leadoff hitter, and while Suzuki made just two starts in the leadoff spot in 2014, he is a career .324/.367/.420 hitter there.

At this point, there’s nothing more than mutual interest. The sides have talked multiple times, but there’s been no offer and other teams are also interested."

That brings me back to the Yankees and Ichiro. You gotta wonder if the Yankees are one of those teams. It's amazing to me that the Yankees didn't offer the guy a 2 year deal, worth virtually nothing just to get him back in pinstripes and get him enough at bats to get him 3000 hits.  It's a huge money maker for them and a draw for the Yanks who just love to rack up records.  I know, I'm in the minority on this one and that's OK.  I just totally appreciate the way Ichiro approaches the game.  He's a true ballplayer.

That being said, these days, seeing the Yankees and their want to "younger" their team, it's a whole new ball game, pardon the pun.  That being said, I would have kept Ichiro in right field over Carlos Beltran any day of the week.

We'll have to see if the Orioles are gonna make an offer to Ichiro. You also gotta wonder if no other teams go after Ichiro, if the Yankees could make a last second pitch. With our outfield, someone is bound to get hurt. Ichiro could fill that void.  Trust me, you know how this works.

Watch, he'll go to the Orioles and he'll find the fountain of youth.  It's just our luck.

Stay tuned...



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I'M A BIG DESIGNER NOW... OR SOMETHING

Actually... I designed a Yankee blog Header... I'm not a fashion designer or anything... although, I can dream. I digress...

This post is short and sweet and cool and has everything to do with helping out my fellow bloggers.  Bloggers that want to get read. Bloggers that don't get enough exposure and are ignored by the bigger guys and just want to get noticed.  I'm here to say... I want to help change that.

Eddie over at YankeesNews26.com, a contributor to the BYB Hub asked me to design a header for his Yankee blog. He saw the design I did updating my look for Bleeding Yankee Blue, the design below and asked if I could help him.

It's 2015, and I decided to be nicer than I normally am... if that's at all possible, because I'm already adorable and sweet.  (Sarcasm is dripping right about now.)

Anyway, I did something real fast and here it is:

Nothing outstanding, but unique. That was followed by a post by Yankeesnews26.com titled THANK YOU ROBERT CASEY.  It's a really nice piece thanking me for taking the time.  In short, no sweat man, happy to help a fellow blogger in this competitive world.  There are plenty of blogs that have been around for about a decade now with sticks up their asses acting like their the Godfather of this racket.  I'm here to tell you that they were there early on when I needed a hand... and never received even a returned email. The few that did help Bleeding Yankee Blue get off the ground were Sliding into Home with Greg Cohen, Bronx Baseball Daily with Rob Abruzzese and Jane Heller of Confessions of a She-fan. All terrific sites, all terrific people and all willing to lend a hand, answer my questions and help me understand the business. They were the only ones who helped me.  Well, I'm a sucker for loyalty and I believe in "passing it on."

That's why I helped out Yankeesnews26.com.  That is why I started the BYB Hub.  It's a one stop shopping for anyone who wants to read new baseball blogs and for any new baseball blog who wants to get read.  It's the least I can do.  I believe in helping, because those three sites helped me.

It's the give and take of this crazy world.  Plus, it's my New Years resolution.  Pay it forward.  All I ask is not to be taken advantage of. You do that... and I ripped your freaking head off...

For anyone who is interested in being part of the BYB Hub, reach out to me and let me know.  For anyone that want to bookmark the BYB Hub, click HERE and check it out. You will not be disappointed. I promise.


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McCANN HAS ENDORSED DAVID CARPENTER

That makes it all better.  Seriously.

Look, many of you don't know who David Carpenter is and there was a lot of concern and anger when Manny Banuelos was traded to the Atlanta Braves.  Here's the thing, a lot of scouts had concerns about Manny after Tommy John surgery and so, I guess the Yankees pulled the trigger and flipped him to Atlanta. 

The Killer B's, made up of him, Dellin Betances and Andrew Brackman were supposed to be the driving force for the Yankees, well, right about now.  But Betances is the only one still here and the others are gone.

(In Photo: David Carpenter)
What do we have for Manny? Chasen Shreve and David Carpenter, and let's face it... with almost every move we've made this off-season, it's a trade and a prayer, right? We know nothing. Manny could be amazing down the road. Chasen and Carpenter could too. They could also suck. It's a guess. 

Things could end up being great for us though. Why? Well the Yankees ARE shedding salary and our team is getting younger right before our eyes. It was something that many Yankee fans were screaming about wanting to do.  Well, it's happening.  Strangely, many Yankee fans are still not happy.  Well, I get it, but you need to make moves, some time and some how... and here we are. Again, yes, it's a wild card and we will see what happens next. But that takes me back to Brian McCann endorsing his former teammate, David Carpenter. I promise you there's a pay off here...

Here's that nugget from Joel Sherman:

#Yankees have bit of secret weapon: Heard McCann gave strong endorsement to Carpenter, who he caught a lot with #Braves
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) January 1, 2015

Carpenter hits 99mph, pitches at 95-96, strong cutter/slider. Was 8th-innning rlvr for ’13 #Braves 96W, McCann main catcher. #yankees
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) January 1, 2015

So what does it all mean? Well, not much other than I am cool with McCann backing the guy and supporting the move.  Look, Carpenter could come to New York and lay an egg. BUT, he can also be dominant.  All I'm saying is, as a fan, seeing the little things were doing, I like that there's movement... and anytime there's a backing of a player involved... it helps a fan base and brings alittle extra confidence to that player as well as fans. And hey, I'm big on loyalty, what can I say.

Let's face it; the Yankees haven't signed huge big names, and sometimes old, Free Agents this off season.  They're doing exactly the opposite.  Sure, it's weird, but it's a good thing, if not for right this second, maybe for 2015... and for the future.

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HIROKI KURODA & "MAD LOVE" FROM THE PADRES

Remember when Hiroki Kuroda decided he was going back to Japan to play for the Carp? We wrote about it in KURODA'S GOING HOME the day after Christmas.   Now comes word that the San Diego Padres pushed hard to get the guy on their club.

According to UT San Diego:

"The Padres were making a serious push to sign Hiroki Kuroda before the 39-year-old right-hander opted to return to Japan last week, a team source said. While a report that the Padres’ offer was as high as $18 million, topping pushes by both the Dodgers and the Yankees, may have been “a little high,” the source said, the team’s interest in another one-year buy further illustrates Preller’s intention to win now."

It's interesting, although, truth be told, I'm not a fan of these stories, especially because it's after the fact.  Bottom line, the story ended on December 26th... Kuroda had chosen... and it was Japan.



 
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MANNY BANUELOS... GONE!

Big trade by the Yankees and kind of surprising considering there was chatter  about the Yankees eventually bringing him up to contribute at some point "soon."  Well, that was a lie, or BS, or they changed their minds or ... something.

Looks like Manny Banuelos is gone. Traded, to the Atlanta Braves for 2 other pitchers.

According to Jack Curry of YES, right handed reliever David Carpenter and left hander Chasen Shreve will be wearing pinstripes:

Yankees have traded Manny Banuelos to the Braves for RH reliever David Carpenter and LHR Chasen Shreve.
— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) January 1, 2015

Now, I don't have to dig through the BYB archives to explain to you the excitement we had for Manny Banuelos.  It goes literally to the beginning of BYB when Grant Cederquist wrote FEATURE: ATTACK OF THE KILLER B's. That piece was written in February of 2011.  Back then our former writer wrote:

"... From the very beginning of his pro career, Banuelos impressed scouts, but wasn’t viewed as a potential top of the rotation guy, largely in part to his small stature and frame. He's the lone lefty of the bunch and has developed power beyond what most lefties ever have, partially in thanks to an emergency appendectomy which caused him to take working out must more seriously. His fastball is now pretty much at CC speed, hovering between 93 and 94, and often clocking as high as 95-96. 97’s a rarity, but towards the end of 2010 he touched here and there.

Manny has also recently developed a curve ball, which is also considered a plus pitch. Clocking in at 75-79 MPH with good break, it produces frequent swing and misses.

As effective as both those pitches are, his excellent change up is considered his top pitch.  He throws it between 78 and 82 MPH with huge 2-seam action and a major drop..." 

Since then there was Tommy John surgery and I guess after that, it may have been a situation where he just wasn't the same pitcher as they envisioned.  At any rate... now he's gone.

According to Hardball Talk:

 "...Carpenter, 29, is entering his first year of arbitration eligibility. The right-hander has been a reliable reliever for the Braves over the last two seasons, posting a 2.63 ERA with a 141/36 K/BB ratio in 126 2/3 innings.

 Shreve, 24, made his major league debut for the Braves in July, enjoying a stint of a week and a half in the show. He returned in September when rosters expanded, finishing the year with a 0.73 ERA and a 15/3 K/BB ratio in 12 1/3 innings. In the minors, where he spent most of his season, Shreve owned a 2.67 ERA and an 87/12 K/BB ratio in 64 innings, most of which came with Double-A Mississippi."

The Yanks are making moves ladies and gentlemen... let's see what happens next.

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WHY THE YANKEES CAN’T JUST "SPEND MORE"

It has been a frustrating experience for all of us. The Yankees have registered the second consecutive season without a playoff appearance, and there are no major signings. It seems like we played this game two years ago, when we signed a few second and third tier players and hoped for the best. Many of us have wished for the days of George Steinbrenner, when the Boss would go out and pay top dollar for the starts we needed.

Here is the sobering truth about the Yankees, and really about every sports franchise. They do not have a bottomless well of cash from which to draw. Going out and spending on top-shelf players is about as realistic as going out and spending top dollar on the latest gadget or the latest toy. You might be able to get away with it once or twice, but eventually that credit card bill will find its way into your mailbox. I suspect that the Yankees are in the same predicament.

Here are some financials. In 2013, the Yankees posted an operating loss of $9.1M. You read that right. As a business, the Yankees had a net loss for 2013. The 2014 numbers are not in yet, but they may not be that much better. The Yankees’ payroll jumped from $247M to $258M, even with Alex Rodriguez’ suspension savings (they paid him just under $3M for the year). Attendance at Yankee Stadium went up from 3.3M to 3.4M, so that should help, but that may not be enough. While I do not believe that the Yankees are in financial trouble – I am sure they have their cash reserve – I do believe that they have hit their ceiling on unhindered spending.

Now let us look at their spending. Last year the Yankees paid four players more than $20M – C.C. Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, Masahiro Tanaka, and Jacoby Ellsbury. In 2015, they will add the no-longer-suspended Alex Rodriguez to that list. No other team in baseball has five $20M players. The Dodgers will have four, the Phillies will have three, and a bunch of teams will have two or fewer. Here’s the other thing. If the Yankees had those five players performing at the level you expect from a $20M player, we would be in the playoffs every year, perhaps winning championships. The Dodgers' players are performing and are playing in October, the Phillies' players are busts and they’re in the cellar. Add to that the fact that most of the Yankees’ $20M busts are in the last years of long-term contracts, and you should no longer be surprised that they passed on Scott Boras’ $200M, longer-term contract demands. In my lifetime, I have rarely seen the Yankees pass on a deal for a top player like that, and should be a clear indicator as to where they are financially.

For the Yankees to be competitive there are only two possibilities in my view. The better option is that their $20M players start playing to their expectations. It is also the least likely of their options. C.C. Sabathia has to come back strong and capable of winning 18+ games. Teixeira has to come back healthy and capable of hitting .300 with 30+ homers and gold-glove play at first. Tanaka has to return to form and hope that he does not reinjure his shoulder, or (God forbid) need surgery. Alex Rodriguez has to become the Alex Rodriguez of old. It would take a miracle.

The other possibility is that the Yankees ride out their bad contracts and learn from their mistakes. There is more hope here, but like a long tunnel, it will be dark for a while before it gets bright. The Yankees have locked themselves into bad deals at least through this coming year and the following. In 2017, Mark Teixeira and Carlos Beltran’s contracts expire. I include Beltran because he did not live up to the expectations of his $15M salary, and at age 38, he may not for the duration of his contract. The Yankees have a $5M buyout of Sabathia’s contract in 2017, so they may get further relief there. That is where the healing for the team may begin. The following year they get out from Alex Rodriguez’ contract, assuming they do not buy him out before then. For Ellsbury and Tanaka, I am still optimistic that those deals will pay off.

At the end of the day, I think everyone in the Yankees organization wants to win a World Series every year. To win a World Series, you need talent. To have top talent, either you have to spend money to acquire it, or you have to develop it and spend money to keep it. To spend money, you have to have money to spend. When your money is locked up in long-term contracts, your options become limited. It is why many of us – myself included – have railed against long-term contracts. It becomes a gamble that can cripple an organization for years. Even an organization as big and wealthy as the Yankees.

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Senior Staff Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon
My blog is: Shots from Murderer's Row






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SHOW UP, BE CONSISTENT & GRIND IT

"I would always say 'Grind it!'"
- Jorge Posada, from BYB's THE FULL POSADA INTERVIEW

There is something incredibly endearing about a hard worker. They may not be the best at their job, but they keep pushing. They work towards their goals. They show up. 

A few days ago a friend posted a video to his Facebook and tagged me in it. I think the video speaks for itself. Watch:

The video opens with a quote given by Derek Jeter when asked "What made you so great?" In a very Jeter-like fashion he responds "I wouldn't call myself great. I just prided myself in consistency." And this can be said of Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, and everyone that wakes up in the morning and pushes to meet their goals. 

I alway say I am lucky to have grown up in this baseball era. It wasn't perfect, but the Yankees Core Four made it unforgettable. It wasn't that they won the World Series every single season. It was that they showed up. Every game was played with more heart than the one before. It was like the World Series every game. There was no coasting for these guys. It was all in; all heart, grit and dedication. Every single game. 

I'm a writer. I wake up in the morning and go to bed at night writing, and creating stories to tell. It is who I am. So I write. On BYB some times I get really positive feedback, and other times I get guys like Jeff, who decided to leave a comment that made all RED SOX FANS LOOK BAD. It's all a part of what I do. I take it in and process. Then I have two choices: Keep writing, or give in to all the Jeff's of the world and quit. Hey, Jeff! I'm still here! 

I know my accomplishments aren't comparable to Jeter's. But here's the thing, if I give up because of one persons negativity, then I'll never be half as great as I could be. One of my favorite quote from Jorge came right here on BYB, when Casey gave us THE FULL POSADA INTERVIEW. Casey asked Jorge what advice he could give his son to keep him inspired. Jorge simply said "Grind it!" It's so simple, yet so profound. He didn't choose something complex. Just "Grind it!" And we know... we know it means "keep your head in the game, and never give up."

The same could be said of anything you do. Show up and give it all you've got. Be consistent in your work ethic. If you do an A+ job today, don't show up with B- quality tomorrow. And when times get hard, grind it! Push back, push harder, and break the barriers. 

Ask yourself "do you want it badly enough?" Doesn't matter what your "It" is... that new job, new house, new you... do you want it? Really truly want it? Good! Now start busting your ass and get it! It's not going to be handed to you. The only person that can get it to you is YOU! Where would Jeter be if they gave up when he were sent back down to the farm system? And when Jorge was told he would never be starting catcher, what would have happened if he gave up? And what if Mo couldn't see past the milk cartons, and rocks he used to play with? 

Anything in this world worth having is worth working hard for. Show up, be consistent, and grind it! 

--Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer 

Twitter: @e_morales1804

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