Bronx Bomber Ball

It may seem like Brian McCann is the odd man out in the Bronx. He has failed to bat .250 in each of his three seasons in pinstripes. He is now 32 years old and has lost the starting catcher job to Gary Sanchez.   Given the fact that he is a proven veteran who still has value as a starting catcher for many other teams, you would figure the Yankees should trade him. Photo Credit: Steven Ryan | Getty Images

2016 was a year filled with some ups, but mostly downs for us Yankees fans. Just as Brian Cashman did his “State of the Yankees” address earlier this week, I will do my own version of where fans believe the Yankees are right now, and also how we got to this point. Photo credit: RICH SCHULTZ/GETTY IMAGES

At the beginning of the month of September, the Yankees were very much in the race for an American League Wild Card spot, and even had a chance to win the division. Since then, they have dropped off big time. They now basically need to win each of their remaining games to even have a shot at making the playoffs. While it sounds pretty devastating to most fans, considering how close they were, it really shouldn’t be a surprise. Photo Credit: Paul Bereswill

Mark Teixeira was rounding the bases, hearing the roar of approval from more than 50,000 Yankees faithful. He had just hit a walk-off home run, giving the Bombers the victory in Game Two of the American League Division Series against the Minnesota Twins. Less than a year after signing with New York in the offseason, he had already given fans a moment that many of them would never forget. Photo Credit: Nick Laham | Getty Images

How can I start this off? As the 2016 season draws to a close, so does the career of our first baseman, the five-time gold glove winner (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010 ,2012), three-time All-Star (2005, 2009, 2015), and one-time World Series champion with the Yankees (2009), Mark Charles Teixeira. Reflecting back, I can personally say that I took Teixeira's presence for granted. Next season, we will be without our defensive powerhouse at first base, a presence that will be greatly missed in the infield. With his departure, the infield will no longer have any members from the 2009 championship team. The core of that 2009 team was destined for more winning, but it never came to fruition. That story can be told at another time because this is Teixeira's moment. Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images