Bronx Bomber Ball

Entering the last week of the regular season the Yankees opened a four-game set Monday night in the always dreaded trip to face the Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees came into tonight sitting one and a half games (two in the loss column) above the Oakland A’s for home field advantage in the AL Wild Card game. Aaron Boone decided to go with a “bullpen day” tonight instead of giving the ball to a typical starter.

The Yankees’ offense pounded Orioles’ pitching for ten runs on Friday, and the excess of runs was the key to the win as David Robertson, Jonathan Loaisiga, and A.J. Cole combined to allow six runs in relief. Despite the near collapse, the Yankees sealed the deal in the ninth as Betances picked up his fourth save of the season in the 10-8 victory.   Photo Credit: AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

Aaron Judge made his return to the Yankees’ starting lineup today, going 0-for-4. He looked comfortable in the batter’s box, however, with a couple hard-hit line outs and a questionable non-check swing call with a 3-2 count. He also looked very smooth in right field, making a few catches throughout the day. Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

I get it. The Yankees are a 90-win team and only need to go 10-6 in their last 16 games to win 100 games, a feat accomplished just over 100 times since 1892. There are 20+ fanbases in the sport that have it worse off than the Yankees, and it is a very feasible argument that if it wasn’t for the Red Sox historic success, the skepticism surrounding the Bronx Bombers would be minimal. Photo Credit: Newsday

Well, Didi tried. Didi Gregorius tried to win the game today. The Yankee shortstop had himself a terrific day, going 2-for-3 with one walk, two runs scored, and four RBIs thanks to a sixth inning grand slam which came in vein, as the rest of the offense only totaled three hits (two by Andujar and one by McCutchen), and the pitching combined for 10 runs on a night where Sonny Gray got the spot start. Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Facing off against another measly team in the Twins, the Yanks took advantage of another great performance by deadline acquisition JA Happ and won the first game of the series with ease.   After each offense was quite silent the first five innings, the Yanks dominated to a 7-2 win. Photo Credit: Jim Mone

After losing two out of three to the Oakland Athletics earlier this week, the Yankees were able to take the series against the Seattle Mariners after last night's victory. Going for the series sweep, CC Sabathia and the bullpen only surrendered three runs, but the offense could not capitalize with runners in scoring position to score more than two against Erasmo Ramirez.  Photo Credit: Getty Images/Stephen Brashear

It was a Labor Day to forget for the Yankees, as they dropped the first game of their crucial, three-game series in Oakland by a score of 6-3. With Monday’s loss, the Yankees are now eight games back in the loss column of the Boston Red Sox in the AL East, and four games up in the loss column of the Oakland Athletics for the top Wild Card spot. Photo Credit: Thearon Henderson/Getty Images

Behind seven strong innings from Masahiro Tanaka and a fifth inning blast from  Gleyber  Torres, the Yankees took the third game in their  four-game  set with the Tigers yesterday by the count of 2-1.  This game featured the Yankees debut of Andrew McCutchen (0-3, 2K, HBP) and the return of Gary Sanchez.   Photo Credit: Bill Kostroun/AP Photo

Following their victory against the Detroit Tigers on Friday, the Yankees announced a minor trade in the wee hours of Saturday morning. With several minor leaguers likely to join the big club in the coming days, the Yankees further bolstered their depth by acquiring SS Adeiny Hechavarria from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. To make room for Hechavarria on the 40-man roster, LHP Ryan Bollinger was designated for assignment. The Yankees have been stretched thin due to injuries in recent weeks and Hechavarria will give the team an experienced big leaguer to add to their bench. Credit: Justin Berl/Getty Images

The Yankees have announced that they have officially acquired outfielder Andrew McCutchen and cash considerations from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for Triple-A shortstop  Abiatal  Avelino and Single-A RHP Juan De Paula. The deal was first reported by Joel Sherman of the NY Post.  I hear if the trade is completed #yankees will be sending two prospects to the #sfgiants for McCutchen and that Abital Avelino is one of them. — Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 31, 2018 New York, in dire need of outfield help with  Aaron  Judge now shelved for over a month and Shane Robinson hitting under .150 in his place, needed to make a move like this to bolster its roster heading into the final month of the season.  After tonight’s brutal loss to the Tigers, it seems the American League East crown is out of reach, but the Yankees need to ensure they are as strong as possible heading into the AL Wild Card Game.  

Photo Credit: AP Recently, there have been rumors about a potential three-way trade between the Yankees, Pirates, and White Sox, that would send Pittsburgh’s star outfielder Andrew McCutchen to the Yanks, White Sox star pitcher Jose Quintana to the Pirates, and prospects to Chicago. The prospects, specifically, are listed   in a tweet from Brian Bilek, and rumors were also confirmed by Dave Williams of Barstool. Outside of Glasnow, #WhiteSox would receive some combo of Mitch Keller, Blake Rutherford, Kevin Newman, Miguel Andujar & Elias Diaz. — Brian Bilek (@BrianBilek_) December 23, 2016 Many people probably don’t like the idea of trading for McCutchen, especially after his down year in 2016. However, I’m sure there will be a boatload of Yankees fans clamoring for the team to trade from its immense prospect depth and acquire the 2013 National League Most Valuable Player, which is why I will review both sides of the trade.

The hot stove may be cooling down, but there is still plenty to talk about at this time. In the last BBB podcast of 2016, Steven Eareckson and Chad Raines discuss the latest Yankees news. Steven and Chad cover the Matt Holliday and Aroldis Chapman signings, the recent trade rumors surrounding Jose Quintana and Andrew McCutchen, and the upcoming Hall of Fame vote. This podcast also previews what you should expect from the BBB moving forward into the New Year! We have many exciting features planned, and look forward to providing you, the readers, with more quality pieces as we get closer to the 2017 baseball season.