Bronx Bomber Ball

No matter how you felt about the deadline, it progressed differently than most would have expected, given the Yankees lack of moves. While it is undebatable that this team still has World Series talent, it is still unlike a championship contender to not address its most glaring needs. Here is what our staff had to say about what transpired: NJ.com

On this very day, 15 years ago, Jason Varitek did not take off his mask. Credit: Reuters

On Sunday afternoon, I parked myself on the couch, pulled the emergency brake, and settled in for nine innings of Yankee baseball.   Apart from some Yankee fielding errors, it was a good game to watch.   It was a divisional match-up that featured two fantastic pitchers on the bump.   For the Yanks it was, Masahiro Tanaka and for the Blue Jays, Marcus Stroman.   I love watching Stroman pitch; he has some of the nastiest stuff in the league.   His command is phenomenal and he fields his position incredibly well, a rare trait for a pitcher.   My “dumb fan brain” is taking the image of him pitching in Yankee Stadium, but this time it’s October and he’s wearing pinstripes.   It’s a wonderful image and not completely far-fetched.   Stroman has been linked to the Yankees as a trade target at the deadline along with Madison Bumgardner, Trevor Bauer, and a few others.   Of those three listed, Stroman would be my top option, but I tend to think the ...

Life is good.  The calendar says July, burgers and brats are on the grill, fireworks are filling the air, and The New York Yankees are the best team in baseball.  Sure, the Dodgers are playing good ball and fans in Minnesota and Houston might have something to say about that stance, but for now Yankee fans are sitting in a great spot.  The ball club has won 57 games and sits atop the AL East by 6.5 games.  For many fans, the top concern at the season’s midway point could be who the club is targeting in a trade.  I am of the belief that a reliable starting pitcher needs to be added to the staff in order to put this team over the bump and secure meaningful wins in October.  However, we must ask, “at what cost?”  Along with premier young pitching, the Yankees have some big bats in the farm system and while their professional future is still unwritten, let’s look back at the first half of their 2019 seasons and call out the studs. Credit: NJ.c...

The New York Yankees looked to avoid getting swept in Cleveland in Sunday afternoon’s bout with the Indians.  The Yanks went with the opener today and sent Chad Green to the mound to face off against Cleveland’s Shane Bieber.  It took almost 4 hours and 10 innings to get it done, but the Yankees left Cleveland with a 7-6 win over the Indians. Photo Credit: David Dermer | AP

In the fifth round of the 2019 MLB Draft, the New York Yankees selected another left-handed pitcher: Ken Waldichuk from Saint Mary’s College. Photo Credit: Saint Mary's College Athletics

The Yankees enter the weekend after an off day against the leaders of the AL East, the Tampa Bay Rays.   CC Sabathia took the mound against the Rays’ opener, Ryne Stanek.  Sabathia  pitched a gem, only giving up six hits and one run through six innings.   The Yankees found themselves down in the bottom of the ninth by two runs, but clutch hitting from Luke Voit, Gary Sanchez, Gleyber Torres, and Gio Urshela saved the game.   The Bombers won a thriller, 4-3 over the Rays. Photo Credit: Noah K. Murray/USA Today Sports

The weekend showdown against the Rays is one of the most pivotal series of this young season.   With the Yankees 1.5 games behind the Rays in the AL East, the club sent Domingo Germán out to the bump.   The Rays countered with a young ace of their own, the American League’s April Pitcher of the Month, Tyler Glasnow. Germán gave up three earned runs, but the bats led by none other than Gio Urshela were alive just enough to get him his seventh win of the year.   The  Yankees won 4-3.   Photo Credit: Steve Nesius | AP

Death, taxes, and injured Yankees, w ell, at least that’s what it feels like.   The latest to succumb to the 2019 injury bug is first baseman Greg Bird with a plantar fascia tear.   At the break of the news, Bird was placed on the 10-day IL, but after some review it seems the injury is more severe than originally expected.   An injury of this nature will likely sideline Bird for at least a couple months, if not more.   Although past injuries that Bird has suffered are not related, it’s worth mentioning that Bird has played just 140 major league games since 2015.   Photo Credit: NY Post

They’re bruised.   They’re battered.   They’re dinged up, but nevertheless, the show must go on.   The Yankees looked to bounce back after an ugly three game sweep at the hands of the Houston Astros.   The middling Chicago White Sox are in town, and the Yankees unfortunately kicked the series off with a 9-6 loss. Photo Credit: Michael Owens | AP Photo

Earlier this spring, the New York Yankees extended a non-roster invitation to 21 ballplayers in their organization.   The Yankees' 40-Man Roster is loaded and there is a drop-off of talent as we look at player 41 and beyond.   This makes sense.   Much of the talent in New York’s farm system is very young and will be playing in low-level minors in 2019.   The list of non-roster invitees includes some of that young talent, but also some of the journeymen types.   Each spring, it’s exciting to look through the list and try to identify a few players that will be called up to The Show at some point this season.   This year, barring an outbreak of injuries, it will be a short list.   However, there are three non-roster invitees that have a legitimate shot at cracking the major league roster at some point this season.   Photo Credit: NY Post