Bronx Bomber Ball

  In an exciting weekday series in the Bronx, Giancarlo Stanton led the Bombers to taking two out of three from the Astros. The series ended on somewhat of a sour note, as the Yankees definitely could have completed the sweep, but I’m not going to harp on the team’s first loss in a week. Chad Green had a pretty rough outing, which isn’t going to happen often. It just sucks that it was the short man Altuve who took him deep after the sh*t he got from fans all week. Before that homer, Altuve was 2-12 on the series, and heard enough “F*ck Altuve” chants from fans to make Manager Dusty Baker cry to the media about it. Fans even chanted “F*ck your birthday” yesterday for the Houston Second Baseman’s 31 st  birthday. I got to go to the game Wednesday night and it was incredible getting to go to the stadium and be a part of that for the only time Houston comes to the Bronx this season (unless they meet in the postseason).   Anyway, what hurts more than the loss itself, is the in...

Photo credit: The Athletic

The Yankees announced their roster for the Wild Card series early on Tuesday, and Miguel Andujar was left off of it. Heading into the postseason, the INF/OF Andujar was the biggest question mark for the team, and whether he would be included on the roster or not. Instead, the Yankees decided in favor of having first baseman Mike Ford and third string catcher Erik Kratz on the bench. The third baseman and outfielder was hoping that a strong finish to the season could earn himself a spot on the roster, as he went 9-for-25 in September with four extra-base hits. However, it seems that the lefty bat of Ford (who went hitless at 0-for-19 in the final month of the season) gave him the advantage, as the team only has three lefty bats plus the switch-hitting Aaron Hicks on the roster, not including Ford.  

I’m not typically a fan of small sample size theater, but it’s hard to deny how good Gio Urshela has looked through his first 16 appearances of 2020. Entering the season, there were some questions regarding how Urshela would follow up his stellar 2019 campaign. After all, prior to last year’s breakout, Urshela was a widely unknown 27-year-old with a career batting average of .225, that the Yankees acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays for $25,000 in August of 2018. He was known as a solid defensive player with little to no offensive ability. That narrative changed drastically a year ago. Photo Credit: John Minchillo/AP Photo

With Aaron Hicks  undergoing Tommy John surgery in the winter and targeting a July/August return date,  and Giancarlo Stanton  and Aaron Judge’s  status es  for Opening Day unknown,  the Yankees outfield  could see  some changes throughout the  opening weeks of the season  as players try to establish themselves as contributors to the team.   

Colorado Rockies’ star third baseman Nolan Arenado has not been shy this offseason about his desire to play elsewhere. This time last year, Arenado had just signed an eight year $260 Million extension and the Rockies were coming off back-to-back playoff appearances. This year, the circumstances aren’t nearly as happy for both sides. The Rockies had a disappointing 71-win season and are projected to be one of the worst teams in the league again. This prompted Arenado to request a trade this offseason, with the leverage of an opt-out clause following the 2021 season. Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images                            The Rockies would be scrutinized mightily if their star were to walk out after next season and they lose him for nothing but compensatory picks. This makes a possible trade much more likely, and a trade this offseason would...

2019 was not an easy year for one Miguel Andujar.  After a runner up finish in the American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2018 behind only Shohei Ohtani, Yankees fans and staff alike expected Miggy to come out swinging in 2019. Photo credit: New York Post

Let’s just get this out of the way first. I’m thinking it. You’re thinking it. Now, the world has gotten the chance to see it on full display this past weekend.   DJ LeMahieu has been, without question, the single biggest free agent signing by any team this season.   His numbers through his first 76 games in pinstripes?   A .345/.392/.534 slash line, 12 home runs, 61 RBIs (his career high for an entire season is 66!), and an absurd .486 (35-for-72) batting average with runners in scoring position.   He has accounted for a 4.0 WAR and was just recently voted the starting second baseman for the 2019 MLB All Star Game.   He has been more than any Yankee fan could have ever imagined when he was inked to a two-year, $24 million deal this past Winter. Photo Credit: AP

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that something very exciting is happening down at third base at Yankee Stadium. Among the “replacement” Yankees who came up to join the team in the wake of half the team finding itself on the Injured List was Gio Urshela.   However, f ans expected the 2019 season to be another great one for 2018 Rookie of the Year contender, Miguel Andujar.   Not to mention, there was hope that the issue of his less than stellar fielding would resolve itself because his bat was too good to lose. Photo Credit: Newsday/Jim McIsaac

As a follower of the Yankees, the richest franchise in baseball and fifth in all of sports, they’re often associated with superstar names when guys become available because they have the money, pedigree, and even the assets if it’s via trade. Look no further than the latest example of a potential trade target that would require a massive package, shortstop Francisco Lindor of the Cleveland Indians. Photo Credit: Ken Blaze/USA Today Sports

As June begins, if there is one thing to be said about the 2019 New York Yankees, it is that no matter how much adversity or injuries ravage this team, they are a group who not only accept whatever hardships come their way, but they will continue to thrive. Despite numerous key players spending a significant amount of time on the injured list, this continues to be a team that is not only fun to watch, but one that anybody should be afraid to play, regardless of the lack of superstars on the field. Photo Credit: Paul J. Bereswill

It is almost as though fans aren’t phased by it anymore. Over the course of the past month that baseball has been “in session,” the Yankees have accrued enough players on the Injured List to add up to $87 million worth of payroll as of April 7th.  They have also led MLB in the category of… most injured players.   The injury woes didn’t start with the season opener, either; we can’t forget that prior to the start of the 2019 season, Didi Gregorius underwent Tommy John surgery.   Dellin Betances has his shoulder issue, which started during Spring Training.   Aaron Hicks had, and continues to have, back problems.   Jacoby Ellsbury… we won’t even go there (or discuss the astronomical numbers he has cost the Yankees at this point).   Luis Severino, devastatingly, suffered a shoulder injury during Spring Training, which changed the outlook for the starting rotation that already had to regroup -- thanks to the previously-accounted for absence of C.C. Sabathi...

The Yankees open 2019 with one goal in mind, to win a World Series Championship. Anything less would be considered a disappointment. In order to achieve this, New York will need solid production from the entire roster, but a couple players stand out as most important for the Yankees to secure their 28th title. Photo Credit: Kim Klement | USA TODAY Sports

Over the past few seasons, the Yankees’ infield has undergone a significant transformation. The old guard of veterans is gone and has been replaced by confidant young guns, two of which were finalists for the 2018 Rookie of the Year award. While many of the same names from the end of last year are returning, there are some new faces in the fold that are looking to stake their claim for a role. The unfortunate injury that will force Didi Gregorius to miss a significant portion of the season will also play a role in how Aaron Boone deploys his infielders this season. Let’s look at them position by position. Credit; Elsa/Getty Images

While the Yankees may have missed out on the free agent market’s biggest names this Winter, the team landed a pretty nice consolation prize when it signed infielder DJ LeMahieu back in January. The contract, which spans two years, and will cost New York $24 million, looks like a potential steal for the ball club. Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

News broke today from Padres’ reporter Dennis Lin of the Athletic that the San Diego Padres are interested in acquiring Indians’ RHP Corey Kluber. This makes sense as the Padres have a plethora of young talent to deal, but also a strong core of players they can build around. However, there is a twist. The report of the Padres’ interest also included that the Padres would be interested in flipping him for a third baseman to anchor their infield. Kluber would instantly help the Friars, but with his window of solid years left closing, the match is not perfect.   Photo Credit: Getty Images

The Yankees have reached an agreement with free agent infielder DJ LeMahieu, according to multiple reports. The reported contract is for two years and $24 million. LeMahieu, who won a batting title in 2016 and Gold Gloves in 2014, 2017 and 2018, has spent the majority of his career with the Colorado Rockies. Source confirms: Free-agent second baseman DJ LeMahieu heading to #Yankees on two-year deal. Believed to be in $24M range. First reported: @JackCurryYES . — Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 11, 2019 The Yankees plan to use LeMahieu as a versatile player around the infield. They will use him at second base, first base and third base. — Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) January 11, 2019

It’s no secret the Yankees happen to be targeting a middle infielder this offseason. Following a visit to Yankee Stadium earlier this week, Manny Machado is the number one priority in the Bronx as it stands. There is, however, another intriguing option on the market who shares the position with one Johnny Hustle himself: Troy Tulowitzki. Photo Credit: Peter G. Aiken/USA TODAY Sports

It felt like a shoe-in. So much so, in fact, that I advocated for what I thought was the inevitable all the way back in September, before the BBWAA even announced the nominees for American League Rookie of the Year. Photo Credit: Getty Images