That night, I happened to be holed-up in Manhattan, at Foley's sports bar, watching an elevated TV with two soulmate strangers who shall forever live inside my head. Bird homered off Cleveland's Andrew Miller, detonating Yankee Stadium, and leaving no doubt - none, whatsoever! - this was our year. (It was all downhill from there.)
In my final moments on earth, if I'm lucky enough to have wits, that blast will be one of the cherished memories I call upon to ease my passage into the real post-season.
Greg Bird... thank you, sir.
Yesterday, in the agate of MLB Transactions, I learned that Birdie has signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies. He's looking to snag a LH platoon slot at 1B, and the Rockies look to be a miserable team. I wish him the best, and before you snicker, keep this in mind: He's 28, one year older than Luke Voit was, when traded to the Yankees.
So spins the wheel. In yesterday's agate, Toronto signed our old friend David Phelps - now 34 - for a bullpen shot. In another week, the Yankees will welcome his former rookie teammate, Adam Warren. They arrived in 2012, when Phelpsie threw 99 innings with an ERA of 3.34.
Blink, and ten years pass.
'Tis the week before spring training, and all through baseball, the music has stopped, and folks are scrambling for open seats. Soon, the Yankees will almost certainly sign Brett Gardner - (whether they need him is another matter.) Gardy is a fixture, as close to iconic status as we have. Apparently, our owner has no plans to cut last minute deals. Winning would be nice, but he's made it clear: Cutting luxury taxes is the Prime Objective. Money doesn't grow on trees, even if his could stack to the moon and back.
More than 100 free agents remain unsigned, including many old friends. Mark Melancon. Ivan Nova. Jackie Bradely Jr. Yoenis Cespedes (Humanis Centepedes). Tyler Clippard. Chasen Shreve. Pat Venditte. Shane Greene. Ben Gamel. Todd Frazier. Matt Harvey. Ian Kennedy. Cameron Maybin. David Robertson. Austin Romine. Here's a tracker list.
Make no mistake: Some of these guys could help the Yankees.
I refer you James Paxton, who is supposedly wowing in workouts.
Of course, he's not Corey Kluber or Jameson Tailon - who have missed most of the last two years. Paxton actually pitched in 2020 - five starts - and nearly returned for the playoffs. He's far more a known commodity than the two reclamation projects, or for that matter, Luis Severino. Wouldn't it make sense to give him a try?
Why am I bothering? Won't happen.
There's talent out there - chess pieces, lottery tickets and lug nuts. All we need is an owner.
Our team is owned by an asshole, and a cheap one, at that.
ReplyDeleteCould Cashman assemble a great team, one that lasts for five years or more as WS contenders or winners, if he was given carte blanche with the checkbook? I dunno.
But this isn't working at all.
We should sign Melancon and Robertson does The Major League Baseball Players Association allow Groupons?
ReplyDeleteDoug K.
Brian is a moron when it comes to baseball matters.
ReplyDeleteHal is an asshole, cheapskate billionaire who, more importantly, DOES NOT CARE ABOUT BASEBALL, WINNING, THE TEAM OR ANYTHING ELSE, other than raking in his continuing, endless profits from the businesses that Daddy bequeathed to him.
I repeat:
Brian is a moron.
Hal doesn't care.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I hear Melancon’s name, I want to scream. We sent him to Houston for Lance Berkman, who (I had to look it up) played exactly 37 games during the famous 2010 stretch run and was out of baseball two years later. Melancon went on to have a pretty decent TEN YEARS.
Can you guess who pulled off that great trade?
It's even worse, Dick Allen.
ReplyDeleteThe Brain then deep-sixed Berkman—whose nickname was "Fat Elvis," something that should have been a warning—before the following season, 2011. Simply released him, as is his wont.
The Cards scooped up F.E. for a bargain $8 mill. Bergman had a terrific comeback year, belted 31 homers with a .301 BA and .959 OPS, finished 7th in the MVP voting, and batted .423 in the World Series against Texas. Which St. Louis won.
Could he have possibly helped us in the division series that we lost by 1 run to Detroit that year? Hmm...
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