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By Anthony De Franco  October 13, 2009, at 8:00 pm  Disclaimer: Before I even start this article, I’m writing this whole thing as a Yankee fan. I love the team, watch a ton of the games, and have seen every pitch of the playoffs. However, that doesn’t make any of the following any less true.
I lived in Arizona for a couple of years, and it’s really tough to watch an east coast baseball team while you live out there. The times are all screwed up, so I would be coming back from class at four o’clock and first pitch would be happening. Let alone the fact that the school didn’t get YES. Those bastards.
So, while I was out there, I adopted the Colorado Rockies. They are in the National League, they have no effect on the Yanks, and who doesn’t like a baseball team that routinely puts up football scores?
That brings me to the postseason. I watched every single pitch of both the Yanks and the Rox series’ and I figured something out that I never realized before.
I hate most Yankee Fans.
The main reason is the remarkable sense of self-entitlement that most Yankee fans have. I don’t know if it comes from living in the city that most call the “Center of the Universe” or if it comes from winning so often, but there is the feeling among most fans that if the Yankees lose in the playoffs, that they have somehow personally insulted their fans and everyone in the organization needs to be burned at the stake for their sins.
Meanwhile, Colorado and their fans are happy just to be there. When the Rockies were down to the Phillies, the fans at Coors Field cheered for every single batter that came to plate. They urged on their pitchers with every fiber of their being. They were real fans.
They even tried to keep Troy Tulowitzki from making out to end the game for a second straight day. How do you think most Yankees fans would react if the same guy was up in that position for a second straight and made out to end the series? If Tulo was a Yank, he would have been run out of town on a rail. Instead, he is still going to be celebrated as what he is: The heartbeat of a really good, young Rockies ballclub.
I’m just as arrogant as any person who lives in New York. However, I just can’t believe how little credit most Yankee fans give most of the league. It’s even evident in the way that the fans here talk. It’s not that the Angels consistently beat the Yankees, it’s that the Yanks just can’t beat the Angels. It’s like the opposing team has nothing to do with the loss. It has to be the fact that A-Rod is un-clutch or that Jorge Posada is a terrible catcher. It comes from the fact that Brian Cashman didn’t make the right trades. It’s not that the other team is good, it’s that the Yankees suck.
For the first time in my life, I can kind of understand why the rest of this country hates us. I’m just waiting for the Yanks to lose game one of the ALCS and for half of the Yankees fans to turn on their team.
Who would have thought that New York could learn something from a city like Denver?
By Jason Comack August 8, 2009, at 12:21 pm 
Say what you will about A-Rod but when he got caught using steroids no one protected him. Why Big Pa-PED (kudos to Bald Vinny) gets a talking head from the MLB Players association and A-Rod doesn’t is beyond me. Why no one on ESPN has yet to question the legitimacy of Ortiz’s statement is beyond me. Why is everyone going to bat for a guy that is clearly lying about his use of steroids? I guess it’s just some fluke that he hit 20 homers in 2002 and 56 in 2006, my B.
Going to the stadium for Yankees/Red Sox today. The Yanks are 4.5 games up now and a win today might bury the Sox for the season. Sabathia against Bucholz! I am pumped to chant steroids at Ortiz every single time he’s at bat.
By Anthony De Franco July 18, 2009, at 9:37 pm Jason and I took in the Tigers/Yankees game from the upper level seats of the New Yankee Stadium today. It’s was a great game, and it was a pitcher’s duel, which is not something that the New York fans have seen much of over the course of the year. However, I was kinda pissed.
For those who don’t know, I am a big fan of the Colorado Rockies, in addition to the Yankees. Some gentlemen on the subway today felt it necessary to point out that I was wearing a Rockies hat to a Yankee game. Why do I like this seemingly random team?
Dante Bichette, Andres Galaraga, and Vinny Castilla. Ladies and gentlemen, this team hit bombs back in the day. They routinely won games with football scores at their home park. At the time, I didn’t really get what the big deal about Coors Field was. I know that balls fly out of their at a pace that is truly irrational, but I never got why everyone tried to fight it so much. They acted as if this park where teams that couldn’t hit put up double digits was an afront to the history of the game. I just thought it was awesome.
Really, let’s think about this logically. There have been pitcher’s and hitter’s parks throughout the history of baseball. It’s naturally what happens when you don’t set parameters for standardized stadiums. If every stadium is going to be shaped differently, have different dimensions and different sized walls, how you going to complain when one plays different then another? It’s the reason why old Tiger Stadium was a band box, why PETCO is where fly balls go to die, and why everyone in Texas is slugging 36,000. We should either celebrated those differences, or make all MLB stadiums the same.
So, what’s with the uproar over all the homeruns in the New Yankee Stadium? It actually strategically benefits the team. The Yanks have a bunch of guys with power, and this only makes them all the more dangerous. Tex, A-Rod and Swisher can all hit routine pop-ups that fly out of the stadium now! Also, It’s not like the Yankees are going to have the problem of attracting free agent pitchers. They have Burnett, Sabathia, Joba, and Hughes under control for the forseeable future. It also doesn’t hurt when you can overpay anyone that you really want.
So, when the Alex Rodriguez’s lazy fly ball landed in the first row of the seats today, I got up and cheered along with everyone in the stadium. When Marcus Thames hit his homerun that barely got into the left field seats, I still smiled. I love the New Yankee Stadium just the way it is.
By Jason Comack July 6, 2009, at 6:11 pm The Yanks have started to return to the practice that made them so successful in the ’90s…building from within. While the Yanks still import stars every year they still have tons of homegrown talent to fill the roster. Where would the Yankees be this year without Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Alfredo Aceves, Brian Bruney, David Robertson, Phil Coke and Jonathan Albaladejo? The entire bullpen is home grown power arms! Could the offense survive without the contributions of Brett Gardner, Melky Cabrera, Robinson Cano and Francisco Cervelli? Don’t forget about the awesome defense Ramiro Pena provided before he was sent down.a
Of course those are the young Yanks that everyone knows about. The good news for Yankees fans is that there is plenty of talent down the pipe. While the Yankees farm system lacks “5″ star players outside of Austin Jackson and Jesus Montero it’s about as deep a farm system as you’ll see in the MLB.
Here’s some of the players you will be hearing from in the future:
AAA
Mark Melancon: Melancon was up earlier this year and struggled but the 24 year old righty reliever still projects as a set up guy in the future. He has an ERA of 2.70 and has struck out 42 batters in 36.2 innings.
Ivan Nova: Nova was selected by the Padres in the Rule V draft but returned to the Yankees when he couldn’t crack the big league club. Nova has very solid stuff but suffers from control issues. In 12 starts in AA he posted an impressive 2.36 ERA but walked 31 batters and only struck out 47. The 22 year old Nova just moved up to AAA and is a player to keep an eye on.
AA
Wilkin De La Rosa: De La Rosa is a favorite prospect of mine. He’s a converted hitter who found a second life as a pitching prospect. In 9 starts at AA Trenton De La Rosa has a 4.13 ERA but an impressive 9.6 strikeouts per 9. If he’s going to make the MLB it’ll be as a relief prospect.
Jeremy Bliech: Bliech is a lefty who was a first round compensation pick last year. He just moved up to AA and has struggled with control in two starts but has also struck out 10 batters. He’s one of the more polished pitchers in the system and could move quickly.
Christan Garcia: Tabbed as having the best curve ball among Yankees prospects by Baseball America. He has always battled injuries but his pure “stuff” is as good as pitcher the Yankees have. So far at AA Garcia has been as advertised. In 5 starts he’s 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA. He’s only allowed 15 hits in those five starts (25.1 innings) and has struck out 24. The 23 year old Garcia has battled command issues as he’s walked 17 batters as well. If he can solve his command issues we might be talking about a player that can be really special.
Zach McAllister: In a lot of ways McAllister is similar to Ian Kennedy. He’s not a power pitcher but he finds ways to get batters out. You can’t really argue with the numbers a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts at AA is very impressive. The 21 year old McAllister has dominated every level of competition he has faced and a move to AAA seems likely in his near future.
Reegie Corona: Corona was a Rule V draft pick by the Mariners and was returned to Yankees. Corona is interesting as a “super utility guy” prospect. He struggled at AAA but found success at AA Trenton hitting .290/.404/.395 It’s that type of plate discipline that you hope can carry over to the major leagues.
A+
Dellin Betances: Betances is a 6′8 pitcher who throws gas. He’s a scouts dream as his skill set is very, very rare. However, he doesn’t really know how to pitch. He really came on strong last year at Single A Charleston, striking out 135 in 115 innings, but has regressed somewhat this year at High A Tampa. The strikeout numbers are still good 44 in 44.1 innings but his ERA is 5.48. He just turned 21 years old so the sky is still the limit, however it’d be nice to see some consistency from Betances.
Austin Romine: Romine ideally is the replacement for Jorge Posada. The 20 year old catcher is hitting .287/.319/.489 at High A Tampa. His on base percentage leaves much to be desired as he only has 12 walks in 268 at bats. The power is there as is the average but his lack of plate discipline has to worry you. Defensively he has all the tools needed to be a solid defensive catcher. The 6 steals shows you that has a good amount of athleticism, he just needs to put it all together.
A
Andrew Brackman: I put Brackman here based on potential only. He’s a project pitcher, much like Betances, except he really hasn’t shown much. Recovering from surgery has zapped all of Brackmans command. He’s walked 52 batters in 72 innings. At 23 Brackman needs to put things together quickly if he ever plans on cracking the Yankees rotation and living up to his billing.
A (Short Season)
Bradley Suttle: A very interesting prospect. Entered the 2007 draft ranked as the 34th-best prospect and fifth-best third baseman by Baseball America as well as the top pure hitter in college. The Yanks drafted Suttle with the last pick of the fourth round. The MLB recommended slot for the final pick in the 4th round in the 2007 draft was about $150,750. The Yankees signed Suttle for 1.3 million dollars, obviously well above slot. Suttle debuted at A ball in 2008 and put up an impressive .271/.346/.456 line. Big things were expected for Suttle in 2009 but he needed labrum surgery on his right shoulder won’t play at all this season. If he can come back strong the 23 year old is one to keep an eye on.
Arodys Vizcaino: One scout compared Vizcaino to a “right handed Scott Kazmir.” He’s very raw but the 18 year old Vizcaino is currently posting some eye-opening numbers. In four starts (16.1 innings) A-Rod (yea, I went there) has a 3.31 ERA and has struck out 24. That’s a very impressive 15 K’s per 9. He also has shown incredible command walking only seven batters (3.4/1 K:BB) In an ideal world A-Rod is a front of the line starter, worst case he’s a late innings power reliever.
Rookie Ball
Kevin De Leon: Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2007 De Leon is a toolsly 18 year old outfielder. Jump on the bandwagon while theres still room because De Leon is about to make a lot of noise. In 9 games so far in the Gulf Coast League (rookie ball) De Leon is hitting .364/.417/.606 . That’s an 1.023 OPS and to boot he also has three steals. De Leon is a big time sleeper in the Yanks system.
What the Yanks lack in positional prospects they make up for in power arms. For the first time in a while it’s fun to look at the Yankees minor league rosters.
By Max Caster June 27, 2009, at 2:33 pm Since Joe Girardi got tossed from Wednesday’s game against the Braves, we all vividly remember why this Yankees team is so good. While guys are of different walks and from much different places, they’ve all come together as one close, cohesive squad.
The team shows great hustle, aggressiveness, desire, and savvy. All of those combined make for a relentless onslaught for the opposing team.
So not to sound insensitive, but the Yankees will benefit from Xavier Nady’s season, and potentially career, ending elbow injury.
Nady has been courageously attempting a comeback to the main roster after suffering a torn elbow tendon earlier this season. Several times it appeared that he was only days away from coming back to the Bombers, but each time he encountered a physical setback. Most recently, he left in the middle of a Triple-A rehab start; later learning that he would need Tommy John surgery, the second of his career.
For a couple of months, the future of the Yankees lineup with Nady has been debated. He would have to displace one of the young players on the team in order to fit onto the roster. But I, and many others, feared that decision Joe Girardi was bound to make. There is truly no one who can be replaced on the current 25-man roster.
Brett Gardner has heated up tremendously. He’s coming off last night’s 5-of-6 performance against the Mets. He launched a homerun in the 8th inning and an RBI triple in the 9th. That moved his batting average up over 20 points to .303 on the year. He’s getting on base at a great rate and is always a threat to steal. He’s 17 of 19 of stolen base attempts.
Melky Cabrera is able to play every outfield position and is defensively sound at all of them. Plus, he’s proven that he can hit late into games. Above all, he can’t be sent down to the minors; his options are used up.
Ramiro Peña has done an extraordinary job filling in for 2 hall of famers – A-Rod and Derek Jeter – in his rookie year. Cody Ransom hit well in his return. And the chance of Francisco Cervelli being dent down won’t arise until Jose Molina is healthy. Even then, Molina will probably be shown the door.
With an elbow issue, Xavier Nady was most likely going to be a designated hitter. Throwing from the outfield is how he injured himself in the first place and the latest instance as well. Adding him to that bench with Hideki Matsui, another DH without outfield skills, would create a lack of flexibility for Girardi in terms of lineups and substitutions.
Also, with the recent play of Francisco Cervelli, and Matsui’s propensity to pull every pitch, Jorge Posada could find himself as the primary designated hitter soon.
Even if a need at outfielder came up, I would have called up Austin Jackson from Triple-A Scranton before bringing Nady back. Jackson is an offensive juggernaut this season. He’s hitting .321 and is 12-for-12 on stolen base attempts. While he is a bit raw and may not be entirely ready for the big leagues, he’s the future of the team. Nady would have been gone after this season anyway. Jackson is 22-years old and isn’t getting younger. He deserves a few appearances with the Yankees before Xavier Nady.
So there is no spot for Xavier Nady because the team has been great without him. Every single position is filled adequately, and does not need any additional support right now. This creates less complication for Joe Girardi and the Yankees staff, and gives them more time to think about important issues – like Chien Ming-Wang.
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NY Times: Ortiz, Ramirez Tested Positive For Steroids in 2003
Boom. Welcome to the 2004 Steroid Sox. At least our 27 championships were legit.
The NY Times is reporting that two more of those magical 104 names from the “anonymous” tests in 2003 are none other than Boston favorites Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz.
We all knew that Ramirez was a user because he was suspended earlier in the season for 50 games for using female fertility pills. However, Ortiz was a strong voice against steroids when A-Rod was caught using earlier this year. There are a ton of people who thought that Big Papi might have been on the juice when he went from mediocre power hitter in Minnesota to home run monster in Fenway.
If nothing else, this just cements my theory on the whole steroid era. We can’t penalize individual people mainly because it appears that anyone who is anyone was on some form of performance enhancer. It wouldn’t shock me if even the purest of names turned out to be on the magical list of 104.
Categories: MLB
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