Hi everyone. I hope you're hanging in there. To make a baseball analogy, we're in the dogs days of quarantine, only there's no promise of the postseason to liven things up in a few weeks. Wear a mask, wash your hands, and stay safe. Now for today's thoughts.
1. Latest restart plans. In recent days it has been reported MLB will present the MLBPA with a plan, likely within ...
2020-05-08 13:55:13 +0000 UTC View PostGood news: ESPN will broadcast six Korea Baseball Organization games per week starting today, so it's live baseball on an easy-to-find channel. The games take place at odd hours seeing how they're on the other side of the world, but there will be replays throughout the day. Don't forget to set your DVRs. Now let's get to today's thoughts.
1. Britton's option. Three import...
2020-05-05 14:21:08 +0000 UTC View PostPSA: The Yankees have announced you can get refunds or credit on tickets purchased for games in April. Here's all the info. It's basically the bare minimum given the circumstances, but it's better than nothing. Hope you're all staying safe (and sane). Now let's get to today's thoughts...
2020-05-01 13:53:22 +0000 UTC View PostShameless self-promotion: I wrote CBS posts on righties with sweet swings and 2020-04-28 13:54:15 +0000 UTC View Post
This Sunday will be the one month anniversary of what was supposed to be Opening Day. The Yankees have already lost 26 games to the pandemic -- they were scheduled to open a three-game home series with the Indians tonight -- and it'll likely be much more than that when it's all said and done. Hope you're all staying safe. Here are today's thoughts.
1. Red Sox punished. I ...
2020-04-24 13:58:48 +0000 UTC View PostMake sure you check out Bob Klapisch's piece on Giancarlo Stanton and day he took the Mike Fiers fastball to the face. The impact pushed Stanton's teeth through his cheek and part of his face is permanently numb from the nerve...
2020-04-21 13:53:52 +0000 UTC View PostIf you're jonesin' for baseball, I recommend the Chinese Professional Baseball League. I'm not joking. The games are streamed online, some with English broadcasts (here's this morning's), and the baseball culture in Taiwan is lotsa fun, even without fans in the stands. Well, no fans exce...
2020-04-17 14:02:17 +0000 UTC View Post
I've enjoyed Kyle Higashioka's shutdown diary. In the latest entry he wrote about doubting himself when he was a minor league backup catcher stuck behind Gary Sanchez and John Ryan Murphy, among other things. Higashioka turns 30 next week and he's finally in positio...
2020-04-14 13:53:37 +0000 UTC View PostIn an alternate universe, the Yankees will open their regularly scheduled West Coast trip in Oakland later tonight. In reality, we've already lost 14 Yankees games to the shutdown and it will be many more than that when it's all said and done. I hope you're all staying safe and thanks as always for your support. Let's get to today's thoughts.
1. Building a 50-man roster. ...
2020-04-10 14:06:03 +0000 UTC View PostFun fact: Gary Sanchez hit three home runs one year ago today. Here's the video. Hitting a zillion dingers against the Orioles is one of the many things I miss about baseball and there are days I feel like it will never return. I know it will eventually, but days feels like years, and it's hard not to be discour...
2020-04-07 14:10:21 +0000 UTC View PostThe Yankees were supposed to play their 2020 home opener yesterday. It was a gorgeous day in New York -- chilly, but gorgeous -- and that made me miss baseball even more. I hope y'all are hanging in there. Sitting at home sounds great until you're forced to do it. Anyway, here are today's thoughts. I look forward to the day we have actual baseball to discuss.
1. The Expos and the ...
2020-04-03 13:43:19 +0000 UTC View Post
I did not expect to watch as much baseball as I have during the shutdown (by "watch" I mean have on in the background as I do other things). Since what was supposed to be Opening Day, I have rewatched the 2017 AL Wild Card Game, Game 1 of the 2019 ALDS, the Gleyber Torres walk-off home run against the Indians game in 2018, last year's crazy Yankees vs. Twins game (the Aaron Hicks catch game), a...
2020-03-31 13:16:57 +0000 UTC View PostPSA: You can watch every 2018 and 2019 game on MLB.tv for free during the shutdown. Sign up for a free MLB.com account and stream away. Here's my viewe...
2020-03-26 18:28:08 +0000 UTC View PostIn a world without COVID-19, the Yankees would be preparing for tonight's exhibition season finale against the Blue Jays in Montreal right now. Instead, they're hunkered down at home waiting out the virus and wondering when the season will begin like the rest of us. Soon, I hope. Here are today's thoughts as 2020-03-24 13:03:48 +0000 UTC View Post
Picked up a new show this week: The Outsider (HBO). Bit of a slow burn but it's really good. If you're looking for stuff to binge while remaining socially distant and sans baseball, television guru Alan Sepinwall has you covered. Now let's get to today's thoug...
2020-03-20 13:19:25 +0000 UTC View PostHow's everyone doing? Hanging in there? As someone who mostly works from home, the whole social distancing thing is familiar to me, but it's a big adjustment for a lot of people. It's important though. We Americans are pretty great at staying home and doing nothing. Do that for a few weeks and we'll get through this. This weekend I watched Uncut Gems (A+) and started Bob's Burgers. I love that ...
2020-03-17 14:12:30 +0000 UTC View PostAlong with pretty much every amateur and professional sports league around the world, Major League Baseball is on indefinite hiatus due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Spring Training has been suspended and Opening Day will be delayed at least two weeks. The minor league season has been delayed as well.
The shutdown has created a lot of questions (about baseball, about the virus, about a lot of...
2020-03-13 16:26:24 +0000 UTC View PostI don't know how to put together an intro for today's post given everything that's happened in the last 48 hours or so. The sports world has shut down and our daily lives are trending that way too. It's all very surreal. Let's jump into today's thoughts.
1. COVID-19 outbreak. I love baseball very much and I will miss it dearly, but the sooner we shut things down, the soon...
2020-03-13 14:05:06 +0000 UTC View PostThe worst part of vacation is the end and transitioning back into work mode. I'm home now and ready to get back in the saddle with Opening Day only two weeks and two days away. Here are today's thoughts as Aaron B...
2020-03-10 13:42:06 +0000 UTC View PostQuick reminder: I leave for vacation tomorrow and there will be no regularly scheduled post this Friday. Things will be back to normal next week. Thanks as always for the support. Now on to the day's thoughts.
1. Judge's setback. Folks, it's time to worry about Aaron Judge's Opening Day availability. He was shut down with continued soreness in his right shoulder over the ...
2020-03-03 13:36:37 +0000 UTC View Post
Quick reminder: I will be on vacation next week and I'm skipping next Friday's post. I am not even bringing my laptop with me, so I won't be able to react to breaking news. Things will be back to normal the following Tuesday. Anyway, here are my thoughts on the Luis Severino Tommy John surgery news, an...
2020-02-28 15:13:24 +0000 UTC View Post
(Presswire)
The worst case scenario has arrived: Luis Severino needs Tommy John surgery. Tests in New York earlier this week revealed a partial ulnar collateral ligament tear that is significant enough to require surgery, Brian Cashman announced earlier today. Severino will have the surgery Thursday. Th...
2020-02-26 03:09:51 +0000 UTC View PostGerrit Cole has made his first start as a Yankee and we didn't get to see it. He struck out two and walked one in a scoreless inning in an untelevised game against the Pirates last night. His next scheduled start is Saturday and yes, that game will be televised ...
2020-02-25 15:17:07 +0000 UTC View PostBaseball is almost here. The Yankees begin Grapefruit League play tomorrow afternoon and yes, the game will be televised. J.A. Happ will start and Marly Rivera says Domingo Acevedo, Luis Avilan, Luis Cessa, and Mike King are among those scheduled to follow him. Because I like you, I put together a Spring T...
2020-02-21 15:20:16 +0000 UTC View Post
In four short days Yankees baseball will be on your television. The Yankees begin Grapefruit League play at home against the Blue Jays this Saturday. No word on the starting pitcher yet but the game will be on YES. I can't wait. Now here are t...
2020-02-18 14:59:23 +0000 UTC View Post
Yup. (Presswire)
A quick announcement: I'm going on vacation in a few weeks and I'm planning to skip the regularly scheduled post on Friday, March 6th. That's three weeks from today. I haven't been on a true "unplug your brain and relax" vacation since before RAB. I'm looking forward to it. No...
2020-02-14 14:52:50 +0000 UTC View PostIt is Spring Training eve. Pitchers and catchers will officially report to Tampa tomorrow, though many have been in town for a while now. October king Masahiro Tanaka said yesterday he feels the Astros cheated the Yankees out of the 2017 World Series, so there's that. Now here are today's thoughts ...
2020-02-11 14:54:02 +0000 UTC View Post
Double-A Trenton won their fourth championship in 2019. (Photo via Patrick Cavey)
So here we are again. Spring Training is now days away, not weeks awa...
2020-02-07 15:29:32 +0000 UTC View PostSix days until pitchers and catchers report to Tampa and 16 days until the first Grapefruit League game. Hooray. Anyway, with my Top 30 Prospects List coming out tomorrow, here is the regular Friday post a day early. Let's get to it.
1. Paxton injured. Two days ago -- literally two...
2020-02-06 14:49:38 +0000 UTC View Post
Eight days until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training. I know that's a big non-news day but I don't care. Baseball is coming. As a reminder, my annual Top 30 Prospects List will be posted this Friday, and Friday's regularly scheduled post will run Thursday. It might be a little shorter than usual only because there's not much going on right now, though it will include the annual Not ...
2020-02-04 14:42:05 +0000 UTC View Post