Tennessee trades, but Rose still smells foul to MLB

The annual baseball Winter Meetings were held this past week in Nashville at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center. Mainly a time for GMs, owners, and MLB executives to talk about the next season of baseball. Topics of discussion include the idea of more netting between the stands and the field to prevent the occasional fan injury from an errant foul or missed ball (or the rare flying bat) and an increase in the domestic violence charges of current, active players (and how to handle them from an executive and union standpoint for consequences and for prevention of such abhorrent behavior of a professional athlete). Other discussions included trades and free agent signings.

The Yankees were no exception. The biggest trade this last week was when the Yankees acquired infielder Starlin Castro from the Cubs in exchange for Adam Warren and a player to be named later. Sorry, Warren fans, but this does say a lot for Warren’s value as Castro is a valued 2nd baseman and a popular player in Chicago. Castro’s addition to the infield does amp up the offensive power and the defensive overall from the regular starters on the dirt.

Also, reliever Justin Wilson is headed to Detroit in exchange for minor league pitchers Chad Green and Luis Cessa.

The Yankees lost two prospects to the Rule 5 Draft last Thursday — pitcher Evan Rutckyj to the Braves and outfielder Jake Cave to the Reds. Cave made an impact last Spring Training and should be a good addition to the Reds’ farm system. The Rule 5 Draft is used by teams to exchange younger players within their minor leagues that would allow teams that cannot play them at the major league level the opportunity to fast-track their career.

And, wrapping up recent transactions, recently released free agent pitcher Domingo German (who selected free agency at the beginning of the month) re-signed with the Yankees to a minor league contract.

Okay, there are two bigger “names” that have been tossed around since October as potential trades (Miller and Gardner), but as of right now, neither are on their way anywhere but Tampa this March. Look, both players are veterans and excellent athletes and in order for Cashman to even look at an offer to trade for them, the other team would have to put on the table the likes of Harper or Trout or Greinke (or their young prospect counterparts). And as of right now, no one is willing to part with someone with that high of value any more than the Yankees are willing to part with what they consider high value prospects (Judge, Severino, and Sanchez, come to mind). So until there’s some deal or announcement, it’s all just talk.

However, there are some holes to fill in the roster to beef up the Yankees before Spring Training. Expect there to be more announcements beginning in the new year. And like every year, there’s always one more last-minute trade or signing before Opening Day.

And if you’re a Carlos Beltran fan, this may be his last year as a professional athlete. Beltran has one more year on his contract with the Yankees, and he is weighing his options but leaning toward making 2016 his final year before hanging up his cleats for good.

Brian Cashman, the elf, rappelled down a building in Connecticut again last week, with Santa (a professional climber) and MLB reporter (and Yogi’s granddaughter) Lindsay Berra (dressed as Mrs. Claus). The annual event thrills children who see it as a “special delivery” and opens the local Christmas season with community performances and a tree lighting ceremony.

In the biggest MLB news of the day, however, the MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has upheld the ban of Pete Rose from all MLB activities. Rose, once one of the best players in MLB history, became synonymous with “cheating” when he was exposed for several gambling scandals toward the end of his career as both a player and a coach. Rose eventually admitted to betting on MLB games while he was an active participant in the league. As a result, Rose was barred from all MLB activities (which spills over into the denial of his election to the Hall of Fame, a very different animal but still along the same vein). Now in his 70s, the former Reds player has petitioned for reinstatement since his first appeal of the charges in 1989.

As it has been over a quarter of a century since the decision to ban Rose, the new commissioner decided to check into the decision and decide whether the decision was to be upheld or if some loophole or mistake made would allow Rose to resume his participation in MLB. However, in a 5-page statement, Manfred explained his reasoning for upholding the original decision to bar Rose from the MLB, which more specifically direct involvement with particular MLB and MiLB organizations. (Manfred acknowledges that Rose is permitted to participate in special ceremonies that have no impact on on-field outcomes nor special associations with a particular team in the MLB system, including the minor leagues.)

There was a lot of chatter following the postseason that Rose might become a more permanent MLB feature again as he was one of several former players asked to participate in the FOX broadcasts of the playoffs and World Series games. (Alex Rodriguez also made a splash, albeit in a different light of sorts, in the same broadcasts.) So while it means that he can develop some sort of potential broadcasting career (with prior approval of the commissioner as it relates to indirect and third-party association with MLB), but I’m not sure he’ll be as desired now. On the other hand, I don’t think I’ll miss his awful bow ties, brightly-colored pattern jackets, and random off-color stories.

Look, I’m glad Manfed and MLB upheld the decision. I know this gets compared to the PED scandal of the last fifteen years (though the PED problem began about 25 years ago), but this is really a different animal. PEDs haven’t always been explicitly illegal or banned under MLB regulations, so much so that for some time (think the Sosa-McGwire home run race of 1998) it was rather encouraged. MLB pitcher (and former Yankee) David Aardsma expressed similar opinions and is obviously relieved to see the MLB continue to uphold important points of integrity and keep the game clean in all aspects.

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Stay safe and count the days to Spring Training! Single game tickets go on sale in early January, but season tickets are still available. See you there!

Exhibition Game: NYY vs. WSH — The team, the cuts, the non-game

Andy Pettitte threw 6 strong innings in today’s exhibition game against the Washington Nationals, including striking out 6 batters. The Yankees won this afternoon’s game in D.C. 4-2 against was is estimated to be one of the best NL teams. And the Nationals can boast a regular lineup with superstars like Ryan Zimmerman, Jason Werth, Adam LaRoche, Ian Desmond, and (USA Today’s cover story) Bryce Harper. But up against a well-seasoned workhorse like Pettitte, the Nationals might be glad they will never meet again this 2013 season outside of some fated World Series between the two.

It was the 4th inning today that made all the difference: a Youkilis solo home run, Hafner’s single, Wells’ double, a strike-out, a Nunez 2-RBI single (safe at 2nd on throwing error), a Chris Stewart RBI single, and 2 ground outs. And while the Nationals scored 2 of their own (both RBI singles), they never could quite catch the momentum that seemed to strike the Yankees for that brief 1/2 inning. Mariano Rivera also pitched the final three outs in what could be his last game at Nationals Park, notching the save. Honestly, that inning was the reason the Yankees are something to be reckoned with, as despite their injured stars, the team functioned as such — a team and raked up the runs to give Pettitte a decent lead to continue his start.

Now, while the critics are drilling into the team’s increasing DL, it’s really the pitching staff (particularly the starting rotation) that is the strongest factor of this season’s team. They always say, “if you don’t have pitching, you don’t have nothing.” Well, they got pitching, even when a starter is on the DL, there’s still excellent, solid pitching. So it sounds like we got something.

Speaking of pitching… the roster cuts were announced today, and for most people, the biggest surprise was to see that relief pitcher David Aardsma had been designated for assignment. (For my non-baseball friends and family reading that, it means he’s been released from his commitments to the Yankees and is free to be picked up and contracted to another team should they want him.) This news really disappointed me. And while I understand why (Girardi mentioned they needed a long reliever rather than Aardsma’s specialty as short-relief), it’s never an easy thing to digest to be let go from a team, especially one who’s worked hard to come back from rehabbing after 2011 Tommy John surgery. He played a good Spring, so hopefully he’ll find a home for 2013 soon.

Predictably making the roster were outfielder Ben Francisco and infielder Jayson Nix. Another shocker was sending Vidal Nuno to AAA to start the season, after such a stand-out spring and winning the award, but I suppose he is prepared to be called up should the need arise. (And chances are with this year’s luck, the need will arise.) Melky Mesa is optioned to AAA to start 2013, despite some hard-earned outings and spectacular defensive plays.

Something tells me this year will be nothing short on spectacular plays and stories of all these amazing guys. Best of luck to all!

Go Yankees!

Spring Game 27: MIN vs. NYY — It was chilly (and I’m staying positive)

Tonight’s chilly game started out so good, and then it wasn’t. The Yankees fell to the Twins 6-1, only getting 1 hit (they had 10) and committing 3 fielding errors in the process. David Phelps was in to start and was pretty solid the first 3 innings and had a total of 6 strike-outs, a statistic that would mean so much more if he didn’t also allow 6 hits, 5 runs, and walked 3 batters. After loading the bases in the 4th, the Twins’ catcher Butera hit a 3-RBI double with no outs to start what would become a 5-run inning for the Twins. Phelps had been really outstanding this Spring, but tonight had a little trouble controlling his throws. Maybe it was the cold air, maybe it was a night game, maybe it was just one of those days. Either way, the energy and spirit was more than deflated after this inning, and the Yankees never really recovered.

Robinson Cano was back in the line-up today, fresh off his WBC win and MVP award. He had the only hit and run on the scoreboard for the Yankees tonight, with a 4th inning single and scoring the run off a fielding error on Travis Hafner. I wish I could say better things about the defense, but 3 fielding errors and an apparent lackadaisical attitude isn’t worth dissecting tonight, or for that matter ever.

I will say that the pitching in the later innings was rather good. Mariano Rivera received standing ovations entering and exiting the 5th inning, allowing a single then striking out three straight batters. Consistent again, David Robertson followed him in the 6th, allowing a double but striking out two in a row. David Aardsma, looking ever more like the pitcher we thought we were getting before injuries sidelined much of the last two years, had the quickest inning of the evening, including one strikeout. Boone Logan, also on the mend from a recent injury, struggled a bit, allowing a walk and an RBI single, but there is potential for him to return back to the reliever so relied on last year from the bullpen.

Word came out that Derek Jeter is done with Spring Training games and will probably only play in minor league spring games for the rest of March (not open to the public) to see how his ankle is healing and allowing them some leeway if putting him on the Disabled List for the beginning of the season is necessary. I think most Yankee fans are praying that it isn’t necessary; actually, I think Jeter himself is praying it isn’t necessary. But like one of the players recently said, it’s better that they’re dealing with it now in March than September/October.

And while he, Granderson, Teixeira, and Rodriguez (and a handful of other players) are healing, we must amuse ourselves with little suppositions — the who, what, where, when, and how of the game. Something every critic, analyst, and message board manager is now busy doing — making the predictions and trying to explain why their way is the way the game will unfold. But with the Yankees, it’s never about one particular person or another; it’s always the team. And if they’re still in pinstripes in the Bronx, then anything is possible, no matter who’s on the field and who’s watching from the dugout or training room.

Go Yankees! (Heal up fast, guys!)