This guy is submitting a blank ballot.

It really strains the limits of people taking themselves too seriously.

Just get somebody in there unanimously, then we can end this nonsense.

A unanimous vote for Mariano does not mean that Mariano is the greatest baseball player ever.

It means the the writers collectively ended this hand-wringing garbage.

I don't always agree with Mike Lupica.

But I think Mussina is an obvious HOFer. Mussina was a dominant pitcher for an extended period of time. I think his dominance was overlooked partially because, as Lupica mentions, he was overshadowed by some of his power pitching contemporaries. Also, I just think the fans are enamored with strikeout pitchers.

Machado in Pinstripes?

I'll believe it when I see it, but it's amazing how few Yankee fans want this to happen.

I didn't think it would happen and I'm still not 100% sure.

But the writers have sources and that information should count for something.

• This signing will not preclude the Yankees improving other areas of their team, such as starting pitching.
• Wait for the numbers before declaring the contract too onerous.
• Imagine this lineup if Sanchez has a bounce back year. If Stanton rebounds a bit after getting used to the AL pitchers and getting more comfortable in pinstripes. If Judge is healthy all year. 
• If Frazier and Bird get healthy and productive ... that may be second-level wishful thinking ... they have more in common with Rob Refsnyder than with Mike Trout ... but if the Yankees sign Machado, you can have pre-season sweet dreams of 950 runs.

Cashman spoke too soon.

"YOU START TO WONDER IF … the Yankees will actually end up holding on to Gray as a sixth starter/swingman type, considering the state of the rotation. Nah, just kidding. The chances Gray sticks in pinstripes seem infinitesimal. It would look bad on general manager Brian Cashman to talk about how Gray can’t pitch in New York, how the Yankees are done trying to fix him, how he expects to trade Gray … and then he actually keeps him."

I would say the chances are higher than infinitesimal.

By the way, in case you didn't already know, Didi Gregorius is the shortstop for the Yankees.

Were he to join the Yankees, Machado would play third base.


For the fans clamoring to witness the emergence of Andujar firsthand, please keep in mind that, in the best imaginable scenario, Andujar develops into a player similar to Machado.

Also keep in mind that Andujar is a horrible defensive third baseman.


What would the Yankees do with all their infielders?

Maybe Andujar would get traded for a defensive catcher and Sanchez would learn how to play first base.

Or Andujar would play some first base and left field.

Because if you're unwilling to exchange Andujar for Machado ... are you  seriously unwilling to exchange Gardner for Machado? Or Voit for Machado?

It doesn't require much imagination to move players around:

1. Hicks - CF
2. Stanton - LF
3. Machado - 3B
4. Judge - RF
5. Sanchez - DH
6. Gregorius - SS
7. Torres - 2B
8. Andujar - 1B
9. Romine - C

Who's the shortstop while Didi is on the DL?

Who cares?

Bat him ninth and the team still scores 7 runs every game.


Yankee fans are spoiled, simple as that.

This absurd backlash occurs every time the Yankees pursue great players.

It would be amazing if the Mets signed Machado.

Machado would suddenly be everyone's favorite.

Like everyone suddenly forgot that Cano doesn't hustle. Or that Cano was suspended for steroid use:

"And you know who is on record as thinking that the Yankees and the new No. 13 might be a really good fit? The old No. 13, Alex Rodriguez himself, who said this to the New York Post not long ago:

'I haven't had a chance to talk to Hal [Steinbrenner] or [Brian] Cashman, but I know ownership is as hungry as ever to put a great product and winner on the field. And he's a great player.'

So was Rodriguez. Back in '04, the Yankees were going to add a star like him to their infield and they were going to win a lot of World Series and play in even more. They played in one."

They both wore number 13.

So ... I've got nothing.


Lupica presents all this as a warning. 

As if ARod didn't work out for the Yankees.

It would be a dream come true if Machado signed with the Yankees, sold out the Stadium, won two MVPs, doubled the value of the franchise, hit 350 HRs, and maybe even gave the Daily News sports staff something to write about.

Few see the irony.

All the years and wasted ink of faux outrage when the Yankees spent a lot of money to buy Championships.

The Red Sox are, like, gritty Nathan Eovaldi putting on the greatest pitching performance in the history of baseball.

He could never be a .500 mercenary who has seldom lived up to his potential or his paycheck.

Though he pitched pretty well at times for the Yankees, I must admit.

Right ... and what happened to the Death Star?

In, like, three movies in a row?

The importance of closers.

Heard one of my favorite theories the other day on WFAN. 

Guy calls up WFAN and points out that the Mets blew 15 saves last season. They plugged that gap by signing a supposedly great closer. The Mets also lost the division by approximately 15 games (13, actually).

Add it up, and one player will give the Mets the NL East title.

This illustrates a surprisingly common misunderstanding of what saves are, what blown saves are, and how things work in the real world.

I agree.

We won't know for a while, but what is all the hubbub about a .500 pitcher?

And when we say "no," we mean, "he isn't ARod, so no one cares."

“If I had any concern about what Robbie's physical state or performance ability going forward is, I would not have made the deal,” Van Wagenen said. "I do think it's important remembering, Robbie was not suspended for a PED. He was suspended for a diuretic."

Cranberry juice.

He was suspended by MLB because he drank too much cranberry juice.

How was he supposed to know cranberry juice is a banned substance?

OK, OK.

I think we should all collectively stop pretending that we care about players hustling.

Melky drove me crazy.

Cano drove me crazier.

Still, it wasn't a deal breaker. As long as they're productive due to steroids, the fans will embrace them.

Machado is insincerely spinning and we are supposed to be alarmed by his immature behavior and commentary.

Get over it.

If you sign Machado, you will get a player who tanks it from time to time and drives in 125 runs.

Reggie Jackson even chimed in and said not hustling doesn't cut it in New York.

This Reggie Jackson.

I'll take Harper and Macahado, thanks.

A lot of great ballplayers have bad attitudes.

A lot of Championship ballplayers have bad attitudes.

The fans will forgive them if they win.



This silly yearly ritual of acting shocked at the large size of the pending free agent contracts.

Gimme a break.


I don't expect the Yankee to sign Harper or Machado ... I expect they'll stick with the rookie of the year runner-ups and spend money on starting pitching.

We'll all find out together in October if that's a wise decision.

Five-game series, one win apiece.

Here's the new guy to win Game Three.

If he wins, we're all happy.

If he doesn't, he's a bust.

Nobody knows if he will and no pitcher on Earth can guarantee a victory.

No need to apologize for putting Scherzer ahead of deGrom.

Jeez, I'm surprised Steve Somers treated this guy so rudely.

Who cares, anyway?

Almost unanimous is no shame.

2018 AL MVP

BBWAA

Name	Points
Mookie Betts	410
Mike Trout	265
Jose Ramirez	208
J.D. Martinez	198
Alex Bregman	192
Francisco Lindor	169
Matt Chapman	141
Khris Davis	41
Blake Snell	38
Justin Verlander	26
Mitch Haniger	16
Aaron Judge	10
Xander Bogaerts	9
Jose Altuve	9
Blake Treinen	7
Andrelton Simmons	7
Whit Merrifield	6
Edwin Diaz	5
Giancarlo Stanton	4
Didi Gregorius	3
Jed Lowrie	3
Trevor Bauer	1
Aaron Hicks	1
Chris Sale	1

Felz Poll

Name	Points
Mookie Betts	35
J.D. Martinez	19
Mike Trout	16
Jose Ramirez	10
Alex Bregman	7
Khris Davis	3
Francisco Lindor	1

2018 NL MVP

BBWAA

Name	Points
Christian Yelich	415
Javier Baez	250
Nolan Arenado	203
Freddie Freeman	174
Jacob deGrom	141
Paul Goldschmidt	115
Lorenzo Cain	109
Trevor Story	108
Matt Carpenter	105
Max Scherzer	59
Anthony Rendon	21
Ronald Acuna Jr.	19
Aaron Nola	16
Justin Turner	10
Max Muncy	8
Jesus Aguilar	7
Anthony Rizzo	6
Nick Markakis	2
Eugenio Suarez	2

Felz Poll

Name	Points
Christian Yelich	38
Nolan Arenado	13
Javier Baez	12
Matt Carpenter	5
Justin Turner	4
Lorenzo Cain	3
Trevor Story	3
Jesus Aguilar	2
Freddie Freeman	2
Paul Goldschmidt	2
Brandon Nimmo	2
Jacob deGrom	1
Bryce Harper	1

2018 NL Cy Young Award

BBWAA

Name	Points
Jacob deGrom	207
Max Scherzer	123
Aaron Nola	86
Kyle Freeland	49
Patrick Corbin	23
Miles Mikolas	13
Josh Hader	4
Mike Foltynewicz	3
Jon Lester	2

Felz Poll

Name	Points
Jacob deGrom	44
Max Scherzer	22
Aaron Nola	19
Kyle Freeland	3
Miles Mikolas	2
Walker Buehler	1
Patrick Corbin	1
Jeremy Jeffress	1

2018 AL Cy Young Award

Happy to get decent participation this year. I had forgotten that I skipped the poll in 2017.

BBWAA

Name	Points
Blake Snell	169
Justin Verlander	154
Corey Kluber	71
Chris Sale	59
Gerrit Cole	26
Trevor Bauer	13
Blake Treinen	13
Edwin Diaz	4
Luis Severino	1

Felz Poll

Name	Points
Blake Snell	40
Justin Verlander	18
Corey Kluber	14
Chris Sale	11
Trevor Bauer	2
Blake Treinen	2
Luis Severino	1

Recalling a gripe from 15 years ago.

I think Andujar had a decent case, but that's not my gripe.

My gripe is the voters who wouldn't give the Rookie of the Year to Matsui in 2003, arguing that he was overpaid and a veteran from Japan, and therefore not really a rookie.

This was right after giving the Rookie of the Year award to Sasaki and Ichiro.

What Bill James said is not controversial.

Of course the players are replaceable. More talented and expensive than beer vendors, but replaceable.

No one knows who will win a title.

Sonny Gray and J.A. Happ will be the final piece of the puzzle.

"And yet, there might be a deal to be made if the Yankees are willing to sacrifice their best young players outside of Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar. Coincidentally, these include left-hander Justus Sheffield (MLB.com's No. 31 prospect) and slugging outfielder Clint Frazier, who originated in Cleveland's system. Outfield prospect Estevan Florial (No. 45) would also have to be involved."

Of course the Yankees want Kluber, but this price seems high to me.

He lost zero dollars and zero cents.

This article was posted on the same day Kershaw signed a $31M-per-year extension.

Win more games than Tampa and then do better in Game Three.

The Red Sox were 8 games better than the Yankees and then the Red Sox steamrolled through the playoffs.

We don't need Wallace Matthews to tell us that.

The Yankees still won 100 games and may be poised for greater things.

Sorry, but MLB made the rules. The Yankees don't need to catch the Red Sox.

While the Red Sox dominated from beginning to end, how did you feel when Sanchez hit two dingers in Game Two and Severino was getting to ready start Game Three?

Did you think the Yankee had no chance?

Matthews said this was merely an "illusion." Easy to say after the fact.


Now let's take a gratuitous dig at Giancarlo Stanton:

"But the real end of the Yankees season came a lot earlier than anyone could have known. That was on Dec. 11, 2017, the day they decided to swallow the bait, trading Starlin Castro and a couple of minor-leaguers for Giancarlo Stanton and his $325 million contract, reduced just enough by the Miami Marlins’ contribution to keep them under the luxury tax threshold.

That move took them out of the running for J.D. Martinez, who two months later became a member of the Boston Red Sox."

Martinez was undoubtedly better than Stanton ... in 2018.

Not in 2017, though, and maybe not for the next 10 years.

Stanton was a disappointment and his all-or-nothing 212 strikeouts approach is not benefiting him.

But it was still .266/38/100 and a WAR of 4.0 (compared to Martinez's WAR of 6.4).

The Yankees don't "need" Machado and they don't need a Didi replacement.

Didi will be off the DL by the all star break, right?

Or even if Didi misses the whole season, that's a small percentage of the length of Machado's impending contract.

He's going to get a lot of time and a lot of money. Probably not from the Yankees. Maybe from, I dunno ... the Dodgers.

The Yankees have Didi and Andujar and they're going to rely on them.

As for the laziness in the playoffs?

I'm against it.

It reminded me of Cano and Cabrera ... and they signed free agent contracts worth a combined value of approximately $1 trillion. And they both were on steroids.

Not as good as the 1998 Yankees. A $200 million team being praised for its mid-season acquisitions. Times sure have changed.

The Best Teams Ever are not judged on one season alone.

Of course the 1998 Yankees were not the exact same team that won in 1996, 1999, and 2000.

But they are the same team:

"Principal owner John Henry was a partner with the 1998 Yankees, who won 114 games and the Fall Classic, so he knows a bit about dominance.

'The ’98 Yankees didn’t have to beat two 100-win teams before they got to the World Series,' " he pointed out."

No, but the Padres beat two 100-win teams before they got to the World Series ... and the Padres got swept by the Yankees.

I realize full well that the transitive property does not apply to sports.

Neither does the compare-teams-who-are-twenty-years-apart property.


Four rings in fourteen years is quite an accomplishment.

Try four rings in five years.

That's what the '98(ish) Yankees did and it's why they can call themselves one of the Best Teams Ever.

The current Red Sox team may be able to do it, and they seen insistent on re-upping the rivalry, which is good for baseball and may be good for the Yankees.

But don't get blinded by the champagne in your eyes.

Yeah, really.

What's coming off here?

Deplorable and fraudulent. I hadn't checked Lupica's twitter feed when I jokingly said Kate Upton's opinion was more valid. It was, in fact. The endless Red Sox PR Campaign is a joke.

1. 1. 2 replies0 retweets5 likes

      
      

      
      
   2. Mike Lupica‏Verified account @MikeLupica Oct 17
      

      People who didn’t see fan interference just decided they didn’t want to.

      26 replies6 retweets68 likes

      
      

      
      
   3. Mike Lupica‏Verified account @MikeLupica Oct 17
      

      Mike Lupica Retweeted Pete Conrad

      Yup

      Mike Lupica added,

      
      

      Pete Conrad @PeterOConrad

      Replying to @MrBrianKenny

      Screw the rule, if the fan doesn't touch his glove he makes the catch. Should have been an out. Good call, move on. (I have no dog in this fight, as a Cardinal fan)

      3 replies0 retweets17 likes

      
      

      
      
   4. Mike Lupica‏Verified account @MikeLupica Oct 17
      

      The fan hit Betts’ glove. If that’s not interference, what is? West made the right call.

      36 replies13 retweets108 likes

      
      

      
      
   5. Mike Lupica‏Verified account @MikeLupica Oct 17
      

      Interference

I mean, I think she's right.

Her commentary isn't any less informed than Mike Lupica's.

I take back what I said about Gerrit Cole and Chris Sale ...

... and what I said about Yu Darvish, Chris Archer, Matt Harvey, David Price, and James Shields ... it was Verlander.

The Yankees should have acquired Verlander the whole time.

I knew it.

This is not to say that Lupica Himself endorsed the above-named pitchers ... I wasn't paying attention ... though I could surely find a Sonny Gray endorsement if I looked for it.

To answer the stupid question, of course Verlander-to-the-Astros isn't the greatest trade ever.

Don't be lazy.

Whatever "total payroll" is, the Red Sox's in 2018 is $50M more than the Yankees'.


It is time to flip the boring narrative.

Yankees might get Machado.

Heck, I saw Machado bloop an RBI single to left field with two strikes and I was amazed. After watching the Yankees play a full season in 2018, I thought it was illegal to get a hit with two strikes.

Acquiring Machado will require, say, a 10-year contract worth $300 million.

With that in mind, there are two things that have zero effect on this important decision:

1) Machado's performance in the playoffs.

2) Gregorius's injury.

Gregorius will miss a couple of months in 2019. So will a lot of other players, maybe even Machado. The Machado contract is a lot bigger than that.

Yes. I would trade Gary Sanchez for two front line starters.

Trade to the team which has two front line starters to trade.

Maybe the 1973 A's?

Your guess is as good as mine:

"So do they have trade value? Do you, dare I say, go out there and shop (Greg) Bird? Or shop (Miguel) Andujar? Or even shop (Gary) Sanchez? See what you could get for those guys. I'm not advocating for any one of those guys to move, but if I'm Brian Cashman and I know my defense needs to get better and I need to balance out a heavy right-handed lineup that hits a lot of home runs ... Cash always has a trick up his sleeve. He's one of the best GMs in baseball. He might look moving some of those guys and moving two birds with one stone."

Greg Bird (.199/11/38, -0.6 WAR) and Gary Sanchez (.186/18/53, 1.2 WAR) for what?

It's been a while since I studied for the SATs, but let me get out my calculator ... yep, I was right ... nothin' plus nothin' equals nothin'.


Let me put it this way, just to offer some perspective: In 2018, Sonny Gray's WAR was equal to the combined WARs of Bird and Sanchez.


So just say "Andujar," because the other two are worthless at this time.

"See if you can trade Andujar for two front line starters."

Good luck with that.

I don't think Boone made a mistake.

I thought CC had a better chance of getting the ninth out than any other pitcher on the Yankees.

Just to go back and explain what happened:

In the first inning, the Red Sox loaded the bases.If you thought Sabathia should come out after 2 2/3, then why not 2/3? Since David Robertson is the invincible savior, why not go to Robertson in the first inning? So Gardner makes the catch in the first inning and ... Boone must be a genius?

The general take is that as soon as Sabathia hit the leadoff batter in the top of the third ... Heaven Forfend! ... it's the biggest mistake by a pitcher in baseball history! ... Boone should have instantly given him the hook.

Of course, this makes perfect sense in retrospect.

He gave up two more runs, duh! The Yankees lost by one run! So there you go!

What's the overall strategy then?

Go to the Infinite Bullpen of Excellence every time a pitcher allows a baserunner?

CC has guts and he's plenty battle-tested. He didn't get the ninth out, but I sure thought he would. (Actually, he did get the ninth out ... but it took him three tries to do it.)

You know what else? The Yankee bullpen is like the Yankee lineup: Lots of strikeouts and overrated.

As if to disprove his own thesis, these are actual back-to-back sentences by Feinsand:

"Sabathia allowed three runs on five hits and two walks, striking out one batter and hitting another. With their season on the line, the Yankees went to their bullpen to open the fourth, but some will surely wonder whether Boone should have had a quicker hook in an elimination game.

Zach Britton, who began warming up when the top of the third ended, took over for the Yankees in the top of the fourth, promptly allowing a solo home run by Vazquez that proved to be the decisive run."

Maybe Sabathia would have "settled down" and breezed through the fourth and the fifth.

Maybe Boone took him out too soon.

Chris Sale is great.

But in the playoffs against the Yankees, he wasn't as good as Porcello ... or Eovaldi ... or Lance McCullers Jr.

So the Yankees didn't even need to acquire a shutdown ace like Jacob deGrom.

The Yankees should have acquired Rick Porcello, Nathan Eovaldi (oh, didn't they have him? Never mind.), and Lance McCullers Jr. (didn't they have him, too? That was his father?).

What was Cashman thinking going with Severino, Tanaka, Happ, Sabathia?

He should have gone with deGrom, Blake Snell, Madison Bumgarner, and then deGrom on three days' rest. Just like my World Series Winning Strat-O-Matic team.

The Mets were totally about to trade deGrom to the Yankees.

"All it might have taken was a package of Torres, at the time a legitimate AL Rookie of the Year candidate, Justus Sheffield, the highest-rated pitcher in the Yankees farm system, and perhaps Clint Frazier, who couldn’t crack the Yankees outfield but on many big-league teams would be an everyday player."

All it "might have taken" to trade the Cy Young Award winner to the Yankees.


By the way, "at that time," Severino was the Cy Young Award front runner in the American League.

The Yankees went all in with Severino ... of course they did ... and he came up short.


It's just too funny.

The Yankees avoided free agent busts Yu Darvish, David Price, Matt Harvey, Chris Archer, James Shields, and dozens of others.

By resisting, they quickly built a 100-win team with a ton of young players and more young players in the pipeline. The homegrown foundation for a future dynasty ... knock on wood.

But what they really should have done in hindsight is pick up Gerrit Cole. Or Justin Verlander. Or traded 100 players for Jacob deGrom.

 The Yankees "should have" picked up all the pitchers who won and traded all the pitchers who lost.

Very impressive post-series analysis.


"As for the Mets, trading deGrom, who is 30 years old and will be a free agent they will neither want or be able to afford in 2021, for a package of young players would have sent a signal to their long-suffering fan base that they were serious about rebuilding their wreckage of a franchise."

If the Yankees had actually acquired deGrom from the Mets, the Yankees and Mets would basically switch teams, with deGrom pitching for a AAA lineup.
 

"Aside from the 16-1 Game 3 blowout, their two other losses were one-run games. A lights-out starter at the top of their rotation might have reversed those two.

Someone like Jacob deGrom. Had the Yankees been able to pry him loose, they’d probably be playing Thursday night."

Stupid.

Aside from the 16-1 Game 3 blowout, the Yankees did not allow a lot of runs to the Red Sox ... maybe the Yankees should have traded all their starters, beefed up the bullpen even more, and added a couple of bats who could hit in the clutch.

Then they'd be playing Thursday.

Babe Ruth isn't walking through that door.

"After the New York Yankees tied the series with a win in Game 2, being back home with their ace on the mound should have been their recipe for a lead in the American League Division Series."

"Should have been."



"That wasn't all Severino's fault. Some of it was Lance Lynn's and Chad Green's.

But above all, it was Aaron Boone's."

Above all, it was Aaron Boone's fault.

I can instantly think of 52 people I'd blame/credit for this loss before I'd get to Aaron Boone:

• All 25 players on the Yankees roster
• All 25 players on the Red Sox roster
• The GM who got rid of Eovaldi
• The GM who acquired Eovaldi

OK, to be fair, he's talking about the 4th inning only ... but he's not talking about the 4th inning only.


"It didn't take a strong pair of glasses to see that Severino wasn't fooling Red Sox hitters in the first three innings. He'd given up three runs, and the amount of hard contact indicated that the 24-year-old was lucky it wasn't worse.

Even with the bottom of Boston's order due up in the top of the fourth, Boone was thus taking a chance simply in allowing Severino to return to the mound. After he allowed a leadoff single to Brock Holt—his first step toward the first cycle in postseason history—the hook should have come out immediately."

Sure, I guess.

In retrospect, Severino should have been pulled a little earlier, I suppose.

It would have been nice if the "ace" could show some guts. If he can't beat the Red Sox, trade him to an NL team.


"By the time Boone called on Green, Lynn had allowed another hit to put two runners on with only one out. Despite Green's best efforts, three more runs scored, and whatever hope the Yankees had of mounting a comeback was all but gone."

Right.

So Green was ineffective (despite his best efforts) ... just like all five Yankee pitchers and one Yankee backup catcher/pitcher ... but Green would have been Pedro Martinez if he had just been brought in earlier.

Was Chad Green going to pitch six shutout innings and also pinch hit for Andujar and belt a couple of home runs?

As for "high leverage" situations, Green has a pretty noticeable track record of playing poorly in the highest leverage situations.


"The long leash he put on Severino might have made sense if this was the same Severino who dominated throughout all of 2017 and most of 2018. But everyone is aware Severino struggled (5.57 ERA in 12 starts) in the second half. And while he refused to break, he definitely bent in his four innings in the Wild Card Game.

Boone's decision to make Lynn the first man out of the bullpen is equally baffling. If he was going to bring in Lynn, it should have been with clean bases at the start of the inning. Once that ship sailed, Boone's first move should have been for a pitcher accustomed to dominating in high leverage."

You know what?

The only thing Boone could have done wrong was waste his top pitchers instead of saving them for Games Four and Five.


The Red Sox schooled the Yankees by playing smart professional baseball. The Yankee All-Or-Nothing Heroes can learn a lesson by watching how the Red Sox approach their at-bats against a hard-throwing strikeout pitcher.


Is it just me, or is there a pattern where people stretch all credibility to blame the Yankee manager whenever the Yankees lose in the playoffs?


The Yankees aren't a great team. They're a good team, but not a great team. They may even turn it around and win the World Series, but that would be a very surprising outcome.

The Red Sox are better than the Yankees and have been all season.

Maybe this is difficult for people to acknowledge because they fall for the marketing campaign?

I really don't know.


It just seems to happen a lot that everybody is ready with the excuses (abbreviated warmup session?) instead of just acknowledging the relative lack of talent.


A team loses 16-1 and you think a fourth-inning pitching change was the difference in the game?

This is utter nonsense and I think it lets the players off the hook.