EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: JACK CURRY

I've had my share of being star struck in my lifetime. meeting Joe Torre after the 1996 win was in my mind, one of the top 5 moments ever. But there are others. Being able to interview Jack Curry, someone whom I've admired for a while now is up there as well. The whole YES gang is terrific; Along with Curry, Bob Lorenz, Kimberly Jones, David Cone, Ken Singleton, Michael Kay, Paul O'Neill and John Flaherty do it better than any other sports people out there.

Jack Curry is tops in that group and of course, that passion he has stems all the way back to childhood. You remember when you were a kid, we all tried to make a newspaper, writing about sports or news, or whatever, handwriting it and then drawing pictures in boxes on several pages, then secured it with staples. Well, Jack probably did that too, but then followed through and became an actual sports news guy and now a top sports analyst. He's a huge success and had a drive for that success. Luckily for me, I got to interview one of my idols and Bleeding Yankee Blue is bringing it to you, as an Exclusive. So enjoy it...here's Jack Curry.
BYB: Growing up, were you always a sports fan and more specifically a baseball fan and is this the career path you dreamed of?

Jack Curry: I liked every sport as a kid and played whatever was in season, but baseball was, by far, my favorite sport. I played it in high school and attended one practice at Fordham University before I gave up on playing. It just seemed like it would be too time-consuming to be a backup outfielder (if that). But I still play in the New York-Boston media games at Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park and I still get pretty excited about a game of Wiffle ball.

When I was 12, I started a newspaper at my elementary school. I was fortunate to have a teacher who understood my passion for writing and for sports and he helped me produce these little newspapers. I loved the idea of reporting and writing on things that were happening around the school so, in some ways, I kind of knew what I wanted to do with my life by the time I was in the seventh grade.

BYB: You were with the New York Times as their national baseball correspondent. Tell us how that came about?

Jack Curry: During college, I worked for The Jersey Journal for three summers. About a year after I graduated from Fordham, I was hired by The New York Times. I started at the bottom. I had to prove to them that I deserved a chance to write. Eventually, I began covering some college sports and then I became the New Jersey Nets' beat writer for one season. I took over the Yankees' beat in the middle of the 1991 season and stayed on that position through the 1997 season. From 1998 until 2009, I was a National Baseball Writer at The Times. I loved my years at The Times. I got to cover the Yankees during their dynastic period and got to travel to places like Cuba, Japan, Venezuela, Colombia and Puerto Rico to cover baseball.

BYB: I hope you realize that since you came to YES there is a much different energy. You and Lorenz are appointment television because of your complete analysis. How did that develop and is it because of your passion of the game?

Jack Curry: It's nice of you to compliment us on the energy you see. Bob Lorenz is as selfless as anyone I've ever worked with. He wants the people around him to do well and he works to make that happen. I think the reason we provide thorough analysis is because we study the games and the story lines and work with Jared Boshnack, our producer and another team player, to present this information to the viewer. All three of us have a passion for the game and for our jobs.

BYB: We wrote JACK CURRY: NEW YORK BAD ASS because we felt as though you needed "Props". What was your reaction the first time you saw it?

Jack Curry: When I saw the "Bad Ass" headline on your blog, I laughed. Not sure how many times I've been called a bad ass in my life, but I can assure you that I wouldn't need more than five fingers to recount those times.

BYB: What advice can you give young people that have a dream in becoming a baseball analyst like you?

Jack Curry: If you want to become a baseball analyst or a sports writer, the path to those positions is like the path to any other job. You have to work at it. It sounds like a cliche, but it's true. If you want to be a sports writer and you're not even working for your college newspaper, you're already adversely impacting you future. My advice to someone who wants to get into the news media business, whether it's TV or newspapers, is to try and focus in on what type of job you'd like to have. Once you answer that question, you need to do everything you can to get an internship in that field and network with other professionals. Make yourself stand out. Companies will make room for someone who shows he is exceptional at what he does.

BYB: If you had to name 1 player on the Yankees that was most impressive, approachable and kind, who would it be and why?

Jack Curry: In more than 20 years of covering the Yankees, I've developed a working relationship with a lot of different players. If I had to pick one player who was always a pleasure to deal with, it would be David Cone. Interestingly enough, we're now colleagues at YES. If David's baseball career hadn't worked out, he talked about how he wanted to be a sports writer. What I liked about David was that he gave thoughtful answers and didn't act as if every interview needed to be conducted as if there was a 30-second play clock over his head. They were conversations, not interviews. He didn't dismiss questions or issues. He embraced them. Cone was so approachable that his willingness to talk to players ended up helping his teammates. Since Cone was willing to deal with reporters and was very good at it, other players were allowed to avoid interviews.

BYB: My son wants to know, is what you do the best job in the world?

Jack Curry: Tell your son it's a very cool job, but Derek Jeter has a cooler job. Seriously, I love being an analyst at YES. I get to talk about baseball. Your son is right. Very cool.

BYB: Do you ever read Bleeding Yankee Blue? If so, what do you think?

Jack Curry: Ever since your called me a "Bad Ass," I've been checking out Bleeding Yankee Blue. Keep up the solid work.

Jack, I can't thank you enough for doing this interview with us. You are truly great at what you do and you bring sports analysis to another level because like I've said, you actually know what you're talking about and you never talk down to the fans. You deserve everything good that comes your way. The best to you!

Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

WHY THIS YANKEES LOSS STINGS

Leave it to the Yankees and Red Sox to go extra innings in the last game of the year between the 2 clubs. No one ever said it would be easy and while the Red Sox are dear death, they clearly aren't dead yet. Long game.(Photo: Getty)
Mark Teixeira had a beautiful 2 run double in the first inning for the Yankees, it appeared we were on our way. Chris Dickerson had a sac RBI in the game.

Ivan Nova pitched OK. In 6 innings, he gave up 4 runs on 8 hits. He's been better, but I ain't made at him. After Nova, the Yankees used 7 pitchers and held down the Sox until Scott Proctor blew it but, more on that in a moment.

(Photo: Getty)
In the 6th inning, an amazing play by Austin Romine tagging Dustin Pedroia trying to get home. The picture above clearly captures the out. But look, this is athletic on both ends and for Romine, a rookie to be thrown into that and succeeding is something special. They always said Romine's defense was great, here's a great example of that.

In the extra innings, there was a horrendous call at first. Dustin Pedroia sliding into first and a running quick throw from Ramiro Pena at third to Nick Swisher at first base. Pedroia was clearly out with the naked eye, but when I saw the play in YES-mo, I became a crazy person. Joe Girardi was right to fight that battle and he getting thrown out, was better than risking Nick arguing the call and getting tossed. It also was a tactic to energize the Yankees who weren't hitting in the later innings, but it didn't work.

Scott Proctor, who's really not too great, allowed Jacoby Ellsbury to give one a ride in the 14th inning, a 3 run shot to make it 7-4. Not too good. The Yankees really wanted this game, and it was a mistake by Proctor and perhaps, may I suggest, a mistake by Tony Pena to put him in. Look, I like Scott Proctor, but the numbers don't look too good. Clearly there's a reason why he let up that home run to Ellsbury. Why wouldn't we use Luis Ayala? He was available. Well, what can you do.

One final thought. Anyone hear Baba O'Riley by the Who being played when Brett Gardner came out? My take on this is simple, that's Paul O'Neill song. It's sacred and it shouldn't be played for any other player ever. Just saying, I loved the Warrior and everytime I hear that song, I think of Paul O'Neill.

Final Score of Game 2: Red Sox 7 - Yankees 4

Don't look now, the Red Sox aren't dead yet.

Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

YANKEE LEGENDS & WIFFLE BALL

If it’s not Little League, it’s wiffle ball, probably one of the greatest yard games ever. The ball doesn’t travel as far as a baseball when you hit it, but there is something about a wiffle ball hit and watching the ball travel that just screams “childhood” all over again.

My son is a baseball animal. It’s all he wants to do. If he’s not playing in an organized game, he’s throwing up a wiffle ball in the backyard and cranking it across the yard. On Christmas, there was a sale at Modell’s, a Yankee sponsor. I bought my kid 12 wiffle balls and a Junk ball bat. When March hit. he got the fever for baseball after a long winter’s nap. He was out there and started cranking them over the fence. He has 1 left. They’re stuck in the evergreen trees, they rolled down the street and into the sewer, and he cranked a few across to the neighbor's yard with what he calls his “power swing.” I just can’t keep up.

Now he has a new thing, baseball stances. You’ve seen the guy on Youtube that imitates the players stances of the Yankees players, right? My son has Robinson Cano down, plus, he can stand there like David Ortiz or even do his best Brandon Phillips. He’s a child baseball scholar at this point. I made a suggestion. Let’s watch video of the greats. We watched Yogi Berra and Reggie Jackson and now he’s trying to perfect them as well. I nicknamed my son “The Show” because as his fall ball league is starting and he’s standing in the batter’s box, he’ll give me a look for a moment and then it’s my chance to figure out what stance he’s doing at that at bat. He’s quizzing me; the freaking kid is quizzing me as I sit in the stands, it’s hilarious.

Yesterday, we were in the backyard hitting wiffle balls. He stood in the worn out dirt spot in the yard and said “Who’s this?” Now, my son is lefty. He stood in the imaginary box, and swung the bat straight through the zone about 3 times and the barrel of the bat pointed at me at the end of each practice swing. He then lifted his back elbow up alittle, the bat was alittle higher than normal and he had some slight movement. His right leg was out a bit and it all looked pretty familiar, but I couldn’t place it. “Who?”, I said. “Paul O’Neill.” I got chills.

I was proud at that moment. Paul O’Neill is probably the most exciting Yankee to watch over the years and being part of 4 World Championship Yankee teams, it hit me, my son has never actually seen Paul O’Neill play. What’s my point? Baseball greats carry over from generation to generation in such a powerful way because, the bottom line is, everybody loves a winner. So, it looks like I’ll be picking up a #21 Jersey this Christmas.

A salute to "The Warrior". Your influence has translated to a 9 year old kid in suburbia USA in 2011. Warrior... meet "The Show."

You can’t beat that... you really can’t.

Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

WHY BURNETT'S HISSY FIT DON'T FLY

(Photo: New York Daily News)

It's one thing to be passionate about the game your playing, it's another to be angry for being pulled and not being good. When I think of passion, Paul O'Neill comes to mind because he wanted to hit the ball every single time to get his team a win. You have to respect that. You also have to respect a guy wanting to play all 162 games, wanting to help your team win, but everyone knows, not all players get that chance. And remember Reggie Jackson being accused of dogging it by Billy Martin? In that public display, I may even side with Reggie, just because it was based on Billy's opinion and nothing more. But let's face facts, what's not OK in my mind is publicly trying to embarrass your manager because you don't like being taken out of the game even though your performance was pathetic. (Read HERE) That almost doesn't make sense. AJ Burnett may have wanted to stay in last night's game, but go yell at Joe Girardi in the clubhouse... keep it off the field.



Look, I've had my share of criticisms of Joe Girardi but at the end of the day, he's the manager, he calls the shots and he clearly needed to make a decision in the second inning of last night's game. AJ Burnett pitched his way out of the Yankees starting rotation last night as far as I'm concerned and he added insult to injury by pulling a fit.Now, you can make the argument that Burnett was just passionate and wanted to pitch his heart out last night. I say that's bunk. If he pitched his heart out, he wouldn't have sucked, plain and simple. Now look, if Burnett was pitching a no hitter into the 5th last night and suddenly walked 3 the load the bases and was pulled, I would have sided with Burnett. But he didn't. Burnett showed me nothing last night and Girardi had to make a move. In fact, I bet most of us were rooting to get him off the mound.



Look, there is no doubt the Yankee rotation has question marks. Right now we have a tired CC Sabathia, an Bartolo Colon that seems to be breaking down. AJ Burnett is bordering on becoming a basket case and Freddy Garcia slit his finger opened and landed on the DL.

Ironically, the guys that were the most unsure of the season, Ivan Nova and Phil Hughes, are proving the doubters wrong and pitching their balls off, but there is no doubt last night's pitching performance by AJ Burnett has given us more instability. But should we panic? Not yet.



Look, there is a bright side to this, we can still get wins with what we have and if AJ were to possibly move to the bullpen, he may be able to reinvent himself. Then again, would the Yankees do that? I'm not sure yet, I'll get back to you on that.



I have always backed AJ, this is true, but now he's hurting the team regularly and it's time to go. A bullpen assignment would be smart right now and going 2 innings out of the pen could actually help the team. But will his mental instability just eat him up out there? Probably. To be honest, it's unclear what needs to be done with AJ Burnett, but something needs to be done now.



What can you say, just a yearly concern when it comes to Yankee pitching. Year after year right around August, things happen and concerns among the Yankee fans rise. One things for sure though... AJ's hissy fit doesn't fly in my book. He didn't earn to right to flip out.



Hey AJ, pitch better, then we don't care what you do, but don't pitch well and complain about being pulled? Well, that makes no sense to me. It really doesn't.



Please comment and let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: CHUCK KNOBLAUCH

Any true Yankee fan knows that Chuck Knoblauch was a key figure in helping to make baseball history throughout the 1990s. Chuck was nice enough to talk to me about that time in his life, his father, and what’s happening with him now.

As a player for the Minnesota Twins, 1991 Rookie of the Year, and multiple World Series Champion with both the Twins and the New York Yankees, how exciting was that time in his life?



Chuck Knoblauch: “Very exciting. Growing up as a kid, dreaming of the major leagues, it was very exciting. I believe that everything happens for a reason; the major leagues is where I became a man from a boy. I went through the good, the bad, and the ugly; but looking back, I wouldn’t change a bit."BYB: What was your initial reaction to being brought to the New York Yankees in 1998?



Chuck Knoblauch: “It was awesome. Everyone was so welcoming during Spring Training, I felt like I belonged right away. I spent a lot of time on hitting with Derek, and O’Neill and Pettitte too.”

Chuck went on to discuss some of the initial difficulties that he had adjusting to life in New York City, being born and raised in Texas. However, he quickly grew to love the city’s people, the culture and atmosphere and found himself becoming a part of the community. He recalls his favorite times in Manhattan were in the summer, when the city was hot, less crowded, and alive with activity.



On playing for Joe Torre, Chuck had a lot to say about the special relationship he shared with the Yankees’ skipper. Calling him a “father figure” as well as a manager, Chuck says that all of the players had the utmost respect for Joe, for many reasons.

Chuck Knoblauch: “It was so easy to respect Joe. There wasn’t much he didn’t experience on the field as a player himself. He could relate to the players on so many levels. So whether you were batting .319, or .220, he could relate to you. He was great at handling all of the different personalities on the team. There weren’t very many team meetings, but when there were, he wasn’t screaming and yelling. Joe was always at an even-keel, and managed with love, desire, and a passion to win. We (the team) played like we did out of respect for him.”



When discussing the clubhouse atmosphere, Knoblauch remembered many of the players and their antics fondly. He talked about how there was a band room set-up for the team, and it wasn’t uncommon to see players or crew members to be back there, having impromptu jam "sessions” during rain delays. He specifically recalls Bernie Williams playing his guitar, and laughed as he explained how Paul O’Neill once tried to teach him how to play the drums.(In Photo: Paul O'Neill)

Chuck Knoblauch: “O’Neill is a great drummer. I’d always wanted to play, since I was a kid. Paul tried really hard to teach me, and then eventually just gave up on me. It didn’t work out that well,” he laughed.



Chuck was playing for the New York Yankees on Sept. 11, 2001, and he recalls that morning vividly. He said that phone call from his mother had woke him up, asking if he was okay, and if he was safe. Chuck said he was still half-asleep, when he went to the window, pulled the blinds, and saw the devastation of the attack on the Twin Towers. From where he lived,



Chuck Knoblauch: “I had a clear view. I just sat there in amazement for hours. I saw everything. I saw the people jumping from the Towers. I was scared; and even more scared when the Pentagon got hit. I thought to myself, ‘what in the world is going on here?’ I even called Brian Cashman to ask if we were still playing that night, and found out that everything was cancelled for a while. When we finally got back, we played in Chicago. It’s usually a tough place to play, and the fans were all wearing New York shirts and were very supportive. The rest of the season that year was just a blur.”



We’re all familiar with the close relationship that Chuck shared with his Dad, who was a career high school baseball coach. Chuck lost his Dad to Alzheimer’s disease, and this was a very painful loss for him. He’s still able to laugh at some of the good times, such as when his Dad would leave Astros games in the 8th inning so it wouldn’t get stuck in traffic. As a kid, Chuck recalls that no matter how tired his father was after coaching all day, all of his time after work was spent coaching him.



Chuck Knoblauch: “One important thing I learned from my Dad was, is not to talk about anything that you know nothing about. My Dad was a pitcher. He’d day, ‘Don’t ask me about hitting, I don’t know anything about it”.



Chuck’s father was very supportive of his son’s dreams of being a major league baseball player, and would take him to batting cages and other places where he could fine-tune his skills.



Chuck Knoblauch: “He was tough on me. He instilled my work ethic. I didn’t get away with anything.”

As far as Chuck Knoblauch’s life is concerned today, everything seems to be falling nicely into place. He and his wife are expecting a baby girl any day now. At the age of 43, Chuck says that although he would love for his kids to have seen him as a major league player, he’s glad that he doesn’t have the rigorous schedule that would keep him away from his wife and children. The couple also has plans to continue having children; Knoblauch hopes that someday, he’ll have a son that he can name after his father.



As far as appearances, he doesn’t do many autograph signings, but one thing Chuck is doing is getting involved in the early stages of writing a book. Updates will be posted on his website: www.ChuckKnoblauch11.com.



Chuck is also quite active on Tweeter and responds to many of his fans on a daily basis through his verified Twitter Account, @ChuckKnob4real. Through Twitter he says he keeps updated with Yankee news and opinion through Bleeding Yankee Blue tweets. Pretty Cool.



It was a pleasure speaking with Chuck Knoblauch, who was gracious, fun, witty, personable and very easy to talk with. By the end of our conversation, I felt like I was talking to an old friend.



Many thanks to him for taking the time out of his busy schedule to speak with Bleeding Yankee Blue. Oh, and be sure to follow Chuck on Twitter!









--Christy Lee, BYB Staff Writer







Please comment and let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

WHY OLD TIMER'S DAY IS COMFORTING

(Photo: NY Daily News)
Every year the Yankees have Old Timer’s Day at Yankee Stadium and to me, besides Spring training and the World Series, it may be one of my favorite times of year. For 1, I have officially been a Yankee fan since I was about 7 years old. That would put me at the 1978 season and guys like Ron Guidry, Reggie Jackson and Goose Gossage were the kings of New York. So, seeing them years later, while strange because they are so much older, is really a treat for me. First off, Ron Guidry is my idol. I too am a lefty and I have had my Ron Guidry Wilson mitt since about 1985. Seeing my idol years later just pleases me to the core.

(Photo: William Perlman/The Star-Ledger)

My fondest memory of Old Timer’s Day was watching Bobby Murcer with a pinned on lavaliere mic in the field talking to the booth while he was playing. I always liked Bobby Murcer, and even though he played for other teams in his career, like the Giants and the Cubs, to me, he was always a New York Yankee. He had so much heart and pride for the pinstripes and the fans loved it and I know the Yankee family did too. Back in the beginning of Murcer’s career, many thought because he was from Oklahoma, he was going to be the next Mickey Mantle. Well, Murcer never hit as many home runs like the Mick, but he hit his fair share and hit them at the right time. We obviously remember August 6, 1979, the funeral day of Thurman Munson and Murcer both gave Munson eulogy and hit a 3 run home run in the game that night. It will be forever known as the Munson game. What touched me the most was the report of he gave his home run bat to Thurman’s widow. Man, I still get chills thinking about that. Bobby was a good ballplayer and a great broadcaster and when he was out there on Old Timer’s Day, he was having fun. There were a lot of laughs and you couldn’t help but love Bobby Murcer.

This year, another couple Yankees are making their Old Timer’s Day debut. Joe Torre, Lou Piniella and Bernie Williams will be there. Joe Torre, whom I’ve had the opportunity of meeting many times, is one of my favorite managers ever. I loved his managing skill and I loved Zimmer by his side. It will be good to see him and I wrote about it in WHY IT'S ABOUT TIME.

Lou Piniella was in the Bronx Zoo back in the 70’s and there is no doubt there will be a standing Ovation for Lou as well. Lou was always a decent ballplayer and then, over time he became a successful manager with the Reds and Mariners. He always had a tight bond with the Yankees and I appreciated Lou, even though we played against him for so many years when he was with Seattle. Lou is a Yankee and I’m glad he’s coming home.

Bernie Williams is coming back to the Bronx this weekend and even though I didn’t like the way the Yankees handled Bernie at the end of the 2006 season, I guess I need to get over it. Bernie probably did. I have to realize that it was business, but the way it was handled just bothered me. Whatever the case, it’s clear whatever riff they had is over and I couldn’t be happier to see him back in pinstripes, at least for just 1 day. This is a guy that I watched his entire career. I remember when things really started clicking for Bernie and I thought “Man, we have many more years of this guy.” That was probably in 1996. Next thing I know, it’s 10 years later and he’s walking off the field for the last time. To me, today will be special with Bernie back in the big house.

(In Photo: Al Downing)

Seeing all the greats is a comforting experience for me. You know that Al Downing will be there, he’s always there. Yogi Berra, Brian Doyle and hopefully Wade Boggs too. I am looking forward to seeing Paul O’Neill back in pinstripes, Mickey Rivers (Read EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: MICKEY RIVERS), Moose Skowron and Darryl Strawberry. These are the Yankee greats that have made significant contributions to the team during their time in the Bronx. It’s an elite group and a group I admire and have worshipped all my life.

So, Ladies and Gentlemen, today will be no different. I will be transformed into a 7 year old kid in just a few hours, watching my favorite Yankees play alittle ball; granted it’s alittle slower and alittle funnier, but never the less, they're my favorites and all of yours too and most importantly, it’s baseball…Yankee baseball, the greatest sport in the world involving the greatest team in the world.

Yankee Tradition… that’s what it’s all about and I’ll watch every inning today…I can’t wait.

Please comment and let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

WHY WE NEED BIG Z & WOODY

In the 2011 season, the Chicago Cubs are a miserable 29-40. Rabid Cubs fans would never admit it, but they've reached the point where their only real option is to sell expensive players and begin rebuilding, which makes them the perfect candidate to sell some players by the deadline.

Jesse Schindler already discussed the possibility of Kerry Wood coming to the Yankees in Part II titled: WHY WOOD SHOULD BE ON THE RADAR. Believe me, I'm quite fond of of this idea.

Wood’s a proven success in the Bronx, has a one year contract right now, so the Cubs will take whatever they can get. Even if he wants to be known as a lifelong Cub, I'm pretty sure the way things are going in Chi-town, he'd be more than willing to waive his no-trade clause and have a chance at winning his first career ring. He wants to keep his family situated in Chicago, but he could take a three month long “business trip” and sign right back with the Cubs (or White Sox if he wants to be on a team that isn't a disaster) when the playoff run is over.

Since Jesse covered this idea recently, I want to suggest the addition of another piece in the trade: Carlos Zambrano. Yes, it's true that reports are out suggesting that the Yankees have ZERO interest in Zambrano (Read HERE), but I am not so sure that's true. I think Zambrano would be a good fit. Now if you're a Yankees fan and reading me on Facebook, you probably just deleted or blocked me. I understand what just went through your head: “What?!?! That guy who is just one step short of braining an ump with a bat?!?! Are you insane?!”

Bear with me here. Big Bart's recent injury and Ivan Nova's general inconsistency has reminded us all that even though this pitching staff has performed far beyond what anyone imagined, it is still very much a work in progress. Who knows if Nova can handle the spotlight, if Colon and Garcia can stay healthy all season, or if Brian Gordon is the real deal. Talks about the Yankees trading for an elite pitcher have died down due to Colon's unfathomable comeback, Garcia's puzzling (he’s hardly changed his approach from last year) success, and the fact that the trading block this year is expected to be mostly junk, with the exception of a possible Jose Reyes dealing. However, adding one more veteran arm with post-season experience could be huge for a team relying so heavily on guys who still come with some question marks.So why Zambrano? Well, first I'd like to address the question… why NOT Zambrano? The answer to that is obvious because the man is a ticking time bomb, and could throw a temper tantrum if he so much as gets a bad strike call. He's snapped bats over his knees, yelled at umpires, and smashed Gatorade containers in the dugout... Wait... smashed Gatorade containers? Where have I heard this before?Think back to the days of the Warrior Paul O'Neill, he was the “heart and soul” of the late '90s dynasty according to the late George Steinbrenner. His behavior was controversial, but there's no denying that he brought energy to the team and got everyone fired up, and in the end everyone loved him for it. 1-8 record against Boston be damned, this has been a great season so far, but in the few moments when our beloved Bombers have disappointed, there was one thing clearly noticeable on the field: a lack of energy in my opinion. Zambrano could be a catalyst, both on the mound and in the clubhouse. He's not afraid to get pumped up whether he shows it through positive or negative energy. Big Z may sound exactly like the kind of guy who would be disastrous for clubhouse chemistry, but odds are just as good that he'd be exactly the kind of boost they'd need to break out of slumps quicker, or turn around a post-season series.Now that I've addressed the reasons of why it would be a bad idea to sign Z, let's move on to why he's a good, realistic target. Similar to Kerry Wood, the Cubs would be insane to expect Montero or a Killer B in return; Cashman would laugh his ass off all the way home if they asked for that. If the Cubs were willing to deal Zambrano, it would be a straight salary dump. The Cubs owe him nearly $36 million for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. As I said, the Cubs are looking to rebuild, and if they can clear $18,000,000 from their 2012 payroll, they'll have huge money to work with in the off season. There have been rumors about the Cubs making a run at Albert Pujols this off-season; so wouldn't a Zambrano trade help their chances quite a bit? Of course, his massive salary would make the deal a gamble, but as Casey recently said, Cashman likes to take gambles, and if he thinks this one would pay off, he'll be willing to pull the trigger.

Zambrano has had a less than stellar start to the 2011 season, posting a 5-4 record and a 4.59 ERA. This may make him seem like a less appealing trade option, but I have a feeling he's missing Larry Rothschild and a reunion could work wonders for him. Casey calls Rothschild “Yoda” because of how well he is able to coach his pitchers mentally. Zambrano has the stuff; his performance is almost solely dependent on his mental game. The Yankees could grab him for cheaper than he's worth, and end up with another ace to add to the ever improving rotation.

It is for the same reason that I think he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause. As much as players love the money, none of them like to go out and suck. If a reunion with his old pitching coach could help him get the results he has the talent to get, he wouldn't hesitate to come to New York. Additionally, Zambrano has voiced his disdain for his current club publicly, comparing them to “a AAA team” and saying, “We stink, that's all I've got to say.” Clearly, he's not too happy with his current position, so does anyone think he would turn down a chance to win a World Series?

This is less important because of the existence of the DH in the American League, but Zambrano is one of the best hitting pitchers in recent years. He's a three time Silver Slugger (finished 2008 with a .337 average/.892 OPS) and is batting .313 this season. If the Yanks don't want to trade for Zambrano, this certainly isn't going to change their minds, but having a ninth potent bat in the lineup in a World Series away game could be that tiny little bonus that swings things in our favor.

Like it or not, Zambrano is a clear target for a trade. He'd be dirt cheap, could be packaged with Kerry Wood to cover all bases, and could help anchor an elite rotation. Assuming Phil Hughes recovers and Colon stays healthy beyond his current DL stint, we could be looking at a post-season rotation along the lines of:

• Sabathia

• Colon

• Hughes

• Burnett

• Zambrano

That's not just a decent rotation we are talking about, it is a World Series Championship rotation. Not a single one of those pitchers can legitimately be called anything less than a #2 guy. Big Z would keep the kids in the minors to develop, but also not create a need to deal them for help now. He's the closest thing the Yankees have to a good trade target. It would be a risk for public relations and the team's success, but it might be the best option we've got...




--Grant Cederquist, BYB Staff Writer



--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Associate Editor

Please comment and let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

WHY HE'LL ALWAYS BE OUR WARRIOR

Every time someone mentions Paul O’Neill, my mind instantly goes back to the 1st day of November, 2001. During what would be his final game, a World Series game, The Warrior tipped his cap to over 50,000 Yankees fans that literally stopped the game, chanting his name over and over again. One of the most memorable moments in baseball history, not because of the love and respect that fans showed a player, but because of the love and respect that #21 showed us. As he exited the field at Yankee Stadium for the last time, he was, and is, far from forgotten.



This October game was no ordinary fall day. Less than one month earlier, New York City fell victim to the first attack ever waged on American soil. The city was physically and emotionally devastated. Baseball games were cancelled for a few weeks, and people all around world watched when America’s game resumed. Frightened and battered, New York City opened its boundaries, and now, the whole world was proclaiming their love for New York. Paul O’Neill, a Yankees legend, was not only the hero of the Bronx, but now, he belonged to the world. When he left the game that day in October, it symbolized of the end of an era for New York. It was now a different time, a different city, and a different world.The Warrior isn’t knocking over water coolers in the dugout anymore. He is now announcing games on behalf of the team that made him a legend. His calm approach to announcing is very different from the passionate expressions that we were used to seeing while he played each game. Nonetheless, he grows even closer in our hearts, as he jokes about his enormous appetite, the fact that his wife hides his trophies on him, or the razzing he gets from his kids. This legend is a human being, and he never lets us down. He may be the guy that everyone likes to make fun of in the broadcast booth, but we will never forget that Paul O’Neill was no one to be reckoned with when you faced him on the field. There are not many players that could have made the seamless transition from player to broadcaster, but Paul O’Neill did, once again proving that he is a winner, whatever he chooses to do.



If I close my eyes, I can still hear it. November 1, 2001. Paul O’Neill…Paul O’Neill...Paul O’Neill... the day a legend left the field, for higher ground, but not too far away from home. Just a few rows up and away from home plate.







--Christy Lee, BYB Staff Writer









Please comment and let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

WHY WEARING PINSTRIPES DOESN'T MAKE YOU A YANKEE

Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome a new writer to the BYB family, Moonlight Graham will be sending over pieces from time to time about his thoughts on the New York Yankees. It's a hard look and will bring you more of the historic perspective a lot of you have been asking about. Enjoy it, and welcome him. --The Mighty Casey

There is a HUGE difference between playing for the New York Yankees and being a New York Yankee.

I think this dramatic difference can best be explained by two players who ironically play closest to each other on the field: Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.

As for Jeter, well, it’s obvious he’s a Yankee. He bleeds Yankee blue. Even if he burned Yankee Stadium to the ground, and traded pinstripes for prison stripes, he’s a Yankee, Forever. Now, as for A-Rod, I’m not saying that he can’t become a Yankee, but right now, he’s only playing for the team.

Think about it this way, Derek Jeter, even if he did something terrible, it wouldn't matter, #2 will be automatically retired in his honor when he hangs up his spikes. He will be forever remembered as the Captain, no doubt. But, do you think #13 is as automatic? With the career numbers A-Rod should put up, it should be automatic, yes, however, the reason it’s not automatic is because he plays for the New York Yankees. He’s not a New York Yankee. Again, that can change.

What makes a Yankee? Pride, game play, championships. Some have it, some earned it, others were just there to receive it. Some, never earned it.

Now, here are players who have become Yankees. Think Paul O’Neill, Reggie Jackson, and for you old-timers, Red Ruffing. But some players will always remain as someone who played for the Yankees. Think Wade Boggs, Darryl Strawberry, and Rickey Henderson.

So, why did I make the distinction between being a Yankee and playing for the Yankees?

Because in the coming weeks leading up to Opening Day, I’ll be naming the best three Yankee players to play each position. I’m going to start with catcher, working my way around the diamond, ending with pitchers and finally managers. Please feel free to send in your suggestions. It's a hard look and I'm happy to hear you all out.

Oh, and allow me to introduce myself officially. My name is Moonlight Graham. If my name sounds a bit familar, it may be because my career was a bit unique. You see, my Major League Baseball career consisted of only playing two innings in right f ield. I never got a chance to come to bat. So if you have some time, drop me a line. Until the season starts, this cornfield out in Iowa is a little lonesome. If you know who I am, you're a true baseball fan.

--Moonlight Graham BYB Staff Writer





Please comment and let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

WHY #55 SHOULD NOT BE WORN

Look, I'm no fan of retiring numbers every time a Yankee player has a decent time in pinstripes, especially if the numbers don't reflect greatness. But based on what the Yanks invested in Hideki Matsui, I think it's safe to say they got a pretty good return on their investment and there should be some kind of temporary "hold" put on #55. Sometimes the Yankees don't offer certain numbers to players because of the career they had with the team. They do this, until they decide if or when a players number should be retired. I say think about doing it with #55. Here's why:

Matsui hit many home runs for the Bronx Bombers over his career. Yes, there were a few down years during the wrist injury, but hitting home runs was his job. During his Yankee career, the Yankees made it to the post season every year except 2008.

Godzilla finished his Yankee career like he started, kicking ass. In his first at bat on Opening day at Yankee Stadium in 2003, he hit a grand slam. Years later, in Game 6 verses the Phillies in 2009 and he finally got a championship with the Yankees by literally winning that game himself with 6 RBIs. (The 2009 World Series, Matsui hit .615 (8 for 13) with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs.)
At the end of Godzilla's career with the Yankees, he batted .292 and had 140 home runs after 7 years in the Bronx. Matsui was also a 2 time All Star in New York and received the 2009 World Series MVP award. Anyway, the crazy thing is the home runs. 140 and missed a lot of time with that wrist injury.

So, you're looking at that and saying it isn't enough, right? Well, look at this:

Number 21 was worn by "the Warrior". Paul O'Neill was a 4 time All Star with the Yankees and was part of 4 championships yes, bu,t at the end of Paul's career he batted .288. That's with the Yankees and the Reds. But in his Yankee career alone, these are his numbers: 185 home runs and batted a .303 average. That's 9 years on the Yanks.

No one wears #21. #55, in my eyes, needs to be in the same category.

It's weird to see Russell Martin wearing #55. Yes, it's his number since his days in Los Angeles, but on the Yankees, it's not. For me, it will always be Godzilla's. Think about it.

Please comment and let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.