Posted By Chasing Records on April 4, 2012

The New York Yankees’ 2011 ALDS loss to the Detroit Tigers left us all scratching our heads. Should the Yankees sign Albert Pujols? Will CJ Wilson join the Bombers? Is Yu Darvish the real thing? Brian Cashman and the Yankees’ front office, once again, preached patience. Pujols and Wilson joined the Angels, while Darvish signed with Texas, heating up the AL West race for sure. It appeared that the Yankees would go with what they had, hoping to regain the magic that was the 2009 season. That was until a Friday night in mid-January. Jesus Montero was out, and right-handed phenom Michael Pineda was in. Hiroki Kuroda signed a one-year contract, and AJ Burnett was dumped off to Pittsburgh, a move the Pirates are already regretting after bunting practice. Even Andy Pettitte decided to join the fun, announcing a comeback on March 16.

Last year’s rotation, pieced together with Freddy Garcia, Bartolo Colon, and even someone named Brian Gordon, still won the AL East and finished with the best record in the league. This year’s rotation has too many starting pitchers, a great problem the Yankees haven’t had to deal with in many, many years. This year’s question mark won’t be pitching. It won’t be the offense, which should be able to score enough runs without Jesus Montero. This year’s question mark will be health and durability. Joba Chamberlain’s status is up in the air (no pun intended) after an unfortunate trampoline accident. Alex Rodriguez claims to be healthy, but can he last an entire season? Derek Jeter’s OTHER calf has been bothering him this spring, and Nick Swisher has missed a couple of Spring weeks with a bad groin.

Yankee fans should fully expect this year’s team to win the American League East Division. If you’re a fan like me, God help us in a one-game Wild Card playoff, which is one of the worst ideas in baseball history. Can you say heart attack? Can anyone out there imagine a one-game playoff with the Boston Red Sox? I guess it worked out in ‘78, but after all the garbage that happened in ‘04, I’m not sure if I’d make it the full nine innings. So this year, the rules really force you to play for the division title. And who’s to blame? Not sure, but check Joe Girardi’s starting lineups in September of 2010, when the Yankees ended up as the Wild Card winner. The Yankees will win the 2012 AL East, and I won’t make any playoff predictions. Too unfair to predict what might happen in a short series against any of these teams.

Who’s Gotta Go: To me, it’s Freddy Garcia. I don’t know why Ivan Nova should have to fight for his rotation spot. After his 2011 season, and his ALDS Game 1 performance, he’s a sure thing to me. Phil Hughes is only 25 and is throwing well, and the Yanks gave up their number one prospect to sign Pineda. So Freddy has to go. When Pettitte is ready to go, it’s a whole different story.

Best Off-Season Move: Andy Pettitte’s comeback is a lot of fun for fans, and Michael Pineda eventually will pay off. But this year’s biggest acquisition is Hiroki Kuroda. The guy barely had an ERA over 3.00 last season, and I’ve had the chance to watch a couple of his Spring Training outings. He is the real deal, and he’s back working with his old battery-mate, Russell Martin. In 2012, Kuroda will prove to be the biggest move Cashman made in the off-season.

Biggest Off-Season Mistake: Not trading Nick Swisher. Obviously trading Burnett was a tremendous accomplishment, but picking up Swisher’s option may not pay off for the club. Hal Steinbrenner wants to cut payroll, so why keep Swisher? After three horrendous post-seasons in a row, you’d have thought the guy would have worn out his welcome by now. I forgot, “he’s great in the clubhouse.”

2012 MVP: Call me crazy, but the Yankees’ MVP in 2012 will be first baseman Mark Teixeira. Many fans, including myself, wanted Teixeira out of here after the ‘11 campaign, begging the owners to figure out a way to accommodate Pujols. There was no way Tex was going anywhere, and he came into Spring Training 15 pounds lighter. His swing looks quicker, and I’ve seen a number of base hits to left field. He’ll be more productive, and the average will climb. There’s less pressure on him with a full season hitting fifth, so I’m expecting big things from Teixeira.

2012 Goat: The season hasn’t even started, and it’s already Joba Chamberlain, IF he doesn’t make it back to pitch this season. All we heard about was the great progress he was making rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, and then the trampoline happened. I get it that he was playing with his kid, but with Joba, if it’s not one thing, it’s another. Just imagine a bullpen of Chamberlain, Soriano, Robertson, and Rivera. Seems like it’d be a pretty sure thing after the fifth inning.

As we look forward to another great season of Yankees baseball… my advise to the Chasing800 Faithful is to sit back, buckle your seat belt, and enjoy the ride. Baseball is back, and the Yankees are better than they were last season!

-Eric Kopp

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Posted By Chasing Records on March 20, 2012

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-Chasing Records & The Full Focus Team

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Posted By Chasing Records on March 16, 2012

This past week, the Yankee Faithful lefts comments and responses on the Chasing800 Facebook and Twitter accounts in regards to one of the Yankee greats… the one and only, Jorge Posada. In addition to our “Saying Goodbye” feature on one of our Yankee favorites, we wanted to share and highlight some of the great words and wonderful memories shared by Yankee fans and members of the Chasing800 Faithful!

Everyone here at Chasing800 truly appreciate what Jorge Posada represents on and off the baseball diamond. Through our efforts with the Full Focus Scholarship Fund and a variety of Yankee related charitable causes, we understand the importance of getting involved, helping others, and contributing to our communities. It is wonderful to see all of the amazing and positive things that Jorge and Laura Posada have done through the Jorge Posada Foundation, the Fit at Home initiative, and other helpful and beneficial programs. He is far more than just a great baseball player, he is a great human being.

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Messages from the Chasing800 Faithful for Jorge Posada:

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Posted By Chasing Records on March 13, 2012

The pain has not yet gone away from the Yankees’ early exit in the American League Division Series. As the Detroit Tigers moved on to play the Texas Rangers, a team the Yankees dominated all year, the “what ifs” continue to be asked. The future of the team will be debated, and concern arises over the lengthy contracts of players who have failed to produce in October. But one man who did not fail to produce this October has all but likely ended his tenure in pinstripes, and it has been magical. Jorge Posada, who we first saw on the big stage pinch running in the 1995 Division Series against Seattle, will not be back with the Yankees next season. This is the second member of the Core Four who will leave the team. Whether or not he returns to baseball is a mystery, but it’s hard to imagine Jorge putting on a uniform other than the Yankee pinstripes.

Derek Jeter is the captain of the Yankees, but Jorge Posada has always been a leader. A five time All Star and Silver Slugger winner, he probably will not be enshrined in Cooperstown one day. But you can’t argue with the statistics. In 2003, he blasted 30 homers and drove in 101 RBI’s, becoming the first Yankees’ catcher to do so since Yogi Berra. In 2007, before his final contract was signed, Jorge hit a career-best .338 in 144 games. The Yankees may have a better catcher in the future in Jesus Montero, if he’s able to play the position. But rarely, very rarely, do you see a franchise in the 21st century with one man behind the plate for 15 seasons, not to mention 17 seasons with the team overall.

It is pretty easy, I think, to go through the best moments of Jorge’s career. Manager Joe Girardi continues to point out how proud he was of his then-teammate in 1998 when Jorge was behind the plate for David Wells’ perfect game against the Minnesota Twins. But there was one that rocked Yankee Stadium. In the 2003 ALCS, the animosity between Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez and Posada was easily felt in Game Three. During one of their two bench-clearing incidents, Martinez pointed to his head, as if to say he would drill Posada the next time he came up. Jorge, in full catcher’s gear, walked to the field and invited Martinez to drill him. In Game Seven, with revenge on his mind, Posada dumped a game-tying, two run double into center field in the bottom of the eighth, knocking Pedro out of the game and costing Grady Little his job. Oh yeah, someone named Aaron Boone hit a pretty big homer three innings later.

This year, things got ugly. Joe Girardi elected to bat Posada ninth against the Red Sox in mid-May. Jorge was hitting under the Mendoza Line, and it seriously looked like he was going to retire in the middle of his final season. But it got better. The crowd fell in love with him. Girardi correctly realized that Posada could only play against right-handed pitching, and Jorge seemed willing to accept that role. And then October came around. I wanted the Yankees to play Texas, but they matched up with the Tigers. That meant nothing but right handed pitching, and that Jorge was going to play every game. All he did was bat .429, including a triple at Yankee Stadium in Game Two. He didn’t drive in runs, but that’s because the bases were always empty for him. He went out like a true champion, even if the team didn’t.

I will remember Jorge’s leadership, his intensity, and how much pride he had in putting on the pinstripes every day. I’ll admire the courage he showed during all of his son’s operations, and how his family always came first. I’ll remember how in 1996, he didn’t play in the post-season, but he was the first guy out of the dugout to congratulate teammates every time a run was scored. He was everything the New York Yankees have stood for over the last seventeen years. He will be truly missed, until he is welcomed back for future Old Timers’ Days, and Jorge Posada Day, when number 20 will rightfully be added to Monument Park.

Thank you, Jorge.

-Eric Kopp

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We look forward to hearing from you!

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Posted By Chasing Records on February 29, 2012

Weekly Winners & Number of Entries in our Drawing

1. Barbara Lospinoso (1)
2. Michael Ruda (2)
3. Samantha Espinosa (1)
4. Romeo Lombardi (3)
5. Fred Dakake (1)
6. James Grossman (1)
7. Jon Winkler (3)
8. Jeri Saiz (1)
9. Matt Cestra (1)

After removing three entries from the box, we officially had  our three winners! =)

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